Happy New Year Animations provided by MySpaceGraphicsandAnimations.net

Just wanted to wish you all A Very Happy New Year!!!!!!

I know New Year is not always a happy time for everyone and if that is the case then I really hope that things turn around for you in 2012.....

Lets Hope that 2012 brings us all some Good Health, Happiness and Prosperity to us all....

I have my loving family all around me for New Year, so I feel very blessed !!! :-))

I'm not a big fan of New Years Eve - as too much looking back! Prefer to look forward and I  Love New Years Day and putting up all the new Calendars!!! Our house is a bit odd in that we have loads of Calendars all over the house!! Last year I had 3 in my room!!  I know!! that is odd!!! but we just love them...

This year I have a Thomas Kinkade one and a lovely Wonders of the World one. Oh and a Page a Day Desktop one with 1,000 Places to See Before You Die!!!!! Ooh er.... don't think I'll ever get to any of the places - but it's sure nice looking LOL

Take Care!

Speak to you all soon!

Love Sue xxx

Moving Along With The Times (DT Card) - 'Step Back in Time' Challenge

Hi all, It's Thursday and so time for another Challenge over at

Moving Along With The Times

This week our lovely boss Hazel is our hostess and she has chosen the fab theme of ....

'Step Back in Time'

So, if you are itching to get back crafting again after all the festivities, why not have some fun and join in the Challenge. So we would like to see cards that are music/retro related. You have plenty of time as this week's challenge is running for 2 weeks again and so you have until 8pm GMT on 11th January 2012 to enter! 

Our sponsor this week are  Digi My World.

who have very generously given us some gorgeous pre-coloured image sets to play with. So an easy peasy week for us this week! Thanks Hazel !! I chose the wonderful Heidi who is a 60s 'Groovy Baby' and takes us back to the Sixties. Very Austin Powers! 

  

When I saw the image I thought of shiny vinyls and remembered that I had some glossy lime green card blanks from The Works. So then just a case of printing out the image set from Digi My World. You can resize all the images to your hearts desire and arrange them on one sheet to print out. It was really easy and all the images from Digi My World print out really nicely! Perfect for a really quick card make.

Pop on over to MAWTT Website for more details of the challenge and prize and to take a look at the rest of the team's creations - they are all fab and groovy this week! and don't forget to check whether you were a winner in last fortnight's challenge! 


Also we have a Fab new member on our Team - Sandra! So hope you will pop over, say hello and make her feel very welcome!

My mum became unwell and had to be taken into hospital yesterday, so please forgive if I don't get around to all your Blogs. I hope to catch up with you all very soon! 

I know there are some nasty viruses doing the rounds and so hope you are all keeping as well as possible!!

Love n Hugs
Sue xx


Edit: My daughter has just phoned from hospital to say my mum is looking a lot better today. They are still running tests but they said it could be diverticulosis. I am just glad that she sounds a lot better - she was SO ill yesterday bless her. Thanks for all your kind comments. I am fine but shattered!!! it's all the worrying and waiting. Will speak to you all very soon!!


Love Sue xx

Wishing You All A Very Peaceful and Happy Christmas!!!!

Winter Scene Graphics provided by MySpaceAnimations.com

Lots of Love

 Sue xxxx

Some Exciting News!

Well I hope you are all ready for Christmas… presents wrapped, food at the ready, extra batteries for your remotes!!!! Not long to go now and little ones (and big ones!) will be getting very excited about Santa coming!

I usually dread that time just after Christmas when all the decorations come down! and I always leave up some Fairy Lights to brighten up the evenings. 

But… in a way I can't wait for 2012, I think it's gonna be a great Crafting Year. Yes, sadly some Challenges and Shops have closed this last year, which I hate to see. But as the saying goes … as one door closes… another one opens….

    

   

I have been keeping secret some exciting news and I am so glad to be able to now share it with you! Teresa over at My Crafty Heart is opening a new Online Papercrafting Store which will go live online on Saturday 14th January 2012!!!! The shop will sell lots of the goodies that we all know and love and more besides because Teresa herself is designing and selling some new gorgeous digital images! 

And .... I was SO excited when Teresa asked me to be on the Design Team and I am really looking forward to working with her and my other Teamies who are Vicky, Vicky, Donna, Ira and Mel. Just after Christmas we will be giving you all a sneak peak of what's coming up, so do watch this space. Her images are awesome - you will love them!

The Online store will be called My Crafty Heart and here is just a taste of what they will have in store... Designer Papers from Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye, Prima, Authentique, Kaisercraft and more... Beautiful Flowers and Embellishments from Prima, Jenny Bowlin, Kaisercraft and Hero Arts to name a few, Inks and Glitters from Ranger & Tim Holtz, Dies from Memory Box, plus they will also have some wonderful and unusual Charms....

I hope you are as excited as I am !!!! and please check back often for more details and previews.... I can't wait....  and I'm sure you'll join with me in wishing Teresa every success in her new and exciting venture!!

I can't believe where today has gone. The family have been out last minute shopping and so I put some ready made sausage rolls in the oven. Simple task you would think. It said 10 minutes Gas Mark 6. Well I completely forgot about them!!!! for 30 minutes!!! When I looked they were cooked to perfection? LOL. Our oven is faulty and everything takes longer which is just as well. Really worried about my memory!! 

I hope you are all ready for Christmas now. I know some of you have come down with colds, so if you are unwell I hope you get better very soon!!

Take Care

and Have a very Happy Christmas & New Year!

Love n Hugs!

Sue xx

Cute Stocking

I told you I would be back soon LOL!! When I was commenting I saw some gorgeous Stockings on Caroline's Blog. Well I thought they were fab. You open up the top and there is space to put gift voucher or money. The template is free from Waltzing Mouse Stamps. 

The pink paper and matching Tag was freebie with Cardmaking and Papercraft and is still available to download. The red paper is from Pink Petticoat. The gorgeous snowflake with the gem is from Sew Sweet. After seeing those gorgeous Felt Kits on Vicky's Website, I thought I would take a look. They have some wonderful things.... thanks Vicky for sharing the link!! The delivery was so quick and they added in some of the snowflakes as a little extra!! I bought the Gingerbread Men Kit. 

It was a very quick make, so it's not perfect inside.... don't look too closely!! The gorgeous sentiments and holly inside the top of the Stocking are from a Forever Friends set that was part of the Candy that I won from Sarah. What a fab parcel of goodies she sent!! Thank You Sarah! it was like an early Christmas Present! 

I'm quite pleased with how this turned out considering how quickly I made it. I love the colours on it. I will tie the ribbon much neater when I have put the money inside!!!! ;-)

Hope you like it...

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Paper Crafting Journey - Challenge 25 - 'Christmas Challenge' (ends 21st December 2011)

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 49 - 'Last Minute Christmas Makes' (ends 21st December 2011)

One Stop - Challenge 162 - 'Christmas Sparkle' (ends 23rd December 2011)

Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 65  - 'Anything Christmas' (ends 27th December 2011)

PaperPlay - Challenge 50 - 'Christmas' (ends 4th January 2012) 

Ooh La La Creations  - Challenge 95 - 'Anything But a Card' (ends 8th January 2012)

Off to get a few hours sleep now! I keep falling asleep after tea and then I'm wide awake half the night!! 

I think it's the dark evenings. It was pitch black outside at 4.15pm. But then tomorrow is the shortest day I think? so from then on it will be getting lighter everyday!! :-)

Thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments!

and a big Welcome to my New Followers!!

Love Sue xx

Christmas Tags

I thought I would show you some tags that I made. The photos are terrible I'm afraid!! They look lovely and sparkly in real life... and I forgot to photograph the reverse which has To: and From: and Greeting!

They were really easy to make and I'm pleased with how they came out. All the images are pre-coloured ones from Cuddly Buddly. The ones in the first batch were freebie when I ordered the other images!!

I just resized them all to 4cm square and did a square for the back with the greeting on. Then added glitter and sparkly string.

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Paper Crafting Journey - Challenge 25 - 'Christmas Challenge' (ends 21st December 2011)

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 49 - 'Last Minute Christmas Makes' (ends 21st December 2011) 

Stampin' For the Weekend -  Challenge 22 - 'Christmas' (ends 22nd December 2011) 

One Stop - Challenge 162 - 'Christmas Sparkle' (ends 23rd December 2011)

Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 65  - 'Anything Christmas' (ends 27th December 2011) 

Sweet Stampin - 'Sparkle and Bling' (ends 30th December 2011)

Hope you are all going on ok and nearly ready for Christmas! I wrapped all my pressies up today! so the tags came in very handy!! ;-)

Will be back very soon!

Love Sue xx

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas ......

As promised here is my little Klonstsmide Christmas Tree!! It's very small but I think it's got more lights on than Blackpool Illuminations LOL

it's SO pretty!! and so easy to put up!!

If you want to make it look more elegant you can change the disc and have white lights that glisten instead of the colours.

Just in case you want to see it in action...

and thought you might like to see this photo of my beautiful daughter Christina. She went to a Venetian Masked Ball at Tatton Park (posh stately home up North!!) on Friday evening for her boyfriend's Christmas Works 'Do'. She wore this lovely black dress and said she wished she had a shrug or cardigan.

Well, like a Fairy Godmother, my mum whisked out this Vintage Black Lace Shrug!! Apparently it was my Gt Grandmothers!!! I didn't know it existed! LOL Anyway, she looked gorgeous as her Prince Charming whisked her off to the Ball. I wanted to take a photo of her beautiful diamante mask but she'd packed it away until she got to her boyfriends. Oh and she said it was snowing when she got there and reindeer were roaming the grounds! How cool is that!! 


She has gone up to Yorkshire now to stay at her boyfriend's parents until next Wednesday, then she is coming home for Christmas!! I've not seen much of her for the past few months as she has been working hard on her Phd and doing some teaching. So will be nice just to chill out and watch tv together and have some nice food!

Really enjoyed Strictly and I think in the end the right person won. But also think Brucie was right in a way... it was very, very close this year and they were all winners really!!

I am feeling a little better today and it definitely feels more Christmassy now that I've got my tree up!

Going to watch Songs of Praise at 4.30pm and sing a few carols.... and then watch Countryfile as it's a special Christmas edition.

Anybody who is worried about cooking the Christmas Dinner and impressing the In Laws? then watch the first 5 minutes of this video from the 60s.... it's classic..

Fanny Craddock

Hope everyone is ok and well.
See ya soon!
Love Sue xx

Moving Along With The Times (DT Card) - 'Cats and Dogs' Challenge

Morning! I can't believe that it's Thursday again already and so time for another Challenge over at

Moving Along With The Times

This week our lovely boss Hazel is our hostess and she has chosen the fab theme of ....

'Cats and Dogs'

So, if like me, you have Christmas Cards coming out of your ears!!! then why not join us for something a bit different! This week's challenge is running for 2 weeks and so you have until 8pm GMT on 28th December to enter!

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish who have very kindly given us these images and papers to play with. Now I was spoilt for choice and started off with a dog image, hence the ribbon with dogs on!! Then I tried one of the cat images and really liked it. So there is a bit of 'Cat and Dog' on my card LOL

Ribbon is from stash. Sparkly flowers are from Dies to Die For. I felt the flowers needed something more and remembered some leaves that Laurie my Teamie kindly sent me! Thank you hun!

Colouring:-

Promarkers: Burn Orange, Honeycomb, Peach, Pale Peach, Tan, Cinnamon

Spectrums: Cream

We are sponsored this week by the wonderful Robyn's Fetish.

Pop on over to MAWTT Website for more details of the challenge and prize, and to take a look at the rest of the team's creations - lots of cute cards this week! and don't forget to check whether you were a winner in last week's challenge! 

I've come down with a flu-type cold and temperature and feel completely wiped out at the moment, so just muddling through and doing what I can. I have finally written all my Christmas Cards but hope I have done them correctly as I didn't feel very 'with it' when I did them!! 


My daughter was going over to her boyfriend's last night so I said she could take his present over. It took me an hour to wrap it up!! Not only because I felt ill but the 'luxury wrapping paper set' that we'd bought was in fact rubbish!!  The paper was see-through and you could read lettering of what gift was. So I took one of the 'luxury' bows and some 'luxury' ribbon and wrapped it around strategically to cover the writing. Then the bow unravelled in front of me and lay there limp like a dead snake. Also all the colour started coming off the curling ribbon and it looked pants!!! Ooh I was cursing a certain Big Supermarket Chain for selling such shoddy goods! 


I haven't got my tree up yet but hopefully very soon.... so watch this space LOL.

Just in case we miss each other in the 'big rush' up until Christmas, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year! Hope you all stay as healthy as possible and have a peaceful and relaxing holiday with family and friends!

I would like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Challenge 50 - 'Bingo' - ends 2nd January 2012 

(using Ribbon, Flowers, Punches)
Allsorts - Challenge 133 - 'It Takes Two (Colours)' -ends 16th December 2012

(colours orange and brown)

I'm looking forward to the Strictly Final on Saturday and I'm SO happy that Downton Abbey is on Christmas Day. We have late dinner usually about 4pm, so just enough time to eat and digest before it starts - perfect! 

Take care!
Love n Hugs
Sue xx

Moving Along With The Times (DT Card) - Challenge 128 - 'Last Minute Christmas''

Morning sweeties! hope you are all well this Thursday morning. There is some wild weather knocking about, especially up North, and so hope you are all keeping warm and safe!! A good excuse to stay indoors and do some crafting methinks! and join in our fab challenge this week at

Moving Along With The Times

and this week the lovely Lisa is our hostess and she has chosen the fab theme of ....

'Last Minute Chrismas'

So a great opportunity to make those 'last minute' Christmas Cards or Projects and combine it with this fab challenge! It doesn't have to be a card, it could be tag, altered item, bookmark - as long as you follow the theme and it is something Christmassy!! Look forward to seeing all your wonderful entries!

Stitchy Bear Stamps very generously gave us some gorgeous images to play with. This cutie is called 'Elf Secrets"and as soon as I saw her I thought of Candy Canes and Red, Green and White combo.

I had an urge to be creative and so made the paper by drawing stripes on manilla envelope and colouring with Copics. Then scanned it into digital software and gave it a canvas and wavy effect. Not really happy with the photos. Couldn't get the light right.  I've added stickles around the distressed edges. The 2nd photo is darker but shows up the sparkle a little better. 

The poinsettia is from Wild Orchid Crafts and I've added some red stickles around the edges. Behind the image is some lovely silver mesh which was freebie with magazine. Ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. 'Santa is Coming' Tag is from Stash. I have hundreds of tags and toppers so am determined to use more if I can.

I've coloured her with Copics and added Star Dust Stickles. The background is ink dusted with Memento 'Bamboo Leaves'.

And that's my little card for this challenge - I hope you like it!

We are sponsored this week by the wonderful Stitchy Bear Stamps who are very kindly offering the winner $10 voucher to spend in their store! Lots of lovely images to choose from.

.

Pop on over to MAWTT Website for more details of the challenge and to take a look at the rest of the team's creations - they are all gorgeous! and don't forget to check whether you were a winner in last week's challenge! 

I have some good news! I received my camera back from repair Wednesday morning 11am and it's back in full working order. I have to say Thank You Panasonic!!! - that is amazing customer service!!! I posted it on Monday and was only without the camera on Tuesday. I have emailed them to say thank you. I do love my shiny red camera! LOL

Also my little Christmas Tree has arrived but not unpacked it yet. When I've made space and put it up, I will take a photo of it. It's only 2 foot and it's gonna be hard finding the space!! Glad I didn't get a bigger one now!! Although I did have kittens when a parcel arrived yesterday from the Christmas tree firm and it was 6 inches square!!! My dad was laughing asking if it was my Christmas Tree!!! haha. But it was the Spare Bulb that I ordered sent out in a different package!! 

Hope you are still with me.....

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:-

Cupcake Inspirations - Challenge 139 - 'Photo Inspiration' (ends 10th December 2011) 

Dream Valley  - Challenge 21 - 'Sparkle' (ends 10th December 2011) 

Cupcake Craft - Challenge 171 - 'Create Your Own Backing Paper' (ends 11th December 2011)
Colour Create - Challenge 85 - 'Red, White and Green optional snowflakes' (ends 14th Dec 2011)
Bizzy Bec's Store Challenge - December - 'Christmas' (ends 3rd January 2011) 

Can't wait for Strictly - judging by the rehearsals on It Takes Two - it should be a wonderful show!! Harry looked amazing in training! I think I will have Pizza night on Saturday: Pizza, BFG (Black Forest Gateaux) and Choccies - why not make a night of it eh !!! :-))

Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments!

Love n Hugs!

Sue xx

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

I had to make some quick cards for Christmas and this is a design that I came up with. Unlike some Clean and Simple, cards this actually was easy to do. The image is 'Partridge Christmas Tree' from Pink Petticoat. The paper is 'Vintage Stars' also from PP.

It's a really easy image to colour, so you can do several at same time. I've used Promarkers Pear Green (very apt), Tan and Pastel Blue. When you add a little Star Dust Stickle it really blings it up and looks lovely. The ribbon is from stash and happened to be just the right shade! Sentiment is from Pink Petticoat. I think PP have saved my life this Christmas LOL. They are convenient, so easy to print off and I love them!!

I took the photos on my daughter's camera before she went away for weekend. Just got an email saying that the Repair Centre has received my camera and it has been passed on to the techies !!! I had to pay £5.20 to have it tracked, but it was part of the agreement. Really hope they can fix it - I love my red camera!!! and it's fab in low light.

I got my old camera out at weekend to try. It was one of the first digital cameras made. Let's just say that I hope I never have to post a card taken on that camera!!! LOL .... it's a huge brick!!! and after 2pm you can't even see the LCD Screen let alone take a photo. Such is the advances of technology.

Anyway, back to my card. I think this qualifies as Less is More? and it's definitely green! and it sparkles!! LOL .... so

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:-

Less is More - Challenge 44 - 'Green' (ends 9th December 2011)

Dream Valley - Challenge 21 - 'Sparkle' (ends 10th December 2011)

Hope you are all well and keeping warm!

Thanks for all your lovely comments!! and a warm welcome to my new followers!!

Big Hugs!

Sue xx

Snowflake Tilda

After 'Snowball' Tilda, and the disaster with the green snow, I thought I would have another go with this gorgeous image 'Tilda with Fir'. I think the snow is an improvement on my last attempt!

The delish paper is My Mind's Eye 'Lost and Found Christmas' and was part of the Candy that I won in the Ladybug Crafts Ink Blog Hop. Sue also included this gorgeous gold ribbon and also some Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Chipped Sapphire'. Thanks Sue! - it really was yummy candy.

You might be able to see better on this photo. I've distressed the edges and gone all round with gold stickle. So it's all sparkly in real life. Also there is Star Dust stickle on the tree to look like frosted snow, but doesn't show up!! The wooden snowflake and tree are from Handy Hippo.  The snowflake has been dusted with 'Wild Honey'. Pearls are from Stash. Sentiment is a Peel Off stuck on some card.

I've cut Tilda out to create a 3D effect. The Distress Ink background is one that I did when I was laid up with bad back. I got some practice in ;-) It's Tim Holtz 'Wild Honey' and 'Chipped Sapphire'. I used Liquid Pearls - Silver to create the snow.

I have been SO busy this weekend! I had to parcel up my camera ready to send for repair. I used a whole roll of bubble wrap!! Just hope that they can actually find my camera in amongst all that plastic !!! Quite a bit of paperwork had to be scanned and sent.

My Christmas Tree fell to pieces last year as I was packing it away. It was a bit big and a pain to put up and decorate. So I've ordered a tiny little one - 2ft !!! Wanted a 3ft one but they all sold out in the ones that I liked. It's fibre optic - so hope it's a nice one!!

So poor Robbie did go in Strictly! He has done well, considering. I can't imagine who will go next week!! Holly and Jason were my favourites this week. Then Harry. I wasn't keen on Chelsee's Jive!!! and everybody shouts me down when I say it !!! LOL Alex has improved so much, thought she would be out weeks ago. But I think maybe she should go next? Oh I don't know - I might change my mind next week! I'm so fickle hee hee.

If you are still with me after waffling .....

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:-

Crafty Creations - Challenge 146 - 'Photo Inspiration' (ends 7th December 2011)
(inspired by the wood features)
Just Magnolia - 'Anything Goes with Option Sparkle' (ends 8th December 2011)
Totally Papercrafts- Challenge 95 - 'Let it Snow' (ends 9th December 2011)
One Stop - Challenge 160 - 'Let it Snow' (ends 9th December 2011)
Sweet Stampin - 'Snowmen, Snowflakes or Just Snow' (ends 9th December 2011)
By the Cute & Girly  - 'Let it Snow' (ends 14th December 2011)

Hope you all had a great weekend!!
Love n Hugs!
Sue xx

Moving Along With The Times (DT Card) - Challenge 127 - 'Hazel's Sketch'

Good morning! Hope you are all well! Where did the last seven days go?!!! We are into December today - so reality kicks in how close we are to Christmas!! It's also Thursday, so time for another Challenge over at

Moving Along With The Times

This week the lovely Hazel is our hostess and she has designed this fab ....

'Sketch'

So we want to see what you can come up with following this fab layout. I think it's nice to do Sketches every now and again because it makes you try new things. Also there are so many fab ways that you can interpret them. So looking forward to seeing your entries ...

Here is my take on the sketch .... 

The gorgeous image is from Pink Petticoat and is from a Set called Mini Rudolphs. I have enlarged one of the mini Rudolphs for a main image. The Sentiment came with the Set. Backing Paper is 'Sprinkled with Twinkles' also from Pink Petticoat. 

 Lots of Plum and Silver card. The silver is embossed with swiss dots. Pearls and Gems are from stash. Ribbon is Papermania. The little purple sleigh bells were freebie with magazine.

 Silver flowers are from Dies to Die For and the tiny purple flowers are some that I've had for years in my stash. The silver flowers look more sparkly in real life!!

Colouring: Promarkers

Lilac, Lavender, Cool Greys 1, 2 and 3.

Star Dust Stickles

Think that's about it. I love all the Bling on this card and in real life it twinkles like crazy!! Hope you like it.

We are sponsored this week by  Crafty Emma's Store.

Pop on over to MAWTT Website for more details of the challenge and to take a look at the rest of the team's creations - they are all fab! and don't forget to check whether you were a winner in last week's challenge! 

Apologies for the little shadow on photograph. You can see it just beneath the Sentiment. My camera has developed a fault and there is a black spot on screen and on every photo when you upload it. It's small, but once you know it's there .... yikes, drives me mad!!!  'Out damn'd Spot' LOL

I phoned Insurance Co. about the fault and was left hanging on the line for 30 minutes listening to Chopin !! In the end they said it is still under Manufacturer's Warranty so now I have to post it back to Panasonic for repair. 

I think it's gonna take some time to get it sorted .... meanwhile I can borrow my daughter's camera when she is home or else I will have to make do with old camera. I could do without it in run up to Christmas. But Hey Ho as they say - that's life ....

My back pain is a lot better now. Thanks for all your good wishes! it is more or less back to the normal pain level. 

Not long to weekend and Strictly again!! I think it's time for Robbie to go next, bless him. He's not quite up to the standard of the others. I wonder which Celeb or Pro will be baring their chest this week?!!!  LOL

Anyway, if you are still with me!!! back to my card and ...

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:-

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 108 - 'Sparkle' (ends 2nd December 2011)
Ooh La La Creations - Challenge 94 - 'Lots of Sparkle' (ends 4th December 2011)
Craft your Passion - Challenge 86 - 'Tis The Season' (ends 4th December 2011)
Scrap Creations - 'Christmas' (ends 5th December 2011)
Fab'n Funky - Challenge 101 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 6th December 2011)
Dream Valley - Challenge 21 - 'Sparkle' (ends 10th December 2011)
Divas by Design - Challenge 16 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 12th December 2011)

Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments!
Love n Hugs!
Sue xx