Charisma Cardz -Thank you challenge

Leanne has set our challenge at Charisma Cardz and this week our theme is 'thank you'. You can make anything, cards, gifts, gift boxes/bags etc as long as it has 'thank you' on the front!
I have made another of my trusty bagalopes. Our prize is a 'surprise' from our DT boss Carly oooo..... how exciting (even we don't know what it is!).

I am also entering my bagalope for the Daring Cardmakers challenge which is called 'supersize me' and I have used some supersized flowers on my bag ;0)

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 49

Over at A Spoon Full of Sugar we are asking you to go 'blue and green' the saying goes 'blue and green should never be seen' but why not, they look great together!!
I've used papers from Making Memories-fresh anthology collection along with an image from the WOJ spring collection, remember there is still time to get your orders in for the summer collection!

Our prize this week is 2 super cute stamps from Alota Rubber kindly donated by Helene.
Our guest designer is Steph her card along with the rest of the design teams are wonderful as they are every week!

Steph is also celebrating a huge 50,000 hits to her blog with a yummy blog candy.

This is also my entry for the Whiff of Joy challenge which this week is a fab sketch to follow.

Big post today!

I been busy crafting today, I've made a couple of cards, finished off another and made another bookmark!
This card is my entry for the Just Magnolia challenge which is 'pink and green' and I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday.This is a first attempt card for me! Secret Crafter are asking for 'shaped cards' so I've attempted to make a circle card! I would like this to be considered for the 'DT Call' I drew around a plastic pot for the shape!!!and my last card for this post is my entry for Sketch and Stash where there is another yummy sketch to follow.and finally, I had a lovely comment left on my last post from Christine and she told me about her blog candy. Christine is very lucky with winning blog candy and has decided to have her own, her candy is fab! Would you believe she would like everyone who enters to make a bookmark, now I love the bookmark that I made in the previous post but have gone for a different style for my entry, it is similar to a small card (folded at the top) and you just slip the page you are reading in between the front and back of the bookmark if that makes sense!?! the image is just perfect for bookmarks, I made one in this style quite a while back which has never left the top of my desk as I like it so much lol!!!
You are allowed to enter up to 3 bookmarks, but I thought instead of making 3 myself and never doing anything with them, as I really don't read, unless it's gripping like Jade's book! I am entering the ones my daughters made at the weekend after seeing mine.
This one was made by Lillie aged 6 all I did was cut the paper and staple the ribbons on. and this one was done by Hollie aged 4, again all I did was cut the papers and staple the ribbon on, she cut the image out herself showing great control of a pair of scissors!!!That's it for now, back tomorrow!

Engrossed in a book

A few days ago I ordered Jade Goody's 'Forever in my Heart' the official diaries book from Amazon (they were the cheapest!). Although at times I thought she was silly, loud, brash, common, I followed her right from the start. She did so well for herself, and it was such a sad end to her life. Anyway I thought I would treat myself to her book as I thought being a diary which she started writing just before she went on the indian BB it would be a touching and 'real' story.
I am totally engrossed in it, it is sitting here on my desk and I read a days entry or more every time I wait for my slow internet to roll over a page. I know that as I get further into the book that I will shed some tears, I started to well up over one bit a couple of days ago and I was only on the first few pages!
Anyhow I thought I would make myself a bookmark so I knew where I had gotten up to. I've used my new papers from the Papermania 'scrumptious' pad and a gorjuss girl (I've coloured her hair red as yesterday I went to the hairdressers and came out a redhead myself!!).
I am entering this into the One Stop Craft challenge which is 'something new'.

Fun time

Ooooo it's not so nice out today, we've had a lovely sunny week but today it's a bit overcast and pretty chilly, guess I'll just have to stay indoors and craft lol as if we need excuses!!
This card is made using the fab sketch from Lili of the Valley and it also passes for the 'getting edgy' challenge over at Cute Card Thursday as I've torn all the edges of my papers!Does anyone remember the Clangers? I do vaguely, but to my surprise when opening my mail a couple of days ago I was one of the winners of the QCME 'The Crafthouse Press' competitions and received various 3d sheets of Bagpuss, The Clangers and Ivor the Engine with matching backing papers and a sheet of The Clangers stamps!! What a surprise, I enter these competitions with no hope of winning them! I must admit I wasn't as excited with the prize as my hubby was, he was an avid watcher of The Clangers when he was a youngster and apparantly his dad used to do a pretty good impression of them!!!

Some fabulous candies!!

Oh wow there is some fabulous blog candy about in the world of blogging, so here are some that I have come accross in my travels!!

Debbie is celebrating her 1st blogoversary and also reaching nearly 62,000 hits wow that's amazing I'll be a long while getting there lol!!

Bev is celebrating her blogoversary, over 200,000 hits and over 600 followers to her blog wow wow wow how about that, that's just fantastic! (this candy ends today I just hope it's later today and I am in the running, not a chance in hell really with over 1,200 comments!!).

Julie is celebrating a 'belated' birthday with some yummy candy.

Katharina is as I am sure everyone has seen is celebrating the upcoming release of the WOJ summer kit, by making 2 LUCKY winners very happy indeed!

the kit is available to pre-order up until the 4th May.

Tracie will be celebrating her birthday on the 28th and has some delish candy up for grabs.

Charisma Cardz sketch challenge

We have a fabulous sketch for you over at Charisma Cardz this week which has been designed by Claire.
I've made my card using papers from my new Papermania venetian skies pack, they are so pretty and all co-ordinate so nicely. I've added some little daisies that I've had for ages along with a blingy corner which I got as a magazine prize and my image is from the WOJ spring kit. Our prize for one lucky winner is a fabby 10% off voucher at Handy Hippo.

Thanks to everyone who applied for a DT place we've been told the entries were amazing, Carly and Leanne have chosen not 1 but 3 new DT members and these are : Roxy, Heike and Sally welcome to the team ladies!

Oh and a little woo...hoo... to me, as Carly chose my bag-a-lope as the winner of last months DT challenge, which was envelopes!! Here's to the next challenge!

On a roll and a letter with card in QCME!

Most days I am lucky if I get one card made but I am on a roll at the moment, and am making at least 2!! These 2 are cards I made yesterday and are using card blanks from a pack I bought a while ago, it's a Papermania christmas card box = 70 cards and envelopes! I paid £2.99 it should've been £14.99 I think!! There are at least half that can be used for any occassion as per my first card, the others have christmas trees, snowflakes etc on them! I thought it was worth it if only for the envelopes and the children could use the cards if I didn't.


This is one I have made using 2 of the cards the base and then I've cut one up for the stripey panel. This is my entry for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge as I have followed Dawny's fabby sketch!My 2nd card is a christmas one using 1 of the card blanks and again a bit more of the striped one I cut up. I have used the sketch from Just Christmas and Birthday's for this one.My last card is for the new Just Magnolia challenge, I have really gotten into these little cuties just recently. When I started stamping most of my stamps came from Sugar Nellie's and no where else, but after seeing and being lucky enough to have been sent some images from the spring kit I love them and am now going to treat myself to the summer kit (I was lucky enough to get my piccie of the multi legged chicken printed in the magazine of The People newspaper and received a cheque for £25!! So that will go towards my yummy new stamps!). Donalda has provided a fabulous sketch to follow for the first challenge and the prize is one I would be absolutely over the moon if I were to win ;0)
Woo..Hoo.. I'm in the Quick Cards Made Easy magazine again!!! I've been waiting for the postie to drop it through the letter box for days just for something to look through and knew it must be due as it had been ages since I got the last issue. Well to my surprise there I am and my card and letter first entry on the letters page! It's a pity I can't be lucky enough to win some of their big prizes but at least I'll get some new goodies to play with! Must remember to take it and show my Auntie she thinks it's fab that I get my work in a magazine and tells everyone about it bless her! Still being cover girl with my 2 girls a few issues back will take some beating!!!

JOANNE x

Does my butt look big?

Today's card covers 3 different challenges, again! I've used the sketch from Truly Scrumptious, the colour scheme from Colour Create even did the extra request of polka dots! and the My Time to craft challenge is 'metalica' I've used a panel of siver mirri board so it should pass!!

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 48

At A Spoon Full of Sugar we have a fabulous sketch which has been designed by Caryn.
I've used papers from my new Papermania 'spring burst' pad and I just love every sheet, which makes a change as there is usually at least 1 in packs that I don't think I'm ever going to do anything with! As you may have guessed by now I adore these Magnolia's not sure I've ever seen a bug in these colours though lol!!!We have a gorgeous Rachelle Anne Miller 'Hoppy Spring' stamp as our prize this week which has been kindly donated by Colette and Katie from Nutcrafters.
The girls have made wonderful cards as always so pop by the blog if only to take a peep!

BLOG CANDY ALERT

It's Debbie's birthday today "Happy Birthday Debbie" and it was also Debbie's blogoversary last month, so she is celebrating by giving away some scrummy blog candy, check it out here.

More cards for more challenges!

We've had bright skies and lots of sun today, unfortunately the wind has been really cold. Supposed to be nice again tomorrow fingers crossed!

We've been out looking at bunnies!! Yes with 15 guinnea pigs to look after you would think that was enough, but no, after seeing the rabbits at the farm on Monday I have decided that I would like a or a couple of bunnies! We have seen some but a lady wants a couple which would leave 2 but it depends on which 2, but there were new borns still in the nest and rabbits ready to give birth so their should be plenty to choose from!

Anyways, my first card is made using the Just Christmas and Birthday sketch, I've made and oopsie and put the gems on the opposite corners to the sketch so I hope that's ok!? I'm also entering this for the Dutch Dare challenge which is 'favourite things' these Gojuss girls are my favourites (so so sad that I didn't buy this kit, but my dear friend Becky sent me some images to play with) they are so nice and easy to colour and adorable to, pink is one of my favourite colours, gems and ribbons yet more favourites!The next card, which I love if I say so myself, is for Mojo Monday and is made using their fabulous sketch. and lastly, this card combines 3 more challenges : I've used the fab sketch from Friday Sketchers, the 'yellow/green/blue' colour scheme from Stamp Something and Daring Cardmakers are asking for 'games and toys for boys' I think my little boy is having great fun playing at catching butterflies with his net!!That's me caught up for now. Back soon with more I'm sure!!

Charisma Cardz -challenge 15

Our challenge at Charisma Cardz this week has been set by Carly and is 'Little Black Dress' interpret this as you wish!
Panic struck when I saw this challenge, but luckily a long while ago now when I first started card making and not stamping, I purchased several die-cuts and thankfully had this little black dress and accessories set phew!!!!

Our prize this week is a fab stamp called 'Faith -casual' and has kindly been donated by our sponsors The Craft Pad.

This is Sharon's last challenge as a DT member as she is leaving us, but we are pleased to say that Lyndsey is now staying on as a full time DT memeber!

2 cards = 3 challenges each!

A couple of cards from me today, and they cover a total of 6 challenges, 3 each, not bad going heh!?!
My first card uses Becky's fabulous sketch from Sketch and Stash, I've used the colour scheme of 'chocolate, coffee and cream' from Colour Create and I've also 'torn' the edges of my papers so this qualifies for this weeks One Stop Crafts challenge!
2nd card uses Becky's sketch but this time for My Time to Craft! I've used the 'marshmallow and chocolate' colour scheme from Cute Card Thursday and Cupcake Crafts have asked for '1 layer' cards. I made an oopsie and photograhed the card before colouring the little girls hair lol it is now brown!! The colours bled a little so I added a little glue and added glitter which worked well to cover it up!
I've had a peaceful afternoon, my Auntie and Uncle have just dropped the girls back home after taking them to the local farm park. The weather was lovely for them and they have had a fab time, even saw some of their school friends whilst there! My Auntie and Uncle adore the girls, and call them their 'grandchildren' as they don't think my cousin will ever have any! They used to treat me as their own when I was little!

P.S. All links to challenges on the right>

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 47

Our challenge at A Spoon Full of Sugar is 'To Die For' (not literally of course!) we would like to see die-cuts or punchies on your card or project this week.

My card was a super fast make yesterday evening, I should've been more organised and had it made in advance, but we seem to have had one super busy weekend! Friends round on Saturday, Easter Egg hunts and food at my parents on Sunday and yesterday last minute we decided to take the girls to a farm park not far from where 'Bootiful Bernard Matthew's is!!! We didn't get back until tea time, so as I said it was a bit of a rush job, lucky for me I had this beautiful WOJ image already coloured and the die cuts were from a freebie pack from a magazine.Our prize this week has been kindly donated by Regina Easter of the Cutting Edge Cafe and is a fabulous any 3 sets from the website!!

The rest of the dt girls have as always made stunning examples, please go and check them out.

Happy Easter everyone!

I wanted to show you the easter eggs we decorated for a competition at school.
Lillie (6) entered this one (a goldfish)a close up!Hollie (4) entered this one (a ladybird) and this one was the spare as we had blown 3 eggs and it was a shame not to use it! He sits on beside my desk, he really is a cheery egg!! Sadly neither of them won the competitions, I think they were a little too well done!!and I thought I would show you another of Lillie's masterpiece's! My Auntie is a qualified flower demonstrator/arranger and she does classes on a Thursday evening. My mum who can arrange flowers (minus the qualifications) has been going for the past couple of weeks and said she would take Lillie along. She loved it!! Especially all the attention she got from all the little old ladies!! Not sure how much of this she actually did herself, but it looks very nice in the corner of my kitchen!
We are off to mum and dad's for lunch and the yearly easter egg hunt in the garden, weather permitting! It takes Matthew, my sister and myself longer to hide all the treats than it does for them to be found, but the children enjoy it. They collect everything then tip it all into a big pile and then divide it out, and do swapsies!!
Have a wonderful day whatever you are doing.

Some easter cards

Anyone that knows me knows that I usually leave things until the last minute, and my easter cards were one of them!! I'd made the odd one or two for challenges but a couple of days ago had to very quickly make the rest!!!

This first card was actually finished this morning!! It is for my mum and dad so it's A5 in size (A4 folded) the images are from the WOJ spring kit and I've tried to set a little scene. The 2 girlies are representing my 2! I had no idea how to finish the card off the top left of the image was rather bare, so after a lot of placing and removing of embellies etc I settled for the bow and used mini glue dots to get the rippled effect. The rest of my cards are made using the daffodil download from Chris (sketching stamper), they are all very similar but all different!