Torico blog hop candy winner(s)!

HI all!  I was overwhelmed with the number of comments on my Torico birthday Blog hop here!  The random.org winner of my candy is (drum roll please.....)...

Tara of Craftilicious!

Well done, Tara!  Please email me and I'll send your candy to you asap!!  This is what you won...

And as I had so many commentators, I've decided to do do a second candy giveaway and that is...

Jessica of Stamping with Jessica!

And this is what you've won...

Please email me and I'll get your candy off to you too asap!

Thanks again to everyone who joined in!

Back tomorrow with my Pixie Dust Studios card and Tiffany's Doodles' new release makes! 

   

Sneak Peek of Pixie Dust Studios' upcoming new release!

Uber talented Kathy, the Pixie Dust Studios illustrator, has created another uber sweet collection called Breeze - and today we are showing you sneak peeks of it!

Here is my sneak peek using Spring Zebra...

C'mon, don't cha just LOVE this cutie pie?!!  I kept my make fresh using Do Crafts's Tatty Teddy papers to enhance the sweetness!  I got my trusty old EK Success flower punches out again and finished them off with Dew Drop centres (I have zillions of these in many, many colours!).

If you can, come back on Thursday for a new Take the Pixie Dust Challenge where we will be showcasing more of the cuties from the new Breeze collection!  And they will then be available in the shop on Thursday too!

You can see more sweet Breeze sneak peeks here!


I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Bunny Zoe's monthly challenge - celebrations
• The Paper Shelter - add a sentiment
• Crazy 4 Challenges - 2 layers
• Paper Sundaes - circles

Thank you for my awards!

I was very honoured to receive two awards in as many days! The first award is from sweet Hanneke for The Versatile Blogger Award.

There are a few rules to follow when you receive this award:

1. Add the award to your blog (done - on my Awards and Winnings page)
2. Thank the blogger(s) who gave it to you - thank you Hanneke!
3. Mention 7 random things about yourself:

1.  my grey hairs are coming through so having a debate (with myself!) on whether I want to dye or grow old gracefully!
2. Lulu, our 2 year old Labrador, has a scar on each cheek where our older dog Poppy has snapped at her when she was a puppy (I hear you all saying "aww" out there!)
3. my shoe size is 2.5 - my mum's feet are even smaller!
4. I cry when I see charity adverts on the telly
5. my hubby knows far too much about politics and makes my eyes glaze over when he goes into one!
6. I am currently studying for my Project Management Professional qualification - veeeeeeerrrrry slooooooowly!  (must stop crafting for a bit!!)
   
7. I hate rom-coms - give me fantasy and sci-fi any day!
   

4. List the rules (done)
5. Award the award to 15 bloggers.  Well, I'm afraid there are far too many to name!  Thanks to you all!

 
The second is from fab pal Shirl for a Green Blend Award and the terms are:

1. This award is for any co-blogging friend who has helped your blog in any and all ways.
2. This award is for any co-blogging friend who has cheered you along in your blog building, craft advancing career.T
3. his award is for any co-blogging friend who always stops by and is kind to you. you can count on them to always be one of the great comments at the end of your posts.
4. This award is to be given to 3 to 5 Blends whom you feel meet the listed requirements.
5. Create a post with the terms of use and publish your Blends of Choice.
6. Blend of choice may copy the award from your blog and proudly post it on theirs.
7. Blend of choice may continue the kindness by issuing this award to keep the circle forever growing.

I am passing this award to all of my blog mates who visit me and give me such encouragement!  There are far too many of you for me to choose just five!!

Thanks again Shirl and Hanneke - it is always a pleasure to be recognised with an award!

Birthday blog hop for Torico!

Please scroll down for my Make It Monday and Pollycrafts Monday DT posts!

Hi everyone!  Many of you know that I am a huge fan of Torico, the illustrator of Birdie Brown and There She Goes stamps.  Well, today is her birthday and a gang of some of her biggest fans thought it would be fun to do a blog hop showcasing the birthday cards we have made with her gorgeous designs!

And not only that, we are all giving away some candy to a lucky random commentator on each gang member's Torico birthday post!  Before we get onto the candy, first here is my card for Torico!

I have used one of Torico's new Cupcake Star and I kept it very simple to showcase this cute digi!  I used a Craft Concepts embossing folder to give the card some depth, a little twine for interest and for the inside I used papers from the My Minds Eye Alphabet Soup collection.  Now here is the list of everyone on the hop!

Mary J of Where's My Creativity?
Shirl of Creations by Shirl
Helen of Molecraft
Snehal of Snehal's Creations
Sally of Scallywags

And what about the candy?!  Just leave me a comment on this post and become a follower if you'd like (not compulsory to win though!).  Here is what you can win from me and it is all designer goodies!  There's American Crafts stickers, Cosmo Cricket rub-ons, Adorn-It stickers, Stampin Up Baja Breeze seam binding, a pot of Beadazzles, and 2 K & Company mat pads!

You have until midnight on 28 February GMT to comment for a chance to win my candy!  And don't forget to leave a comment on each of the hopper's posts for a chance to win their candy too!


I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Card Makin Mamas - happy birthday
• Allsorts - free and easy
• Bunny Zoe's monthly challenge - celebration
• Crafting For All Seasons - shaped cards
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Crazy 4 Challenges - 2 layered card

Teenage dream over at Pollycrafts Monday!

(Please scroll down for my Make It Monday DT post!)

A new challenge has opened over at Pollycrafts Monday and the lovely Sheena is challenging us to...

Teenage Dreams!

I'm not sure exactly what Sheena meant but I guess every teenager wants to be cool so here is my make using brand new release Casper Silvermist My Board...

I matched him up with super cool Cosmo Cricket papers and kraft cardstock.   This card took me all of 10 minutes to make - I almost feel guilty that I haven't made enough effort!!  


I hope you can join in with us this week - you could be in for a chance to win a 5 pack of Letraset ProMarkers amd you can never have enough of these!  You can check out the rest of the DT's chilled creations and deets here!


I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Sweet Stampin' - it's a man thing
• Bunny Zoe's - celebrations
• Papertake Weekly - use kraft
• Creative Card Crew - masculine
• Southern Girls - distressing (with the black inking)
• Do You Stack Up - distressing
• Fussy and Fancy - a long sentence
• Wags 'n Whiskers - masculine birthday
• Card Makin' Mamas - birthdays
• Cupcake Craft - boys and their toys

 

Make It Monday sponsored by Di's Digis!

A new linky party has opened over at Make It Monday and here is my make for it...

This is Go Green by MilkCoffee and I just love this sweet image!  I wanted to create a fresh feminine look and I used my EL Success punch for those little flowers!  I'm really pleased how this card came out - it's going to some very special (but can't say who in case they read this!).

This week we are being sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads who are offering a prize of a $10 gift voucher!

Onto my pick of last week's entrants.  I chose this super sweet box by Cely of Creating in Carolina...

Created by Cely of Creating in Carolina

Isn't it just fab?  I love the embellishing and the sweet tag - and look at that straight stitching!  Thx for sharing with us Cely honey - it's always pleasure to visit you!


That's it from me today - back later with a very special post and my Pollycrafts Monday post!


I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - it's your choice
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Crafts and Me - shades of Spring
• The Paper Shelter - use a sentiment
• Crazy 4 Challenges - a 2 layer card
• Sassy Cheryl's - no embossing
• Simon Says Stamp - use 3 papers

Everyone needs a sidekick...

Yay, it's FRIDAY!  It's been another loooong working week but at least I got to play with some Quixotic Paperie goodies!  Here is what I made this week...

Yeah, I know, another Uptown Girls by Stamping Bella from me again - but I can't help it, I just luuuurve these gals and they are perfect for my gal-friends!!  This is Pattie and Dottie Friends Forever and I have always wanted to wear a feather boa like that!! The sentiment inside and out come with the gals too - the inside says "Who else is gonna kick you in the side now and then?"  Brilliant!

I used the new My Minds Eye Miss Caroline: Dolled Up and Marianne D Creatables Flower and Leaves (currently 25% off in the shop!) - aren't they just fabby?!  And I used the current Quixotic Inspirations February/March sketch - there's still plenty of time to join in here! 

 That's it from me today - have a fabulous weekend everyone!!




I am entering this into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp - 3 different papers
• Little Miss Muffet - fancy or Lacy (got the lace!)
• Made Especially For You - 3 different papers
• Sassy Cheryl's - no embossing
• Crafty Emma's Store - dots and spots
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Crafts and Me - shades of Spring
• The Paper Shelter - add a sentiment
• Allsorts - anything goes
  

 

CASE it over at Take the Pixie challenge!

There's a new challenge over at Take The Pixie challenge and this week we want to see you CASE one of your older creations!  So here is my new card using Big Red from the The Red Caper collection...

He's fab, isn't he?  I love all of Kathy's (the PDS illustrator) animal creations and this one is a total fave!  Although I do totally love Wink too...  I matched Big Red with My Minds Eye Good Day Sunshine and the sentiment is punched out using my Stampin Up large window and large label punches.  And here is my card that I cased...

Made in Sept 2011

I hope you can join in with us this week - the other DT creations are wonderful and you can see them all here!


I am entering my card into the following challenges: 

• There She Goes - animal theme
• Sassy Cheryl's - no embossing
• Crafty Sentiments- only 2 papers
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Crafts and Me - shades of Spring
• The Paper Shelter - add a sentiment

 

All That Scraps February release reviews!

Today I'm here with a review of the All That Scraps February releaseof the new Amy Y Sweet November rubber stamps and here is my make using that super Sweet November Shroom again....

The blue pearls are meant to be rain, but I'm not sure it quite worked out like that - still, at least they give a little interest!  I used the Amy Y's Sweet November Mushroom stamp set that also comes with that sweet sentiment and then inside the sentiment is from the AmyR Be Happy sentiment set.

You can see more reviews of the Amy Y February release over at the All That Scraps blog - if you have a spare 5 minutes, go check out the gorgeous DT inspiration!

 I am entering my card into the fllowing challenges:

• Dare to be Sassy - use kraft cardstock
• Do You Stack Up - layers
• If The Shoe Fits - anything goes
• Totally Papercrafts - ribbon
• Made Especially for You - use 3 papers (there's a fourth inside so not sure if that counts!)

 

Ribbons and buttons over at Pollycrafts Monday!

Please scroll down for my Make It Monday DT post!

A new challenge has opened over at Pollycrafts Monday and the lovely Lynsey is challenging us to use ribbons and buttons.  Here is my make using brand new release Celeste Amberglow Farmin' Apples...

These new gals are just brilliant!  My fave is definitely this one - must be the country gal in me!  Well actually, I grew up just outside London so even though I now live in the countryside, I can honestly say that I have NEVER worn dungarees!!

I hope to see you join in this week - it's an easy peasy challenge!  You can check out the rest of the DT's chilled creations and deets here!


I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Little Darlings challenge - favourite embellishments (buttons!)
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes#
• Whimsy Stamps - anything but square
• Do You Stack Up - layers
• If the Show Fits - anything goes#
• Totally Papercrafts - ribbon
• Allsorts - anything goes

Make It Monday sponsored by Meljen Designs!

It's Monday which means a new linky party is open over at Make It Monday! And we have again as our sponsors the lovely Meljen Designs Digital Stamps so today I used Meljen Design's Squiggy The Alien....

Ooooh, he's hardly scarey, but he's as cute as anything!  I used papers from the October Afternoon Seaside collection and the sentiment is made up of American Craft rub on alphas.

Meljen Designs Digital Stamps are giving away the lovely prize of the winner's choice of 4 single digis!

Okay, so for my pick of the week I chose this gorgeous card by Jayne of Eskimo Frosting...

Created by Jayne of Eskimo Frosting

Obviously gorgeous colouring and amazing flower, but I love the quirky way Jayne has doen the sentiment as well as shape the bottom of the card - beautifully put together!  Thx for sharing with us Jayne honey!!  Go check out more of her gorgossity over at her blog here!

Back later with my Pollycraft Monday DT post!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Meljen Designs - anything goes
• Creative Card Crew - masculine
• The Stamping Boutique - stitching
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Whimsy Stamps - anything but square
• Allsorts - anything goes

I'm here when you need me...

Have you seen the new Stamping Bella Uptown Girls in the Quixotic Paperie shop?!!  Well, it's Mary J here and those who know me, know that I just luuuurve these fun, modern gals!!  As soon as Elaine put them in the shop last week, this one (plus others!) went straight into my basket and was delivered just in time for me to make this card for today....

This is Perry on her Laptop and it comes with that fab sentiment too!  The paper (another item that fell into my basket!) comes from the new My Minds Eye Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks pad.  I used it to paper piece the armchair and you can see where I used my Copics to shade it to give it depth.


And do you like the layout?   I used the new Quixotic Inspirations no. 4 sketch - another one from me so I hope you like it and get to play along this month for a chance to win a £15 Quixotic Paperie voucher!  Check out the deets on the sketch post here! 

That's it from me today - have a super duper weekend all!  And thanks for visiting me - I love reading the comments you leave me!



I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Allsorts - free and easy
• Paper Sundaes - cream and blue
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Make It colourful - pastel colours
• If the Show Fits - anything goes

  

MilkCoffee freebie and DT call!

Hi all!  Have you seen the new MilkCoffee Digi Stamps?  They have some gorgeous digis which you can buy from their Etsy shop - I own far too many of them already!  Here are a few of my makes using their sweet  Aimee and a Little Birdie...

 

They are generously giving away a gorgeous sweetie Michelle and having a DT call and you can find all the deets here!

Release day and sketch time over at Take the Pixie Challenge!

Yay!  It's time for the new Once collection release over at the Pixie Dust Studios - go get 'em here while they're hot!  And today you get to more of the collection in action for this week's new challenge over at Take The Pixie challenge!  And this week we wanna see you use a fabby sketch!  Here is my take on it...

This is the sexy, sassy Evil Queen - I loved making this mono card with her!  And here is the sketch that I hope you use to play along!

You can see more inspiration over at the Take The Pixie challenge using the lovely Once collection!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything goes
• Whimsy Stamps - anything but square