Cuttlebug Christmas...

Wow couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the new challenge site at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ mentioned on a friend's blog. It's their first challenge this week and involves using 3 cuttlebug folders in your design. This would have been quite a challenge for me if it hadn't been for the intensive cuttlebug training I had when I stayed at my friend Irene's a few weeks ago.

I've used the snowflake and swiss dots folders to create my background and then one of the small christmas word folders to make the tag. The snowman stamp and ribbon were part of a fabulous blog candy gift I received last week from Jennifer at http://www.jenniferssweettreatdesigns.blogspot.com/- thanks again Jennifer - as you can see I really love them.

Materials used:

• swiss dots embossing folder


• snowflake embossing folder


• christmas word folder


• imaginisce snowman clear stamp


• white, red and black card


• wizard nestability dies


• gold mirri card


• gold sentiment peel off


• gold eyelet and red and white ribbon

Another award...

Can't believe it - that's two in one week!!! No rules to this one but I will be passing it on to very talented bloggers when I have more time later in the day.

Too hard to choose - so if you are passing by please feel free to tag this award and pass it on to whoever you feel deserves it.

Red...

The challenge at http://artygirlzchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ this week is 'red'. I've used a poppy decoupage and striking corrugated red and black corrugated card to make this 'thank you' card. It's the same design as a sunflower card I made a little while ago, but I've used the layout again on purpose as my daughter wants two thank you cards for the people she is working with at the moment and it seemed a good idea to keep them both in a similar theme.

Materials used:

• poppy decoupage sheet


• red and black corrugated card


• white heavy base card


• red card


• tag punch


• gold sentiment peel off


• red ribbon and gold eyelet

Javablu award...

Well, what a lovely start to the day I have just found out that I have been given this award by Rica at http://ricas-haven.blogspot.com/. Rica is a very talented crafter and it really means a lot to me to know that she thinks I'm worthy of such an award - infact I think it might be an idea if she puts her glasses on and checks my work out properly!!

The rules to follow on being given this award are:

1. The winner can put the logo in her/his blog.

2. Put a link back to the person who gave you the award.

3. Nominate at least 5 persons with a blog, but first you have to tell why you want to give it to those persons.

4. Put a link to those you have nominated.

5. Visit the blogs to the nominees and tell them you gave them an award!

My nominees are:

1. Irene at http://alloccasionscards.blogspot.com/. Irene had to be top of my list as she has given me so much support since we became friends on the Joanna Sheen forum ages ago. She has taught me so much about cuttlebugging and never fails to cheer me up. Thank you Irene.

2. Wendy at http://craftblog.craftybutterfly.co.uk/ who not only provides inspiration for so many on her blog everyday but is responsible for so many people getting into blogging. You have a lot to answer for Wendy!!!

3. Max at http://maxscraftcreations.blogspot.com/ who is one of the kindest people I know and is amazingly talented at designing web pages for our MSN group. Thank you so much for all the wonderful designs you have done over the years Max and for your patience when I have accidentally 'lost' them!!!

4. Carole who hasn't got a blog but I have to mention as she is just so inspiring and can always provide links to the most amazing tutorials and also helps me spend my money (as if I need any help) with links to bargain buys.

5. Suzanne at http://suzannelily.wordpress.com/ who has been responsible for me buying so much Joanna Sheen stuff over the years - she does the most amazing samples for Joanna and now has her own blog with amazing inspiration and tutorials. Brilliant - thank you so much Suzanne.

I could nominate many, many more as I visit so many talented people each day and am so grateful for all the inspiration they give me and also the friendship between us all.

Thank you - everyone.

Trees and leaves...

A card made witht the challenge at http://www.mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ in mind. This is another autumnal card made using Joanna Sheen's Cardmaker's Year CD. I love the soft colours in this image and the gentleness of the little girl exploring the countryside.

The cream base card used is one I especially like (and I can't remember where I got it!) as it has a gold shimmer to it - very subtle but ideal to use with autumnal hues.

Materials used:

• Cream base card
• Gold mirri card
• Cardmaker's Year CD
• Gold sentiment peel off

As the card is one that I would send at any time to cheer a friend it is also perfect for the challenge at http://tandastamps.blogspot.com/ where the theme is to make a card not for a special occasion but just to say you care.

Numbers...

As my youngest daughter and her friends are all heading towards their 21st birthdays the challenge at http://themethursday.wordpress.com/ seemed a good one to use to get a head start on all the cards we will need.

This card uses a rubber stamp designed by the very talented Kerry Jo and is one of a bargain clear set of 12 stamps I bought from Debbie Moore's website.

Materials used:

• silver mirri base card
• pink card
• cuttlebug 'numbers' embossing folder
• Wizard nestability dies
• sizzix number dies
• holographic star card
• silver sentiment and stars peel offs - black fine border peel off
• silver corded ribbon
• sakura stardust pens used to paint image

Just beecause...

The challenge at http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/ is to design a card with bees on it. I bought this teddy bear stampin up set of stamps from ebay (just love ebay) a couple of weeks ago and this challenge seemed an ideal time to use it. The bear is stamped and coloured using inktense colour pencils as is the honey pot which I decoupaged on to the scene. I used Sakura stardust pens to add an extra twinkle.

As I've added a touch of cream lace the card also fits the challenge at http://thankgoditsfriday.wordpress.com/ and there may be only one jewel but it is a very beautiful coloured one so the card also fits the challenge at http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/.

Yeah a triple whammy - I will catch up after my holiday.

Materials used:

• Pink base card
• Striped paper by Making Memories
• Stampin up Teddy stamp set
• Studio G sentiment stamp
• Cream broderie anglais lace
• pink jewel

Inside the card is stamped with a heart shape which has the sentiment 'I love you beary much'.

Autumnal Notelet...

I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I go on holiday I really miss my crafting but then when I get back I find it tricky to get back in the swing of things. Maybe it's because there are so many things I want to try out. I must admit there were quite alot of parcels from ebay waiting to be opened when I got home.

Anyway this autumnal card is for the challenge at http://artygirlzchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ and was made using the Joanna Sheen CD 'A Cardmaker's Year' which I bought when it was on special offer a couple of weeks back. A really great CD and I can't understand why I didn't buy it when it first came out - I should have done!

Materials used:

• brown base card
• gold paper
• vellum
• orange gem stones
• Joanna Sheen 'A cardmaker's year' CD for backing paper and image

I've been tagged...

I was tagged while away on holiday by a very talented blogger friend, Rica, at http://ricas-haven.blogspot.com/. Check her blog - she does the most amazing cards - has a natural instinct for colour mixing that never fails to astound me and on top of that her playlist as you read her blog has some of my favourite tracks of all time. Great when at home but not so good if you are trying to leave her a message in a very quiet internet cafe on a beach in Croatia, but that's another story.

On being tagged you have to follow these rules:

1. Write 7 strange characteristics about yourself. They interest us all!
2. Tag 6 other people at the end of your Post.
3. Visit everyone that you have tagged and a leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they have been tagged.

Well here goes on rule number one ...

1. I have more rubber stamps in my wardrobes than clothes. It's a standing joke at our house that if ever we needed to call the fire brigade they would need to take the same extra precautions as if they were attending a blaze at a tyre factory.
2. Reading Rica's tale of getting stuck when a ladder fell down reminded me that I too once got stuck in a similar way. I was working in a very old school at the time and was trying to put some things away in a very high cupboard. Hoping to get home before 6 pm I disregarded all safety rules, climbed on to a chair on a table and then on to a ledge to reach into the cupboard. Needless to say the chair fell and I couldn't get to the table safely. I was left stuck on the ledge until two other members of staff passed and eventually (it took time for them to stop laughing) rescued me.
3. I also got stuck in a lift in Monte Carlo many years ago. Had to be rescued by the fire brigade - hmmmmmmm - the lift was genuinely stuck - honest.
4. I'm presently having a gap year - you may be thinking that's not a strange thing to do - well it is at my age! Oh I'm not doing the hitch hiking bit or the cheap hostels - 4 star or higher and after last week no more coach tours either.
5. Rica said her daughter tells her to grow up - hmmm my two daughters have given up on that one. They know there is no hope!!
6. I have a natural aversion to following rules so I'm only writing six characteristics about myself.

Now I'm going to pass this to my friend Max at http://maxscraftcreations.blogspot.com/. Hmmm only one there's that rule breaking again!!