MY BLOG BUDDY HAS SPENT MY MONEY

Hi Everyone

I hope your bank holiday Monday is going well.

We are gutting the bathroom ready for a "make-over" beginning next week.

We have been nursing a bath with a crack in it for 2 years now and the time has finally come when we are going to completely gut and re-do the whole bathroom. No more risking the bath finally giving in and trapping our tender parts!!

Hubby took a little breather part way through (slacker!!) - so I took a crafty break and this is what I created:

This used:

Image: Stampendous! V126 "Happy Couple"
Sentiment: Stampendous! J180 "Mr. & Mrs."
Backing paper: Funky Hand download "Hearts and Flowers"
Punches: Martha Stewart "Fond" and X-Cut "Medium Flower"
ProMarkers
Brads, gems, ribbons and stickles from the stash box

Now my post title today was "My Blog Buddy has spent my money". I say this because I received this image in a RAK from a great Blog Buddy a few weeks ago and I loved it so much that when I saw the stamp sitting on a little shelf in a craft shop yesterday I just had to buy it.

Right back to it. I can hear gripper rods being ripped up. How on earth we are going to cope without various parts of the bathroom for two weeks I have no idea .. .. .. but it will be worth it in the end I'm sure.

Enjoy the rest of the day.

Love Jules xx

PENNY BLACK CHALLENGE - WEEK 64

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all enjoying your Bank Holiday. The weather hasn't been too brilliant today where I am.

I decided after yesterday's embarrassment of posting a card containing "no heart" that I was going to replace the offending photograph. I can't possibly have a card without a heart on my blog!!! My hubby said I would have to change the name of my blog to "Always with a Heart - except for once" - but I didn't like the sound of that and instead I decided to just change the photograph LOL!! This isn't the original heart I used - but at least it has one!

It was just a joke to close my blog after the mis-hap of yesterday. I would miss it far to much to stop!!

Today we went on a little shopping expedition for some new shoes for hubby - and lucky for me there was a Paper Mill Store in the same place so I could go and look in there whilst he tried on pair after pair after pair of shoes. He might be lovely but he is a real test of patience when buying shoes!!!!

So today I bought a stamp which I have used for the Penny Black Challenge this week. The theme being "Christmas".

Here is my creation:

This used:

Image: Penny Black 3737J "Star Dance"
Backing Paper and Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Ultra-fine red glitter from Lakeland
Glamourdust
Diamond Stickles
Brads and Ribbon from my stash box

It is a lovely stamp to use - and one which I am sure is going to get a lot of use over the coming months.

Have a good bank holiday Monday everyone.

Thanks for calling by. I am now off to have a much needed blog hop - I have been getting withdrawal symptoms!!!

Love Jules xx

ALLSORTS CHALLENGE WEEK 16

Morning everyone

The challenge this week over at the Allsorts Challenge Blog has been set by Amanda.

Amanda has set the rule that no rubber is allowed.. .. .. .. so no stamping at all!!! Lots of other options available to you though. What can you come up with?

Here is my creation (new photograph taken in very dull conditions but at least it is wearing its heart with pride) :

This creation used:

Sizzix Die Cut #654901 "Flower Daises #2"
Backing Paper: Costco
Ribbon from my stash box

I hope you get chance to play along.

Late addition to the blog

Shock horror !!!! It just had to happen one day!!! My original card had no heart!!!! :-(

Mind you with the week I have had I am surprised there was anything on the card at all!

The heart was on my original ribbon and I changed it at the last minute .. .. .. that will teach me to leave well alone in future!!

Thank you Julie for pointing it out .. I didn't want everyone wasting hours of time wondering if I had found a special place to hide it because you won't find it. It is on my craft table LOL!!

That's it then. I have failed my mission and my blog will have to end today! Nice knowing you all and thank you for all your lovely comments in the few months I lasted!!

By the way Julie - the paper was from Costco quite a while ago. Not seen any there recently but the ribbon arrived last week!

Love Jules xx

LOOK WHAT I CAUGHT!

Hi Everyone

Wow .. .. what a week. My feet haven't touched the ground.

My youngest son went to look at another property to rent last Saturday and can you believe that he moved in yesterday!!! I didn't realise that things could move this quickly.

Phew .. so much to sort out and move and clean and organise. We are getting there but we ache in places we didn't even know we had.

All credit to him though - he was so well prepared to move that everything was signed off yesterday morning and the removal man said he could move him the same day "WITH 20 MINUTES NOTICE"!!!! I don't think I could have done it - but he did.

It is a lovely place he has moved to. He will be sharing with my Sister's oldest daughter and they are just so excited .. .. .. it is lovely.

The only hard decision being who gets which bedroom.

I am afraid I haven't had chance to make a "new card" so I am having to post a card I made a couple of weeks ago with another one of my favourite stamps. Love this image so much.

I also haven't had much time to be blog visiting either - I am so sorry - but I promise that I will catch up with everyone soon. (Along hopefully with my sleep too if I am lucky - I am shattered!!!!)

Anyway, here is my creation:

This used

Image: Woodware FRP010 "Big Catch!
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers: DCWV "The Green Stack"
ProMarkers
Glossy Accents (for the fishy jam jar)

Hope to see you all tomorrow for another Allsorts Challenge.

Love Jules xx

FOR THOSE THAT LOVE WINE

Morning Everyone

Yet another quick share - this is all I seem to manage during the week I'm afraid (and this week is extra manic). Not sure if I am on my head or my heels at the moment and there isn't likely to be any improvement for a good while yet!!! LOL!!!

Here is my creation:

This used:

All images and writing with the exception of the Happy Birthday sentiment are Woodware FRCL 130 "Wine Buff"
Happy Birthday Sentiment: Elzybells
Backing Paper: KI Memories
Promarkers

I am really pleased with this stamp set (lots more images in the set) - it comes in so useful.

Have a great day everyone.

Love Jules xx

A CHRISTENING CARD AND AN AWARD

Hi Everyone

A quick share tonight.

I have been asked to make a couple of Christening cards and I made this as a sample. The sample was well loved so I can now make my "actual" cards which will be just like this but one in blue colours and one in pink with the babies names as part of the sentiment.

This used:

Image: Forever Friends "Christening"
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Backing Paper: Pink Petticoat Stripes
ProMarkers
Spellbinders Nestabilities "Large Deckled Rectangles"
XCut "small flower punch"
Diamond Stickles
Deckle edge scissors
Gems, heart and ribbon from the stash box

I have also been the receiver of another fantastic award from my blog buddy Shirley aka Nannieflash.

I suggested you visit Shirley a few days ago - but you must visit again because as a recipient of this award you are suppose to reveal 5 secrets about yourself. Shirley has listed her 5 secrets and think I can say that her secrets are the secrets of every dedicated craft person. I thought they were brilliant.

I love this award Shirley - thank you so much. Another lovely heart to add to my blog LOL!!

Love Jules xx

PENNY BLACK CHALLENGE - WEEK 63

Good morning everyone

Here I am with my Penny Black Challenge card for this week.

The theme is "stitching". You have to have some stitching somewhere on your card be this "real" or "faux".

I have gone for machine stitching in the form of "straight lines" and a "buttonhole". (I just knew that O'Level in Dressmaking would come in useful one day .. .. LOL!!!)

Here is my creations:

This used:

Image: Penny Black 3864F "bohemian"
Backing Papers: Pink Petticoat "Old Fashioned Girl"
Carla Craft Label Punch
Gold embossing powder
Flowers, brad, button and threads from the stash box

Beautiful blue skies here this morning. I hope the day stays like this and that it is the same where you are.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Love Jules xx

ALLSORTS CHALLENGE - WEEK 15

Hi Everyone

This week it is my turn to set the challenge over at Allsorts. This is a world first for me. I have never set a challenge before! (I can never say that again).

Please pop over and have a look at what I set as the challenge and why not even take part? You would be more than welcome and I would love to see what you create.

This was my DT inspiration card

This used :

Image: Penny Black 3377K "Whispers"
Sentiment: Docrafts "PMA 10097" (Some of the stamp was masked off)
Background Papers: Memory Store
Josy Rose Nail Heads
Gold embossing powder
Small gold beads
and the tiniest amount of Promarker ink

I paper pieced the image with some of the background paper.

The challenge involves working to a sketch and "tearing" your papers "somewhere" but full details are over on the Allsorts Challenge Blog.

I hope you all have a brilliant weekend and that you find time for a bit of crafting.

Love Jules xx

TRYING SOMETHING NEW

Good evening everyone

I hope you have all had a good week.. .. .. .. but the weekend is now officially here!!! Yay!!! Time to celebrate.

Here is a little something I made today .. .. and I tried something new. Not "very" adventurous but even so it was new to me.

Here is my creation:

Shame there was some silver card included as this hasn't photographed very well - does give a nice rainbow effect though.

This used:

Image: Penny Black 1645K "Floating Dreams"
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: "Houndstooth"
Carla Craft Label Punch
Fiskars Star Punch
Josy Rose Nail Head Stars
Watercolour crayons (for a change!!!)
Crystal Stickles

So what was new??? Well nothing earth shattering I know .. .. .. but I rubbed a black dye ink pad inside my "brand new" cuttlebug folder before I put the card inside and ran it through my cuttlebug.

Wow. .. .. in real life the result is fantastic. It doesn't look that impressive in the photograph but in real life it has made a thin piece of card look very thick and luxurious.

I then had a mini panic .. .. .. what had I done to my new cuttlebug folder!!! Needn't have worried .. .. .. a quick sprint to the bathroom and a rinse under the tap brought it back to its former glory. I can't wait to try this with my other folders now.

It doesn't take much to make me happy does it!!!

As some of you will know Friday night is always my treat night. Hubby cooks and makes me fish, chips, potato fritters and mushy peas (and I mean "real" chips and "real" mushy peas - non of those rubbish oven chips and tinned peas) - but tonight's treat is extra special.

He has just made me a lovely G & T and my ice cubes are all shaped like hearts!! He bought two new ice cube trays he saw yesterday!!

Told you .. .. .. it doesn't take much!

Have a great evening everyone and hopefully I will see you tomorrow as it is my turn to set the challenge on the Allsorts Challenge Blog.

Love Jules xx

DON'T LOOK IF YOU DON'T LIKE CLOWNS

Hi Everyone

Just a mega, mega quick post .. .. .. .. but if you suffer from "coulrophobia" (fear of clowns) then go no further and I will see you another day (I hope).

Today has been a very busy day and my evening has been busy too. Lots of telephone catch-ups!!

Anyway, inbetween everything I have made the following "super quick card". This is another image I struggle to use - because it is so "busy" there is little you can do with regards backing papers and accessories without causing a visual disaster!!

So, here is my creation:

This used:

Image: "No idea". It is a stamp I bought years ago but there are no markings whatsoever on the wooden block. I trawled back on the site I got it from but it is no longer available from them so no clues there!
Nestabilities: Classic Scalloped Circles Large
ProMarkers
Shaped eyelets and heart from my stash

Not many ingredients at all.

I hope everyone's week is going well and thank you for taking the time to call by. I hope my clown didn't scare anyone - he does look a friendly little chappie!!

Love Jules xx

PENNY BLACK CHALLENGE - WEEK 62

Hi Everyone

Well my lovely visitors left this morning :-(

It was so nice to catch up with them. We talked solid all weekend and still had things we hadn't talked about. LOL!!!

I didn't make any cards whilst my visitors were around but did sit at the dining room table and put all the inserts into all the cards I had stock piled ready for a sale I have coming up in September. Still need to make lots more cards but at least this meant that I have a good supply completely ready. This is my least favourite part of card making - putting the inserts in and packaging them up. (But it was something I could do whilst we were "putting the world to rights").

Today I have had a clear up of my craft space .. .. .. as I promised myself last night. I had had a bit of a disaster with some embossing powder and it seems to have blown everywhere!!!

It was nice to read that lots of you fellow bloggers work in a messy craftroom too .. .. .. .. and Sarita - I wasn't directing my comments at you - though I find it hard to believe you could possibly mess that beautiful room up!!.

Anyway, enough waffle and on with the job in hand .. .. .. my Penny Black Challenge card which is a bit late this week.

It was a colour challenge this week and your creation has to include the colours, Blue, Tan and Cream.

Yesterday I shared a quick card that included an image I bought off Jill's blog - well tonight's card features the other stamp I bought.

I love Penny Black stamps so much and as soon as I get a new image I cannot wait to use it. I love this little chappie. (I am becoming aware that I say this an awful lot!!!).

So, here is my creation:

This used:

Image: Penny Black 2365F "Field of Dreams"
Backing paper and sentiment cut from Dovecraft "Masculine" papers.
Nestabilities: Standard Circles Large and Classic Scalloped Circles Large
Promarkers

I also need to share a couple of awards - not that I deserve them because I don't pass them on!! Bad girl!!! I just cannot choose who to give them too. I want everyone to have them. Please someone take one or all that are anywhere on my blog.

My first award is from Lorraine at Coldwaters2 You get the treat of some beautiful cards and lovely music when you visit Lorraine!

My next award is from Shirley at Nannieflash Shirley also has a lovely blog that is well worth a visit and Shirley leaves the most lovely and encouraging comments.

I am so lucky to have met so many lovely blog pals.

Thank you for taking the time to call by.

Love Jules xx

JUST A VERY QUICK SHARE

Hi Everyone

Sorry I haven't been around visiting very much this weekend - we have visitors staying with us until tomorrow morning and it is rather rude to sit "blog hopping" when you should be "chin wagging". (And we have been)!!!

Wow .. .. haven't talked so much for ages. I think both my friend and myself will have sore throats by tomorrow evening.

My friend has gone out for a family BBQ and will be returning soon - but I just have time for a quick share.

This creation uses a stamp that I purchased from a bloggy mate (Jill) last week. She was having a "clear out" so that she could buy more goodies and this is one of the stamps I bought from her.

Here is my creation:

This used:

Image: Penny Black 1738K "Uplifting Occasion!"
Sentiment: See-D's #50159 "Celebration Messages"
Punch: Martha Stewart "Lace Doily" & XCut "small flower"
Promarkers
Crystal Stickles
Brad and Ribbon from the stash box

and that is me for today.

I am hoping to get lots done this week but before I can do anything I need a major clean up of my craft room.

People often post pictures of their tidy work spaces .. .. .. perhaps we should start a new trend to find out "who has the most disorganised workspace".

Thank you to the ladies who have given me awards this weekend. I am very grateful to you and will post these during the week when I have time to do all the linky things.

Take care everyone and enjoy the remainder of Sunday. I promise to catch up with everyone very soon.

Love Jules xx

ALLSORTS CHALLENGE - WEEK 14

Hi Everyone

Here we are again with another Allsorts Challenge.

Thank you very much to everyone who played along with Gro's "Vintage" theme last week. There were some fantastic entries.

This week's challenge has been set by my team mate Brenda and she has chosen the theme of "An English Country Garden".

Brenda loves her "botanical" so I tried to keep her well happy and hope I have succeeded with the following creation:

This used:

Backing Paper: K & Co "Madeline Painted Roses"
Red Netting: Magenta M12-2005 "Red Nest"
Image: Penny Black 3815J "Love Blush"
Sentiment part of a set: Elusive Images UA6SP0077 "Rose Stem Script"
Punch: Martha Stewart "Valentine Hearts"
Neocolor II Water-soluble Wax Pastels
Brads and ribbon from the Stash Box
Sewing machine

There is a fantastic prize on offer this week. A £20.00 voucher to spend at PDA Card and Crafts. The choice of goodies to spend your voucher on is fantastic so it is well worth creating and entering.

Next Saturday it will be my challenge. Oh dear .. .. I hope people want to play!!! (Before you start guessing what my challenge will be .. .. .. .. no it doesn't involve you incorporating a heart!! LOL!!)

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Love Jules xx

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER !!

Hi Everyone

What a busy day .. .. .. .. but I am here at last.

Here is the card I would like to share today. I really like this stamp - it is one I bought last weekend. I am sure I will find lots of other ways to use it but for now ... ... ... ... well you know what it is like ... ... ... ... I just "needed" to use it.

This card used:

Backing papers - Pink Petticoat
Image (Happy Birthday) - Inkadinkado 97145 - P
Image (Flower) - Magenta H-0306
Go Kreate Frame - No. 151005 - Wavy #3
ProMarkers
Brad and Ribbon from the stash box

Well there we go.

I will be back again in about 12 hours time with my DT creation for the Allsorts Challenge blog.

This will be my last normal DT Card posting because next week "I HAVE TO SET THE CHALLENGE" - my very first!!! Panic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tee hee!!

I do hope people enter. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if you set a challenge and no-one played along. Oh dear .. .. don't think about that Jules !!!

Catch you all again tomorrow (my special Friday treat of fish and chips cooked by hubby is about ready).

Love Jules xx

TIME FOR A BIRTHDAY

Hi Everyone

Just a quick share today .. .. .. and my reading list is back from Mr Blogger .. yay!!! (Though he did freeze me out of leaving comments and up-dating my blog for at least 2 hours last night.. .. .. bad boy!!). Hopefully I am going to get chance to catch up with everyone soon and indulge in a good old blog hop!! (If I am allowed).

Here is my creation

This used:

Backing papers: Memory Store
Image: Elusive Images (D0306 might be the code - it is written in pencil on the wooden block) Sentiment: Computer generated
Nestabilities: Large Deckled Rectangles
Fiskars: Threading Water Punch
Nail heads and clock button from the stash box

There we go - a quick post today.

Happy Thursday everyone. Thank you for calling by.

Love Jules xx