A Charming Dottie!

This week's challenge over at Dottie's World is to make a card or project using 2 charms and 1 brad, and of course a Charmed Download!







Completely stressed (shall we just mention the word "children!) shattered and mojo-less, I just wasn't happy with where to put TWO charms so I came up with a weird framelike creation!LOL
I enjoyed using me new pastel Christmas papers so much last week, I kept to the same colour scheme and have another Chrimbo card in my box!

Bye for now!

xXx

Dottie's Conditional Christmas Challenge!

Hello everyone, another Sunday another challenge over at Dottie's World;

"This is the time we all make a start on our huge pile of Christmas cards - if it isn't then it should be as you surely don't want that last minute panic :-) To get you started we would like you to create a Christmas card, the condition here is that you must not use traditional Christmas colours, so I don't want to see any reds or greens, anything else is good to go. The only absolute must-have is of course one of the gorgeous Charmed downloads. "

Now this was the perfect reason to get out the new pack of Dovecraft Christmas papers, loads of yummy soft pastel colours. I hope you like my little Christmas Pixie, she is one of my all time favs!

My card was also made for;

My Time to Craft - Jewelled. I have never used these stick on gems before , they were sent to me by a very kind cyber friend and fellow crafter, a little while back. I have got them out, look at them and put them safely back away in their little box....an apt time to actually USE some! LOL

The Great Outdoors

It's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week!

I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone, children going back to school and the thought of Autumn ahead already. Let's make the most of the weather whilst we can!

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Please make a card, project with an outdoor theme. That's the only requiremnt apart from obviously using one or more of the fabby Charmed Downloads.

XXXX

Pop over to Dottie's and join us! xx

A Favourite Charmed at Dottie's World!

It's Gunn's turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week and she asked us to use a favourite Charmed Download. Simple you'd think but how on earth do I choose just one download! I dithered around over the Pixies as I love them so much but I couldn't chose between several of them so I put those to the back of my little mind and went for something else instead.

I made a vintage style card with this image a little while ago and enjoyed using it so much I thought I'd try it another. Now I REALLY need to get a bit of craft shopping in as some of my basics are running low; things like inks and adhesives so I tried using a few different inks I had laying around- not sure of the effect I have messily created but hopefully I am able to get away with it!

I also made this card to suit;

Basic Grey Challenge - Pearls - I used Mortifica and Liquid Pearls to supposedly match my seaside theme.

The ABC Challenge - A for August - Well you are meant to be able to paddle in the sea in August aren't you? ( I suppose you could always paddle in the torrential rain!)

Dottie gets Framed!

Over on Dottie's World this week Dottie needs to get FRAMED!!!

Details of the FRAME IT challenge along with details of £10 voucher blog candy

ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided to put the gorgeous Market Day image (from Sugar and Spice collection) behind acetate for a "window" effect and then to frame it with snowflakes. I am not at all sure about the finsihed card and whether it actually "works but I have found it rather difficult to be inspired this week. Especially with my little helper around!LOL

All in all though I cannot complain, we have finished painting the playhouse, the living room ceiling has been plastered, PVA'd and a first coat of paint went on yesterday. Guess what's in store today then...well it's either painting or building that little brick wall...hmm, decisions!

Dottie's World goes all manly!

Well, manly with a twist - it's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week.

Whilst looking through my stock box I noticed I am incredibly short of cards for men so I thought it would be a good idea to get a few in there rather than keep putting myself under the pressure of having to make them at the last minute - cards for men can be tricky enough as it is!

You have loads of images to choose from the Charmed Download collections so lets see what you can come up with........Now for a little twist, I want to see some ribbon on your manly cards!!

I also made this along with the challenge for;

Stamp with Fun #69 A card for a boy/man
Cute Card Thursday -Texting Crazy

Dottie at the Movies!

What a week it has been, the end of term for Amelia on Wednesday, all the end of term parties and a Fun Day at work, saying goodbye to 17 of our 4 year olds off to school in September. THEN to top it all Jack had his last day of Primary School on Friday. He is really grumpy and unsettled at the moment- not surprising really as he is one of only two boys in his school off to Grammar School in September. Hopefully a bit of time and reassurance will improve matters!

I am having awful issues with Amelia, her sleeping and eating are quite poor at the moment as she is complaining her "neck hurts." We are off to see the ENT consultant next month regarding her hearing and I am wondering if there is an issue with her tonsils and adenoids too.

I feel shattered already and have six weeks of constant attention with Amelia to cope with. Hey Ho......

Anyway onto the very little bit of crafting I have managed.

This week over on Dottie's World the challenge is Let's Go to the Movies!

NOw I only started this last night and I was so tired it was just one disaster after another and I am not at all happy with the card....not sure the sentiment works but I will follow up with some apt words inside the card and hope hubby doesn't take offence.

Loved colouring in the Dragon from Once Upon A Time Collection - I should imaging he will be used over and over again!

Right best get on now....I have had a few blogging issues to and had to change my background...not sure about this one yet but at least you can read my waffle.

x X x

Dottie's World- That Summer Feeling!

Hi everyone- it's a fabby challenge over at Dottie's World this week and a super prize up for grabs too so make sure you pop over and join in the fun!

The challenge is to make a summery project using a Charmed Download! BUT Lou would like you to make your summer item different to what you normally make!

Look HERE for details!!!!!!!

Now I was really stuck for time yesterday- had such a busy day planned and very little time to make anything so I cheated a bit- hope it's OK. The design is very similar to what I normally make but I saw a challenge on another site and it reminded my of a few cards I had made in the past and really enjoyed - so I went long with no patterned papers and lots of WHITE! I hope this is DIFFERENT enough!

I really enjoyed making this card too! Thanks for the challenge Lou!

Here are a few of the cards I had previously made like this, using lots of white and no patterned papers:

Dec 09.

Aug 08!

Dottie goes Vintage!

Hi everyone, another hectic and very hot week here! We have had Amelia's parent's evening and an Induction Evening at Jack's new school to slot into our already busy agenda and I am relieved that the week is over. Hopefully things shoud start to calm down a bit now. Yesterday Amelia also had her last Speech and Language session for the term, so that will free up some of our Saturday mornings too! I think the children are growing up far too quickly, especially Jack and I want to try to make the most of the Summer holiday and have some quality time with them both! HOW exactly is a different matter!LOL




Anyway, I am trying to get myself a bit organised and start working ahead again- it hasn't happened quite yet but today's card was actually planned, printed and coloured a few weeks ago!
This week over at Dottie's World we are going VINTAGE!



"This time I would love to see Vintage style on your cards and be inspired by summer. It could be the colours, flowers, time of year...and so on...as long as you include a Charmed Download!

AND don't forget we have another fab new collection to play with too......

ONCE UPON A TIME -have you seen it???

Dottie's World - Paper Piecing!

Hi everyone, it's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World this week;

" Now paper piecing is a technique I have only really ever tried once or twice...and that was ages ago! I thought it was about time to have another go, so this week I challenge you to make your creations including some element of paper piecing.

Don't forget to use a Charmed Download and leave a link so that we can visit. "

I used Rosebud from the Pixie Chicks collection, kept it quite simple as this will probably be earmarked as one of the teacher's thank you cards.....I am running out of time yet again!

I decided to paper piece her little dress and shoes- the shoe were rather fiddly, but very cute!

Dottie's World- No patterned Paper

Hi everyone. Back home, washing nearly up to date but still loads to do. As well as being Father's day today is is my darling Chris's Birthday so I have a busy day ahead. I let Chris have a lay in but I was up early to finish making a few cards and wrap a few presents before the kiddies and me bombarded him with his goodies and a few "adapted" versions of "Happy Birthday!"

Chris is going to take Jack swimming this morning to give me a chance to run around and tidy a bit more so that hopefully this afternoon we will all be able to have some quality time together before we all have to go back to school/ work tomorrow!





Anyway, enough waffle; I quickly made a card for this week's challenge over at Dottie's World, which is to use no patterned papers. Loads of ideas for this one but not much time so I stuck to a very basic background of torn and layered card. I was going to get my sewing machine out to stitich these together but at nearly midnight last night I just didn't have the energy-especially as I had a bit of a fingermark issue on my "not as dry as I thought-Glossy Accents" - sorry!

Got a VERY busy week ahead of me! As well as playing catch up at home, I am back to work and determined to get all my work records up to date and passed to my supervisor for the children's leaving reports to be made up . I want these done and dusted and off my to do list.

After that I have loads of unfinished decorating to do and one very messy and unorganised craft room. I was given a large black storage "thingy" yesterday - perfect for A4 card but I have nowhere to put it at the moment! LOL

Right, better get on. See you again soon!

XXX

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

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!!!

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!

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!

Dottie's World - Textures galore!

Hi everyone, sorry - I have been a bad,bad blogger. Life, the school holidays, decorating, gardening, paperwork and a severe lack of an internet connection have not been in my favour but I still live in hope that I will find my crafty mojo once again.

Nevermind, my craft room is looking a little tidier, my garden a little less jungle-like and I have a little less white gloss paintwork to do to. At least a bit of progress has been made!

This week it is my turn to set the challenge over on Dottie's World and here it is:

Textures Galore!

"I would like you to include several different textures on your creations this week please. This could be felt, embossing, stitching, feathers, ribbon etc.....as long as you include a Charmed Download, the rest is up to you."

Now I cheated a bit on this week's card by using loads of scraps, a sort of stripey serendipity of offcuts. I dusted off the sewing machine and stitched around the edge and brought a bit of continuity to the background by attacking it with some Glossy Accents- which also added a bit of texture and interest. This didn't show up that well but hopefully you can make out what I mean.

Anyway, here's the finsihed card!

My choice of textural effects include; stitching, glossing accents, ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing, I also gave the card a bit of dimension using the flowers and some 3D pads on the image. I know it looks rather wintery rather than the pretty Springlike colours that are "in" at the moment but this is what caught my eye....and I went with it!

Please pop over to Dottie's World and join in the challenge.

Watch this space to as I will be choosing the

2 lucky Blog candy winners

I promised aaaaages ago!

I used "Market Day" image from the Sugar and Spice Collection.

Dottie goes colourful!

So sorry for being missing in action, my mojo well and truely took a nose dive and was buried with a host of other issues in the Dingle household. Things like children and decorating and gardening and paperwork....all the things you just cannot avoid. Still no better off, in fact after a day of going mad with a pair of garden pruners yesterday...the house is positively like a tip again! It's so frustarating when you want to wash curtains and mats and all the bedding, when your wash basket is just never anything but overflowing. Oh the joys of having the children at home! LOL

Still I will be playing catch up over the next day or so...with both the housework and my crafting hopefully - not to mention the draw for the Dottie Download candy...I haven't forgotten! XX

Best get on with this week's challenge from Gunn. She wants us to play with green , pink and turquoise...and this is what I came up with very quickly yesterday after my rampage with the pruners!