Rosie-Dee's Challenge

It's my week over on Rosie-Dee's Challenge to set the challenge.

I'll show you a sneaky peek for now, but you'll have to visit the challenge blog to see the 'bigger picture!

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

Dee set the challenge last Sunday on the theme of spring. I made a card using a lovely stamped image that I received from Joanne in a stamped image over on Bubbly Funk quite a while back.


Materials:
4" x 8 1/2" white card.
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie.
Stamp: Cornish Heritage Farm - Daisy Jar (thanks Joanne!)
Watercolour pencils: Derwent Aquatone.
Ribbon: Stash.
Stamped greeting: Studio G (thanks to Elaine as it was a pressie from her).
Yellow/Orange/Green pens: Stabilo.

Di Hickman Card Sketch March #2

Using Di's March #2 sketch I decided to make a card for a boy as I normally make girlie card given the choice.


Materials:
White 6"x4" card.
Plain card: Leftover from Indigo Mill mini kit.
Rubons: BasicGrey Archaic.
Card ricrac: Bazzill Just the Edge.
Inkpad: Colorbox Chalk Eye.
Fineline pen: Stabilo.

DCM - Ready Steady Cook!

So, what's this week's dare all about?
Here in the UK there's a TV programme that's been going for years. A couple of viewers are invited to bring a bag of cookery ingredients to the studio and two top chefs have to make a meal using the contents of those bags - they don't know what will be in the bags beforehand.

So this dare is my take on that theme - I'll tell you the ingredients you have to use, then all you have to do is make the card.

Here are your ingredients:
3 different papers
At least one piece of chipboard
At least 1 button
At least 1 piece of ribbon
optional: 1 extra item/element of your choice

So, that's Kathy's dare this week, and this is my card:


Materials:
White 4"x8 1/2" card.
Papers: BasicGrey Two Scoops.
Fabric paper: KI Memories.
Button: Stash.
Ribbon: Stash.
Chipboard: Making Memories (I think!)
Metal heart: Papermania.
Brad: Stash.
Fineline black pen: Wilkinsons.

I thought I was dying...

I woke this morning at 12:45am with the most horrendous pains in my chest. It was difficult for me to catch my breath and I really thought I was having a heart attack! Not to mention I was wondering when exactly I swallowed the tennis ball sized lump that seemed to be sitting right underneath my ribcage. I was SCARED!!!!

My heart was racing in my ears and I started to panic. Should I give Will a nudge beside me and wake him to call an ambulance? Or should I just see how it goes over the next while and see if it starts to alleviate? My choice was to prop myself up in bed with 3 pillows and see what the next few minutes/hours would bring.

I never really slept much afterwards, only dozed off in between the spasms of pain. My logic was that if it were something REALLY serious then the pain would be constant... wouldn't it?

Morning finally came and I was still alive (YAY! or not so yay depending on how you wanna look at it!) I couldn't even drink my fruit tea that Will made for me let alone eat breakfast. I rang our doctors surgery and managed to get an appointment for 9.10 this morning.

A lovely Dr Taylor saw me and listened carefully to how I felt, then thoroughly checked my pulse; my blood pressure; listened to my heart; checked my (very sore) stomach, (very tender) abdomen and back and gave me the good news that my heart sounded healthy and that she could feel nothing sinister going on inside me.

I had wondered whether it was something to do with the peanuts that I'd been snacking on yesterday. (The only difference in my diet yesterday to what I normally eat). There are several foods that I know I can't eat, but peanuts aren't one of them. She feels that my theory is correct and that peanuts are now very much now on my 'do not eat list'. I know I can't have hazelnuts or cashews as I'm intolerant to them but it seems that peanuts are up there with their nutty little mates too now!

I was sent home to bed and to sleep as much as possible. To have a liquid diet for the next 24 hours to try and let my stomach rest up a bit. I slept from about 10:30 until just after 3pm (and I hasten to add, I did manage to sleep safe in the fact that I wasn't about to pop my clogs and check out of this world!)

I'm still very sore tonight. Bless my boy Jacob... he popped round to Tesco when he got home from school to get me some Lucozade to boost my energy levels. What a great son I have. (ooh, by they way he had a Science test today and got 79/82 - and came top of his tutor group!)

I'm currently on another round of pro-biotics to counterract the anti-biotics I had for my tooth absess (read back to when I bit on a breakfast stone!) This means no dairy for 2 weeks while the pro-biotics get into my system again. I'm living off fruit and bloody jacket potatoes with salad at the mo. I'd kill for some chocolate, and in fact I just may do that (when my stomach has settled enough to allow me to eat solid food again) ..... hmm... liquid chocolate - now there's an idea!! Oh sod it, it's got milk in it. There's always something to spoil my fun hehe!

If you're still awake, thanks for reading, if you've fallen asleep by now, you'll not get this far into my post so never mind!

x

2 Sketches 4 You

Another card I've made in a grungy theme is for 2 Sketches 4 You this week. Jacob is off tobogganing for a friend's birthday party on Sunday (I know, he should be spending it here with me on Mothers' Day but I'll have another one next year and he'll have a fantastic time).

This was originally scheduled for 5th February but had to be postponed due to the extreme weather conditions with all the snow we had. As they're all expected to get a (little) dirty on Sunday and spare clothes are on the list for all the boys to take I just had to use a dirty, grungy looking card for Daniel. Not only that, 13 is a wierd age for boys cards haha!



Materials:
5 1/4" square white card.
Papers: BasicGrey Ambrosia.
Rub ons: BasicGrey Olio Archaic.
Star sticker: BasicGrey Element Stickers Boxer.
Inkpad: Dew Drop Brilliance.

ICSketches #8

Dawn has provided a new sketch over on Inspirational Card Sketches this week. I've flipped my card through 90 degrees to make it a portrait card. I've tried to give it an 'urban' kind of look with distressing, scrunching and inking. Just adding a touch of the feminine with the flowers and the pins.




Materials:
5" x 7" white card.
Papers: Basic Grey Ambrosia.
Scalloped trim: Bazzill Just the Edge.
Stamp: Creative Stamping.
Flowers: RAK from ICSketches (Thanks Dawn!)
Ribbon: hanging loop from a skirt.
Pins: Stash.
Inkpad: ColorBox Chalk Eye.

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

Well, I was late making my card for this weeks challenge over on Rosie-Dee's as we've had such a busy, busy weekend. I suppose I'm better late than never!

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

I set the challenge this week over on Rosie-Dee's Challenge Blog to celebrate the ladies in your life. My mum is such a special part of my life and that of my children. A lifetime would never be long enough to repay the kindness and love that she has shown and continues to show us all. My celebratory card is going to my mum this Mothers' Day.

Unlike me, mum doesn't DO ribbon so I've been very well behaved and (with great difficulty) left it off!

Materials:
7"x5" white card.
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie.
Flowers: Prima.
Brad: Stash.
Lettering: American Crafts.
Thread: Leather Like Cord from Opitec.

Debbi Moore - other creations!

A set of 3 laminated bookmarks...

A coaster - yep!! Covered in Sticky Back Plastic - Blue Peter... those were the days of my childhood! Haha!!

A holder for a 3x3" sticky note pad...

Debbi Moore - Cards

I recently received a parcel of goodies with which to play and create for Debbi Moore. Inside were some of the richest pink and purple selection of ribbons, a CD of Art Nouveau images and some lovely glossy paper on which to print the images.

I'll show you the cards that I created first today, then the other goodies tomorrow!







See you tomorrow! x

Indigo Mill mini kit

Steph over at Indigo Mill has produced a lovely set of mini kits for the fantastic, pocket money price of £5.00 each or all five for an amazing £22.50 with FREE P&P!!! In fact, Steph has reduced the price. You can now get them all for £20.00 - a saving of £5.00 and FREE P&P too!!!

I had the Cotton Mini kit to play with recently and created this all about my gorgalicious daughter, Freya.

I think the hint of orange as a phot mat really picks out the wonderfully rich autumnal leaves behind her! The little mini book on the right holds a little bit of secret journalling.

Inspirational Card Sketches / Indigo Mill

Using some more of the offcuts that I've got from the GORGEOUS mini kit from Indigo Mill, and following the ICSketch #7 I created this tonight. I have to admit that I ADORE this cream patterned cardstock from My Minds Eye Laundry Line. It's thick, beautifully printed and has a little bit of glitz added. What more could a girl ask for?

A closer view of the topper that I've made, it's very layered and dimensional.


Materials:
White 5"x7" card.
Papers: My Minds Eye, Laundry Line Coastal Comfort; Bazzill Bling. White scraps.
Hessian ribbon: Opitec.
Chipboard frame & accents: Americal Crafts, Thickers.
Blooms: RAK from ICSketches.
Stamp: Do Crafts, Whisper Words.
Glitter glue: Stickles.

BasicGrey - With love!

Well that pad of BasicGrey Urban Prairie is by no way near finished yet but I have made another load of cards from the pad. I think that for the moment, this just HAS to be my favourite collection. The variety of colours invokes both masculine and feminine creations.

Materials
Cards: 8 1.2"x4"; 5 1/4" square; 6"x4".
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie.
Rubber stamp greeting: Debbi Moore.
Floral rubons: BasicGrey Sultry.
Ribbons: Stash (Ribbon Oasis, Ribbon Mad).
Brads: Stash.
Ink pad: Stazon black.
Pins: Ebay.

Bubbly Funk - Circle Journal

I've been doing a Circle Journal over on Bubbly Funk since last year. It seems so long ago that I posted my own journal to Tracey and can't wait to get it back.

This entry is the penultimate for Chris on her chosen subject of 'Seasons'. Being as we're just entering Spring, I chose that as my theme. Pastel colours with a little bit of bling to lift the pages.


One more to go and that's Tracey's Coaster CJ - it's gorgeous so far.

Indigo Mill / Inspirational Card Sketches

This card was made from some offcuts from my gorgeous DT kit from Indigo Mill. The sketch came from Inspirational Card Sketches.


Materials:
Papers: My Mind's Eye, Laundry Line Coastal Comfort.
Cardstcck - Bazzill Bling, Tootsie. Bazzil, Aqua Canvas
Rubon lettering: My Mind's Eye.
Inkpad: Colorbox Chalk, Chestnut Brown.
Flower: RAK from Inspirational Card Sketches.
Brad: Stash.

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

Last week Dee set the challenge to be 'pink', I gave you a sneaky of the card that I made, but for all those who didn't visit the challenge blog - shame on you - so here's the complete picture.


Materials:
8 1/2 x 4" white card.
Sentiment rub on: BasicGrey Sugared.
Stamp: Whisper Words from Do Crafts.
Flowers: RAK over on ICS.
Brad / Ribbon: Stash.

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

It's my turn to set the challenge over on Rosie-Dee's this week. Here's your sneaky peek...


For the 'bigger picture', you'll have to head on over to see what it is!

Di Hickman Sketch March #1

I've used Di's sketch to create this card. I flipped the striped paper through 90 degrees as it just didn't look right on my card with the stripes running vertically. (Hope you don't mind, Di!)


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie
Scalloped border: Bazzill Just the Edge cardstock strips.
Inkpad: Stazon, black.
Ribbon: Stash.
Rubber stamps: Penny Black & Studio Calico.
Flowers: Prima.
Yellow dots: Pebbles Inc. & Stickles.

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

Kathy, over on her Sketch File has created a lovely basis for a card. I didn't get round to doing the last sketch, so I've made the effort to join in this time round.


Materials:
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie.
Blooms: Prima and RAK from Inspirational Card Sketches.
Brad: Stash.
Pin: Stash (originally from Ebay).
Tag: Stationers
Letters: WRMK (I think, I've had they donkeys!!!)
Dots: Pebbles Inc.

Craft Journal

I've just uploaded an article on how to make these easy circle punched flowers.



You can find the article {here}

Kiss the BasicGrey!

Materials:
7"x5" cream card.
Papers: BasicGrey - Urban Prairie.
Rub on: Basic Grey - Sultry.
Ribbon: Stash.
Brad: Stash.
Hessian: Stash.

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

Here's my sneaky peek for Rosie-Dee's Challenge this week.



If you want to see the bigger picture, head on over and see what we'd like you to show us.

Beware spammers!

It seems that the blog spammers are at it again people.

I know that my friend Hazel recently got seriously spammed to the tune of around 50 wierd comments left all over the place on her blog.

This morning I signed in to find 12 comments that all included hyperlinks to other sites that they had tried to leave on my blog. I didn't follow any as you never know a) where they will take you, b) what disgusting stuff you will find if you went there, and c) if the hyperlinks sent you to a site that would automatically download a virus. Luckily I have comment moderation in operation so the comments were easily to select and delete. Poor Hazel had to find all of hers and delete them manually. Must have taken her far too much of her precious time to do.

My advice to you all is to activate your comment moderation. It doesn't stop them playing silly bloody games with your blog but it DOES stop them being published.

Good luck and I hope my advice has stopped someone else out there being a target of this mindlessness!