See you in a week or so..........

Morning folks!

Just wanted to say 'au revoir' as we're about to go off on holiday for a week. We don't actually leave until tomorrow but there will be lots to do today and I doubt I'll have any more cards to upload. I do have a scheduled post for my DT card tomorrow for Dottie's World, but that's about it until we get back.

Right I'm off to start the packing (groan)........ why does everyone find a load of stuff to be washed just when you think you're up straight. Oh and another little quandry...... why do we have to leave our houses like a new pin to go away when nobody will appreciate it and the process of trashing it again takes all of five minutes when we return, lol?!!!

Toodles for now then......... xxxx

New Craft Emporium Blog and candy........

Good morning folks!

Just hopped on quickly before I take the kids out shopping to tell you that there is now a blog for The Craft Emporium and you can find it right here. I have to say this is one of my fave online stores as Lyn stocks some very yummy goodies. The range of October Afternoon products is amazing and now she has a huge line of Tim Holtz to boot, including the tickets I've been after for ages!

To celebrate the launch of the blog there is some candy to be won, so hop over and take a peek!!












Have a great day ;o) xxx

The Sugar Bowl Challenge # 15 - Gayle's Sketch

Helloooooooo peeps!

Firstly I just need to let you know that I'm not dressed yet!!! YAY!!! Summer hols have started, it's been raining all morning and I've had a lovely, crafty time. I promise I will jump in the shower as soon as I've typed this post. Then me and the kids are going to stick on our wellies, put up our brollies and go out for a walk to splash in some puddles........ and we won't care who watches either, lol!

I was attracted by Gayle's brilliant sketch for the latest Sugar Bowl Challenge because it's nice and simple which allows you to really show off the image and papers you use. The extra element to include if you want to be in with the chance of winning the fab new Sugar Nellie stamps is ribbons and bows. In this case my papers are Kay & Co and I love this colour combo - green and blue together is one of my faves. I added a Melissa Frances transfer, some gems and ribbon from my stash and a BossKut vine leaf die cut. The Sugar Nellie image is coloured with a mix of Polys and Koh pencils.




















This next card was created this morning by my dear, darling son. "I want to make a card Mum" I heard him say. I was frozen to the spot......... oh no, what stash would he want to use, lol?! Not my best papers or flowers please, I might still be at the stroking stage with some of them! Only kidding (wink), don't you think he did a fab job for a nine year old? He did everything himself, apart from me cutting the straight lines with my trimmer..... BLESS! When I told him I was putting it on my blog he was over the moon, so please let him know what you think of his efforts.....thanks ;o)

I'm off to hit the shower now...... can't let the hubster get home from work and see me like this!!!

TTFN and TFL xxx

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge # 61 - Swirls

Good evening peeps!

Well after a very long and very boring day at work it was nice to come home and finish the card I made a start on last night. I do try not to leave cards half finished because sometimes I don't have the motivation to return to them, do you know what I mean? Anyway, all I managed to do was colour my image and add some faux stitching last night, so there was still quite a lot left to do.

So for this card I've used the gorgeous Heidi Swiss Pixie image by CC Designs and coloured her with my new Koh pencils. I used papers sent to me by my matey Katy and I think they're MME Asparagus. There's a heck of a lot of distressing and grunging going on with this card - I added some faux stitching to most of the papers, then distressed the edges with a scissor blade and sponged them with Distress Ink. The sentiment is a Tim Holtz ticket and I've used a few mini brads from my stash along with some strips of paper lace.

You'll see I've included some punched shapes........ I do love working with punches as they're so quick and easy. I have quite a few on my wishlist which I'm hoping to get really soon. The flowers are Woodware Cherry Blossom and the stamen is also by Woodware although i don't think it's called that! I've added a few twig like thingybobs, lol, which are a new Woodware punch I bought fairly recently....... must find out the real name!!! Oh nearly forgot, I also stamped a few swirls onto my papers too and this is allowing me to enter this week's ASFOS Challenge which is Swirls, YAY!

I'm off to finish tea now........ we're having spag bol tonight and the smell is making me very hungry!

TTFN and TFL xxx

Just Magnolia # 14 - Buttons

Morning everyone!

Ever got so carried away with a card you forget about the required element for the challenge you want to take part in? Well that was me with this one, lol! Just Magnolia are asking us to add buttons somewhere to our creations and guess who forgot? You wouldn't know though would you - I managed to sneak them on at the last minute and so I hope that doesn't look too obvious. I don't actually use that many buttons on my cards to be fair although I couldn't tell you why because I do like them.

Anyway, for this card the jury's still out........ not sure if I really like it! Perhaps it's the colours as I'm not convinced they do it for me. Probably being a fuss pot again I know so I'll shut up shall I, lol?!

I used papers from the new Basic Grey June Bug range and added some faux zigzag stitching to the edges. My Tilda is coloured with a mix of Polys and some new Koh pencils which Katy very kindly got hold of for me - thanks matey, I love 'em! The flower and leaf die cuts are both from Sizzix and the sentiments are part of the Magnolia Summer kit.

Hope you have a great week ahead and let's hope we get some nice weather for a change....... how much rain again yesterday? Oh the joys of the great British Summer!!

TTFN and TFL xxx

Dottie's World Sunday Challenge - Frame It!

Good afternoon peeps!

Wow, it feels like ages since I uploaded a card....... I think I was on a roll the early part of the week and then life got in the way, as it does!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments you've taken the time and trouble to leave recently - I love to read each and everyone one of them. I have had a couple of new visitors too and will be hopping over to check out your blogs as soon as I can.

Now onto my card....... I must confess I wasn't sure this would appear on here today as I'm nursing a severe hangover and have been in bed all afternoon. What a waste of a day!! Why do I do it?! When will I learn?! Those famous words came from my lips this morning too....... 'never again'........hmmmmm, we'll see heh?

It was my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week and I decided on a theme of frames and borders. For my frame I've stamped lots of arrows onto Basic Grey Ambrosia papers, cut them out and layered them around the edge of my card. The arrow stamp is by Stamps Away and I bought quite a few different ones a while back after being inspired by my teamie Adele. I've come up with a male card again and I have to say that, whilst I don't usually enjoy making them, the Mikey downloads available at Charmed Cards and Crafts make it really easy to create something a bit funky!

I coloured Mikey with Copics and layered him onto a Nestie heart cut out using Cherry Hill papers from October Afternoon. I also embossed the heart which you can hopefully pick up from the piccie, using the diamonds Cuttlebug folder. I added some screw head brads to the corners as a finishing touch and the stickers sentiments are by Kay&Co.

I'm off to catch up on everyone's weekend creations now - not sure how long I'll hold out but I'll do my best, lol!

TTFN and TFL xxx

Colour Create # 23 - Blue and White.....

Howdy folks!

This week at Colour Create the combo is blue and white with the extra option of vintage. Okay, I hold my hands up! The white on my card doesn't look very white!!! Well it was white before I started distressing to create a vintage look, so I hope that passes, lol! I really like these colours together - simple yet very effective and perfect for a baby boy card. One of the teachers at my work has just had her first baby so I made this card for her.

I received a gorgeous image wallet yesterday from my lovely pal Chris and she sent me some cute images and shaped cards which I think she cut out on her Cricut....... I want one of those please Father Christmas, lol! I used one of the card blanks for the base of my card and one of the images which I think is by Elzybells, is that right? I picked up the doily in a local craft store and the brads and ribbon are from my stash. Hopefully you can pick up all the embossing - the sentiment is taken from part of a Cuttlebug folder and the hands and feet background is a Fiskars plate which I forgot I still had until I went rummaging for baby stuff. There has been oodles of distressing with Old Linen, one of my Distress Ink pads.

Thanks for stopping by today...... I'm at work (yawn) but it'll soon be the weekend and I'm working less during the school hols, yay!

Catch you later then ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge # 15 - A Sketch

Good morning folks!

This is just a quick post from me this morning as I'm off out shopping and then on to my son's sports day this afternoon, weather permitting of course!!

I've entered the Stamptacular Challenge for the first time as there is a fab sketch to follow which I really enjoyed using, plus the chance to win an amazing prize! I chose one of the fab new stamps from Sugar Nellie and she's one sweet little girl. My papers are Kay & Co and I've also added some embossed Bazzill card for matting and also for the punched leaves (used a Woodware punch for these). The flowers are Prima, sentiment is a Melissa Frances Vintage Transfer and ribbon and brads are from my stash.

Hope you have a great day and I'm sorry this is a bit short and sweet. Just a couple of shots of my beautiful Begonias to leave you with this morning, they're so vibrant and pretty!





















Have a fun filled day and I'll catch you later ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

ABC Challenge meets Simon Says Stamp.....

Hellooooooooo!

Every now and then everything comes together and you manage to make a card just the way you planned it.......... well this was one of those cards! The finished result is pretty much how I had imagined it in my head, YAY! Love it when that happens ;o) I chose to paper piece Tilda's dress and I think it turned out really sweet. Can't believe how nice these papers look too - they were a magazine freebie from ages ago and I found them lurking at the bottom of my paper stash!

I made my flowers by punching shapes using some white vellum, so I could enter this week's ABC Challenge, 'V' is for Vellum - and as I've done some paper piecing I can also enter this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge. I've used Woodware Cherry Blossom punches for the flowers and a lovely Bosskut die for the leaves. Tilda has been coloured with Copics and I've added some gold liquid pearls to accent. Tilda and the sentiment are both from the yummy new Magnolia Summer kit.

I took some piccies of my Begonias last night but haven't had time to upload and edit them yet, so I hope to show you tomorrow.

Have a super duper day today, whatever you're up to. Catch you later ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Tuesday Taggers # 8 - Friends and Sentiments.....

Good morning peeps!

Firstly can I just apologise for the bad behaviour of my naughty blog over the weekend - it keeps displaying that horrible 'Operation Abort' message and I have no idea why!! Well hopefully the start of a new week will wash away any problems, here's hoping anyway!

My card is an entry for the Tuesday Taggers Challenge and the brief is........

For this weeks theme we would like you to make something for your best friend - whoever this may be, and include a sentiment if at all possible. Dont forget you can make whatever you fancy be it an atc, inchy, tag or card - whatever shape your MoJo is most stimulated by!

There's a lovely prize on offer kindly donated by Lyn at The Craft Emporium, one of my fave places to shop!

I made the card for my lovely blogging pal Chris - I promised her some Ketto images ages ago and then forgot to send them....... oooops! Still better late tham never heh, lol! I used a gorgeous Alota image kindly sent to me by my bud Katy and the papers and Die Cuts are Cherry Hill by October Afternoon (available at The Craft Emporium). The ribbon, brads and dew drops are from my stash. The lovely sentiment was sent to me by my pal Jo and is part of a Melissa Frances Vintage Transfers set - they're so yum!

Well the sun is shining today and let's hope it sticks around for a bit heh?! I'm planning to show you some piccies later this week of the trailing begonias I'm growing in my garden - they really are so vibrant and beautiful!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Dottie's World Sunday Challenge - Oh La La!

Good morning everyone!

If it's Sunday then that means it's time for another Dottie's World Challenge - Louise has come up with a brilliant theme this week as we join in the French celebrations for July 14th..........

The 14th of July marks the French public holiday of Bastille Day so to join the French in their celebrations I would like us to make something with a French feel. It could be the image, it could be a french sentiment or it could just make you say Oh La La! It might even be just in the colours of the French flag (red, white and blue), it's up to you! Just have fun! Oh and don't forget to use one of the Charmed downloads!

Oh boy we have some wonderful examples for you to feast your eyes on this week - the girls have certainly impressed me with their stunning creations!

I chose Madison in France for my card....... couldn't have been more obvious, lol! She's so gorgeous and I love her stripey top and beret. I used one of the Papermania scalloped cards and punched some holes out around the edges, then added some red anchor paper by Kay & Co. Prom Mikey has been layered onto a Shabby Princess Round Label download and both images have been coloured with Copics. The ribbon and brads are from my stash. It felt quite nice to make a more modern card as most of mine tend to be cutsie or shabby chic I think. That's what cardmaking is all about though, drawing on different styles, and I think these downloads allow you to try something different.

Well we managed to see Hotel For Dogs yesterday and it was a good film, but the buzz in this house now is for Harry Potter as the new release is out on Wednesday. Tickets are booked and the kids are really excited - in the meantime they're watching all the older films to get well and truly in the mood. So you could say it's going to be a real HP fest in our house today, but not for me sadly....... housework and ironing beckon(two of the dirtiest words I know), but not before a couple of rounds of toast and a good old blog hop!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend peeps and remember, only one week left until the kids break up......... a thought which will either fill you with dread or glee, lol!!! Glee on my part I must add!

TTFN and TFL xxx

Stamp With Fun # 14 - Tina's Sketch....

Hooray! Yippee!! Woohoo!!! It's Friday and the weekend will soon be upon us, YAY!

I'm planning a chilled out one - hubster is working and the kids like to relax, so I doubt we'll do much. Our local cinema have a deal on at weekends called 'Kids AM' where you can see a slightly older film for £1.70 per child and adults go free!! This weekend they're showing Hotel For Dogs which we missed when it was first released, so we might pop along.

Well my Summer kit arrived from Magnolia yesterday and I'm lovin it! Has yours finally arrived Tab, lol?! Last night I inked up this little beauty enjoying her ice cream and followed Tina's fabby sketch over at Stamp With Fun. I had a good nosy through my Basic Grey pads and came up with these papers from the Blush range, rather yummy me thinks but then I say that about all the Basic Grey releases, lol! I did some faux stitching with a pricking tool and my white gel pen and added a butterfly from a Kay & Co die cut sheet.

Not much more to add on this one, except that the sentiment is my fave. It's part of a little Studio G clear set and I've used it loads....... always reminds me of a clothing label somehow.

I think I'll be inking up some more beauties from my new kit over the weekend...... having a bit of a Tilda fest this week, lol! Mustn't forget dear Edwin though - that lad does get a bit neglected sometimes, bless him!!

Have a great weekend and let's hope for a bit more sunshine ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Just Magnolia # 12 - Charms

A very good morning to you!

I'm just in time for this week's Just Magnolia Challenge, where the brief is to use charms on your creations. Now I know you're probably scanning my card in search of a charm and thinking where the heck is it then?! Well I tried something a bit different as I made my charm by stamping a butterfly onto card......... so there we have it, a charm made of cardboard! Not exactly inspired I know but a bit different at least, lol!!

I got to play with my lovely new Lemonade Basic Grey papers again and also embossed and sanded some of Whitewash card (sorry I can't remember who makes this and I'm at work just now so I can't check). The gorgeous Magnolia image is from the Spring range...... still no sign of my Summer kit yet but I'm hoping Mr Postie might just have dropped it off this morning.

Flower are Prima, Brads and Pearls are from my stash and my image has been coloured with Polys. That's me for today then - just off for a tea break now and then I really ought to get some work done!!!

Catch you later and hope you all have a creative day ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

High Hopes # 38 - Lots and Lots of Polka Dots!

Good morning my blogging friends!

Hope you are all well and enjoying the slighter cooler weather....... just wish the sun would put in the odd appearance now and again! Oh well, I suppose we feel more like crafting when it's not so hot.

This card is for the High Hopes Challenge set this week by Crissy, where you must use 'Lots and Lots of Polka Dots'. Now you don't think I went overboard on this do you, lol?! Actually, I've been playing with Polka Dots on the last few cards I've made, love 'em you see! These papers are a mix of Basic Grey June Bug and October Afternoon Cherry Hill, all purchased I might add from The Craft Emporium which is a fab place to shop!

I so love Willard standing with his brolly, he's just the cutest ant ever!! I coloured him with Polys and lightly inked around the edge with Distress Ink. The sentiment is computer generated and the pearls are from my stash. I used a Woodware embossing punch for my pansies which again have been lightly inked and filled the middle with a Retro Flower punch by EK Success. The leaves are also Woodware and the scalloped edge is Martha Stewart's Doily Edge punch, but then I'm sure you already knew that!!!




















Sorry the close up of my image isn't great but it's the best my camera can manage.

Hope you all have a fabby day and a huge thanks to everyone who has stopped by recently, it makes my day ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Sketch Saturday # 58 meets The Next Level # 6......

Good afternoon everyone!

Are you dancing in puddles today with your wellies on? Wow, we've certainly washed away all that gorgeous sun now haven't we?!

I'm entering my card into Sketch Saturday, where Gill has provided us with an amazing sketch. I have moved my flowers around as I felt they would be very cramped on my card if I'd copied the way they were positioned on the sketch layout - hope that's okay? I'm also entering The Next Level for the first time where the brief is to use Buttons and Bows. I've used chipboard buttons and string for the bows. My lovely friend Tara G sent me the buttons from Canada and I love them!

The gingham paper is some I picked up at my local market stall and the red spotty is from the new Basic Grey June Bug range. I cut the swirls with a Bigz Sizzix Die and the flowers are an EK Success Retro Flower Punch. This is the first time I've used this adorable Tilda (coloured with Copics) and I have to say she's one of the cutest and sweetest of them all! I cut my sentiment out with a Dymo and the lace and gems are from my stash.

We had a fab time at M-I-L's 70th party on Sunday which was held in my S-I-L's garden. They have a swimming pool (lucky or what?) and the kids had a whale of a time as the weather was so glorious. Hubster and I decided not to go in the pool, but after a few glasses of champers we both jumped in......... fully clothed, lol!!!!

I'll leave you with that image!!

Enjoy the rest of your day, whatever you're up to.

TTFN and TFL xxx

Dottie's World Sunday Challenge - In Bloom

Good morning peeps!

Happy Sunday to you all - I've been AWOL this week mostly and I'm very sorry for that, but sometimes a week comes along jam-packed with stuff and your normal routine just falls by the wayside! Well that's the week I've just had and now I'm trying very hard to play catch up!! I've also had a couple of very bad heads which I think has been due to the heat, even though I've had enough water to keep a camel going for a lifetime, lol! Thank you so much to everyone who has left comments recently about my migraines and other health issues - I really appreciate your kind words and promise not to bore you with it all anymore! If I'm fed up to the back teeth with it then you lot certainly must be, hee hee!




























Onto my card, if you call it that! It's a flowerpot card and I earmarked it specially for this week's Dottie's World Challenge where the theme is 'In Bloom'. Never has there been such a perfect challenge for this time of year....... all you gardeners will agree I'm sure that the combination of lots of sun with a few sharp showers has certainly brought our green and pleasant land to life! I'm sure lots of you will have bought the new Pixie Downloads available just now from Charmed Cards and Crafts so I'm sure you'll be delighted to team them with all the gorgeous flowers in your stash. Pop over and have a look at what the other girls have created if you can, there's something to inspire you all for sure with the beautiful creations being showcased today. If you're wondering how I created the shape for my card, I was going to search around for a template but in the end just decided to draw it myself........ quite pleased with how it turned out really and will definitely make some more of these. I used papers from Basic Grey, QuicKutz and Sizzix Dies, Stickles Glue and Brads from my stash. The image is coloured with Copics.


























Well, this post has been scheduled because I'm out at a party today celebrating my M-I-L's 70th birthday. I'm hoping to be home by the evening as I'm well overdue for a mammoth blog hop and want to catch up with you all properly ;o)

So until then......... toodle pip and thanks for looking my friends. Hope you enjoy your day!

Hugs Tara xxxx