Snowy Owl - ATC - Thank Yous!

Hi... I hope you are all well... I'm not feeling too good at the moment... first got a dodgy stomach, now 'women's troubles' .... LOL - don't worry.. I won't go into details! ... but I'm in a lot of pain today... so I was glad that I had this post drafted up and ready to go!! Yay!!

Something a bit different for me... I recently did an ATC swap with my lovely blogging friend Elaine in Australia... and as Snowy Owl has now safely landed in Australia... I thought I'd show him... he is cute though I do say so myself!!

It's my very first ATC.... now I knew they were small but I really didn't realise how small until I came to do one... I was thinking the size of a Postcard!! but they are teeny... 64mm x 89mm...

I have to confess that at first I just sat and stared at this little blank card for a couple of weeks!! Then I put a snowy background on... probably because of all the snow we were having here!! LOL... then stared at it for another couple of weeks!!  but I honestly didn't know what to put on the background!! but I know Elaine loves owls... so I thought I'd look for a cute owl online... and I found a cute Christmas Selection at Pink Gem Designs. I didn't realise they were coloured though!! duh... so I had to do a bit of manipulation on my laptop and made it monochrome...

Well he looked quite cute as he was... but thought I'd add some flock to the bobble on his hat... Awwww!! and then I made the SNOWY and OWL words on my computer with an Almonte Snow Font... and lastly I just added some silver nailheads.

I really enjoyed making it! hope you like it...

and here's the fab ATC that Elaine sent me in the swap.... isn't it gorgeous!! I LOVE the beautiful background and the wonderful surfing Kanga... those rippling muscles are SO cool...and the sparkly sun is perfect... I love it !!! :-))

I won't take it out of the protective sleeve as I want to keep it perfect!! 

and Elaine was SO kind and sent me other goodies... love the little purse card! and Wow! I absolutely adore the ATC Case that she made for me (top right) it's so cute and gorgeous!! Love it all!! Thanks Elaine - you're a star!!

Just before I sign off... I have some news.... I think most of you know that I haven't been making cards for My Crafty Heart for quite a while now... the lovely Teresa gave me time off and I was hoping to return when my health improved... but my health is still very up and down... and also within family too... so I am officially stepping down from the team.... I absolutely loved my time on the Team and making all those wonderful cards for MCH... it was such a pleasure... and Teresa has been so good to me!! Thank you hun!! .... but I think that stepping down is the right decision... the way things are at the moment for me... I will of course be keeping in touch with Teresa and all the girls on the team... and I wish My Crafty Heart all the best for the future! :-))

Ah well... not long until weekend... I'm looking forward to watching Spiral and Mr Selfridge!! Mr Selfridge has definitely improved as the series has gone on!! he's not as annoying now... or maybe I have just got used to him!! LOL ...... and the handsome French guy who is in Mr Selfridge is also in Spiral.... ;-) I can feel a change in my Eye Candy coming on soon.... LOL

Ooh... I almost forgot.... the lovely Laurie has a new Challenge over at MAWTT - the theme is 'Lovely Ladies' - hope you can join Team B for their challenge this week! ;-)

Take care and I will hopefully be back on form with a card very soon... I have a couple of cards half-finished... so as soon as I feel a bit better I will finish them and also catch up on commenting too!! :-))
Love and Hugs

Candy Winner!!!

Hello all

Time to announce the Winner of my Candy..... so here goes....

I put all the numbers into my Psychic Number Generator.... and it chose.....

Drum Roll......

8

Random numbers generated Feb 25 2013 at 15:22:23 by www.psychicscience.org
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.



So the winner is....

8. Didos

Woo Hoo! Big Congratulations!!

If you email me hun... I'll sort out your Winning Voucher!!

Thanks to everyone for entering... Sorry you can't all be winners... I will try and arrange some more candy very soon.... :-))

Love and hugs

MAWTT - Shell's Sketch

Hello! I hope you are all well today... well... it was lovely here at the beginning of the week... I really thought that Spring had arrived... we have some crocus and mini daffs coming out in the front garden...but then it went really chilly again yesterday!!  don't put your thermals away just yet!!!

it's time for another challenge over at

Moving Along With the Times

It's the turn of Team A and this week our lovely Shell is hostess and she has designed a fab...

'Sketch'

Shell's Sketch - MAWTT - 21/02/13

I love working with sketches and trying out new layouts ... and this is a wonderful sketch....

I won some gorgeous candy from our lovely Claire recently and I noticed some scrummy orange heart papers!! I have used one 8 x 8 sheet here... the pattern is graduated and so it has worked quite well when layering... I just love these fiery tones...

We are sponsored this week by the fabulous Meljen's Designs...

and we were kindly given some fab images to work with.... and I have chosen 'Romance Diva' - isn't she fab!! 

Not too many embellies... the scrummy flower is from My Crafty Heart -  Prima Cloissone - Bronze...although it hasn't photographed very well here.. it looks SO much nicer in real life!

I've added a little enamel 'bee' charm from stash... Some hearts from JosyRose... and the sentiment is from Pink Petticoat... Tiny Sweetheart Sentiments.

 I've coloured the lovely 'Romance Diva' with Promarkers:-
Skin: Putty, Sunkissed Pink
Oranges: Burnt Orange, Honeycomb, Apricot
Browns: Caramel, Cocoa
Star Dust Stickles on Rose and Hearts...

Don't forget to pop on over to MAWTT for more details of this week's Challenge and to see my Teamies gorgeous creations!

You can enter up to 3 times but please no backlinking... and the challenge ends at 8pm Wednesday 27th  Fabruary 2013.

Looking forward to seeing all your lovely creations... hope you like my card..

I would Like to enter the following challenges:-

Raise the Bar - 'Anything Goes' ends 21st February 2013

QKR Stampede - 'Anything Goes' ends 21st February 2013

Crafts & Me - 'Charmed I'm Sure' ends 26th February 2013

Ooh La La Creations - 'Sparkle and Shine' ends 3rd March 2013

Heck of a Challenge - 'Love and Flowers' ends 28th February 2013

my internet has been really playing up all this week... but seems to be ok now (Wed everning) so I hope it stays ok!!! ... my spine pain is bad tonight... so going to get into bed now and get warm and cosy!!

I think I will make some Easter Cards at weekend... it is going to come around so soon!!! and hope we get some warmer weather by then... think we all need cheering up!  :-)

Will catch up with you all soon...

Ooh don't forget to enter my Candy if you haven't already... not long to go now until the draw!! and want you all to be in with a chance! ;-)

Love and hugs

A touch of the Van Goghs....

Sorry I have no card at the moment... but thought I would share my attempt at Watercolour... I've had a few stressful days... illness within family (but all ok now) ... and then yesterday I had to battle the elements to go to dentist... it was driving snow and blooming freezing cold...and had to have filling which wasn't too bad but my mouth stayed numb until about 8pm!! I was SO hungry too after being out in the cold... so slurped some soup through a straw for my tea last night!! LOL but managed to have late Supper of Pancakes and Chocolate which was very nice!! 

I had some time to craft but my mojo just went completely... couldn't get inspired by anything...so I decided to get my Watercolours out ... the lovely Debs bought me a set for my Birthday last year.. thanks so much hun! and I also used a few Watercolour Pens... I know there is a lot of room for improvement... think that I should have made more difference between light and shade particularly in background and foreground... but I did enjoy painting!! it is very relaxing...

I didn't draw this!! it is a Michael Powell Stamp... which was also a Birthday gift from our lovely Shell !! thanks hun!

and it is called...

The Chapel

it's a fab stamp... just the sort of place that I loved to visit when I could get out and about more...there is quite a lot of detail in the image... but so many ways that you could colour it... I think one would look quite nice framed for Mother's Day or Easter.

I have another Michael Powell Stamp... so might have another go soon... see if I can improve... 

Hope you are all having a lovely Valentines Day!

I haven't got partner... so romance is not on the cards for me... but...

my lovely daughter suprised me today with a card and some choccies!! Aww... she is a sweetie...so I can watch something nice on TV this evening and enjoy my Champagne Truffles!

She is off to spend evening with her boyfriend.. I hope they have a lovely time!

I can't believe it is Friday again tomorrow... this week has gone by so fast... looking forward to weekend... I have just bought some new papers from Shery K Designs. My blogging buddy... the lovely Laurie recommended them and they are gorgeous! I bought some for every season!! LOL so hopefully they will inspire me....

I hope you all have a lovely Valentines evening!

I will catch up with my commenting very soon...

Stay warm and snug!
Love and Hugs

Frieda the Fabulous Flapper - Valentine!

Good afternoon... hope you are all enjoying the weekend... I have some sparkle for you today!! As soon as I saw this Kenny K  image - Freida Flapper... I knew that I had to make a Ritzy Glitzy Valentines Card!! Wow! isn't she gorgeous!!  I loved going overboard with the bling here... 

I've used some Coredinations Red Glitter Card and run a Swirl die through the middle. Then re-positioned the two halves so that the shape in the black shows through. The pink glitter heart is my new Embosslits - Heart Lace die. 

Top Tip: I always have terrible trouble arranging and sticking my feathers to cards... so much so that I usually give up and take them off! and then I am left with a gluey mess!! but I have a HUGE bag of feathers that I've had in my stash for ages... so I was determined to use some on this card... so this time I tried glueing the end of the feathers to a small circle of card first and it really seemed to help... once they are glued flat on the little piece of card... you can then position and stick them where you want easily. To finish off.. just cover the circle of card with a flower or embellie..

the gorgeous red flower and gold wire embellie was a Christmas pressie from my daughter... and the little red heart embellies on the image are from JosyRose. Sentiment was made on computer.

 I've coloured Frieda with Promarkers and Flexmarkers:-

Skin: Putty, Sunkissed Pink

Reds: Burgundy, Crimson, Ruby

Pinks: Blossom, Rose Pink

Eyes: Cappuccino Flexmarker

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - 'Anything Goes' ends 10th February 2013

Fab'n Funky - Challenge 157 - 'Valentines/Hearts' ends 12th February 2013

Simon Says - 'Have a Heart' ends 12th February 2013

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 255 - 'Love Struck' ends 13th February 2013

Crafty Catz - Challenge 169 - 'Love is in the Air' ends 14th February 2013

Digi Haven - 'Love/Valentine' ends 14th February 2013

Totally Papercrafts - Challenge 153 - 'Valentines or Love' ends 14th February 2013
A Gem of A Challenge - Challenge 66 - 'Hearts/Valentines' ends 15th February 2013
Totally Gorjuss Challenge 170 - 'Love' ends 15th February 2013
Allsorts - Challenge 193 - 'Valentines' ends 15th February 2013
Dream Valley - Challenge 50 - 'Valentines' ends 16th February 2013
Ooh La La Creations - Challenge 123 - 'Love Story' ends 17th February 2013 
Inky Chicks - Challenge 3 - 'Valentine or Anniversary' ends 18th February 2013
Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 95 - 'Let me Call You Sweetheart' ends 18th February 2013
Paper Crafting Journey - 'Love' ends 20th February 2013
Natalie and Amy - 'Something Old Something New' ends 28th February 2013
(Something old is feathers which I've had for ages… and something new is the
embosslit heart)

Ooh I have entered quite a few challenges here...will take me a while to link up!! LOL but there are lots of fab Love, Hearts and Valentines Challenges at the moment... I did try to check all the rules... but big apologies if I have made a mistake anywhere!!

I really enjoyed making this card...hope you like it...

it seems to be going dark very early here in Manchester today!! the sky looks heavy as if it is going to snow!! Ooh hope it doesn't... I'm fed up of it now... but rather think it will because my Apple Mac Weather says SNOW in Manchester!! and it is never wrong!! I  think I will make a Summer themed card this weekend .....  lots of pretty flowers and butterflies... :-)))

Thank you for visiting my blog and a huge welcome to my new Followers!

Have a lovely Saturday and Sunday!

Love and hugs

Thank You!

I was a very lucky bunny last week and won two Candy draws... so it has been like Christmas all over again!! :-))

Today a wonderful surprise package arrived from the lovely Pearl...

Lots of gorgeous goodies... I love the book of sentiments.. it will be so useful.. and there are lots of nice stamps, papers and embellishments... and some fab embossing folders and lots, lots more!! :-))

Thank You Pearl... it was a lovely candy package!

We had some wonderful sunshine today... if you stayed indoors warm and cosy.... you could almost imagine it was Spring!! we have snowdrops flowering... just waiting for the crocus now....

But tonight it has gone really cold... just turned my heating up.... my back is a lot better but I'm having to keep it super duper warm... my lovely teamie Janice suggested buying a Onesie!!! I know they have some lovely ones nowadays but....just the thought of me in a huge babygro really cracked me up... I laughed so hard!!! what are the scores George Dawes!! ROFL it would be perfect for these cold winter nights though... except for my weak bladder... do you have to take the whole thing off to go to loo? I would be exhausted by morning!! hee hee!!!

This week seems to have gone so quickly... can't believe it is weekend tomorrow... my daughter is home and so we will be catching up with some TV.... she has got me totally addicted to Ice Road Truckers!! and I always start singing 'Convoy' after watching it.... remember that Single and the Film ... can you believe it was back in 1978!! Ah, breaker one-nine, this here's the Rubber Duck... LOL

Sorry... it is the painkillers... I am a bit loopy tonight... 
Better settle down with my book... I have finally finished Winter of the World which was fab... now I'm reading Game of Thrones - it's a paperback but still huge!!! it feels so heavy after my Kindle!!

Thanks for all your lovely comments and hope you have a lovely weekend!
I will be back soon with a Glitzy Valentine's Card! 
Take Care
Love and hugs

MAWTT - Only Girls Allowed

Hello! it's time for another challenge over at 

Moving Along With the Times

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

'Only Girls Allowed'

So we want to see creations with girls... so lots of scope.. I think this will be a very popular theme! I have gone retro with this cute little lady... and I made a Congrats Card for my daughter who has just got her first full time job!! Woo Hoo!! I'm so pleased for her...  she has been trying for a while to find one...it is really hard nowadays.. as so many applicants.... this will be a big step on the employment ladder!

We are sponsored this week by the fabulous Kenny K...

and this week's lucky winner will receive 3 digi images from in-store!!! how cool is that!  

and we were kindly given some fab images to work with....

I chose Happy Hour Digi Stamp - isn't she gorgeous! she would be fab for lots of occasions...

It's a very simple layout... I'm really into embossing at the moment and loving making cards without papers... which is not good considering how many pads I have!!! LOL ... I have just bought a load of embossing folders that were in sale!! so I will soon have some new ones to play with when they arrive ... I bet you will be getting fed up with this Mesh one... I do love it though... it gives 2 great effects depending on which side you use!! 

I'm not usually one for buttons as embellies but this one seemed to look perfect in centre of flower.. I've added some glittery twine from stash.. Sentiment was made on computer...

Card - Coredinations
Brown Mount: Bigz Die - Ornamental Tim Holtz
Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug - Mesh
Flower: Embosslits Die - Wild Flower

I've coloured the gorgeous  Happy Hour Digi Stamp with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and added Star Dust Stickles to the spots on her dress and also to her glass of bubbly!

Don't forget to pop on over to MAWTT for more details of this week's Challenge and to see my Teamies gorgeous creations!
You can enter up to 3 times... and the challenge ends at 8pm Wednesday 13th  Fabruary 2013. I'm looking forward to seeing all your gorgeous entries! 

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Bearly-Mine - 'Anything Goes' ends 11th February 2013

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'Anything Goes' ends 11th February 2013

Ladybug Crafts Ink - 'Girly/Female' ends 11th February 2013

Craft Us Crazy - 'Get to Cutting' ends 13th February 2013

ABC Challenge - 'G for Going Dotty' ends 14th February 2013

I'm scheduling this Wednesday evening...  hope I have done everything correctly... I'm in a lot of pain today with my spine... I threw my duvet off in the night (hot flush LOL) ... and must have got cold... as it hurts SO bad today... I've even fitted in an extra dose of painkillers but they only take edge off... ah well... I'm going to lie flat and read my Kindle.... hopefully I will feel better tomorrow... think I will sleep with my jumper on tonight though... won't be able to throw that off so easily when I am asleep ... hee hee!! 

Love and hugs

Cute Little Snow Blower!!

I thought I would enter the Saturated Canary Challenge which is 'Colour Inspiration' (see below). I bought this mega cute SC image last November and didn't have time to use it... so I thought I'd make a Christmas Card for next year...

Saturated Canary Colour Inspiration!

You have to use at least three of the above colours...so I have gone for the green, pink and grey...  hope they match okay!

The pink paper is from Cosmo Cricket - 'Mitten Weather' and the Green Paper is from First Edition - 'Christmas Village'. The gorgeous Snowflake is from My Crafty Heart and is Spellbinders Shapeabilities - Create a Flake 4. The Silver Nail Heads are from JosyRose. Sentiment comes with the image!

Lots of 'Star Dust' Stickles for the snow and I've also given her sparkly tights!! 

I would like to enter the Challenges:-

Christmas Stampin' - 'Anything Goes' ends 7th February 2013

Allsorts - 'Let's Get Cute' ends 8th February 2013

All That Stickles - 'Anything Goes' ends 8th February 2013

Craft your Passion - 'Pastels' ends 10th February 2013

Saturated Canary - 'Colour Inspiration' ends 13th February 2013

Sparkle Challenge - 'Anything Goes' - February

Ah can't believe it is time for tea!! I wanted to do commenting today but have spent the whole day trying to get a decent photo of this card... and I'm still not happy with these photos!!! but this is as good as it gets.... I even got the lightbox out and they were still rubbish... not sure why... maybe because the colours are pastels and natural light is better for them? Who knows.... I'm no Annie Liebovitz that's for sure!!! LOL
I will catch up with you all soon
Hope you are all well....

Love and Hugs

Thank You!

Ooh what a lovely surprise I  got today....

I won some Candy from the lovely Claire...

It was a Surprise package....

Oooh! what's in the Box....

Lots of lovely goodies! and can you see the gorgeous card with the doggie and bunting... I love it !!

Lots of fab stamps and papers, ribbons, glitter... and much, much more....

Thank You Claire! it's a lovely Candy Prize!! 

Hope everyone is well today... the sun has been shining here in Manchester... it's lovely to see after all the dull, wet, windy weather that we've had....

I'm going to finish off a couple of cards and then have something to eat... think I am having Hawaiian Pizza! Mmm..... then will find something to watch on Catch Up... 

Hope you all have a fab weekend!

Love and hugs

Sue xx