SNOWY THE SNOWMAN IS OUT OF STORAGE

Hi Everyone

I am back again with my next little Christmas make which is for taking over this time to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the current theme is to "use a die" (or there is always the option of "anything goes") - but your creation does need to include Penny Black goodies.

So I decided it was time for the lovely "Snowy" to come out of hibernation .. .. .. .. . he comes out early in the proceedings every year LOL!!  

Christmas stash always feels special because it doesn't get used as much as it should be for too many months of the year.  

So here we go:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "Snowy" 2521K and corresponding die

Sentiment:  Unbranded sentiment die (no idea where it came from - it lives in my Christmas sentiment box unpackaged - the heart isn't part of the sentiment die)
Backing Paper:  Snippet from an old 12 x 12 design pad from The Works
Trees:  Unbranded dies from Temu
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

Enjoy your weekend when it arrives!

CHRISTMAS 2026 IS UNDERWAY

Hi Everyone

Apologies once again for my lack of posting .. .. .. still lots going on in my little world, but I have been crafting whenever time allows.  I have been working on trying to perfect something I have never tried before .. .. .. .. but more about that another time as it will culminate into quite a long and picture heavy blog post I think  LOL!!!

But as I need to get my head into very serious Christmas mode what better place to take the decision of where to start than the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where they would like to see our reindeers.

So here I am with this lovely little cutie (I quite like it when an image includes a sentiment too)

This used:

Image:  Whimsical Funny Reindeer Clipart from NesaDesignCo (via Etsy)
Backing Paper:  Dovecraft 12x12 Christmas Basics (very old and still very loved but not much of it left)
Red Foil thick paper

Corner Rounding Punch
Spellbinders Circle & Scalloped Circle Dies

Ribbon
Glossy Accents for the shiny nose
Tea Tree ProMarker to ground the reindeer
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and this starts my serious Christmas journey for 2026!

Apologies if anyone found my previous post to be too much for a crafting blog, and thank you so much to everyone who left such lovely comments. I must admit my blog has also slowly turned into quite a journal of personal life events too.  Special happenings quite often get a mention and then with the use of the search button at the bottom of my blog I can backtrack.  You wouldn't believe how useful my blog has been over the years when folks say "what year did such and such happen" or "when did we go to such and such a place".

I love my blog and would be really gutted if I ever lost it.  I often backtrack and use it to go down memory lane.

Anyway, back to more Christmas makes and I will hopefully be catching up with everyone soon, though my reading list hasn't up-dated in over a week!  Is anyone else having problems still?

A CARD I WAS SO HAPPY I COULD GIVE

Hi Everyone

I hope that all is well with everyone and life is being kind. 

Life has been busy here with Mum and other things this last week, but yesterday was a day I really thought I would never get to experience again.  

It was the day I got to give my Mum another birthday card.  Not that she was capable of opening it or understanding what the day was all about.  In fact I doubt she even knew I had spent time with her .. .. .. but I know I did .. .. .. and in years to come I know I would give anything just to be in her presence and hold her hand whether she was responding or not.

She is now a whole 96 but dementia has left her with a life that most would say isn't really a life.  She is bedridden now and struggles to hold her head up.  But on really rare occasions we still get a glimmer of our old Mum and that really warms your heart.

Yesterday she was definitely in no rush to celebrate her birthday and was spark out until late into the afternoon, despite all the comings and goings and the care staff singing happy birthday as they tried to rouse her.  She was washed and changed without even waking!!!

But late afternoon while my sister was with her she finally woke up and her cards were opened (by my sister) and the home had baked her a birthday cake.  Lots of staff and a couple of fellow residents came into her room.  Thankfully there weren't 96 candles to contend with .. .. .. just one.  

So this is the card I was so very happy to be able to give to my Mum:

This used:

Watercolour Floral Alphabet Clipart "TaPilipaAU" via Etsy  (this came with a bonus frame that I altered to form the two floral lines)
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat (sadly no longer trading)
Snippet of Gingham Ribbon
Metallic Gold Card
Tiny diamond gems
Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

These are the snippets I began with .. .. ..

                                           

The card and paper I used all started out life as A4 sheets but these were snippets I was left with following previous creations so I am taking my card over to the Snippets Playground Challenge where we are encouraged to use our leftovers (not just card and paper .. .. wool, fabric, ribbon, leftover wrapping paper, old envelopes .. .. the list is endless.

Have a good week everyone.

I seriously need to get all my Christmas supplies out and put them to good use!!! 

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy September .. .. August definitely disappeared in the blink of an eye didn't it !

Just a little teeny tiny card to share today (9cm square) - and if you can't find a heart then there is something seriously wrong .. .. LOL!!!

This used:

Die set - unbranded from the internet
Design Papers - a small A6 pad from The Works (yonks ago) called LoveLife and snippets of pink and silver card (the small hearts are silver but of course didn't photograph too well)
Sentiment:  Woodware Collection "Word Fragments" JGS720
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
WeRMemory Keepers envelope punch board
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today!

Hopefully I will be around tomorrow. 

AND NOW THEY ARE MARRIED .. .. ..

Hi Playmates

Many thanks for your lovely comments on my creation of yesterday which used one of the very old TeddyBo&Co images.  

Many, many, many years ago when I purchased a laptop from Curry's I also purchased a storage package from them which saves everything from my computer to a cloud.  It backs up and captures any changes I make to any file every day.  (You choose what you want backing up and when).

Originally it was for peace of mind so that I didn't lose work for wedding couples, the magazines or Mr Tax Man, and it has proved to be invaluable.  I continue to use it all these years later.  

This means I can still download any files, not only from my current laptop, but every computer I have ever owned since starting to use the package (even the dead computers).  Hence being able to go back and re-download really old digital papers, files and images too.  

Heaven forbid I lose all my Pink Petticoat downloads!!!!  Now that would be the end of the world!!  The vast array of papers are my favourite downloads of all time!

So today I went back and rescued Teddy Bo and Bea on their wedding day to create this .. ..  

This used:

Image:  TeddyBo & Co (no longer trading)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers:  Papercraft House "Vintage" (my current paper pack for culling)
Ribbon and Lace
Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine
ProMarker .. .. just for grounding the car (the image was ready coloured in sepia tones)

and that is me for today.

Enjoy your bank holiday Monday if you are here in the UK.

We are having intermittent sunshine and rain showers today .. .. .. but thankfully nothing like the thunderstorm we had on Friday night!  I have never known one like it.  The lightening was flashing so fast that it was like the paparazzi at a red carpet event and the road outside was flowing like a river! 

SHARING THE LOVE

Hi Everyone

Does anyone else remember these lovely characters from way back when?  They are Bo and Bea from when TeddyBo were up and running.

I thought the image would work well for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the theme is "Friendship".  I am pretty sure Bo and Bea are good friends because there is also another lovely image where they get married. 

This image was actually part of a tab set but I cropped it and enlarged it to use here:

This used:

Image:  TeddyBoBeaTabs (Teddy Bo are sadly no longer trading, but they might be lurking in your download file  -  my file was originally downloaded in 2011 would you believe !!!!)

Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Paper:  A Snippet from Pink Petticoat (also sadly no longer trading)
ProMarkers
Chalk for the rosy cheeks
My Trusty Sewing Machine

This was one of my favourites of their images along with the one where Bo and Bea had got married.  I might use that image next as it will work with that paper stack I am currently trying to cull.

Off to link up and will hopefully catch you again soon.

THREE OF A KIND

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday - I am rushing in quickly in the hope of reaching the playground gates before they are locked.

Life has been rather hectic this week so I am flying by the seat of my pants with this one.

I started by making just one card but of course got left with lots of die cuts and I couldn't possibly just ditch them .. .. so I made another .. .. and then another .. .. .. then forced myself to stop before Mr Heart thought I had left home LOL!!!

These used:

Design Papers:  Papercraft House "Vintage" plus snippets of coloured card for the frames.
Die:  Pink Fresh Studio "Simply Blooms" - PFSA1620  (turned the die the other way round for the top card so the large flower was at the bottom).
Ribbon
ProMarkers as I added extra colour to some of the die cuts
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

These were the snippets I started off with .. .. .. all from the latest paper pack I am attempting to cull.  This pack is a little more challenging though because it is full of lots of A4 size sheets, but as per usual there were lots of part used sheets tucked in the back.

          

I am now off to share my makes in the Snippets Playground where we are encouraged to use up our leftovers rather than cutting into fresh sheets of card or design paper.  Loads and loads of snippets here so never short of something to play along with (other than time).

As I finished up with three finished cards I decided to share them with the Little Red Wagon Challenge where the theme is "anything times three".  

So that is me for today, huge apologies for the lack of blog posts and blog visiting.  Fingers crossed things will be a little calmer this coming week and I will be able to catch up with myself and everyone else.

Take care and enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

THE NEXT PACK OF PAPER TO BE CULLED

Hi Everyone

I hope that your day is proving to be a good one - and things are a bit cooler for you.

My stock box is in need of a serious refill and I am trying to work on the type of cards I never seem to make unless I have been asked to make them, or I am in need of them myself.  So in an attempt to "fill the gaps" I simply closed my eyes and did lucky dip into the drawer of "paper stacks to use up" and then plumped for a "get well card". 

This used:  
Image:  -- NesaDesignCo - Pastel Floral Vase Clipart - Whimsical Flower Bouquet Bundle  

(a really lovely download that is suitable for so many different occasions.)

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon

My Trusty Sewing Machine
Backing Papers:  Paper House "Vintage" 

This was again a pack of papers I was asked to design with for a magazine commission .. .. .. and I got to keep the leftovers.  A really lovely set of papers, and I must admit I will be sorry once I have used them all, but hey ho!  It has to be done if I am going to clear that drawer and reach my "digital only" goal.

But it does mean you are going to be seeing quite a lot of it over the coming weeks as there are quite a few pages left .. .. .. as well as lots of snippets at the back LOL!!!.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

AND IT IS FRIDAY .. .. .. AGAIN!

Hi Everyone

Yes, in the blink of an eye we are back round to Friday again and another weekend will soon be with us!

They seem to come around so very quickly, but to be fair I have crammed a lot into this week, so I can't really complain.  As we all know only too well, the more we do the quicker time disappears.  

My creation today is for sharing with two challenges:

The "As You Like It Challenge" where they would like to know what your favourite colouring medium is.

This is super easy because it has to be my ProMarkers (not that I have ever tried any other kind of permanent marker).  I love the variety of colours, the way they blend and the fact that they have a fat and a thin end to them.   I do have some very fine nibs to attach to them too but for some reason they don't fit every pen, which I find a bit strange.  I wonder if the casing has altered over the years.

and also

The "Penny Black Saturday Challenge" where the theme is "things with wings" or "anything goes" provided your creation showcases Penny Black Goodies.   No wings on my creation so it is "anything goes for me this time".

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "Rosy!" 3344J
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "Gratitude" 30-105"
ProMarkers
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat (no longer trading)
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today .. .. quite an early post for me.

Have a good one everyone.  I feels a little bit cooler here today .. .. fingers crossed it stays that way.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Hope your day is going well.

Just whizzing along with a teeny tiny creation I made this morning.   

For anyone new to my blog my teeny tiny creations measure a whole 9cm square.

I am now a few weeks into my "no buying any new design pads", and I haven't fallen off the wagon "yet" .. .. .. despite having seen quite a few I would have loved to have added to my collection .. .. ..  so I am not doing too badly.

But I have made a digital design paper purchase (which is allowed).

I was asked for an Art Deco style card by a customer and there was nothing paper wise in my collection that was going to fit the bill .. .. .. but I did find the most gorgeous digital papers on line and I have totally fallen in love with them.  They print so beautifully and the colours are super scrummy.

This used:

Digital design paper collection from "Digiform Studios" via Etsy called 3D Art Deco 
The background was simply a black polkadot download from Pink Petticoat printed onto thin turquoise card (sadly Pink Petticoat is no longer trading)
Memory Box Dies: "98261" Kaleidoscope Butterfly and "98262" Moonlight Butterfly
Ribbon
Glitter Card
Flat Backed Pearls
My Trusty Sewing Machine
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Score Board
Embossing Folder (which I think was a magazine freebie many, many years ago).

I am sharing this with the "Little Red Wagon Challenge" where the theme this week has been to include an envelope either alongside a card or as part of a card.  Still a few hours left if you fancy playing along.

This obviously isn't the card I made for my customer, I am simply using up some of the snippets I was left with. 

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend.  

Still no rain here to report . . . . but we really do need some.

My creation today started out as just a quick play to see if an idea would work for me and by the time I had finished I was quite pleased with the finished result.  

Perhaps a little tweaking needed but nearly there.

I used an idea I had played with on a previous post here and finished up with this:

This used:

Just bits bits of paper and card that were still sitting on my desk from my previous post  
Unbranded triangle and star die 
Ribbons from "the ribbon offcut box" 
Sentiment:  Kaisercraft "North Pole"
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am going to take this over to the snippets playground as everything on this card is a snippet of one kind or another but sadly no "before" picture as I wasn't expecting to end up with a finished project.

Enjoy your sparkly new week.

CUPCAKES FOR CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Hope your day has been a good one.

Mine has been a rare one at home so I have been getting on top of the dreaded household chores and have also been trying to make more headway with Christmas designs for this year, and today this was my favourite .. .. .. . 

This used:

Image:  Another gorgeous download from NesaDesignCo - Christmas Cupcake (the only difficult part was deciding which of the 12 cupcake images I wanted to use as I love them  all !!!!
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat - sadly no longer trading
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
Glossy Accents and Crystal Glamour Dust .. .. which as usual the camera never picks up
My Trusty Sewing

and that is me for today.

Still a few more chores to do but hopefully I will get chance for a bit of blog hopping later to see what everyone has been up to.

ONE THING!

Hi Everyone

Lots cracking off as usual here in the home of hearts but today I got chance for a little crafty play for taking to The Little Red Wagon Challenge where they would like to see “one thing”.

My share has lots of ‘ones’ really, but I am happy to just focus on ‘one heart’ as per usual. .. which I am sure everyone will find very easily 😊

This used:

Lots of snippets that I created when playing in the Snippets Playground Challenge .. .. .. so yes, for those of you who wondered .. .. .. .. I was sad enough to keep the leftover snippets LOL!  and also created a few more in the process too so more to use on another little make

Papers:  KaiserCraft Frosted Design Papers - plus other random snippets
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Sizzix Thinlits Die "Moroccan Card Front"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
KaiserCraft Embossing Folder:  Stained Glass

Hopefully catch you again soon.

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Hope your weekend is going well.

Here with my homework for taking over to the Snippets Playground where we are encouraged to use up some of those mountains of snippets we all squirrel away.

Following on from my last post .. .. the design pad I am currently emptying has had another hammering, and this time I used up the "part used" pages that were stored in the back.  In fact there are probably only a couple of full pages left now.

So I used a Sizzix die to cut the background from a scrap of white card and then lots of the infill shapes from various scraps in the pad, along with a toning metallic snippet.

I ended up with this:

This used:

Image and die Set:  MFT Polar Bear Pals
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set 30-316 - Season's Gifts
KaiserCraft Frosted Design Papers
ProMarkers
Sizzix Thinlits Die "Moroccan Card Front"
My Trusty Sewing Machine

But now look what I am left with .. .. ..  yet another box of useful bits for future cards LOL!!

Enjoy your Sunday!  Hope you manage a bit of crafty time.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Hi Everyone

Many thanks for your comments on my previous post.  Very much appreciated.

Today I am playing along with the Little Red Wagon Challenge who want to see Christmas in July .. .. and as the more Christmas makes I can get under my belt the better .. .. .. .. I came up with this:

This used:

Image:  Winter Teddy Bear Clipart Bundle from NesaDesignCo .. via Etsy (just one of 23 cute images in the set so plenty of Christmas options to play with there)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine 
and the next Design Pad I am going to completely empty after it lurking in my Christmas Paper Pad collection for a very long time   .. .. .. 

Although the collection is called "Frosted" not all of the pages and bits and pieces I have left are necessarily Christmas /Winter related so I am not totally limited as to what I can do with it.

Catch you again soon .. .. hopefully.