Time for Myself...

Something I don't get very often being a single mum... but today my boys aged 5 and 7 told me to sit down and relax and they would do the dishes and clean the house because I never get a break! It made me so proud, that I have bought up these two gorgeous, caring boys and makes me forget the times when I think I'm not doing such a great job!! Now I didn't really egt any time to myself cos there is always things to do but it really was the thought that counted!!! I love my boys to bits!!!
Today I have a card to share with you that wasn't for a DT!! Now I really love the DT's that I am on but sometimes it's nice to create something without a theme or a set image!! A boy I used to Nanny about 10 years ago turned 21 last week so I made this card for him.. mind you I still haven't sent it - hey it's the thought that counts!!

 I used last weeks Sketch saturday Sketch but because it's taken me so long to post this card on my blog I now can't enter it... I used Groove Dude from Kenny K and coloured him in with Tria markers and glitter pens. All the papers are from my scrap stash. The little guitars are from Tickled Pink stamps and to finish off the card I added punched out stars, buttons, raffia, and painted some chipboard numbers with black paint and covered them with crystal effects!! Hopefully Yai likes it - when he eventually gets it!!!
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
* Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Anything Goes
* Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
* Moving Along with the Times - Happy Birthday
* Crafts and Me - Birthdays
* Stamps and Fun = CREATIVITY - Happy Birthday Blog Hop
* Celebrate the Occasion - Happy Birthday
* The Cutie Pie Challenge - One for the Boys

School's Out at the 4 Crafty Chicks

Well sadly today is my last post as GDT over at the 4 Crafty Chicks. I have really loved designing for them over the last 4 weeks using images that haven't seen ink before or for awhile!!! The girls have been very welcoming and helpful and patient when I've been a bit late with cards! I will definitely be  joining in on the challenges each week if time allows!!!
So for my last challenge the theme is School's Out!! We are just about to start our school holidays here but they are only mid year break as our schooling is different to overseas!! Anyway, I know when the boys aren't at school they enjoy going to the park!! So with that in mind I created this card!!

Yes I know there are no boys in sight on this card but it inspired me to create this tent card!! My friend Sam has an addiction with Magnolia stamps, so I am lucky enough to be able to stamp out a lot of maggie images when we get  together for a craft session which is never regular enough. Anyway, I hadn't used this swing yet and this is my favourite Tilda so took the opportunity to create with it!! I made a tent card so I could utilise the swing in a realistic fashion. I recently won some blog Candy from Sue at Sue's Spot. and I won a MME Madison Ave paper pad so I used those papers. to complete the card I added the Magnolia dog which has been coloured for ages, added the flowers and rhinestones and then using my new Tim Holtz stamp set that I won on the weekend, I made some butterfly shrinky dink charms. I felt the card was missing something when I had finished it so I distressed around the edges with Walnut Distress Stain! I really love the way it turned out!!
 I am enetring this card into the following challenges:
* Pile it On - Make your own Embellishments
* Crafty Creations - Embellish It
* My Mum's Craft Shop - Favourite Stamp
* The Paper Shelter - Punches and/or Dies
* Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
* Craft Your passion - Things with Wings
* Let's Ink it Up - Favourite Embellishments
* Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Distressing
* Frosted Designs - Make your own Embellishments

Red, Blue and White at Elisabeth Bell's World

Hello and welcome to another challenge at Elisabeth Bell's World!! We had some beautiful creations last month... Were you a winner?? Well head on over to The Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog to find out!! This motnh our challenge is Red White and Blue.. I have been hanging out to colour Cinnamon Sugar since I bought her and a few of her Cottage Cutie Friends from Whimsy Stamps and thought these colours were perfect for her.

I coloured Cinnamon Sugar in with Tria markers and glitter pens. I also coloured the cupcakes in with tria markers and added a little glitter and smooch. I used some paper from a pirate paper pad which I bought from a local craft store. I then added all the embellishments - flowers, rhinestones and ribbon. It looks like a pretty simple card but took me forever to put it together!! I had to think for myself cos I didn't follow a sketch!! LOL!

Well if you haven't already come from the Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge blog, then head on over there now to see what the rest of the DT have created!! You won't be disappointed!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
* Totally Stampalicious - Red, White and one other colour
* Gingerloft - Red, White and Blue
* Card Makin Mama's - Red, White and Blue
* The Poodles Parlour - Red, White and Blue
* Inky Impressions - Red, White and Blue

New Sketch at Seems a Little Sketchy!!

Where did the last two weeks go? I am still trying to figure out time differences for all the challenges  but I think I have finally figured it out!!! So I have it written on my DT calendar so I don't forget!!
It is time for a new Sketch at Seems a Little Sketchy and I made two cards with this sketch!!

We are being Sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy for this challenge

and I chose to play with the following images!!

I coloured this image in with tria markers and glitter pens!! All the papers are from my scrap stash ( think these papers are kaisercraft). I added the ribbons, flowers and rhinestones and made some butterfly shrinkies!! And to finish it off added the magnolia crystals.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Craft Your Passion - Things with Wings

* Dream Valley challenges - Things with Wings
* Pan Pastel UK - Anything Goes
* 2 Sisters - Anything Goes
* Stampavie and More - Something with Wings

This one is a Joy Fold card!I coloured this image in with tria markers and glitter pens also!! I embossed the background paper, used the last of my orange floral paper then added the ribbon that ties to close the card!! i teh added the flower, button, rhinestones and corner adornment which I got my from my local Reject Shop!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Bearly Mine - Flowers

* Shelly's Images - Anything Goes

Hope you can join us at Seems a Little Sketchy and show us what you can do with this fabulous sketch!!

 

I love Apple Pie!!

I mean that literally, it's my favourite dessert in the world especially may Nan's apple pie which no-one has ever been able to replicate. I'm getting off the track though aren't I!! You are not here to read about apple pie and how much I love it but I'm sure you would love to see the gorgeous new "Apple Bake" that the ever so talented Elisabeth Bell has designed for us!!  As this is the Digi Bell's monthly Blog Hop you should have arrived here from Pami's blog  where I'm sure she dazzled you with her creation! If not then make your way back to The Digi Bell's Blog where you need to start and where you will find a full list for the hop!!!

 

 As soon as I saw this I thought of my nan and  one of the last times I spent with her before her health deteriorated when she was in the kitchen making her apple pie and I just watched her, taking it all in!! She never looked at a recipe or measured any ingredients... I've tried to make that apple pie so many times but it just never tastes as good as Nan's :(
So with Nan in mind, I made this card, obviously I can't give it to my Nan but I do think of her everyday!!

I used the sketch from The Sweetest Thing. I coloured Apple Bake in with Tria markers.. I went with pastel colours but you may notice that the rim of the pie dish is dark blue... That is beceause my nan had a tin pie dish that was white with a dark blue rim - so I had to colour it the exact same!! I used scraps from my stash so not sure where the spotty paper is from. I loved this sketch cos I was able to use all my favourite embellishments, ribbon, buttons, flowers and rhinestones. The sentiment is from Stampin Up. To finish off the card  did some fauz stitching on the  pink CS cos it was missing something but it finished off the card just perfect!!    Well there you have it, it's now time to hop over to see the talented  Rose to see what she has created for you!! If you get lost at any stage then just head back to The Digi Bell's Blog where you will find all the info you need including how you can win this gorgeous image!! Or if you can't wait that long you can purchase Apple Bake now from Elisabeth Bell's Digital collection.
I will be away from my blog for a couple of days as I'm heading down to my mum's for the weekend and I have a date with Tim Holtz on Sunday!! I have two posts due on MOnday so will be able to tell you all about it then.. I am so EXCITED!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
* The Sweetest Thing - Sketch and DT Call
* Crafty Catz - Pastel colours
* Stampin for the Weekend - Show us your style
* Di's Digi Designs - Spotty and Dotty
* Fab'n'Funky - Polka Dots

New beginnings and a new challenge at PCJ

Well as the title suggests there is heaps happening at PCJ! As you are aware Lisa recently stood down as Blog owner and DT co-ordinator and handed the reigns to Wendy!! We are very happy that Lisa is staying on as DT but we have lost a few members due to family committments!! So we wish them well!! That means that we are looking for some new DT members to join our little family!! Head on over to the new look PCJ blog to find out all the details.
And of course this week sees a new challenge at PCJ which is Feeling Krafty!! We would like to see some Kraft card stock on your creation somewhere!!!
We are being sponsored by Digi doodles this fortnight and they kindly let us play with some of their images and are also donating a $10 gift certificate.

I chose to use this gorgeous little image "All Better". As soon as I saw her I knew she was the one I wanted to create with her.

I actually had no Kraft cardstok so had to ask my friend Angela if she had any.. Thankfully she did and she also gave me a back of her scraps which I just love so I have used them on my card!! I decided to try my hand at colouring on Kraft and I think I it turned out ok but you can be the judge! I coloured this sweet image in with Tria markers, distress around the edge of everything with walnut distress ink, I 3D'd her bandana,bag the cat and te bandage!! I then just added the ribbon, buttons, star at the stampin up sentiment!!

Well that's it from me but please head on over to PCJ to check out our new look blog and to see if you were a winner from our last challenge!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

* Little Red wagon - Kraft

* Cutie Pie challenge - Stitching Real or Faux

By the Sea at 4 Crafty Chicks - GDT!!

Well it's definitely not beach weather here in Sunbury, it's 9 Degrees and raining!! A great day to be indoors. Would have been an awesome day to spend in my PJ's but don't think my kids would have appreciated me taking them to school and kinder in them..LOL
Anyway, it's my third week (already) as a GDT at the 4 Crafty Chicks and it's a summer theme of By the Sea... I enjoyed making this card but it was a card that kept changing as I got different ideas and decided to do a bit of recycling!!

Doesn't this just scream summer!!! I have had cards and LO's lying around for a long time gathering dust so I decided to pull some apart for this card!! The sand was from a card that someone had made as part of a swap... it was sand stuck on double sided sticker paper and the sentiment which is from Kaszazz was from a LO . I just tore some blue CS for the sea and scrunched it up then added my Tickled Pink Stamp Li'l Lad Stefan which is coloured in with Tria markers, added the dolphin which is also coloured with tria markers and a bit of shimmer chalk brushed over it!!  To finish the card I added the button and ribbon to make the sun!! Looking at the card now I could have possibly added some clouds but still happy with it!! Thanks to the 4 Crafty Chicks for helping me make the decision of whether to have the dolphin or not!!
So now it's your turn to join in the fun and see what the 4 Crafty Chicks have created so head on over to the 4CC blog now!!
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
* The House that Stamps Built - Head for the Beach
* The Paper Shelter - The Great Outdoors
* Scrapalicious - Summertime
* LEJ Designs - Recycle Something or Use Household Items
* Love to Create - Summertime Fun
* Craft a Scene - Beach Scenes
* Pan Pastel UK - Summertime
* Sweet Stampin - Summer Fun
* Polka Doodles - Summer Scene
* Raise the Bar - Summer