CHRISTMAS CARDS ALL YEAR ROUND - JULY - DOTS AND STRIPES

Afternoon everyone in blogland - it's the hottest day so far this year according to the peeps on TV and as I trype we are in the midst of a thunderstorm!  No rain just rumblings ..... so far..... although it is really hot and here I am posting two Christmas cards - lol!!!!  

As it is now July - the seventh month!!! - it really is the best time for you to get started on your Christmas cards, if you haven't already.  The theme at Christmas Cards All Year Round is 'Dots and Stripes' and that opens up a whole lot of choices.  One of my cards has snowy paper on it that looks like dots so I'm calling them 'snots' - sorry if that's too much information for you although I'm sure Mrs Duck will have thought of it as well!  Here's my two cards for this month.

Card No 1

Card No 2

Both of these cards are reasonably flat so they will OK good to post!  I've used both dots and stripes on my cards because I like to see them together but you don't have to.  You don't even have to use this type of paper - candy canes have stripes!  I do hope you can join in our challenge, it would be lovely to see your creations on there.

Ingredients - Card 1

6" x 6" White Card Blank - Create and Craft
Topper - LOTV Art Pad Set 18 - Winter Wonderland
Striped Paper - GCD Studios - Joyful Peace
Dotty Paper - Craftwork Cards - Christmas Post
Sentiments - Craftwork Cards - Christmas Post
Tattered Lace Dies - Decorative Rectangles die
Tattered Lace Dies - Pine Branch die
Lea'Creatabilities 3-D Dies - Pine Cone die 45-9876
Corner Punch - CarlaCraft
Ribbon, Gold Card - Stash

Ingredients - Card 2

6" x 6" White Card Blank - Create and Craft
Topper - LOTV Art Pad Set 16 - Christmas Angels
Papers - Winter Wishes and Frosty Christmas from LOTV
Tattered Lace Dies - Frosty Flourishes die
Lil'inkers Dies - Stitched Stars dies
Silver card and Sentiment from stash
DecoArt Glamour Dust

Thank you so much for popping by my blog to check out my cards.  I love it when you leave a comment 'cos you make my day!  I will catch you later with another card so watch this space.

I hope you are all keeping well and enjoying this weather, the thunderstorm has now stopped ... coo that was a quick one ... but it is now even hotter and very sticky yuk!!!

Big hugs to you all and take care.

Love Sue xxx

I would like to enter the following challenges - 

ABC Christmas Challenge - http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/m-is-for-magical.html

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Challenge - http://christmasatsweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/christmas-stockings.html

Christmas Card Challenge No 30 - http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/christmas-card-challenges-30-anything.html

Come and Get It Challenge- http://cagichallenge.blogspot.no/2015/06/cute-cards.html

CHNC Extra Challenge - July- http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/chnc-challenge-extra-for-july-2015.html
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge No 42 - http://creativecraftcottage.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/challenge-42-spots-or-stripes.html

Creative Fingers Challenge No 85 ) - http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/challenge-85-winners-83.html

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge No 222 - http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/ch222-anything-goes.html

Paper Creators Crafts Challenge No 40 - http://papercreatorscrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/challenge-40-challenge-winner.html

Word Art Wednesday Challenge No 190 - http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/challenge-190-anything-goesfamily.html

OSAAT DT - CHALLENGE NO 240 - ANYTHING GOES WITH RED, WHITE AND BLUE!

Good afternoon bloggers out there - first of all I am so pleased to be able to have posted this card for the OSAAT challenge this fortnight because we are having awful trouble with our system at the moment.  Last week I logged in to read my emails and there wasn't a single new one - now that is sooooo odd because SPAM can be relied on (duh!!!) to fill up their particular folder with total rubbish!  The maestro telephoned 'The Company' to try and sort it out but even they were flummoxed .... so I am sorry if you have tried to email me and I haven't replied, it's the bloomin' system and ..... I can't even log in to my emails at all now!

Anyway at least, for the moment, this is working so I am posting my card for the OSAAT 'Anything Goes with Red, White and Blue' challenge this fortnight.  I loved this one because I didn't have to sit for hours on end deciding what colours to choose - lol!  

 Just a slightly different view - to prove that I have actually sorted the inside too!!!

Note the 'balloons' - well I couldn't find remember whether I had a balloon stamp or die but I noticed this stamp (in the background here) on a set of 'Stamps for Special Occasions'.  In fact it's an Easter egg but I turned it upside down, stamped it in red and blue then did a twiddle on the lower end attached to a long 'string' behind my little clown.    I used a Tattered Lace die called 'Puff Ball' to make the embellishments 'cos it looks just like a firework exploding!  Or is that just me???

Ingredients

7" x 7" white card base - Anna Marie Designs
Image - 'Clown Doll' by Floppy Latte at Stitchy Bears Digi Outlet
Patterned Paper - Docrafts Vintage 
Spotted Washi Tape - Docrafts Capsule Collection 
Dotted Crosshatch Embossing Folder - Tattered Lace Emb Folders
Stitched Rectangle die - Lil'inkers Dies
Puff Balls die - Tattered Lace Dies
Balloon Stamp - Actually an Easter Egg clear stamp free with magazine
Graph'it markers
Buttons, string (from top of Cat Lit bag!!!), blue/red card - all from stash
Sentiment generated on my laptop

I hope you enter our challenge this fortnight, the prize is this lovely digi pack ... and my teamies have made some really pretty cards so why not check them out here.

I'm just off to see if I can get into my emails yet ..... I doubt it!!!

Take care out there and enjoy the rest of your weekend.  I'm sending you all a huge cuddle or a hug if you prefer!!!

Love

Sue xxx

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

Art Impressions Rubber Stamps Challenge No 162- http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-162-red-white-blue-challenge_25.html

Come and Get it Challenge - http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/06/cute-cards.html

Creative Knockouts Challenge No 95 - http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/95-buttons-fred-she-said.html

Crafty Creations Challenge No 292 - http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-292-red-white-and-or-blue.html

Fairytale Stampers Challenge No 57 - http://www.fairytalestamper.blogspot.de/2015/06/challenge-57.html

Jo's Scrap Shack Challenge No 94 - http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/2015/06/ffc-94-red-white-blue.html

One Sweet Challenge (June) - http://www.onesweetchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/p/june-2015-one-sweet-challenge-entries.html

Petal Lu Challenge - http://petalluchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/lacy-sunshine-anything-goes.html

QKR Stampede Challenge No 145 - http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/qkr-stampede-challenge-145-patriotic.html

Simply Papercraft Challenge No 7 - http://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-7.html

OSAAT DT - CHALLENGE NO 239 - ANYTHING GOES FOR A MAN!!!!

Good afternoon fellow bloggers!  Today I'm posting a card for our next challenge on the OSAAT blog.  This fortnight the theme is Anything Goes - for a Man!!!  I don't often start out with an idea in my head but I did with this one - I had a vision of an old map in shades of brown with some 'marine' type die cuts surrounding the image.   Obviously it doesn't pay for me to get any bright ideas before hand 'cos I end up with a totally different card!

I thought this could be a card for someone going on an imaginary 'gap year'.   I say imaginary 'cos I don't know anyone who is intending to do this!  Mind you it would be nice.

Ingredients

7" x 7" Kraft Card - Anna Marie Designs
Digi - 'Lighthouse Turtle' by Craftygirl Creations at Stitchy Bears Digi Outlet
Wonky Rectangle die - Spellbinders Dies
Nautical Frame and Accents dies - Spellbinders Dies
Loopy Rings die - Memory Box Dies
Scalloped Rectangle die - Tonic Dies
Card, paper, twine - stash
Piece of gold mesh - very very ancient stash!
Spectrum Noir Markers

We would love to see your creations this fortnight - male cards are (allegedly) quite challenging to do, so the more you make the more practised you'll become!  We are offering the following prize this month - not to be sneezed at eh???

I'll be off now, people to see, places to be .. oh and cards to make!!!  Lots of huge hugs to you, together with a cuddle if you need one!

Sue xxx

I would like to enter my cards into the following 10 Challenges -

Aloha Friday Challenge No 49 - http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.ca/2015/06/aloha-friday-challenge-49-masculinefor_12.html

Creative Corner Challenge (Team Mel) - http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/2015/06/team-melbugaboo-just-for-boys.html

Cute as a Button Challenge No 10 - http://cuteasabuttonchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-10-for-boys-and-winner-top-3.html

Ladybug Challenge (June) - http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-challenge.html

Mema's Crafts Final Challenge (June) - http://memascrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/memas-online-store-click-here-final.html

One Sweet Challenge (June) - http://onesweetchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-sps-challenge-with-dies-andor.htmll

Paper Creators Crafts Challenge No 39 - http://papercreatorscrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-39-challenge-winner.html

Simply Create Too Challenge No 87 - http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/mid-post-ch-87-masculine-favorites-from.html

Sugar and Betty's Challenge (June) - http://sugarandbetty.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-anything-goes.html

Words 2 Scrap By Challenge No 18 - http://words2scrapby.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/w2sb-18-its-still-mans-world.html

CRAFTY CALENDAR CHALLENGE - JUNE - A CARD WITH FANCY FOLDS

Good afternoon fellow blogsters out there!  I am once again such a divvy!  I have already been given a slap on the wrist because my card should have been posted on 6 June but I was going out on Sunday 7 June to meet up with Sue J and her hubby Paul at the Stamp Magic Show in Doncaster and I was over-excited about that so I totally forgot!  

Must admit though, this is a good mid-month reminder for you to enter the Crafty Calendar Challenge where our theme is 'Fancy Folds'.  Now this was quite a 'head scratcher' for me because I wanted to do something I hadn't done before.  I found a site called Beccy's Place where there are quite a few tutorials to choose from and I decided to make a Double Side Stepper card.  I made a 'sample' one, using Beccy's measurements, but wanted one slightly bigger (ie 7" x 7") so I twiddled and tweaked the measurements and was very very pleased with the result.   

Our sponsor for this challenge is Aurora Wings and they are offering the winner $15 USD to spend on digis in their on-line store.   Why not try and make a fancy fold card to enter into our challenge this month.  We have some great sponsored prizes coming up and the themes are brilliant.  

I had a little bit of a field day with my dies for this one, but you'd never know, would you Sue (Olliesmam)?   I have really enjoyed making this stepper shape so I might do another one in the near future - just to make sure it wasn't a fluke that I managed it!

Ingredients

Centura Pearl Card - transformed (!) into a double side stepper card
Image - 'Princess of the Sea' at Aurora Wings
Paper - 12" x 12" PSX Paper Designs 
Scalloped Rectangle die - Tonic Dies
Beach Sprig die - Memory Box Dies
Whimsical Flourish die - Memory Box Dies
Border and Fern Leaf dies - Tattered Lace '20 mini' Dies
Grass Border die - Impression Obsession Dies (DIE036-J)
Seashell die - Lea'bilities Dies
Spectrum Noir and Copic Markers
Frantage Glitter - Stampendous
Pearls - Brenda's Lace and Ribbons
Tonic - Crystal Drops
Pinflair - Pearl Wand

I mentioned earlier that the maestro and I met up with Sue J and her hubby Paul in Doncaster last week and here - just to shame us both - is a little pic taken by the maestro as he and Paul took the mickey out of us shamelessly!!!  Naturally we are both behaving ourselves and being extremely serious!

Time goes so quickly when you are enjoying yourselves and we were cackling and chuckling away but Paul and the maestro were also rabbiting on so we didn't feel at all guilty.  

Thanks for popping over to have a little look at my blog, I do appreciate it and your comments of course!

I'll be off now - enjoy the rest of your weekend and take care.  

Big hugs to you all

Sue xxx
PS  - In case you can't see that I've lost weight (lol) - I do have a LOT to lose so the 2 stones is just the starting point!  However, I can tell by my clothes and funnily enough, my shoes!!!  I'm still plodding on btw and am going to weigh myself sometime next week.   Fingers crossed peeps!

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

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge No 93 - http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-93-use-pearls.html

Crafting with an Attitude Challenge No 4 - http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-4-and-dt-call_4.html

Fussy and Fancy Challenge No 141 - http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/06/fussy-and-fancy-challenge-141.html

Ladybug Challenge (June) - http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-challenge.html

Not Just Cards Challenge no 21 - http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-21.html

One Sweet Challenge (June) - http://onesweetchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/p/june-2015-one-sweet-challenge-entries.html

Paper Creators Crafts Challenge No 39 - http://papercreatorscrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-39-challenge-winner.html

Simply Papercraft Challenge No 6 - http://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-6.html

SLS Lines Digi Stamps Challenge No 10 - http://slslinesdigitalstamps.blogspot.ca/2015/06/challenge-10-use-die-cuts-or-punches.html

Sugar and Betty's Challenge (June) - http://sugarandbetty.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-anything-goes.html

CRAFTY TIME CHALLENGE - JUNE - GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS

Hello again - here I am for my last post of today but first of all I would love to thank some new followers - Sarah, Kevin, Joanie and Joyce - I hope you like my cards and my waffles, I go on about what is happening to the cats, the garden, the maestro (hubby) and anything else that I find totally funny or even bizarre!  
Anyway this is a card I made for the DT of Crafty Time Challenge - this is our second challenge and I would like to thank everyone who took the 'time' to enter our very first challenge - you are absolute stars and you made some amazing creations.  

We are being sponsored this month by Nikki Burnette and the prize is -

Winners to receive

1st Place - 3 images

2nd Place 2 images

3rd Place - 1 image

I chose the image Raven Mask Masquerade - Rayne to colour and make into my Girls, Girls, Girls themed card.  I wanted to use black and red so I coloured my image in these two colours and used some purple and blue Distress Inks as a background.  There's absolutely loads of ways to interpret our theme this month so I am hoping that you can enter our second challenge without too much thought!

Ingredients

7" x 7" black card blank - made from card in stash

Digi - Raven Mask Masquerade - Rayne - Fantasy Art of Nikki Burnette

'Perseus' die - Gemini Dies - Sue Wilson at Creative Expressions

'Drip Edge' die - Tattered Lace Mini Dies

'Claire' flower die - Tattered Lace Dies

'Camellia' Complete Petals die - Finishing Touches at Creat. Express.

'Delicate Daisies' Complete Petals die - Finishing Touches at Creat. Express.

Black 'bling' flourish - Creative Expressions

Other gems - Create and Craft

Graph'it and Flexmarkers

Thank you for popping over to check out my last card for today.  I know I have four challenges up for you to enter (including yesterday's) but all the DT's would love to see your creations.  This is for anyone who has managed to get to the bottom of this post - I'm offering a little mystery prize to the first person who comments on this card and tells me where the boo boo is on my red and black creation!  Don't be afraid there is one particular boo boo and I'm quite happy to deny or confirm!!!!!

Lots of hugs to you and best of luck to the first one to notice it!

Love Sue xxx

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

Artistic Inspirations Challenge No 132 - http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-132-anything-goes-with-twist.html

Corrosive Challenge No 225 - http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-225-anything-goes.html

Craft Your Passion Challenge No 264 - http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-264-always-anything-goes.html

Not Just Cards Challenge No 20 - http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-20.html

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge No 229 - http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-229.html

Polkadoodles Challenge Wk 21 - http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/week-22-girly-but-no-pink-polkadoodles.html

Quoth the Raven Challenge No 44 - http://poequoththeraven.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/quoth-raven-challenge-44-raving-ravens.html

Simply Papercraft Challenge No 5 - http://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-5-and-design-team-call.html

Sister Act Card Challenge No 108 - http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-108.html

Timbro Scrap Mania Challenge No 109 - http://timbroscrapmania.blogspot.it/2015/05/challenge-109-fiori.html

CHRISTMAS CARDS ALL YEAR ROUND - JUNE - SNOWMAN OR SNOWMEN

Hi there peeps, here's my second post for today and this one is for the CCAYR DT where our challenge is 'Snowman/Snowmen' - 

This month we are being sponsored by Beccy's Place and the prize to our lucky winner is either 3 individual digital images OR 1 set of digital images.   My image is called 'Bearing Gifts' and I thought he was quite a cutie with his ear-muffs and present of snowballs!  I hope you can enter our challenge - we are into June (OK only just) but the next months will fly by so you do need to start your cards, if you haven't already, right now!!!

Ingredients

7" x 7" white card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Digi image - 'Bearing Gifts' from Beccy's Place (freebie!!)
Paper - Snow Princess and Snow Princess Solids - LOTV
Embossing Folder - Snowflake Lattice - Creative Expressions
Pine Trees die - Lea'bilities Dies
Oval die - Tattered Lace Dies
Snowflake die - Memory Box Dies (can't remember the name of it - sorry)
Sentiment - Daisy and Dandelion Clear Stamps
Graph'it Markers
Snowflake Gem - ebay
Stardust Stickles

Thanks again for popping by my blog - I do hope you aren't bored yet - I try not to waffle  ....  honest!!!!!!  You can get your own back by having a waffle on my blog if you'd like too!  Anyway will be off to sort out my next and final post for today.

Once again big hugs to you and lots of love - catch you in a while.

Sue xxx

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

ABC Christmas Challenge - http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/k-is-for-keep-it-simple.html

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Challenge - http://christmasatsweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/cute-christmas.html

Christmas Card Challenge No 26 - http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-26-anything-goes.html

Christmas Challenge No 60 - http://thegloryofchristmaschallenge.blogspot.de/2015/05/challenge-60-snowmanwoman.html

Crafting by Designs Challenge - http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/get-ready-for-christmas-june-edition.html

Crimbo-Crackers Challenge No 81 - http://crimbo-crackers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-81-anything-goes.html

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge No 261 - http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-261-christmas.html

Jingle Belles Challenge - http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.ca/2015/05/snow-far-snow-good.html

Not Just Cards Challenge No 20 - http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-20.html

Scrap Creations - Going Grey Challenge - http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/going-grey-with-scrap-creations_26.html

THROUGH THE PURPLE HAZE - JUNE - USE BRIGHT COLOURS!!!

Good afternoon everyone in blogland - it's that time again when all the buses come at once!  I have three cards to post today and I apologise for them being a little late!  My first DT card is for the TTPH challenge and the theme is Use Bright Colours - well I'm usually one for hiding me light under a bushel (cough) but not this time.  I chose Gemma Gerbera to colour because I have pots of these in the kitchen window!!!  As per my previous post I love Orchids but can't grow them unlike Mrs Duck - she's a clever (albeit spotty) lady!  

Here is my slightly bright card -

I took a leaf out of Sue J's (Olliesmam) blog and used orange, then I added red and yellow - bright or what???   The hair was supposed to have been blonde but, yet again, I made a boo boo and she is now a brunette!  I might just manage a proper blonde one day - then again don't hold your breath!

We have been sponsored by Lacy Sunshine - and the prize is three digis from their shop.  I do hope you can find the time to enter this lovely challenge, it's a great theme and now that Summer is on it's way (allegedly) - there's no time like the present to get those bright colours and papers out!!!!

Ingredients

7" x 7" White card blank - Anna Marie Designs
Digi - Gemma Gerbera from Lacy Sunshine Stamps
Rectangle die - Tattered Lace Dies
Lattice Heart Striplet die - Sue Wilson at Creative Expressions Dies
Red/orange card - AC cardstock
One Birdie Lane paper pad - LOTV
Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
Stamens - Brenda's Lace and Ribbons (on Facebook)
Graph'it Markers

I'm so grateful to you for stopping by and reading my warblings and thank you so much for any warblings you may leave me.  Must be orf now to sort me next post out - better late than never as some say!

Big hugs to you all out there and special cuddles if you need them (of course).

Sue xxx

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

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge No 248 - http://4craftychicks.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/4-cc-248-summer.html

Craft Your Passion Challenge No 264 - http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/challenge-264-always-anything-goes.html

Cute Card Thursday Challenge No 375 - http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-375-too-cute.html

Dragon's Lair Design Challenge - http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/a-bouquet-of-flowers-at-dragons-lair.html

Dream Valley Challenge No 107 - http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.ca/2015/05/challenge-107-anything-goes.html

Jo's Scrap Challenge No 90 - http://www.jwscrapshack.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/ffc-90-anything-goes.html

Not Just Cards Challenge No 20 - http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-20.html

Papernest Dolls Challenge No 6 - http://thepapernestdollschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-challenge-6.html

Paper Shelter Challenge No 205 - http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/challenge-205-flower-power.html

Timbro Scrap Mania Challenge No 109 - http://timbroscrapmania.blogspot.it/2015/05/challenge-109-fiori.html