Merry Christmas!!!

Just popped on to wish everyone who visits my blog 'A very Merry Christmas!' and a big thank-you for all the lovely comments you leave :) they are really appreciated x


I think I'm ready for Christmas although yesterday nearly put all plans out of action! as I had no hot/cold water for 12 hours eeek!!! The mains pipe had frozen coming into the house, I think it dropped to -13c Monday night! but luckily some very kind workmen came out in their holidays and managed to defrost it, not before cutting holes in my downstairs cloakroom floor!! and airing cupboard to reach it! but at least I have water, thank goodness!!!



The snow is still falling steadily infact it's a white-out right now! I have'nt even cleared the path today as it just keeps falling :0)
Here are a few pictures especially for Sharon, my blogging friend in South Africa :) who would love to see some snowy pictures and twinkly Christmas trees :)

These are for you Sharon :) have a wonderful warm Christmas!!
Top photo is our Christmas tree!


This is the view from the top of the slope in the park just round the corner from our house and right behind my son's school :)



My son Jacob climbing up the slope to go sledging after school on Monday :)

Jacob posing for the camera :0) You can just see Ben Aigen with snow on it's flat top in the far distance on the right hand side! (click to make the photo larger!) Not quite Table Top mountain!! but very pretty scenery all the same :) Hope you like my little part of Scotland Sharon!

All the best everyone, see you after Christmas xx

Last of the Christmas cards!

The last of my Christmas cards!! I think :)

For the top card I have used this week's sketch #30 from PaperTakeWeekly. I have turned the sketch upside down so I could use the round sentiment! I decided to use a different colour combo for this card of purple & green, the cute Hanglar image is coloured with promarkers and I embossed the panel behind her with a Quickcutz embossing folder. The papers are Trimcraft?

The bottom card is the lovely Penny Black Christmas Swing stamp coloured more traditionally this time in reds & greens :) The papers are a mix of DCWV and Trimcraft and I added the little red gems to finish. I am entering this into the Totally Gorjuss 'Free and Easy' challenge, my 2nd entry!!

I hope to share one more card with you all before the Christmas holidays start and it's a spring card! so pastel colours, flowers & butterflies! I just need to get it finished :) Seems strange making a spring card when it's snowing outside :)

Thanks for looking as always x

Hedgehog Post!!

Another Christmas card!! I will share something different soon :0) I have used this week's sketch #82 from Friday Sketchers for the layout although I have stretched it a bit!! This very cute image is Penny Black which I have coloured with promarkers and all the papers are from an old Doodlebug kit.
I am also entering this into this week's 'Free & Easy' challenge over at Totally Gorjuss, I was very lucky to win last week's prize of a voucher for Joanna Sheen!! so I am looking forward to a little spending spree :) Thank you Totally Gorjuss x

Thanks for looking xx

Vintage Penny Black....

My card for this week's Penny Black Saturday challenge #79 of 'Red & Gold'. I have used this gorgeous PB image I received from Tammi x I love the vintage look to these older Penny Black stamps and the challenge colours lend themselves well :)

I have coloured the image with promarkers, making the little bird into a Christmas robin! and adding stickles for the frosty ground and tree. The patterned paper is DCWV and all the cardstock is SU. I have finished with the 'Happy Holidays' stamp also stamped for me by Tammi!

I hope to share a non Christmas card later this week!! I'm busy making a 'spring' card for a challenge over on the Docrafts forum :)

Thanks for looking xx

Ski-ing Cats!

Just a quick post from me today :) Thought I'd share a card I made last week for the Docrafts Penny Black challenge. The theme was 'America' so I went for red, white & blue and made a card for my cat mad Sister-in-Law :) I used this fabulous PB cat image I received in my candy from Nat and coloured with promarkers. No patterned papers just embossed white card and I used a sparkly blue gemstone coredinations cardstock and plain red.

Hope to do a couple of challenges this week :) so check back!

Thanks for looking xx

Totally Gorjuss challenge...

I have been wanting to join in this new challenge blog - Totally Gorjuss for a while now but never got round to it! I noticed this week is a sketch challenge :) which is very handy as it's a fab layout and perfect to get another Christmas card ticked off my list! So I had to join in :0)

I have used Foxy Gorjuss girl coloured with promarkers and the papers are DCWV and Bo Bunny. The oval mat is cut with Nellies Multi frame dies and I have handmade the flower using retro flower punches and a little black rose in the middle.

Cant believe I've managed to post on my blog 4 times in a row this week!! All the different challenge blogs have really helped me get some Christmas cards completed!!

Thanks for looking xx

Forever Friends Hot Choc!

This is the last of the cards I made on Monday :) They are all posted now! this one is for my niece.
I have used this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday for the layout. The Forever Friends image is coloured with promarkers and the papers are DCWV again!

I'm getting there with the Christmas preparations now, the tree and decorations are up so the living room looks lovely and cosy now :) I do love having the Christmas tree up!

I've made another card today for the Totally Gorjuss challenge blog but it was too dark to photo! so I will share tomorrow x

Thanks for looking x

Sweet Snowman....

Another card I made yesterday :) This time for the Friday Sketchers challenge. I love the patchwork square design of this sketch, it's a layout I've used a few times. I have inked up this sweet snowman image from Penny Black, it's one of the new Slapstick range, great size, still rubber not clear and easy to store too!
Image coloured with promarkers and stickled and cut out with nesties. The sentiment is from blogging friend Tammi, thanks Tammi x The papers are DCWV and the twinkly snowflake was in my PB candy win from Nat :)
I have just 3 Christmas cards left to do! So I'm nearly there!!

Back soon with my Sketch Saturday challenge card!

Thanks for looking xx

'We wish you a Merry Christmas'...

I'm still busy finishing off my Christmas cards!! and thank goodness for challenges :) I have made 3 cards this morning for different challenges! I will share them all during the week :)

Today's card combines many challenges!

A Spoonfull of Sugar #80 - non traditional colours for Christmas

Allsorts #30 - colour of advent 'Purple'

Penny Black Saturday #78 - Christmas for the girls! - this card is for my niece :)

Cupcake Craft Challenges #69 - 'Sing a Christmas Carol' - mine is 'we wish you a Merry Christmas'

I have used these cute Penny Black hedgies coloured with promarkers and a little stickles and all the papers are from a DCWV stack. I have kept the layout simple with not too many layers and embellishments as it needs to be posted!

Only 4 more cards to go and that will be me finished!!! I dont send hand-made to everyone, there's just too many people on my list! but I do like to make them for family and my crafty friends :)

Thanks for looking xx

Christmas Carols....

I was very lucky to win Nat's Penny Black Blog candy from the recent 'Christmas Countdown' PB blog hop and my goodies arrived yesterday. Thanks Nat :)

Nat sent me a beautiful Christmas card along with some fabulous images, twinkly snowflakes (I LOVE these!) and lots of buttons, ribbon and gems. I have put them to good use today and made a card using this week's sketch by Beth for Penny Black Saturday.

I have used this very cute 'Carolling Mice' image sent by Nat and coloured it with promarkers and then used SU Heat & Stick powder to cover the image in glitter!! (I hope you can see this! click on the image for a better view!) The papers are from a DCWV stack and I've finished with one of the gorgeous twinkly snowflakes Nat sent :)

I am also entering this in the Docrafts Penny Black challenge this week of 'glitter & sparkle'.

Thanks very much again Nat for the wonderful candy and thanks for looking xx

Forever Friends Christmas...

Another Christmas card from me today!! I have followed 3 different challenges for this card -

Allsorts challenge of 'buttons'

Cupcake Crafts challenge of 'red & green'

Docrafts Forum - Forever Friends challenge of stripy paper, ribbon and buttons.

I have used this gorgeous FF image I received from my blogging friend Tammi and coloured with promarkers. The papers are a DCWV Christmas stack and I added the sentiment and buttons to finish! A quick Christmas card ready for the pile ;0)

And just a quick photo to show you all the 48 (all the same design) Christmas cards I made for an order :) No stamping and colouring, just matting, embossing and sticking!! Still took ages to do!! The lady was really pleased with them though so it made it all worthwhile :)

Thanks for looking xx

Vintage Anya....

A card for 2 challenges :) I've been wanting to make a card for the Passion for Promarkers 'Vintage' challenge all week! but I finally got round to it today! I have also used this week's sketch #4 from the Anyone for Anya blog for the layout.

I have used the gorgeous shopping Anya and coloured her with the following promarkers - I coloured this image a while ago so I think these are right!!!

Hair - sandstone, cocoa and umber

Skin - ivory and blush

Outfit - apricot, spice and terracotta/marsh green and olive

Image outlined in sandstone.

The papers are K & Co Classic K Bailey and I made the grungy flower using my retro punches :) and a flat back pearl.

I love these colours together and I think they are suitably vintage.

Cant wait to see what surprises the PFP team have for us all this December :) all will be revealed tomorrow I hope!!!

Thanks for looking xx

Gorjuss Christmas....

I am hosting the Gorjuss Girl challenge over on the Docrafts forum from today and I've set the following theme - Clean & Simple - make a one layer card! This is my card for the challenge and I am also entering it into the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #60 by Wendy which is 'Christmas Trees'.

I have stamped and masked Foxy Gorjuss girl on the base card and created a snowy scene with the glittering Christmas trees which are a SU stamp covered with Stickles!! I have also stamped and embossed snowflakes falling. I have coloured the image with promarkers and finished simply with a gingham ribbon bow :)

Just put the inserts into the 48 Christmas cards I've made for an order!! so that's them finished and ready to be delivered tomorrow! Phew!!

It's been snowing here on and off all day so it's 'beginning to look a lot like Christmas'! I can never get that tune out of my head!!

Hope everyone's had a great weekend :)

Thanks for looking xx

Hey Cupcake!!

I have had a busy old time this week!! hence only one post this week so far :) I have had my dad visiting which was great and I've been busy making an order for 48 Christmas cards eeek! Luckily they are all the same so they did'nt take too long. I will have to get a photo and show you them all soon :)

I have managed to take part in the Gorjuss Girl challenge over on the Docrafts forum this week, the challenge was to make a card with a party theme - food, glitz etc. and to use only 2 colours and ribbon. I have gone 'cupcake crazy!' and masked the gorjuss girl onto the giant cupcake from Squiggle Stamps, the cupcake sentiment is also from Squiggle Stamps, a freebie with this month's Stamp of the Month - Cupcake Girl, you need to be quick and grab a bargain! and the cupcake papers are Papermania :)

I have coloured the image with promarkers and the cupcake is glittered with stickles.

Looking forward to the weekend and hopefully getting some more Christmas shopping done!! cant believe it's only 4 weeks today till the big day!!

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking xx

Winter Wonderland....

Another Christmas card today from me :) I am hosting the Penny Black challenge on the Docrafts forum this week and I have set the following challenge -

Any theme or colours but try a different fold ie: easel, gatefold etc. and to include stitching (real or faux) and swirls.

This is my card for the challenge and I am also entering it into the following challenges -

Colour Create - #32 Green, Red & White

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Winter Wonderland & Christmas Countdown Blog Hop

I have made an easel card, love these!! and used a PB stamp called 'Royal Mail'. The image is coloured with promarkers and I cut the loopy mat with the circle Nellies multiframe dies. The papers are DCWV and I used a punch for the swirls :0)

I am off to take part in the PB blog hop now :0)

Thanks for looking xx

Christmas swing....

Oh I do love this image ;0) My good friend Tammi sent this one to me in a swap along with a beautiful early Christmas card using the same image and it's just so sweet!!
I have used today's sketch #79 from Friday Sketchers for the layout and I am also entering it into the Penny Black challenge on the Docrafts forum. The challenge is - a christmas card, 2 colours, I chose pink & purple, ribbon and gems.
The image is Penny Black of course!! Papers are DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas and I made the flower/snowflake embellishment using my punches.
The card is larger than I usually make, it's 6 x 6", I ordered a bulk buy of cards inc. this size the other day from QVC. They arrived this morning so I had to try one out! Brilliant quality and a good price too, so I am very pleased :)
This card is for relatives in Australia so I did'nt want to make it too snowy etc. as they will be celebrating in the sunshine!!
Anyway have a great weekend, I am going to see NEW MOON with some friends, cant wait!!!
Thanks for looking xx

Manga Girl Birthday...

A card for a 2 challenges :) I have used this week's sketch from PaperTakeWeekly for the layout and today's challenge from CuteCardThursday is a card for Terror Teens!! Perfect! as this card is for a soon to be 13 year old :)

I have used the gorgeous Manga girl from Sugar Nellie and coloured with promarkers, I must try the promarkers together with my prisma's as I've seen lots of people doing just that and it would be great to use my neglected Prisma pencils!!

The mats were die-cut using the square Nellies Multiframe dies and Gemstone cardstock and the lovely stripy paper is Making Memories.

Short and sweet today as I have a long list of jobs on my to-do list ;0)

Thanks for looking xx

If friends were flowers....

My card for this week's challenge set by Ida over at the Passion for Promarkers blog. It's an any colour week but there is a fab sketch to follow :)

I have used this very cute Penny Black Teddy Bear teamed with an Elzybells sentiment for my card. The image is coloured in the following -

Bear - oatmeal, apricot & honeycomb
Outfit - pastel green & mint green
Flowers - amber & pumpkin, peach & mango and soft green & grey green
Image outlined in tea green.

I have added Copic Clear Spica glitter pen to all the flowers but you cant see it on the photo!! The glittery cardstock is Gemstone Coredinations, sorry not sure about the papers??

Also I have received a couple of awards this last few weeks so a big thank-you to Elisa & Sharon x I have added them to my sidebar :)
I have to answer the following 35! questions for Elisa's award and list 10 honest things about myself for Sharon's! So I hope you dont mind but I think I can combine the 2!!
1. Where is your cell phone? - dont have one!!
2. You Hair? - strawberry blonde
3. Your Mother? - kind
4. Your Father? - brilliant
5. Your favourite food? - Chinese
6. Your dream last night? - forgotten
7. Your favourite drink? - Pepsi Max!
8. Your dream/goal?- to be happy :)
9. What room are you in? - living room
10. Your Hobby? - cardmaking!!
11. Your Fear? - Daddy Long Legs eeek!
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? - here
13. Where were you last night? - home
14. Something you are'nt? - impatient
15. Muffins? - blueberry
16. WishList item? - more Nesties!
17. Where did you grow up? - South Africa, England
18. Last thing you did? - made a card :)
19. What are you wearing? - jeans
20. Your TV? - off
21. Your pets? - goldfish
22. Friends? many
23. Your life? content
24. Your mood? - happy
25. Missing someone? - hubby
26. Vehicle? - Volvo
27. Something your not wearing? - jewellery
28. Your favourite store? craft
29. Your favourite colour? - purples
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? - watching Marley & Me :(
32. Your best friend? - hubby
33. One place you go over & over? - bathroom
34. Facebook? - Yes
35. Favourite place to eat? chinese/indian

Phew!! that was a list!!! I am not going to pass these on as I have seen many of my blogging buddies answering these questions! but if you have'nt please feel free to take an award and take part :0) Thanks again Elisa and Sharon xx

Thanks for looking xx

Squiggle Sunday!!

I have had a fun crafty time this weekend :) I went along with the lovely Tracy of Squiggle Stamps to do a demo at a local craft shop - Cullen Crafts (HI Ger!) We had a lovely bunch of ladies visit to see the gorgeous samples made by all the talented Squiggle DT girls and I thought I'd share a few samples I made for the day which I then recreated at the demo with more than one funny mistake!! including stamping a sentiment upside-down!!! LOL! It's so different making cards when people are watching!! but the ladies kept me right and I just stamped another sentiment and stuck it over the mistake!!!

The top sample is a Diagonal Double Pocket card (instructions and tutorial from SplitcoastStampers) using the gorgeous Christmas Elves kit and Bo Bunny papers.

The middle card is a Trifold Shutter card using the adorable Oscar's, all images coloured with promarkers.

And finally the bottom card is the cute Daisy with Flowers, again with Bo Bunny paper and an Elzybells sentiment x

Thanks for a lovely day Tracy & Ger and all the crafty ladies from the Cullen area :0)

I'll be back soon with some challenge cards x

Thanks for looking xx

Pretty in Pink...

I have combined a couple of challenges today :0) I have wanted to have a go at an easel card I keep seeing all over blogland for a while now and over at the Secret Crafter Saturday the challenge is 'Easel cards' Perfect!!

I have also used sketch #76 from Sketch Saturday for the layout as it worked for adding the elements of the sketch to both the front and inside of the card. Hope this is ok :)

The stamp is the gorgeous 'Princess Daisy' from Squiggle Stamps. She is one the new releases which will be available soon :0) Check out the BLOG for more sneaky peeks!!

She is a dream to colour, I used my new pink promarker colours. I cut the image out with the new Nellies oval Multiframe dies and added a dot of gloss touch Pebeo paint to each scallop. I have finished with the pretty pink roses.

I will be making more of these easel cards!! They are brilliant for showcasing your work. This one is quite small, just 4" x 4", so I shall make a larger one next time :0)

Thanks for looking xx