Happy Friday....

... folks!!!  Just when I thought I was getting back into blogging/crafting - something comes along and bumps me off my track - lol - not that I'm complaining as we had a lovely weekend break last weekend to Northumberland just me and hubby so we could go walking/wandering without any moaning from the boys lol.

We got to visit Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Seahouses, Alnwick and a few other places and it was lovely even the lousy weather on the Saturday didnt spoil it - on the Friday, when we went it was lovely.  We stayed at this guest house and it was beautiful - everything was perfect, spotlessly clean, great hearty breakfast would definately recommend it - there was no scrimping on any attention to detail - I can be quite fussy - but this was perfect - cant wait to visit again.

We've also booked a trip to Amsterdam in November - so I've been googling non stop on how we get to our hotel, where is best to visit - sorting tickets for Anne Frank museum - me & tripadvisor are best buddies -lol.  If anyone has any recommendations - I am all ears :-).

Right, now I've got that off my chest - I'll show a recent make - I know that Debbie has received it so its safe to blog:

This is a Sassy Cheryl image coloured with promarkers.  The paper is from a hobbycraft pad and I have added ribbon, leaves, flowers and sentiment from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Sweet Stampin - Autumn

Papertake weekly - anything goes
I love promarkers - colours of autumn.
Aud sentiments -   anything goes





Right best get ready for Tom coming in from school.  Thanks for looking


Ali
xx

Good Afternoon....

...  ooh I'm doing well with cards at the moment, lol - AND- I have picked up my stitching again - yay!!! 

Here is a card I've made for our neice (once removed - if thats possible - but you get the idea!!):

I came across this gorgeous freebie image whilst blog hopping and its from All Dressed Up  - thank you.  I have coloured her with promarkers and added stickles to her tutu.  The gingham paper is quite old and I think it came from a freebie paperpack that came with a magazine - as was the flowery paper.   These have been matted onto silver card.  I have added a diecut and my own sentiment and then added punched flowers that I have added distress inks to and little green gems and then added some leaves that where cut from a larger leaf die.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - make it feminine
Di's digi challenge - Girlie

Thank you for looking

Ali
xx

Hellooo...

... Hope you are having a relaxing Sunday - I had a bit of a lazy day yesterday and I am paying for it now - lol, grocery shopping, ironing, mopping floors and helping with homework.

I did have a little play yesterday and made this:

Apologies for the slightly dark photo, its a bit of a grey day here and this was taken outside too :-(.  The image is Sugar Nellie coloured with promarkers and had quite a bit of glitter and stickles added - lol.  The papers I think are dovecraft and embossed whie card matted onto red card  I created the sentiment in word and added a punched snowflake and pearl and then added further pearls from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Sugar Bowl (sugar nellie challenge)  - anything goes
Divas by design - pretty in glitter
WinterWonderland - layer it up

Many thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Its lovely...

... and sunny here today, so am going to make the most of it and peg some washing out when I've posted this.  This is a card I've made for my youngest to give to his best friend on Sunday when he goes to his laser-quest party:

The image is  greetings farm coloured with promarkers  matted onto pale blue paper.  I have then hand cut some fishtale dies from scraps and matted onto blue card stock.  I have then added button, twind and sentiment from my stash and faux stitched around the card.  Quite c&s for an eleven year old.

I would like to enter this into:

I Love promarkers - include a number - there is one on the sentimet - hope this is ok.
Sweet Stampin - just for men.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Good Morning...

... just popping on quickly before I dash out, as I wanted to blog a card I made last night:

As you can see I havent attempted to watermark this lol.  The image is a Whimsie Doodles, coloured with promarkers and matted onto orange card.  The papers are from a Amy Tangerine pad with a sentiment from Craftwork cards.  The sunflower is from my stash and I have die cut some swirls to place underneath the flower.  I have used a kraft card blank that I got from Harrogate.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - Autumn colours
Simon says Stamp - anything goes
Sketch n Stash - sketch
Whimsie Doodles - Autumn colours


Right gotta go!!

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Oh dear....

...  my mojo has been and gone big style lately.  I havent crafted - although I did do some colouring at a crop to see if that would help - as I have cards that need making, I havent even stitched - just sat on my bum on a night and watched the cycling.  Now thats finished and I'm not doing anything!!!  So last night I had a bit of a blog cruise (my mojo went so much, I didnt really bother visiting blogs either - shocking!!!), to try and kick start my mojo, as well as some (small) retail therapy - yet I still never have what I need - how does that work - lol.

I had an image that I'd coloured at the crop and put that to use:

I've been forgetting to watermark my images and now cant fully remember what to do lol so I am hoping you can see this image ok (I'll have to check with my crafting buddy Janine where I am going wrong!!)  The image is aSugar Nellie coloured with promarkers, ribbon added from my stash - the papers where from a stall at Harrogate ages ago and matted onto white card.

I would like to enter this into:

Sweet Stampin - ribbons and bows

Papertake Weekly  - Oh how cute (I always worry how you define cute - I think the image is cute??) - if its not the type of cute you are looking for, feel free to remove :-) xx

Right off to have a rummage through my papers and images to get inspired.

Thanks for looking 

Ali

xx

Something a bit different...

... for me, anyway!!  Last Saturday I met up with Janine as the lovely ladies who own/run NiceStuff (dont have a blog but are on facebook) were doing a make and take at a local craft shop, and it was going to be using Distress Inks - well I have a few and apart from the odd inking around the edges of images I've not really used them.

So Gail and Janet went some through some different techniques on how to get some use out of them and these are the results:

These are three tags I made with the help and inspiration from Gail - very different not my usual style - but I am loving them.

Gail, had made a tag and I loved the image so she kindly gave it to me:

How cool is that!!!

Then as luck would have it todays challenge over at I love promarkers is make your own backing papers!!!  So out came the distress inks, sponges, mask and spritzer and this is what I have come up with:

I am loving the weird and whacky at the moment - this image is from a designer on Etsy called VeraLane Studio - I came across her work whilst mooching on other peoples blogs (as you do) I have coloured him with promarkers and matted onto black card.  The sentiment came with the image (and someother things to).  As mentioned I have used Tim Holtz distress inks and a mask that came from the local craft shop to make the backing paper, which has again been matted onto black card.  I have taken this picture outside so there is extra shadowing and the colouring doesnt look as shaded (if that makes sense) as it does indoors.

I would like to enter this into:

I love promarkers - make your own backing paper
Simon says stamp - anything goes

Right thats me for the day.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Morning...

... just flying by with a quick post before we nip out for breakfast - naughty I know, but its hubbys idea so who am I to argue :-).

The challenge at Passion for Promarkers this week was a sketch, so I thought I'd have a go:

The image is Greetings Farm colured with promarkers.  The papers are Nikki Sivils, with some pink card stock for matting and some gems from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - sketch

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Anything goes...

... at the Tiddly Inks challenge blog, and I had a card made a while ago for a relative that I hadnt blogged so thought I would have a go:

The image is of course Tiddly Inks coloured with promarkers and matted onto red card.  I have then used dp and candy from Craftwork cards.

I would like to enter this into Tiddly Inks - anything goes.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

I've got...

... Mr Mojo grasped firmly with both hands so he doesnt go a wanderin again.  I've been looking at sketch challenges as a way to help with layouts, and quite likes the easiness of the one at Sketch n Stash, so here is my take on it:

The papers are MME, matted onto spotted bazzil, the image is pennyblack coloured with promarkers and glossy accents added to the bubbles, the twine and button are from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Sketch n Stash - challenge 144.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

At last...

... a little stitchy update.  Honestly, I have been doing some stitching on a night I've had a few projects on the go.  These are my current WIPs - the dandelion dream I made an error on and had to upick a few rows on the leaf, so that went to the bottom of the pile.  Steph kindly sent me the zombie chart - I thought it would be ideal for the room where my boys play the x-box:

These are some recently finished pieces (I dont think I've shown them completed):

The Friendship one was a pattern I got from Harrogate, and the alphabet one was a pattern I saw on Junes blog and fell in love with it - I tracked down the pattern and use different varigated thread colours - now all I have to do is get them finished off (with my other things that need finishing!!!) 

I think I need to set a few hours aside to actually get things finished - I have cross-stitch cards to finish - all they need is some sellotape and they'll be sorted - honestly I'm terrible!!!

Thanks for looking

Ali

xx

P.S. Uniform shopping done and not to bad price wise - by not needing new shoes!!  They were bought towards the end of the last term so a bit of polish and they'll be fine :-) (just need to check they still fit - cough!)

Wow!! another post...

... I know, shocking!! I saw the challenge over at Sketch Saturday, and thought I'd have a go:

Am pleased with my colouring, but not sure if its too plain - I just couldnt settle on a patterned paper - gah!!

The image is a digi-stamp boutique coloured with promarkers and glossy accents added to the glass.  Card is papermania and the small amount of space invader paper I think is Dovecraft.  I have added twine from my stash and little gems (I hope this is ok as its not on the sketch.

I would like to enter this into:

Sketch Saturday sketch #322

Off out today for school trousers/shirts :-(

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

My last post continued...

... oh dear sometimes this blogging gets a bit complictated - so heres part two:

The next card is one I made last night and for the first time in ages am pleased with my colouring:

The image I think is WoJ one that I have had for ages, if I remember rightly one of the girls on the MSE site stamped her for me - she was lovely to colour with my promarkers.  The paper is Amy Tangerine and blue cardstock from my stash.  I have die cut the banner and added flowers again from my stash and a sentiment from craftwork cards.

I would like to enter this into:

I love promarkers - anything goes
Bearly Mine challenges - anything goes

Thanks for looking

Ali
xxx

I've had...

... a lovely morning today, with my boys and my mum - we went off to the local beach (only us on it!) and played Boules, then for a lovely coffee and milkshakes for the boys before spending quite a few pound in the arcades (although I dont count it as spending too much as its from a jug in the kitchen where all loose change goes :-) )   Even my 14 year old said he'd had a good morning and from him thats high praise, with him being a typical teenager - not much impresses him. yay!!

Now that we are home and the boys are straight on the x-box (sigh), I can nip on here and update a couple of makes that I have recently done to kick start my mojo:

The first one is for the Penny Black Saturday floral challenge:

The image came free with a magazine - ages ago.  I have coloured it with promarkers.  The papers where also freebies (from a different magazine)  I have used lilac card stock, die cut the flower and added a lilac gem and added a sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

I would like to enter this into:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - floral fantasy
I love promarkers - anything goes.

To be continued as I'm having trouble linking a picture with the same URL.

Many Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Oh my goodness...

... its been such a long time since my last post!!!  I sort of lost my mojo in a big way, not happy with my colouring, or layouts or papers - generally fed up with it all to be honest. 

Anyhoo, had a kick up the bum from Janine and a sit and colour with her, and then a few days away and busy with the kids - still not 100% back to normal, but getting there.



I've got a few cards photographed, and here's one that I made for my brothers birthday:

The image is a digi stamp boutique, coloured with promarkers and stickles and glossy accents added.  The papers are Hobbycraft matted onto blue card and button and twine from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - button it
Without words - use a previous challenge ( Iam using gentlemen only)

Sorry about my moan, and thank you for looking

Ali
xx

Hellooo...

... how the devil are you all???  Well I've been sent out of the room as hubby wants France to when and whenever I leave the room, someone always scores (I just cant guarantee who - so I hope a French man scores!!)

The weather has been beautiful here lately and I've been taking advantage of it by being out in the garden so crafting seems to have taken a back seat.  I thought when I stopped work I'd get loads of crafting done - but I dont - even when I've done all my jobs I still feel guilty doing something for me and end up looking for more jobs to do!!! weird - I thought it would be the other way round - lol.

July is a busy month for birthdays, so I've tried to make a start on them and get ahead of the game, so here's my first make:

The digi image is from the gorgeous Wee stamps collection, coloured with pro-markers.  The papers are hobbycraft matted onto kraft card and ribbon from my stash, which came free with a magazine.

I would like to enter this into:

Little miss muffet challenge - sketch
aud sentiments challenge - anything goes
I love promarkers - anything goes
Bearly mine challenge - lets go digital
The pink elephant challenge - anything goes
Papertake weekly - anything goes

Right I'll go and see if anyone has scored - its been quiet - so maybe not!

Thanks for looking

Ali
x

Oooh...

...fingers crossed blogger might have sorted their dashboard problem out :-) - still showing a funny email address though???  I've done a virus scan and all ok so???

Before the boys get in from school, I'll just quickly blog this card that I made for a friend of the family:

I love this Little Claire image, that I have coloured with promarker and distressed the edge.  The dp's are dovecraft and added twine, flower and sentiment tag from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Cutie Pie: cute girls, girls, girls
Simon says stamp - anything goes
Aud sentiments challenge - use a two word sentiment

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Thanks...

... for your comments, glad its not just me xxx

Having problems...

... just wanted to let you know that I'm not ignoring you if I regularly post on your blog, my blogger dashboard is only showing one blog so I'm not getting everyones recent updates :-(, unless I go through all the blogs I'm following 189 of them - lol.  (that cant be right!!)

If this has happened to anyone else or if anyone knows what I can do to get my feed back I would really appreciate any help. I was hoping at was a blip in the system but its been over 24 hours now, and it seems to have added characters to my email address that appears in the top right when I sign in??  Gah, I hate technological problems :-(

Thank you

Ali
xx

Saying it...

.. with flowers.  Hello all, hope you are having a good weekend.  Busy couple of days here, on Friday me and the hubby went to the BBC Good Food show at Birmingham and hadnt realised Gardeners World Live was there as well - we had a great if tiring day, and it didnt help that the traffic coming home was very busy.  I managed to get a couple of photos of a couple of chefs and the great Monty Don - lol.  I'm not sure I would go again as it was a long way to go, but if I did I'd make notes of times to see the various talks and shows that were going on, rather than focusing on the stalls.

I've been doing some cards for a sneeky peak at Miss Muffet stamps following a little random picking over on facebook so keep your eyes peeled for those. 

This card, though, has been made for a while but I saw the challenge over at Sweet Stampin and thought it would be ideal to blog it:

The image is LOTV coloured with promarkers.  Not sure of the papers, and orange card from stash.  The flower is a newish die with a brad from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Sweet Stampin - say it with flowers

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Good Afternoon....

... another sunny day here!!  But I havent made the most of it today, as a trip to Ikea was needed for some storage we did need and quite a few other bits we didnt need - oops!!

Well, with huge thanks to Janine I think I've managed to sort out my watermark issues, we'll soon see on this post- lol.

There are lots of Fathers day challenges around so I'll blog this card I made for my youngest to give to his dad:

Ooh yes its worked, I havent got a huge space at the bottom!!!  Thanks again Janine xxx

The image is a Milk Coffee image that I was lucky enough to win last year.  The image has been coloured with promarkers and matted onto brown card.  The dp's are from HobbyCraft, the ribbon is from my stash and I have die cut the word dad.

I would like to enter this into:

Cutie pie - Fathers day
Papertake Weekly - Fathers day
Passion for Promarkers - One for the boys/men
Milk coffee - for a dad/special male


Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Fathers day make...

.. two posts in the space of a few minutes!!  I'm taking advantage of blogging while the boys are out playing - not sure if they are ill actually as they havent had or asked for their alloted x-box time - and that is unheard of!!

Here's a card I made for my f-i-l:

Gah -I'm going to post this without a watermark as I cant get Craft Artist to open - good grief I hate technology :-(

I've re-used Di's digi image that I used for Ians birthday card, but coloured him in different colours, for a different effect.  He has been coloured with promarkers - the papers are from a Hobbycraft pad that I have matted onto blue card and then added brown card candy and ribbon from my stash.  The sentiment was printed from Google.

I'm quite liking this image at the moment - so suitable for mens cards.

I would like to enter this into:

Simon says stamp - fathers day/masculine
Fab n Funky - fathers day
MAWTT - fathers day
Milk coffee- For a dad/special male

Right, I'm definately off now :-) , thanks for looking.

Ali
xx

Happy Sunny Sunday...

... to you all!!  Well after the rain of yesterday - we've got lovely sunshine :-).  The weather wasnt so good when we went away - but we still had a lovely time - I think I've fallen in love with the Yorkshire Dales, but am gutted that I wont be able to get there to see the cyclists go through when they do the Grand Depart for the Tour de France, as hubby is working - hmmmm dare I go on my own, lol.


Also, after stopping work - I thought I'd get loads of crafting done - but I'm not - after visiting a friend who has just moved into a new house and everything is gorgeous, and new and tidy - I came home feeling well cheesed off, but it has given me the kick up the bum to get my house in order - so the grand declutter of 2014 has begun and the house is beginning to look tidy - so if I can keep up the good work - I wont be embarressed when people come round and have to make excuses for the mess. 

I havent hit the craft area yet, though - think that could be an all day job!!!

Anyhoo, enough waffling and onto a card make:

Sorry about the gap again - I'm still trying to sort it :-( - with lots of help from Janine!!  The image is  a Mitzi image coloured with promarkers.  Not sure of the papers, matted onto bron card.  The flowers are from a new die and the sentiment and pearl from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for promarkers - mythical creatures.

Thanks for looking 

Ali

xx

Good Morning...

... well after the beautiful weather its a bit chilly and damp today :-(.  Hope the sun decideds to put its hat back on - as its Hubbys 50th we are having a sneeky night away at Malham Cove, setting off in the morning to do some walking  (without the kids!! - as they dont do walking its boring and whats the point of it - huh??) - anyhoo, Nannna is taking care of them tomorrow night for us.  Hubby didnt want any fuss to him its just another day - oh well at least he'll have a bit of a treat :-).

He's even said we may have time to pop into Skipton - even though I'm playing down the fact I like mooching in shops (and he knows I do) - 'No its your birthday - we'll do what you want - dont worry about me' cough!!  We have been there once before and its a lovely place to wander around and walk by the canal.

Anyhoo, enough of my waffling - here's the card I made for him, now I'm hoping this has worked as there has been loads of hoo haa about watermarking - and being the technophobe that I am I hadnt a clue so had never watermarked any of my images - but the lovely Janine created my watermark and then advised me of the free download for craft artist and that lets you put the watermark on - so here goes, lets see if it works:

 

Okay, yes I have a watermark but I also have a big gap at the bottom hmmmm - more tweaking required lol - so apologies for that.  Oops forgot to add - the papers were free with a magazine ages ago - matted onto kraft card.  The image is a Di's digi coloured with pro-markers and glossy accents added to the glass of wine.  The tag has been distressed and the 5-0 die cut and applied.

I would like to enter this into:

Di's digi challenge - make it masculine

Thanks for looking.

Ali

x

Oooh another sunny day...

... ah its lovely here again, so I'm afraid crafting has taken the back seat whilst I enjoy the sunshine, not always chilling reading my book in the garden, I have done some gardening and scrubbed the patio and small path at the back of the house (honest!! lol) I LOVE not working - espcially when the sun is shining :-)

I'm off to a garden centre and small outlet park today with my mum, so this is just a quick post showing a card I made before the weather turned ;-) - this is for my youngest to give to his dad next week for his 50th birthday!!!

The image is Superdad Alf from Digistamp boutique, coloured with promarkers.  The red card is from my stash and the spotty paper was from a freebie sheet in a magzine.  I have die cue the stars and the age.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - use die cuts
I love promarkers - anything goes
wags & whiskers - one for the boys
Sweet stampin - milestone birthdays
digi stamp boutique - anything goes with one of their images
Papercrafting journey -for that special man

Right best be off to pick up my mum.   Enjoy your day.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Hellooo...

...happy Saturday to you all - well the weather here doesnt know whether to rain or shine - one minute its beautiful sunshine next its pouring down :-(.  While its raining I thought I'd do a quick blog post.

Since my last post I've had a birthday - and a lovely one to, I received some lovely cards and gifts and I'll hopefully blog about them in a seperate post later, maybe with a bit of a stitchy update too as I havent done one about my cross-stitch for ages!!

Heres, my latest card make for Toms teacher - he's found out it's her birthday on Monday and asked if I'd make her a card.  Luckily I'd bought a stamp from Vixx and I thought it would be perfect for this card:

I have coloured the image with promarkers and added glossy accents to her glasses.  The papers I think are Basic grey matted onto green card - then I have added a craftwork cards sentiment and flower/card candy from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Without words - Pink/purple with green
Crafty Sentiments - anything goes
Papertake weekly - anything goes
Di's digi challenge - use your markers

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Wow!!

May already - this year seems to be flying by!!!  A quick post before the boys come home from school.  It was the lovely Janines birthday the other week and I made her this card:

The image which is such a cutie is a digstamp boutique coloured with promarkers and matted onto cream pearlised card.  I'm not sure where the papers are from - sorry and then added sentiment and card candy from Craftwork Cards.

I would like to enter this into:

Crafty Sentiments - anything goes
I love promakers - not quite straight
Simon says stamp - anything goes
Di's digi challenge- birthdays

Right thats one of the boys in - off to listen to todays events in quick cricket lol.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Mmmmm....

...the cake was delicious, definately one to have warm with icecream, custard or at room temperature with cream.  Of course I hadnt planned it well so there is loads left as there was only me and hubby here last night - so I'm going to send some round to my in-laws (sure they'll be pleased lol).

Right, I'm posting the last of my Easter cards, I dont think I've made so many in  one year:

The image is LOTV that again came free in a little pack with a magazine - I have coloured it with promarkers, the papers I think are papermania with purple cardstock and ribbon from my stash.  I made the sentiment.

I would like to enter this into:

Crafty Little Fairies - Furry friends
Totally Gorjuss - Cuddly
Gem of a challenge - cute and cuddly

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

 

It's Friday!!

Well that's my first week over as a non (p/t) working woman and my plans of decluttering and sorting out the house has resulted in...

...Nothing being done!!! and I'm not sure where all the time has gone I know I've washed, ironed, dusted and hoovered and generally pottered around but I dont have anything major to report, yet!!  I'm starting the declutter and tidy (AGAIN) of my youngests bedroom tomorrow - honestly I dont know how he can make it such a tip if anyone has any tips as to how to keep it organised I'd be all ears - we've tried storage boxes, shelves, new furniture with plenty of storage but noooo it doesnt work :-(

I have made some fairycakes earlier in the week, with lumpy chocolate topping - that was a way to get rid of an easter egg.  It was supposed to be smooth but it just wasnt happening,  and I've just made an Apple Crumb Cake (recipe from Good Housekeeping magazine):

Which looks like it may have been a success!!!  Now what you may not know about me is that things very rarely go right for me (you may have gathered that from the lumpy chocolate topping - how can I even cock that up??), I've not cut it yet so unsure if its cooked all the way through - but my skewer came out clean so I am assuming so!!  and am also concerned as to how I am going to get it off the bottom of my cake tin - this could be my disaster and I know I should leave it alone, but knowing me I'll keep faffing with it and wreck it (or drop it lol).

I also made a card this week for one of my friends:

The image is digistamp boutique, coloured with promarkers, the papers where in a pack from Harrogate and the sentiment is Craftwork cards.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - sketch
Aud sentiments - use a birthday sentiment

Right off to see if I can sort my cake out, wish me luck (I think I'll hang fire with my GBBO application form!).

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx


*edited I managed to get the bottom off without damaging the cake and it was delicious - served warm with ice-cream - might be a bit too stodgy to have on its own, hubby reckons double cream would help though :-) xx  Go me!!!  I might let you on to my next adventure of trying to make a faux roman blind for my downstairs loo :-) lol

Hope...

... you are enjoying the bank holiday - the weather is lovely up here today (she says as its starting to cloud over !!) as long as it doesnt rain as I've got all my bedding out drying :-). 

Well hubbys on another day shift and the boys have gone over the road to play, so I'm sat with a hair dye on doing this quick post :-).  Glad you cant see me - not a good look!!!!

Anyhoo, I promised something different today from Easter cards and this is it... a Christmas card!!!  One of my resolutions was to make a christmas card a month so I should have four yes??  err no just the one lol.  I saw a challenge mentioned on crafting with cotnobs blog (my latest blog I'm stalking ), and thought I would enter this:

The image is Pink gem, coloured with promarkers and some fluffy stuff for the snow.  The papers I think are eith dovecraft or papermania matted onto pearlised card and ribbon from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:


Winter wonderland - robin redbreast

Right best go and wash this dye off.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Happy Easter...

Hope the Easter Bunny has been with lots of chocolate yummmmm, but dont eat to much or you'll get a poorly tum!! :-)  I sound like my mum!!!

Talking of mum we are off there for a big family lunch, lots more chocolate, laughs and noise but unfortunately my hubby has to work today :-( not good!

Just a quickie this morning, as I came across a new to me digi image site called Anonymous stamps, via Facebook and they have some lovely images and they are free too - how kind is that.  They also run a challenge and this month its Easter, so I've used one of their images (which you need to use for the challange) to enter and made this for my in-laws:

The image has been coloured with promarkers, die cut and layered onto a doily.  The dps are from two different types which I have matted onto lemon card.  Made the sentiment myself and added some die cut swirls that I have cut from a bigger die.

I would like to enter this into:

Anonymous stamps - Easter challenge

I dont think I've made so many easter cards as I  have this year lol - tomorrow though I might have something different :-)

Enjoy your Sunday and thank you for looking

Ali
xx

Happy Saturday...

... hope you are all having a lovely long weekend, the sunshine is lovely today so me and hubby took advantage of it to have a walk from the White Horse at Kilburn, and as usual I forgot my camera - the views from the top are stunning.

We were also going to go to Mousy Thompson visitor centre for coffee, but hubby couldnt wait so we had our coffee near Sutton Bank instead :-(.

Now we are back I'll quickly do a blog post before starting my mountain of ironing - boooo!!

I know Steph has received this so I can post about it now :-).  The image was a freebie last year I think, but I cant remember the artist - so if it rings any bells with anyone please let me know and I shall give credit, she has been coloured with promarkers and matted onto lemon card.  The dp's are papermania, matted onto pink card and the sentiment was a freebie from Create with TLC.

I would like to enter this into:

Pink Elephant - Easter
Papertake weekly - Easter
Passion for Promarkers - all creatures great and small

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Having a go...

... at decoupage.  I won ages and ages ago lots of House Mouse decoupage sheets from Jane and to be honest was slightly scared of them as they seemed to be very intricate to cut and since having a bump in the car thats left me with a slightly wobby hand  - I looked at them but never dared attempt them.   Then recently I came upon Crafting with Cotnob blog and was inspired to get them out and have a go.

So here's my first attempt:

It wasnt as bad as I thought it would be cutting out the little bits :-) and wine helped the wobbly hand lol (cough)

So, I am going to enter this into the House Mouse Monday challenge - flowers & flourish (hope my little flourish in the corner will suffice but if not just let me know :-) ), Also Simon say stamp Wednesday challenge - Animal Antics.  Lastly thanks to Shaz for the head up at the anything goes challenge at Gruffies & guests

Right off to make a teen card as my eldest has received a last minute invite to a sleepover tomorrow night (although the boys birthday was last week - so do I still send a card???), why do I never have any emergency boys cards in my box - rolls eyes.

Have a nice night folks, and thank you for looking.

Ali
xx

I think....

... I am on a roll - third post in a week!!!!! It's a long time since that has happened, just a quickie tonight as I'm just about to start tea - and I cant sit for too long, as we went to the Dry Ski slopes yesterday near Sunderland and ouch!! it does hurt when you fall over - my bum is a huge bruise (I've never seen a bruise so black & blue!) and my cocyx hurts :-( lol.  On the plus side though it has saved us a lot of money as we've realised we dont want to go on a skiing holiday anymore :-).

So, onto my little make:

The image is LOTV that came with a magazine probably last year, coloured with promarkers, matted onto yellow and green card.  I've printed off the sentiment added buttons from my stash and die cut a fence.

I would like to enter this into:

I love promarkers - bounty of buttons
Crafty little fairies - button it up
Papertake weekly - spring has sprung
MAWTT - easter/spring
Divas by design - easter/spring
Crafty sentiments - easter
Simon says stamp (wednesday challenge) - easter/sweet treats

Right best go and start the tea.  Enjoy your night.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

'ey up!!!

Another post!!! Go me!!!  lol - well we've had a lovely visit to Whitby today - I helped the boys get set up with their crabbing bits & pieces and then I get to go for an uninterupted mooch round the shops - its great no whinging boys/men :-), I was very good as well and didnt buy anything although I saw some lovely bits and pieces (and material and wool - cough) :-).

Anyhoo, a quick look around blog land when I got home and spotted a great challenge over at Passion for Promarkers.  When I made Toms card to give to Jack on his birthday I used a great sentiment from Gingers house:

The image is another from Digistamp boutique, coloured with promarkers and a tiny amout of glossy accents to the glass.  The papers are (I think) Amy Tangerine, which where matted onto turquoise card and a little attempt at distressing.  Finally some card candy from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Passion for Promarkers - sentimental
Without words - Gentlement only
Divas by design - anything goes
Digistamp boutique - use one of their images

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Hellooooo...

.... hoping you are all well.

 Today, is my eldests birthday - 14 how on earth has that happened - I feel far too young to have a son that old (cough) - who is now nearly 6" taller than me, but do you know, even though he's a teenager he's a lovely lad, sociable - will talk to people,  (not sure how I would have coped if he was like a Kevin the teenager lol).  He's a great laugh and can take us lot taking the mickey out of him with going off in a strop.  Sometimes, I forget how lucky we are with him - luckily he doesnt read this blog as he'd be most embarrassed at what I've put lol.  Anyhoo, enough of me being the proud parent - it's not as if I'm bloggin his birthday card (rolls eyes).

I'm sure to blog his card soon though, but here's a one that I made when I saw the Penny Black Saturday challenge, I've had this image ages I think it was in a bundle off ebay and only just got round to having a go at colouring it:

The papers are basic grey that again I've had for ages and thought they were to nice to use.  They have been matted onto brown bazzill card.  The image has been coloured with promarkers and again matted onto brown card.  I have added to swirls that I have cut from a larger corner die and added the sentiment that I had printed up from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - cats & dogs

Right off to see if Mary Berrys about to start.  Enjoy your night.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Evening...

... just a quick post as the boys are wanting to settle down to watch a movie.  I saw Sarah's blog post about the new challenge at Allsorts and remembered I had a great card I could enter, the challenge is no flowers:

The image is a new one that I was lucky enough to win from Digistamp boutique,  she has been coloured with promarkers.  The easel card was a ready made one from craftwork cards as is the sentiment - the papers are Nikki Sivils.

I would like to enter this into:

Allsorts - no flowers
Divas by design - anything goes
Digistamp boutique - use one of their images

Right best be off to pop some popcorn - as you do - lol.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

P.S. I would also like to say a big thank you for all your positive comments on my last post regarding leaving my job - they really cheered me up - thank you!!

Card making...

... to take my mind off the fact I've handed my notice in at a job that was making me miserable and I havent got a job to go to.  Obviously not recommended but I'm a great believer in fate and what will be will be. 

Its going to be a struggle (so I'll be using lots of my stash up, so that can only be a good thing lol).  When Ians shifts and mine collided his mum and dad helped out with the childcare and as his dad has not been in too good a condition health wise that can only be a plus in that I take that burden off them - its not fair for them for us to have to keep putting on them.

Thats it in a nutshell,  so heres a card I've been working on.  A few posts ago I mentioned a designer that was new to me and she recently put up a gorgeous freebie image AND she has started her own challenge blog as well as things on Facebook:

The image has been coloured with promarkers and copics for the skin,  the papers are from some left over 12x12 sheets (that may have actually been a Christmas design!)  I have also used some mirricard and then added ribbon, bow and bling from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Aurora Wings - anything goes.

Thanks for looking.

Ali
xx

Happy Saturday...

.... ooh its been lovely here today - so me and t'other half have been for a walk from Captain Cooks Monument to Roseberry Topping it was lovely bit tiring but still enjoyed it - it was lovely to get out for some fresh air.

Back to blog hopping and card making now though while hubby watches real life hospital programmes on tv - not my cup of tea!!

Anyhoo, here is a recent card I made for one of my best friends who turns 40!  I tried really hard not to mention her age but didnt succeed lol.

 

The image is Ladybug crafts coloured with promarkers and lots of fine glitter added to the cake.  The papers are new from MME from a recent facebook win at My Mums Craft shop - ooh I love them! Matted onto grey card. The banner die is a new purchase too from Joanna Sheen another new love!!!  The sentiment is just one I printed and cut.

I would like to enter this into:

Totally Gorjuss - Happy Birthday

Divas by design - make it sparkle

I love promarkers - use dies but no punches

Stampin for the weekend - sparkle and shine

Thanks for looking 

Ali

xx

Morning...

... just quick post today before making the most of my two days off with the boys - cinema yesterday, coffee with friends and a party today, will be glad to get back to work for a rest -NOT!!  I'd much rather be at home :-) maybe one day when hubby wins the lottery - ah a girls gotta dream :-).

Okey doke, here's the latest card I've made I loved the sketch in Sketch Saturdays challenge - nice c&s, and I wanted to link it to Pink Gems spots & stripes challenge, so here's what I have come up with:

The image is pink gem chloe with daffodils, coloured with promarkers.  I have coloured her twice and layed her.  The sentiment is craftwork cards.  The papers I think are dovecraft.

I would like to enter this into:

Sketch Saturday #297
Pink Gem (A gem of a challenge) - spots & stripes
my mums craft shop - spots & stripes

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Evening...

... ooh its a bit mental here tonight, finished work at 6 had tea and then had to set about making cakes for my eldest who's class is having a cake sale - now I need to get them iced. 

While the cakes where cooling I finished off this make:

Apologies for the dodgy lighting!!  I hope you get an idea of the colours.  Okey doke, we have a meljens design image coloured with promarkers and liquid pearls and pink stickles added, matted onto green card.  Not sure of the dp sorry - I  have added a heart doily, flowers with card candy in the centre from my stash.  I forgot to take a picture of the inside but I've just quickly added an insert saying "your my cup of tea".

I would like to enter this into:

Meljens design  & challenges - I heart you.
Papertake weekly - with a heart.

Right off to ice those cakes and then a soak in the bath... aah... relax!!!

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Its nearly rugby time....

... yay!! But before I go and settle down to watch it I'll just quickly post this make:

Janine brought this artist to my attention via Facebook, and I was lucky enough to win an image from her Etsy shop.  I have kept the card quite c&s.  The image has been coloured with promarkers and a blue polychromo pencil to try and achieve extra shading.  The sentiment, doily paper and kraft are all from my stash (think the paper was a freebie with a magazine).

I would like to enter this into:

Allsorts challenge - beginning with B - (blue & brown)
Papertake weekly - anything goes

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Happy Sunday...

... everyone - hope the weather has improved where you are - its been a lovely bright day today - still chilly but just seeing blue sky cheers me up :-).

Just a quick post before the second half of the rugby starts - I love watching the six nations!!

At last  card for a girl - lol - after so many boys cards, this is for my sister in law who turns 50 at the end of the month - she doesnt know about my blog so she wont mind me broadcasting her age, lol:

I've kept this quite c&s, I love this image she looks so sophisticated like my s-i-l (my youngest said it looks like her!!), when I grow up I'd like to be like her lol.  Anyway, back to the card.  The image is coloured with promarkers with a pearl added to her top.  You can see more shading on the card in real life - it looks a bit flat there :-(.  The image is matted onto cream pearliesed card - not sure of the make of dp.  Now I always have a trauma with bows and it just wasnt happening - and then I tried a double bow and flippin' eck it only worked!!  Then just some bluey pearls from my stash.  I was going to put her age on - but I think I'll save that for the inside!!

I would like to enter this into:

Totally papercraft - c&s
Passion for promarkers - anything goes.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

Evening all..

... eugh its blowing a gale here and trying its hardest to pour down, glad I'm all snug inside (unlike poor hubby who has gone to work for the night :-( )  Anyhoo, I'm playing catch up as not been in much today, still making it to the gym although it's a struggle as I'm easily demotivated and it doesnt seem to be getting any easier, and then Tom was at a football party which went on a bit longer than expected.

Enough of my waffling - I'll just get round to posting one of my latest makes as I've seen loads of love challenges and might as well pop it in a few:

I loved this image as soon as I saw it I was going to send it to my eldest for valentines as we have a bit of a thing for Zombies at the moment - but he saw me working on it and when I told him what my original plan was - he advised me that eugh thats just weird - so its just going in my card box lol.

The image is a Whimsie Doodles freebie that I have coloured with promarkers and matted onto red and black card - the dp was from a free magazine paper pack from a while ago, again matted onto red and black card.  The black raffia has been 'upcycled' (ooh check me out) as it was tied round a gift bag - I have then die cut a heart and put holes in it to look like a button and tied raffia through it.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges:

Passion for promarkers - anything goes
Allsorts - love is in the air
Di's digi challenge - love/valentines
Gem of a challenge - All you need is love
I love promarkers - Love is in the air

Right off to make a coffee and round up the boys to see if there's anything on tv.

Thanks for looking

Ali
xx

A little stitchy...

...update, before the boys come home.

Here's one I've finished although I'm one x out at the top and can I heck find where I've made the mistake!!!  Anyhoo, I'm just needing a frame for this and I'll get it put up in the kitche:

I've started this one:

 

I first saw this on Mouses blog and fell in love with it - I've had it a few months but only just picked it up (as you do!!)

Right, lastly its the 30th and a New Moon (according to Daffycats blog) so here's a picture of my tusal:

Pop to Daffycats for an explanation and see how everyone else is doing :-).

Hopefully I'll be back later with a card make.

Thanks for looking

Ali

xx