Celebration candy

This post will stay at the top until 30th June. Please scroll down for newer posts.

Here I am, back as promised, with some yummy candy. What am I celebrating? Firstly my Ruby Wedding on Sunday. Yes I was only 1,5,10, oh alright 18 when I married my lovely hubby Graham and here we are 40 years later. Where those 40 years have gone I have no idea and I certainly don't feel like I can possibly be 58.

Secondly it's my 2nd blogaversary on Monday. Two years ago when my good friend Lynsey was persuading me I really needed a blog I took some convincing. Lynsey said it's really easy to set up, here's the code to add a card, if you need any help just shout. So off I went and started a blog, discovered HTML codes and have loved having a blog. It's been an amazing discovery through making so many friends, achieving over 800 followers, being on some wonderful DTs and making TV samples for Crafter's Companion.

This last week has been a very busy one for me as I have decided to move my craftroom from the dining table to one of our spare bedrooms. I've been planning the room, looking at furniture, buying paint (lilac of course) and lights etc. I also have more samples to make for another new Crafter's Companion launch and will be celebrating our anniversary all weekend. This has meant I have had very little time for visiting and commenting this week, apart from my DT comments, so apologies.

I have chosen some really yummy goodies to give away to one lovely follower.
Papermania Boysenberry paper pack (yes I'm giving away lilac paper!)
2 Sizzix embossing folders
Squiggle Miss Evie frills and flowers (I've stamped mine to show you the image)
64 Prima pink flowers
Reel of ribbon
100 pins
100 gems
4 Promarkers
Patterned card candi

All you have to do is:

• Place a pic of my candy on you sidebar with a link back to my blog
• Be a follower
• Enter via the link below.

Candy closes 30 June and is open to anyone with a blog (except candy only blogs). Good luck and thanks for all your support, encouragement and lovely comments over the last 2 years.

Picking flowers

A busy day ahead as my desks and chair have just been delivered so I'm of to sort out my craftroom. Before I do I'm showing another of my Crafter's Companion samples using Tim Holtz Core'dinations. The papers are from SWALK and Fairyopolis CDs and the images is from Sheena Douglass coloured with Promarkers. I used an MS border punch and Blossom Nesties to make the flower, which I then dampened and scrunched and when dry sprayed with Spray and Sparkle. Swirls are Sizzix corner and Crealie die.

July is going to be a very busy month for Crafter's Companion with some very exciting launches. My candy ends tonight and I'll be back tomorrow with pics of my craftroom with another little candy and my Crafter's Companion monthly DT card. I'll be back later today for some blog visiting.

Challenges:
CD Sunday Mixed bouquet
Pear Tree Designs Stamp something
Divas by Design Die cuts and punches
Creative Inspirations Summer
I love Promarkers Include flowers
Scrapbook Sisters Summer fun
CRAFT Gardening
MAWTT Here comes the Summer

Distressed and torn

A very quick post from me as I got home from the show a little while ago and just managed to sneak a little computer time in. We had a lovely time and I managed to pick up something for my craftroom which I'll reveal in the pics at the end of the week.

I was asked to make some samples for Crafter's Companion for some upcoming shows featuring Tim Holtz Core'dinations. The colours of this gorgeous card match the distress inks. Now I've never used Core'dinations before and I'm not usually into tearing and distressing but I had such fun playing with this card. I used some paper from one of the SWALK CDs which I colourised and also used a SWALK stamp. I crimped a strip of card and then tore it and added ribbon and a bow. The flower and leaves were made with  Marianne dies which I then sanded and scrunched. I used a Darice embossing folder also from Crafter's Companion which I them sanded too to reveal the core colour. If you haven't tried Core'dinations before then I highly recommend this pack.

Challenges:
CES Anything but square
Secret Crafter Embossing
Stamps R Us There was a little girl

Celebrate and Craftroom update

What a contrast in the weather today. Thank goodness it has been cooler than yesterday and much fresher with a good rain this afternoon. Didn't like the thunder and lightning though. Last night was so hot and humid it was hard to sleep.

I've used one of my older LOTV stamps for this card which my friend ordered. I used Papermania Blueberry Pie papers and some lovely spotted ribbon and flowered card candi. I thought this card would then be suitable for either male or female.

Challenges:
Delicious Doodles Cute and cuddly
Dream Valley Ribbon
Crafty Cardmakers Spots and stripes
Oldie but a Goodie Anything Goes
Willow Sketchie Great sketch

It's lovely to know that so many of you are interested in my craftroom so here's the latest pic. The blind and shelves are up, painting and electrics all done and the desks and chair are coming on Thursday. The shelves are designed mainly for punches and jars of flowers which is why they are so narrow. Isn't the bunting gorgeous. I bought it at a craft fair. I've started to move some stuff into the cupboard on the other side but most of my stash is still downstairs so Thursday will be a busy day moving it all and having a good sort out. We're off to the Royal Norfolk Show tomorrow so won't be around but hope to have a bit of time to catch up with you on Thursday before the desks arrive. I'll take more pics once it is finished.

Fun in the Sun

Whew it's been far too hot today. Thunderstorms are predicted tonight and cooler temperatures from tomorrow thank goodness. This is an appropriate card for the weather featuring some sunny papers from HOTP called Vacation. The image is from Pollycraft. I added some spotted ribbon and card candi and some corners.

Challenges:
Cute Card Thursday Fab sketch
Try it on a Tuesday Here comes the sun
Papertake Here comes the sun
Passion for Promarkers Park Life
Fab n Funky Summer Loving
Delightful Sketches Fun in the Sun
Pollycraft Make a Splash

The craftroom is progressing well. The last of the painting was done today and the blind was fitted. The carpenter is coming tomorrow to fit some long shelves and the desks and chair should be delivered on Thursday. Starting the major sort out tomorrow. Hopefully should have some pics later this week if all goes to plan.

Christmas in June

How ironic on what has been the hottest day of the year so far I am sharing a Christmas card with you. We've has a lovely day out at the coast today. This is my first DT card for Whoopsi Daisy where the challenge is Christmas in June. This gives you a chance to make a card to fit in with some of those Christmas challenges. The image is from Whoopsi Daisy and I used some glitter flock for the snow and used my crealie swirl die. The snowflakes were made with a Marianne die and an MS punch and white glitter card..

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:
Crafty Creations Let it shine
Craftyhazelnut Anything Goes
Card and a Half Fab sketch
The Crafty Pad Bold/bright colours

I may not be around much this week as I have some work to do for Crafter's Companion and my stuff coming for my craftroom this week. That means lots of sorting out as everything has been dumped in the other spare bedroom. I also have to sort out all my craft stuff and move it into my new craftroom. It's also the Royal Norfolk Show this week and we plan to go one day so a busy week ahead.

A card for a poorly friend

Good morning everyone. We woke up to rain this morning but it should brighten up later and then we are promised a heatwave for 2 days. I must say the garden and lawn are looking lush after this week's rain. Hello to my 3 new followers which means I have now reached 900. Wow I am amazed that so many of you like my work enough to follow me. Thank you and thank you for all your lovely comments.

I used another of the new LOTV girlies for this card which I made to send to one of my blogging and Facebook buddies Jo who has been very poorly lately. I sent her some LOTV stamped images too in the hope that when she is starting to feel better she will enjoy using them. I wish you better soon Jo, missing your beautiful work.

The papers are Basic Grey Euphoria and I used one of my fave MS border punches, lace, ribbon and pearl bows as this is my DT card for Totally Gorjuss where we have a lovely challenge of ribbons and lace. You could win a prize from Fantastic Ribbons so hope you'll be entering. Just for a change I used glossy accents and some beads for the flower centre.

I would also like to enter this into the challenge of ribbons and bows at both ASPOS and Corrosive.

One for the boys and one for the girls

This is my second post for today. Housework done and Hubby has finished painting the walls of my Craftroom so I sat down to finish off the card I started last night and made another. This is the first time I have used the new boys stamp called Abracadabra from LOTV. He was such fun to colour. I wanted to keep the main colours to black and grey so that the purple really stands out. I used some old Dovecraft papers (I think) and black raffia lace. I added some punched stars and some star buttons to match the Sakura clearstar pen I used with my Promarkers on the image.

Challenges:
Lili of the Valley Great sketch
Here come the boys Myth and Magic
My Mum's Craft Shop One of the boys

My second card features an image which I have used several times as it is my fave LOTV stamp.  I don't know why I seem to be in pink mode at the moment. I think she looks fabulous in any colour. The papers are Dovecraft Piece of Cake and I used a MS border punch and Papermania embossing folder with some brown spotty ribbon. The butterfly charm is from Wild Orchid and I found some thin brown leather in my stash which was just right for attaching it. Flowers are Prima with leaves from Joanna Sheen.

Challenges:
Cupcake Fab sketch
SSDS Photo Inspiration
A Gem of a Challenge Bloomin' Charmin'
Totally Papercafts Spots and stripes
Crafty Catz Add a charm
Magical Monday Punches and embossing
Bunny Zoe Fairies
Crafty Calendar Things with wings

Hello to all my lovely new followers. I can't believe I am almost at 900 followers. I hope you will stay and visit me when you can. Don't forget my candy ends next Thursday. If you haven't entered yet see the post above.

Pink poinsettias

This week at Winter Wonderland Denis has challenges us to make a card which is Pretty in Pink. I love pink Christmas cards and used a sweet Sugar Nellie girl for my first double twisted easel card. The poinsettia is a Marianne die cut which has been sprayed with Spray and Sparkle. The leaves are also a Marianne die which I cut in half.

I would also like to enter his into the following challenges:
Paper Sundaes Easel or Twisted Easel
ABC Christmas M is for Monochrome
Scrapbook Sisters Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Monochromatic
Stampin for the weekend My favourite things (Sugar Nellie, pearls, flowers, pretty papers, Christmas cards)
Facebook Sugar Nellies More than one fold

The sun is shining at the moment and we are promised high temperatures from Sunday. Of course that probably means too hot, one extreme to the other. Last Sunday we went out and it was miserable weather and I had 3 layers on in June! Hope the sun shines for you this weekend. I'll be back later with a card I started last night but must go and do some housework now, shame.

Washington

I've been promising myself for ages that I must get more scrapbook pages done and so was determined to do one this evening. I love doing layouts so really must get more done. One a week would be good. Apologies for the flash as I forgot to turn it off and it's now getting dark so would have to use it anyway.

Graham really wanted one of these trick photos done provided I do a layout of it so I used it with a pic of the White House.The papers are DCWV Nautica. I bought a pad of these papers for £8 in America as I had a 40% off one item voucher. They would be £20 over here full price. They are gorgeous papers, many of them glittered like the blue one I used here. The flag was printed off the internet, the other embellishments are Jolees Boutique bought in America.

Challenges:
Divas by Design Anything but a card
Paperplay Stars and stripes
Craft Us Crazy Red, white and blue
Ladybug Crafts Ink Use red (Thanks Lisa Jane, wasn't sure I could enter a layout)

Scroll down for my first post today showing my craftroom progress. Also if you haven't spotted the 25% off everything sale at Crafty Emma's Store then get over there and grab some bargains. If you liked my surfboard paper I used earlier this week for example you can now buy a 12 x 12 sheet for just 7.5p! I placed my order today for a few necessities, lol. Sale ends Monday at 10am so hurry over there, after leaving me a comment of course.

Craftroom Progress

The craftroom is progressing well. You can just see a little of the lilac on the walls. All of the paintwork has been undercoated and glossed and some of the walls have been painted. The wall on the left was a darker peach so had to be painted white to make it easier to paint lilac. I have had some new lights put in, a dimmer switch and plugs. I'm having some long shelves made so hope they will be ready next week.

As you can see I keep Hubby well supplied with refreshments. Here he is taking a well earned teabreak.

The painting shold be finished at the weekend so I can start to sort out and move in. The blind is being fitted on Monday. Hoping that the desks will arrive next week and I can then move everything in there. I'll show you some pics when it is all finished.

Strawberry Teddy

Another day of sunshine and pouring rain today. I've had the light on this afternoon as it was so dark when it rained I couldn't see to make a card. Now the sun is shining. Teddy Bea looks like she is having a lovely time with her basket of strawberries. She is coloured with Promarkers of course with a few Sakura rosestar highlights for sparkle. I made another 8" square card with papers from Henbury Lane, an MS border punch and an embossing folder on some pearlised card. I made the flowers using a Blossom Nestie and various punches and then sprayed them all with Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine. I used a leaf punch and an embossing ivy leaf punch.

Here's the detail of the large flower.

Challenges:
Teddy Bo Bling it on
Create 4 Fun Fab sketch
I love Promarkers Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles Food or drink
Sarah Hurley Handmade flowers
Delightful Challenges Anything Goes
Bee Crafty Summer's Here
Bling it on Embossing
CES Lots of sparkly flowers

I had a lovely e-mail from Deb at Cute Card Thursday inviting me to be guest designer for July so a busy time ahead. I made top 3 today at ABC Christmas and Sweet Sketch Wednesday, first time for both challenges so thanks girls.

Surfin' Safari and some exciting news

I can't get the song Surfin' Safari out of my head since I started making this card. The image and sentiment are from Pollycraft. The surfboard paper is from a 12"sheet by Karen Foster which I bought reduced for 15p from Crafty Emma's Store and the star paper is K & Co Americana. I used the MS cherish punch and some card candi, both great for male cards, and some Baker's twine.

Challenges:
Pollycraft Travel/holidays
ASPOS Splish splash
Paperplay At the Beach
Sparkles Forum At the Beach
Truly Scrumptious Fab sketch
Cards for Men Stars
DYSU Use a star
MAWTT Surfin' Safari (just couldn't resist a second entry)

Now those of you who know the song will be singing away with me. All together now - Let's go surfin now, everybody surfin now, come on a Safari with me.

Before I go to link up and do some commenting I must tell you my exciting news. I was checking my e-mails last night and was taken aback to receive one out of the blue from Linnie at Whoopsi Daisy saying she loved my work and asking me to be a guest designer for 6 months.So I hope you'll play along with this Sunday challenge with me.

Flowers in your hair

Where did Summer go? I think we had it in April this year. Yesterday it poured with rain in between some sunny spells with a bit of thunder thrown in. Today has been cool and dull with a bit of rain. At least my card has a Summery feel. It is of course one of the gorgeous new girl stamps from LOTV. I kept the colours really soft on this with some papers from Country Companions Lover's Lane and Forever Friends Pink Parfait. I used an MS border punch, some ric rac, K & Co sparkly daisies and Crealie die cut leaves. I also used a Sakura Rosestar pen on the flowers for added sparkle.The sentiment is from Do Crafts Tulip range.

Challenges:
Stamptacular Fun in the Sun
Whoopsi Daisy Pile on those flowers
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
For fun Summer fun
Lili of the Valley Bring on the music (Song title San Francisco-Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair)
Moving along with the times Inspired by a song (San Francisco-Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair)
CES Lots of sparkly flowers

Ballet in the spotlight

It's Saturday and that means time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss where you can win a voucher form our sponsor, Simon Says. We were blown away by the number of entries last week which kept me busy commenting and I'm sure we will get lots this week with the theme of pearls and swirls.

I used one of the new LOTV die cuts as this image isn't out as a stamp yet and I needed it. Talking of which my new girl stamps arrived this morning from LOTV, yippee. Papers are some old Papermania Amethyst Infusion. I used 2 Crealie dies, swirls and leaves and added Prima flowers with a large sparkly gem brad and of course some pearls.

I would also like to enter this into the challenge of birthstone colours (amethyst and pearl) at Cute Card Thursday.
It's puring with rain here and having spent the morning doing housework will be stamping up my new LOTV girlies this afternoon and having a little play.

Let's Party

How excited was I on Monday when I saw that Paula has a DT call at Pollycraft and was also giving away 2 fab freebie digis. One is Sonny's Party which I used for this card. Regular readers will know I am a huge fan of Pollycraft. I coloured Sonny with Promarklers and added some Sakura clearstar for some sparkle and used a Sakura purple glaze pen for the string on the balloon and the bunting. I printed 2 images so I could 3D her balloon and shoes.

As soon as I saw this image I knew I wanted to make an 8" x 8" card and add some bunting. I made it a flag shape rather than triangles for a change and die cut letters using a Sizzix Tim Holtz alphabet.  I find the trick with bunting is to give it a slight curve so it looks like it is hanging.

The papers are from a Kanban scrapbook set of papers I bought yesterday. The colours are so gorgeous I couldn't wait to use them and hope that using my fave purple will bring me luck. I wanted to add some pink touches too to match one of the papers. I used 2 different MS border punches and a Sizzix corner die for the swirls. Flowers are from Wild Orchid and Michaels.

Challenges:
Tales from Pollycraft DT call
Crafts 4 Eternity Embellishment beginning with R (roses)
Totally Papercrafts Die cuts or punches
Stamp Something Something with pretty papers
Sketch Saturday Fab sketch
Scrapbook Sisters Bunting
Crafty Purple Frog Favourite things (Purple, Pollycraft, Pretty papers, flowers, glitter, swirls, border punches)

I'm off to get something to eat now but will catch up with some blogging later. Have a great weekend. It's pouring with rain here but we can't complain as the gardens and the farms badly need it as we were declared a drought area last week.

What's in the parcels?

Had a lovely morning out as hubby wasn't at work this week. We went to the coast as he wanted to visit a specialist car shop to buy some car mats and I fitted in a visit to a craft shop. It has been there 5 years and I have only just discovered it as it was advertised in the craft mags. It is tucked away in a residential area so with out advert would never have known it was there. Not much there I wanted but I did manage to pick up some papers. Well it would have been rude not to buy anything wouldn't it. Had a walk along the prom and then stopped at a garden centre on the way home where it started to rain.

My card features one of the lovely LOTV boys, papers are Papermania Hampstead, metal art from K&Co and baker's twine from Crafty Emma's.

Challenges:
Craft Us Crazy Masculine
Dutch Dare For the Boys
Card Makin Mamas For a child
Secret Crafter Male
Incy Wincy Masculine
Cupcake Boy, oh boy, oh boy
Papertake Dads and lads

Here comes the bride

A friend stamped this image for me and I have never used it so when I decided to make a Wedding card today thought it was time to use her. The papers are probably my fave papers ever, Papermania Henbury Lane. Love the glitter on some of these papers which match the glitter I added to her flowers and necklace. The roses and pearl bow are from Wild Orchid. The tiny punched leaves were made using a Papermania punch, pin from stash.

Challenges:
ABC W is for Wedding
Crafts and Me Bling it on
My Mums Craft Shop Seeing Spots
The Emerald Faerie Petals
Whiff of Joy Colour challenge of strawberries and cream
Cute Card Thursday Pins and pearls
Crafts 4 Eternity Colour challenge of strawberries and cream
Whoopsi Daisy Free and Easy
Stamp with fun Pearls and flowers
Hooked on Craft Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles Floral Showcase
Passion for Promarkers Here comes the bride

Glamour Girl

 This is my third post for today.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win 2 Kraftin' Kimmie stamps on the Cute Card Thursday challenge. They arrived yesterday and I just had to ink them up and use one today. Isn't she fabulous. Although I like using decoupage and die cuts nothing beats stamping and colouring with my Promarkers. I was so happy spending time colouring her in. I decided to try auburn hair for a change and am pretty pleased with the result. I used a Sakura goldstar pen for the spots on her dress. The star circle is a Marianne die, papers are Prima Fairy Flora and flowers are all from Crafty Emma's Store. I found the puffy gold bow in my stash which just finished off the sparkle nicely.

Challenges:
Crafts and Me Stamp Something
Truly Scrumptious Summer Sparkle
Aud Sentiments Summer
Crafty Sentiments Add some sparkle
Kraftin' Kimmie Add some gold
Paper Sundaes Girly girl
CES Inspired by a Movie (A Star is Born)
Sketch N Stash Great sketch

Some of you have asked for pics of my new craft room. As you can see it is progressing with hubby painting the ceiling for me. He painted the wall white but before he did so decided to write on it. I've ordered a chair, 2 desks and a blind and the electrician is coming next Tuesday to put in some new lights so I hope to be moved in by the end of the month.

Butterflies and flowers

I'm back with my second post today. Scroll down for my Snowman sneak peek. I bought some of the LOTV diecuts as the stamps weren't available. Of course some of them, such as this cute girlie are available from today but some of the others aren't and at £1 for 6 diecuts they are great value. Papers are Papermania Boysenberry. I added some ribbon, a punched butterfly and flowers which I pinched and added pearls.

It's a beautiful sunny day here after some very changeable days so I'm off to do some gardening.

Challenges:
By The Cute and Girly In the Garden
Lili of the Valley Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts Summer
Scrapbook Sisters English Country Garden

Less than 12 hours to go to The Snowman launch

Well not long now until you can get your hands of the fab new CD and stamp set from Crafter's Companion. Ideal World 9pm. I made a stepper card for this one, using more of the gorgeous papers, decoupage and topper from the CD. I added some die cut and punched snowflakes and some card candi which looks like snowballs I thought. Must use that on some more Christmas card methinks. I'll be back shortly with a completely contrasting card.

One more day to go

Only one more day until you can get your hands on the fabulous new CD and stamp set from Crafter's Companion. I'm back today with 2 more sneak peeks of the fabulous images and gorgeous papers. These are such fun images. The top card was made using Nesties and Sizzix holly die with some card candi. Everything on the bottom card is from the CD.

I've been busy making some more samples of Christmas Reddy Pyrimage which will be featured on Wednesday in between the Snowman Pick of the Day programmes. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow at 9pm for the first programme on Ideal World.

I'm of to do some housework and ironing and hope to make a card later to share with you.

Walking In the Air

Here I am with sneak peek number 3 of the fabulous new Snowman CD from Crafter's Companion. I sprayed the image with Spray and Sparkle which of course doesn't really show up in the photo. I used my MS cherish border punch and made a Poinsettia with leaves from Marianne dies and Spray and Sparkle. I hope you will be tuning in to Ideal World at 9pm on Tuesday when the CD and stamps will be the pick of the day. Loads more shows on Wednesday too all during the day.

Call Me

I'm back with a second post today. Please scroll down for Humphrey and The Snowman and up for candy.

I've had a busy morning sorting out loads of stuff in the cupboards upstairs so that we could move some furniture out to sell ready for my new craftroom. I am hoping to be in there at the end of the month and can't wait to get it all set up.

I've used a Simply Sassy girl from Sugar Nellie which I was lucky enough to win on the Facebook SN challenge a couple of weeks ago. Papers are Papermania Blueberry. I used an MS border punch, some gems and Papermania glitter strips.

Challenges:
Willow Sketchie Fab sketch
Stamp Something Punch Something
Craft your days away Monochrome
Make it Colourful Blue

Look what Santa brought

Here I am with my second Christmas card today. If you haven't caught my sneak peek of the new Crafter's Companion launch then check out my post below.

This is my DT post for Winter Wonderland where this week Lynsey is challenging us to use swirls and pearls and you have the chance to win some digis from Delicious Doodles. I've used a SN stamp I bought recently from Funky Kits which is just perfect for little boy's Christmas cards (or even big boys). Papers are Papermania Classic Christmas. I used a new Crealie die, which I am loving as you get so many swirls in one die for just £9.99 from Joanna Sheen, no p&p to pay either. It cuts beautifully and no fiddling to get the die cuts out of the die. A silver sentiment and some pearls and card complete.

Challenges:
Craft us Crazy Masculine theme
The Sugar Bowl Fab sketch as always
Fussy and Fancy Card for a man or a boy
Wags n Whiskers One for the boys
Ladybug Crafts Ink It's all about the males
ABC Christmas L for Love and colour scheme red, silver and green
Creative Inspirations Card for Dad/man in your life
Fab 'n' Funky Magnificent men

Lovely to see some more new followers and lots of entries for my yummy candy. If you haven't entered yet then see my post above.

Sneak Peek Day 1

Yes, it's another exciting launch for Crafter’s Companion and it is of course The Snowman. There's a CD with some fabulous decoupage, toppers, sentiments, papers, in fact all of the things you've come to expect from CC and a stamp set. These papers are so gorgeous and vibrant. There are some fab blues and purples plus of course the colouriser which means you can have these designs in any colour you want. It's hard to find many purple Christmas papers so I shall definitely be using  these papers again and again.

I don't know what you call this fold but I simply made a 6" x 6" card from Centura pearl card available from CC and then scored and folded the front back and added a decoupaged panel. I added some Sizzix die cut and MS punched snowflakes cut from glitter and pearl card. The rest of the DT will be showing sneak peeks until the launch on Tuesday on Ideal World at 9pm where it will be The Pick of the Day so you know that means a very special price for one day. There are so many programmes on Wednesday both on Ideal World and Create and Craft so be sure to tune in.

Would you like to win a set of these? Of course you would, so head over to Crafter’s Companion News blog where you will find all the details of this fun competition. Just look for the snowmen each day and you could be the lucky winner.

I'll be back later with my Winter Wonderland card and look out for more sneak peeks each day. I would like to enter this card into the challenge of Wintertime Blues at Craftyhazelnuts and Best Friends at Penny's.

In the swing

A funny day for weather today. One minute sunshine, the next rain. Not enough rain though to do a lot of good to the garden. Whatever the weather Teddy Bea is keeping her hat on!

I've bought so many of these Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea images and just haven't had a chance to use them all yet. I've teamed Teddy Bea with some gorgeous Henbury Lane paper and butterfly and a really sparkly flower from Michaels. I just added some pearls and a sentiment from the Do Crafts Tulip range.

Challenges:
Teddy Bo Shaped card and DT call
Digital Tuesday In the garden/outdoors
Little Claire Shaped card
Creative Card Crew Wings
Divas by Design Floral
Sir Stampalot Photo inspiration

Don't forget to enter my candy (see post above.)  Welcome to my new followers.

Thank You Bouquet

Well I've finished the Crafter's Companion cards and they've been posted so expect some sneak peeks very soon. I've made one of my DT cards for this week and decided it was time to have a play with something else before I make another card for an order. I haven't used this LOTV bear for much too long and these colours are way out of my comfort zone but I'm really pleased with the result. I used a mix of papers as I don't have many citrus coloured papers. The backing paper is from a Country Diary freebie pack, the yellow is K&Co Daisy and the others are First Edition Desert Bloom.

I used 2 MS border punches and an old X cut daisy punch. The peachy coloured paper is double sided so the striped flowers were made from the other side.

Challenges:
Lili of the Valley Punch it out
Sketch Saturday Love this sketch
DYSU Orange
Paperplay Summer citrus splash
The Corrosive Challenge Summer colours
Divas by Design Floral

Ruby Wedding

Good evening, here I am back home from a lovely celebratory weekend. Thanks so much to all those of you who left me so many lovely comments both on here and on Facebook. I especially loved the comments saying I don't even look 40, never mind being old enough to have been married for 40 years, bless you.

This is the card I made my hubby, which he loved. It features a sepia digi of Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea. The background paper is HOTP and the others are Country Companions. You know I love 8 x 8 cards and lots of details so I wanted to add lots of different textures and details to this card. There's ribbon, a charm, a heart doily which I chalked, a Nestie cut heart and heart Sizzix cut corners. I also used the hearts that came out of the corners. The 40 numbers were from some old Poundland stickers which matched the papers perfectly. I also used the MS PATP set.

Challenges:
One Stop Craft Texture
Delicious Doodles
Stamp Something Digi
Crafty Cardmakers Love the lasting kind
Forever Friends 3 papers
Pollycraft Love and marriage
Papertake Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes Let's get sentimental
My Partner in Crafting Crime Uncoloured image
CRAFT Wedding/love
Delicious Doodles Texture

I've got so much to catch up on now, including finishing off some Crafter's Companion samples, this week's DT cards and DT commenting plus visiting you and leaving comments which I will do as soon as I can.

Ruby Wedding Anniversary

As you can see we are celebrating with champagne in our hotel room on our 40th wedding anniversary (see post above for more details and celebration candy). We had a lovely evening last night with a meal and show at the Theatre (Spirit of the Dance). Today we are in Birmingham at a very nice boutique hotel. Off to have a meal shortly and then will be rocking the night away to Journey, Foreigner and Styx. We may have been married 40 years but we still know how to rock. We're here for a couple of nights. Plan to visit Stratford on Avon tomorrow.

Beuatiful Baby Boy

Another post on the run from me. As you will see from my candy post above I have lots going on at the moment. I haven't made a baby card for a while and just love this WOJ stamp. It's my DT card for this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss where we have a lovely sketch for you and the chance to win £10 to spend at Joanna Sheen. My papers are Papermania aqua. I used distress ink and heat embossed with glitter embossing powder around the image. I used 2 scrolls from my new Crealie die and some punched stars with faux stitching and my old favourite MS doilie border punch. The sentiment and epoxy star are from stash.

Challenges:
Dream Valley Stamp something
Crafty Cardmakers Love the lasting kind
Crafts and Me Punch it out

Blow out the candles

Some of my fave colours in this card featuring this cute Fizzy Moon bear. Papers are BG, flowers are Prima. Embossing was done with pearlised card and a Sizzix embossing folder.

Challenges:
Sketch N Stash (old papers and flowers, new Fizzy Moon)
CES Embossing
Creative Inspirations Cute bears/animals
Pollycraft Be my teddy bear (I always use a Pollycraft image for their challenges but time is running away from me this week)

Thanks to everyone who joined in our Birthday bloghop at Winter Wonderland. The winners will all be announced on Sunday on the challenge blog. There's a fun challenge starting today of the food of Christmas.

Sorry for short post but lots going on at the moment. I'll be back later with some celebration candy.

Winter Wonderland Bloghop and help for commenting issues

If you are looking for the Winter Wonderland Blog Hop post please click here.  This post will stay at the top until the end of the hop on 2nd June at 5pm.

I was having some problems leaving comments as I know many of you are too. I seem to have solved this in 2 ways.

If the comment box won't open, click it and press control and alt at the same time. If you are asked to sign in then uncheck the stay signed in box. You will then be able to comment as yourself, not anonymous, and you will stay signed in. Please leave me a comment if this has helped you.

A card today using one of the SWALK 2 images and papers and letters from one of the SWALK CDs.  I used an MS PATP punch set and a Sizzix cut corner. Faux stitching around the image.

Challenges:
Kaboodle Doodles Show us your colours (of your country)
For Fun End of school
Wags 'n Whiskers Stitches

Sorry for the short post but I have lots to do today including some more samples to make for Crafter's Companion and sorting out the winners for Winter Wonderland. Talking of winners I have been very lucky today and won the Willow Sketchie challenge for the second week running and Cute Card Thursday.  I'll be back later today or tomorrow with some fab candy to be won as I have a big celebration this weekend.

Strawberry time

Here's my second post for today featuring one of the Cherry Kisses digis from Pollycraft. Mmm, those strawberries look good, glad I've got some to have later. Papers are First Edition ad I was so pleased to find this strawberry charm amongst a bag of mixed charms I bought. The background paper is so sparkly that I didn't want to hide too much of it up with adding more flowers so just finished off with a few pearls.

Challenges:
Just Tracys Strawberries and cream
Sparkles Forum Metal
Totally Papercrafts Pink and girly
Truly Scrumptious Summer sparkle
I love Promarkers Sparkly bling
ABC V is for Variety (at least 3 types of embellishment) (ribbon, pearl bow, pearls and charm)

If you haven't entered the Winter Wonderland challenge yet then you only have one more day. Remember you can just enter the challenge for a chance of one of 11 prizes or enter the bloghop too for a chance of one of 22 prizes. So what are you waiting for, Christmas, rofl!!!!

I'll be back with an even bigger celebration candy in the next couple of days so keep an eye out for that. You are definitely going to want to enter it.

Popcorn in the garden

After a real mix of weather the last few days the sun is shining and we are promised good weather for a while now which brings me in nicely to this month's challenge at Crafter's Companion which is Here Comes Summer. I used one of the Popcorn Reddy Cut Decoupage kits and papers from one of the Popcorn CDs. We had lots of lovely entries last month, many using CC images so I hope you'll join in with this month's easy challenge.