Saturday 31 October 2009

**Birthday Blog Candy**

Yes it's that time of year again and on Saturday I will turn the ripe old age of 37!!! So although no where near as elaborate as a lot of candies on the web, I thought I would offer one lucky winner this little pile of blog candy. I missed my blogs 2nd anniversary back at the end of August to, Wow I cannot believe it's been up and running for so long!!!The candy consists of a brand new (piccie is just to show the image) Sugar Nellie 'Giddy Up' stamp,various Anita's coloured christmas stickers, various Anita's Dimensions stickers, stick on diamonds (I use these ALL the time!), a pack of Create and Craft 3d embellishments, and a selection of different flowers. I will add other goodies when I find them!

To be in with a chance of winning please leave a comment on this post and I would like a little more from you than that!! I like cooking but I have a very fussy younger daughter Hollie, my eldest (Lillie) will eat almost anything but oh no not Hollie. So I would like for you to leave me a recipe idea that either your child likes or one you think might just do the trick!
Look forward to seeing those recipe's!!! Good luck!!

I would also appreciate it if you could please spread the word to!

This candy will remain open until midnight (UK time) on 31st October 2009.
Don't worry if you cannot think of a recipe idea, you'll get entered for just commenting!

Thursday 29 October 2009

Charisma Cardz -challenge 43

Good morning, well it's time for another Charisma Cardz challenge and this week we would like you to make a card or project using NO DESIGNER PAPER!!!


Oh this was hard as I do love my papers! So after routeling around my dash for inspiration I found this decoupage sheet that I must have printed off well before last christmas but never got around to using! I had to cut it down a little bit to fit onto my card! All I added was a bit of plain brown shimmery paper and a strip of Anita's christmas greeting ribbon.We are sponsored by

who have very kindly donated a Popcorn Bear CD to 1 lucky winner who will be able to choose from the 5 available.

The girls have made some excellent examples so please take a look.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Halloween treats and a card

I made these little halloween treats days ago, but have only now gotten around to posting them. Just scraping through to enter this for the 'candy corns' challenge over at Cute Card Thursday. I just used a cello card bag, made a top for it and attached a Poundland 3d sticker. I'm going to give these to my friends little boys when they visit tomorrow!
I thoroughly enjoyed making this next card as I used my fabby new Paper Cellar 'celebrations' papers, oooo.... they are scrummy!! I've used the sketch from this weeks Cupcake Crafts challenge.Well we started out this morning well, we walked into town and was gladly suprised when we got to the hairdressers to see no queue (you sit and wait, we have 2 in town which is great because I never like booking and go whenever the urge takes me). Only to be quietly told they couldn't do Lillie's as she had dreaded lice uurrgghhh.... I had no idea, and to be honest didn't know what to look for anyway! So we've had a delightful afternoon of bed stripping and washing, hair treatments, combing, tears, and me and hubby have got to do ours after tea to!! Blimey how expensive is the treatment potion, wow hope they don't get them too often!!
Back tomorrow with the new Charisma Cardz challenge!

Tuesday 27 October 2009

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 75

It's Tuesday again and time for another challenge over at A Spoon Full of Sugar, this week we would like you to make a card or any other project using the theme of kitchen/cooking. For my card I have used a fabulous WOJ image which I received in a swap and some new papers which have fancy looking birthday cakes on!We are sponsored by our very own Nikki of Bunny Zoe Crafts and she has very kindly donated 1 lucky winner the 'colourful christmas paperkit by My Minds Eye'. The rest of the girls have made gorgeous examples so please drop by and have a look!

I am entering this card for the Sketch and Stash as I have used Becky's fab sketch!

Monday 26 October 2009

Thoroughly spoilt on my birthday!!!

Yes Saturday was my birthday and I had a really lovely day. Hubby cooked us all breakfast, I could've had it in bed but I prefer to eat at the table!! Then I opened all of my cards, pressies and post, and I felt very spoilt! We went to Norwich and did a bit of shopping, went to Pedro's my favourite restaurant (mexican) it was the girls first time there and they loved it! We then took them to have a look around Toys r Us to get some birthday/christmas pressie ideas for them. Called in at The Range on the way home and I was very good, I only had 2 paper pads and a tube of silicone glue!!!
Hubby and the girls gave me these beautiful flowers along with some dress rings that I had chosen the week before, the '17 Again' dvd, 2 necklaces, and some other bits!
I received these beautiful orchids from my cousin when she visited with her little ones. Here is a piccie of Hollie modelling my new scarf and handbag!!! This is the card she coloured for me!and this one is from Lillie (looks like they need some new pens!). I love the hair slide she gave her!I also had a cake!
Then there are my wonderful blog buddies to thank!
This wonderful bundle of treats was from my dear friend Becky (Becky's Happy Crafting Place), the card is just gorgeous, and I can't wait to use all of these gorgeous images, swirls etc Thank you so much I love it all!
This wonderful package is from Lisa (Crafting Diva), the bag is actually made of envelopes and has 3 pockets which were filled with super treats, images, ribbon, bows and look at that gorgeous card! Thank you so much Lisa. I received this super sweet card from Nikki (Bunny Zoe) I just love the image and the papers used are just delish!!
The following delights are from my friend Vee, the card is so bright and cheery I just adore it, and all of these fabby treats to, I just don't know what to use first! Thank you so much Vee.
This morning I received yet more birthday post!
This oh so pretty card is from JanJ there are even sparkles on the dress, so lovely!
and this wonderful lot from Sally, stamps, gems, ribbons oh I am in heaven!! Thank you so very much!
Well I feel so very lucky and thank everyone you send me cards, gifts and birthday wishes, you are all very special to me!

Friday 23 October 2009

Sketch and Stash crimbo card

Here is my card for the Sketch and Stash challenge, which is yet another fabby sketch! I've used a 3d sticker which I got from Poundland last year if not the year before, various papers and a couple of dimensions star stickers (there are some of these in my blog candy!).

Thursday 22 October 2009

Charisma Cardz- Daisy challange

Good morning quick post from me as I am off to work early this morning, the'boss' is coming in to give myself and another new member of staff our inductions! Oh well it means a bit of overtime!!
Well it's time for another challenge over at Charisma Cardz and it's to use a daisy/daisies on your work!
I must admit I was stumped and put this one off until the last minute, then I found this daisy paper in one of my pads, and the daisy and elf image were sent to me a long long while ago by the very lovely Jacqui. I just used a few gems to finish off.
Please check out the blog for prize details and to see the rest of the design teams lovely examples.

Don't forget mt blog candy the top of my blog, it's open until the 31st.

JOANNE x

Monday 19 October 2009

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge

We have a fabulous sketch designed by Debbie this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar Now I know I said we don't send Halloween cards but I just had to use this image which was the freebie image from last week! I've had this paper leftover since last year, so this was the perfect opportunity to use it up! I know I said that I don't send Halloween cards but I just had to use this fab image which was the Friday Freebie over at Digital Delights by Looby Lou . The papers were leftovers from lastyear (pinkpetticoat I think) so this was the perfect opportunity to use it up!
Our prize this week is a $15 voucher for Soft Pencil Digital Stamps kindly donated by Elisabeth.
Many of the girls have used images from the store, sadly I couldn't print mine off, but please take a look at the blog to see just how lovely they are!


I have managed to combine this card with several different challenges, which I just love doing!
1) Papertake Weekly - The Dark Side
2) Cute Card Thursday - Spook Fest
3) One Stop Craft - Halloween
4) Cupcake Crafts - Things that go Bump in the Night

Thursday 15 October 2009

It's so Distressing @ Charisma Cardz!!!

Yes it's Thursday and time for another Charisma Cardz challenge, this week Karen has chosen the theme 'It's so Distressing' so get taring those papers, get the sandpaper and inks out!!
I'm not too good with the old distressing myself so went for my usually taring of papers!! We are sponsored by All That Scraps and Christine has kindly donated the following prize to one lucky winner!
Well have fun and don't get too distressed with your distressing lol!!!! Pop over to the blog for inspiration from the rest of the girls!
I am also entering this for the Friday Sketchers challenge as I have used their lovely sketch, which could very well be the sketch I will be using for many of my christmas cards!!!!

Tuesday 13 October 2009

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 73

Good morning, at A Spoon Full of Sugar this week we have a lovely sketch which has been designed by Caryn. I loved this sketch as soon as I saw it, but unfortunately my mojo wasn't playing ball at the weekend and I really don't like my card, but had to go with it as I was running out of time. (sorry for the awful lighting on the piccie to!). The papers and chipboard topper were part of the freebie from this months Quick Cards Made Easy!

We are sponsored by:and the lucky winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to spend at the shop! Wow!

Please drop by the blog to check out the girls cards which are just gorgeous, but aren't they always!?!

Thursday 8 October 2009

Charisma Cardz -challenge 40

We have a yummy recipe this week at Charisma Cardz which is as follows : 3 flowers - 1 charm & 1 ribbon.
I've used my lovely oh so attidude'y' Sugar Nellie gorjuss girl and a blue theme for this card, only blue because I already had the circle cut out waiting to use when the opportunity arose!!!!! I'm going to send this to a friend who is a bit down at the moment hence the hello sentiment.We are sponsored by The Cutting Cafe this week, for prize details see the blog, where you can also catch up with the fabulous creations the rest of the design team have made.

I would like to enter this card for a couple of challenges :
1) Sketch and Stash - sketch!
2) Cute Card Thursday - So charming!



Wednesday 7 October 2009

Paper pieced out!!!!

The Sugar Bowl challenge along with the lovely sketch was to paper piece your image. Why oh why did I choose this image? There were so many bit to cut out and stick, but I think it looks kind of ok! I punched the flowers in matching papers and the bow kind of just ended up like that, I double up the fibre tied the bow and I thought it looked quite nice.

The girls went to school all dressed up today as it's childrens book week, Hollie has gone as a witch and Lillie as snow white!
They insisted on doing a curtsey!!!
It's so lovely to see Hollie smiling on these pictures, as we have been having lots and lots of tears these past few days, not wanting to go to school :0( I think there are various factors to the change as she was fine for the first 3 weeks, a lot of her friends that moved up to reception with her only do half days so they go home at lunch and her best friend is one of them, so I feel she is feeling a bit lost in the afternoons. Also lunch is playing a bit factor she just doesn't want to stay for lunch and has sobbed over it, Hollie will only eat what she wants when she wants, and I think the dinner ladies (if those from the school I work at are anything to go by) presurise them into eating! I've had words and asked them not to go on at her over her lunch and to make sure she sits with Lillie (luckily they are in the same dining hall). She's packing her own dinner so gets to choose whatever she wants, they said there were a few tears yesterday but a bit better than previous days. I had to pick them up early yesterday as I had a family friends funeral to go to, it was so sad, Brian dealt in, fixed and made antique clocks, his wish was always to be buried in his favourite GrandFather clock and his wish came true yesterday, it was amazing to see the clock being carried into church, all we've ever seen and sure will ever see again are your normal coffin. The family did so well at such at sad time, but I still can't get over the fact that my ex best friend didn't come to her own dad's funeral, just gob smacking!
Anyway have a nice day, I'm off to work in a mo. it's lasagna day!

Tuesday 6 October 2009

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 72

At A Spoon Full of Sugar we have the theme of 'Halloween' this week.
We don't send halloween cards but I made one anyway lol!!! I have used a 3d sticker that I've had in my stash since last year and have used scraps of paper from my file. For prize info and to see the DT examples please check out the blog.

Sorry for the short a blunt post today, I have tried since 9.30 to get onto my pc and only just got on, and have to go to work, right now aarrgghhhh......!!!!!
Got a funeral to go to after work, so back tomorrow.

Thursday 1 October 2009

Charisma Cardz -challenge 39

Good morning, the challenge over at Charisma Cardz was down to me this week, so I've gone for DECOUPAGE. I used to do quite a bit of decoupaging but since I found my love of rubber stamping that kind of went on the back burner, so to speak!
Anyhow I've had this super cute little image sheet sitting in my file for months and months now, and thought it was just perfect for my challenge, and also for my sister and brother-in-laws wedding anniversary! The heart is a die-cut and has pretty little embossed flowers on it, a freebie from one of my magazines I think, I topped this with a button that I salvaged from a pair of trousers Lillie had ripped and her dad had thrown in the bin!!! We have 2 sponsors this week, First Prize = $20 gift voucher for Simon Says Stamp and for 2 lucky runners up we have a 10% off voucher at Handy Hippo (for some reason I kept wanting to type 'hungry' hippo lol!!!).

The girls have as always made some fabulous examples so please pop over to the blog to take a look.