Dottie Easel Card Challenge!

It's been a manic week here- I have had Amelia off sick earlier in the weeks and also I've had an ultra busy week at work. Thank goodness it's half term now! I have got so much to catch up on.

Anyway, this week over at Dottie's World, Karen set us a challenge to make an Easel Card. Now I have never made one before, I have often admired them but never actually made the time to try something different from "My norm!" The only "rule is that you need to use a Charmed Download somewhere on your creation.

Here's what I made using a Pixie Chick download, a few of my new dies, an old book, loads of inks......!LOL

Sorry, the colours are awful, I took pics late last night.

Pop over to Dottie's World and see the rest of the DT's creations...then grab your Dottie Downloads and play along! I'll look forward to seeing you over there!

HUGS

XXX

Thanks a Bunch Dottie-a FREEBIE DOWNLOAD!

Hi everyone, it's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World and I am trying to think ahead in my ever long attempt to be organised! SO- What with us going off on our hols for a couple of week between now and the end of the school year - I am aiming to be one step ahead with all those thank you cards for the kiddies teachers. Especially as my son Jack will be leaving his Junior school for pastures new! EEEK...how old does that make me feel!

THANKS A BUNCH

So this week's challenge is pretty open to loads of themes, images, styles etc. Only two main rules;

1 - Your creation must include a thank you greeting on it.

2 - It must include a Charmed Download

As a very special thank you this week, anyone who joins in with this week's challenge will recieve a FREEBIE DOWNLOAD of the beautiful image I have used in my card this week- "Dahlia Pixie." Who can resist her? Looking forward to seeing your creations.

XXX

Copic Colour Challenge says Farewell!

Hi everyone, feeling a bit sad today as we have officially announced that the Copic Colour Challenge blog will be finishing.

The blog had been running for 63 challenges and I had been part of the furniture there. I got onto the Design team on the very first DT call, with my first DT challenge being number 3........it will be a big gap in my crafty week and I have thouroghly enjoyed working with all the girls there!

I will just have to find other reasons to get my Copics out now!

Hey ho........

Flowers galore!

Hiya everyone, I planned to have made this card for this week's Copic colour challenge but we are having a bit of a DT emergency and it looks like everything is on hold for the moment. We will keep you informed as soon as we can...BUT for now I will go ahead and show you the card anyway!

I used the wonderful image from Michelle Perkett again to join in their blog challenge which this week is Flowers Galore! Don't think I need to explain that one; I used layers of beautiful blooms and gave the flowers on the image depth with some Glossy Accents.

Also this week over at Papertake Weekly you need to "Say it with flowers!"

Anything Goes over at dare U to digi Stamp.

You may have noticed that Mr Postie HAS been, spot the new swirl, leafy punch and that wonderful spider's web stuff....MUST get more of that....hmmm...what colours should go on my next Wishlist?

Bye for now!

XXX

My Wishlist - Craft Must haves for May!

MR POSTIE...Where ARE you? Can you tell that I have been spending? I spent all day Sunday dithering, flicking from site to site, umming and arhing.....Dilly dally Dingle strikes again! BUT eventually I did make a decision and treated myself to a few new crafty bits and bobs.

I don't get much time to browse the shops online and in real life it's practically impossible now I don't have a car. I think I am going to start a little ongoing wish-list...so Chris, darling, sweetness, if you need any ideas for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Xmas....or just because...check it out! LOL

Now where do I begin;

flowers, blooms- a girl can never have enough.
a leafy die/punch.
a swirly die/punch.
a butterfly die/punch
3 new images to play with each month. (I 've had 2 already which allows one more, he he he!)
oh yes, I forgot, a snowflake die/punch in preparation for Christmas...eek!

Right, I will come back and edit this as I find more ideas.

Now 'fess up! What's on your wishlist?

A Sketch for Dottie!

Hiya everyone, well my crafting time this week has been rather hit and miss but after the wreckage that putting up a shelf in my craft room created....I did manage to put together a Design Team card late last night. It is of course for todays challenge over at .Dottie's World


The challenge this week is a fabby sketch:

Be prepared is so not my motto, but I do strive to be so........SO I made a Christmas card!

I had the idea of using snowflakes around the top edge of the circle but I really struggled with incorporating the squares at the bottom of the sketch, until...PING...I had a little brain wave and dug out the unused set of 4 little cuttlebug wintery embossing folders that I have had since first getting my Cuttlebug a good few years ago! That then led on to me using the "Snow Sledding" words folder which I aslo cannot remember ever really using!

This card also fits in with this week's challenge over at;

The ABC Challenge which is U-for unused!

The Saturday Challenge which is to use metal. (Brads,charm, metallic ribbon,metallic rub ons)

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round- which is to use flowers on your card!

Winter Wonderland - See Amid the Winter's Snow.

Right- Chris and Jack have gone swimming so hopefull I can spend a girlie hour or so colouring with Amelia!

Pop over to join in with this fabby sketch over at Dottie's! Bye for now!

XXX

Sweet Blog Candy and waffle!

So much for my Friday off to catch up with housework and do a bit of crafting!!!Arrghhhh! I had to go into work for a staff meeting at 12.30 anyway BUT late on Thursday night my manager rang asking if I could cover someone who was off sick. So that was it really, my "day off" was shattered to pieces!

Today I have still not done much at all either. My little craft room is in chaos BUT I do have a nice little shelf hidden under my work bench.....I am in MUCH need of a complete re-organistion but I just cannot see how and when it will ever happen. I am having to cover a few extra shifts at work, then it's half term, then we are away....in between I still have those dreaded childrens records I have to get bang up-to-date ready for the info to be used in final reports as the chuildren leave us and start "big school!"

Hey ho....let's clear a little bit of space and make a card ready for tomorrow's Dottie's World Challenge. BUT.....drumroll..........for now.....

Some sugar-free Candy from Karen!!!!!!!!

SCRUMMMMM-MY!!!

Getting distressed over Copic Colour Challenge

Well another Wednesday is here which means another colour combo for the Copic Colour Challenge. In an attmept to stop my recently found mojo running off again, I jumped at the chance of using the image in progress I had already got on my desk. Not really sure of how I pictured these colours to look, I also had to dig deep into my paper stock to find something suitable....I hope it works! Regardless - I had so much fun with these colours and the fabby Michelle Perkett image.

This week's colours are;

and here is my finished card.

I made this card to also join in with this week's challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studio where you need to use some distressing! I distressed the edges, torn paper and inked. I used an old file on the little metal paper fastener and brad and then went a bit mad with some metalic rub ons!

Thoroughly enjoyed the challenge thank you.

I also played along with hte challenge over on Papertake weekly - Shiny, Sparkly & Special. I wanted this to be subtle so you may have to look hard!LOL The glosy accents and pearly brads are shiny, the sparkles are the tiny little silver stitiches I have penned on, the metallic ink I have distressed the edges with and also the metallic rub on I went mad with!LOL Hmm "special" I cannot say my work is special, I am far too critical of myself and my work....but I promise you, cutting into that gorgous lace was really hard work, so I will say the lace is special!

Right, enough of my waffle, let's get on. Don't forget to grab those Copics and join us over at the Copic Colour challenge, we have another GREAT prize from Toodles & Binks, so get your name in the hat!

XXX

Ooops, I did it again!

What happened to creating every day? Life got in the way again I am afraid. I have crafted every day , a bit of knitting and an unfinished image sitting on my desk but after the hectic weekend, work and a hospital appointment all I was fit for yesterday evening was curling up on the sofa with hubby and feeling sorry for myself!

Not feeling much better today I am afraid, had an awful morning at work, come home had lunch and done a bit of housework and now I have less than an hour before Amelia gets home.

Talking of Amelia, she was an absolute little darling at her Audiology appointment yesterday, she was so polite and listened so well! I had a huge lump in my throat and was so very proud of her. Unfortunately her hearing is still an issue; they want to carry out a balance test (something that has never been done before) possibly a CT scan of her inner ears and are referring her to the Ear Nose and Throat Surgery for further assessment. We may be looking at grommits and/or a hearing aid in the near future. Well as near in the future asthe NHS will allow. For the time being I am needing to put drops in her ears 3 times a day!!!! LOL...hmmm with her huge host of sensory issues, that will be fun!

Jack on the other hand is coping very well with his SATS exams and last night went to the Cricket club for his first time, he really seemed to enjoy it and did very well!

VERY proud of both my "little" darlings! (and my big one too is you are reading Chris!)

Right, waffle and moan over with, I am going to share my poor, part finished Michelle Perkett image, go and get the kettle on and make a card for tomorrow's Copic Colour Challenge!

Dottie's World- I need flowers!

It's Gunn's turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World today and she wants us to use flowers on our creations...along with any of the fabby Charmed Downloads obviously!

Now I couldn't resist trying out a few of the new stamps I treated myself to only yesterday and had great fun stamping these out on little scraps of my copic paper...waste not want not! Now I chose a very pale pink paper for this card originally and started working the little girls dress in creams...then I had a complete change of heart and decided to inject some warm, sunny oranges into it...then at about midnight last night, I had to rummage around to find a paper that was more suitable. I do hope it doesn't look too thrown together.

I used "gift for mummy" from the Sugar and Spice collection!

Make sure you pop over to Dottie's World and join in the fun!

An afternoon shopping and....

.....not a lot to show for it except;

A nice full tummy after a huge lunch at Nandos.

One small pack of Papermania Clear stamps.

One pair of pink pumps (a sort of summery replacement to my green boots!LOL)

.....and a few basic vest top t-shirts.

Isn't it always the way when you go out with the intention of spending.

Chris, Jack & Amelia did much better (Amelia wasn't even with us!) and at long last I settled on a box canvas picture to hang over my bath. I had intended to paint one, but as usual, time has just never been on my side. I feel inspired to re-paint my bathroom now. I will show some piccies when it's done!

My Little Mermaid!!!

OH I have had such a lovely time today playing with this image. I knew exactly what paper I wanted to use and then dug out my stash of mulberry papers I have had since the year dot. ( Well probably about 8 yrs ago when I first sarted card making!) I had this idea to make waves with my sewing machine and some glitter but it didn't quite work out as I had planned!

I didn't feel that I wanted to add flowers as an embellishment so I hunted through my stamps and found a starfish, inked the edges and was quite pleased with myself. (How little it takes to please me!LOL)

I made this card to fit in with this week's challenge over on ABC Challenge which is;

T is for Thank you

and to make myself even more pleased with myself, I have made one on the teacher's thank you card and it's ONLY MAY!!!!!!!!! Whoo hoooo!

Day 6 and still going...errr...strongish!

Just popped in to say I am STILL crafting it's day 6 and I wanted to show you a work in progress for now....although I am enjoying this image so much I should imagine the finished card will be blogged some time later today!





I am really trying to get a bit of energy and enthusiasm into my life again, I am fed up of feeling sluggish and tired all the time. So as well as trying to step up a gear with my crafting I also did 1.5 miles on the running machine last night, 80 sit-ups and about 10 minutes on Wii Fit Yoga.
My poor suede boot however is not looking that heathy!

back later! XXX

The case of the boot and the Twinkle Toes Talc!

Went down the village to vote and then quickly popped into the Co-op to grab some pasta for a quick and easy dinner! It was LOVELY, diced bacon a nice salad and some yummy garlic bread.





Loaded the dishwasher, tidied the kitchen, took the tin foil from the grill pan and put it in the bin, just as I bent down to put it in the bin, SPLAT. Bacon fat all over my lovely green, suede boot!

I resisted temptation to wipe it off and with some cyber help, cornstarch was recommended. No cornstarch in cupboard I grabbed at Amelia's "Tinkerbell Magic Talc" (she calls in twinkle toes powder!) and smothered my poor boot! At least I have magic on my side.

Hey ho, if it doesn't work at least my boot will smell nice and fresh and it will be a great excuse to treat myself to another pair of boots...or two....there must be some bargains out there, right?

Dingle's Daily - Day 5!!!!!

Have you noticed....I am actually crafting again!! YEAH ...and enjoying it too. All I need now is a bit of an aim, a challenge, a longer term goal....hmmm.

There is a bit of a challenge going on, it was mentioned on Mumsnet, the create something every day...365 days...eeekk. Not really sure I could do that but it has really helped to give me a boost!

Anyway, I haven't got much to show you for day 5, at the moment anyway - BUT the day is still young. For now I thought I'd share what I have been doing in a vain attempt to be organised. I have done LOADS more- I am trying to get images printed/stamped, cut and all ready to go. I have a few ideas for storage but that will be next on my list for a new organised and prepared Dingle. ( WARNING...please do not hold your breath for this. Life does have rather a habit of me falling flat on my face!LOL)

Copic Colour Challenge #63

Sorry this is very short and sweet, in an attempt to be organised I am blogging and scheduling BEFORE work as I quickly eat a bit of brekkie! This week's colours over at the Copic Colour Challenge are beautiful, so soft and delicate- although I had to substitute for BG10 and another one...LOL...not even sure what one now, sorry!

I used this fabby image by Mo Manning and kept the design really simple in the attempt to let the gorgeous, sparkly ribbon do the talking.

I cheated this week too....as I am trying to make the most of my mojo just in case it runs off again. I also made this card in line with the challenge over at Stamp with Fun which is "Friendship."

I'm Late, I'm late.....for Mo's Challenge!

Well, the poor white rabbit is anyway. For once I am actually crafting for the fun of it and my long lost mojo is being raised from hidden depths! LOL

This is the first time, I think, that I have played along with one of the Challenges over at Mo's and this week it was to make a masculine card...hope this fits the bill. I loved colouring him!

I have also started my card ready for tomorrow's Copic Colour Challenge...I am trying to make the most of my mojo while it's still here!

My first Michelle Perkett Image

I have admired some of these images for a while now and in search of my long gone mojo, I decided I would make time to treat myself to a few new images. This is, I am sure, the first of many.

I have made this card for this week's challenge over on Michelle Perkett Studio Blog where this week there is a sketch to follow. Now I am not very confident with sketches but here goes:

I loved colouring this image despite the colours not being my "usual, comfortable" colours. AS I was playing around with the sketch I came across this mad idea to use the oval as a little flower garden....but both Chris and Jack looked at me as if I was mad so I didn't persue my explaination. Hopefully YOU may see where I am coming from...please!!!!!

All sewn up!

I am a bit late with this week's challenge for Dottie's World as my poor mum and dad had a bit of an emergency yesterday with water flooding through their ceiling, flooding carpets etc and blowing all their electrics! SEW rather than the afternoon spent hand stitching and sipping tea in the conservatory....I tried to help out a bit. Not much more can be done at the moment but at least this morning the water has stopped dripping through , now it's a case of waitng for it all to dry out and see what damage has actually been done!

Late last night I packed away my sewing machine and was quite happy with what I had done...but this morning it took me aaaages to finish this card. I was faffing around with a few additional embellies as it look rather bare. Hey ho...I ended up just going with the flow and hoping for the best.

I used Quiet time from the Boy Oh Boy collection and tried to use papers and a few odd "vintage" stamps to give the card an older style!

Catch up and chaos!

Well the plan for this afternoon was to leisurely sit in the conservatory sipping tea and crafting!! LOL....yeah as if that was ever gonna happen! As well as the children being in "extra grumpy mode" my poor mum and dad had a bit of a home emergency too. They had water pouring from the flat upstairs, through their kitchen ceiling and flooding out their kitchen, hallway and into their living room! They have no power so we had to try to shuffle around food in freezers and cook part of their dinner for them.

Love you mum and dad, hope it gets sorted soon for you so! XXX

Right, I thought I'd take a few minutes playing a bit of catch up blogging.

Here are a few DT cards I made recently but with my recent lack of internet and pure lack of organisation- they just didn't get blogged here! TUT TUT, slap my wrist.

The first was for the Dottie's world Butterfly Challenge using a beautiful Pixie chick download.

Next was for a Copic Colour Challenge using the fabby Sid- Silvertrail from Toodles and Binks.

Right, short and sweet.......off to quickly finish my Dottie DT card for tomorrow's challenge...oh one day I WILL be organised!