p to Christmas, I was expecting it to be another parcel from Canada or one of the items that I've ordered on on-line and still expecting. So Peter went next door to collect it. When he came back he had a big blue shipping bag in his hands and hands it to me on the stairs and say's "Happy Belated Birthday". I was very surprised, as my birthday was now almost 6 months ago. I was expecting to get a combined Birthday/Christmas present actually on Christmas. So I took the parcel upstairs and opened it up to find a nice now Acer Aspire laptop! Wooo Hooo! So I spent the rest of the evening updating, downloading, installing and generally trying to get use to Vista. As today is my day off, becuase I'm working yet another Saturday this week, I get to stay home today and play with my new toy. So this is my first Blog update done on it. Still got a few more things to install and figure out, but so far I'm really enjoying my present. Thank You to my wonderful DH! Christmas card made for Penny Black Challenge 27. This weeks challenge was to use 3 flowers, 2 patterned papers and 1 ribbon. As it's a Penny Black challenge it must also included a Penny Black image. I've used a Penny Black Stickeroos image from the Joyeux Noel sticker sheet. The papers I've used are from the Basic Grey Wassail range. Also used 2 Got Flowers Prima textured flowers with Basic Grey Wassail glazed brads and a Making Memories Noteworthy crochet flower and a Basic Grey Wassail button stitched together with DMC thread. The ribbon used is from Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie range.
Christmas card done for Sketch Saturday challenge #29. Image is Rachelle Anne Miller Moose stamp coloured in with Nick Bantock inks and water colour pencils. I was having some problems with my aqua brush, so the colouring in isn't as smooth as I would have liked. Then the image was stamped with Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps in Ranger Distress Ink Fire Brick and Peeled Paint. Image background was done using the Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder onto Basic Grey cardstock which was then sanded down to expose the white core. Other papers used are Basic Grey Figgy Pudding Reindeer, Basic Grey Wassail and My Minds Eye Be Merry. Card was embellished with Basic Grey Wassail glazed brads.
Christmas card done using this weeks PaperTake challenge sketch. Image is PollyCraft Wilbur Woof in Winter downloaded file decoupaged. Papers used are from the Basic Grey Wassail range. Embellished with Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps in Ranger Distress ink Fire Brick and Peeled Paint, Basic Grey Stickeroos Joy and velvet ribbon.
Card done for this weeks ISMAKI sketch challenge 43. Done using Stampin Up cardstock embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflake folder and coloured with Ranger Distress Ink Weathered Wood and Ranger Acrylic paint dabber in Sliver. Also used K&Co K-ology flocked paper and fabric brad, Penny Black Stickeroos Joyeux Neol. Finished off with metal brads, Hero Arts Sparkle Clear Holiday message stamp and metal brads.
Christmas card done for this weeks Penny Black Challenge. Done using Penny Black Holiday Hugs stamp, My Minds Eye Be Merry papers, Basic Grey Wassail cardstock and Poundland 3D element. Image watercoloured and edges inked with Ranger Distress Inks.
Just a quicky card for this weeks CPS sketch. Done using Basic Grey Wassail papers, Penny Black stickers and Poundland 3D element.
The second CPS card is NOT a card of my design. I really loved She
rry Wright Happy Holiday card on CPS. I had very similar papers and embellishment, so I've done an almost exact copy of the card. Except I've used My Mind's Eye Be Merry papers and embellishment and added extra Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps in Weathered Wood Distress Ink.
Another Christmas card, this time inspired by ISMAKI sketch 42. Done using Basic Grey Figgy Pudding papers and My Minds Eye Be Merry papers. Stamps used are Penny Black Holiday Hug and Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflakes. Also used Ranger Distress Inks, Inktense watercolour pencils, chipboard and brads.
I couldn't decide what way to use this weeks sketch on the Sketch Saturday blog, so I've done two cards. The first is a Christmas Card done using Penny Black Holiday Hugs stamp water coloured with Ranger Distress Inks. Papers used are from Crafty Individuals Christmas Backgrounds book 2 and Basic Grey Wassail range. Cardstock was embossed using Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder then sanded down. The card was then finished off used Basic Grey Wassail glazed brads, ribbon and Poundland 3D element.
The second card made using this weeks Sketch 
Saturday challenge was also done using Penny Black Holiday Hugs stamp water coloured with Ranger Distress Inks. The papers used are My Mind's Eye Be Merry range. The background was stamped using Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps in Ranger Distress ink Weathered Wood and Antique Linen. Then the card was finished off with Basic Grey Wassail buttons and a Poundland 3D element.
I've found another sketch page today from following a link on Sandra's blog from Saturday Sketch. It's Called Pollycraft Monday and they are running a competition, so I thought I'd enter. Here is the card I made for the Pollycraft challenge sketch. Part of the challenge was to also to use some Pollycraft product. They had some lovely free papers to download, which I did, but decided to us
e the Wilbur Woof downloadable file (not free) instead, as I was immediately drawn to it while I was looking around there shop. I printed out a few copies of the Wilbur Woof file and made used it as a Decoupage 3D image, which I embellished with Basic Grey Wassail rub-ons. The papers used are also Basic Grey Wassail Christmas papers. The edg
es of the papers were inked with Ranger Distress Inks in Vingate Photo and Fired Brick. The sentiment is a sticker I backed onto more BG paper. Three more BG snowflake rub-ons were added at the top corner. Then the rub-ons were then accented with red seed beads. Thanks for looking!
I did this card on the weekend, for my SIL birthday. I used Sketch Saturday again for the layout. The stamped image an Art-Kure stamp coloured with a water colour brush and Ranger Distress Ink in Demin Jeans. The squares are embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and highlighted with Distress Ink. The senitment stamps is from Personal Impressions. Im not sure what the papers are as it was a piece of left over scrap. I finished the card off with some buttons.
My first Saturday off in a long time and instead of sleeping in, I'm up and making Christmas cards. I'm loving this new blog I found Sketch Saturday. This is the second week in a row that I've done there sketch challenge. This card was done using My Minds Eye Be Merry papers, Rachelle Anne Miller Moose stamp (soon becoming my favorite at the moment) painted in a combination of Nick Bantock inks and water colour pencils, Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamp, Ranger distress ink in Antique Linen and Weathered Wood, Hero Art Sparkle clear Holiday message stamps and gems,DCWV self adhesive ribbon, Making Memories Noteworthy blossom and Basic Grey Wassail Glazed Brad.
Thanks for looking..... off to make more cards!
Managed to make a card with one of the 3D elements I got yesterday. The layout of the card is based on Sketch Saturday blog challenge #24. I've just found the blog and think I'll be back for more inspiration. Done using My Minds Eye Aparagus and 29th Street papers, Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps, Ranger Distress Inks in Weathered Wood, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo, DCWV adhisive ribbon, Poundland 3D Chipboard element, computer generated sentiment, cut felt and a brad.
Christmas card done for ISMAKI #38 sketch challenge. Done using My Mind's Eye Birthday Boy Dot double sided paper, Sharon Ann Deja Views Blue Tiles paper, Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps, Basic Grey Two Scoops Swirlie stamp, Basic Grey Figgy Pudding rub-ons, Crafty Individual Angel stamp, Paper Artsy Mini Christmas stamp, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Red Tag Sale small tag die, Ranger Distress inks in Antique Linen, Weathered Wood and Vintage Photo, ribbon, blue star brads and a metal eyelet.
Another Moose Christmas Card done for CPS sketch Challenge #89. Done using the Rachelle Anne Miller Moose stamp again painted with Nick Bantock and Ranger Distress inks. I also used Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps in the background in Ranger Antique Linen and Weathered Wood. Papers used are Basic Grey Candy Cane and Crafty Individual Christmas Background papers from books two. The card was finished off with sticking rub-ons, ribbons and brads. The greeting was done with a Blade Rubber stamp.
Another Christmas card today. I was having a play with my new Rachelle Anne Miller Moose stamp and came up with this card.I painted in the stamp with a combination of Nick Bantock and Ranger Distress inks. For the card I used My Minds Eye blank card, Basic Grey Periphery Blanck card, Basic Grey Sugar Plums paper. I also used Basic Grey Santa Baby snowflake stamps in the background in Ranger Antique Linen and Weathered Wood. The card was finished off with ribbon, buttons and a rub on sentiment.
tch Snowflake stamp, clear embossing powder, Basic Grey Santa Baby clear stamps, Basic Grey Winterland stamps, Ranger Distress Weathered Wood and Vintage Photo inks, Blade Rubber Merry Christmas sentiment stamp and clear icicle glitter. Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything on my blog. I've been sick again and not up to doing any crafting. I'm starting to feel better now and I'm trying to get my head around starting some Christmas cards, but in the mean time here is a card I've done for a friends Birthday.
I used ISMAKI challenge #36 for the layout of this card. The card itself was done using Penny Black "A gift for you" stamped image from a swap with Valentines Cards. The image was painted with Twinkling H2Os. The pattered papers used are from the Basic Grey Infuse range and the card stocked used was Basic Grey Blush Delish. Also used were Basic Grey Sultry element stickers and Making Memories Note Worthy felt flowers held together with a brad. The title was done with Hero Arts Tiny Dot Letter stamps and Ranger Distress Vintage Photo ink.
We were trying to deside what to do for our Anniversay while we were in Cornwall. We first thought about going 
to Jamie Oliver's restaurnt in Watergate Bay, but when ever we drove by there was no were to park, so we never stopped to look in. So then we desided to go to Newquay Headlands Hotel for an evening meal. A few days before we drove over to book a table. While there we desided to take a look at room rates just to see how exporberate they really were. While debating about staying for the night, the receptionest said she could show us a couple of rooms what were available for the night. She showed us two rooms, one with a view of the golf course and one with a sea view. Then she gave us an offer that we just couldn't refuse. She said that because it was our anniversary, we could have the more expensive sea view room for the cheaper now view room.
So we took her up on her offer and book a room for the night as well.
On the morning of our anniversary we desided to go out for breakfast and headed down to the 
local shop in Magawn Porth in the old convertated garage. We ordered bacon and brie bagettes and cappuccino and took them to eat on the beach. It was a lovely morning and the sun was shining. We enjoyed watching all the different people walking thier dogs on the beach and a horse too.
After breakfast I remembered that I didn't check what the beding was at the hotel. So I gave them a call and they confirmed that all their bedding is feather. We told them 
of my allergies and they ensured that the bedding will be changed. We then heading into Newquay and spent the early afternoon walking around and enjoying the sunshine. Then found a cafe and had coffee before heading down to the hotel. We checked in and the receptionist remember us and wished us a Happy Anniversary. She took us up to the room 
to check it with us. When we arrived the big bed that was in the room when we first looked at it wasn't there, but instead two sperate beds with a table inbetween. The receptionist apploigied to us and had housekeeping to come up right away and "zip" the beds together. We then spent the afternoon relaxing enjoying the view and our centry seagule on the windowcile . 
We had a nice long swim in the heated pool and were going to use the hot tub, only it wasn't very hot. So I spent some time in the sauna while Peter did a few more laps in the pool.
We then got ready for dinner and headed down to the dinning room. Were we enjoyed an amazing meal. We started with roast belly of pork on celeric mash with port reduction. Then Peter had a steak and I had chichen with mushroom sauce served with green beans and sugar snap peas. Then we finished dinner off with a shared chocolate fondue for two and we fed chocolate covered stawberries to each other. It was really the perfect ending to a very nice romanic day together. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
pper Party Koala stamp, Papermania Sweet Nothing cupcake stamp, Sassafras Ribbonrie flower boarder stamp, Hero Arts Tiny Dot letter stamps and Ranger Jet Black Archival ink. Stamps were coloured in with water colour pencils and blended with an aqua brush. Accents of Ranger stickles glitter was added to the stamped images. Layout is based on CPS sketch 83.
n UKScrappers is doing a maze book swap. A maze book is made from one single sheet of 12" x 12" card stock cut and folded in one contentious line. We each make 7 maze books with different themes of quotes. I've chosen "friendship". Then we swap them and get 7 different books (including one of our own) back. This is the first one that I've started today.
I've not put in the quotes yet but have the basic album completed. I've made it with Amy Butler Belle papers and fabric brad. Tag were cut using Cuttlebug Red Tag Die and title was cut using Craft Robo and Lucida Handwriting font. Title is outlined with white pen and "i" dotted with PM adhesive stones. I've added an extra strip of paper along the back of the folded pages to give it a spine. I think it gives it a more complete look.
Now only another 6 more to go!
Made this card this morning for a friend who is in hospital. She's doing well and might be coming home today, but thought I'd give her this card anyways. It was done using scraps from my last few scrapbooking layouts. Just goes to show you should through your scraps away. The papers are Create Blue Hill collection and I can't remember the name of the red paper. Ribbon is Basic Grey ribbon and Making Memory's (note)worthy flowers with jewelled brads.
Well finally finished the 3rd layout that I started on Friday. The layout is based on Scrapbooking Page Maps pg 10 by Becky Fleck. Done using Crate Paper Blue Hill Collection, Anna Griffins Wedding Palette 1 and Basic Grey Blush papers, Basic Grey ribbon, Craft Work ribbon slide and sticker letters and stitching. Title cut using Craft Robo and "Missed Your Exit" font .
Products used for layouts in the last post are as follows:
Bridesmaids double layout was based on Scrapbooking Page Maps page 114 by Becky Fleck. Done using cream card and Eastern Treasures Decorative Tissue Papers, ribbons and buttons. Chipboard hearts were cut using Cuttlebug heart die and painted with Ranger Paint Dappers then sprayed with Glimmer Mist. Title cut using Craft Robo and "Missed Your Exit" font out of Create Blue Hill Collection paper.
Bride & Groom Layout was done using Basic Grey Blush papers with a Mine Minds Eye Bohemia Collection acrylic overlay. Ribbon wrap is recycled from the ribbon used at the wedding to wrap around the chairs. Title cut using Craft Robo and "Missed Your Exit" font out of Create Blue Hill Collection paper. Circle tag is also from the Create Blue Hill Collection with added ribbon and metal heart charm.
the Cutty Sark Cafe and Yvonne had the working mans full English breakfast which consisted of two eggs, two sausages, two slices of bacon, black pudding and two slices of bread and butter. All with a coffee to wash it down with. Needless to say she couldn't quiet finish it all. After breakfast they heading for the walking tunnel that goes under the Thames and walked from the Greenwich side over to the Isle of Dogs. From there Peter took her on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), which is an automated train with no driver. T
hey got to sit at the front of the train could see where the train was going. They got off at Bank and headed over to St. Paul's Cathedral. They took a tour of the Cathedral all the way from the Crypt up to the Whispering Gallery. At this point Peter's sinus from his cold was bothering him, so Yvonne ventured up to the Stone Gallery by herself. It was a twisty and tight trek up 378 steps. The Stone Gallery is on the outside of the building from where there is an amazing view of the city. While at the top of the Cathedral she called me at work to tell me where she was. She was so happy to have made it up to the top. After St Paul's, they head back down to the Thames to walk over the Millennium Bridge the first pedestrian river crossing over the Thames in central London for more than a century. When it first was constructed it was meant to sway slightly, but it swayed too much so now they have dampened it, so it doesn't move at all. I now call it the Not so wobbl
y wobbly bridge. They then took a short boat trip up to Waterloo Millennium Pier where they stopped off for a loo break at the Eye and then walked over Westminster Bridge, where they took part in some french crepes. Yvonne had Nutella and banana and Peter had Maple Syrup and banana. Peter decided to walk up the Thames to the next boat stop to take the next boat back down the Thames. Only when they got to Millbank they found they missed the last boat from that stop. So they hopped onto a double decker bus and heading back to Westminster Millennium Pier. They finally got a boat and headed back to Greenwich. Unfortunately they didn't get a boat that had a commentary of the sites that they were passing. Peter tried to point out what he could, but as he was pointing out things on one side of the Thames, he missed some of the other sites on the other side, like the Tower of London.
