Friday 23 December 2016

CHRISTMAS CARDS ALL YEAR ROUND - DECEMBER - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY


Hi there everyone - this my last card for 2016 for the CCAYR Challenge blog.  Once again it is a little late for the mid month reminder so please please accept my apologies.  There's a really good reason for this - honest - right at the end of my post.



Ingredients

7" x 7" white card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Digi - 'Stella - Christmas - Good' from Bugaboo
Docrafts - Papermania 'At Christmas' A4 paper (Lucy Cornwell)
Dovecraft - Back to Basics 'Christmas Vintage' 8" x 8" paper pad
Tattered Lace Dies - Diamond Layering die
Memory Box Dies - Star of Wonder die
Joanna Sheen Signature Dies - Starry Night Edger die
Dee's Distinctively Dies - Large Snow Covered Stacker Tree
Jolee's Boutique - 'Christmas Gifts' (some of the first things I ever bought!!)
Copics
Cabochon gems - stash
White glitter - free from magazine
Stardust Stickles 

This month the prizes are a $21 gift certificate from Bugaboo Stamps 


and

Not to be sneezed at!

This challenge runs until the end of December 2016 so if you have a little time after Christmas why not start on next year's cards and join in our little competition.

Not sure whether I told you that our neighbours across the Avenue went on holiday to Malaysia at the beginning of December leaving their lovely dog in kennels.  They went on Sunday morning and by Tuesday afternoon they had a phone call telling them that their doggy had kennel cough.  

Our neighbours then telephoned us from Malaysia saying that they were cutting their holiday short and coming home earlier than expected, in the meantime they sorted out some care for him with their two doggy minders (he is walked twice a day and is very very energetic).    We knew they were visiting relatives before going to the Datai in Langkawi so we told them to carry on, because we were quite happy to look after him and, as we've been to the Datai ourselves, we didn't want them to miss out - it's paradise!

To cut a long story very short - we've been walking him twice a day, throwing his ball/frisbee for him, feeding him and bedding him down for the night!  It was going to be difficult for his minders so we took over his total care.  

His mum and dad were really worried about him though and still wanted to come home early but by now you all know I'm totally potty so I have been sending them emails from their doggy!!!  He even asked them if he was allowed to have turkey on Christmas day and is so chuffed because he can!  He has two presents waiting for him from Auntie S and Uncle G so he's going to be spoiled.   I think it's worked out pretty well so far and as they are returning on Boxing Day, doggy only has a few more sleeps on his own!

So that's why everything in the Casa Pass has been topsy turvy, although we've had loads of fun and giggles!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.


Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Crazy Challenge No 238 - Everything Goes
Pattie's Creations Designs Challenge No 129 - Anything Goes Christmas or Winter
Perfectly Created Chaos Challenge No 7 - Anything Goes Christmas

Thursday 22 December 2016

THE LAST OSAAT CHALLENGE - NO 277 - A G WITH LOTS OF SPARKLE


Good afternoon everyone - I nearly forgot to post this one but I just have to because it's the last one for the One Stitch At a Time Challenge DT!  The Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet is going to stay open with just a couple of creators so you can still pop over there to buy digi images.  

We have all been so grateful for the support we have received over the years so we have decided to continue and stay together as a little 'family' team with JFF challenges.  Keep your eyes peeled for the new Challenge 'International Art and Soul' which starts in February 2017.


Ingredients

7" x 7" White Card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Digi - 'Fairy' by IkesArt at the Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet
First Edition - 'Christmas Promise' 8" x 8" paper pad
Craftime - A5 Glitter Sheet pad
Spellbinder Dies - Decorative Labels Twenty Seven die
Joanna Sheen Signature Dies - Small Snowflake die
Memory Box Dies - Frosty Border die
Cheery Lynn Dies - Snowflakes C146 die
Cheery Lynn Dies - Happy Christmas sentiment die
Sara Davis Signature Collection - Snowflake Trio die
Snowflake charm and ribbon - stash

It would be lovely if you could actually enter our last OSAAT Challenge, we don't close until the 6/7 January 2017 so there is a little bit of time in between wrapping presents and making mince pies (ooh I lurve a mince pie or three!)

Anyway must pop off and wrap Biscuit's presents, he loves his toys and has already been in the bag for a nosey!  His latest 'thing' is to walk around with a little ball in his mouth until someone takes notice of him and then he drops it for us to play with him.  His juggling skills are coming along nicely.

Lots of big hugs to you all.


Love Suexxx

Monday 5 December 2016

CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGE - DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS TIME


Good morning everyone - today I'm posting my last card for the Crafty Calendar Challenge DT for 2016!  I would just like to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all on the team and thank you for supporting over the past year.


I'm just going to pop this little note in here from our leader Sue J (aka OlliesMam) to remind you of what happens when/if we reach 1000 followers!

Just to remind everyone we have some fabulous prizes for when we reach 1000 followers!!!!! We are slowly getting there!!!! We have 925 followers!!!! won't be long until some lucky followers win our fab prizes!!! 

It's well worth entering our challenges 'cos we have some fabulous sponsors, this month we have Sami Stamps and she's giving us a $12 gift card for the winner.


Ingredients

Image - 'Christmas Morning Joy' from Sami Stamps
7" x 7" White Card Blank - Anna Marie Designs
Craftwork Cards - 8" x 8" 'Festive Chalk Board' paper pad
First Edition - 8" x 8" 'Christmas Wishes' paper pad
Crafts-Too Dies - Square Stitch Hole die
Lea'bilities Dies - Christmas Pine Tree die
Memory Box Dies - Cosmic Star Border die
Craft Stash Creative Dies - Merry Christmas die
Copics
Leaves and Berries - ancient stash

Pop over to the Crafty Calendar Challenge site and check out the creations of my teamies - they are a talented bunch of peeps!  You have until 28 December to get your entries in and we love seeing them so I hope you can find a little time to do a project which fits our theme - it doesn't have to be a card either!!

Anyway lots of big hugs to you and please take care.


Love  Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

A Snowflakes Promise Challenge No 34 - Winter
Country View Challenge (Dec) - Christmas (2)
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge No 1 - Magic of Christmas (2)
Creative with Stamps Challenge No 9 - Use Christmas Stamps (2)
Creatalicious Challenge No 104 - AG with the option of Christmas Colours (2)
Creative Inspirations Challenge No 263 - Christmas
Dies R Us Challenge No 62 - Christmas (2)
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge No 86 - Create a Christmas Card
Paper Creators Crafts Challenge No 54 - Christmas (2)
Pearly Sparkles Challenge No 10 - Merry Christmas (2)

Sunday 4 December 2016

CRAFTS GALORE ENCORE - DECEMBER - ANYTHING GOES!

Hi there - first of all can I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the DT of Crafts Galore Encore!  Hope you have a great time, peaceful or chaotic!, with some crafty stuff in those stockings!!  Here's my last card for the team for 2016 and we have the ever popular Anything Goes theme this month.


This month we've been sponsored by Sherri Baldy and the prize is the three digis that the DT used for their creations!



As you can see they are all so different and I'm sure you'll like them all!

Please pop over to the Crafts Galore Challenge site to check out the creations made by my teamies.

Ingredients

Image - Little Dimples Happy Face Besties Img924
7" x 7" White Card Blank - Anna Marie Designs
Paper - very old stash
Tonic Dies - Circle Layering die set
Tonic Dies - Pinhole Circle Layering die set
Creative Expressions Emb. Folder - Swirling Holly
Creative Expressions Dies - Festive Collection 'Classic Poinsettia'
Creative Expressions Dies - Festive Collection 'Filigree Poinsettia'
Creative Expressions Dies - Festive Collection 'Pine Bough'
Craft Stash Creative Dies - Magic and Sparkle die
Copics and Flexmarkers
Stardust Stickles
Christmas Red Stickles 
Red Pearls - stash

I do hope you can join in our challenge this month and we all look forward to seeing your brilliant creations.

Hugs to you all and please take care.


Love Suexxx



I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Creative with Stamps Challenge No 9 - Use Christmas Stamps
Creatalicious Challenge No 104 - AG with an option of Christmas Colours
Eclectic Ellapu Challenge (DEC/JAN) - Pink Team - Anything Christmas
Glitter 'n' Sparkle Challenge No 217 - Traditional Christmas Colours

Friday 18 November 2016

CHRISTMAS CARDS ALL YEAR ROUND - NOVEMBER - SANTA AND/OR ELF



 Hi everyone, here's my card for the CCAYR mid-month reminder.  Our theme is to use a Santa and/or an elf on your creations!  Don't forget you can make a card or anything paper crafty you like as long as it goes with the theme.



Our prizes this month - are

Prize No1
3 digis from


Prize No2


We have two prizes giving you two chances of winning - so come on and let's see your creations.  If you pop over to the Christmas Cards All Year Round site you can check out the creations from Team Gingerbread Gals  and Team Christmas Belles (this is the one I'm on - woo hoo!)

Ingredients

7" x 7" White Linen Finish card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Image - Santa clear stamp from Kanban ages ago!
12" x 12" paper from stash again bought ages ago!
Crafts-Too Presscut Dies - Rectangle nesting die
Sheena Douglass Festive Fancies Dies - Holly and Berry die
Joanna Sheen Signature Dies - 25th Dec die (love this one)
Copics and Flexmarkers
Stickles Stardust Glitter

Very ashamed to say that I've had these Kanban stamps for ages and have never used them - but I was delighted with the way they stamped, really clear and precise!  Will be getting the rest of them out and giving them a go methinks.

Anyway I'm keeping this one short - I've a few 'commissioned' cards to make for my ex-colleague pal and a few 'light-weight' ones for friends living abroad, not to mention my other DT cards and, as you all know, I'm not the quickest card maker in the world plus there's my 'degree' in procrastination - lol.

Please try and enter the challenge - your creations are also inspirational to us on the DT and we love seeing them all.

Big hugs to everyone and please take care.


Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges - 

Christmas at Sweet Stamping (Nov) - Anything Goes Christmas
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge No 390 - Christmas
Crafter's Cafe Challenge No 161 - Christmas Comes Early
Crafting Musketeers Challenge No 43 - Christmas Wishes
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge No 1 - Magic of Christmas
Cute Card Thursday Challenge No 452 - Christmas/Holidays
Double 'D' Challenge - Traditional Christmas colours
Open Minded Crafting Challenge No 11 - Christmas/Hanukkah
Sparkles Forum Challenge No 86 - Christmas is Coming
Sweet Stampers Challenge No 1 - Christmas

Sunday 13 November 2016

OSAAT CHALLENGE - NO 275 - ANYTHING GOES WITH AUTUMN COLOURS


Hi there everybody out there in blogland, I hope you are all feeling well even though it has been very soggy and cold (well at least here in Nottinghamshire)!  This is a card for the OSAAT challenge and as you can see this one is to do with autumn.  I have enjoyed myself soooo much blending Distress Inks on paper to make the colours for the die cut leaves - naturally I had ink everywhere superbly aided and abetted by the fluffy monster known as Biscuit who jumped onto my desk right in the middle of the blending procedure.  I've mentioned before that he has paws the size of coal shovels!  Needless to say I sent the maestro running after him with a wet wipe!  It was all worth it though, just look at the colours of the autumn leaves below.


Ingredients

7" x 7" Linen Finish White card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Image - 'Pumpkin' by Crafty Girl Creations at Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet
First Edition 8" x 8" paper pad - 'Falling Leaves'
Die-namics Dies - Cross Stitch Circle Stax die  
Spellbinders Dies - Assorted Leaves die
Sheena Douglass Dies - Acorn and Leaves die 
Graph'it Markers and Coloured pencils
Autumn Sentiment - by William Cullen Bryant 1794-1878
Hessian, 'twiddly bits' and red berries - stash

As usual there is a $10 prize for the winner to be used in the Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet



Why not join in our challenge this fortnight, you can make anything you like as long as you use the colours of Autumn or for my friends across the pond - Fall.

Lots of hugs to you all and take care in this horrible weather!


Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Angie's Digital Stamps Challenge No 3 - Anything Goes (No twist)
Aud Sentiments Challenge No 168 - Anything Goes plus Sentiment
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Autumnal Colours
Happy Little Stampers Challenge (Nov) - Anything Goes with Dies

Sunday 6 November 2016

CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGE - NOVEMBER - AUTUMN COLOURS


Good afternoon friends and fellow bloggers - there's a proper nip in the air as I'm typing this so me cardigan is on!  When it gets any colder me liberty bodice comes out for an airing too!  Anyway as some of you may know autumn really is my favourite time of the year so, next to Christmas cards, I love creating cards using autumnal colours.  This is the theme at Crafty Calendar this month - so I am chuffed to bits!!  I've used a stamp from LOTV which I bought recently (Sue J please note - lol).



Ingredients

LOTV Clear Stamp - 'Hugs'
7" x 7" White 'Linen Finish' card blank - Anna Marie Designs
First Edition - 'Falling Leaves' 8" x 8" paper pad
Memory Box Open Studio - Leafy Foliage dies
Memory Box Open Studio - Stitched Octagon Layers dies
Marianne Creatives - Frame LR0279 dies
Woodware Clear Stamps - 'You Deserve a Hug' sentiment
Graph-it markers
Distress Ink pads
Gold Mist Spritz
Metal studs from stash

The little leaves took ages to do because I inked the card with various colours of Tim Holtz Distress Inks then die cut dozens of the bloomin' tiny things out and ... when they were all ready ... I thought they would look quite nice spritzed with some gold mist spray - shame I didn't think of it before I'd cut them out but hey ho!

I also used an Octagon shaped die to cut out the image and the frame around it - then I covered the whole thing with leaves - duh! - I should have used a plain old round die!  Just goes to show how my ideas/creations change humongously as they go on, no wonder my cards take ages to do!

Before I go I must tell you that we have two wonderful sponsors for November so we are giving prizes to two lucky winners!







Please join in and enter our challenge, we are really look forward to checking out your amazing projects in autumnal colours.

Bye for now, just off to do some ironing - how wonderful!  Back again soon.

Lots of big hugs to you all and take care.


Love Suexxx

I would like to enter my card into the following 10 challenges -

Alphabet Challenge - R for Recipe (Sentiment, Digi/Stamp, Embossing)

Tuesday 1 November 2016

CRAFTS GALORE ENCORE - NOVEMBER - ANYTHING GOES

Good afternoon fellow bloggers out there - this is my second card for CGE although I have to put my hands up and tell you that I forgot to post my first one!  I'm so sorry teamies I must have had a very senior moment or three!!!  Anyway our theme this month is Anything Goes and that's always a popular choice so we really do want to see your creations.  The amazing Nikki Burnette is offering a prize to the lucky winner, randomly drawn, at the end of the month.

Ingredients

7" x 7" Pearl finish white card - Anna Marie Designs
Digi - Fairy Stamp 'Cadence' by Nikki Burnette
'Blissful Pink' 7" x 7" paper pad - Anna Marie Designs
'Dress Shoppe' 8" x 8" paper pad - LOTV
Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Dies - Double Stitched Oval 43 die
Memory Box Dies - Kaleidoscope Butterfly die
Copic Markers (plus one or two coloured pencils)
WOC flowers and leaves
Pearls - stash
Dazzlers - Brenda's Lace and Ribbon Supplies (FB)
Stardust Stickles

You really ought to pop over to check out the cards made by my new teamies - they are absolutely amazing - I am in awe of their talent!!!  Here's the link back to the Crafts Galore Encore blog so please enter a card or creation of your choice for us all to check out.

I'm off now 'cos I have to do a bit of exercise on my Wii!  My weight is going down again (after a long plateau of going neither up nor down!) and my 'naughty' cholesterol has lowered - ta da - which means the swimming etc is working.  Can't tell you how pleased I am that something is going right for once.  Oh and my leg is on the mend, despite the fact that the skin is peeling off in strips where it was swollen - yuk!  I'm using gallons of moisturiser and exfoliating gently - coo I really sound as if I know what I'm doing lol!

So it's cheers for now and I'm sending you lots of big hugs - take care and keep warm.  Just you be careful with those wet leaves Mrs J!!



Love Sue xxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -


Cardz 4 Galz Challenge No 34 - Fairytale/Fantasy
Dream Valley Challenge No 143 - One for the Girls

Monday 17 October 2016

CHRISTMAS CARDS ALL YEAR ROUND - OCTOBER - USE A LITTLE OR A LOT OF ORANGE!!


Good morning everyone it's the mid month reminder for the CCAYR challenge and our theme is 'use a little or a lot of orange' on your Christmas creation!  I thought I might struggle with this because orange isn't a colour I've used a lot but I bought a brilliant digi from Lily of the Valley - I'm so pleased they've started doing digi images although I will admit to waiting until they have an offer on before I buy!!   I started off using just a little orange on my penguin's scarf then carried on with his umbrella and whilst it was drying I found - woo hoo - a First Edition paper pad with orange Christmas papers in it!!!


I'm quite pleased with how my card turned out and am so glad I found that paper pad - must keep it close 'cos I think I'll have to use it again!!!

Ingredients

7" x 7" White Card Blank - Anna Marie Designs 
Digi - 'Snow Flurries' from LOTV
First Edition - 'Christmas Joy' 8" x 8" paper pad
First Edition - 'Christmas Promise' 8" x 8" paper pad
Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Dies - Double Stitch Squares Ref 42 die
Creative Expression Dies - Contemporary 'Happy Christmas' die
Sweet Dixie Dies - Snowflakes SDD007 dies
Memory Box Dies - Twilight Snowflakes die
Joanna Sheen Signature Dies - Small Snowflake SD439 die
Copics, Flexmarkers, Promarkers and Spectrum Noir marker pens
Scraps of patterned Mirri card

I hope you enter our Challenge this month especially as it's not much longer to Christmas so you do need to get cracking!  We are offering the following to our two winners


Prize #1
The sponsor is

Prize-3 digis

Prize #2 
Gingham Tape
October Afternoon Chip Alphabet
Your Next Stamp-Monty the Snake (unmounted rubber stamp)

I really enjoy making Christmas cards and would love it if you could join us.  Please take care out there in blogland.

Lots of big hugs and love    


Sue xxx

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Sunday 16 October 2016

OSAAT CHALLENGE - NO 273 - ANYTHING GOES WITH HALLOWEEN


Good afternoon everyone - there's another exciting challenge over on OSAAT this fortnight and our theme is 'Halloween'!   I chose 'Silhouette Cats' from the Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet to use on my card.


I had an idea in my head but it didn't turn out quite as I wanted it to.  I made the background just before I was ?bitten by a critter out in the garden.   A hugely swollen leg and fever followed and I finished my card feeling only 80% better.  I do love the spooky feel I've created though!  Believe me fussy cutting that minute witch out was a challenge on its own!

Ingredients

7" x 7" White Card Blank - Anna Marie Designs
Digi - Silhouette Cats by Coosty Creations at the Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet 
Tattered Lace Embossing Folder - Brickwork
Bats, Witch, Signs found on the internet - printed and then foiled via Minc machine
Pumpkin digi - Colouring pages on the internet
Distress Inks - Tim Holtz
Flexmarkers and Copics

I hope you can enter our challenge, I know that there are loads of you who celebrate Halloween nowadays and also make Halloween cards so why not let us see them - you could win a $10 voucher from the Stitchy Bear shop



Anyway take care and steer clear of nasty garden bugs!   Oh and a little bit of further information on the new contact lenses - I found out (the day before I went back to the optician) that the reason the left one was blurred was because I had it on inside out - been wearing it like this for 5 days!!!  I had one of those (rare) light bulb moments and thought "I wonder what would happen if I put the blurry one on inside out" so I did and whoa -- everything was sooooo clear!  I am such a plank - methinks me life is going to be eventful with me new eyes!!!

Catch you all later big hugs to you all

Love Sue xxx


I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Angie's Digital Stamps Challenge No 2 - AG with option Halloween (2)
Colour Crazy Craft Challenge Wk 24 - Anything Goes (1)
Crafting with Friends Challenge No 29 - Anything Goes (1)
Dragonfly Journeys Challenge No 77 - Trick or Treat
Great Impressions Stamps Challenge (OCT) - Anything Goes
Left of Centre Challenge No 152 - Halloween
Pattie's Creations Design Challenge No 127 - Halloween
Robyn's Fetish Challenge No 338 - Halloween Cards
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge (OCT) - Autumn/Harvest/Halloween
Simply Create Too Challenge No 120 - Halloween

Monday 3 October 2016

CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGE - OCTOBER - HALLOWEEN COLOURS


Hi there everyone in blogland - this should have been posted on Saturday so I must apologise to our leader - Sue J (Ollie's Mam) - I have to 'compute' when I don't have me new lenses in (the left one is blurred and the right one is only slightly better so I'm struggling loads).  Fortunately I go back tomorrow (Tuesday) having been wearing them about 6 days - I wasn't allowed to go swimming in them, according to the optician, though as everyone should know by now I never put me head under water and always keep me hair dry!  lol!

Anyway - stop waffling for a second - this is my card for the Crafty Calendar Challenge and we want to see Halloween cards or Halloween colours on your cards.   We've been sponsored this month by All Dressed Up and I just love this image I was able to use from Wendy.  There's a wonderful prize for the winner of our challenge and ...... when we reach 1000 followers we have a really special prize on offer for our 'random' winner!

By the way, you may wonder why I have pumpkins on me sparkly web - the answer's simple - I can't put eight legged beasties on there 'cos I would be sick!  Oooh there was one in the bedroom the other night and not only could I see the colour of its eyes, I could tell what size Doc Martins he was wearing (size 10!).  Thankfully my Knight in Shining Armour came to my rescue - after hearing a very very loud high pitched screeching plus heaving, he said (duh!) "Is something wrong" - didn't take him long to realise that my gibberish meant "HELP"!!!  Bless him, at least he got rid of it!


Ingredients

6" x 6" White card blank - Papermania
Digi image - All Dressed Up
Handmade 'colourful' paper - ancient stash
Glitter paper - The Range A5 pad
Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Dies - Double Stitch Circles die No 41
Cheery Lynn Dies - Spiders Web Doily die DL162
Memory Box Dies - Flying bats die
Yvonne's Creations Dies - Pumpkin die (from Little Ghost set)
Marianne Craftables Dies Silver Collection - Star Garland die CR1280
Apple Blossom Dies - Upper and Lower case alphabet die sets
Copics

I hope you can find time to enter our challenge, the sponsor of our prize this month has some amazing digis on her site!   

So, please take care all of you - the nights are drawing in and it's getting towards the time when we need to keep nice and cosy!

Lots of big hugs to everyone

Love  Sue xxx



I would like to enter my card into the following challenges - 

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge No 29 - Anything Goes
Angie's Digital Stamps Challenge No 2 - AG with optional twist 'Halloween'
Animal Friends Challenge No 43 - Fall/Halloween
Ching Chou Kuik Challenge (Oct) - Halloween/Something Spooky
CMD Challenge No 38 - Halloween
Crafty Awesomeness Challenge (Oct) - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge No 325 - Halloween
Gem of a Challenge No 179 - Halloween
Paper Creators Challenge No 52 - Anything Spooky
Scrap 'n' Challenge (Sept) - Halloween