Kimberley's Kard Kreations

Dalia's Delights

2012-02-18T13:28:00.001Z

For my second card today I've used a freebie boutique image from GTC's Crafty Corner. I've used Pink Petticoat's cake stand image for the shop window contents. I've decoupaged the canopy and shop sign using pads to give it a little dimension. I've also added a brad to the 'open' sign on the door. By adding the shop name and number 12 to the door I've incorporated the recipients name and age. This boutique image is so versatile as you can have any type of shop to suit your needs - every girl likes to play shops doesn't she?

Card Makin' Mamas - Happy Birthday
Fabulous Friday – Brads or Eyelets
Poodles Parlour - Mothers' Day / Female Card
Scrapbookaholic by Abby – Birthday
Sweet n' Sassy Digi Challenge - must use digi – photo inspiration
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything goes

Thanks for looking!

Not In My Name

2012-02-18T12:10:00.004Z

Sorry for being a bit political but I'm sick to the back teeth already of the Scottish independence debate. But more importantly I'm sick of Alex Salmond continually spouting 'the Scottish people want bla bla bla...'. How does he know what the Scottish people want? Has he spoken to every last one of us? He will only know what the Scottish people want when the referendum is over - and let's hope the majority vote with the thought 'united we stand and divided we fall' in mind before they place their cross. But to lighten all the boring and annoying bla I came across a sneak peek of the aforementioned ballot paper (apologies if you need a translation):

Anyway onto this weeks LIM challenge of punches or die cuts. For my entry I've cut a nappy freehand using scallop scissors, embossed using a Cuttlebug folder, used a Sizzix nappy pin die and my Cricut for the word Boy. The DP is a Pink Petticoat scrap. I love shaped cards - but with many shapes you don't end up with a decent sized card (as in my previous Smelly Welly post) - this one is not too bad size wise.

Finally, whilst you still have the services of a translator, here is a little Scottish joke.

A wee Glesga wumman goes intae a butcher shop, where the butcher has just came oot the freezer, and is standing haunds ahint his back, with his erse aimed at an electric fire. The wee wumman checks oot the display case then asks, 'Is that yer Ayrshire bacon?' 'Naw,' replies the butcher. 'It's jist ma haun's ah'm heatin'

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Smelly Welly

2012-02-17T13:51:00.001Z

Definitely required Scottish footwear for my 'smelly welly' card I've welded a couple of wellington boot shapes from the Sure Cuts A Lot programme to form a card. I've then covered the shape using Pink Petticoat Lola Rose in mocha and cut the trims freehand using scraps. The button is an MFT Die-namic and the sentiment is a freebie from TLC Creations.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Card and Scrap - Buttons
Crafters Companion - Anything Goes
House That Stamps Built - scraps
Inky Impressions - punches/dies
Paper Shelter Challenge - Winter blues
Digital Tuesday - #147 Use Your Stash
Anything Goes Challenge - Eyes Down Bingo Board Week2 (shaped card & die-cut)
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and have a great Friday. Hopefully see you tomorrow for the LIM challenge!

A Little Wild

2012-02-11T15:37:00.001Z

My second card for today is a birthday card for my friend.

I've used Penny Paisley digi-stamp from Bugaboo Stamps and the wild papers (wild for me that is!) are a freebie from 2 Peas In A Bucket. I've cut out an aperture using my Spellbinder circle die, the number has been cut using my Cricut and I've added a little blue glittery eyeshadow et voila - Penny Paisley is ready for a big night out.

Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Sew Many Cards - Birthday
Squigglefly - Birthday
Celebrate The Occasion - Anything Goes Birthday
Crafty Sentiments - Let's Get Girly
Digital Tuesday - Pink or Red
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Guaranteed To Wreck Your Head...

2012-02-11T09:22:00.003Z

...for the rest of today my card for the LIM one layer with stripes challenge this week is inspired by one of the cheeriest songs of the nineties - can you guess what it is?

I've used a Pink Petticoat little friends image which I've altered slightly to make a vest. This jolly image always reminds me of the Supergrass song 'Alright' and so here are the words to accompany the tune which will be bouncing around your head all day today - sorry!

We are young, we are free
Keep our teeth nice and clean
See our friends, see the sights
Feel alright

We wake up, we go out
Smoke a fag, put it out
See our friends, see the sights
Feel alright

Are we like you?
I can't be sure
Of the scene, as she turns
We are strange in our worlds

But we are young, we get by
Can't go mad, ain't got time
Sleep around if we like
But we're alright

Got some cash, bought some wheels
Took it out 'cross the fields
Lost control, hit a wall
But we're alright

Are we like you?
I can't be sure
Of the scene, as she turns
We are strange in our worlds

But we are young, we are free
Keep our teeth nice and clean
See our friends, see the sights
Feel alright

Are we like you?
I can't be sure
Of the scene, as she turns
We are strange in our world

But we are young, we are free
Keep our teeth nice and clean
See our friends, see the sights
Feel alright

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge – Animal Antics
Hotshot Crafts – One for the Boys
Poodles Parlour - Anything
Craft Us Crazy - Anything goes

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Cheeky!

2012-02-04T15:57:00.001Z

My second entry today for the LIM challenge is a little bit naughty.

I've cut the pert little bottom from pink card stock, the pants are cut from Pink Petticoat Lola Rose collection which I've hand stitched and added a few little gems. Oh to have a posterior as pert as this one - a few more bottom clenches and squats required I think.

That's all for today the rugby will be coming on soon - come on Scotland! - and I need to glam myself up as I'm going to the pictures later to see The Grey with Liam Neeson.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

We Was Brung Up Proper!

2012-02-04T11:42:00.000Z

Many thanks for all your kind comments on my lava lamp card last week - it seems it brought back memories for many. So before I move onto my challenge card this week here is another little meander down memory lane...

Congratulations to all my readers who were born in the 1930's 1940's, 50's, 60's and early 70's ! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos...

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, raw egg products, loads of bacon, processed meat and tuna from a can.

Then after that trauma, our baby cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

Take away food was limited to fish and chips, no pizza shops, McDonalds , KFC, Subway or Nandos...

Even though all the shops closed at 6.00pm and didn't open on a Sunday, somehow we didn't starve to death!

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died.

We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy Toffees, Gobstoppers, Bubble Gum and some bangers to blow up frogs with.

We ate fairy cakes (not cupcakes), white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because...WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of old prams and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and dens and played in river beds with matchbox cars.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo Wii , X-boxes, no video games at all, no SKY, no video/dvd films, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

Only girls had pierced ears!

You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns at Easter time...

Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet because we didn’t need to keep up with the Jones’s!

Not everyone made the rugby/football/cricket/netball team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on MERIT.

Our teachers used to hit us with canes and gym shoes and throw the blackboard rubber at us if they thought we weren’t concentrating.

We can string sentences together, spell and have proper conversations because of a good, solid three R’s education.

Our parents would tell us to ask a stranger to help us cross the road.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

Our parents didn't invent stupid names for their kids like 'Kiora' and 'Blade' and 'Ridge' and 'Vanilla' and 'Tiger'.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL !

If any or all of the above rings true with you then, once again, congratulations on surviving your traumatic childhood!

I hope you are still with me and ready to move onto the real purpose of this blog/post i.e. crafting and not rambling. So without further ado here is my LIM entry with the theme of aqua.

For this simple card I've paperpieced a sofa image with Pink Petticoat Big Dots and decoupaged a couple of layers which doesn't show very well in the photo. The sentiment is computer generated.

That's all folks - thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

What We Did In The 70's...

2012-01-28T09:31:00.002Z

...remember lava lamps? If you didn't have a telly you could while away the hours watching the blobs of lava hypnotically rise and fall in their rocket shaped housing. You were so relaxed that you were now ready to perform the trickiest of surgeries in a game of Operation with the steadiest of hands and without fear of killing the patient.

For my LIM entry this week which is a sketch I've used a lava lamp image from Beyond The Fringe Crafts which I've digitally coloured and mounted on sticky pads.

The image also reminds me of a little pre-PC saying. If someone called you a 'lava lamp' you never knew whether to be flattered or hurt. It meant you were nice to look at but not very bright! Never happened to me, of course, as I obviously didn't qualify on the second part.

I'm also entering my card into:

Crafts4Eternity - Clean and Simple

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Take Two

2012-01-21T11:23:00.002Z

As I already had a card made for my first LIM entry today I thought I would have a 'hole' (sorry) lot more fun today and I made another one. This card is intended for my friend who is recovering from an aneurysm. I hope it will make her smile after her 6 week hospital stay - get well soon Karen.

I've used the same technique as my earlier card using a Pink Petticoat With Flowers image which has been paper pieced using Summer Driggs Memories kit. Again, I've finished it off with Glossy Accents for the spout.

Thanks for looking!

Just Call Me...

2012-01-21T08:24:00.003Z

...Clairvoyant Kimberley. This weeks challenge over on LIM is 'Cut It Out' which is to see some kind of hole or aperture in your card. Earler this week I made this little card which fits perfectly.

I've cut a circle out in the card using a Spellbinder die and my Cuttlebug. I then layered my little zebra image from Cre8tive Hands both in front and behind the aperture. I finished it off by adding a little Glossy Accents to the heart.

Before I go this week I need to share with you the following warning which was sent to me earlier this week.

You've no doubt heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans. And then the thieves struck again.

My bum was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new bum was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I realised I'd have to give up my jeans in favour of long skirts.

Two years ago I realised my arms had been switched. One morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted', look again - was it lifted from you?

This is happening to women everywhere every night. WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P. S. Last year I thought someone had stolen my boobs. I was lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

I thought this was too 'important' not to pass on. Have a wonderful day - with a joy filled heart. Always remember to laugh!! Helps the heart AND the wrinkles!!

P.P.S. Those same thieves just came into my closet and shrank my clothes! How do they do that????

Thanks for looking and have a great week.

Tweet Tweet

2012-01-14T12:41:00.002Z

A little earlier than last week (I was suffering from post-traumatic stress after Donny Osmond married someone other than my good self) here is my entry for this weeks LIM challenge of a one layer card with the subject of birds.

My little birdie is from Bugaboo stamps which I've digitally paper pieced using Summer Driggs Beautimous kit. I've glittered with Glitz It in Rose and Glamour Dust with some Glossy Accents to finish.

I've had a bit of a bad week this week achieving very little other than a little more weight loss (I've lost 12¼ lbs. so far) despite having some of the Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondies I made yesterday proving a little bit of what you fancy does you good.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Bloggers - Wings and Things
Card Crafters Circle – Happy Birthday
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards – Glitter
Totally Papercrafts – Spots and Stripes

Thanks for looking and have a great week!

And They Called It Puppy Love...

2012-01-09T11:56:00.001Z

...back in 1972 this would have been so easy. Back then I was a Donny Osmond fan and therefore naturally my favourite colour was purple. Little did I know that he was probably secretly dating his 'sweetheart' at the time who was later to become his wife - I've disliked the colour purple ever since.

So my late entry for this weeks LIM challenge of predominantly purple was created using old DP from 'I can't remember where' I've had it so long and some new Hero Arts stamps which I bought with my Simon Says Stamp prize.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations Paint - Something Old
Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Anything Goes with Your New Stash
The Squirrel & the Fox - Something New

Thanks for looking and have a great week!

First Card...

2012-01-02T14:58:00.001Z

...and challenge entry of 2012! Isn't it great not to be doing Christmas Cards?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration and are slowly getting(or maybe you are steaming) back into the crafty swing of things.

Here is my entry for the LIM challenge of 'just one word'. It's a thank you card featuring a Paper Smooches image paper pieced with Summer Driggs Memories DP. I love this little bee image - it never fails to make me laugh.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Christmas Card Challenges - Thank You
One Stitch At A Time - Use a digi
Pile It On - Anything goes
Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T10:50:00.000Z

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

I'll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours...

2011-12-27T10:10:00.001Z

...your favourite creations of 2011 that is! I don't necessarily have a favourite for every month a la the lovely Kath but here goes anyway:

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and thanks for looking.

Brrrrrrrr....

2011-12-17T09:39:00.002Z

....it's freezing here. Lots of snow and ice - very Christmassy but treacherous. I missed the LIM challenge last week in every sense of the word. So without further ado my entry this week for the music challenge is based on the Beatles song 'Hey Jude'.

I've cut my little monkey and sentiment using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot programme. I've used kraft card and DP from Fancy Pants designs. With the addition of some googly eyes and a pretty pink bow (in the words of Gordon Ramsay) - done!

The card is for my friend Jude who adores monkeys.

I hope all your Chistmas preparations are on schedule and you get a chance to take it easy next week. For once I'm well ahead - only one present to wrap, finish some hampers and make Scottish tablet (the recipents should make their appointment at the dentist now!).

I'm also entering my card into:

Glitter Geeks - Anything goes
Delightful Challenges - Anything goes

Thanks for looking!

Thank You LIM!

2011-12-03T13:08:00.000Z

To help us on our way to the finish line of the Christmas card-a-thon those kind ladies over at LIM have themed this weeks challenge as green.

For my entry I've used one of the Doodle Pantry stamps I chose as part of my recent prize. It's been paper pieced with a combination of Summer Driggs Limeade and Shabby Princess Urban Kiwi papers. I've added a little red glitter glue on the berries and a few red gems (I hope that's allowed) and popped the whole wreath up on dimension pads.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Clearly Inspired - Christmas
Daring Cardmakers - Holly
Poodles Parlour - Christmas

I don't know how you are all feeling at the moment but I for one am thoroughly fed up with bad news. What with the global economy, pension fiddling, murdering thieves who think it is OK to take from those who have worked hard all their lives - where will it all end? How did we get to this place where honesty, fairness and decency seem to be dirty words?

Anyway rant over - thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Fabulous Funky Christmas Trees

2011-11-28T11:52:00.001Z

You have to make at least one of these - it's very theraputic. I can see a whole forest of these funky little beauties being planted chez moi.

The idea was provided by Vicky over on the Bubbly Scumptious blog and you can find the very easy tutorial here. You make it simply by folding pages of an old magazine and the whole thing takes less than an hour to make.

I've glittered mine with gold (you can't see it very well in the picture) but I think they look equally fabulous without any glitz.

Take care and thanks for looking!

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas...

2011-11-26T10:34:00.002Z

...not in this house it's not. I really must get a move on with Christmas cards but I can't seem to get in the mood. Anyway moving on to this weeks LIM challenge which is a bit of bling.

For my entry I've used a Pink Petticoat image from the Pretty Potties Wheelbarrow collection. I've coloured it to fit with the Create With Connie and Mary challenge (I now realise I can't enter as it's a Stampin' Up Only challenge) this week and added some pearls to the centre of the flowers, a gingham bow and a little Glossy Accent to the heart in the centre of the wheelbarrow.

It's been a bit of a trying week this week. My other half has ruptured his Achilles tendon and is now modelling a fashionable stookie accessorised with crutches. On the plus side I won a little prize over on the Doodle Pantry challenge for my Home Tweet Home card.

I'm also entering my card into:

Moving Along With The Times - Ribbon and bows
Pals Paper Arts - Pearls
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey - Anything goes

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Meet P.P.P.Polly Penguin...

2011-11-19T13:34:00.002Z

Or does it look like a Peter? Here is a little penguin shaped Christmas card I made using a Bugaboo freebie. I paper pieced the hat and wellies using DP from Polka Doodles Back To Nature CD. Polly's body has been paper pieced using DP from Pink Petticoat Lola Rose collection.

I don't think my cutting out is that great so I'll probably have another go at this one and try to make her a bit neater.

I'm entering the lovely Polly into the following challenges:

Floweret - Christmas
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Phindy's Place - Christmas cards
Polka Doodles - Shaped Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Must be Christmas cute image
4 Crafty Chicks - Paper piecing
Shelly's Images - Anything goes

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Ah That's Better...

2011-11-19T11:38:00.000Z

A little bit earlier than last week's better late than never LIM entry (I didn't post till Thursday) here is my silhouette card.

The digital image is a freebie (I'll need to come back later to tell you where I got it from - old age is a terrible thing) which I've printed and cut out with a nestie. I then embossed a frame around it, added a gem and mounted on foam pads.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Fabulous Dahling!

2011-11-17T16:10:00.000Z

When you're feeling a bit down there's nothing better than shoe shopping. My last card for today features some fabulous shoes which was a download from Papercraft Inspirations. I've paper pieced them using Summer Driggs Beautimous papers and added a little bling.

I'm entering my card into:

Cardabilities - Sketch
4 Crafty Chicks - Paper piecing
C.R.A.F.T. - Stars In Your Eyes
Just For Fun - Use your favourite technique
Shelly's Images - Anything goes

Sorry about the picture but it's almost pitch black here and it's not even 16.00. Thanks for looking!

Home Tweet Home

2011-11-17T13:39:00.000Z

I'm a bit late this week for the LIM challenge of leaves this week. Where does the time go?

For my card this week I've used a sweet Doodle Pantry image which I've paper pieced using a combination of Summer Driggs Limeade and Beautimous papers. I think the Limeade paper on the leaves make them look variegated. I've also added a little wordbox as an address sign of the recipient.

I'm also entering my card it into the following challenges:

Doodle Pantry - Must use a Doodle Pantry image
Crafts & Me - Simples
Little Red Wagon - Paper Piecing
Ruby's Rainbow - Something With Wings

I'm feeling a bit out of sorts this week - maybe it's the dreary weather - the stork definitely dropped me in the wrong place - I think he overshot the runway in Spain!

Thanks for looking!

Bella Bella

2011-11-09T10:10:00.001Z

I've found another new (for me) challenge. Use It Tuesday is all about using up your crafty stash. In my entry I've used Pink Petticoat Big Dot papers (which I use fairly frequently) and some wooden kitchen utensils I bought years ago from Mad About Cards. I made the card for the owners of the Bella Napoli Restaurant in Laganas, Zakynthos. The restaurant is the best on the island and boasts a proper wood fired pizza oven.

Talking about stash I wonder if you have things you can't bear to use because you love them so much. Mine is this:

It's called 'fajita baby' and I have both the boy and girl. The product is discontinued now so those I have left will remain safely snuggled in their blankets and never used.

I'm entering my card into:

Use It Tuesday - Cooking Up Fun
Anything Goes Challenge - Stitches faux or real
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Stitching faux or real
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Ooh La La - Stitching faux or real

Thanks for looking!

Good Enough To Eat?

2011-11-07T15:57:00.001Z

It's dreich and dreary here today - damp and foggy. So to cheer myself up I thought I would enter a few challenges and make a dent on the Christmas card numbers.

I'm entering:

Polka Doodles - Shaped card
Christmas Card Inspirations - Bows
Crafty Cardmakers - Pink, brown and cream
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes plus brown

The DP is from the Polka Doodles back to nature CD. His eyes and buttons are Card Candy from Craftwork Cards and his mouth has just been drawn freehand. It was a bit scary drawing the mouth in case I turned him from a sweetie to something from a horror flick - but I think the result is not too bad.

Thanks for looking!

As William Wallace Would Say....

2011-11-05T10:42:00.003Z

....Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!

Now I know Lady Lim Chrissie and Diva Mandi of Less Is More fame are not the enemy (they're quite nice really) but they are stressing me out BIG time - red and orange!!! My inner goth is crying out for valium.

So I've got through the battle even if I've not won the war. I've made my first ever rolling roses using scraps of Pink Petticoat papers in the aforementioned colours. The leaves are from a My Mind's Eye stamp and the sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

I'm also entering my card into:

The Card Caravan - Hand made flowers
The Squirrel and The Fox - Hats or flowers

Thanks for looking a have a great weekend.

Holy Cow!

2011-11-03T10:16:00.006Z

This Bugaboo digital image made me laugh so it's destined to be one of this years Christmas cards. Inside it says 'it's Christmas'. I've coloured the cow, added glitter to the wings and halo and filled the clouds with sparkly chalk. I've also highlighted the heart with Glossy Accents.

And here is a bit of Glasgow wit which also made me laugh - a young boy was out guising for Hallowe'en. He knocked on a door and announced 'trick or treat' but added 'and by the way mister I'm diabetic, so it's cash only'. Genius.

Scrappy Frogs - Something that Flies
Paper Shelter Challenge - Christmas fun
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Cute & Cuddly
The Pixie Cottage - Get started make a Christmas card
Charisma Cardz - Cutesy
Totally Papercrafts - Glitter it
Cuttlebug Spot - Anything goes

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Ah That's Better....

2011-11-01T10:00:00.002Z

....after Saturday's dismal LIM challenge entry here is one I'm a bit happier with.

The digital image and sentiment are from Paper Smooches which I've coloured with Copics. The DP's are just scraps from previous cards.

I'm entering the card into the following challenges.

Scrappy Frogs - Something that flies
Paper Shelter Challenge - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Make it Monday - Anything goes
That's Krafty Thursday - Use kraft
CAS-ual Fridays - Sketch

The sun is shining here today so I think I'll go out and enjoy it while it lasts - hope it's nice where you are - have a brilliant day and thanks for looking.

I'm In A Proper Temper....

2011-10-29T12:02:00.000+01:00

....how can this be so hard? I've been attempting an entry for this weeks Less Is More stars challenge since 08.30 this morning. My first attempt was a stamped card which I must have coloured a million times and didn't like any of them. Then I couldn't find a star DP. Then I wasted a forest of paper cutting out the TV.

I've cut the old TV using my Cricut and a vector file. The paper is from Funky Hand's Funky Daze CD and the sentiment is computer generated.

So now that I'm in a proper temper I think I'll do some cooking - something, unlike paper crafting, I'm quite good at!

Thanks for looking a have a great weekend.

Last One For Today

2011-10-22T13:48:00.000+01:00

I promise! Apart from seeing dots before my eyes anyone walking down my street must think the paparazzi are following them what with the amount of flash photography that's going on.

Anyway, my last entry for the Less Is More Polka Dot Challenge is a very simple card using DP and sentiment from Pink Petticoat's Big Dots Mini Collection.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

I'm Also Dotty About....

2011-10-22T12:55:00.002+01:00

....polka dot clothing. One of my favourite dresses of all time was a cream silky dress with large navy polka dots on it. It was very fitted at the top, full flared skirt, buttoned all the way through and was stunning even though I say so myself. Another favourite dress was the one Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman - I craved that outfit at the time.

So for my second entry this week on the Less Is More Polka Dot Challenge this little baby boy is obviously going to follow in my footsteps with his polka dot baby gro (don't do it son - you'll probably get beaten up at school). The image is from Squigglefly which I've coloured with a Promarker and paper pieced with Bluebell Pink Petticoat paper.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

I'm Dotty About....

2011-10-22T08:51:00.003+01:00

....typewriters. I don't know what it is but since I've stopped working I'm obsessed with typewriters although unfortunately I never ever had a funky pink polka dot one.

So for my entry this week on the Less Is More Polka Dot Challenge I've made a typewriter using a template from Papercraft Inspirations. The paper is from Summer Driggs and the name has been cut using my Cricut.

I love polka dots so I can see a few more entries heading the LIM way soon.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Accessorise, Accessorise, Accessorise....

2011-10-15T11:17:00.003+01:00

....if we all were to accessorise with our favourite tipple what would it be? Mine would be a see-through dress with a couple of limes in my hair (G&T with ice and a slice) which would not be a good look.

Over on Less Is More the challenge is Cocktail so the lovely DeDe from Bugaboo stamps has accessorised with her favourite tipple of Tequila Sunrise. I've printed the image directly onto cardstock, coloured with Whispers pens and the sentiment is computer generated.

And the recipe for my personality?

Grace, Tease, and Style

3 parts Grace
2 parts Tease
1 part Style

And a Splash of Success

Finish off with an olive

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

A.S.D.F.G....

2011-10-08T12:26:00.000+01:00

....do you remember your touch typing exercises? Remember when you needed fingers like a shot putter to press the keys? When there were no photocopiers and you used carbon paper or if you had a big run to do you typed on waxy film then rolled it through an inked mangle called a Gestetner? Ah those were the days - NOT!

For my entry to the Less Is More challenge this week I've used the Quirky Qwerty image from Pink Petticoat which I've enlarged and cut around to form a shaped card. I've coloured it with Whispers pens and added some glossy accents to the challenge required element of heart(s). The sentiment is just a couple of word boxes.

The card is for my ex-boss who has bagged herself a fabulous new job so I think the image is rather fitting.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Scrummy Yummy

2011-10-06T11:43:00.000+01:00

Over on Cute Card Thursday the challenge is 'Time For Cake'. So my entry is a yummy scrummy cupcake.

The image and sentiment are both from Pink Petticoat which I've decoupaged, coloured, added a little glitter and a gem.

Best of all this one is completely calorie free. Unlike my favourite recipe for Chocolate Orange Cupcakes which you can find here. I top mine with a jelly orange slice but the Terry's chocolate orange slice is a brilliant idea.

Thanks for looking.

Bling Baby

2011-10-03T16:29:00.000+01:00

How blingy is this little baby's buggy?

The image is Pink Petticoat Sweet Cheeks which I've coloured with Copics. The DP is also from Pink Petticoat A Little Washed Out collection. I've embossed the buttons on the bottom using a Cuttlebug folder and the paper buttons have been die-cut using my new MFT Die-namics set.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Fetch A Sketch - Challenge #8
Truly Scrumptious - Clean and Simple
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

It's blinkin' freezing here and I need to go out - I'd rather stick needles in my eye - however needs must.

Thanks for looking!

What's Going On?....

2011-10-01T15:16:00.000+01:00

....this is my third posting today - I must have a fever! I love this Pink Petticoat Little Friends stamp. I think she should enter Strictly Come Dancing - what do you think? I've paper pieced her tutu using a Pink Petticoat paper from Big Bloomers, added a little black pearl to her headband and the sentiment is a Personal Impressions stamp (I've stamped a sentiment yay!).

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Truly Scrumptious - Clean and Simple
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stamping For The Weekend - What A Cutie
Cute Card Thursday - Animal Crackers

Thanks for looking!

Alas It Was Not To Be....

2011-10-01T13:49:00.005+01:00

....the Rugby World Cup dream for Scotland is over. It may not have been nice to look at for the purists but for me it was nerve jangling edge of the seat stuff.

So to console myself I'm going to have a day of crafting. Don't all faint but I've actually stamped something - the butterfly is part of the selection of things I chose as my prize from Simon Says Stamp. It's from Inkadinkado and comes with a 'hello' sentiment but I'm not confident enough yet so I've resorted to a computer generated one.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

ABC Challenge (hurray it's back) - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Clean and Simple
Crafty Catz - Things With Wings
Colour Create - Lime, aqua and white
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking!

Come On Scotland....

2011-10-01T08:53:00.000+01:00

Morning all - just a quick post today as Scotland are playing England this morning in the make or break match in the Rugby World Cup. We are facing a Herculian task of having to beat England by 8 points or more to stay in - I fear the worst. Over on Less Is More the challenge is to make a card with the predominant colour being the colour of your eyes.

My eyes are blue therefore I'm entering this cute whale from the Pink Petticoat With Flowers range. I've paper pieced it on blue, added a little colour on the flowers and some glossy accents for the water from his blow hole.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend (especially if you are lucky enough to be basking in sunshine unlike here).

Beary Happy Birthday

2011-09-24T16:00:00.006+01:00

Last post for today and I'm entering it into:

Colour Create - Lime, Aqua, White
Alphabet Challenge - Q is for Quick and Simple

The image is from Ellephantastic which I've coloured with Copics and the number has been cut using my Cricut.

Right I'm off to get this place tidied up - thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Monster Munch

2011-09-24T13:48:00.004+01:00

This weeks challenge over on Less Is More is a sketch and in honour of Jim Henson's 75th birthday I've created a little monster just using simple shapes and some google eyes.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

I'm Cream Crackered....

2011-09-23T14:23:00.004+01:00

We're going to the theatre tonight to see 'Men Should Weep' so it's an early dinner for us which I've just finished preparing. Just thought I'd share it with you as it's all rather scrummy

Braised Beef With Red Wine and Cranberry

Ingredients (for 4)

1kg braising steaks
3 onions
300ml red wine
300ml stock
3 rounded tbsp cranberry sauce

1.Cut the meat into large slices, about 8cm square. Tip 2 tbsp flour with some salt and pepper into a large food bag, add the beef and shake to coat the pieces. Thinly slice the onions.

2.Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-based pan. Add the beef and fry on all sides until evenly browned. You may need to do this in two batches. Remove to a plate.

3.Heat 1tbsp oil in the pan if you need it, then add the onions and fry quickly for 5 minutes until tinged brown. Return the beef to the pan and add the wine and stock. Bring to the boil, stirring to scrape up the juices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

4.Reduce the heat, cover tightly with a lid and cook at a gentle simmer for 11⁄2 hours until the beef is tender. Stir in the cranberry sauce, taste and add more seasoning if necessary. Simmer for a further 5 minutes and serve with mash, and a scattering of flatleaf parsley.

Serve with horseradish mash.

To follow I've made:

Moreish Mocha Profiteroles

Ingredients (serves 6)

100g plain flour
85g unsalted butter
3 eggs , beaten

FOR THE FILLING

4 tbsp Bird's custard powder
6 tbsp golden caster sugar
600ml milk
2 tbsp coffee essence (dissolve 2 tbsp instant coffee granules in 2 tbsp hot water - we used Nescafé Partners' Blend)
284ml double cream
100g icing sugar

FOR THE SAUCE

100g dark chocolate , in pieces
50g butter
50ml coffee
1-2 tbsp coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa

1.Sift the flour into a bowl and stir in a pinch of salt. Put butter and 200ml cold water into a pan, bring to a rolling boil, then take off the heat. Tip in the flour and salt and stir to form a smooth paste. Now beat the mixture until it starts to come away from the sides of the pan, then tip onto a plate and leave to cool.

2.Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Return paste to the pan, then gradually beat in the eggs, mixing well. Spoon walnut-sized balls onto a baking sheet, then bake for 20-25 mins until golden. Remove from oven, poke the underneath with a teaspoon, turn upside-down, then bake for 5 mins to dry out. Cool on a wire rack before filling.

3.For the filling, mix the custard powder and sugar with a splash of milk until you have a smooth paste. Heat the remaining milk, then stir into the paste. Pour the mixture into a pan and bring to the boil, stirring. Cook for 5 mins until you have a thick custard. Stir in coffee, then leave to cool. Softly whip the cream, sift in the icing sugar and mix, then fold into the custard. Pipe the cream into each choux bun.

4.For the sauce, melt chocolate and butter with the coffee in a bowl in the microwave on Medium for 1-2 mins. Pour in the liqueur, mix well, then pour over the filled buns.

It really is worth the effort, despite the mountain of dishes, just need to eat it now with a nice glass of red.

Daisy Daisy Give Me Your Answer Do....

2011-09-21T14:26:00.005+01:00

I've found a new challenge over on The Spotted Chick - it's very simple (a bit like me) just to have kraft coloured cardstock somewhere on your card.

I've computer generated the sentiment, cut a flower using my Cricut and added Card Candy to the centre of the flower - simples!

Thanks for looking.

Warrior

2011-09-21T12:35:00.006+01:00

I went to the preview of Warrior last night. It's a fantastic film with fabulous performances from the three leads - Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy and Joe Edgerton.

The movie is about the no-holds-barred style of mixed martial arts fighting with a family story in the background. It's over two hours long but doesn't feel like it - holding your attention to the end. If you like fight movies and a good story you will love this film.

Great British Bake Off

2011-09-21T12:32:00.002+01:00

I was out last night so missed the Great British Bake Off so I've just caught up on BBC i-player. Don't you just love the humility of Janet? Go Janet...Go Janet... I'm rooting for you!

OMG!

2011-09-21T12:28:00.003+01:00

I've just won a $50 Simon Says Stamp prize for 'A Star Is Born' - again a random org thingy but none the less I won...I won...I won! Guess what I'll be doing this afternoon!

Baby Bear

2011-09-20T15:18:00.006+01:00

This is my third and final entry for the Less Is More challenge of Anything Goes.

The digital stamp is by Ellephantasic Stamps. I've coloured it with a combination of Copics and Sakura gel pens. The shading is rubbish - I could draw well at school but could never paint and was envious of those who did - but hey ho we can't all be good at everything. The sentiment is just a couple of text boxes using Little Days font.

It also fits with:

Crafty Callendar Challenge - Bears

Alphabet Challenge Blog - Q is for Quick And Simple

Totally Papercrafts - Clean and Simple

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for looking.

Onesie Card (Ooh Ah - We've Gone All American!)

2011-09-19T14:59:00.007+01:00

This week over on The Pink Elephant blog it's an inspiration challenge from this photograph:

The photograph reminds me of school when we tried our hand at crochet. Once we had got the hang of making squares we went into overdrive making bags, blankets, waistcoats.... well it was the 70's. I can't guarantee that our efforts were in such beautiful colours though.

My entry is this onesie (or babygro to us Brits) card which I've cut using an SVG Cuts file and covered in DP from Smirk which is very delicate with a hint of sparkle. Just the addition of the baby's name, some buttons and a bow to finish it off.

Thanks for looking!

Ladies!

2011-09-19T12:57:00.007+01:00

I've just been sent this and I thought I'd share it with you to salve you conscience when you're crafting instead of doing the housework.

Remember .... a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.

A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture.

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect 'in case someone came over'. Finally I realised one day that no-one came over; they were all out living life and having fun!

NOW when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home. They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life and having fun. If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice.

Life is short. Enjoy it! But wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time .... with wine to drink, rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around, again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind....

And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!

Share this with all the wonderful women in your life. I JUST DID.

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

I'm Having A Power Surge....

2011-09-17T13:56:00.004+01:00

....my second card for the Less Is More challenge has more colour and faff than my poor minimalist heart can cope with. As you know sweating is not a good look - I think a cold shower is in order.

Anyway can I introduce you to Fifi the giraffe from Little Musings which I've coloured to co-ordinate with some DP from Summer Driggs and added a little ribbon.

That's all for now I'm off to have that shower. Thanks for looking!

A Star Is Born

2011-09-17T08:58:00.009+01:00

Over on Less Is More this week the challenge is Anything Goes. Fab-u-lous! But as an extra little challenge to myself I've decided to find an apt song title for my card. For my entry I've chosen Girl On The Moon by Foreigner.

The digital stamp is by Bugaboo Stamps. I love this image - it reminds me a bit of the baby in the Simpsons (Maggie?). It's perfectly plain with the only bit of razzle dazzle being the clouds which have been coloured using sparkly chalk.

So if you want an extra little challenge to yourself and you are kind enough to leave a comment why not tell me the name of the song for your entry?

It also fits with:

Simon Says Stamp - Inspired By A Song

Alphabet Challenge Blog - Q is for Quick And Simple

Totally Papercrafts - Clean and Simple

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking.

Entering A Challenge On A Friday....

2011-09-16T15:21:00.009+01:00

....how very dare I! I know I'm a Saturday challenge kinda girl but over on Get Funky! the challenge is Birthday Fun - so that's absolutely ANYTHING birthday related except you MUST use at least ONE Funky Hand element to be entered for the prize. If you don't have anything Funky Hand there's a fun & funky freebie!!!

I haven't entered this challenge for a looooooooong time but I happened to be watching Create & Craft yesterday and the lovely Anice (doesn't she have a lovely smile?) was on which reminded me of Funky Hand.

So my entry is using a Tiffany Doodles image which I've paper pieced using papers from the Funky Daze CD.

It also fits with the following challenges:

Shelly's Images - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots Challenge - Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Birthday Time

Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

Fetch The Doctor....

2011-09-10T10:45:00.002+01:00

....no it's OK I'm fine now. I've been having withdrawal symptoms all week as I didn't enter my favourite challenge last week due to a lack of artistic talent. However I'm fully recovered now and entering the Less Is More one layer card challenge with the theme 'seeing double'.

I've use a Pink Petticoat 'With Flowers' image which I've printed twice, repositioned the second flower at an angle and joined the two together. The sentiment is just a text box using the Pea Roxygirl font.

That annoying smudge is back on my camera again (honestly it's not chip fat on the card -this is a fat free household) I really must invest in a new one. That's all for now, thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Bags Of Fun ....

2011-09-02T10:09:00.005+01:00

....on my birthday today. Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, bread and butter in the gutter, happy birthday to me! I'm doing no housework and intend to do nothing other than play with paper and food. I've made a little handbag box for the Die-Cut Dreams Challenge which is to make a gift box or bag and also the Moving Along With The Times Challenge which is handmade flowers. This is my first ever entry to both challenges.

I've cut the bag using an SVG cuts file using DP by Fancy Pants Designs. The layered flower has also been cut using my Cricut. Just the addition of a button and a gem to finish it off.

Thanks for looking.

I'm Back.....

2011-08-27T08:12:00.010+01:00

...from my holidays hence the reason why I've not entered the last couple of weeks of my favourite Less Is More challenge. Whilst it was great to be basking in 35C every day (it's raining and freezing here now) it's still nice to get home to your favourite things. So the things I'll miss are sunshine and wearing all my lovely summery clothes and the things I'll not miss are:

- people who leave their debris lying around the pool for others to pick up after them (put it in the bin which is only two feet away from you!)

- people who float around the pool on lilos it's a swimming pool not a lilo pool (there's a huge ocean not 30 feet away from you!)

- teenagers who race around on quads in the dead of night without lights - gawd help us it was like Whacky Races

I know I sound a bit Victor Meldrewish but why do some people leave their manners and common sense at home when they go on holiday?

However, one of the funniest and most disgusting sights I saw was a young girl sitting on the beach cross legged swathed in beach towels to protect her from the sun throwing up into a poly bag.

Anyway back to the challenge which this week is to combine three of your favourite past challenges.

I've chosen:

Week 3 - Spring
Week 5 - Pastel Colours
Week 29 - Things That Move

I've printed a Paper Smooches image onto card, paper pieced with pale yellow Lola Rose paper from Pink Petticoat and added some googly eyes.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking.

The Best Laid Plans....

2011-08-08T12:12:00.003+01:00

....I've got a to do list as long as my arm and barely dented it. So far today I've entered the By The Cute and Girly challenge and now I'm entering The Shabby Team Room challenge which is 'Tea For Two' based on this photograph.

My entry is a Pink Petticoat image which I've matted and layered and added a little gem and paper lace table cloth which I've punched with a Fiskars punch.

That's definitely all for today folks - I need to attack my list!

Sorry for the wonky photograph but I don't have time to faff around with it - thanks for looking!

She Sells Sea Shells

2011-08-08T08:49:00.005+01:00

Another week and over on By The Cute And Girly blog the challenge is By The Sea 'whether you're thinking of hot sandy beaches or stormy waves crashing, let the sea be your inspiration'. I'm certainly dreaming of the sea (not too long now till my hols) the weather here was miserable over the weekend - cold and very wet.

My entry is a charm bracelet I made with lovely blue beads and sea inspired charms - shell, seahorse, starfish and pearls.

Have a great week and thanks for looking!

I'm Pleased To Report....

2011-08-06T09:14:00.003+01:00

....the tan has evened out and the cold sore has all but disappeared therefore I can take the sack off of my head and venture outside.

This weeks challenge over on Less Is More is to use the colour of your nation's flag. So for me it was either blue and white for the St Andrew's flag or red, white and blue for the Union Jack. I've chosen the latter and used Pink Petticoat Big Dots in navy blue with red trim and a red butterfly which has white thank yous all over it.

I've recently stopped working and yesterday picked up a gift that had been left for me. It's a fabulous box of Jo Malone goodies including nutmeg and ginger bath oil, lime, basil and mandarin bath oil, pomegranate noir cologne and blue agava and cacao body creme - how lucky am I? - I can feel a whole load of fragrance combining coming on. So this card will be winging its way to the very generous person who bought me the gift.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking!

I Really Shouldn't Be Doing This....

2011-08-04T17:30:00.004+01:00

....I should be making dinner hey ho! This is the first time I've entered the ColourQ challenge which is:

For my card Ive used a Sew Many Stamps image coloured with a combination of Copics, Sakura Gel Pen and Whispers Watercolour Pens. It's mounted on Pink Petticoat DP in silver.

Not quite sure what's happened with the flower as in real life's solid turquoise (gel pen)but it will have to do as my evening meal preparations beckon.

Thanks for looking!

Am I Dreaming?

2011-07-30T06:31:00.006+01:00

Since last Saturday we've practically had continuous sunshine here in tropical Scotland which means I'm as brown as a berry with a matching cold sore (well a girl has to accessorise doesn't she?). However in an effort to keep the old crows feet at bay I've been sunbathing with my shades on and now resemble a reverse panda - so all in all with the cold sore on Angelina Jolie size lips and the panda eyes I'm looking pretty stunning.

Onto my entry this week for the Less Is More challenge which is feeling fruity. I've cut out a juicy strawberry using my Cricut, added some googly eyes and the sentiment is computer generated.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking!

Hooray....

2011-07-23T09:13:00.005+01:00

....the sun is shining (a sight not often seen in the West of Scotland) so no time to hang about - I need to get outside and catch some rays. This lovely juicy pear is for the Less Is More challenge which is button or ribbon.

I've used a 'With Flowers' Pink Petticoat image and added a teeny button to the middle of the flower. And that's it - got to go now before the mercury plummets again.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking!

Long Time No Blog

2011-07-16T14:12:00.006+01:00

Hi I'm back. Went on holiday in May and since then a few significant changes have happened in my life which I'll tell you about when I'm ready.

To get me back into the swing of things I've made this card for the Less Is More challenge which is circles. Mine is very simple but I quite like the graphic look of it and best of all no new paper was harmed in the making of this card - it's all from scraps. The stripey paper is from Pink Petticoat and the 'hi' has been die cut using Sizzix Slobbery Kiss.

The weather here today has been rubbish - rain, rain and more rain. Still I can't complain my holiday tan has has a fair bit of a top up this week. Hope it's finer where you are today.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking!

Not Exactly Snow White....

2011-05-07T12:43:00.004+01:00

.... thanks very much (not) Less Is More. The challenge is white on white and mine is looking distinctly grubby (something on the camera lens not the card itself). Not a lot I can do about it now so I hope I still qualify despite the unsightly blob.

It's my first ever stepper card (a little more practice required I think) with die cut and embossed squares which have been dimension mounted and a little pearl added.

Right off to sulk now and contemplate buying a new camera - or alternatively make only black cards in the future.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking!

Go On....

2011-04-30T14:22:00.006+01:00

.... you know you want to. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cupboards after Easter here are a few more choccies for you and, wait for it, they are calorie free!

I'm entering it into the Less Is More challenge this week which is thank you or congratulations. The sentiment is computer generated, the DP is from Pink Petticoat and the foam choccie shapes have been decorated using fabric paint, liquid pearls and some teensy beads - which one is your favourite?

I hope you are all having a lovely extended weekend - thanks William and Kate - the sun is shining brightly here however the wind would blow your bloomers off. Whatever you are doing have a great weekend.

Thanks for looking!

The Wheels On The Bus....

2011-04-23T15:07:00.005+01:00

.... go round and round. You may have sung this horrific little ditty to your beautiful baby at some time however here starts the campaign to have it banned. Earlier this week I had the pleasure of using a bus to get to work. Off I set in good time and jumped on the bus uttering the words 'the Porsche garage please' to indicate where I would like to alight from the said bus. The driver, or monosyllabic balding moron as I like to call him, picked up his price sheet and after much studying (how very dare I not know how much the fare was to my destination) he mumbled £1.80. Eye contact? No. Intelligible communication? No. Please? No. Thank you? Don't be ridiculous. Anyway, ticket in hand I found a seat. The bus took a different route from the one I expected but I wasn't worried as I'd been very clear when I purchased the ticket as to where I wanted to get off. Now you know what's coming next - the bus was going nowhere near the Porsche garage - so I got off and started hoofing it finally arriving at work 15 minutes late. If I'd walked from my home to work it would have taken me 35 minutes - taking the bus it took me 55 minutes and cost £1.80 to boot. Call me old fashioned but was it too difficult for the little pipsqueak to just say 'sorry we don't stop at the Porsche garage' or words to that effect. I swear to god the guy needs to be sacked or at least given electric shock treatment and intensive customer service training.

Anyway, I'm a bit calmer now (believe me this is calm). So we won't be singing The Wheels On The Bus to this beautiful baby will we?

The image is from Squigglefly, which I've paper pieced, and the sentiment is computer generated. I'm entering it into the Less Is More Challenge which is 'Off Centre'.

Thanks for looking!

Lulu...

2011-04-02T13:58:00.003+01:00

.... not exactly a Guinness but I love it all the same. Probably even more so because I thought I'd lost all my files last weekend including my Pink Petticoats of which there are many.

So my lovely little handbag is for the Less Is More Challenge (did I tell you how much I love this challenge?) the theme of which is a touch of red. The image is from Pink Petticoat Lola's Boudoir which has been printed directly onto the card and a little red glitter glue added.

I want this bag for real - I love coloured shoes and bags probably because I wear so much black. Either I'm a goth or maybe it's more to do with hiding those extra lumps and bumps that have attached themselves to me somehow. Anyhoo the result is that I need colourful accessories so as not to be mistaken for a Morticia lookielikey.

Need to go now I'm thinking of going to the pictures tonight if there is anything decent on - feel free to make recommendations. Whatever you are up to enjoy your weekend.

Thanks for looking!

Woo Hoo....

2011-03-26T12:56:00.004Z

.... a little sketchy poo over on Less is More this week. This is my interpretation of the sketch.

The DP and image is from the Back To Nature CD from Polkadoodles and the sentiment is die cut. I'm really loving these challenges as clean and simple is my style.

Not a lot more to say today other than enjoy the challenge.

Thanks for looking!

Not Exactly M&S....

2011-03-20T10:12:00.005Z

....but at least they are clean. Just a quick post today for this week's Less Is More challenge which is to create a card for a man. I hate doing masculine cards - pink is not really their thing.

So this little number is intended to be a get well soon card. Nothing fantastic here just freehand cutting with a little crimping and a computer generated sentiment.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Thanks for looking!

I Don't Believe It.....

2011-03-19T15:00:00.000Z

I read the other day in the Daily Rag of the governments intention to build solar farms in Scotland. If you have ever been to Scotland you will realise that we must be the most sunshine starved nation in the world - we've practically all got rickets. Honestly have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? How about harnessing rain power then we'll be the richest and most energy efficient country in the world.

Anyway rant over - my week off work is coming to an end boo-hoo. I've had the time time to get things done around the house and do some of my favourite things - crafting, cooking and baking. Apart from chocolate orange cupcakes earlier in the week I made 'diggers' which featured in the Hairy Bikers Mums Know Best programme. You have to try them - they are fantastic - you will find the recipe here.

A little card today is for the Get Sketchy challenge and features a lovely simple sketch. The digi-stamp is from Bugaboo stamps (Night Night), the papers are all from Pink Petticoat and the sentiment is computer generated.

That's all for now have a great weekend.

Thanks for looking!

Birthday Gift

2011-03-15T15:42:00.005Z

No crafting yesterday I spent the day catching up on some jobs you can't bring yourself to do in the precious little time you have off work - cleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer (let me tell you there was no sign of global warming in there - there was enough ice to sink the Titanic). Today I've been a little more creative making chocolate orange cupcakes and this little gift project which fits in nicely with the Shabby Tea Room challenge (love that name).

I made this necklace using some foiled hearts and the gift handbag box I cut with my Cricut. The paper is from Pink Petticoat in Rose adorned with a little flower made using the George Cartridge and some Card Candy.

I made a matching gift tag but forgot to put it in the photo and I'm too lazy to do it all over again. Right off to do something useful - I can't bear to watch any more Midsomer Murders.

Thanks for looking!

Doh!

2011-03-13T10:54:00.004Z

I must admit I was a bit offended. I shared my trials and tribulations with blog land on my last post and not one bloomin' bloggette left me a comment - not even the hosts of the challenge! What had I done to offend you all? Then this morning I had a light bulb moment I remembered I had turned off the verification thingy. Maybe I had one measly comment trapped somewhere in hyperspace begging to get released. Hooray - I had 32, yes a whopping 32, for my last card. Thank you!

So I decided to have another go in the Less is More challenge. This week the challenge is a one layer card with the theme off the edge. Here is my little entry.

I stamped directly onto the card using Penny Black Portrait stamp. I then embossed it and coloured with Whispers watercolour pens and a water brush. The sentiment is computer generated.

For the rest of the day I'll be building myself up for 'The Game' - Scotland are playing England in the Calcutta Cup rugby match. Things are not looking good for Scotland - we haven't won a match in the whole Six Nations tournament - however we live in hope. If we even look like winning you'll hear me (wherever you are in the world) screaming like a banshee. Whatever you're doing enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thanks for looking!

Don't Faint!

2011-03-05T16:15:00.004Z

It's March and this is only my second post in 2011 - so much for the New Years Resolution.

And what a pfaff it's been. How can something that looks so simple be so difficult? First there was the cutting around the image, then I thought I would thread up the full size sewing machine as you need to have bionic eyesight to thread up the mini version I bought for cards - could I remember what to do? - could I heck and about an hour later we were good to go.

Anyhoo I hope it's worth the 'sweatinducingbleepbleeproomlikeashambles' effort. The image and sentiment are from Pink Petticoat, a button and a little fancy punching is all there is to this easy peasy card - not!

I'm entering it into the Less Is More (pastel) and Clean and Simple (sketch) challenges.

Thanks for looking!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T14:35:00.003Z

Just a short post to wish you a Happy New Year if you've stumbled on my blog. I haven't posted in a while - so much to do, so little time - a situation I resolve to improve in 2011. Anyway, even although it's a bit late, I wish you all the following for the coming year:

May the best ye hae ivver seen be the warst ye'll ivver see.
May the moose ne'er lea' yer girnal wi a tear-drap in its ee.
May ye aye keep hail an hertie till ye'r auld eneuch tae dee.
May ye aye juist be sae happie as A wuss ye aye tae be.

And the translation for non-Scots:

May the best you have ever seen be the worst you will ever see.
May the mouse never leave your grain store with a tear drop in its eye.
May you always stay hale and hearty until you are old enough to die.
May you still be as happy as I always wish you to be.

Happy 2011!

You're Tea-rrific!

2010-10-09T12:37:00.007+01:00

I've stumbled across a newish challenge this morning. Over on Let's Craft and Create the theme of their third challenge is pink. Here's my little entry - the DP and image are from Pink Petticoat with little else but a lovely pink ribbon. It also fits in nicely with the Allsorts Challenge which is to take inspiration from a song title - mine is Tea for Two.

I've been doing a lot of craft shopping lately and not a lot of crafting - a trend which will need to be reversed.

Thanks for looking!

Tweet and Flutter

2010-09-19T16:24:00.004+01:00

I've not posted in a while I just haven't found the time - too many work days and not enough weekends. It's miserable here today cold and wet, winter will be here so soon. Still that gives us all an excuse (as if we needed any) to stay in and craft.

Over on Cute Card Thursday the challenge is 'Tweet and Flutter' and on Pile It On the challenge is layers. My entry is an engagement card with cute little Pink Petticoat birdies.

The DP is Papermania (I think) and I've matched the colours with Pink Petticoat A Little Washed out for the layers.

Thanks for looking!

Cinderella Proved A New Pair of Shoes Can Change Your Life

2010-07-31T10:10:00.004+01:00

Over at Allsorts the challenge is dressing up and over on Cute Card Thursday the challenge is to have text on your card. For these challenges I've made a simple card (not that any of mine are particularly difficult!) by cutting a shoe and text using my Cricut. The racy leopard skin print paper is from Pink Petticoat and I've added a little bling to the centre of the flower.

Thanks for looking!

I'm So Excited..I Just Can't Hide It..

2010-06-26T15:54:00.004+01:00

I've won the first Craftalicious challenge for Coochie Coo. Admittedly it was the random org thingy which picked me, but I'd like to think it was a reasonable effort.

Anyhoo onto this weekends entry - I did nothing last week because the weather was glorious which is a bit of a rarity in Scotland. I'm entering it into Cardalicious which is green, flowers and polka dots and ABC which is X... extra dimension.

I've printed my cardstock with Pink Petticoat's Big Dots in New Leaf and cut the flower and sentiment using my Cricut with the addition of a Card Candy paper brad..simples.

Thanks for looking!

Coochie Coo

2010-06-06T18:17:00.007+01:00

I'm back! I've not posted since April - it's not that I've not been crafting just that I haven't found any challenges I wanted to enter. Anyhoo for my first challenge in two months I'm entering this little number into the ABC Challenge which is vintage, Daring Cardmakers which is pearl and the brand new Craftalicious Challenge whose theme is new.

The vintage style papers are from Cajoline-Scrap, the image is from Squigglefly and I've done a little hand sewing, decoupage and added some pearls. I love the way this turned out - the little baby is too cute!

Need to go now this blogger thingy is playing up big time so before I lose my temper I'll sign off now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thanks for looking!

Moon Bear

2010-04-03T10:58:00.004+01:00

Over on Allsorts the challenge is no DP's. This is my kinda challenge as I prefer cards with a lot of white on them. It's just a personal choice but I do still salivate over all you fabulously creative crafters out there and your super fancy mixing and matching of papers.

So for my entry I have used my favourite Dustin Pike image which I use a lot on baby cards. It's a very simple card which I've made by printing the image directly onto the card and, by printing it a few more times, I've decoupaged the image and added a computer sentiment. I love this image - he is just so cute.

There won't be a lot of crafting this weekend as I've actually planned a few things (makes a change) which I'll share later.

Thanks for looking!

Flower Power

2010-03-28T09:54:00.007+01:00

Back to work tomorrow after a weeks holiday. I didn't manage as many challenges as I would normally although I made some jewellery which turned out quite well. So here is my final challenge entry for this week, an Easter card and matching pillow box filled with liqueur filled chocolate eggs, which fits with multiple challenges.

I've used a Penny Black stamp coloured with Copic BV13, the DP scrap is Pink Petticoat, a Fiskars border punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder and some glitter.

Incy Wincy Designs: Spring
Fussy and Fancy Friday: Easter
Lexi's Creations: Easter Theme
Pollycraft Challenge: Sparkly things
Cute Card Thursday: Dimensions
PaperPlay: Easter
C.R.A.F.T: Easter
Crafty Calender: Flower Power
Stamp Simply: Easter
Stampin' for the Weekend: Easter
Busy Little Hands: Cut it all by hand
Practical Scrappers: Something you've had for over a year... The Pink Petticoat DP and the Penny Black stamp
Stamp with Fun: Easter
Charisma Cardz: Spring has sprung

Thanks for looking!

Zingy Green

2010-03-25T15:32:00.007Z

I'm being a little green in more ways than one. I made a card for the ABC challenge and I wasn't sure if I liked it - but I did like my handmade ribbon flower. So I whipped it off and made another card with some scraps, some hand stitching, a computer generated sentiment and the aforementioned flower with a new button attached.

I like the colour combination of black, white and green - very stylish - I think I'll use it again.

I'm entering it into the Charisma Cardz Challenge - Spring Has Sprung

Thanks for looking!

Q Is For......Quote

2010-03-25T11:52:00.003Z

Here is my quick card for this weeks ABC challenge which is Q Is For Quote. My quote is by Dorothy Parker...Brevity is the Soul of Lingerie. The DP and image are by Pink Petticoat and the flower is just a piece of ribbon and a button.

Not sure on this one - I may have to recycle it later.

Thanks for looking!

The Reason I Don't Bake....

2010-03-24T11:03:00.011Z

Because I'm rubbish at it! I have a few things I'm not bad at - scones, tea breads that type of thing but the pretty, pretty stuff - well that's a whole other story. As you know cupcakes are very trendy at the minute and I love cute cupcake images on cards - so as I'm on holiday this week I thought I'd have a go at the real thing. I used the following recipe:

Ingredients

• 125g butter, softened
• 125g caster sugar
• 1/2 large lemon, finely grated zest only
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 150g plain flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder

For the lemon butter icing

• 75g butter, softened
• 175g icing sugar, sifted
• 1/2 large lemon, finely grated zest only
• 1-2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• jelly orange and lemon slices (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Line a 12-hole fairy cake tin with paper cases.

2. Cream the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add the sugar and grated lemon zest and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add the beaten eggs, then sift in the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. Alternatively, whiz all the ingredients together in an electric food mixer.

3. Divide the mixture between the paper cases and bake in the preheated oven for 7–10 minutes, until risen and golden. When cooked, the centre of each cake should be slightly springy to the touch. Remove the cakes from the tin and put on a wire rack to cool before you ice them.

4. For the lemon butter icing, cream the butter in a bowl with a wooden spoon or hand-held electric beater until very soft. Gradually add the icing sugar and beat into the butter, along with the lemon zest and enough lemon juice to soften the icing to a spreadable consistency.

5. When the cupcakes are cool, spread a generous heaped teaspoon of lemon butter icing over the top of each one (I also added some orange essence and food colouring to the icing). Decorate with the jelly embellishments (if using).

Adapted from Rachel Allen, Bake (Collins)

I followed the recipe, put the cupcake mixture into silicon moulds (they are brilliant) and put them in the oven. I set the timer for 7 minutes and had a look - not much happening, a further three and they are still really pale and haven't risen, a few more minutes still nothing and then I realise there must be something wrong with the oven - it is heating but obviously not enough. Emergency rescue whang them into the microwave and nuke them. Phew....they've risen but are still a bit 'peely wally' but it'll be OK once I cover them in icing.

So here they are.

They do taste good but I think I'll give the sweet stuff a miss and stick to the savoury in future. Oops I've just noticed I've got yellow food dye on my fingers as well - it looks as if I smoke 60 fags a day - not a good look!

Onto todays card. I've coloured a dahlia image I got from the internet with my new Pale Blue Copic (B32), I've stamped the leaves with a My Mind's Eye stamp, the green paper is from K&Co, the tartan is a scrap from a previous card and I've hand-stitched a zig-zag to join the two together and the sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon - Inspiration Photo
Crafty Calendar - Flower Power

Thanks for looking!

Cool Bunny

2010-03-23T15:55:00.008Z

Off on holiday for a week - fabulous! Managing to get some tasks done - cleared the box room yesterday and today defrosted the freezer (ugh...there was enough ice in there to keep a few polar bears happy) and shampooed the carpets. Time also for a little crafting in between chores and cooking.

Yesterday I made a card and matching pillow box which I've filled with liqueur Easter eggs. I'm entering these into Creative Inspirations - Anything But A Card and Pile It On - Furry Friends. I love these because they are very plain, with lots of white which emphasises the star of the show the cool bunny from Dawn Moore which I've coloured with my new Copics.

Today I've made a little card which will probably end up being a get well soon card. The DP is from Shabby Princess and the image is from Amber Ink. This fits with the Poppy Seed challenge which is buttons, polka dots and light moss.

I'm also entering:

Little Red Wagon - Copics
Crafty Creations - Spots and Dots
Allsorts - Spring
Crazy 4 Challenges - Spring
Digital Tuesday - Spring

Thanks for looking!

This Is It - THE Game

2010-03-13T17:08:00.015Z

Hope you are having a great weekend. I've had a 'poo' week so I've rewarded myself again by only doing the things I like to do - a little crafting, a little cooking, some Pink Petticoat shopping and watching rugby....we're winning at the mo....3-0.... I hope it stays that way.

Anyway, here are my crafting efforts for today. An Easter card and a little matching pillow box filled with chocolate caramels....yum yum. The DP I got free from a mag and the stamp is Penny Black Whispers which I've paper pieced. I've added computer generated sentiments, some Craftwork Card Candy, some hand stitching and some pink velvet ribbon.

I've had this stamp for ages yet it's the first time I've used it. I've coveted it ever since I saw it on the lovely Kath's blog (I think it's one of her faves). Such is the Kath effect (she's the crafting world's equivalent of Delia) that it took me yonks to get it as it was always sold out....oops it's 3-3 now. Isn't it strange that after all that lusting I never got around to using it. Yaaaaaay we're winning again 6-3. Before it all gets too much I'm entering the following challenges:

Penny Black - Spring Colours
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes
ABC - Paper Piecing
Cute Card Thursday - Celebrations
By The Cute And Girly - Spring

Oh my word it's 6-6 now....come on Scotland....I'm like a woman possessed....COME ON! I'm going to have to sign off now as my nerves can't stand it.

Thanks for looking!

My First Pillow Box

2010-02-28T17:27:00.004Z

Just a quick post to show you my first pillow box courtesy of a free Pink Petticoat template and a little bracelet I've made for a colleague at work.

I've stamped a purple piece of card with Versamark and then made the box with a matching tag. The little bracelet is just some silver balls with a little heart, flower and crystal charm.

Off now to get prepared for the 'W' word tomorrow grrrr....

Thanks for looking!

Where Does The Time Go?

2010-02-28T13:47:00.006Z

It's the last day of February already can you believe it? Still it's good to have a few more hours of daylight so we can't complain. Having a lazy weekend to reward myself for no other reason than I'm worth it!

Made a little thank you card today to fit with a few challenges:

Secret Crafter - Stitching
Cute Card Thursday - Ribbon
Creative Inspirations - Thank You
Clean and Simple - Layout #80
Lexis - Anything Goes

The DP is Basic Grey Two Scoops which I've had for ages and barely used (it's a bit scary for me) and the image is from the fabulous Pink Petticoat. Hope you're enjoying your weekend whatever you are doing.

Thanks for looking!

Her Name Was Lola....

2010-02-21T14:21:00.008Z

... I bet you've got old Barry Manilow ringing in your ears haven't you? Sorry about that! I haven't shared my diet update with you for the last two weeks as I haven't lost anything (boo-hoo). Not helped I suppose by the fact that we had a lovely meal at R34, a local restaurant in a beautiful art-deco building, last night.

I had chicken liver parfait with oatcakes and red onion jam, breast of chicken stuffed with Fontina cheese and Parma ham in a light jus with fondant potato and to follow a crumble topped rhubarb trifle.....mmm.mmm.mmm.mmm.mmm! Afterwards we went to the pictures to see Invictus and I have to say that Morgan Freeman is brilliant as Nelson Mandela.

Today I've made a 21st Birthday card which is version II (I made a totally different one last week which I now don't like). I've used Funky Hand DP, a Pink Petticoat image, the flower has been cut using my new Nestabilites. I like this one a little better - well it's got polka dots and pink - you can't go far wrong in my book with those ingredients.

I think it fits into the following challenges this week:

Pile it On - flowers
Digital Tuesday - all things girly
Get Funky - free theme

Thanks for looking!

Under Pressure

2010-02-14T13:06:00.005Z

This card is one of several and varied attempts at a silver anniversary card which I need to have ready for tomorrow. I'm not the world's fastest crafter but believe it or not I spent all day yesterday on a card which when I got up this morning I didn't like. Then today nothing went right with this one - the score lines were in the wrong place, the insert was badly placed, I had to cut the hearts numerous times and on and on it went. So before I go completely loopy this will have to do.

The DP is from Pink Petticoat, the hearts have been cut using Cricut George Cartridge, the sentiment is computer generated and the little gem hearts are from my stash. I've also used my new Scor-Pal board to qualify for the ABC challenge.

Even although it's a simple card it fits a few challenges...

By The Cute and Girly Febuary "Love"
Die Cut Dreams #34 "Have a Heart"
Die Cuts R Us #25 "Love"
My Time To Craft #78 "Hearts and Kisses"
ABC "N is for New"
Penny's "Valentines/Love"
Busy Little Hands "Love"
Cute Card Thursday #99 "In The Name Of Love"
Sassy Susies #8 "Hearts and Flowers"
Daring Cardmakers "Have a Heart"

Thanks for looking!

Perfect Sunday

2010-01-31T17:15:00.004Z

Breakfast, Sunday papers, tennis (no luck Andy), cooked and made a new baby card - fantastic! Can you believe January is nearly over already? Not only has it been a perfect Sunday but the old diet is not doing too badly either.

Diet Update
Weight: 11 st. 9 lbs (woo-hoo)
Weight Loss: 7lbs (14 blocks of butter)
Crisps: None (I'm a saint)
Exercise: None (v.bad)

Anyway back to the card. I've used Funky Hand DP, cuttlebug embossing, hand stitching, topper made from Cricut George Cartridge, a button, a ribbon and a little gem.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Hand Full of Stamps - Hearts
Fussy and Fancy - Hearts
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Hearts
Pink Elephant - Polka dots, a bow and pink

Thanks for looking!

Is There Any Good News?

2010-01-16T13:55:00.003Z

The heating went on the blink on Wednesday, got it fixed on Friday and there we were sitting in our version of the Bahamas when we had a power cut. Thankfully it only lasted about an hour but it makes you realise how much you take things for granted. Today a shelf fell off the wall and broke a Doulton vase. So is there any good news I here you ask? Well jumped on the old scales this morning (5 days into diet) and I've lost 2.5 lbs - that's the equivalent of 5 blocks of butter I'm no longer carrying around with me.

Onto the card which is for the Friday Sketchers and Allsorts Challenge. The DP is from Summer Driggs Bubblegum and Licorice collection and the image is from MFT. I've added a little bit of the stripe DP underneath the sentiment on the insert which reads 'Good Friends Are Priceless'.

Thanks for looking!

Diet Update
Weight: 11 st. 13.5 lbs (woo-hoo)
Weight Loss: 5 blocks of butter
Crisps: None (I'm a saint)
Exercise: None (v.bad)

OMG

2010-01-12T19:39:00.002Z

12 stone 2 lbs

You are having a laugh! I think Antonio Carluccio has a lot to answer for. Thanks very much for the words of encouragement - I think I would like to lose around 2 stones (28 lbs yee Gods). I'm not one for these fat clubs or anything like that but I think I'll keep you updated regularly - so here goes.

Weight: 12 stone 2 lbs (v. bad)
Calorie Intake: 1200 (v. good)
Crisps: Absolutely none (hurrah)
White wine: Half a glass (good)
Water Intake: A Lake!

D-Day Tomorrow...

2010-01-10T19:15:00.003Z

...diet day that is. We've just about used up all the 'junk' from Crimbo, had our 'last supper' at a local Italian and tomorrow it's time to pull in the reins.

Weigh in first...which I'll post and that should shame me into sticking to it.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Bubblegum and Licorice

2010-01-10T04:24:00.004Z

This is my card for the Caardvarks challenge - I don't think I've entered this one before. The prize is a whopping $100 voucher from the sponsor JustRite stamps - how cool is that? The challenge was a lovely sketch and here is my interpretation.

The DP is from Summer Driggs Bubblegum and Licorice collection (it reminds be a bit of those Blackcurrant and Licorice sweeties) and the sentiment is from WordArt World. I've used a Fiskars border punch for the scallops, hand stitched the vertical lines and added a bow, a button and some gems to finish.

I quite pleased with the way this one has turned out - I really like the sentiment to be the star of the show.

Thanks for looking!

Opposites Attract

2010-01-05T18:50:00.000Z

What a perfect day! I've made a bracelet and two cards and of course done a bit of blog hopping.

I've made these New Year cards - one for friends in Italy and the other for a colleague from work who is going through cancer treatment. I've used Shabby Princess Seasonal Sampler Winter - I love the muted colours and the spots and stripes combo - each card has the opposite paper as the main attraction. The sentiment is computer generated with a little padded silver star and I've added a border punched element with some ribbon and a button. I'm entering both cards into Rosie Dee's Challenge which is a free theme and to the Papertake Weekly Challenge which is New Beginnings.

Off now to think about dinner. Last night we had fabulous Sticky Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Honey which is a Nigel Slater recipe. Tonight I think it will be Baked Ham with Antonio Carluccios Patate al Forno con Cipolle e Aglio (Baked Potatoes with Onion and Garlic). I might make a little Zabaglione and serve with Amaretti Di Saronno biscuits (haven't started the diet yet you'll have noticed).

Anyway, whatever you are doing I hope you have a great time and thanks for looking!

Funky Wine Bar

2010-01-02T14:37:00.004Z

Last challenge of today and this time it is for Get Funky! the theme of which is Spots and Stripes - my favourite. I've used my new MFT digital image (so I can also enter the Stamp Something Challenge) which has been paper pieced with Funky Daze papers.

The downside of the digital versions of these MFT stamps is that you don't get the accessory images with them so I've had to draw the canopy freehand - I think it looks OK. The letters on the canopy were cut using the Sizzix Slobbery Kiss alphabet die.

I need to get ready now to go out - I'd rather stay in as it's baltic outside - that's if I can fit into anything. I made scones this morning and I've just had one with mascarpone and strawberry jam - honestly it had to be done!

Thanks for looking!

Clean and Simple

2010-01-02T08:50:00.004Z

My motto! Over on Our Creative Corner the theme is clean and simple. My entry is a little girl's birthday card and is nothing more than the image, a ribbon, the sentiment and a few gems. This is my kind of card with plenty of white. The image is one of Pink Petticoat's Frilly Millie's - I think this is Bonbon.

I hope you like her and thanks for looking!

New Beginnings

2010-01-02T08:22:00.008Z

Over on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge the theme is New Beginnings. The challenge is to create anything with a "new theme" - home, baby, job etc. My entry is for a new baby and has been made using Pink Petticoat Big Dots, some ribbon in the shape of babies bottles (how cute is that!), some embossing, a punched border, a big bow, a button and a little star gem. The card also fits in with the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge, the My Time to Craft Challenge and the By The Cute and Girly Challenge.

Thanks for looking!

If At First You Don't Succeed...

2010-01-01T09:08:00.003Z

I thought I'd check back to see what resolutions I made last year and whether or not I kept them. They were:

1) to stop buying lotions and potions till I've finished everything that I currently own (gloomy profits forecast for Boots then)
2) to stop keeping things for 'good'. So starting as I mean to go on I'm sitting here, admittedly in my jammies, swathed in Chanel No.5 from top to toe and it feels good (cue James Brown)!

I failed on both counts - I think the keeping things for 'good' is an age thing - from when you didn't have that much so you had everyday things and things that were kept for special occasions.

So lets try again - my resolutions for this year (lets hope I have more success in keeping them) are:

1) to finish all cosmetic/toiletries before buying/opening new ones
2) to stop keeping things for 'good' - enjoy the things I'm fortunate enough to have
3) lose weight

I hope you had more success with your resolutions and once again I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T00:00:00.002Z

All together now:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I'll be mine !
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu'd the gowans fine ;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot,
sin auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
sin auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o' thine !
And we'll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne

You are now officially Scottish!

Happy 2010 and I wish everyone the very best in the coming year.