CJ entry inspired by Spoonful of Sugar challenge

I intend to make a card this week for the challenge over at Spoonfull of Sugar this week which is a great sketch but while I was trying to work on a cj entry this sketch shouted at me and my entry is based around the sketch. I have done the entry digitally and then printed it out onto photographic paper, this is a double lo and I have used the same lo but mirrored it. I must admit I feel quite pleased with the end result. TFL

crafting but nothing to show

I have made 2 cards today but cant put them on here just yet as they are for Ria, one from us and one from my mum & dad who are still on holiday at the mo, so I used the time while she was at school to get them done as well as some more mundane stuff too! Will post the pics of them after Saturday. x

ABC challenge Jis for Jewels

Thought I'd have a go at the ABC challenge this week, J is for Jewels, something I dont use lots of normally even thought I have them! so this card is a little different for me firstly because of the black pattern background which is a digi paper from ShabbyPrincess called Ornate Swirls from the Kiwi kit, the large swirl is a chipboard cheapy which I inked then heat embossed with black powder and to this I added the jewels, the picture is from JS Dancing with Shadows cd mounted on red card (and at Rias suggestion I mounted it in the corner and added some black jewels) I'm undecided about this one but enjoyed the challenge of doing it and adding jewels so a great challenge completed, looking forward to the next weeks challenge now.

Sketch Saturday #18

I love the sketch this week on Sketch Saturday as soon as I saw it this morning I knew I had to do it and here it is! the nativity scene with Dottie & George pre coloured by Louly herself, image matted on to gold holly embossed card, the same used for the squares and diamond and this in turn matted onto some coredinations card which has been swirl embossed on the bottom part and then some ribbon from my stash and a tiny lamb from the download too. This is a sketch I can see me using lots, one of my faves so far.

CCT challenge # 29 Lots of Sparkle!

Ooooh great challenge over at Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 29 This week the theme for the challenge is Lots of sparkle! You can add bling, glitter, baubles, stickles, anything that makes your card sparkle! So I used Dottie from the christmas downloads and coloured her using sakura stardust pens and used irridescent glitter glue for the edging and the paper is PM with some added glitz from sakura! I've included 2 pics as one doesnt really show off the sparkle as well as the other but the other is a better view of the colour! Really enjoyed using all the sparkle! TFL Now I'm off to make some more!

Spoonful of Sugar challenge 18 So Charming

Right this weeks challenge over at Spoonful of Sugar was ... To use a charming character or Charms on your card so out came George from the christmas collection of George and Dottie he is coloured using sakura glaze pens and whispers pens and the white around his coat and for his beard have been done using 3d paint, background paper is Pebbles Inc Deck the Halls, I've used white felt rikrak from PM, white card stamped with presents from a selection of 40 mini stamps (bought years agao and hardly used!) and the charm is a silver tree bauble held in place with a little polka dot brad from my stash. TFL

PTW challenge Mellow Yellow

Great challenge over at PTW this week, it goes like so ... This weeks challenge is a charity one! Quick Cards made easy magazine are trying to break the record for the worlds biggest handmade card, for BBC Children in Need.You're able to use any products/materials you like but the finished card needs to be yellow!! The preferred size for the card is a standard A6 (approx 4x6 in). All cards will be put together to form a giant Pudsey Bear card!We'd love to help support this charity and I'd like to ask everyone who joins in with this weeks challenge if they would kindly, like to send their cards in!?Of course you don't have to and you can join in in the usual way but it would be lovely for PTW to be able to send off some cards to add to the total!For each different person who sends a card (or cards!) to me (to send on from PTW!)within the next 2 weeks, I will make a donation of 25p! So who could resist, qick pop over and check it out and make your card if you havent already. Mine uses PM paper, cordinations cardstock put thru BS with a new CB folder then sanded to show the core then cut the word Hi from the cut plate that comes with the folder. Felt really strange only using yellow but am quite pleased with the result. Hope you like it too.

Hi Crafty People!

Hi there Ria here!

I haven't been able to make any cards recently (Shock Horror!!) because I've had too much homework since starting secondary school, but still I'm enjoying it! I am hoping to make some cards over the weekend and I hope you'll like what I create.

See you soon

Ria x x x

PS Thanks for all of your positive comments about my Mums and My creations and they are very much appreciated!

Thanks again

Ria x x x

My Time To Craft challenge 30 Blue

Another challenge completed this is the one on My Time To Craft and the challenge is ... Hi everyone! It's time for a new challenge. This week's theme is 'Blue' - Use any shade of blue you like but no other colours are allowed only white! You can make whatever you want using this theme. ATC, card, tag, inchie etc.(Have fun!!) Well my card ended up being a lot lot simpler than I had first envisaged but thats coz the stuff I was trying out didnt quite work as I wanted it to! had some good results (keeping them for other cards but it didnt work in blue!) just not what I wanted for this!lol typical huh?! anyway the paper is PM the card is coredinations and I added large white brads. The mittens and text are cut using sizzlits and my sidekick. TFL off to play some more!

Dotties World Challenge Go Green

Fabulous challenge as always over at Dotties World, but this one did come together slowly!, anyway the challenge was ... Everything today is focused on environmental issues, so lets GO GREEN in our Sunday Challenge! Show me how green you can get! But this is a green dish with a few extra ingredients, sprinkle it with three buttons or brads, season with a little ribbon, and finally add that special little "recycled something". Plus of course it must contain at least one Charmed Cards & Crafts download. Cats download coloured with whispers pens and green glitz it sparkles glue, paper is PM, card is coredinations with torn edges and run thru BS with swiss dots folder, 3 brads from stash, pm and prima flowers with added sparkle and the ribbon is acutally from a top, it was the extra bits for hanging iykwim. Back is a bit better today but I'm on strict instructions from DOH not to do anything today! thats not hard, mind you he did mean crafting too - but hey what the eye dont see the heart cant grieve over! lol, hope to be back later with more but I am having to move around pretty slowly and get off my chair to get things out of drawers and cupboards instead of just twisting and reaching, really slows me up! lol. TFL

No crafting!

Been a busy couple of days work wise and as a result no time to craft but I now have the next 3 days off so hopefully be able to get down to some crafting - mind you I have come home with a terrible pain down the right side of my back under the shoulder and at the moment am in quite a bit of pain which has made it difficult tonight to start crafting even though I really want to work on a card, I have just managed to colour an image and add the glitter glue but thats it so hopefully an early night (well it is for me!) and Ria's microwave hot pack and I will be back to normal or at least not in as much pain so that I can craft but not do the hw! lol - like I need an excuse not to do that! Back tomorrow for a proper look round all your blogs til then goodnight and take care. xx

Sketch Saturday #17

Right this is the first time I've taken part in the Sketch Saturday Challenge but its definately one I revisit and I loved this sketch as soon as I saw it over on Susie Sunshines blog. Ive used PM papers, coredinations card nd some white card from my stock, used fancy edged scissors and the swiss dots embossing folder. The tree is cut on the BS with the sizzix small tree die and embellished with some little red gems from my stash. Great sketch and very versatile. TFL. Went to my LCS today for some glue runner refills and came out with 2 PM acrylic albums which were £9.99 down to £2.50 so how could I possible resist! fancied having a go at one of these ages ago but the price put me off no stopping me now then lol (dont hold your breath to see what I do with them though coz it may be a while! lol)

Dotties World Challenge Going for a Song #2

This was inspired by 2 things, firstly the fabulous challenge over at Dotties World and I used the ole MJ song Thriller and secondly by the wonderful lo that Karen did, she was right about how Dottie and George will work fabulously on los too so here is my attempt. We had a great and scary time at the London Bridge Experience & Tombs (so glad I remembered to keep the admission ticket!) when we went to London for the day while staying with my mum and dad back in the summer, unfortunately my dad had to work so us 3 girls went and had a wonderful day (got loads more pics!) and I have been meaning to scrap this pic since we got back and today I finally got round to it, it is straight IRL but I think I must have scanned it thru slightly wonky lol! The title is cut using Robbie adn the papers are Raspberry Road Easy Rider freebie kit. TFL I'm off for some lunch now and hopefully back for more crafting later. x

Thank you Becky

The wonderfully talented Becky has given me 2 awards, thank you very much Becky for thinking of me. Now these awards are fabulous and I think everyone I visit already has them as there are so many very talented folks out there in blog land so I shant make a long list but I will just say thank you to all of you out there with such fabby blogs and thank you to all of you who stop by and leave such lovely comments. Now go and check out Beckys fantastic and inspiring blog I love it. x

Spam Rant!

Ok a couple of weeks ago I removed the letter verifier thingy and this morning for the first time I have had 3 comments left which were links to sellers of finance and the like, I do hope this does not continue or I am afraid I will have to put the verifier back on which I know some people do not like but I dont like the spammers, why do they have to spoil things for everyone. If I want information I will go looking for it I dont want it rammed down my pc at me! Sorry rant over.

On a brighter note Good Morning fellow bloggers, it is a beautiful day here today and I have to go to work, but on the up side of that I am planning on doing some crafting at work with our guys I even get to take one to the local craft shop because my craft supplies are not endless! Well I hope I might even fit a card in before I go you never know! Bye for now. x

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #28

and the theme for the challenge over at CCT is FOOD and there are some delicious looking cards by the DT so I set too and this is what I came up with ... Hammock Dottie from Charmed Cards and Crafts, paper pieced hammock, papers are Raspberry Road Nappa Valley, a bit of coredinations, self adhesive paper ribbon from lakeland and flowers and brads pm, plus a few touches with the sakura! and not messy ink this time! lol just hope the grapes and Dotties drink count. TFL and now I am off to bed for some sleep as I am working tomorrow, thankfully the late shift! Goodnight all thanks for stopping by. x

Friday Sketchers 20

Well I've managed to make another card today so I must be on a bit of a roll! (at last!! lol) this is for the Friday Sketchers challenge 20 I must admit I did struggle with this one and the inking has ended up looking a bit messy (nothing compared to my fingers though!) papers are PM, coredinations card pm flowers and tag with a bit of sparkle from sakura (anyone would thing I loved my sakura pens!) the image is from zodiac Dottie at Charmed Cards and Crafts coloured using Whisper Strokes pens. TFL, I have even cleared my deskspace so I think I might see if I can start another card.

Hazels blog candy

went to visit this lady after she left me a comment and she has some great blog candy on offer so if you would like a chance of scrummy looking papers go check out Hazels blog and have a good look round while you're there too.

A Spoonful of Sugar challenge Its Christmas

Yipee, another card although not completly sure about this one. Its for the Spoonful Of Sugar challenge - its Christmas! and I have used Dottie & George carol singing, the papers are PM from last year and coredinations card. I have heat embossed round the picture using embossing tinsel snowflake (have varied sucess with this sometimes all the glitter bits just dont stick!) and used sakura for the doodling and faux stitches on the buttons. Its the buttons I'm not sure about felt the card needed something so I cut the buttons on the sidekick - begining to think I should have left them off, never mind they are stuck there now! Right I s'pose I ought to think about making sure I've got everything ready for work or suddenly it will be time to go and I'll be nowhere near ready! TFL.

Papertake weekly challenge Katharinas sketch #11

Well I'm sorry but I couldnt get back on the pc last night to upload this one as DOH was on it instead! still better late than not at all! It is for the challenge over at PTW and it is a wonderfull sketch, definately one I will be making more use of. The papers are K&Co Kimberly Hodges patchwork paper pad (its an old set and not much left now!) the card is coredinations (am loving this stuff, just as well as I bought all 4 colour ways in the 6x6!) used the CB d'vine swirls folder and then sanded it, the ribbon is freebie off a mag and the flowers are PM the image was one I had sent to me- I'm guessing PB which has bee n mounted on a scalloped circle cut on Robbie glitter glue added and image coloured with sakura and wc pencils, also a bit of sparkle added to the flowers curtesy of sakura! TFL and now I'm off to see if I can create some more! Bye for now and as always thanks so much for popping by and leaving me such warm and positive feedback. xx

Friday Sketchers 19

Thought I'd spend some time trying to catch up with a few challenge blogs as I had been on a study day for my NVQ 3 and it seems I've got one more course to do and fax a piece of work over and I'm all done so by the end of the day on 2 Oct my NVQ will finally be completed - hence the me crafting time! So this first card is for the Friday Sketchers #19 and I used JS victorian christmas cd for the topper and papers with a bit of green coredinations card for a mat and the holly and bit of sparkle added with sakura startdust pens. TFL hope to be back later with another one. x

Dotties Challenge - Going For A Song

Fab challenge set by Louly this week over at Dotties World it went like this; ... It's quite an easy one this week, to celebrate my good mood I've gone for a music theme (I love to sing). All you have to do along with using a Charmed download, is incorporate the words of a song or the title of a song into your card but you're not allowed 'happy birthday' or 'congratulations' for your song, I know I said easy but that's a step too far along the easy road! So there I was going thru my Dottie & George collections (and yes I believe I now have 'em all! lol) and looking at them to see what song springs to mind and I ended up in the wonderful Christmas collection and chose Robin Dottie and used the precoloured image, after printing it onto some cream paper I colour matched (as good as I could get!) the image to some coredinations card stock which I then ran thru the BS with CB folders (music & swiss dots) then I punched some holly to which I added glitter glue and when it came to the lyrics I used a bit of poetic license which I hope was ok! and basically used lyrics from Rockin' Robin, printed onto torn vellum. Needless to say I now have several other ideas for this card which came to me when I was trying to go to sleep this morning after my night shift - so much so that I had to get up and get a notebook to write it down coz I knew that by the time I got up this afternoon I would have forgotten them! TFL

Adeles Blog Candy

Well the very talented Adele has some fabulous blog candy up for grabs but you have to be quick as it finishes at midday today, dont know how I managed to leave it this late, anyway go check out her amazing blog.

Dotties World Challenge And Also

Fantastic challenge set this week by Nicola which went like this ... AND ALSO......I would like you to make a card or something,which of course is using a download/s from Charmed Cards AND ALSO.....something which can be removed from it,such as a tag,bookmark,notelets. Great example by the DT and I was looking forward to this with ideas buzzing round in my head and then I had the saga of the shrink plastic! Well having finally found it I got to playing and guess what? Yep thats right it went wrong! back to the drawing board umm magnetic me thinks so I set too and got out my xyron500 and the laminating magnetic roll and guess what? Yep that didnt work either! lol So I hopefully set to on idea number 3 (third time lucky and all that) well eventually after some problems with my BS and mountboard this idea finally worked and I hope you like it. put the pic together in PSE5 printed it twice, mounted one copy onto my card and the second copy onto some mount board and ran that through the BS with the sizzix puzzle cutter, then mounted the frame onto the card and put the puzzle back into the frame and now the puzzle can be removed and made up separately. TFL I am now shattered and will very shortly be going to bed to rest my achy head! lol ready for tomorrows challenge which hopefully I wont leave to the last minute again! x

Yipeeeeee!!

I found it! I finally found my shrink plastic but dont ask where! lol Now I just need to find my desk and some space then I can get on with my card, but not tonight as I'm off to bed soon as I'm on the early shift tomorrow but if I can clear my room tomorrow afternoon then I can craft at the weekend!

Can't craft!

Can't find my desk to be able to craft! Trying to have a huge sort out (and hopefully find shrink plastic in the process!) and re-organise my craft storage as now have another cupboard but its going very slowly and now I have to go to work this afternoon, mind you that does mean I don't have to do a night shift on Saturday so that is a bit of a bonus as I hate night shifts but still have to do one on Sunday (at the moment!) Ria's french teacher LOVED Dottie and Ria with 4 other class members received an award for their book covers so she is thrilled! She is loving school but complaining of being tired in the morning! (she's not even a teenager yet either! lol) Ok time to get back to some sorting, have a good one everyone. x

another birthday card

Well this one was late in getting to its destination but now that Sammi has received it I can put it on my blog! I used Artylicious Fantasy Florals cd for backing paper and paperpieced the dress from the same cd but in a paler colourway then coloured the rest of dottie using my sakura pens then some ribbon and peeloffs from my stash oh yes and some glitter glue dots around the scalloped circle which was cut on my craftrobo (it doesnt show in the pic but the scalloped circle is cut separtely from the inner circle and then layered). TFL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

Well I can finally put my mums card here on my blog as its her birthday today - hope its a good one mum! I followed Lou's fantastic tutorial for this card which can be found here at Charmed Cards & Crafts. Its a great tutorial and really easy to follow, I'll definately be making some more of these! Anyway still havent found my shrink plastic so need to rethink that project! mind you I am trying to reorganise my craft room at the mo so maybe it will turn up I'll just have to wait and see!

Dont you just hate it ...

when you have decided to make something in particular and when you reach for the one thing you really need it is nowhere to be found? Well I KNOW I have some shrink plastic but do you think I can find the stuff - not a chance! Now the thing is do I go out and buy some more and hardly use it or just wait til the stuff I've got eventually turns up again?! This is sooooo frustrating!

Dottie is going to school!

One piece of Rias homework was to decorate the cover of her book for French so we got thinking and she wanted the eiffel tower, wine, flag and something else so I suggested an artist like they have in Paris along the pavements so with a bit more thought and some playing around in PSE5 Ria coloured in artist Dottie and we even managed to get her painting 'Monet'!(isn't the internet good) lol dont think anyone else will have that on their covers!

Dotties Challenge 115 days to Christmas

Ok here is my 2nd attempt at this challenge and this time it worked! lol I have used skating Dottie and in PSE5 have flipped one of the images then put the funky tree behind them printed out then stuck onto an old cd then with the trusty cropadile placed eyelets then threaded with ribbon for the top loop and some silver thread which holds 2 PM star tags (stuck together) and these are embellished with a tiny snowflake. Then I have printed the image again and put it on the back to cover the ribbon attachment and back of the eyelets. I'm actually quite pleased with the way this has worked out and will probably make some more I might even put a greeting sheet on the reverse and send some out as an alternative to cards. TFL, I'd better go and get ready for work now. Oh have also finished mums card but cant show you that one yet or it will spoil the surprise for her. Bye for now. Have a great weekend everyone. xx

You guys are the best

Thank you all for your lovely encouraging comments but unfortunately whilst trying to remove them from the bedroom window they fell apart big time! If I can find some one else that does the peelable paints I may give them another try but I have been using Anita's and they dont make them anymore and my lcs has been trying to source some for another customer for the past 6 months to no avail so we will just have to wait and see. I did enjoy doing them and liked the result til they fell apart! lol, so this evening I have spent time doing something else for the challenge instead then I went to take a pic only to find no battery power so will have to do that in the morning before I head off to work! Am quite pleased with the new item and will probably do some more of these using different images as have a tonne of useless cds! Right thats me done for the night now, gonna have a quick hop around the blogs then off to bed. Once again thank you all you really are great! xx

Pudding Dottie

Well here are the Pudding Dottie and Tree that I tried to do as you can see Dotties facial expression has gone as has her holly! and the tree is just coming apart but I thought I'd show you anyway so you get an idea of what I was trying to do and the pics dont really show the glitter that was added either!

Ugh it didnt work!

Well my idea didnt work I think it is because the tools I was using were old and running out but I am dissapointed! :( I was trying to make christmas window clings using peelable paints and glitter I had planned to have a whole scene but started with a tree and pudding Dottie but they just didnt work properly - the outlines are peeling away separtely from the colours the colours are cracking as I peel and they are heading to the bin and no I have to work super hard and quick to come up with another idea so back to the drawing board I go!

Ria Ready for BIg School

Forgot to add this to the last post! It is late and I am excited so I suppose I could be forgive!

We've got a new car

Well its new to us! We have been looking for one for a while and been saving hard - not easy! and today we went to view a car and bought it, thankfully we have a good friend who is a mechanic and we took him so the car got a thorough going over and by the end of it we were driving it home well actually Adrian drove it home I get to drive it once the insurance is sorted so thats what I'll be doing tomorrow! It is lovely, its a Honda CRV and is gold in colour, drove home with a big cheesy grin on my face! What other news do I have - oh yeah Ria started at the comprehensive on Wednesday and already she loves it, she seems so grown up all of a sudden. And I just heard from a very good friend of mine today that she is 5 1/2 months pregnant and I am so thrilled for her. They have a daughter who has just turned 7 and didnt think they would be able to have anymore but they are and I'm so happy and excited for them, guess a Dottie will be winging its way to them very soon! lol Right thats me for tonight, might get on tomorrow if I'm not too busy playing in the new car! (its even got a 6 stack cd player!) Night all and take care. x

Struggling!

Well my plans for this weeks Dottie challenge are not going according to plan so I might have to have a backup one ready just in case! My mums card is moving along nicely I'm pleased with it so far! Unfortunately I am back at work tomorrow afternoon I had kinda got used to being off as its been just over 2 weeks! and already they have been phoning and changing shifts around I actually got a call at 6am this morning coz someone had gone sick and they wondered if I could go in and cover - not on your life! anyway no childcare! but yes 2 shifts have been altered already this week never mind by the time I get home tomorrow night it wont feel like I've been away! Well I hope you are all having better weather than we are having here it feels like winter has decended upon us, its blowing a hooley and raining quite heavily - what happened to the late summer we are supposed to be having in September - me thinks they got it wrong again! Oh well I'm off to bed so will catch with you all again real soon. night night. xx