Deep and crisp and even ...

... so the snow arrived in our village last night.  The place looks lovely and our back garden has a thick layer of snow - just waiting for someone to run all over it!!!  Fortunately, the roads are clear - which is good as I have to get to Chester this morning.

Anyway, this is just a quick message to welcome Carol - thanks for becoming part of my Gang!!  I'll be back later with a few more cards - some more challenges to complete.  Everyone - be safe.

Challenge - number two ...

...  the Play Date Cafe Challenge for this week was really quite tough!!  The colours they wanted us to use in our cards are brown, grey and silver - not the usual sort of colours in a card.

However, I've come up with a card and I'm really pleased with it.  I decided to use the lovely Nutcracker set - the Nutcracker Prince can be coloured in so many different ways - so this time he's shades of grey and brown.  I added a lovely embossed Christmas tree - the folder was free with the Creativity magazine and is just the right size for this card.  I added some silver by using a silver sparkle embossing powder for the snow swirls.  In real life this card is very pretty - it has lots of sparkle and shimmer - very festive in fact!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Nutcracker; Personal Impressions - Christmas Sparkle
Promarkers: Satin, Blush, Walnut, Terracotta, Warm Grey 1, Warm Grey 3, Poppy!
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, London Fog; Versamark; Distress - Vintage Photo
Embossing Powder: Powder Keg - Orient Express; Heat It Up! - Silver Tinsel
Spellbinders: Labels 14

That's all for today - I'll be back again tomorrow. 

So cold and crisp ...

... but oh so, so beautiful.  The whole village is sparkling in the sunshine.  It's absolutely freezing cold - I sent my daughter to school this morning wrapped up in lots of layers.  I know that we're very lucky to have our schools open - but even though it's extremely cold here, we haven't had much actual snow.  However, that could still come our way.

The plus side of the snow is that it's put me in a really festive mood - and that's good, as I've got to finish making my Christmas cards.  I'm about to get packed for craft class this morning, so I'll be back again later todday. 

If you're out and about today, take care and wrap up warm.  See you later.

OLW30 - first ...

... this week the One Layer Wednesday challenge is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  Jennifer used to work for a card company - Vigo - and she has suggested that we get some inspiration from here for this week's challenge.  I think there are some wonderful images here and I have selected a few that I'm going to try and work with.  This is the first:

I love the contrast of the bright pink against the dark green, and the simplicity of the design is just beautiful. 
For my card I decided to use a cream card as the background and stamp just a small panel of branches, onto which I placed a small pink bird and a couple of baubles.  I created a mask using my rectangular nestie and then stamped the branches into the area, leaving the central area with only a few branches.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Around Christmastime, Teeny Trees
Inks: Memento - Cottage Ivy, Rose Bud

I might have another go at this tomorrow - in a different colourway (from the suggestions on the website).  I also have a few more cards that I particularly like, so I'm going to try and do something with them too.

That's all for this evening.  It's been a bitterly cold day here, although I know by some standards we are reasonably warm!!  But for early November it's unusual to stay below freezing all day.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be a bit warmer.  The only plus is that the night sky is just stunning - the stars are so clear.  I really will have to get out my binoculars and go out for a look - but not tonight :)

See you all tomorrow.

Best laid plans ...

... so often come to nought!!!  Yesterday, my plans for today was to be in my craftroom all day making Christmas cards, playing with techniques and generally having fun.  In reality what started as a little tickle in my throat yesterday, became a large scratchy throat along with a thumping head.  I think I have a cold starting.  So I delayed getting up - felt better for a while - and then fell asleep this afternoon.  So no playtime!!

However, feeling a bit better now - so off to play for an hour while dinner cooks - a nice comforting sausage casserole.  It's so easy to cook - just put it in the oven for an hour and a half - then eat!

I'll be back later.

Angelic Christmas ...

.... I made two cards for these challenges!  The first challenge is from Just Add Ink #45 was a sketch and the second challenge is from Cooking It Up with Katie - the ingredients this week - use some paint, add some rhinestones and make it angelic!

As I've got quite a few Christmas cards to make, I decided that these cards had to have Christmas as the main theme.  I got some stamps free with Cardmaking & Papercraft last month - pretty Christmas Fairies - so I decided to use them.  However, I really liked two of the images - so I made two cards.  Obviously they both follow the sketch layout above.  The paint I used was Twinkling H2Os - I love the effect you get with them and, of course, I added some glitter as you have to have bling at Christmas.  Here are the cards.

 

Stamps:  Cardmaking & Papercraft - Christmas Fairies

Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black

Twinkling H2Os: Oyster, Wild Blueberry, French Lilac, Blushing Rose, English Lavender, Irish Mist, Spiced Pumpkin

Papers:  Dovecraft - Christmas Blues; Anita's - Christmas Black

Spellbinders: Labels 3, Labels 1

I'm really pleased with them both - In real life the shimmer of the Twinkling H2Os is lovely - just a shame that it doesn't really show up on the photos!!  And that's all for tonight.  I'm about to go and babysit for my neighbour's two lovely little children, while she and her husband go out for a change!

Do drop by again tomorrow - and I'll have a few more challenges to show you.   Keep warm and safe.

Butterfly thanks ....

... is my first challenge card.  At Flutter by Wednesday's the challenge this week was to make a thank you card - with the proviso that it features either a butterfly, fairy or angel.  So that's what I've made - a simple thank you card.

Stamp: Personal Impressions - Butterfly Panel 1
Inks: Memento - Cottage Ivy; Various of my promarkers (this was coloured in sometime in the summer)
Greeting: Craftwork cards
Accessories: The green glitter card is from a set that I bought from Create and Craft TV (several years ago); I added some Stickles glitter to the butterfly wings and centre of the flowers

I'm really pleased with this card - it's fresh, clean and simple.  Now I'm off to play some more!!

Challenge workshop ...

... that's what my craftroom is going to be today.  The weathermen have promised us a cold, crisp and probably snowy day, so I have the perfect excuse to stay in a nice warm craftroom and play!!  And I have a list of challenges that I want to work on. 

The OLW challenge, at Styles Ink, this week is based on inspiration from Vigo cards and I've picked a few designs - now to produce some cards.  I'm going to do something with Katie's recipe for angelic rhinestones!!  And I also want to come up with something for the colour challenge from The Play Date Cafe - that could be interesting.  I have several others too. 

Come back later today and I should have something to show you.

It's really, really cold ...

... and the sky is really clear.  The stars are so bright tonight, but it's far too cold to sit out and look at the stars!!  I think I'll have to wait for a warmer night :))

My Scouts are such good fun - we played Global Monopoly tonight - the object being to make the most money possible.  My group is small, but they play with enthusiam.  At the end of the evening we asked what they'd learnt - communication, co-operation and determination - were some of the responses.  Did they have fun?  Yes!!  They want to play again - so it was a success on all fronts.

I told the Group how much we raised from the Cake and Card sale last night - £30.00 total - £10.00 to our School Fund and £20.00 to the Scout Group - they were very pleased.  So here are a few more of the cards I made (but which are still in my craftroom).

Peeloffs (from QVC) placed onto a brayered background

Image from Joanna Sheen; greeting free from a magazine - I love this image and have used it many times

Made this image as part of my MCC home work - I added some Stickles glitter to the flower and a greeting - easy card

Another quick and easy card - Image from Pink Petticoat - coloured on the PC, mounted onto card

That's all for this evening - it's time for bed.  I've had such a busy week - and it's going to get even busier now that we're moving towards December!!  Do come back again tomorrow.

It's snowing ...

.... really, it's snowing!!  Not very heavy, or very big flakes, but lots of pretty little flakes.  However, the net result is the ground has gone a lovely white colour.  This is not right - I don't like it snowing - but I'm sounding all happy about it!!  I'm nuts!!  Seriously, it looks very pretty, but I don't like it once it turns to slush - and that won't be long as the snow's not heavy enough to settle (yet).

I'd like to say Hi to Becky - a new follower - I only just realised that the number had gone up.  So glad you joined me.

The school fair yesterday evening was very busy - and I sold ALL the cakes!!  But not so many cards.  I think I'm going to have to diversify and do some more smaller gifts - would love to know what works for everyone else!

And here are a couple more of the cards I made yesterday - again I'm only posting the briefest of descriptions about supplies (sorry!).

Card 3" x 3" - Image from Microsoft, Greeting Stampin' Up

Card - A6, Image - Pink Petticoat, Stamp - Waltzingmouse

Stamps - swirls (Elusive Images), can't remember where I got the greeting

Both image and greeting are from sheets that I bought - but I can't remember which company.

That's all for now - the snow has stopped!!  Told you it wouldn't last long.  I'm now off to start the Christmas shopping with Jonathan.  Back later.

I've had such fun ...

... today - I've been busy making some cards for the School Fair this evening.  I've kept them very clean and simple (because I've had to make a lot), and thought I'd show you some of them.  I'll probably upload the whole lot to my Flickr account this weekend - if you want to see them all!!  I apologise in advance for not providing full details of each card - I've only got about 1½ hours before the fair starts - so don't have time.  But here are a few for now:

Used Cuttlebug die

Pink Petticoat Image - coloured on the PC

Image from Microsoft images - greeting Waltzingmouse Stamps

All imags - Stampin' Up - added the dotted trails

These are all 3" x 3" - they are a really sweet size.  I've tried to make a selection to suit all occasions.  Here's hoping it's a good evening.  I hope to raise lots of money for our Scout Group.  I will also be selling some lovely homemade cakes - got to use all methods to attract people to the stall!!

See you tomorrow.

Small and sweet ....

... another of my little 3" x 3" cards.  This one was so simple to make.  I used my new Waltzingmouse stamps - Festive Foliage - which is just wonderful.  There are so many beautiful images, which make the easiest of cards.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Festive Foliage
Inks: Memento - Cottage Ivy, Pear Tart, Lady Bug
Card: Antia's

I hope to be back later to post some more cards - both challenges and for my Christmas Collection. 

Today is our School Fair and I have a small stall from which I hope to sell some of my cards.  This is a fund raising event for our Scouts Group.  I will also be selling some cakes made by another of our Scout Leaders - she makes the most delicious cakes.  It will be interesting to see how many of those I sell (I may eat one or two!!). 

WOYWW ...

... I've finally got around to playing What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday - I've been meaning to join in for ages. 

And for a change my desk is reasonably tidy!!!  All that's left are some of the bits that I've not put away after making my card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  My desk is not normally as tidy as this - in fact before I made the card this morning - it was a tip!!  I shall make sure to take a photo each Tuesday evening - then you'll see the usual state of affairs.

Waltzingmouse challenge ....

.... and Just Add Ink #44.  I wanted to enter this card into both these challenges, unfortuantely I've missed the deadline for JAI44 - but it's going into this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  Here's the WMSC24 sketch and the colours for JAI44:

I don't have the exact colours stated in the JAI44 challenge, so I opted to use some that I think are a close match.  For river rock I've substituted my card stock, wild wasabi (lovely name) is the green card from my stash and chocolate chip is covered with the embossing powder.  When I saw the WMSC24 sketch I knew exactly which set I'd use to make the card.  But you have to be quiet about it - it's the Secret Set released last year.  I created the background using one of the stamps from the set using two colours of distress ink.  The main image was stamped and emboseed three times, twice on green.  I then cut out layers which I decoupaged.  I love the little line of footprints!!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Secret Santa
Inks: Distress - Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Bundled Sage, Vintage Photo
Embossing Powder: Powder Keg - Orient Express
Card: from my stash (although I think I originally got it from QVC)

Overall, I'm really pleased with this card - but I didn't get it finished in time for the JAI challenge - oh well, there's always next week.

That's all for now - I'll be back tomorrow.

Good morning all ...

... I've woken to a really cold and frosty morning here in North Wales.  The grass is white with frost, and my husband is going to have to scrap the car windows!!  We don't have any snow - yet, fortunately.  I'm not good with snow, but winter has really arrived.

And I've also got another follower - welcome Lynn, and thanks for joining my band of followers.  Now, I'd better get off her and go get breakfast for my daughter.  I'll be back later with a few more challenges.  Go safely - wherever you are.

A new follower ...

... I've just seen that I have a new follower.Hello and welcome to Rafika.  Thank you for joining my band of Followers.  I've just visited your blog - I love your artwork - very original.

I am always very grateful that people decide to follow my blog - I enjoy writing this and showing my cards.  Sometimes I even have one or two that are very decent!  I notice that I've now got 19 followers - who will be the 20th?

That's all for this evening - it's been a long and busy day.  I've got lots to do tomorrow - more cards to prepare for the School Fair on Thursday.  See you tomorrow.

At last, some challenges ...

... it's taken me rather longer than I thought to finally make some cards.  But I've done some now!!

The first one is for One Layer Wednesday, hosted by Susan at Simplicity.  This time Susan wanted us to base our card on some wonderful cakes at Cake Wreaks.  I based my card on this cake - it looks absolutely wonderful.  My card is okay but not great.  I decided to use my Cuttlebug folders to create some texture on the card - I used Swiss Dots and one of the fancy borders - they looked great.  Then I thought I'd add some colour by brushing my ink pad across the top of the card - unfortunately that didn't work out too well.  It's okay, but not perfect.  I added some ribbon and a greeting on a flower making the card not enitrely one layer!! 

I Dream of Cake

The next card covers two challenges - one for colour and one for design.  The colour challenge is from The Play Date Cafe Challenge - PDCC56 and the design is from Clean and Simple Stamping - FTL117. 

 

As I've still got so many cards to make for my Christmas collection, I decided that I'd use one of my new sets from Waltzingmouse Stamps - Around Christmastime.  This is a super set with lots of clean and simple images which I think work really well with the bright colours.  What do you think?

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Around Christmastime

Inks: Colourbox Pigment - Magenta, Olive, Turquoise

Paper: Pink Petticoat striped; Red foil card

Punch: Martha Stewart Christmas Ornaments

Last, but by no means least, is a card that I've made for the Cooking It Up with Katie challenge.  The recipe for this card was to use a punch, to add a little gold and to make it for your family.  Once again I used my trusty Around Christmastime stamps - I used the large image of Santa's head and embossed it with gold.  I coloured Santa's hat with Distress inks and added glitter for the edge of the hat and flock for his beard.  To make it for my family I decided that this is the card I'm sending to my sister and her husband.  I'm really pleased how this turned out.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Around Christmastime

Spellbinders:  Plain large circles, Large Inverted Circles

Accessories:  Glitter, white flock, gold embossing powder and gold peeloffs

That's all for now.  Back again tomorrow.

My Scout troop ...

... have been brilliant.  Our meetings are held on a Friday night and last Friday was Children in Need night.  We try to do something to support this fantastic night each year.  This year the Troop did a sponsored skip.   They were timed for 1 minute and the number of skips recorded.   I think they all thought that 1 minute was far too short a time and would be dead easy.  I wish I'd had my camera handy to take photos of the faces at the end of a minute!!!  I think I must be evil :)) 

They all took part with great enthusiasm, cheering each other on - I'm so proud of them all.  Some of my Troop have never skipped before and found it a real challenge and learnt a new skill.  I think there are others in the Troop who are secret skipping champions!!  It was a great evening.



And I've been busy with other Scouting stuff this weekend - hence no cards on here!! ;(

I am attending a two day First Aid course (I was always the office First Aider).  It's a super course and I'm finding that you don't really forget this stuff, but it's good to practise.  Today is the second day and I should have my certificate this afternoon, so if anyone does have an accident I'm officially able to sort it out. 

Anyway, I'll be back to making some cards tomorrow.  I still have lots to make for my Christmas collection, and I also want to make a few small CAS cards for the school fair on Thursday - fund raising for Scouts!!

I hope everyone has a good day.  I'll be back tomorrow.