Tough Decision!

Good morning

The weather is truly awful here today ... typical because I have the day off and we were hoping to go to the coast for a walk along the beach and a nice pub lunch on the way home. Not sure what we are going to do now but seeing as Jamie is watching TV, Chloe is on her iPod and they are still in their PJ's don't think we are going anywhere just yet!

The reason for my post today is to let you know that I have decided to step down from the Crafter's Companion DT.  This wasn't an easy decision because I have enjoyed my time with CC but over the last few months with work and family life I have been struggling with DT commitments so knew it was the right one but it didn't make it any easier .  I had recently stepped down from Pink Gem Designs to free up some time but feel I need to break away completely from design team work and for cardmaking to be just a hobby again.  

I am going to miss everyone at CC but will continue to keep in touch through blogging, FB etc.

I'm not saying I never want to be on a design team again but for now I am looking forward to crafting without the pressure/deadlines that come with being on a design team.  I am hoping I will have more time to enter challenges and start to use my poor neglected stash :-)

That's all from me ... Now going to make myself a cuppa and turn the heating up because i'm feeling chilly!

Hope you all have a great weekend ... fingers crossed the weather improves!

Close your Eyes

Good evening

It was my first day back at work today after the Jubilee weekend but luckily I am off tomorrow so it's only been a 1 day week for me ... oh it's going to come hard next week when it's back to normal lol!  

I made this card at the weekend for my friend Marianne and her hubby Graham for their wedding anniversary which was on Tuesday. 

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ LOTV 'Close your Eyes'

Papers ~ Marianne Design 'Roses are Red'

Sentiment ~ Sentiments 4 You

Flowers ~ Wild Orchid Crafts but not sure about the small red flowers because they were part of a challenge prize

Ribbon & Pearl Button ~ Stash

* Challenges *

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop ~ Lots of Layers

Really Reasonable Ribbon ~ Flowers & Ribbon

Crafty Creations ~ Wedding or Anniversary

Anything Goes ~ Anniversaries

Papertake Weekly ~ Anything Goes

The Ribbon Girl ~ Ribbon or Lace

Creative Card Crew ~ Song Inspired (Close your Eyes ~ Westlife)

Hope you all have a lovely evening :-)

Candy Winner!

Good morning

Well it's all back to normal following the fun of the Jubilee weekend :-(  Hope you have all enjoyed the celebrations  We have been busy decorating Chloe's bedroom most of the weekend so haven't been to any local events but did enjoy watching the Pageant on the Thames and the Jubilee Concert at the Palace.  Yesterday we went to the coast ... it was a bit chilly but we had a great day!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Jubilee Candy and also a big welcome to my new followers :-)  

The winner (chosen by Random.Org) is .....

#29 Katina

Congratulations Katina!  Please email me at christopherthompson622@btinternet.com to claim you prize :-)

That's all from me ... I have a "not so fun" day of washing, ironing and food shopping planned for today!!!

Jubilee Candy ... Please scroll down for new posts!

Hi everyone

I haven't had much time for blogging recently so thought I would join in with the Jubilee celebrations and have a blog candy giveaway for my followers.

£10 Lili of the Valley gift voucher

MME 'On the Sunny Side' 6 x 6 paper pad

Kanban Butterfly stamp set

Marianne Design flower dies

Woodware paper flowers

Dovecraft gemstones

So for the chance to win all you need to do is:-

1)  Leave your name in the link box below

2) Post a picture in your sidebar linking back to my blog

3)  This candy is for my followers only

The candy will close at 6 pm on Tuesday 5th June and the winner will be announced the following day.

Wedding Couple

Good evening

I have had a busy afternoon crafting and thought I would quickly post one of the cards I made for my work colleague who is getting married on Saturday.  It has cooled down following the recent heat wave so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it warms up again and the sun shines for them on their special day :-)

* Card Recipe *

Image ~ Lili of the Valley die cut

Papers ~ Craft Creations and Wild Rose Studio

Sentiment ~ Little Claire die cut

Flower ~ Bought at the NEC

* Challenges *

Papertake Weekly ~ Sketch

Oldie But A Goodie ~ Anything Goes (LOTV die cut)

Cutie Pie ~ Die Cuts/Punches

MAWTT ~ Celebrate (not birthdays)

Right that's all from me ... but before I go I would just like to remind you about my Jubilee Blog Candy giveaway which can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Happy Birthday Chloe!

Good morning

Hope you are all well and are enjoying the gorgeous weather we've had here in the UK the last few days :-)

Today we are celebrating Chloe's 12th birthday :-) We have family coming round later for nibbles and cake and tonight we are taking her out for a meal :-)  

Happy Birthday Chloe ... hope you have a fab day! xxx

This is our card to Chloe ... hope she likes it!

* Card Recipe * 

Image ~ SWALK 'Daydream Believer'

Papers ~ Memory Box 'Viola'

Sentiment ~ Little Claire's die cut

Butterfly brad ~ Papermania 'Henbury Lane'

Everything else ~ Stash

Hope you have a wonderful weekend :-)

Meadow Cottage Bears Blog Hop

Welcome to the Crafter's Companion Blog Hop Scavenger Hunt to celebrate the release of Meadow Cottage Bears, designed by Blackburn-born illustrator and figurative artist Christine Haworth!


If you have landed here from Bianca's blog then you are hopping in the right direction. If not then you need to pop over the Crafter's Companion News blog to begin.

* Card Recipe *


Image and sentiment both printed from the CD.  I wanted the image to be the main focus so I kept the design CAS and just used a selection of cardstock and some twine to finish it off.


The Design Team have loved crafting with the new range and to celebrate the launch of this gorgeous new collection on Friday 25th May, Crafter's Companion have decided to give you a chance to see some Sneak Peeks and also the chance of winning a brilliant prize:


The Meadow Cottage Bears CD, Reddy die-cut decoupage kit and two Hunkydory papercrafting collections!


All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this great prize is visit each blog in turn and then head to the Competitions page on the Crafter's Companion website (you must be logged in to view this page). Each blog along the way will give you a clue which will direct you to a product on the Crafter's Companion web site. Within this product you will find an image of a member of the Crafter's Companion Team with a letter. Make a note of the letter and then head back to the blog to follow the hop to the next blog. Enter the phrase the letters make into the Competition page before 9am on Friday 25th May.


The winner will be drawn after 10am on Friday 25th May, and will be notified by email.


My clue is:


Which Collall adhesive is, according to Leann, the "Best Glue in the World"?


Once you have found the letter to my clue you need to hop over to Gemma's blog for the next clue.


Good luck and happy hopping!

A Gem of a Challenge #46

Good morning

Hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend.  Can't believe a week ago we were heading down to Oxford for our weekend break ... the last week has flown by! 

It's time for a new challenge at AGOAC and the lovely Gemma is hosting the challenge with a fab sketch.  The prize for one lucky winner is 4 digi images from Pink Gem Designs.


Before I move onto my card I have a couple of things to tell you.


Firstly Janet is looking for some new design team members so there is a DT Call over at Pink Gem Designs ... pop across to the challenge blog for the details.

Secondly this will be my last DT card for Pink Gem Designs because I have decided to step down from the design team.  This wasn't an easy decision to make because I have enjoyed being part of the team and have been a fan of Pink Gem Designs for a long time ... way before I joined the design team.  So I would like to say a big thank you to Janet for giving me the opportunity to be on the team.  I am going to miss all the girls but will continue to keep in touch with them via their blogs.

* Card Recipe *


Image ~ Jodie on Bike ... I have used the pre-coloured image 
Papers ~ 'Fabosaurus' digi set
Flowers ~ Wild Orchid Crafts
Sentiment ~ Forever Friends die cut


* Challenges * 


Papertake Weekly ~ Cute
Crafty Ribbons ~ Flowers


I have a busy day ahead sorting out Chloe's bedroom so we can decorate it ... Chloe isn't known for keeping her room tidy so think it could take some time!


Hope you have a great weekend :-)

SWALK 'Sweet Stuff' sneak peek

Good evening

Hope you are all well and looking forward to the bank holiday weekend ... I know I am because we are going away to Oxford for the weekend  :-) 

Thought I would share another card I have made for the upcoming SWALK 'Sweet Stuff' launch.  

This sweet image is very aptly called 'Friendship' and has been coloured with Spectrum Noirs.  The gorgeous papers and sentiment have been printed from the SWALK Vol. 1 CD.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Finished off with some punched butterflies (Kars punch) and pearls.  

* Challenges *

Little Miss Muffet ~ May flowers

MAWTT ~ Summer sunshine

Willow Sketchie ~ Sketch and die cuts/punches

Papertake Weekly ~ Anything goes

That's all from me ... bed is calling!

Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge and SWALK Sweet Stuff

Good afternoon

At last the sun is shining here in Norfolk ... long may it continue :-)  Sorry for my lack of blogging/commenting but we are still busy decorating.  We finished Jamie's room at the weekend so just the bathroom, landing and Chloe's room to do now!  

It's time for a new challenge at Crafter's Companion and this month the theme is 'Here Comes Summer' and the prize for one lucky winner is a £30 gift voucher kindly donated by Sara to spend on the Crafter's Companion website.

I have used one of the new SWALK 'Sweet Stuff' stamps which are being launched on Tuesday 8th May on Ideal World at 9 pm.  There are 12 brand new stamps plus a fabulous SWALK Colouring Guide CD where you can learn how to colour the SWALK characters using the Spectrum Noir alcohol pen system. There are also 4 papercrafting kits by Hunkydory that have been designed to perfectly complement the new Sweet Stuff collection and a new Reddy decoupage kit which features gorgeous SWALK characters.

If you would like the chance to win the 12 new stamps and the Colouring Guide CD which are worth over £60 all you have to do is tell us what the SWALK name stands for and the link to the question is:

https://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/members/competitions.html

You have to be logged on to be able to see the question and add your answer so if you are not already a member then please register as the winner could be you. The closing date is 8th May at 9 am so don't miss out!

That's all from me ... thanks for stopping by :-)