Sorry for my absence and some cards made for charity

I'm sorry for my absence but we have been away on holiday for a week staying in California Sands near Caister and Great Yarmouth. We have had a lovely time and our eldest son also had his 17th birthday there as well (and he's got his first driving lesson tomorrow morning - that makes me feel old!!!). We only had two short periods of rain and the rest of the time has been sunny and warm. I would so love to live by the sea and not in the middle of the country so every day I have seen the sea which has been lovely.

Whilst away I had no computer/internet access so it was a hard week in some respects as I love getting my crafty fix looking at blogs when I don't feel up to actually making a card. I hope to be back and blogging very soon.

Daisy May Blog Candy

Over at Linnie Pink's Blog there is the chance to win 20 of her Daisy May sheets. Click here to go and have a look. Blog candy ends 26/8/09

New Blog Challenge Starting Up

There is a new Monthly Challenge Blog starting up on 15 August 2009 and monthly thereafter. It's called "Bizzy Becs Creatalicious Challenges'. To celebrate the start of this Challenge Blog they have some lovely blog candy up for grabs. Click here to go and have a look.

A Colleague is Getting Married

A colleague is getting married next week after being engaged for many many years. As they've been together so long and therefore have the things they need I was a bit stuck on a present. In the end I decided to make them some very personal thank you cards - 16 in a more elaborate style for the special people involved in the wedding and another 20 notelet-style for others to be used. I also have made my colleague a card for her husband to be given on the day of the wedding. I've packaged them all up in a box.

I shall take them into work tomorrow and leave them on her desk and go walkies. I hate being around when people open up things I've made - maybe it's because I think they won't like it - not sure really. Hope she likes them as a lot of hours have gone into them.

For the cards I have used various stamp sets including U-mount and Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Roses on Paper Challenge 29/7/09

Over at the Roses on Paper Challenge Blog this week the theme is "a little love". A friend on a Forum has had a baby yesterday and I thought I'd send the baby's brother and sister an extra special card as lots things will be coming through for the baby. For the sister's card I have used some Funky Fairy digital download papers and a Magnolia stamp coloured in with Lyra Watercolours.

The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog 29/7/09 and The Little Yellow Challenge 22/7/09

Over at the Pink Elephant they have a lovely sketch this week. A friend on a Forum has had a baby yesterday and I thought I'd send the baby's brother and sister an extra special card as lots things will be coming through for the baby. I have used Craft Computer Papers It's a Man's World CD for this card.

This card also fits the bill for the Little Yellow Challenge Blog challenge for this week of a boy's card.

Carol's Sketch Challenge Blog 15/7/09

Thought I'd have my first go at Carol's Sketch Challenge Blog. I needed a card for a Forum friend who has just had a little baby boy yesterday so I used this Joanna Sheen Messy Rabbit image.

Creative Inspirations Challenge 22/7/09 and Pile It On Challenge 25/7/09

I have made this card for a stall at the end of August. It's very similar to the other one but I've used a different card, different sentiment strip and added some flowers I got from Joanna Sheen's website. The card is made with some Red Hot Bed card/stickers and the image is an Elusive Designs one which has been wateroloured with Lyras and distressed.

This card fits the criteria for two challenges:

Creative Inspirations - distressing

Pile it On - Watercolouring.

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge 21/7/09 and Tanda Stamps Challenge 22/7/09

I have made this card for a stall at the end of August. The card is made with some Red Hot Bed card/stickers and the image is an Elusive Designs one which has been wateroloured with Lyras and distressed.

The card fits the criteria for two challenges:

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge - swirls

Tanda Stamps - Easy Elegance

Blog Candy

Over at the Pollycraft Blog there is some blog candy up for grabs to celebrate the release of TWIDDLY WINGS SET 2 digital stamps. Click here to go and have a look. The candy ends on 31/7/09.

18th Birthday card for my Niece

It is my niece's birthday next week so I have made her card. The 18th backing paper/insert is from the Crafter's Companion Occasions CD and the swirl backing paper used on the front of the card and on the back of the insert is from a Funky Fairy download.

This cards fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Funky Fairys Challenge - a girly card

Dottie's World - Razzle Dazzle - so I've added some Sakura Stardust to some of the stars, added some glittery fibres and some of the beads are glitzy ones as well

Corrosive Challenge Blog - to gain inspiration from the picture of some fashion girls so I think the reds/pinks, blues, golds do just that and Madison and Mikey from the Dottie's download having sticking up hair as well.

Christmas Card

I've been busy putting some items together for a wedding and needing to escape so out came my new Stamp from The Artful Stamper that I got on Thursday at the Stamp Addicts sale. He's called "Presenting Moose" and he's soooooooooo cute!!

This cards fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Digital Tuesday Challenge Blog - Christmas in July (I have used digital backing papers from Summer Driggs for this card)

Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog - take your pick from the colour combo of pink, black, white, yellow, green, grey and lilac - so I've used on this card white, green, pink, yellow and black.

Creative Card Crew Challenge Blog - Polkadots

Moving Along with the Times Challenge Blog - use the sketch and "cute as a button" ie a cute card with at least 1 button used on it

One Stop Craft Challenge Blog - Christmas in July

CRADT Challenge - pink and green

Whiff of Joy Fall Kit Blog Candy

To celebrate the new Fall Whiff of Joy stamps Katharina Frei has some candy up for grabs. Click here to go and have a look.

18th Birthday Thank You's

It is my niece's birthday shortly and she's having an 18th birthday party. We won't be able to go to the party so I thought I'd make her some Thank You's to give to people that attend the party etc. I used my Crafter's Companion Occasions CD and then used a Funky Fairy scroll image for the back as I didn't want it just plain white. Hope she likes them.

Yikes - what a noise!!!

I made a card last week and wasn't up to finishing it. I needed to put it into the post today so I wanted to cut out some Nestabilities shapes to go on the inside. All was going well until there was a LOUD BANG AND CRACK - one of my Wizard plate had snapped. It had been bending for some time but I followed all the advice and didn't turn it so it's lasted quite a bit longer but it's quite scary it making all that noise when it broke!!! Normally something like that would put me off using something but I love my Nestabilities too much not to use them anymore so ordering some more plates is in order.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 16/7/09 and Dottie's World Challenge 19/7/09

I have made this card for two challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - the topic this week is Christmas in July

Dottie's World - the topic this week is frame it.

I have used a Dottie's World Christmas Pixie and frame and have used a Summer Driggs Christmas paper and some paper and card from my stash.

Joanna Sheen Card Monthly Card Challenge July 2009 and Colour Create Challenge 16/7/09

I have managed to get time this month to take part in the monthly card challenge on the Joanna Sheen Forum. This month the topic is the "ocean" - I certainly didn't need much encouragement for this one considering I'd love to live near the sea!!!

I have added a few flecks of colour but mainly stuck with the blue and white colour scene as this is the criteria for the Colour Create challenge this week.

Monthly Card Stall for Charity

Well it was time again on Friday for the monthly charity stall to be set up. It couldn't be done on Friday so my husband and youngest son did it yesterday morning. As they were setting up yesterday someone bought a card so that's at least one card sold. I don't have a stall in August as I need to take a break when my sons are at home for the school/college holidays.

Card Commissioned by my Son for a Work Colleague

My son asked me if I'd make a card for a lady who is retiring where he works so I agreed. It had to be A4 so that lots of people can sign it. I have used Buttercup from my Crafter's Companion Flower Fairies CD and imported her and made her larger than normal. I have decoupaged her more than normal as the card won't be posted.

This cards fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Friday Sketchers - the sketch this week appealed to me but I thought I'd use it on a square or A5 card but I thought as I liked it so much I'd use it for this A4 card. This was certainly a challenge but thank you to Friday Sketchers as I think it worked well as sometimes I struggle on what to put on a card this size

Daring Cardmakers - "Away with the Fairies"

Dutch Dare Challenge - to use cutting dies and/or punches

Created by Hand - Fairies.

Corrosive Challenge Blog 12/7/09 and Lili of the Valley Challenge 16/7/09

Over at the Corrosive Challenge Blog this week the topic is dogs. I have used a 3D picture from the Card Creations Di Kaye Art Deco CD of an elegant lady with her dog - a gorgeous dog but one will take a lot of grooming!! I have finished off the card with some flower blossoms from Joanna Sheen's website, a sentiment from the computer and some glittery black fibres.

This card fits the topic for this fortnight's Lili of the Valley topic of animals.