"Let's go fly a kite"

Remember that song from Mary Poppins? I do love that film!! I stamped and coloured this image the day my new stamps dropped throught the door, but until today hadn't actually used it on a card.
I have used the sketch from Friday Sketchers but instead of using a square card as shown I thought the sketch would look just as good on a DL card.

and yet another Valentine's card!! This one is for Cute Card Thursdays and also passes as my entry for Daring Cardmakers who's challenge is called 'patterned paper passion' I have used 5 different patterned papers on this card, all free in last months Quick Cards Made Easy and are free to download at Card Making and Papercraft!

Awards and tags!

I received this award from my dear friend Linda (Linanna) a few days ago, I feel honoured that she has passed this onto me as I have only known her for a short space of time. Thank you Linda.Now the hard bit! The rules are :

A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!
B) Pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

My honest things!
1. My hubby and girls are my life (I would be lost without them, even though they drive me nuts at times)!
2. I started rubber stamping last January.
3. I am now totally addicted to rubber stamping, wish I could afford to buy lots more stamps and that my colouring was better.
4. I'm a lazy so and so, I 'hate' housework and would gladly neglect the house to sit at my desk!
5. I hate the way I look (I've piled on the pounds since meeting hubby and having the girls, lost weight 2 years ago and have put it and more back on)
6. I love to cook.
7. I love to impress with my cooking, especially with desserts!!
8. I can't stop buying clothes (mainly for the girls) I'm sure we could open up a shop with the amount we have!!
9. I'm pretty good at sniffing out a bargain (just wish I were better at doing it online, always seem to miss out)
10. I love blog surfing and have made a lot of lovely friends through it, I would be lost without you!

There, nothing too exciting!!

I also received this award from Sally a friend from a forum I used to go on a lot, before blogging took over!!

I should now pass these awards on, but am I useless at doing this, apologies, so if you haven't had either of these awards and would like them please feel free to take them.

Joanne x

The Sugar Bowl -Love and romance

I couldn't believe I had hummed and harred so long about my card for the Sugar Bowl's 2nd challenge that I went and missed it, aarrghh I missed a chance of winning the fabulous stamps and with 3 winners probably my best chance of winning, boo..hoo.. So I thought I would make sure I made my card nice and early this time, the theme is 'Love and Romance'
I have used an image that Jacqui stamped for me and made a very basic card using 2 corresponding papers, divided with a strip of ribbon a few gems and a bit of doodling. You know this card sits on top of my desk and I really like it, proves simple really can look nice, well to me anyway!It's going to be so hard deciding which of these cards I will be giving to hubby for Valentine's, but I haven't actually added the 'valentine's' sentiment so he may well get one of them for our anniversary the week after!!!

Charisma Cardz -challenge 4

Our challenge this week at Charisma Cardz has been set by Vee, she would like us to make a card or other project using the colours 'black, white and one other colour' you can use as much of the other colour as you wish as long as there is black and white to!
I thought I would try something a little different this week and made a mini pizza box, I used a 3d pyramid sheet, I think this little couple are just adorable! I love red with black and white and being valentine's soon that's what I went with. As you can see I added a couple of heart buttons and red gems to finish the top of the box and red organza ribbon around the edge. here you can see all of the layers of the pyramid and also on the sheet was this verse, which fitted the underside of the lid perfectly and a nice little suprise when the box is opened.I will either fill it with some heart shaped choccies (which I normally scatter in his dinner tin, along with a card!) or I may even make some heart shaped cookies to go inside!!

Our prize this week is a fabulous wood mounted Personal Impressions stamp kindly donated by Jane Aldridge.

Well I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your creations, please pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the Design Team cards which are fab it's nice to see the variation of colours to!

Some Special Thank You's

I have received some lovely post over the past couple of days, so would like to show you the cards that I received.
This one is from Jacqui, the colours are so rich, the papers are scrummy and this is one of my favourite images of the moment, I just adore it!

This card is from Becky, my camera didn't like the yellow too much so apologies for the bad piccie, I just love the series of little piccies of the cats and the sunflowers are so pretty, this really brightened my day!

and my third card is from one of my newest blogging friends Linda who sends me the lovliest emails of encouragement, I think the pinks and blues are so pretty, and the colouring is just fabulous, I love it! All of these cards came with a fabulous array of stamped images, oh I really am in heaven, my problem is they are all so lovely I don't want to colour them for fear of spoiling them Lol!!

Thank you so much girls I am thrilled and so pleased to have you as my friends, the cards are on the top of my dresser in the living room for all to see but out of reach of little hands!!

My 'create a scene' card

The challenge over at Cute Card Thursdays 'last week' is/was to create a scene. Now I thought I was going to struggle so held off doing a card, that is until today! I received some wonderful post this morning from both Linda and Becky (girls I will thank you properly and show piccies tomorrow when I have a bit more time, but for now thank you both so so much I absolutely loved them, you are both so thoughtful!

So using one of Linda's images I made the following card, yes christmas again!!!

I received a crafters companion christmas collection cd as a prize for having something in a magazine, until this afternoon I hadn't looked at it (thinking it was just christmas backing papers) how wrong was I it's great. Backing papers, decoupage, alphabets, projects allsorts! I printed off a decoupage scene sheet, cut it all out and mounted it up with foam pads then added the Tilda image in the front I think she looks as if she is wondering if Father Christmas and the reindeer will really eat the mince pies and carrot she has left out for them!!

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out and will be making some more, but maybe nearer to christmas Lol.!!

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 36

Our theme for you this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar is 'Love is in the Air' we would like you to make a card or other project using the love theme, very appropriate with Valentine's Day fast approaching!
I have used a WOJ image, I find Elisabeth's characters so beautiful, again my heart paper is 1 I have saved on my pc and everything else is from my stash.We have a fabulous Greeting Farm -Princess Anya stamp as this weeks prize which has been kindly donated by Brony from Silly Monkey Crafts, these images are great I've seen some gorgeous cards made using them. Our guest designer is Marte, so what you waiting for pop over and take a look at all of the other lovely DT cards and show us some love!

Now I made this card to cover a few challenges to!! So I have used Becky's sketch from Sketch & Stash, my card has hearts on it so passes for the Daring Cardmakers challenge which requires us to 'give it some heart', and as my card is made using the theme of 'love' I can also enter it for the Lili of the Valley challenge!

Actually made 3 cards today!!

Thank you so much to those who have left lovely messages for me over the past few days, it's so thoughtful of you and I class you all as dear friends. I got up this morning feeling a lot brighter, sounds silly but after I had got myself ready to take the girls to school this morning, I looked better if that makes sense (the past few days I've looked in the mirror and thought ugghh.....

After checking out the latest challenges I was ready to give some a go and actually made 3 cards today! Yippee........

My first card covers 2 challenges - I used the sketch from Sketch Saturdays and the 1,2,3 recipe from Secret Crafter. I've used papers from a paper cellar pad that I had sent me as a prize for being in Quick Cards Made Easy (going to be in there again soon as part of the money saving tips article!) the image is a Bella and the gems are from my stash.

My second card is using the Just Christmas and Birthday cards sketch, and yes I've made my second christmas card of the year!!!! The image is herb and his girlfriend that I won from WOJ, the checked paper is some I have saved on my pc the other is freebie paper from Quick Cards.

My last card is for a challenge blog I have recently come accross called Cutie Sunday, they have a really easy but effective sketch to follow. I have used one of Sally-Ann's (Love to Doodle/Grab a Doodle do) digi images and the paper you can download for free from the Card Making and Papercraft website, I just love it and will definately be using it lots!!!
Back tomorrow with my A Spoon Full of Sugar card //*_*\\

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Leanne and Carly, thanks girls!
The rules of this are you need to go to where you keep the photos on your computer, go to the 6th folder and then the sixth picture. You then upload the picture onto your blog and write a bit about it.
Well my folder happened to be August 2006 and my picture is not surprisingly of one of my daughters! This is my youngest, Hollie aged 2 1/2 years looking rather cheeky and trying to get the lid off of a tin of fruit sweets!! Nothing's changed she still loves sweets!!!

Just cheered myself up!

I'm feeling a bit out of sorts at the moment, I have no enthusiasm for anything. Not just crafting, at home to, normally I am glued to my desk either creating or blog hopping but even that isn't doing it for me, even sat and watched a couple of films which is unlike me. This afternoon I couldn't take the mess the children had made with their things in the living room, step daughter is here which adds to it, hubby was watching a film oblivious so I took myself upstairs and laid on my bed with one of the girls nintendo ds's, I'm hooked on one of the mini games on Charlotte's Web!!! Had an hour to myself and feel a bit better now that I have come down to a tidy room.

Just cheered myself up by purchasing a couple of new Sugar Nellie stamps designed by Mary Hall and am now looking forward to receiving them. You can see all of the designs here at Funky Kits they were all in stock when I ordered mine.

These are the 2 I have just bought.

Whiff of Joy sketch card

Here is my card for this weeks Whiff of Joy challenge which is to use the lovely sketch by Katharina. As soon as I saw the sketch I knew I had to give it a go.not sure about the faux stitching around the edges of the circles but felt they were a bit plain before. Would you believe this? You know my mojo has gone 'awol' well even though I made this card something had to go wrong didn't it?! Yes I stuck the 1st layer down on the card the wrong way so the fold is at the bottom!!!!! Will have to cut the front off of the card and stick it onto another!

Charisma Cardz -challenge 2 'Love'

I am still really struggling to find the enthusiasm to create at the moment, it's so annoying I have so many gorgeous images I could be colouring and creating with, but my mojo has really packed it's bags and gone, has been missing for over a week now!
I did make the following card at the weekend for our 3rd challenge over at Charisma Cardz is the theme of 'Love' this could be Valentine's, anniversary, wedding, engagement anything.
I decided to go bigger with my card this week, it's A5 (A4 folded in half) I felt the decoupage image that I did would suit this size the best, aren't these little couple the cutest, I love the expression on the little boys face!! To finish off I just added a strip of adhesive ribbon accross the bottom of the card, on to which I added the 'I love you' hearts topper (papermania) and the little matching flowers to the top of the image along with some hearts and dots adhesive gems.

We have a new sponsor Papercraft Clearance who have kindly donated this weeks prize of a 'roses and daisies' mini kit, and Carly has also added some decoupage sheets to go with it. Can't wait to see your 'love'ly cards and makes, doesn't have to be a card can be anything you want! If you need more inspiration nip over to the blog and check out the rest of the DT cards which are as always fabulous!

I also wanted to tell you about a new company called Paper Angels who will be sponsoring Charisma Cardz very soon.
Paper Angels, is a fun site whether your browsing their large range of 'craft supplies' or just to gain inspiration from their 'project gallery' and make new crafty friends in their 'forum' (I'm a member, might see you there!) Whether it's scrapbooking, card making, rubber stamping, mini books or decoupage you're into, you’ll find a wide selection of products to suit them all. The minimum order value is just £15 and there's free courier delivery on orders over £40, ensuring that you can get to play with your new craft goodies as quickly as possible!
What more could anyone want?

Pollycraft blog candy

I really don't want to spread the word about this candy as it reduces my chances of winning, and I want to win Lol!!!! But they are the rules so here goes, Pollycraft are giving away the most fabulous candy to celebrate the release of their new stamps 'sharing sherbert' available from 1st Feb. The winner will receive all 9 of the new stamps in a beautiful oval box decorated by Paula. One word 'Wow' click on the picture to find out more.

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 35

Our challenge this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar is 'Oh Baby' this can be a new baby card, or new mum, or mum-to-be or even for a pre-schooler.
My card is for a new baby girl, although I don't know anyone having a baby at the mo. it will go in my box! I have used a Magnolia image that I received in a swap, my papers are downloads and anyone who visits me regularly will know these are some of my much used favourites!!!
I've used both a yellow and pink flower to match in with the papers, the centre is a flower made up from 5 heart shaped gems and a little pearl like bead. I added another little heart gem on the corner of the picture and added the pink safety pin to the lace.We have a fabulous selection of love/valentines themed goodies as our prize this week, kindly donated by Lori from Scrappopotomus (that took some spelling Lol.!)
Our guest designer this week is Debbie, please pop over and take a look at the other DT and Debbie's cards they are fabulous!

I am entering my card for this weeks Secret Crafter challenge which is to use 'hearts' on your card, I've used 6 so should qualify!

Have a great day.

3 challenges 1 card and birthday wishes

I made this card for the My Time to Craft challenge which is 'Mice and Easy' well I wouldn't say it was that easy as this image is decoupaged, and a bit of fiddly cutting out was required! This is also another entry for Just Christmas and Birthday Cards as I have used their sketch. I have also come accross a another challenge blog that I didn't know off called This Thursday they have challenges, tutorials, looks good, their challenge is called 'Something with Whiskers'. I am so pleased with this card, the balloon backing paper mathces the colours of the image perfectly and the ribbon looks pretty good to!
It's my eldests 6th birthday today so HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILLIE
Here is a picture of her when she was 2 (I don't have any digi pictures of her until then!) the picture was taken before I took over the hall with my desk and crafty bits!!!

This is her now, well the picture was taken back in February just before she went out with her friend Lily for her 6th birthday!! My hubby doesn't like this picture as he thinks she looks like a hussy and far older than she is!!!Bless her she wanted me to rag her hair last night so it was all curly for school but we just ran out of time. She only opened a couple of cards and 3 presents this morning, one of which was her new High School Musical backpack which she has taken to school. I made plain buns topped with chocolate and a button (sweet!) for her to take so they could all have them at snack time! She isn't having a party, instead we are going ten-pin bowling followed by something to eat, her friend Lily is coming with us to. Quite looking forward to it even though I've not been for a long long time and am not very good, should be fun!

Charisma Cardz -challenge 2 - Fantasy

We had a fantastic response to our first Charisma Cardz challenge last week, we couldn't have asked for better. The cards we saw were all wonderful, shame there can only be one winner, check out the blog to see who it is!
This week Leanne set the challenge of 'Fantasy' and what a challenge it was!! My mojo wandered off for a few days over the weekend and beginning of the week, and I wanted to get this made so I was ready for the challenge. The image is actually decoupaged (4 layers) not that it shows in the picture, it is one that I have had in my files for a long time. It think it's kind of fun and like I said to the other DT girls it reminds me of 2 things, a song that is or has recently been in the charts that has a bit which goes "I can't keep my hands out the cookie jar, cookie jar" and Kat and Darnel from the last series of Big Brother's 'cookie love'!! We have another fab prize this week which has been kindly donated by Sammi of Crafty Muse and is the Princess Amber digital download, 7 different images for you to colour and use.


I am entering my card for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge as I used their sketch.

LOTV - Dutch Dare combo and a Giggle!!

I've combined this weeks Dutch Dare challenge which is a colour scheme of Green, Blue and Brown with the Lili of the Valley sketch made by Donalda and made this atc. I used to make and swap a lot of atc's but haven't done so for a long while, so this made a nice change and the sketch was just perfect. I think the image is a Penny Black, I received it in a swap, I wasn't sure about the bit around his neck so have coloured it as if it's a scarf?!

Then the challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is called 'Have a Giggle' I had some images I thought would be perfect for this but could I find them? No, nowhere! I received this image in a PIF not sure if I could ever be cheeky enough to send this card to anyone, so it could sit in my box for a long while!!! (Maybe SIL will get it for her birthday Lol!) The sentiment, which reads 'It's your birthday, so let it all hang out' was printed onto the bottom of the image from the computer, I printed it onto a piece of paper then using repositionable glue stuck the image on top of where the sentiment had printed trying to line up where I wanted it to appear and ran it through the printer, I had 1 chance and wow perfect positioning!! I've used the sketch from Just Christmas and Birthday cards . Back later with my 2nd DT card for Charisma Cardz.

Lucky me, I have another award!

I have been given this award by 2 of my charisma cardz design team friends Paula and Carly. I haven't known these girls for long so take this as a great honour, thank you girls!

The rule's of this Award are as follow's
1) Post a link of the person who gave you this award.
2) Nominate 5 other people and give a link to there site's.
3) Let the people who you have nominated know.
4) Put a logo of the award on your blog.

So the 5 people (who's links are on the right of my blog) I am passing this award on to are : Lisa (crafting diva), Claire (claire's crafty corner), Jacqui (cats whiskers), Lim (the voices in my head) and Nikki (tink)

BLOG CANDY ALERT
My fellow A Spoon Full of Sugar design team friend Lim has a fabby blog candy up for grabs, get this 100 yes 100 Hanglar and Stanglar images, oh how wonderful would that be? See here for details.

Katharina has the whole spring collection of Elisabeth Bell's designs to give away over at a Whiff of Joy, there is a sneak peak on the website here !!

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 34

Our challenge this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar is 'Paper piecing' I have been lacking enthusiasm to craft for a few days, but made this card at the weekend thank goodness. I think this is one of the challenges I suggested and then I struggled with it, silly me!!
I am rather pleased with the final look of the card just a little unsure of the stamping I did on the background of the image?This was the first time I had used my 'Rope swing' stamp that Matthew bought me for christmas, it's one of Elisabeth Bell's designs for Sugar Nellie's, I so love Elisabeth's work. I'm contemplating buying the WOJ stamp kit, it would be one weeks cake money but I think it will be soooo... worth it!!
The Design Team now have the chance to choose the Guest Designer each week, and this week it was my turn, my Guest Designer is the super talented Chris - Sketching Stamper, I so love all of Chris's work and her colouring is amazing! Please nip over to the blog to see Chris's and all of the other Design Team cards, you won't be disappointed.
The prize this week is a very cute High Hopes stamp called 'Lovebirds' just perfect for upcoming Valentine's cards! This has kindly been donated by Bryony over at Silly Monkey Crafts.