Megan's 18th and PC problems

Good evening

Both schools were closed today because of the strikes so I've had a lovely day shopping with Chloe and Jamie.  I managed to get a few Christmas presents and we also had lunch out.  Well I wouldn't say I would class Chloe's as lunch because she opted for Chocolate Cake and Hot Chocolate!!  I wouldn't normally let her have this for lunch but decided to let them have a treat today.  Jamie doesn't like cake so had a Sausage Roll and Diet Coke.  I'm back on my diet after putting on a few pounds at Craftaganza so was very healthy and had a Jacket Potato & Chilli.


I started making this card last night and managed to finish it off when we got home this afternoon.  It's for Megan who is celebrating her 18th birthday tomorrow.  Megan is Chris' cousin's daughter ... not sure what relation that makes her to us!!

                                                                

* Card Recipe *

 

 

Image ~ Ladybug Crafts Shopping Nikki

Papers ~ Dovecraft 'Princess Fairytale'

Sentiment ~ Pink Gem Designs

Flowers ~ Prima

Pearls ~ Stash

* Challenges *

 

 

Sketch & Stash ~ Sketch (new stash - papers)
Fab & Funky ~ Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp ~ Anything Goes


For the last few weeks we have been having a few problems with the PC and yesterday it finally decided to stop working.  It has gone off to be repaired so I am having to use the laptop which doesn't have my photo editing software and watermark on it so I apologise for the quality of the picture.

That's all from me ... work tomorrow and Friday and on Saturday we are helping my Mum decorate my Nan's lounge so don't think I'll get a chance to get crafty for a few days.

A Gem of a Challenge #35 and Craftaganza

Good morning

Hope you are all well on this chilly November morning.  I can't believe it' been 2 weeks since my last post!!  The reason for my lack of posts is that I have been busy at home so no time for crafting and also because I have been away since Wednesday night for Craftaganza.

* Craftaganza is a 3 day crafting event in Darlington organised by the fabulous Crafter's Companion *

I had a fantastic time and it was great to be able to meet some of my CC design team buddies, CC staff and lots of lovely crafters.  We made a variety a fantastic projects which I hope to have time to share with you in the next few days.

Anyway today I am sharing my Pink Gem DT card because it's time for a new A Gem of a Challenge.  The lovely Christine is hosting again and the challenge is Monochromatic cards with a sentiment but not Christmas. 

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ Chloe & Kitten

Papers ~ Craft Creation & Papermania Capsule Collection

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards

Flowers ~ Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls ~ Stash

* Challenges *

Sweet Stampin ~ Punches & Dies
Divas by Design ~ Monochromatic
Fab 'n' Funky ~ Happy Birthday
Creative Card Crew ~ Monochromatic

That's all from me ... I have a busy day ahead food shopping and housework and then i'm back to work tomorrow. I hope to be able to get time for some blog hopping tonight so I can catch up with you all.

I ♥ Mince Pies

Good afternoon

We had a great day at the Top Gear Live show yesterday but are all feeling tired today because we didn't get home until late.  I didn't feel like doing any housework this morning so while the roast chicken was cooking I decided to make a card using this cute image and papers from the new SWALK Winter Cheer Collection. 

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ SWALK Mince Pies

Papers ~ Winter Cheer CD

Sentiment ~ Cat's Life Press

Pearls/Poinsettia ~ Stash

Holly ~ X-Cut punch

* Challenges *

Sweet Stampin' ~ Gingham

Totally Gorjuss ~ Christmas Traditions

Samuel Taylor's ~ Christmas

That's all from me!  I'm now going to make some custard to go with the sticky treacle pudding :-)  X-Factor and I'm a Celeb tonight ... that's me sorted for the evening!

Hope you're all having a lovely Sunday :-)

A Gem of a Challenge #34 ... Sketch with a Twist

Good morning

It's time for a new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and our host is the lovely Christine with a sketch but there is a twist because you also need to include stitching and a sentiment.  The stitching can be real or faux.

Now i'm useless with a sewing machine and my hand drawn stitching is ... well the less said about that the better lol! so I cheated and used a patchwork paper with printed stitching.

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ Postbox Ellie

Papers ~ Bearly Mine Designs (patchwork) and Papermania 'At Christmas Time'

Sentiment ~ Sentiments 4 You

Flowers/Leaves ~ Prima/Petaloo 

Bird embellishment ~ Local craft shop

Pearls/Brad ~ Stash

* Challenges *

Crafty Calendar ~ November Wardrobe

Anything Goes ~ Stitching (Real or Faux)

Papertake ~ Christmas

Ooh La La ~ Stitching (Real or Faux)

Top Tip Tuesday ~ Anything Christmas

Cute Card Thursday ~ Red for Remembrance

Well that's all from me as this is a scheduled post and by the time it publishes we will be heading up the motorway to the NEC for the Top Gear Live show.  We are all Top Gear fans and went to the show last year and absolutely loved it!  We booked tickets for this year's show a few weeks ago but haven't told Chloe and Jamie so it's going to be a surprise.  We've told them I am going to watch a craft demonstration and they are dropping me off ... to say they are not impressed is an understatement lol!  Can't wait to see their faces when we tell them.

Hope you all have a great weekend :-)

Sparkly & Bright ... Shine a Light!

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well.  I can't believe it's been over a week since my last blog post.  I haven't been feeling too great the last couple of weeks (cold, sore throat etc) but I have also been catching up with a few jobs that have been on my 'To Do' list for some time.  I do, however, have a card to share with you today which I have made with a few challenges in mind.  I coloured this sweet LOTV image a couple of weeks ago so it was only a matter of choosing my papers etc and putting it together.

Whilst looking through my papers I came across a 6 x 6 pack of Webster's Pages.  Now I bought these last year but couldn't bring myself to cut into them so they have sat in a drawer ever since ... does this sound familiar with any of you lol!  Anyway I decided to use one of the sheets on today's card!

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ LOTV 'Shine a Light'

Papers ~ Webster's Pages 'Waiting for Santa' and Memory Box 'Yuletide'

Sentiment ~ LOTV

Ribbon/Gems ~ Stash

* Challenges *

Sketch & Stash ~ Vicky's Sketch

LOTV ~ Bright & Sparkly

Christmas Stampin' ~ Favourite Sketch

Simon Says Stamp ~ Photo Inspiration

Winter Wonderland ~ Sparkle

Crafty Ribbons ~ Bingo Board ... Glitter, Flowers (on paper) & Gems

Now off to tidy up ... can't believe how much mess I have made from making one card lol!

CC Monthly Challenge ~ Let it Snow!

Hi Everyone

It's the 1st of the month so that means a new challenge has been set at Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge.  Nice and easy ths month ... Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!  I am sure over the next month most of you will make a snowy card which fits this theme :-)  As always the lovely Sara has kindly donated a £30 voucher for the Crafter's Companion website.

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ SWALK 'Kisses from Heaven'

Papers ~ The Snowman CD-ROM

Sentiment ~ LOTV

Snowflakes ~ Woodware punch

Pearls ~ Stash

* Challenges *

Sweet Stampin' ~ Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion ~ Bingo

(Punch, Sentiment, Bling)

Papertake ~ Anything Goes + Bling (optional)
By The Cute and Girly ~ Christmas Girls


I woke up with a really bad sore throat so i'm not feeling too great today :-(  Now going to heat myself up some soup for lunch.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

We took the kids out Trick or Treating so they are happy because they've come home with a bag full of goodies!

I've been at work so no crafting for me today but thought I would post another card I made on Saturday ... this time for a family friend who celebrated his 80th Birthday at the weekend.  Once again I have used a LOTV die cut image.

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ LOTV die cut

Papers ~ Dovecraft 'Masculine'

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards

* Challenges *

MAWTT ~ No Girls Allowed

Cards for Men ~ Animals

That's all from me!  Just heard a knock at the door ... wonder who it could be lol!

Romantic Times

Good Evening

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend and enjoyed an extra hour in bed this morning !

Today's card is for a lovely couple who are celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary today.  I was a bit short of time when I made a start on this card yesterday afternoon so decided to use this sweet LOTV die cut .... not sure if this design is still available because this is one of the sheets I bought last year.  In fact it would probably have been quicker to colour an image because it took me ages to find papers to match.  I ended up using 3 different designs (Magnolia, Craft Creations and Henbury Lane).

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ LOTV die cut

Papers ~ Magnolia, Craft Creations & Henbury Lane

Sentiment ~ Sentiments 4 You

Seam Binding ~ Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls/Lace ~ Stash

* Challenges *

LOTV ~ Sketch

Dream Valley ~ Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew ~ Fallin' in Love

That's all from me ... now off to sort something out for tea and do some ironing before X-Factor! 



A Gem of a Challenge #33 ... Cold & Frosty

Good morning

It's time for a new Pink Gem Challenge and our lovely boss Janet is hosting again with the theme of Cold & Frosty.  The prize for one lucky winner is 6 digi stamps from Pink Gem Designs.

I decided to use this sweet Snowflake Chloe image ... I bet she is feeling a little chilly holding that frosty snowflake!  I have added lots of Star Dust Stickles and Crystal Glamour Dust to make it extra sparkly! 

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ Snowflake Chloe

Papers ~  Beatrix Potter 'A Winter's Tale' CD

Sentiment ~ LOTV

Doily ~ Craft show

Pearls & Button ~ Stash

Snowflake/Snowflake border ~ MS punches

* Challenges *

Totally Papercrafts ~ Glitter It!

Simon Says Stamp ~ Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz ~ Anything Goes

Crafty Purple Frog ~ Sparkle

Crimbo Crackers ~ Anything Goes

Hanna & Friends ~ Glitter

Now off to take Jamie to football so will link up the challenges when I  get back. 

Don't forget to check to see if you were one of my candy winners ... see post below.

Hope you all have a great weekend :-)

Candy Winners!

Hi Everyone

Thank you to everyone who entered my candy and left me birthday messages.  There were 56 entries and 7 entries from some lovely members of the Crafter's Companion Facebook Group who don't have blogs so that made a total of 63 entries. 


So the winners as chosen by Random.Org are ...........


56 Debbie (2 x Lili of the Valley Stamps)

43 Pink Dandelion (3 x SWALK or Humphrey Stamps from Crafter's Companion)

18 Pamela (2 stamps or 6 digi stamps from Pink Gem Designs)


Congratulations Ladies :-)  Please email me at christopherthompson622@btinternet.com with your stamp choices and address.


 I had an early start this morning because I had to be in at work at 8:00 for mandatory training which lasted most of the day ... thank goodness that's over for another year! I stopped off at Sainsburys on my way home for pizza and wine ... not good for my diet but think I deserve a treat today :-)


That's all from me ... see you all in the morning with my Pink Gem DT card!