Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone, been so busy these last few weeks that my blog has been rather neglected I'm sorry to say, but hopefully after Christmas is over I will be a better blogger. (I won't say it's my New Year's resolution because I never stick to them! lol)
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your wonderful comments and support during the last year and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Love Michele xxxxxxxxxxxxx

My First Easel Card and an Award!

Hello, hope everyone is good on this lovely Tuesday morning! Well, there's no wind or rain so that's good anyway.
I have been busy lately making and sending out my Christmas cards and yesterday I posted this one and realised I hadn't uploaded it onto my blog or my DC gallery. It's the first (and only so far) Easel card I've made and I really enjoyed making it and will definitely be doing more of them

They are so easy to make and I think they look great.

The image is 'Royal Mail' by Penny Black, coloured with Promarkers.

Papers are DCWV Christmas Multi Stack and Papermania Deck the Halls.

Woodware craft punch for the stars and buttons from stash.

I have also been given this award by Georgia this week, so big thanks to you Georgia. It means a lot to get awards, but I have only just started blogging again after a difficult few months, so this one is special.

I have to write 7 interesting facts about myself, so here goes:

1. I recently climbed Mount Snowdon with my hubby Kevin. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but so worth it as we raised £630.00 for charity in memory of my Dad.

2. I'm a crispoholic. I have to eat them every day and I like most flavours - except Prawn cocktail.

3. I would love the chance to cuddle a Silverback Gorilla. I just love them.

4. There is only one man I would leave my hubby for if he came to whisk me away and that's John Travolta. Don't think there's much chance of that happening tho! lol

5. I once went for a helicopter ride and hated every minute of it. I don't know why I did it really, because I hate flying, but at least I can say I've done it.

6. I love to craft with my God daughter Demi, who is nearly 3. She has her own little craft box at 'Shell's house' which is mainly full of stickers and she loves to sit at my craft desk and make cards with me.

7. And lastly, I nearly died when I was about 3 after taking nearly a whole bottle of Junior Aspirin, whilst staying with my aunt. They tasted of Orange sherbert and I thought they were lovely, I even shared them with my baby cousin! I had to have my stomach pumped and my aunt says if I had put the lid back on the bottle she would never have known I'd taken them and I may not be here now.

I hope they are ok and you now know a bit about me.

I now have to choose 5 other bloggers to give this award to and I have chosen
Christine, Nicola (coops) Sue, Gina and Carol

Off to let them all know now.

Take care

Michele xxxx

Catching up!

Hello everyone, what a difference a day makes! The sun is out today which is lovely after all that rain we've had. I've just been catching up on all the lovely blogs I follow and hope to get through them all over the weekend. There are so many beautiful cards to see and I hope to get some done myself today.
Have a great weekend all

Michele xx

Over the Moon!

Hi everyone I hope you are all well.
I don't think I have mentioned it on here before, but a month after my lovely Dad passed away in August, hubby and I did a sponsored climb of Mount Snowdon to raise money for the cancer unit where my Dad was treated. It was very tough, especially as it rained on us the whole time and my legs wanted to give up more than once! but it was also a very emotional moment when we finally reached the top. This week, we received the last of our sponsorship money in and were amazed and over the moon to discover we had raised £630.00!! We are so chuffed and I know my Dad would be too as he knew we were planning to do the climb, so HUGE thanks to everyone who supported us, we couldn't have done it without you all. My biggest thanks go to my hubby Kevin, cos without his encouragement and massaging my legs to keep them going I don't think I would've made it up there!
Take care
Michele xx

Saturday Sketch Challenge

Hello again,
I have managed to do some crafting this week, despite having conjunctivitis and a bad back, both of which are thankfully a lot better now and I have have entered this card in the Sketch Saturday Challenge.

I really love this image by Wendy at Digital Doodling, called 'Mrs Tilly Claus'. I have paper pieced her outfit and I'm not sure it works, but have given her white ear muffs instead of colouring in all her hair the same colour. (let me know what you think!)
Papers and ribbon are from stash and the sentiment is from Personal Impressions 'tis the season'.
take care all
Michele xx

I won!

Hi everyone, I've been meaning to update my blog for the last couple of days, but have been busy making birthday cards to order and haven't had much time. I did get a fab piece of news when I checked the Colour Create blog though and found I was one of 5 winners for the Blue Silver and White challenge! It really made my day! I've never won anything before.
I'll see if I get time later to upload some cards I've made this week, but for now I have to get back to my cards and finish them before they are collected.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Michele xx

'Love is in the air'

Afternoon all, I really enjoyed this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge The theme this week is Song Title/Lyrics, and I had just the right PB image to fit the bill, as soon as I saw it, the song title came to me straight away. Love the colours on this one too.


The image I have used is 'hearts away'
Papers are Basic Grey Nook and Pantry
I die cut the musical notes on my quickutz and the flowers and charm are from my stash, oh and I used my Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch and Frond punch.
That's about it! Short and sweet.
Hope you like it and have a great weekend.
Michele xxxxxxxxxxx

Blue, Silver and White - Colour Create Challenge

Hi, I'm sat here with the heating right up today! It is soooo cold out there, like to be nice and cosy in here. Have been making a few cards today, but thought I would show you this one first that I have made for the Colour Create Challenge this week. The theme is Blue, White and Silver which I really enjoyed, I think the colours go really well together.


The papers are from Papermania 'Christmas Blue' and the image, which I have mounted onto blue card, is one I have had for ages (since last year I think!) but unfortunately, I don't know the name of it, also I've hung a little jingle bell from the bow for my touch of silver.
Hope you like it,
Michele xx

Forever Friends Challenge

Afternoon everyone, what a difference from yesterday! It's so wet and windy here I've decided to stay in and craft (and do some work in between of course!)

I've made this card for the Forever Friends Challenge, which was a sketch this week. I haven't entered this challenge for ages, so thought it was about time i did. I have paper-pieced the entire image, including the bear, so no colouring this time, but I think it turned out ok.

Just noticed the sun has come out, so maybe a nice afternoon in store after all.

Thank you for looking

Michele x

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hello, hope everyone is well. It's a lovely day here after the miserable, wet weekend we had. Nothing like a bit of sun to make you feel good. It's hard to believe it's November!

I still can't believe it, but I've actually done a challenge this week! It's months since I have done a challenge, but after seeing all the lovely 'White on White' cards for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge I thought I must have a go.

It's not the best picture, but I hope you like it, I just have to remember how to get the link to the Penny Black blog now! Wish me luck!

Michele x

Evening everyone

Well I don't suppose I'm the only one, but I have suffered the dreaded flu this week. I have been surrounded by piles of tissues and stinking of vic, sneezing and coughing for what feels like the whole week long! I dosed myself up on Day and Night Nurse to get through the worst of it, but even then I didn't sleep very well. Why is it though, that even if you think you are feeling better during the day, you always feel worse at night??

I found another couple of cards that I hadn't uploaded yet:

This first one is a birthday card for my neice, Ashling, who will be 5 next month. I have bought quite a few of the 'Anya' stamps recently and I used 'Birthday Anya' for Ashlings card. I really love these images and i'm sure they will get a lot of use.

This next card is one I made for a lady called Linda on the Docrafts site for National Cardmaking Day.
I really like the colours of the papers on this one, which came from 'The Big One' in the Claire Curd Signature Range.
I also paper pieced the dress on the image so that it all co-ordinated and cut the flowers from another sheet of the same paper.
Thank you for looking.
Stay healthy
Michele xxx

More Cards

Evening all, I hope you are feeling a bit better than I am tonight. Been feeling very sniffly today and now my throat is a bit dry with an annoying tickly cough. I really hope I feel better in the morning!
I have a couple more cards to show you, these are cards I have made for my Daughter's boyfriends family.
This first one is totally different from anything I've done before, and was for his Mum who loves anything floral and for this card I actually cut into my Anna Griffin papers (shock horror!) I really loved it when i had finished and more importantly so did his Mum.

I had never heard of 'Roary' when I was asked to do this card for little Mason, but I really enjoyed making it and once i'd seen the picture, the card came together really well.

Thank you for looking.

Michele xx

New cards

Hello, thought I would upload some cards I have made recently for various people.
This first on was for my Daughter's boyfriend. His Mum saves all the cards I make for their family, which is lovely.

This one was for my cousin's daughter, Maddie.

and finally, this was a card I made for my daughters friend and her partner who have just bought their first house together.

Hope you like.

Take care

Michele x

It's been a while

Hello,
As you may know, if you are a follower of my blog, I haven't posted on here for a few months now. This is because my lovely Dad was very ill and I was in Cornwall most of the time helping to care for him.
Sadly, Dad passed away on the 5th of August, the day after his birthday. I still find it incredibly hard to talk about, so will keep this short, but hopefully I'll be back blogging soon and will upload the card I made recently too.

Hope everyone is well, I will be blog-hopping later to check out all your lovely blogs and see what I have missed and the lovely new things I have to buy.

Take care
Michele xxxxxxxxxx

21st Birthday Cards

I made these two cards for my twin cousin's 21st Birthday this week. I used papers from Pink Petticoat, (which I always forget I've got and they are such lovely papers), image was sent to me, but I have forgotten who by, sorry. Sentiment generated on computer and cut out with nesties on cuttlebug and flowers are CCSR and Poppicrafts. I also got to use my lovely Martha Stewart punch again. : )

Thanks for looking.

Michele xxxxxxxx

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #4

The Truly Scrumptious Challenge is another sketch this week. I have used papers from Pink Petticoat and a lovely stamp that I got in a set called 'Woman in hat' and I used my new Martha Stewart punch.

Ribbon and flowers are from my stash. Sorry about the photo, a bit dark I know, but I'm using my son's camera at the moment.Thank you for looking.
Michele xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Two Challenges

Hi everyone, what a lovely day it's been today. The sun does make you feel so much better don't you think?

This is the card I made for two challenges, Sketch Saturday and Penny Black Saturday Challenge. I used my new papers 'Bloom & Grow, by My Mind's Eye and the Penny Black stamp 'Spring Joy'

Ribbon and buttons from my stash.
Sorry the photo's not very good, hope to have my own camera soon.
Thank you for looking

Michele xxxxxxx

My Birthday haul from The Glitterpot

Here it is! This is all the lovely craft goodies my hubby bought me from the Glitterpot on Saturday. I had such a great time, looking through the shop at all the lovely goodies and the ladies there are so friendly and helpful.

I was walking around, putting things in my basket, waiting for Kevin to say 'stop' but as you can see I had to wait a while! I couldn't believe all the stuff he bought me. I was thoroughly spoilt!
I ended up with 20 Doodlebug papers, 5 Tildas, 3 Penny Blacks, 3 paper pads, fancy corners embossing folders for my cuttlebug and the distressed stripes embossing folder and some adhesive pearls. Didn't I do well!

My God-daughter Demi came round and gave me this lovely big block of choccie (which I still haven't eaten yet!) and Kevin laughed and rolled his eyes when I said ' ooh look at that brown ribbon - that's going on a card' Well, we crafters do think like that don't we!

Well, I hope you like all my goodies, I just don't know what I'm going to use first!

Take care and thanks for looking

Love Michele xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

YAY - My punch has arrived!!

Hello, hope you are all well.
I'm so excited today as my new Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch arrived today and I can't wait to have a play! And, I ordered 3 of the Gorjuss Girls stamps (as a birthday treat to myself) so will be sitting on the doorstep waiting for postie everyday next week!
On Saturday Kevin is taking me to the Glitterpot for my birthday, but if I keep ordering at this rate I'm not going to have any money left to spend! lol I'm really looking forward to it though and have a wish list as long as my arm!
Also, I'm still trying to get a new camera after mine was stolen in the burglary. I really want the same one, but am having trouble finding one. It's so frustrating not being able to take photos of my cards and my scanner is broke, so I can't even use that, but hopefully I'll get a camera soon. My Son said I could use his, but it is still at his girlfriends! (Memory like a sieve that one!)
Off for a quick blog hop now before I go out.
Take care,
Love Michele xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Been neglecting my blog!

Hello, It's such a lovely day today, it is so nice to see the sun again!
I haven't had much time to blog recently, I have had so many cards to make and such little time to do them in that my poor blog has been neglected. And to top it all, on Tuesday we were burgled! They didn't take much thankfully because I disturbed them, but it's a horrible feeling to think someone has been in your home going thru all your things.
Anyway, I will hopefully get time to come and look at all your blogs later and catch up with all your lovely cards and maybe get a couple done myself!
Take care
Michele x

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #2

This is the sketch for this weeks Truly Scrumptious Challenge. I do enjoy these sketches, they make life so much easier and to make it more interesting they have an added element this week which is using handmade buttons.

I made my card using Basic Grey papers again as I really love the colours of these ones and the image is 'Tilda with Bird' which I always seem to colour in Green for some reason. I think this is the third time I have used her and coloured her the same colours, but I think she suits them. I have also substituted the bird for a butterfly.

My homemade buttons are just punched circles, with two holes punched in the centre and threaded, I layered approx 3/4 circles on top of each other to make them thicker, although you wouldn't know it from the photo!

Everything else is from my stash.

Thank you for looking.

Michele xxxxx

An Award!

I have been given this lovely award by Kay, thank you so much for thinking of me Kay, I love to get awards. Kay hasn't had her blog very long, but it is already looking fab, so pop over and take a look.

The rules are that I must pass it on to 10 people, but most of the blogs I follow already seem to have had this one, so I will pass it on to my followers who haven't had it yet. This is for you.
Thanks again Kay.

Will be back tomorrow with my Truly Scrumptious card.

Michele xxxxxxx

Two Challenge in One Card!

I've had loads of time to craft this last week as hubby has been on nights, so he is out all night and sleeps all day! I only see him at feeding times! lol. He still likes to see what I have been making though and he liked this card I have made combining two challenges. The first one is the Papertake Weekly challenge, which is another one of Dawnys fab sketches and the other is the Penny Black Saturday Challenge #38.

I really like this image and don't use it as often as I could and I really liked working with this sketch. I have used papers from HOTP, image is Penny Black 'Aftermath!' coloured with watercolour pencils. Sentiment is Anita's and everything else is from my stash.

Thank you for looking.

Michele x

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #1

I came across this challenge on my blog hopping and really liked the sketch, so thought I would give it a go. (that's 3 challenges this week now!) I'm on a roll!

I have used one of my new WOJ stamps, 'Willow with flowers' which is gorgeous and I think I'll be using it alot. The image is coloured with watercolour pencils and the papers are 'two scoops' from Basic Grey - one of my faves and everything else is from my stash.

Thank you for looking, off to enter in the challenge now.

Michele xxxxxxxx

Forever Friends Challenge - Black and White

Two challenges in one week! I haven't done that for a while. This one is the Forever Friends challenge where the theme this week is Black and White.

I used DCWV papers and 3d'd the bear, although it doesn't show up very well in the photo.
Thanks for looking.
Michele xxxxxxxxxx

Colour Create Challenge #4

Yay!! Finally, I have a card to enter in the Colour Create Challenge. I was determined to get one made this week as I have missed all the others : ( The colours to use this week are Pink and Grey, which is one of my fave combinations. The extra option this week was 'cute and cuddly'. This is as cute and cuddly as I could find, but I think she is cute.

I used the 'Pink Toes' stamp from Penny Black and the papers are Pink Petticoat.

I'm really pleased with the result, so am off to enter it in the challenge now.

Thanks for looking

Michele xxxx

Just remembered this one!

I made this card for Carrieanne on the DC site as part of the February Friendship swap.

I forgot all about it until I photographed a footie card I made for my daughter and saw the pics on my camera! I do like it though, hope you do too.

Thanks for looking.

Michele xx

One card - no photo!

Hello again, I hope you all had a lovely Valentines Day with lots of lovely treats. I can't believe it's nearly 2 weeks since I last posted! I haven't made that many cards either this week to be honest and the one I did make I forgot to photograph before I delivered it! I have done a bit of blog-hopping this week though and seen lots of wonderful creations - you are such a talented bunch!
I hope to get some cards made this week and enter some challenges and hopefully will get my SIL to photograph the card I made for her to give her friend for her 60th birthday so I can post it on here.
Thanks for stopping by
Michele xx

Sketch Saturday # 36

Hello, I thought I'd show you the other card I got made yesterday. It is for the Sketch Saturday challenge and I really enjoyed this sketch.

I have used 'Daisy' (again!) from Sugar Nellie. I really love this stamp and have done some more paper piecing on this one too, just her clothes, the rest is done with watercolour pencils.

Hoping to get some more cards made today, but will have to be after work. Bye for now.

Materials for this card:

IMAGE: 'Daisy' by Sugar Nellie

COLOURED WITH: Watercolour pencils, clothes paperpieced with Scrumptious papers.

PAPERS: Scrumptious - Papermania

EMBELLISHMENTS: flower and button from stash.

Thank you for looking,

Michele xx

PB Saturday Challenge

Well, the snow is still falling here and although it looks beautiful, there is no chance of me getting out today, so I'm in my craft room all day (YAY!) and this is what I have made so far.

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week is to make a Circle card or anything circle, so I have made this tag using the Penny Black 'Hearts Away' stamp, which I have coloured using watercolour pencils. The DT creations are fab as usual and you can see them here.

Thank you for looking, Michele xx

My First Basic Grey Challenge

I saw this sketch from the Basic Grey Challenge Blog whilst blog hopping today and really liked the layout, so I thought I would have a go.
I really like the Eva papers from Basic Grey, so decided to use those on my card and I already had an image coloured in that matched the papers, so away I went and this is what I came up with.

I was quite pleased with it really and I love Pink and Green together, just hope I haven't over done it!

PAPERS: Basic Grey Eva

IMAGE: 'Tilda with Bird'

COLOURED WITH: W H Smith Watercolour Pencils

FLOWERS: Prima Hydrangas

BRADS: Papermania

SWIRL: A gift from Kay on the DC site.

SENTIMENT: Hero Arts

Thanks for looking, Michele xx

I've been tagged! & More awards

I've been tagged by Sarah ,Clarky J and Sue. This is an unusual but fun tag. You have to go where you keep your photos on your computer, go to the 6th folder and choose the 6th picture. Upload the picture to your blog and write a bit about what is going on in the pic. I really liked doing this one as I never knew what photo I was going to get and I was dreading it being one of me.

But I needn't have worried as my photo is of my hubby Kevin and Demi, our God-daughter. Demi comes to visit us a couple of times a week and always gets a book out of her toy box for Kevin or myself to read and she sits there the whole time! Her fave books are anything to do with 'In The Night Garden' which is what Kevin is reading her in this picture.

Now I have to tag 6 other people and I have chosen: Erin, Gina, Debs, Mina, Alex and Wendy

I have also received some awards which I love to receive, so a big Thank you to Sarah who has given me this 'Nice Blog Award'. I have to pass this on to 6 other people and the 6 I have chosen are: Wendy, Joy, Mina, Joey, Alex and Georgia

I was also given this 'Kreativ Award' by Gina and Sarah, but will not be passing this one on as I did so a couple of weeks ago, but Thank you very much ladies, I really appreciate you thinking of me.

And, last but not least is this 'Honest Scrap Award' from Joey. Thank you Joey, it has really made my day getting all these awards.

The rules for this award are:

a) List 10 honest things about yourself, making them interesting.

b) Pass it on to 7 other bloggers who you feel embody the spirit of Honest Scrap.

The 7 people I have chosen are: Alex, Wendy, Joy, Debs, Mina, Sarah and Tara.

Well I'm off to see if I can even think of 10 interesting things about myself and will update later.

Michele xxx

Happy Birthday Demi

My God-daughter Demi will be 2 tomorrow and her mum asked me to make her card for her. She picked the image, as Demi loves teddies and said she wanted Pink, but no flowers as Demi will pull them off! It's true though, they are the first thing she goes for when she comes into my craft room, flowers and buttons. I can't say no to her though, so she has her own little bag with some flowers in. She loves to put a flower on her mouth and blow it into the air! lol. Her mum was over the moon with the card and although my bow could be better, I liked it too. I am a bit hit and miss with bows, one day they come out great and others well, they don't!

I still have to finish my card, so will upload that tomorrow.

Thanks for looking.

Michele xx

'New Years Tilda' Wallet Card

Hi, I made this wallet card for Lorraine on the DC site. I have been waiting to see if she had received it before uploading it, just in case, but I know she has it now, so here it is! The Image is 'New Years Tilda' which was kindly sent to me by Sue and I think she is really sweet.

Thanks for looking.

Michele xxxxx