Something Die Cut, at CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES

 Hello there my lovely blog chums,  so here we are in December, whilst it has been a difficult year for me, I am finding some peace and solace in getting ready for the festive season. We have lovely plans for Christmas, which started last weekend with a trip on a steam train for my Grandsons to see Santa. 

If you are now in full swing of making your Christmas cards, why not hop over to 

 CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES 

for our fab, and easy-peasy , new challenge, our theme is 

Something with a Die Cut 

(Obviously your card should be cute and Christmassy too)

For my own DT card, I started with this absolute sweetie from LOTV, you can find bear and his friends on the Christmas Wreath Set here. I used Promarkers to colour. I thought it would be cute, to have him peering out of a window. I decided to use a wood effect paper to create a cosy,  wooden cabin feel, and then added a fence so that bear could hang his stocking. I stamped a simple sentiment onto a banner and added this to the fence too.

I would like to enter these challenges please:

Passion for Markers Mega Christmas challenge - add a sentiment 

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #153 ANYTHING CHRISTMAS 

Crafty Calendar December Christmas themed 

Di's Digi Designs no red or green challenge 

Die Cut and Digi’s with the Cuties

 Hi there my lovely blog chums......I hope you've had a lovely weekend. 

I am planning a trip to Greenwich today, to go to IKEA. I have a few things in mind, that I'm going for, but I'm sure, other random items will fall into my trolley !!

First things first, though....we have a fabulous new challenge starting, over at

The Cutie Pie Challenge

Our theme this time is 

DIES AND DIGI'S 

We want to see your gorgeous die cuts, paired with super cute images. 

For my own DT card I am using this adorable Polkadoodles Fuzzypuff digi; Maisie Mouse baking a cake,  which you can find if you click the link. I love the soft colours in this image, and so I chose my papers to compliment. I have used several dies, a faux stitched circular, a faux stitched rectangle, a scalloped edged border, a tag and corners. 

I do hope that you will hop over and play along with us, I would also like to enter a few challenges too....

A Gem of a challenge anything goes week 22

Polkadoodles anything goes week 45

Lets Craft and Create #201 stitched up

Crafty Calendar November anything goes

Thank you so much for your visit today xx

SOMETHING - That's not a card, CWTC

 Hello there my lovely blog chums, I've had a busy few weeks and unfortunately I have fallen a little behind myself with my blog posts...but, I'm here now! 

Hope this finds you keeping well. 

So, we are really challenging you at the moment, over at 

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES

We would like to see something that's not a card....so time to get the thinking caps on. 

Here is my own DT creation 

I love to dress my gifts up with a special tag....I had die cut this one with Kraft card stock  and added this sweet little image from LOTV. The candy cane dp is from a stack that I found in TKMaxx of all places. Jingle Bells and twine are from The Works. 

One of the things that has been keeping me so busy, of late, has been preparing for a Craft Fair that was on Saturday. It was very well attended and we had a great day. If you are doing anything similar soon, you might be interested to know that my best sellers were, Cute little jars with dog treats and also some decorative gift bags, containing hot chocolate, marshmallows, lotus biscofff biscuits, and candy Canes. 

Thanks for your visit today, I do hope that you will hop on over and play along with us 

Something Shiny, at CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES

 Hello there my lovely blog chums, I hope you've had a great week. 

Its getting to that time of year now, when the shelves of the stores are full of Christmas goodies.....I've already been eyeing up a few decorations that might find their way home with me, at some point,  One of my favourite things about Christmas time is settling up my "Christmas Village" ornaments, and every year I try to add a piece or two, to my collection.  

Anyway, I'm already late with this post,  so no time to waffle on. If you haven't visited us this month,  at

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES 

Don't panic, you still have time to play along, the theme is 

SOMETHING SHINY.

Your card also MUST be super Cute and Chrismassy too.

For my own DT card I have used a gorgeous digi stamp image from LOTV, which is coloured with Promarkers.  I add Gold stickles glitter glue to the tinsel to create some shiny and also glossy accents to the baubles. The sentiment is from a Lawn Fawn stamp set. The papers are from a First Edition stack. 

 

I hope that you will hop on over and play along with us. 

Thank you so much for your visit today xx 

I would also like to enter these challenges please 

Birthdays and/or Bears, with the Cuties

 Hello there my lovely blog chums......I hope all is well with you . Things seem to be cooling down now, after the short heatwave that we've had here in the UK. It was very well timed for me as I'd had a week of annual leave, so I seized the opportunity for a few days away at the beach. It was glorious to be able to paddle my feet, and swim, in the cooling sea water. 

Back home now, and its time for a new challenge with THE CUTIE PIES.

We have an extra special challenge, this month, as we are celebrating our 12th birthday! I am so proud to have been part of this challenge since the beginning and running things for most of this time. I am blessed to have the most amazing team, who not only make the most fabulous cards, but have always been a huge support to me too. 

Anyway, for September, we are all about  BIRTHDAYS AND/OR BEARS 

We normally run as a JFF challenge, but as its such a special occasion we are delighted to offer this wonderful prize to one lucky winner 

For my own DT card I thought this adorable image from LOTV,  would fit the theme perfectly. I have used Promarkers to colour. I raided my scrap box for this dp. I also used a faux stitched scalloped border die. The candle die, and the happy birthday die were charity shop finds. 

If you'd like to play along with us,  you can hit the link above my DT card...we look forward to seeing you.

🧸🎂🧸🎂🧸🎂🧸🎂🧸🎂🧸🎂🧸🎂

I would also like to enter these challenges please:

Something Snowy, at CWTC

Hello my lovely blog chums....hope you've had a lovely weekend. I'm not a huge fan of days out on a bank holiday weekend, so I've busied myself at home, although I did get up super early yesterday morning to do a boot fair. Just to clear out old shoes, clothes and general shed clutter. I didn't do too badly,  so I am going to treat myself to a little crafty something.....any suggestions?????

Anyway, its time for a lovely new challenge at 

 CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES

And our theme, this time is

SOMETHING SNOWY

How you show us your "snowy" is entirely your choice.....for my own DT card, I opted for a snow covered post box on this adorable Penny Black stamp. I am using Promarkers to colour.  Also, die cut snowflakes too, from Lawn Fawn. The plaid paper is from a First Edition stack. Enamel dots added to sentiment,  to complete.

We now only have 5 more challenges, until Christmas, so it's a perfect time to play along with us!

I would also like to enter these challenges please:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge August anything goes 

My Time to Craft #515 Use De cuts

ABC Christmas Challenge R for Robin (hope the lil' one is sufficient)

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #146 ANYTHING CHRISTMAS goes 

Thank you so much for your visit today....hope to see you again soon x

Stars and Stamps with the Cutie Pies

 Hello there my lovely blog chums.....I hope this finds you keeping well and you've had a great weekend.

I'm a few days late with adding my DT card for our current CUTIE PIE CHALLENGE, but better late than never....and I've even got two cards to share with you!!!

Our theme is 

STAMPS AND STARS

For my first card, I used this adorable Nativity scene stamp from LOTV. I have coloured with Promarkers, I added stardust stickles to the star, but unfortunately it didn't photograph too well. I used polkadot paper from Limetree Crafts, together with the Stargazer Backdrop die from Heffy Doodle. The sentiment stamp is from Taylored Expressions.

I would like to enter these challenges please:

Merry Little Christmas #51 anything Christmas goes

12 Months of Christmas link up #103 anything Christmas Goes, optional twist stars.

Second up, is the card that I made for my step daughter's birthday, at the end of July, and used digital elements as opposed to rubber stamps, this time.  I have used this image, several times recently, Superstar from Amanda Jayne designs. I coloured the cow with Promarkers, and also Paper Pieced the star to feature the sentiment, this was using a Nitwit download paper.  I also added a die cut star banner, from Your Next Die, to complete.

I would like to enter these challenges please:

Allsorts Challenge #741/2 All Creatures Great and Small

Crafty Animals #75 Anything Goes 

Craft Rocket #106 Animals 

Tic Tac Toe challenge #222

Straight down the middle with patterned paper, free, birthday but with the addition of enamel dots too. 

Thank you so much for your visit, I've got a few cards to add that I've made recently for no other reason than the joy of it, so I'll be back soon x

Something Green at Christmas with the Cuties

 Hello again, my lovely blog chums. I hope this week has started well for you.

Have you started on your Christmas cards yet, this year? We have a fabulous theme at

 Christmas With The Cuties 

which might kickstart your makes, or help you along the way. We want to see

SOMETHING GREEN

remembering, of course, that your card must be Christmas themed and, so, so very Cute!

my son treated me to a few crafty goodies for   my birthday, which i've used on todays card. Firstly, a stamp and die set, from My Favourite Things....this wee moose is soooo gorgeous! I have used Promarkers to colour. The papers used here are from a First Edition pad, which was also a birthday gift. The lace is from my local haberdashery, and finally the enamel dots are from Concord and 9th.

Its a nice, easy theme so I do hope you will hop on over and play along.

I would also like to enter these challenges, please:

Crafty Animals #74 Anything Goes, include and animal

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #51, anything Christmas goes

The 12 Months of Christmas #102 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments #30 Stencils and/or Christmass in July,  plus add a sentiment

Di's Digi Designs Animals Acting Like Humans

Sweet Stampin' Christmas in July

Crafty Catz  #647 Christmas in July

My Time to Craft Christmas #65 Cute Christmas

Have a lovely day xx

Hello!

 Hello again my lovely blog chums.....I  hope you've had a good week. I've had a busy last few days at work so looking forward to a long lie in tomorrow. Off to London on Sunday afternoon to see the musical "We Will Rock You". 

Did get a bit of crafty time in earlier in the week, and unusually for me....I didn't even crack open the promarker box.

I decided to use a DL card for a change, and followed a sketch. I used a pretty yellow remnant from my scraps box. The simple sentiment is a Lawn Fawn die. I added two die cut flowers and die cut leaves and finished with two enamel dots.

I would like to enter these challenges please:

 CAS Colours and Sketches #516

(flipped on its side)

Creative Fingers #259 ANYTHING GOES 

Simply Clean and Simple cards CAS ANYTHING GOES with Optional Twist

Creative Inspiration #4 ANYTHING GOES 

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit xx

Superstar!

 Good Morning to you,  my lovely blog chums....I hope that all is well with you.  

I was recently tagged into a Facebook promotion for a digistamp company that I'd not seen before, thank you Sarah. When I went to check them out, I couldn't resist a little purchase....how cute is this cow, definitely a "bit of me" as my son woullday!

This is Superstar from Amanda Jayne Designs. I used a faux stitched square and am using Promarkers to colour. The lilac polkadot paper is from a Doodlebug pad, and the minty green paper is from a Heffy Doodle pad. The enamel dots are also from Heffy Doodle. The wee sentiment tag is from LOTV and finally the ribbon and buttons are from my local Haberdashery store. 

I have a couple of challenges that I'd like to play along with.....

Everybody Art Challenge #540

Crafty Calendar July anything goes

Crafty Animals #74 Anything Goes,  include an animal 

Love To Craft #75 Anything Goes 

Off out for a walk with Harvey now, have a great day, whatever you're up to x

Feathers, Fur and Christmas with the Cuties

 Hello, my lovely blog chums......I hope this week has started well for you. 

We have a fabulous new challenge at 

 CHRISTMAS WITH THE CUTIES 

Our theme is 

Something, with Fur or Feathers

For my own DT card, I opted for a furry lil' mouse! This is a super cute image from LOTV, which I've coloured with Promarkers.  I cut this image out, using faux stitched rectangle, and did the same with the green gingham paper too. Matted onto some blue cardstock. Used a little bit of ribbon and a die cut piece of holly. 

I do hope that you will hop on over and play along with us.....but don't forget; we want to see oodles of Cuteness please!

I recently went along to the Crafterama event at the Maidstone showground. It has been several years since I've been to anything like this, so it was a lovely day and I did treat myself to a few goodies....would you like to see what I got?

A few yummy additions to my stash....and a couple of bargains too.

A4's from Limetree Crafts 

Basic card blanks.

I would also like to enter these challenges please:

ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE L for Layers or M for Mice

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #50 anything CHRISTMAS 

Christmas cards all year round June Challenge (six geese a-laying) hope my mouse counts as a farm animal?

Thank you so much for your visit today x

Dad's and/or Lad's with the Cuties

 Well, hello my lovely blog chums.....I sincerely hope that some of you are still about, its been a while since my last post. The last few months have been, pretty much, the most difficult for me and my family. If you've followed my blog you may be aware that my husband has had his fair share of ongoing health issues, and most recently had been undergoing a number of kidney stent operations. At the beginning of March he had one of these operations but following this he suffered the most awful water infection. There were complications, and very, very sadly, my darling Alistair passed away on 7th April. We had been together since, 1995 and married for 23 years - my heart was broken. 

My family, friends and work colleagues have been wonderful and so supportive, as I learn to cope with my grief and pick up the threads of my life again. 

Whilst I've not felt much like blogging, I have found comfort and solace at my craft desk, and I am hoping to find a suitable way to sell my cards to raise funds for a number of charities, in memory of Alistair.

Life has to go on, so I've decided to hop back on here. We have a new challenge this week with The Cutie Pies, which quite poignantly is all about 

Dad's and/or Lads 

This gorgeous stamp was an unpackaged Charity shop find, so I've no idea of the make but I think its one that you will see again here....its adorable and so lovely to colour, for which I used Promarkers. I used a Kraft card stock for my layering here, and paired with the card base. The polka dot paper is from Limetree Crafts, and the plaid paper is from a pad from The Range. I added a die cut pennant and a die cut button, with a wee bit of twine added. The sentiment tag is from LOTV. 

You can join in with THE CUTIE PIES, here

I would like to enter these challenges please:

ALLSORTS - #732, birthday or anything goes 

MY TIME TO CRAFT #509 Masculine cards

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES #155 cards for a man or boy

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me x 

Hearts and Flowers, with The Cutie Pies

 Hello there, lovely blog chums....I do hope that this finds you keeping well. 

So, we have a fabulous challenge with The Cutie Pie's, at the moment, giving you the perfect opportunity to create a Valentines card or a Mother's Day card.

I decided to make a card for my lovely Mum. She is dog mad, so I thought she'd love this super cute image from Polkadoodles....you can find Scruff here.  The polka dot paper and the pretty flowery paper are from an older stack that I think I purchased from The Range. The green patterned paper was a magazine freebie. I printed out this digi and used a faux stitched rectangle die, and added a sentiment.  I also used a small scalloped edged border die. I added enamel dots to finish. 

There is still time to play along with us, so I do hope that you will hop on over and visit.

I would also like to enter these challenges please:

Polkadoodles week 7 anything goes

Critter Crazy  challenge 71

Crafty Animals challenge 69

JANUARY BLUES, with The Cutie Pies

 Hello there my lovely blog chums, I will start with wishing you a very Happy New Year. We had a really lovely Christmas,  but the weeks leading up to the end of last year proved to be very stressful for me. I have had to pack away my craft room as our small bedroom is being converted into a wetroom. At the same time my daughter and her partner finally moved into their new house, this wasn't without its challenges and just to add to the chaos my hubby had to go into hospital for the first of several kidney stone operations. Before my head exploded once and for all, I had to take a bit of a break from blogging and crafting. The Cutie Pie Challenge and Christmas with the Cuties have taken a little break and unfortunately I have had to stand down from one of my design team positions. 

On a more positive note, I am delighted that The Cutie Pie Challenge is up and running again. We have a super cute and fun challenge starting today, and I do hope that you will hop on over and play along. 

Our theme for the challenge is 

JANUARY BLUES 

we want to lots of Cuteness and many a shade of blue. 

Fortunately I was able to make a card for this challenge before I packed away my stash (later in the year I am hoping to set up one of our sheds as my craft room,  but for the time being everything is either in the cupboard under the stairs or in my mother's back bedroom). I have had this image saved on my PC for such a  long time. It was designed by a lady who used to be a member of Docrafts forum, but I cannot recall her name. I have used Promarkers to colour. The papers used were a magazine freebie. I added a sentiment and a couple of enamel dots. 

Thank you so much for your visit today xx