To Russia with Love

I used the 2sketches4you templates last night to make these cards, what did we do before sketches for inspiration? This is using the bonus sketch

This one is going to a little girl in Russia- I met her mum on our ante natal group but they now work in Moscow, I miss them and wish they were closer

All the christmas cards are made now so I just have a few birthday cards left to make-including my Mum's birthday on christmas day

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Christmas presents

I've cut down on the cards I'm making for christmas this year so I have time to make a few presents too.
This was CJ's favourite coat-she just loved the dotty fabric so when she outgrew it I made this rather psychadelic bear for her christmas stocking!

I also made her these blocks spelling out her full name-probably the only time we've ever used her whole name LOL!

I have made about 20 christmas cards now though, I'm trying to do them in batches using the same colours/papers but varying the layout etc. These fit the Spoonful of sugar challenge for non traditional coulours on christmas cards-I love purple and wouldn'r have put it with the begie background but the santa embellishment worked so well in those colours.

The santas were downloads from Cardmaking world I think-they had a special offer on the other day

Thanks for looking-off to put together a card making box for in front of the tv this evening!

I have a few more birthday cards to finish before I can start on christmas-but first for Jackie who asked how CJ was- she's 9 months now and very very cute hehehe

This card uses the Papertake challenge this week-I love this template and will be using it for alot of Christmas cards

For my aunt I used the Sketch and Stash challenge-the stash was the butterfly sticker, a freebie when I bought a load of scrapbook papers back in March (I managed a whole 1 layout!! since then)

Forgive the dodgy photos-my scanner died this evening :-(

3 more cards to go then I can unpack the dreaded christmas papers!

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Thanks to a couple of challenges I've started to catch up on my card list this week. First was this lovely template from Papertake

This one was from the Friday sketchers-but I'm a day late hehehe

I've also got a couple of 1st birthday cards ready too-forward planning for a change!

Have you seen the gorgeous blog candy Jackie is giving away? Pop over and have a look at her lovely cards!

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Papertake challenge

Yes I still make the occasional card!! Papertake's challenge this week was black& white +1-I hope this fits the bill. I've done a couple of others but they are for forum members so won't post them here yet. Next on the list is a coffee inspired card for a starbucks mad friend.

I've finished up a few sewing projects too-a doorstop for my sis and a couple of peg aprons. I've just got a new sewing book-making children's clothes so I've started on a pinafore for CJ

Have you seen the lovely blog candy on Craft Fairy's blog?

She has some great ideas for little seasonal gifts there too!

Thanks for looking

I treated myself this week to a bumper craft pack from the craftsuperstore.co.uk- it arrived today and as soon as mum saw it she ordered one too!

I've had quite a crafty aquisition week- I also treated myself to a couple more copics when I was in the art shop and a friend of my mum's gave me a craft cd and a pile of patterned card blanks...

this first card uses a stamp from the bumper pack-its to thank the lovely lady who gave me the craft bits and it fits the sketch and stash challenge

This card is for my lovely sister who treated me to a top and CJ to a sleeping bag this week- a couple of challenges covered here- Cute card Thursday is pink and green and The secret crafter's was Hearts and Flowers-the heart is on the patterned card background

I'm going to try this weekend to finish the peg apron I promised her and to make her a doorstop for her front door

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

2 in 1

The challenge for DCM this week was to use 5 inchies, but my card also covers the Saturday challenge on secret crafter which is Flights of Fancy

I wasn't sure how much I was going to be able to use this stamp set so I put off buying it for quite a while but I'm very glad I did now, I've used it alot already

The card at the top of the post should be down here-but Blogger isn't obliging today!! We had a textile challenge on Crafts by carolyn- I made this one with a square from one of CJ's old t-shirts and an assortment of old buttons

Thanks for looking

wow-3 cards in one day!

This hasn't happened since before I had CJ-she seems to be finally getting the idea evenings are for sleep, and for mummy to make cards again!

So a very simple thank you card for some presents CJ was given at the weekend-these baby papers are going on forever!!

The theme for cute card thursday was red and teal-the same colours as my kitchen!

Off to bed-thanks for looking!

DCM challenge

The challenge on DCM this week (well technically last week) was Bejewelled Blitz-I now have Lythan to thank for a fast growing addiction to this game!

I know I'm tempting fate but Claudie has started sleeping better in the evenings so I may finally get some card making time back!

I have managed a bit of hand sewing-its easier to do in the living room when she's playing

A noughts and crosses set for my niece's 7th birthday-I made a linen bag to store it in too but was up against a deadline and didn't get to photograph it

and a hat for CJ from a sewing mag pattern-it did annoy me they only gave this one size for it-after all you had to enlarge the pattern by 115% to begin with, how hard would it have been to work out how much more you needed to enlarge it for bigger sizes?

Still she likes it and its the only hat she doesn't immediately try to pull of her head

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copics challenge

Finally I got some time today to catch up a little with my cards list! I made this for my niece using the copics challenge which this week was a template for a change. The shiny paper is actually more pink than the purple it looks here.

I treated myself to the Threading water punch last week so you can bet alot of my cards will feature it for a while!

These two were very quick to make, handy when CJ will only sleep for 1/2hr at a time now

I'm really enjoying sewing again-especially hand sewn little projects I can do in front of the tv, I made a sunhat for Claudie at the weekend which she loves, I'll put a photo here later, and I'm working out a plan to make a noughts and crosses set on a little patchwork quilt for my niece

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathie's template

I've been busy with a few different craft projects lately-including some sewing. So far I've made cot bumpers and dribble bibs for CJ, with an outfit and 2 sleeping bags still works in progress.

But I have alot of birthday's, and other celebrations in June so its time to get started before I go back to work on the 22nd June

My sister and her kids move house this month-this card uses Kathie's new template

Nice and simple-just what I need with only nap breaks to craft!

This next card is for her birthday- the challenge this week on cute card thursday is die cuts/punches. The card idea is from a magazine-not my usual sort of thing but it was quick! The rosettes on the shoes were made with a balloon shaped punch

and finally-my first ever scrapbook page! I have an idea for the next page but I need to get some of the sewing pile down first

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Little digger

I made this card for a second birthday- and used 2 challenges. Sketch and stash template-the new stash is the digger-part of a sticker pack from poundland, and the second is A spoonful of sugar's challenge this week which was touchy feely. I've used textured card (think it was from papermill a million years ago) and foam letters

I've done all my cards for May now-but have a huge load of birthdays etc in June-and I go back to work mid June too so I think I'd better find some time to get started!

If only I could persuade Claudie to sleep through the evening I'd have my craft time back again!!

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Creative treasures

Tracy asked us to make a card using blue, yellow and green-not a combination I've tried before but I really like it-thanks for the idea Tracy!

It also fits the Sketch and stash challenge this week- the stamp is a new sugar nellie's one, with my new copics

Apologies for the wonky scan-I've tried 3 times and now given up!

my new toys!

My Copic pens have arrived -I'm in love, already planning my next order hehehe

This means I can now join in with the Copic's challenges- the three colours this week are


R59- cardinal
YR07 cadmium
G99 olive



The nearest I had was YR04 orange so I've used that-see I do need to expand my colour range very soon!!

The card template was from the Friday Sketchers-not an easy one-but worth the challenge!
I'm off to practise a bit more-thanks for stopping by!

Kathy's blog challenge x2

I love Kathy's sketches-I always seem to make more than one card from them-and this sketch challenge she's offering blog candy too!!

I've been having a painful week, not helped by having to wait around for fridge engineers etc- my american fridge freezer died ;-( so I've been spending pennies I don't have on some Copics!!!

Really looking forward to getting my paws on them-I've been getting frustrated with my cheaper marker pens and I just can't get the hang of watercolour pencils. I've ordered 18 for now and hope to add a few more each month

Hope you had a fun Easter weekend with better weather than we got here!

A Spoonful of sugar

The challenge this week on a Spoonful of sugar was to make a numbered card. I finally found the monster stickers I'd bought at Poundland- I hope the "little monster" I made it for likes it!


I have no idea how I've managed to change to italics now!!!!

I can't believe I've managed to make one of my May cards already-at this rate maybe I won't be able to put off scrapbooking much longer, I have all the stash ready, I've just not been brave enough to start

Thanks for stopping by-Happy Easter

Ruby anniversary

Its my parents Ruby Anniversary next week-its also my in-laws ruby anniversary this year-but I'm not going to cheat and make them both the same card, however tempting that idea is!!


I used the sketch and stash template for this card. The new stash is the ribbon, a free gift in a magazine, and the stamp although I've had it a little while its the first time I've used it. I also used up some paper I've been holding onto for a while-one of those I like it too much to use it ones, you know? I think it came in a self addressed kit-I do miss those

The second card is for 2 challenges, I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers for Linnies challenge of brown and pink. I love the colour scheme, in fact I like lots of brown combinations, it goes so well with so many other colours.

The image is a cute daisy may download from Linnie. I love these little ballerina's they remind me of illustrations in a children's book from when I was young-I just can't remember the name of them! Linnie has a DT call out if you'd like to enter.
I've decided not to add a sentiment for a change, that way I can use it for any occasion

I had planned a tiny bit of gardening today- Dad gave me some geraniums and bunny rabbits he had left over but the weather is yucky. I have to stay in today to have our fridge freezer collected-it died last week. Just hoping they don't take too long with the new one!

feeling fruity?

Her ladyship decided she'd have a good nap this morning-I've got so much done in an hour! Including this card for the DCM challenge this week-it had to feature fruit

I've also read my sew hip magazine, and decided to subscribe this month there were so many projects I liked I decided it was time to go for it
On the web I found this pattern for a sewing organiser-maybe it should be one of my first jobs?

We have baby massage this afternoon-I'm hoping CJ decideds to stay awake for more than 5 minutes this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

The few cards I've made recently have been uninspired rushed jobs-becuase I had to make them rather than for the joy of making them so to make this card was a real treat. The bits to make it have been gradually piled on my desk over the last few days-adding little bits as the idea grew-and as time allowed in between changing nappies!

The sketch is from 2sketches4u

We've been very busy lately reorganising things at home-the main change being...we've rehomed our house rabbits Bert & Ernie. They weren't getting the attention they deserved from us, and the pain from my hypermobility syndrome has been getting worse making it very difficult for me to get down on the floor to play with them and clean cages etc. They've gone to a very loving home so after weeks of feeling guilty I'm finally happy we've made the right decision.

It also means we've reclaimed 2 rooms in the house! I even found a secondhand dining table and 6 chairs at the carboot sale for £110 so we have a proper dining room at last now ernie has moved out.

Please note having a dining room table to eat on does not neccessarily mean I will be cooking !! Although I did get the Rachel Allen Bake! book for mother's day-the cookies are to die for-hubby thought they came from M&S-praise indeed!!!

Off to get some more bits done before Little Miss decides to wake up-to follow one posing baby shot!!!

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Its been a while hasn't it? I have been making cards but yet more thank you ones and I thought I'd boed everyone to death with those by now. People keep sending Claudia the most gorgeous presents-look what arrived this morning!

Now I need a wedding to take her to to wear it!!!

I have made a non thank you card at last! This is for my friend Sue to wish her a speedy recovery from her knee op. The theme on DCM this week is patchwork-this is vaguely patchy-will have to try better on my next attempt I think!The stamp is a new one from Sugar Nellie-my sister bought me these for my birthday next week but I was allowed them early. I'm trying not to buy any craft stuff for myself this year-bar the essentials like envelopes and tape so mum has given me money for the papers for CJ's scrapbook-I've ordered the Imagniescence fairest of them all range-can't wait till they arrive

and finally its Crafts by carolyn's forum 7th birthday next weekend so we are having a birthday fairy-think secret santa without the christmas paper! Look at the lovely parcel I receieved yesterday-its almost too pretty to open!!

Thank for stopping by

CJ's cards

First I would like to thank everyone who has sent such lovely cards and presents for Claudia-Jean-she is one very spoilt little lady. I will take some photos of all her cards and flowers soon... this is just one with the lovely personalised teddy Andy and Sarah sent her-isn't he cute?

I've only made 2 or 3 cards so far-I still have yet more thank you cards to make!!! I made 3 very quickly using another of Kathy's great templates-keep them coming please Kathy ;-)

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