Anything goes....

Anything goes at Sweet Stampin this week, so there are no excuses not to share your every creation with us. This is my contribution to the proceedings

My digi is Frankenstein and he was kindly given to us by Tracey from The Stamping Boutique. Think this card actually cost me about £25 to make... what with all the stamps, brads and papers I bought to go with him, didn't have any Halloween stash to complement him (honestly)...Anyway enough of that, one lucky winner will have the run of the Stamping Boutique store, so its well worth having a go and entering our challenge!!! I'm off to watch the final episode of The Bachelor from last night

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, hugs x

Quick update:

OMG he picked Carie-Ann, the super bitchy dippy tart, well actually no-one would have been good enough for Mr Henson apart from me (of course)...

Challenges entered

Delightful sketches - purple, orange, green & black

Secret Crafter Saturday challenge - Challenge #158 Spooky

Simon says Stamps challenge - Anything goes

Party time Tuesdays - Anything goes

Polly Craft - Spooky Goings On

fab n funky - Hubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble

The Stamping Boutique - Spooky Scarey Halloween

Paper Variety - Cute of Spooky Halloween

Phew!

Masculine Sweeties...

Hiya, here's my MASCULINE card for this weeks Sweet Stampin challenge...  This week our lovely sponsour is Di's digi downloads and they are giving away a fabby 5 digis to one lucky winner, so pop over and show us some cards for the boys, men, significant others, grumpy gits etc etc... As you can see I couldn't justify buying the Sugar Nellie stamp I really wanted so yes... its another Magnolia card from me, although because its masculine its obviously Edwin and not Tilda.  Must apologise about the quality of the picture, it was the best one out of a sizable batch. *(Any tips greatly received)

Hope you all have a good weekend, its lovely and sunny here, so long may it last!!!
Hugs Zoe x

Lilac & Lace at Sweet Stampin...

Morning all, and isn't it a glorious one, I've already got a line of washing out and it's almost dry (mind you that's where it'll stay coz I don't want to be adding to my already enormous ironing pile LOL)...

Anyway, on to business... this weeks challenge from Team Abi over at Sweet Stampin is LILAC&LACE...  and with a fabby 5 digi's on offer from the lovely TiffanyDoodles... she's got some lovely new releases, its well worth showing us your creations...

This is my contribution to the challenge, didn't realise at the time I didn't actually have anything at all in lilac, so I had to dismantle a card I made at a Sir Stampalot class and start again, didn't even have any co-ordinating flowers so I had to make these from scratch at the last minute... no-one will ever accuse me of being organised!!!

I'll be entering it into the following challenges (tbc)

Enough of my rambling enjoy the sun, weekend and crafting, hugs Zoe x

A rival to Wild Orchid...

Good evening ladies, I just wanted to share some news with you from a lady I met recently who is trying to expand her on-line craft store. Dot at Dottie 4 Crafts has started stocking mulberry paper flowers after I expressed my annoyance at the fact that Wild Orchid always seemed to be out of the most popular flowers.  Well, imagine my surprise when I got an email from Dot saying that she'd taken my advice and started stocking some flowers as a trial.  I've been and had a look and they look fabby and the prices seem incredible.  Please show her some support if you can, I'd really love to see her realise her dream. 

Night night, hugs Zoe x

A very proud mummy...

Greetings from Cornall and Welcome to this weeks Sweet Stampin challenge, as chosen by yours truly! Of course the reason I chose 'anything but birthday's' is because I wanted to be able to shout to the world that my little lady is starting school on Monday and I wanted to be able to share how proud I am of her and to show you the card I made for her (plus a blonde version for her best friend Kayla)

Anyway, back to the task in hand, in addition to the challenge theme, it's also the start of Sketchy September.....Every week throughout September we're giving you an optional sketch to work with if you wish.  Just for a little extra fun!  For September we're sponsored by the lovely Heather Ellis who is giving 3 images to the lucky winner. This week's sponsor is Tiffany Doodles who is offering a choice of 5 to the lucky winner.  I'm entering this into

One stop craft challenge - back to school (primary colours)
come and get it challenges - back to school
Creative inspirations paint - back to school
Simply betty challenges - back 2 Skool and back to fun
Crazy 4 challenges - back to school
Clearly-inspired-challenge-35 - patterned paper

And finally....SS are looking for a few new members for the team: You MUST be willing to:

• make a stamped card on alternate weeks for the challenge
• be able to comment every week on allocated entries to our challenge
• be willing to work with provided sponsor images when required (other times you are free to use images of your choice). 

If you're interested please either add DT after your entry or e.mail Fi  or Abi directly using the address in the sidebar giving a link to your blog. The DT call will close at midnight (BST) Thursday 22nd September (my birthday).  Good Luck!

Bouncing babies...

Happy Saturday Sweeties!! We're going all sweet and lovely over at Sweet Stampin this week with a baby themed challenge. Think New Baby congratulations or under 5's birthdays, anything babyfied!

We're sponsored this week by the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps who are giving one lucky winner 7 digis of their choice!!! We all got an image to play with, this is what I came up with

She's called Boo (which I may have mentioned a 1000 times is the nick name we have to our daughter Katie, so as soon as I saw the digi I just had to have it!)

Shame I don't know anyone who's expecting a girl at the moment, seems to be all boys at the mo!

Take care and enjoy the FINE weather and wish me good luck for tonight!!!

Hugs x

I'm entering my card in the following challenges
Charisma Cardz - negative space
One stop craft challenge - bold & bright
Anything challenge - birthday/celebrate
Catch the bug - anything goes
Paper playtime - anything goes

Shame its not reality...

Needless to say this definitely isn't a card based on the English weather today :o(

Why can't we have some nice weather for the last few weeks of the summer holidays???

Just hope that the weather stays nice for 'Walk 10' on Saturday evening, don't fancy walking 10k in the rain!

I'm entering

St Lukes Charity Card Challenge - 'Oh i do like to be beside the sea side'

Stampin for the Weekend - Spots & Dots

One Stop Craft Challenge - At the beach

Whimsie Doodles - 3 patterned papers

The Shabby Tearoom - Polka dots

Crafts and Me Challenges - Blues or bluey green

Inky Impressions Challenges - Inspired by a song "Beach Baby" by The First Class

Magnolia Down Under -  Inspired by a song "Beach baby"
Totally Stampalicious - 1 circle, 1 square, 1 rectangle
(big button is the circle, tilda's sitting in a square and parasol dp is the rectange)

Hugs x

Sweet Stampin RAINBOWS

Time for another fabby challenge over at Sweet Stampin Towers and this weeks its RAINBOWS.

It doesn't matter whether you use an actual rainbow or just all the colours of the rainbow - just make it colourful! For this challenge our sponsored is the fabulous Tiffany Doodles, so its well worth entering as there's definitely a pot of gold at the end of our rainbow!!!
Hugs x

Please show your support...

On 20 August 2011 I'm taking part in Marie Curie's Walk Ten at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. My request is simple please find some spare change and donate it to this very worth while cause via my web-based sponsor form  Zoe's doing her bit... and help me smash my £100 target.

Hugs xxx

Don't really want to share this....

I don't really want to share this fabby news, but sadly its one of the rules of entry. One of my fav bloggers Tab Robinson has candy and not just any candy, its the most gorgeous collection of vintage bits and pieces I've ever seen.

I've got my fingers crossed that #228 is lucky!!!

So have a nice day and pop over there by all means..... but please don't enter :o)

Sunny Saturday (NOT)...

Welcome to the weekend, shame the weather isn't in weekend mode!!! At least the rain gives us all justification to stay indoors and create fabby cards for the FASHION challenge over at Sweet Stampin.

Knowing in advance what the challenge theme was going to be I just had to have this image from Di's Digis, it reminds me so much of my little Katie, always dressing up in my shoes etc, so I'm going to keep it for her 5th birthday in November.  Back to the task in hand, this week our Sweet Stampin challenge is sponsored by The Stamping Boutique who have some absolutely amazing images to chose from, so pop on over and fill your boots.

Have a fabby weekend whatever you're doing! hugs

I'm entering my card in the following challenges


do it with digis challenge
 stamp challenges
the secret crafter saturday challenge
papertake weekly challenge
allsorts challenge

Katie's last day at pre-school...

I've just got to share this momentous moment with you all, as I'm such a proud mummy. My Katie celebrated her last day at pre-school on Thursday and I thought I'd share with you the yummy things we made for her lovely teachers

These bags were for her favourite ladies, Tina & Helen. Katie drew her own pictures for them and I added the other bits and pieces

These are just a sample of the other 6 bags we made! The little thank you cards feature a cropped version of one of our holiday pictures from Turkey. I love it because it shows perfectly her cheeky side and believe me the teachers know all about Katie's cheeky side!!!  I really can't believe that she starts big school in September - guess my baby isn't a baby anymore!!!! xxx

Cute & Cuddly at Sweet Stampin...

Wow can you believe it, its 08:50 and I'm posting already, actually the lovely Grace got up at 06:37 this morning, but I managed to distract her with 'Milkshake' (Channel 5) until 07:30.  Anyway enough waffle, at least it means that I'm on time to tell you about the new challenge at Sweet Stampin, which is Cute & Cuddly. 

Had a good week and managed to make two cards for this challenge, both feature stamps from our sponsor Di's Digi Downloads. On the left we have the cute 'Maurice Mouse' and on the right we have the cuddly 'Heartfelt Posie'. It's definitely worth popping over to Dianes website as there are 100's of images to chose from.  I visited with the intention of chosing one image, but in the end came away with three!!! (easily justified as I've already used two of them and I'm in the process of using the third - not sure that will stand up if hubby finds out, but as he's in plaster for the next 5 weeks with a broken ankle, there's not much he can do about it LOL - needless to say I never was cut out to be a nurse!!!

Challenges entered

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Allsorts - free & easy

Do it with digi's - spots or stripes or both
Lollipop Crafts - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - lace

This is my most favourite image...

Hello on this wet and stormy Thursday evening! I know its unusual for me to just post a card, but I just wanted to share the new love of my life...Daisy

I think I love her so much because she looks so much like my little Grace (I did want to get a photo of her sat in the same pose for comparison, but Grace is like me and hates having her picture taken). The sketch I've used is from Sketch N Stamp #65 and I really like its simplicity. I've used my MME Stella Rose paper, which I thought was just perfect for the boho hippy chick look I wanted to achieve.

I'm entering her into the following challenges

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes

Allsorts - Free & Easy July

Saturday Challenge - #141 Here comes the summer (she reminds me of Woodstock..not that i was there!)

Charisma Cardz - #27 All about the flowers (she has flowers in her hair and hand)

Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes

Crafts & Me - #42 Favourites (she's definitely my favourite all time image)

Stamptacular Sunday - #118 Seeing double (2 triangles, 2 squares in layout)

Emerald Faeries - #4 Sugar & Spice - girlie

Anything Goes - Letter D - she's called Daisy by Elizabeth Bell

Hooked on Craft - #2 Show us your flowers (she has flowers in her hair and hand)

Anyway, got to love you and leave you, my hapless husband has broken his ankle and is fading away beside me because he hasn't had any tea!!! (Don't tell anyone else, but he was cruelly mown down by a golf buggy (TWICE), who'd have thought that golf could be so dangerous LOL!!!

Hugs x

Sew Sweet...

Just been having my Sunday morning surf when I came across this nifty little haberdashery site -Sew Sweet and although my mummy always taught me that it was rude to say 'I want', all I have to say is 'I WANT, I WANT, I WANT'. Will definitely be dropping so major hints to my family for birthday presents!!!

My only other hope is that I'm the lucky winner of their Friday freebie which is a £15 voucher to spend on their website - fingers crossed
(PS if anyone could give me some tips on adding their banner to my sidebar without a codey thing I'd be really grateful x)

Sweet n crafty candy...

I'm posting this evening because I've just noticed that my fellow Sweetie Carlyann has birthday blog candy. This is the piccy of what you can win

So pop on over to Sweet N Crafty and show Carlyann some birthday love (just don't mention that she's only 4 years from the big 30!)

Something old, Something new...

To explain, 'Something old, Something new' is the new challenge at Sweet Stampin this week. Basically, we'd like you to use one of your newest purchases (don't try & tell me there aren't any lol!) & combine it with something you've had in your stash for ages, you know those things that sit neglected as the new stash comes in. 

My something old are the bronze baby embellishments, I bought them in a craft sales ages ago and I've never had cause to use them, and my something new is baby Charlie who I've made this card for, well actually my good friends Jane & Aaron who are now proud new parents, (if this doesn't count then its my new nesties) (can't remember the name as the packaging went out in the recycling this morning!?).

Before I forget, our monthly and weekly sponsors are Prairie Fairy Designs and Bugaboo Stamps both are offering fabby prizes as usual, so come on and join in the fun!!!

The challenges I'm entering little Edwin into are:

Stampin for the Weekend #11 - My fav things - magnolia stamps, babies, nestabilities dies, the colour combo pale blue & Chocolate

Totally Gorjuss #86 - Ribbon & Lace

Totally Papercrafts#72 - Spots & Stripes

Simon says stamp & show - some metal - metal embellishments

Lollipop Crafts - inspired by a song - John Lennon--"Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)"

A Spoon full of Sugar - Ribbon & bows

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #88 - add a charm

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - buttons galore

Hugs x

I believe in fairies...

This is my last card creation from hubby's week of nights! its back to the normal routine today (e.g. getting moaned at for disappearing to make cards!!!)... I made her to enter the 'fairies' challenge over at Bunny Zoe's.  The layout is from Challenge #59 at Truly Scrumptious (had to use a circle as don't have their fancy die and don't have a sewing machine to do the sewn edges either (I do wish these sites wouldn't assume we all have £100's to spend on our stash!!!))... my biggest bug-bare!!!

Moan over...I'm also entering her into

The Emerald Faerie Garden - petals

Totally Papercrafts - punches & dies

Totally Gorgeous - pearls & swirls
LOTV - bring on the music (lil rhymn "he loves me, he loves me not")
Sweet Stampin - things with wings
Polka Doodles - all of a flutter
One stop craft challenge - stick it (sticky pearls/ribbon)
Simom Says Stamp - Lets play BINGO (top right diagonal flowers-lace-shape)
Phew!!!

Happy Birthday Jasmin...

Just a quick post today, as I have fathers day shopping to do! This is a card I made for Katie's little friend Jasmin who will be 4 next Saturday. The layout is this weeks sketch at Sketch Saturday, I so desperately want to win this one, as there's a $25 voucher for Simon Says Stamp and I so need a new Tilda in my life!!!

Other challange enteries include

Lollipop Crafts - Inspired by a song - "Diamonds are a girls best friend"

(check out the bling on her shoes and tiara)

Stampin with Fun - Pearls & Flowers
Totally Gorjuss - Flower Power

Have a good day x

Male card...

I've noticed that there are a lot of 'male' challenge themes around at the moment, so here is my creation.

I've had this Edwin stamp and pirate themed papers for a while now, just never got around to using them.  Had a bit of a nightmare colouring his jacket and trousers, as don't really have enough copic marker combinations, this was my second attempt and for a novice I don't think he's too bad! Just found out the there's a new copic tutorial book out (in USA) so hoping that some of the UK stores might start selling it too, def need some tuition.  In the meantime these are the challenges I've entered

CES Challenge - Movie - Pirates of the Caribbean

IC Sketches - #118

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - A male card

Fab n Funky Challenges - Males

One Stop Craft Challenge - Father's Day

Crafts and me Challenges - Stamp Something

lADYBUG cRAFTS iNK tlt CHALLENGE - All about the men
Do You Stack Up - Birthday

Wags n Whiskers rubber stamps - One for the boys

Enjoy whats left of the weekend, I'm off to pick up 1million toys!!!
Hugs x

PS Just found out that Michelles Scrapbooking & More are offering Magnolia candy from the new Rainbow Collection (pictured below) and everyone knows how much I love Tilda & Edwin - keep your fingers crossed for me, I've already picked 3 out (just in case of course...)