BABY BOY!

Hi Everyone

I hope your day has gone well.

It has been a bit of a mixed bag here weather wise .. .. but pleasant enough nonetheless.

A quick share today of my favourite make of the day ..

This used:

Image:  Teddy Bo
Sentiment Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  The brown shaded papers are from Funky Hand but I am not sure where the blue one has come from as it was in my snippet drawer (or should I say "one of them" LOL!!)
Martha Stewart Punch:  Embossed Zig Zag
ProMarkers and chalk
Ribbon, Buttons and Eyelet from the Stash Box


Time now to go and eat my snap and then hopefully a catch up in blogland.  I didn't manage it earlier so have a few of you lovely peeps to come and visit.

Talking of food tonight we are having the first of our garden crops for this year .. .. 8 radishes .. .. 4 each!!!  LOL!!

We will be eating other things alongside them though .. .. we aren't on a micro diet!!

Right off to see what still needs doing and will catch you again soon.

Love

STAMP FAIRY CHALLENGE AND FETCH A SKETCH

Hi Everyone

Here I am a little late for a Wednesday as The Apprentice is just about to start .. .. eeekkk!!!

Just heard they need to create biscuits with a difference.  Well that is simple .. .. heart shaped and full of huge chocolate chips .. .. simples!!!!  Big biscuits for the grown ups and little ones for the kiddlies!!!  Come fetch me Lord Sugar!!!!

Tonight I have made a card for entering into two challenges.

The Stamp Fairy Challenge where the challenge needs you to use a teddy bear image, three flowers, two ribbons and a sentiment.

and .....

drum roll please ..... ...

Fetch a Sketch.

Fetch a Sketch is a brand new sketch challenge that has started this week and is being run by my fellow Funky Hand teamies .. Jenny and Ruth.

So here is my creation:

This used:

Image:  Stamp Fairy

Backing Papers:  My Minds Eye "Summer Papers" (free with a magazine last year)

Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

Nestabilities (need to find the name of this)

Fiskars Punch:  Corner Rounder

X-Cut Punch:  Small Flower

Ribbon from the Stash Box



Here is the sketch if you fancy playing along

OK .. .. off to link up and then settle into my favourite programme!

Catch you again soon. 

Love

KICK UP YOUR HEELS!!

Hi Everyone

I hope you day has gone well.

No where near as so hot here today .. ..  it was lovely to be able to walk down the garden first thing and actually breath in nice fresh air.  Everywhere seemed so muggy yesterday .. .. but we mustn't complain .. .. at least we saw some sunshine.

A quick share from me today using a stamp set I have had for a couple of years now and yet I never tire of using it.

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Hero Arts "CL303" High Heels

Woodware Punches:  Scalloped Oval

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads and Gems

Shrink Plastic

Ribbon and cord from the stash box

I stamped my sentiment onto shrink plastic and cut it out with my scalloped oval punch so that I was able to tie it into the ribbon and paper pieced the gorgeous shoes (making a tie hole in it before I shrank it down).

Oh I remember the days when I was able to walk in shoes like that !!  Tee hee!!!  Isn't memory lane a wonderful place!

Catch you all again tomorrow.

Love

HAS ANYONE MELTED?

Hi Everyone

Phew another hot day!!  Though the sun did disappear and we gained a few quick rain showers during the afternoon.

It has gone very dull again now so I wonder if we are in for a nice storm.  At least it will clear the air.

I must admit to having gone a bit mad on the washing front today.  I had one of those days where you want to wash everything in sight LOL!!  Of course you know what that means .. .. a mountain of ironing!!

Anyway ......

A quick share today that features the new digi download from Funky Hand .. .. "Tea's Up!"  Such a scrummy download.  I love the colours in this very much.  Please pop over and see the full range of papers and examples because there are some gorgeous teacups and kettles in the set.

This used:

Backing Papers:  Funky Hand Download "Tea's Up!"
Sentiment:  Made from the letters included in the Tea's Up! Download
Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Sizzix Flower Die: "654981"
DaisiesMy trusty sewing machineRibbon,
Rik-Rak and button from the stash box


So off to get the bedroom curtains back up that I washed today!!!  This is the point when you wished you hadn't been quite so hyper-active during the day LOL!!!

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

JULES' CRAFTY SNIPPET CHALLENGE - WEEK 25

Hi Everyone

Phew!!!  What has happened?  Did I get kidnapped and taken to Spain during the night?!?!? 

How hot is it?!!

Well certainly too hot to sit out in it still .. .. and it is past 5.00pm!! (Or does that just mean I am a sunshine whimp?!!  LOL!!).

Well the day is certainly too lovely to sit in the craft pod for too long - we just don't get enough days like this  .. .. so I'm afraid I only have two snippet makes to share today.  

So who joined me in my quest this week .. ..  prepare for reading about all of my lovely playmates .. .. and there are so many of them!!!  Thank you everyone for keeping me company and sharing all your lovely creations .. .. lots of lovely inspirations for us all to see.

First up - bright and early into the challenge was Di .. .. Di is a huge lover of great sentiments and captions and you can quite often see them on her lovely creations.  There were two great ones on her snippet makes this week .. .. just perfect for those of us that like to have our noses buried in books (not that I am one of them .. .. I fall asleep after a paragraph LOL!!).

Closely followed by Irene .. .. and what a beautiful card Irene shared!!  The most lovely sentiment on a clean crisp card .. .. very inspirational and one I think everyone will be adapting and turning into a lovely card of their own.  Then very quickly Irene found out even more snippets and shared another lovely creation which even incorporated a snippet of lace .. .. ... you will find here.   Thanks for the double whammy Irene xx.

Then Brenda shared two beautiful snippet makes using gorgeous snippets and great embellishments.  Loving the ribbon rose that Brenda made (we might need a tutorial on that one day please Brenda).

Next came another Brenda .. .. Brenda B .. .. and in my book Brenda B was super good because not only did she make a card using her snippets .. .. it was a snippet "CHRISTMAS CARD" eeekkk!!!!  I love the Christmas Tree paper on this one very much.  So there I was in awe of Brenda having made a Christmas card when she then made another beauty which you can find here.  There is just no stopping some folk LOL!!!

I suppose we are halfway through the year though so I guess we should be making a bit of an effort in this direction.  I have actually made a grand total of one this year so far!!!  Get me!!  But the weather was just far to beautiful to tempt me anywhere near Christmas cards today.

Then along came Lynne with a super neat and clean looking snippet creation.  I love the colours on this one and it reminded me that I need to stamp in a colour more often and not just reach for the black ink pad every time.  Thanks for that Lynne xx  Then later in the week Lynne played again with this lovely make.  Such gorgeous shapes and colours.  I love the way Lynne makes the most of her lovely sentiment collection.

Lisa then called along to play with FIVE beautiful creations.  Great use of colour and also Lisa's new embossing folder .. ..  super scrummy and intricate it is too.  Beware when you look .. you might want one!!!

Sandra .. .. who I was very surprised to learn still had snippets left after her massive attack on them last week .. .. kept me company again and shared a super cool make.  A great vintage image and the most gorgeous colour hues.

Next up came Annmaree all the way from sunny but cold Australia with her beautiful and romantic snippet make.  It reminded me of the wedding invites my Son and DIL sent a few years ago (in the days before I was addicted to cardmaking).  Thank you for joining in Annmaree but also for sending me for a little trip down memory lane.

Craftilicious came along then with a lovely "edgy" creation.  I will definitely be looking at my punches in a new light from now on.  Thank you very much for such lovely inspiration xx

My next playmate was Katina who made a gorgeous new home card which would have used up so many of those tiny little snippets we are all left with.  I love this one .. .. especially the little houses .. .. and so many layers!!!

Last but by no means least this week was Debs and what a lovely project she shared.  A beautiful colour and lovely elements.  A really "happy" card.  Thank you for sharing it and for your inspiration.

So many lovely playmates to keep me company .. .. thank you ladies .. .. things are so much more fun when shared with friends!!!

So I think it will soon be cool enough for me to sit out in the garden .. .. but can you believe we have a roast dinner cooking and I also have a pile of ironing to do!!

I must be mad.

Have a great evening everyone.  I hope you enjoy looking at all the lovely creations my playmates have made .. .. this is such a lovely way to make new blog friends and to find different ways to use up all of those little snippets we all have hanging around our craft spaces.

Love

TWO HEARTS - ONE LOVE

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all ok.

Did you all get the rain last night?  My lawn was squelching for the first time in ages when I walked on it this morning!!!

I'm not holding out much hope for that heatwave sunny day tomorrow that's for sure.

Anyway, a super quick post tonight as we are meeting up with some friends in around half an hour .. . eeek!!!

This make is a take on a card I made for Anice at Funky Hand when she launched the "Our Betty" range of stamps.  I loved it so much I put it into my "make it again sometime" picture folder on my computer.  Great for scanning through when you want to do a quick make.

This used:

Sentiment:  Funky Hand "Our Betty Love N' That" Stamp Set
Backing Papers:  Funky Hand Download "Huge Funky Love Word Book"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Daisy
Cuttlebug heart and embossing die
Ribbon and gems from the stash box

So that is me for tonight.

Tomorrow I am back with my snippet makes .. .. and a whole playground full of playmates who kept me company this week!!!

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

I HOPE YOU'RE IMPRESSED

Hi Everyone

Sorry, I am late tonight.

I bet you think it is because we have been so busy gardening!!  But no!! 

Thankfully we had quite a good stint when Hubby got home from work last night because today went a bit pear-shaped.

We began the day by having the boiler and gas fire serviced at 9.00am .. .. and what happened?  Our fire and chimney were condemned!!  Eeekk!! 

But our boiler was in good health .. phew!!!

So we had the gas fire taken out and decided to replace it with a "real looking" electric one.  I must admit they have improved rather a lot since I lived at home with Mum and Dad!!  We spent ages looking round a showroom and ended up getting one that they were selling off cheaper as an ex-showroom model (plus we managed to knock them down a little bit more .. .. result!!!).  There didn't look anything wrong with it and it was the most realistic looking one there out of loads and loads.

Once home we have installed it and it looks just great.  We are well pleased with it.

We took the old gas fire to a local metal merchant .. .. loads of folk were there taking old tanks, and piping and hubby says "I don't want to build our hopes up but everyone is coming out with £10 and £20 notes".

So they weigh our fire and he goes into the office and comes out smiling.  How much has he come out with?  £3.50!!!  LOL!!!

But that was £3.50 more than we would have got had we taken it down the tip!!

After all of that here is my share for the day.  Now I hope you are impressed because I have used up the papers left over from yesterday .. .. they didn't even make it to the snippet drawers!!!

I love this flower paper very much.

This used:

Sentiment:  Verve Stamps "VSB-09-049" Thankful Accents
Backing Papers: Digichick Boutique - Joyful Heart Designs
Nestabilities:  Standard Circles Large
Distress Ink:  Peeled Paint
Eyelets
Button, Ribbon and Cord from the Stash Box

OK  -  after that long ramble I will now have a lovely hop around blogland whilst waiting for those fish and chips to arrive!!

Have a great evening everyone.

Love

ACROBAT .. ..

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good day .. .. the weekend starts here in the House of Hearts as hubby has the day off work tomorrow .. .. so a nice long weekend for us.

You will never guess what is planned .. .. yes .. .. gardening yet again!!!

Everything is growing nicely but we need to spend a bit more serious time out there.

We were having a little look around last night to see what things we need to get done .. .. and then hubby very kindly finished by saying "and then Sunday if the weather is nice we can perhaps .. ... ..

Oh I got all excited!!  What does he have planned?!?? My imagination started running away with myself and then he finished by saying

.. .. ..  sit out in it"!!!!! 

Oh well .. ..  I suppose sitting out in it is better than digging it LOL!!!

I was polite as always though and replied with a chirpy "that would be nice!! 

We are actually promised some lovely weather for Sunday and Monday so we shall see.

Anyway, round to my share for today .. ..

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3976K" Acrobat
Sentiment:  Verve Stamps "VSC-09-048" Thankful Hearts
Backing Papers:  Digichick Boutique - Joyful Heart Designs
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
My Trust Sewing Machine
ProMarkers
Ribbon from a very special blog buddy (Thank you xx)

So that is me for today.

I hope you all have a lovely evening .. whatever you are doing.

Love

A CARD FOR TWO CHALLENGES

Hi Everyone

I hope you managed to keep dry today .. ..  the rain has been a bit stop start, stop start in my neck of the woods.

My little craft pod overlooks the front of our house and we are sited on a busy main road .. .. today I saw a sight that always pulls on my heartstrings.  Mum's taking their teeny tiny ones to what looked like "induction" days at school ready for starting after after the summer holidays.  Oh they look so tiny and I always feel so sorry for them (both Mum and the little one).  No doubt in a few months I will be seeing the children being "dragged" along because they don't want to go .. .. .. that is one of the drawbacks of having your craft table facing an upstairs window that looks out onto the road!!

Anyway, enough of that .. . here is my share for today .. which is for two challenges.  The Penny Black Saturday Challenge and Sketch N Stash.

Here is my creation:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2377J" What Creation!
Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat
Backing Papers:  Dovecraft "Tea House"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Woodware Punches:  Daisy
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
ProMarkers
Diamond Stickles
Brads and Cord from the Stash Box

Penny Black Saturday have a special 3 year birthday this week .. .. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  .. .. and to celebrate they have a blog hop happening.

Sketch N Stash have a sketch for you to follow .. .. surprise, surprise, and here it is in case you want to play along.  Again I flipped it!!

So you know what night it is tonight?  The Apprentice!!  Woo Hoo!!! 

So no dilly dallying from me tonight.  Just time for a batth before plonking myself on the sofa.  I will have to link up in a bit and get my blog hop done!!

Have a good evening.

Love

STAMP FAIRY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well and that today has been a good day for you.

Mine has been nice and busy .. .. but I am pleased to say that I still found time to play along with the Stamp Fairy Challenge this week.

I love these cute images but sadly haven't had chance to play along for the last couple of weeks .. .. so here I am making amends.

Here is my creation - which was made following the sketch that had been provided

This used:

Image:  Stamp Fairy "Lenny Cupcake"
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat
Sizzix Die:  Stars #2
ProMarkers
Chalk
Glamour Dust
Glossy Accents

If you fancy playing along here is the sketch .. .. I flipped it!!

Aren't those little bears just the cutest?  Their cheeks look a bit "extra rosy" .. .. they have obviously been running around like mad things at the party .. .. .. as party peeps do!!! LOL!!!
Enjoy what is left of the evening.

Love

MR AND MRS

Hi Everyone

Here I am all recovered from my socialising weekend .. .. what a lovely time we had .. .. it was the first time we have had Father's Day all together for a while.  The bands were very entertaining .. and although the Queen tribute band were not brilliant we still enjoyed them.  In fact I think that my Sis and I were singing so loud whilst clearing away that some of the people at the festival must have been able to hear us through the open windows LOL!!! 

Big Baby Boy and his wife went home this morning  :-(  They left at 4.00am so that they would be back in London in time to both go to work!! 

I waved "bye-bye" and then went back to bed .. .. and surprised myself that I was able to go back to sleep.

So now round to my share for today

This used:

Image:  Stampendous "V126" Happy Couple
Sentiment:  Stampendous "J180" Mr & Mrs
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Nestabilities: Large Deckled Rectangles 
Crystal Stickles (that aren't quite dry LOL!!)
ProMarkers
Ribbon, roses and pearls from the Stash Box

and that is that!!!

I think some of you were struggling a little with the heart on the "Best Dad" card yesterday. 

It was hiding here

Right in the middle of the star.

So I need to begin my mega catch up in blogland.  I am well behind .. .. all this socialising takes its toll you know!!!

Catch you again soon .. .. thank you for all your visits and lovely comments and welcome to my new followers!!  Nice to see you here in my little corner of blogland!!.

Love

JULES' SUNDAY SNIPPET CHALLENGE - WEEK 24

Hi Everyone

Well here I am on Week 24 of my mission to rid the craft pod of those lovely snippets that keep piling up .. .. but which are far to beautiful to simply throw away.

Lots of people kept me company this week .. .. thank you all ladies xx

But more about all of my playmates later.

First of all here are my snippet creations for this week.

The first one is a cheat because I made it yesterday, ready for my little baby boy to give his Dad today for Father's Day.

But the other two I got up bright and early to make

So what about all of those lovely playmates .. .. well there are so many it like having a little party !!  LOL!!!

Di  played along and shared lots of cards and inspiration  -  and all such beautiful colours.  Di's cards always look so lovely and neat .. .. I am sure you will agree.

Sandra - a regular snippetier - shared a whole mountain of creations this week .. .. and how wonderful they all were too.  In fact at the beginning of the week Sandra set out all the snippets she wanted to use up.  What a snippet star!!!  You can find all of the wonderful work and inspiration here, here, here AND here.   There must be a definite lack of snippets in Sandra's craft space now .. .. and I have even heard rumours of her possibly being on the receiving end of some annoymous envelopes full of someone elses's snippets (that would be Di's LOL!!!)

Brenda B played along and showcased three gorgeous cards too .. .. proving you don't need to use many crafty supplies to achieve beautiful cards.  Gorgeous work!!

Lisa joined in too .. .. but was a bit worried she had broken the rules in using a coloured image.  But hey .. don't worry about rules .. the only rules are the ones I have given myself!!  I don't allow "myself" to use coloured images because I would spend too long sitting colouring when I should be using up my snippets .. .so the only images I use are ones I can paper piece (and so use up more paper bits) or those that don't need any colouring at all. 

If you play along you can use up your snippets in any way you like .. ... but I wouldn't like to think you had made a little bonfire of them .. .. that would be sad and very upsetting !!  LOL!!!

So thank you Lisa for playing along and showing us your lovely creation .. .. and it was a gorgeous image too!!

Brenda showcased a whole range of beatuiful creations using her snippets  .. .. each one being just full of inspiration for using up our snippets.  Be careful though because Brenda shows you new stamps and stash that you might want to buy .. .. you have to be very strong when you visit this blog!!!!  It comes with a Bank Balance Health Warning!!!

Tricia also joined in with a whole range of cards and gave me some lovely ideas for future snippet use.  Such beautiful colours and techniques.  There is some great doodling going on here and a great frame idea.  Thanks Tricia xx

Doreen joined in yesterday too with a beautiful card that was paperpieced beautifully.  So much loveliness to see on this creation .. I love it!!!

Lynne came along as a "last minute" entry with a lovely Father's Day card.  Great way to use up your snippets in blocks and a very nice sentiment stamp came into play here too.  Lovely and neat Lynne!!

So what a lot of playmates!!!  Thank you ladies xxxx

Just think how many snippet makes have been created here .. .. loads and loads!!!

So that is me for today .. .. Hubby has just gone to deliver all the food I have prepared as we are having a little Father's Day party over at my baby Son's house.  All the family together .. .. lovely!!

Hubby is then coming back here and then we will have a taxi so we can have a little drink to celebrate a special day.

There is a little music festival being held on the local Rugby Club ground and my Son's flat overlooks it .. .. so we are going to enjoy that whilst eating and drinking with all the windows open.  Tonight there is a Queen Tribute band on so that should be good.

My lovely Sis and her chappie are coming to join us too.

So time to get myself in gear and I will catch you again tomorrow .. .. when I promise to do my catching up in blogland.

Love

So if you fancy playing along at all over the course of the next week then feel free to link below so we can all come and see your lovely creations.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE

Hi Everyone

Guess what?

My order of lovely sparkly things arrived this morning by Parcel Force .. .. .. at 7.30am!!!!!   Eeekkk!! 

Thank goodness I was up bright and early this morning.

I couldn't wait to open my parcel and took it into the bedroom where I sat on the bed opening up each little cellophane packet .. .. much to the annoyance of a half asleep hubby!!  LOL!!!

I don't have a make to share today so I thought you might like a glimpse of some of my sparkly things that will be making their way onto my wedding stationery samples.

Prepare for photograph overload .. .. .. and mega bling LOL!!

aren't they just gorgeous.

The one on the right hand side of the last photograph is stunning.  It has like a pale grey faceted stone in the middle .. .. my picture does not do it justice. 

I can't wait to get creating with them!!!

Next I would like to say thank you to my blog buddy Annmaree who has very kindly given me an award.  Mmmmm .... I love strawberries.  Thank you Annmaree xx

As part of accepting this award I have to share 7 random fact about myself and pass the award on to 8 of my blogging pals.

Well as you know I am very naughty and never pass the awards on as I cannot possibly choose from all of you lovely peeps .. .. so would everyone who visits please class yourself as being awarded this little badge of honour!!

But I will be good and share 7 random facts .. .. if I can think of some I haven't shared before!!  Mmmm... I feel you nearly know everything about me. 

Oh well .. here we go .. .. and if any are repeats then I apologise.

1.  I once chopped my finger tip off using one of those mandolin food slicers and the hospital didn't expect it to re-attach itself so just plonked it back on and strapped it up.  It did re-attach itself and now I have what we call a "jelly tot" perched on the end of my middle finger!!  A reminder of my clumsiness.

2.  My favourite holidays have all been in Spain

3.  I once fell over on my way home from school and grazed all the side of my face and cheekbone.  I was really disappointed that I didn't get a black eye.  Why?!?!?!?

4.  The most daring thing I think I have eaten is frogs legs. 

5.  Once I am awake I struggle to go back to sleep because I am so excited about a new day starting (yes I know, very annoying!!).

6.  I am not very good at mental arithmetic and depend on a calculator far too much (shame on me!!)

7.  I love making wedding stationery because I like to feel I have been a part of a couple's special day

There you go.  Hopefully no repeats!!!

We are off out tonight so I am afraid yet again I won't be around much.  I am going to have one mega catching up job on my hands once the kids have gone home.

Sorry everyone!!

Have a good evening .. .. I hope all the bling hasn't dazzled your eyes.

Catch you again tomorrow.

Edited to say:   Sorry I forgot to say .. .. yesterday's heart was part of the sentiment.  It did catch a few of you!!  Tee hee!!!

Love