New Year Candy

This post will stay at the top until 31 January, please scroll down for other posts.

I am not going to be around for some of January to return your comments so I thought I would offer a little candy as a thank you to one of my lovely followers. I will have posts scheduled for every day though.  We are having a new heating system installed in January and I will soon be packing up most of my craftroom contents as the airing cupboard is in my craftroom and they need access to get the old tank out and install a new one.

So I have some Dovecraft Cupcake Boutique papers, flowers and baker's twine for one lucky person to win. A nice co-ordinating prize.

All you have to do is

Be a follower on Google Friend Connect, and preferably Bloglovin' too, though this is not essential

Display a pic of my candy in your sidebar with a link to my blog

Enter via Inlinkz below

Candy closes 31 January.

Happy Birthday to a keen golfer

Another challenge has come around at Winter Wonderland and it is another easy one, Digi Days. So as long as you use a digi you can play along, Christmas or non Christmas you choose for the first few weeks of the year, We have two sponsors this week, Kenny K and Digital Delights.

Image - Kenny K

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Man Made

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Die - Sizzix grass

Other - baker's twine, charm

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl Anything Goes 

AGOAC For the boys

MAWTT Birthday boys

Skipping

We have one of my favourite challenges this week at Crafty Little Fairies, lavender and lace. I used one of my newest LOTV stamps coloured with Copics. Her dress looks rather blue in the photo but is actually lavender. I used to do coloured dots a lot but haven't used the stamp for ages, it is called Field of Sky by Stamp in the Hand and I used a dewdrop inkpad with it.

The papes are some very old Country Companions I had forgotten I had until I was rummaging in one of the paper drawers. I used some gauze from LOTV coloured with a Copic, lace from Crafty Ribbons, MB die cut swirly tree and butterflies and some tiny pearls from Meiflower.

Challenges

Lili of the Valley Anything LOTV goes

The Ribbon Girl Anything Goes 

Send a smile 4 kids Anything goes 4 kids

All the fun of the fair

A friend asked me to make an anniversary card for her husband using some steam fair photos she had seen me use on a scrapbook page. The photos were taken at the Dorest Steam Fair a couple of years ago. I used an LOTV sentiment, some scrim from B&Q, La La Land heart banner and ME Dilly Dally papers.

With Deepest Sympathy and pics of my holiday purchases

Unfortunately we all need sympathy cards at times and as I don't have any in my stock I need to make some. I like to keep thees fairly simple. You really don't want a fussy sympathy card. I stamped the Inkylicious flowers with Memento Rich Cocoa onto linen card and teamed it with a Craftwork Cards card blank, swiss dots ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and Bo Bunny Timepiece papers.

Challenges

As you like it Favourite C&S style and why (I love using stamps with no colouring and ribbon for CAS cards and love these shaped cards for added interest)

Delicious Doodles Use ribbon 

The Ribbon Girl Anything Goes

On a more cheerful note here is the stuff I bought on holiday. Apologies that the pics aren't great but the light was going and I wanted to take some pics. I hope I get time to put them away today but there is a mountain of ironing to start tackling and we need to go food shopping today. It may be later in the week before I find time to start crafting and catching up on blogging.

Items for altering and playing around with.

Scrapbook (£3, can you beleive it)

Mainly scrapbooking goodies

Lovely new stash

Have you entered my candy yet? I will have another shorty with some goodies I bought in Florida for one of my lovely followers.

December 25th, surely not!

We had a great holiday in Florida. Today I shall be finishing the unpacking, doing loads of washing and cleaning the house. As you can imagine having the new heating system installed means the house needs a good clean. Hope to get the craftroom back together today. I have some new craft stash to sort and some for a new candy shortly too. I will catch up with you all as soon as I can.

I have another Stamposaurus sample to share with you today using Father Christmas's house, coloured with Copics and dripping with stickles. The lovely die cut was made with a MB die.

Challenges

CCAYR Anything Goes

Craftyhazelnut Tree

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra Anything Christmas goes

On my Way Home

Well if you are reading this on Sunday morning I am on my way home from 15 days in sunny Florida. Yes we arranged to have the new heating system installed whilst we were away on holiday. I hope you enjoyed my scheduled posts and thanks for all your lovely comments. I will be rather busy for a few days now, unpacking, washing and ironing, sorting out my holiday purchases, unpacking my craftroom and getting the house back to normal so I will be round to visit you as soon as I can.

Thankfully this wasn't our mode of transport home, lol, but another sample card for Stamposaurus. I coloured the narrow boat with Copics and made the banners with strips of papers which would otherwise have been binned.

Challenges

Without Words Spots and/or stripes

Bizzy Becs Anything Goes 

Heck of a Challenge New (new stamp) 

One Crazy Stamper Anything Goes

I hope you have entered my candy (post above), finishes in a few days.

Anniversary in Paris

I asked for some of the new Docrafts art deco toppers for Christmas as they make quick cards and are so popular at craft fairs. I teamed it with a sentiment and papers from the previous art deco collection and a die cut Eiffel Tower. A simple but striking anniversary card.

Check out my blog tomorrow for updated news explaining my absence.

Get Well Roses

This is a card I made a little while ago using one of the LOTV art pads edged with DI Worn Lipstick. The butterfly and rose are Prima and the part die behind the image was a freebie from Dies to Die For. The sentiment is LOTV and I used a Viva Decor pearl pen and seam binding.

Have you entered my candy, post above?

Taking it Easy

Although it is blue fairy week and I am a pink fairy I just had to play along with this week's sport challenge at Crafty Little Fairies. I hope you will hop over and check out the other cards from the DT.

Image and sentiment  - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Echo Park a Boy's Life and Papermania Jewels

Die - MB clouds

Pearls - The Hobby House

Other - DI Weathered Wood

I would like to enter this into Lili of the Valley Anything LOTV goes

Vintage Caravan

A completely different feel to my caravan card today, very different to the card on 5th January. I wanted to make a more vintage card.

Image - Stamposaurus

Medium - Copics

Papers - Bo Bunny et cetera

Circle - cut out from one of the wine tags I made using the large Prima tags

Other - hessian, metal embellies, vintage button, DI Vintage Photo.

Wine and Roses

An 8 x 8 Wedding card today which you can also find posted on the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration Blog along with all kinds of wonderful makes from the rest of the DT.

Dies- Cheery Lynn couple, MB birdcage and butterflies

Ribbon - French Roses from Crafty Ribbons

Paper - from stash

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Punch - fern leaves

Let's make a dress

I have used the new sewing set from Stamposaurus for another of their samples. This time I stamped it using Memnto Rich Cocoa onto some cream linen card and then used DI Vintage Photo. The dress form is from Craftwork Cards. I added some seam binding and vintage buttons.

Surprise!

A clean and simple card today and a very quick make. I used an image from one of the LOTV art pads, baker's twine, pearls, sentiment and an embossing folder. Very simple but I rather like the way it turned out.  Sorry it is another short scheduled post from me today. Thanks for all your visits and comments. While you are here, check out my little candy post above.

I would like to enter this into anything goes LOTV at Lili of the Valley

Picnic at the beach

I wanted to get a bit of a beach feel to this card, without making it too obviously seaside. I have coloured the Stamposaurus stamp with Copics and a little Sakura clearstar and golden star pens. The papers are MME, beach hut ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. I added some MB die cut clouds with sanded Core'dinations.

Don't forget to enter my little candy, post above.

Walking the Dog

Time for another challenge at Winter Wonderland and our challenge today is A Dog is not just for Christmas.  You can choose whether or not to make a Christmas card and as you can see I decided to make a Birthday card. I bought this Sarah Kay stamp months ago and stamped her straight away but hadn't got round to colouring her. I am determined to use any neglected new stamps this year.

Image - Sarah Kay

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME Collectable Remarkable

Velvet ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment - LOTV

Flower - from stash, bought in America

Punch - MS simple scallop border

So hop over and check out the rest of the DT makes and join in the challenge for a chance to win one of two fabulous prizes. 

or a goody bag from

Check out my card and lots more from the DT at the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration Blog.

Making Cupcakes

Thursday means another challenge at Crafty Little Fairies and our challenge this week is In the Kitchen. I could think of lots of different ideas for this one but in the end went for these cute LOTV mice making cupcakes. They have been coloured with Copics, paper is Dovecraft Cupcake Boutique. I added a doily and some pearls and used a Joy cuckoo clock and Marianne Designs corner with sanded Core'dinations. I hope you will join in the fun for the chance to win a stamp of your choice from our sponsor

Have you entered my candy, post above?

Happy Birthday

I do love big sentiments and this one from LOTV has been stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa onto some lovely linen card I bought at the NEC. The papers are Papermania  and I added some naker's twine and card candi. I love the rich colours and the contrast of the shiny gold with the sentiment.

Have you entered my candy yet (post above)?

New Home

I have used the same stamp as I used a few days ago for a retirement card but this time also used one of the sentiment stamps and made a  new home card. It has been coloured with Copics, the papers are First Edition Floral Pavilion. This is the other pack hubby chose for me for Christmas, a great choice. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons. I just didn't feel it needed any more embellishing.

White Christmas

Today I am sharing a Christmas card I didn't get round to blogging before Christmas. I really love the Memory Box dies on this one, deer trio, traditional star and sentiment dies. The paper is First Edition Silent Night and I just added some pearls. Simple but effective.

Have you entered my candy, post above?

Happy Retirement

I am determined to try out some different styles of cards this year and cas is something which is actually quite difficult to do well I think so I am going to try more of these. This is yet another ample using one of the new stamps from Stamposaurus, coloured with Copics and a touch of Sakura Golden Star pen.  Other items used are Baker's twine and pearls from The Hobby House

On the Road

I am sharing another Stamposaurus sample with you today. The new vintage car stamp has been coloured with Copics. The papers are from the First Edition Man made which is one of the packs my hubby chose for me for Christmas, didn't he do well. I used a Sakura clearstar and golden star pens on the image too. Dies used were a Joy lamppost and Die-versions car.

Have you entered my candy yet, post above?

Anniversary Ball

I bought the diecut of the couple years ago before I discovered stamping and decided to use it rather than leaving it lingering in my stash.

Papers - Prima Lyric

Dies - MB chandelier and precious hearts

Ribbon hearts and kisses from Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment - Stamposaurus

Pearl heart - Meiflower

Please hop over to the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration Blog where you will find this card posted today along with all kinds of wonderful makes from the rest of the DT.

Well my craft room is packed and various things have been moved to make way for the plumber to start the heating. I won't be around for a while but there are posts scheduled every day so please keep popping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.

Bird Houses

Time for another challenge at Crafty Little Fairies and it is one of my favourite things to use for diecutting, kraft. I just love kraft card and hope you do too. I wanted to use lots of different textures with this card.Play along for the chance to win 4 digis from

Image - Dreamees

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Dreamcatcher

Dies - Joy

Other - spider's web stuff, crispy lace ribbon from Dreamees, leather strip, DI Vintage Photo, Viva decor pearl pen

As I was colouring the image one of my Copics ran out. I started with the Ciaos but as they run out I am replacing them with sketch markers. I couldn't afford to buy all sketch markers to start with but I do prefer them and they last longer. I ordered three pens from Cult Pens one afternoon and they arrived the next morning, what fantastic service.

Challenges

Ali-Craft Anything Goes 

One Crazy Stamper Anything Goes 

A Creative Romance Something New (new stamp) 

Delicious Doodles Layer Up 

AGOAC Something new (new stamp)
Papertake Anything Goes

Which Way do I go?

I am so glad that you can still buy Pollycraft images at Little Miss Muffet as I think they are adorable and this is the first time I have used this little boy.

Image - Pollycraft

Medium - Copics

Papers - Echo Park a Boy's Life

Sentiment - LOTV

Punch - MS zigzag border

Dies - Spellbinders arrows

Other - glossy accents

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet Fab sketch 

Charisma Birthdays 

Cute Card Thursday Banish the blues (fun)

 Sweet Stampin' Sport and fitness
Without Words Spots and/or stripes

Papertake Anything goes

A girlie card for a change

It seems a while since I shared a girlie card with you. This little fairy has been sitting waiting patiently on my desk for ages and I finally got to colour her and use her.

Image - Sugar Nellie

Medium - Copics

Paper - First Edition Floral Pavilion

Card blank - hammered card cut with a Go Kreate die

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Other - doily, Melissa Frances tag, circle offcut from a Prima tag when I made some wine tags, crispy lace ribbon, stickles, Sakura goldstar pen

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl Fairies

  Natalie and Amy One for the girlies

  The Shabby Tea Room So romantic (photo inspiration) and must use roses

Allsorts Free and Easy 

Ali-craft Anything Goes 

Bizzy Becs Anything Goes

I am off for a massage and haircut today. Yesterday the craft room was all packed up ready for the new heating system (see candy post above for more details). I have posts scheduled for every day though so keep checking back here for more cards every day.

On the Canal

Another great stamp from Stamposaurus and and another sample card from me. These will be on the website gallery shortly.

Image - Stamposarurus

Medium - Copis, Sakura Golden Star pen

Papers - MME Collectable Remarkable

Dies - Britannia sentiment, MB banner

Punch - MS cherish border

Challenges

Simon Says Something new (new stamp) 

One Crazy Stamper Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Birthdays

Ali-craft Anything Goes 

Allsorts Free and Easy

Crafty Calendar Let's Celebrate

Have you entered my candy, post above?

Nice cuppa in the caravan

Isn't this a great new stamp from Stamposaurus, a vintage caravan. I am planning to use this for some cards to sell as caravanning is so popular.

Image - Stamposaurus Vintage Caravan

Medium - Copis, Sakura Golden Star pen

Papers - Echo Park Bundle of Joy Dots and Stripes

Other - Dovecraft wooden embellishments coloured with DI Faded Jeans, card candi, raffia lace and ribbon from stash

Challenges

Simon Says Something new (new stamp)

 One Crazy Stamper Anything Goes

Allsorts Free and Easy 

AGOAC Something new (new stamp) 

Bizzy Becs Anything Goes

Have you entered my candy yet, post above?

Sewing calendar

Today I am posting on the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration Blog so I would love it if you would hop over there and comment. You will find all kinds of inspiration there on a regular basis. This is another of the calendars I made for my December craft fairs. I used tape measure ribbon from Crafty Ribbons,  Prima Lyric papers, Papermania calendar, Craftwork Cards dress form, Prima butterfly and buttons and baker's twine.

Challenges

Simon Says Something New (New Year)

Totally Papercrafts New Beginnings 

Totally Gorjuss Ribbon

Santa Stop Here

It's the first challenge of the year for us at Winter Wonderland and as we usually do we give you the option of making whatever you like, Christmas or non Christmas as long as you meet the theme. I have chosen one of my favourite themes Teddy Bears. Judging by the panic some of you were in starting Christmas card making now for 2014 would be a good idea.

We have an amazing amount of sponsors lined up for 2014 and some weeks we have two or eve three sponsors so lots of reasons to play along. This week we are pleased to welcome a new sponsor

with a prize of a £10 voucher.

One of my favourite stores, ooooh love their range of dies, wish I could win.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Nitwits Woodland Wishes from LOTV

Dies - Doohickey fence, Dee's tree, MB traditional star and snowflake. Large snowflake was a freebie from DTDF

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Border punch - Michaels

Other - Stickles, Viva Decor pearl pen

Challenges

Papertake  Pick of the year December - Christmas Creatures

Craftyhazelnut Starting all over again 

In the Pink Pink Christmas

Sentimental Sundays Pick from our favourite challenge (180 Warm and Cosy)

ALBC Celebrate 

One Crazy Stamper Anything Goes 

Creative Inspiration Celebration 

CCAYR Anything Goes

 Have you entered my candy, post above?

Also have you seen the amazing bargains over at Crafty Ribbons. £5 packs of ribbons for just £1!!!!
Be quick because they are selling out fast.

New Baby stamp

I couldn't resist this gorgeous stamp from the last launch from LOTV and it is the perfect image for my DT card for Crafty Little Fairies where my challenge is Starting Over. We have some fabulous sponsors lined up and this week we are sponsored by one of our new regular sponsors

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Embossing - Crafter's Companion with sanded Coredinatins

Butterfly - Cheery Lynn die

Banner - MB die

Letters - bought from Facebook group

Other - frantage, ribbon from stash, glossy accents on balloon

Challenges

Crafts 4 Eternity Something new 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards New beginnings 

Papertake Pick of the year January - Happy New (anything)

Totally Gorjuss New

The Squirrel and the Fox Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays Pick from our favourite challenge (140 celebrating the new) 

Bearly Mine Anything Goes 

TTCD Anything Goes

Simon Says Something New

My new year started really well. I received a fabulous crafty offer on New Year's Eve and accepted it yesterday. I can't say any more until mid February so watch this space.

Top 5 cards of 2013 (non Christmas)

I am playing along as usual with Debby's fun challenge. This was even harder than choosing my favourite five Christmas cards. Although Debby doesn't say they have to be non Christmas I like to choose 5 other cards as I have already chosen my fave 5 Christmas cards.

I had to start with a purple card and I sold this one on its first outing at a fair. I remember as the lady who bought it wanted it for somebody who was wearing purple to a masked ball, what a coincidence.

My second choice is a male card as I love making these as much as girly cards. I was so pleased with my colouring and love the layout too.

A young boy's card this time and I embraced the clean and simple look here. I love to make a variety of cards and as well as my many layered cards you will also be seeing more cas cards this year I think.

Back to layers and the vintage look which I also love. Somebody bought this for an older lady which I loved as some people think cute cards are only for children, unlike us cardmakers who know they are for everyone.

My final choice is one I didn't really want to sell. Photos don't always do cards justice especially shaped cards and this one was so pretty. I love the delicate image and she was one of the first images that I began to feel I was getting the colouring right having changed from Promarkers to Copics last year.

Thanks to everyone who has visited my blog in 2013 and especially those who leave so many lovely comments. I feel very privileged to have such wonderful followers.

Happy New Year everyone xx