A New Year is almost here

Wow I'm a poet and didn't know it. 

Haven't been blogging much in the last few weeks due to this that and the other but I just want to wish everyone in blog land a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

 Lots of love

Carolynne

xxxxxxx

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all my followers and everyone in blogland, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

xx

Carolynne

Fantastic giveaway

How do you fancy winning a set of 48 Prismacolor art markers, (worth £129), the ink is formulated to give the richest color saturation with silky smooooooth coverage. The duality of the thick and skinny tips let you change it up whenever the mood strikes. They are an alcohol, dye-based ink that’s non toxic and blendable, and they'll work in conjunction with your copics or promarkers, and come in a snazzy little carry case!

All you have to do is leave a comment over at Simply Create, sign up as a follower and if you shout about the giveaway on your blog then we'll add an extra entry into the hat for you. The draw will be held at the Pink Ladies Crafty Get Together on Sunday 14th November during lunch and will be drawn by the first pink lady who walks through the door on the day!!!!

A very late WOYWW

I am very late today but I do have a good reason. 
a) it is my birthday so decided not to get up at crack of dawn to post this
b) I had a meeting at work to discuss my long term absence

So better late than never, yesterday I decided to have a major tidy up which due to my health issues took me longer than usual, and I also moved my table etc to a better position, mainly to stop my living room look so untidy, so my workdesk is tidier than usual.

And the view to the side

I have been making loads of Christmas cards so it ws nice to stop and do something a bit different. So here is my card from yesterday, a birthda card for one of my Son's friend's wife.

I used a Caron Vinson decoupage image I have had in my stash for a while and it was lovely to work with. 

Thanks for visiting

xx

WOYWW

It is now 3pm and I am just getting round to WOYWW.  The desk in question is a mess as usual but in my defence I was making some Christmas cards yesterday.

 

I have to admit I use Card making kits at Christmas, I usually buy a 'posh' set and a 'cute' set and I use them for my general Christmas card making and this is because I have so many to make, and then I usually make 'one offs' for close family. So here are some of the ones I made last night

I am also feeling pretty rubbish at the moment and do not feel very creative so the kits are ideal. It is quite a nice kit to use as some of the decoupage is acetate which is a bit unusual.  I will make half the kit as it is meant to be and then I will use the rest by making some different shaped cards when I am feeling a bit better.  to the right of my desk the mess continues

If you are wondering what I am babbling on about pop over here and see for yourself.

Hope you all have a great day,

xx

Crafters Companion swalk blog hop

Join in with the Crafters companion SWALK BLOG HOP and be in with the chance of a great prize

Just couldn't resist

I had Owen happily sitting watching a DVD and decided to visit some blogs before I sat down to make Christmas cards, then I went to visit Lyn (Spyder) who had a new Wednesday freebie and I just couldn't resist having a wee play.  
Note for Lyn:  Honestly Lyn I am not stalking you, I just love your wee digi stamps.

So here is what I came up with

    

He is so cute, so I used a double diamond fold card added some papers I got free with a magazine a few sparkly embellishments and a peel off greeting.  The shape for snowman was with one of my nesties.

I did also make a birthday card for my Son's friends wee boy who will be 1 next month.  

I used some die cut decoupage I got last week from Foil Play, and I would just like to say that the service they give is excellent and I will definitely be using them again. The honeycomb background and the bee background papers were again free with a magazine but I though they were perfect for this card.

Finally thought you might like to meet Owen who decided that if I was taking pictures of cards then he wanted in on the act too.

xx

WOYWW

Still got a messy desk this week.  Didn't do much crafting yesterday, but I managed to 'have a play' after my darling Grandson  Owen finally went to bed.  He is having a sleepover here tonight and we are going to have fun together tomorrow as he is having a day here at Granny's instead of with the childminder.
I was playing yet again with Spyders digi stamps.  Truth is I printed some out earlier for Owen to colour in and when I was clearing up last night I decided to colour in the ones that were left.
Then I had a 'lightbulb' moment and remembered I had some coaster blanks from my cross stitch days so decided to make a coaster, name card and napkin ring set, and this is what is lying in the middle of my desk.
So here is a better picture of them

Might even pop these into Spyders October challenge.  I have had stern words with myself as I need to get down to some actual cardmaking.  Oh dear Mr Linkz is telling me I have already entered Spyders challenge, never mind, I enjoyed making them but will need to make more for using on Christmas day.
Hope you all have a great day

My digi door hangers

Managed to finish my door hangers this afternoon.  I decided to do 3, one for Halloween, one for Christmas and a general one.
I did these to enter Spyders digi challenge which was to use any of her digis.

I love Spyder's images and they are such fun to use.
I made my template for the door hanger on my PC using word and cut the holes with a nestie.  They were coloured with promarkers and distressed with TH distress inks.

WOYWW

Firstly I would like to say Hi to my new followers, and the not so new, your support is really appreciated.I have only been blogging for a few weeks and I have been made feel so welcome, you are a fantastic bunch of people.  My only problem now is that I spend so much time reading blogs and not enough time crafting, but I am not complaining as the amount of inspiration I get from all you talented crafters is amazing.
So without further ado, I shall show my, yet again, messy desk. I reckon 1/10 on the messy scale.

I spent last night printing and colouring Spyder's digi stamps and started making some door hangers for Spyders digi challenge.  I really enjoy using Spyder's images and it gives me a chance to practice using my promarkers.
If you are wondering what I am babbling on about, why not pop over here to Julia's blog and let her explain all about it.  I didn't manage to get round everybody last week but I promise to try harder this week.

xx

Crafters Companion is 5

Over at Crafters Companion it is their 5th Birthday and they are having a birthday challenge, so I thought I would join in the fun with this card.

I decided to make a stepper card and decoupage some Beatrix Potter images.

If at first you don't succeed................scream

I have come to the conclusion that I am not a natural stamper... I really got so stressed yesterday, and spent hours to end up with this

I finally got a clear stamped image, well I did get more than one but then went on to ruin them when either colouring them in or during the distressing of the then die cut image. 
Anyhow, I am not totally happy with this and it may end up in the bucket of 'failures'.
Stamp was from my 'honey and hugs', coloured with promarkers,  both the backing papers and the sentiment stamp were 'honey and hugs' also, distressed ink used was red brick and of course the dies used were my gorgeous nesties. The corners and the border behind the topper are done with a MS punch.
Oh well back to the drawing board.......

WOYWW

What a messy desk I am showing off today.  Started tidying up last night and could not find the new stash I had bought on Monday, courtesy of my local garden centre.  I pannicked slightly as I could not find it anywhere especially as I remembered I had put it somewhere 'safe'.
Finally found it where I had 'hidden' it, in a box.  So I have put it on my desk so I can play with it tomorrow after I have done the shopping for my Daughter-in-law's birthday dinner.
So here it is in all its spleandour

In the centre you will see the new Xmas stamps, I could not resist the cute little deer, they are papermania stamps.  To the left of them are Henbury Lane Xmas papers which are lovely. Far right is my box with my new nesties.
Thanks to everyone who visited me last week and left lovely comments.  I didn't get round as many as I wanted as I wasn't too well but will try to do better this week.
If you haven't a clue what I am rambling on about then pop over here and let Julia explain

Last minute rush as usual

Not been around much over the last few days as I've not been too well, however it is my Daughter-in-law's birthday tomorrow and younger son (her husband) needed a card, older son wanted one as well, then my 4 year old grandson needed one for his Mum and, yes, I needed to make one to give her myself.
Now, I know I have had plenty time to make them.....but as usual...... when it is for family.....it gets left till the last minute.
So, between yesterday and today I have managed to do them.  Most of what I have used is from my stash and from CDs,

 

Got a chance to use my other new 'nesties' on the card above

Would you believe that my Daughter-in-law's favourite colour is Pink (You would never have guessed, would you?)
She went with my son today for her 20 week scan, and they are having another boy.  If he turns out half as good as his big brother then we are in for an easy time. 

New Spellbinders playtime

Got to play with my new nesties, well I did do the ironing and some hoovering and made the bed so I think I deserved to play.
I downloaded Spyder's santa digi stamp and decided to use it for Spyder's digi challenge.  I used my promarkers to colour in Santa and used my new square nestie to make the layers.  I decided to use a diamond fold card for a change.
Hope you like it, photograph's not fantastic as the mirri board is reflecting a bit too much

xx

WOYWW

Yesterday afternoon I had great plans to do some crafting........However I decided to tidy my dies.  I had bought a index card box and decided to attach all my dies to C6 pieces of magnetic mat and file them in the box.  I needed more Magnetic mat which I knew I had but couldn't find.  That was my plans out the window as I starting looking through all my stash, tidying as I went, and finding things I forgot I had such as my MCS parchment delights CD rom which was still unopened.  This brings me to my desk, on it you will see that last night I decided to play with this CD and my flowery frame was the result.  This is the first time I have tried any parchment craft, I know this is the 'cheats' way of doing it but to be perfectly honest I know I would not have the patience to do the 'real thing'
I printed out the frame, embossed around the lines and then coloured on the reverse with watercolour pencils.
I also had a really good tidy up, which for some reason gets me in the mood for crafting,

If you wonder what I am babbling on about then pop over to Julia's and she will explain.  I managed to get round more than half of last weeks desks and can't wait to see what you have all been up to over the last 7 days

xx

My minimilistic period

My cards always seem to be embellished to the limit but I decided that my Daughter-in-law's birthday card (from My Mum to her) would be a bit more minimilistic.  I picked 2 simple flower stamps (not sure where from), a nesties circle, black and white card, red ribbon and some red bling.
Not my usual style....but I quite like it.

Now I better go and make one for myself to give her, however my 4 year old grandson has popped in to visit while Mummy and Daddy go and look at tiles in B & Q so I may have to do this larter on.

Bye for now

luv

Carolynne

New Spellbinders

Was watching Create and Craft at lunchtime and they have Spellbinders as pick of the week......and they were on flexi-pay..............and there was a set I really, really, really liked.........So I decided that I really did 'need' 
them...... and now I can't wait for them to come.  I just love my spellbinders and there are also some new Christmas ones.  I didn't feel that I would get the same use out of the Christmas ones for the price  so I decided on the 'New Decorative Elements' and there are 16 dies in total, squares ovals and circles.

Bye for now

luv

Carolynne

The nights are drawing in so........................

Summer must be nearly over and Autumn is approaching so I thought I would dig out some autumn papers and have some fun.  While hunting through my stash I found some Hunkydory cards and toppers which seemed just right for my 'creation'.
I love making easel cards so decided that was what I would do.  Here is the result

The background papers and the toppers and sentiment are from hunkydory. the ribbons are from my stash and the flourishes I made with a Marianne die.

I am going to enter in the following challenges

Allsorts -colours of autumn

Creative card crew - Autumn or fall

xx

Finally got to play with the punches

Decided to play with my new punches this afternoon and also thought that I would enter a couple of challenges at the same time.  I have never had Martha Stewart punches before although they were on my wish list for a long time.  However I managed to ruin loads of paper just trying to line them up and punch a straight line,  the stamps were almost out the window a few times.  It looked so easy when other people were using them.  Anyway I eventually managed it and managed to complete another Christmas card (oops am I allowed to say that word)

Backing papers and sentiment are from Percy and Penelope range
Decoupage topper from Kanban
Peel off snowflakes and ribbons are from my stash

Entering into the folowing challenges
Stamp something - Spots and stripes
Sketch and stash - new stash are my MS Punches

I really like this sketch and will be using it again

xx

WOYWW

Considering that I have not done much craftng over the last couple of days my space is a real messy mess.  Not got much to show except for my new lamp, which is amazing and my new Martha Stewart punches that arrived yesterday.  The fact that I have not really played with them shows how rubbish I am feeling at the moment.

If you are wondering what all this is about then pop over here and let Julia explain.

xx

Papermania Candy

Clare Curd is giving away some great candy,  jump over here and have a look

Cute card

Well I have not done much crafting in the last few days as my M.E. is making me very tired and my concentration is pretty awful too.  However I did make a card last night as it is for a 1st birthday on Saturday and I think it is quite sweet.  Didn't think I could face stamping and colouring so opted instead to use a CD and tweek it a bit.  I used the serephina cd and then took it into a graphics programme, made it bigger to fit my 8"x8" card and tweeked the colours slightly, and decoupaged the front.  I added a ribbon to the front and put a lovely verse inside which I took from the cd also although I retyped it and changed the word 'baby' to' Miya' which is the little girls name.
Here it is:

It's arrived

I have been thinking about a new craft light for a while now as I am struggling to craft in the evening.  I had seen the Ottlite on Create and Craft and was tempted although I kept talking myself out of it.  However on Sunday my lovely wee Mum said she would buy it for me.  Now I am a bit of a sceptic when it comes to believing things when buying off the telly as they have ways of making things look better than they are, however as there is a 30 day money back guarantee I decided I had nothing to lose.  Well it arrived this morning (which is pretty quick for C & C)  and it does what they said it does.
It is fantastic, I already use a 'daylight' bulb in my old craft lamp but there is really no comparison.  I am well chuffed
Thanks Mum

xx

WOYWW

Sorry I did not manage to join you all last Wednesday but I am back today.  Not a lot to show this week except of course my new 'tool tub' which I made yesterday (see previous post) and the curry was pretty good too.  I bought some flat packed boxes the other day from a well know cut price shop and it was buy 3 pay for 2 and they are great for storing my 'makes' and other bits and pieces. they are the red boxes on the second picure, and they are very sturdy.  Just noticed that the trim has unglued itself on the 'tool tub' so need to fix that.  You may also notice a 'backscratcher' on the desk.  I do not have a clue why it is there unless I have picked it up during a moment of cleaning madness and left it there.  So there it is, my Wednesday morning desk. 
If you are wondering what on earth I am talking about pop over to Julia's to find out.

Bye for now
luv
Carolynne
xx

Recycling

Sat at the craft table this morning and just couldn't seem to come up with anything, which was so annoying as I had the house to myself and I had actually made the bed and put the dishes in the dishwasher.  I knew I wouldn't be going out as the rain was bouncing outside. So................I decided to go into the kitchen and decide what to make for dinner.  Went into the cupboard and found a tub of curry sauce (this stuff is fantastic and I get it online) So Curry was the order of the day.  I was just about to throw the empty tub in the bin when a little voice in my head said 'Recycle'.  Now I will admit I am not the greenest person on the planet but I do try my best.  So said tub went in the sink and I filled it with bleach to take away the curry smell and the curry colour.
Once the curry was happily simmering on the cooker I decided to make a tub for some of my craft tools.  As recycling was the mission of the day I used up my scraps and things that I have just never got around to using.  So here is my new 'tool tub'

 

Bye for now

luv

Carolynne xx

Nothing goes to plan.......

I was looking forward to an afternoon of crafting until my son called asking me to babysit for a couple of hours.  Now don't get me wrong, I just adore having my 4 year old grandson over to visit but it means any chance of crafting goes out the window.  He wants to join in..... which is great and we have had some great afternoons playing with stamps and stickers.......but when I am in the mood to make a masterpiece (LOL), I like to do it without interuptions.
Anyhow..... after dinner ( yes, Son and Daughter-in-law invited themselves to join us) and after they had left...to be honest they just ate and ran as Daughter-in-law is pregnant and was really tired, I sat down to some peaceful crafting and this is what resulted.

The stem of the flower was a Marianne creatable die and the sunflowers are 3D stickers from Docrafts.  I used distressed ink around the image and the tag and sentiment were from my stash.

I am going to enter in the following challenges

Anything goes  =  say it with flowers

one stop craft =   photo inspiration

 Cowgirls  =  Anything goes

Luv

Carolynne xx

Make sure you

Jump over to Lothian Crafts as they have some amazing Candy to celebrate their 4th birthday

Mushroom challenge

I finally managed to finish my card for Spyders Mushroom house mouse challenge  It was such a lovely image to work with, although I am still trying to 'love' my promarkers, but I think I managed to do it justice.  This is the first challenge I have ever entered and I have really enjoyed doing it.

The background paper is from MME and the image is coloured with promarkers and matted and layered on to silver mirri board and pale blue glitter card (both from my stash) the base card is an A6 card from my stash which I have folded into an easel card.  The greeting is peeloffs on a tag that was a magazine freebie and the gems were from papermania.
Hope you like it.

luv

Carolynne x x

I  have been a bit unwell for the last couple of days so crafting had to go on the back burner.  My M.E. flared up a few weeks ago and unfortunately is not showing any sign of improvement.  However I had a thank you card to finish and a 1st birthday card to make so had to force myself to do it. 

This is the thank you card, which I don't actually like very much so may have to think again.  The background is gold mirri paper (from stash) and the flowers and scalloped circles were from paper from a papermania selection I had.  The sentiment is from alphabet peeloffs and the scalloped circles and border is from my spellbinder dies with small gems (from stash) between each border circle.

The next card  is for my son's friend's little girl who will be 1 tomorrow

I cannot remember where I got the image from but I have a few kiddies ones on my pc.  The name is from large alphabet peeloffs which are glittered and they are from Docraft I think. 
I just wish I could get my matting and layering to look better.  No matter what I do, measuring it etc. it still never looks right, so if anyone can give me any tips I will be eternally grateful.

Bye for now

Carolynne
xx

WOYWW

Very untidy desk today.  I was crafting last night and haven't done a clean up.

In the middle of my table is the thank you card I was working on and among the clutter are some new Christmas sentiment stamps.  The next view is the cupboard beside me which starts off tidy most days and ends up piled high with just about everything.

As I have been sitting typing this my lovely cat 'Tinker' has decided to curl up on some decoupage I was cutting out last night.  I really need to be more organised LOL :-(

Here I sit......................................

trying to make a thank you card and I have major crafter's block.  I was at a 50th wedding anniversary celebration on Saturday night and had a brill time, just wasn't so brill yesterday, but it wasn't my fault that I was the only one at the table drinking red wine and it would have been rude not to finish the bottle:-(

Not only that I forgot to take a photo of the card I made, so can't show it off.  So now I am sitting at the fire, rain pouring down outside, watching 'come dine with me' waiting for that lightbulb moment.

Hopefully I will have something to show you later on

WOYWW

This is the first time I have joined the WOYWWers and I have to say I would have liked thing to have been a wee bit  tidier.  I haven't done much over the last couple of days, but I did sit yesterday and play around making a 'book' card.  I was quite pleased with the results although this is only the base card so it will get finished at some point.  I just wanted to see if I could do it as there are already pre-cut cards out there but I don't like to pay money for something I could do myself.  Yes I am a cannie Scot but it gives me more money to spend on other things :-)

Here is a close up of the card in question

I used papermania backing papers and chalks and peel offs for the faux pages.