The Holly And The Ivy

Hi all,

A new challenge starts today, at Winter Wonderland 

This challenge is open for 4 weeks, so plenty of time

to get your entries in.

 

The theme is,

Christmas Carols/Songs

(using the title of a Carol/Song for the theme).

 

I chose to do the Carol, The Holly and The Ivy.

 

A simple CAS card, just using 3 dies and one embossing folder.

 

The embossing folder was a freebie last year, as was the sentiment die.

The Ivy Die is a Joanna Sheen Signature Die

and the Holly Die is from Sue Wilson.

 

The berries are tiny pearls and just a scrap of ribbon for the bow.

The sentiment I cut twice.

One in dark green card and one in gold Mirror Card.

I glued them together, slightly offsetting the green.

 

Our Sponsors for this challenge are as follows:

The prize from Little Claire
 

The prize from Marianne Designs



The prize for Bunny Zoe Crafts:



A £10 Gift Voucher from Crafters Companion



Wow, some amazing prizes.
If they don't make you get out your Christmas Stash,
I don't know what will!!!

Don't forget, you have to be in it to win it!!

Pop over to the Winter Wonderland blog for more inspiration.
There are a selection of some stunning creations.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving you precious messages. 
Good luck!!

Hugs,
Carol xx


 



Baby Keepsake Books

Hi All,

Firstly, I would like to welcome my new followers.

Thank you for taking the time to join me and

I hope you like what you see here!

 

I must also thank all of you, for you lovely messages,

regarding our house move.

It is quite exciting, as we will be starting the next chapter of our lives.

 

I wasn't very excited this morning! I spent a few hours, completing

pages of questions,

for both the purchase and the sale of the properties. :-(

I always worry that I have made a mistake somewhere!!

 

I made a couple of these 8" x 8" baby books,

using Lili of the Valley Baby stamps

and colouring with Distress Inks.

 

I sold the girl one last Saturday! 

 

 

I decorated 4 of the pages, just so the recipient can see what they can do.

They can just add pictures if they want.

Better than just having photos on their phones or computers!!

                             

 

 

This is the boy book.

Again, 4 internal pages decorated.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          
                          


                          

 

 

 

I will make another girl one before next market in August.

This market is one that I really enjoy and will miss lots of the stallholders

and the lady that runs the market.

It will be the last market here, as I will have to pack up all my stuff!

 

I am not looking forward to that as I have so much.

I have made a good start with packing of things that I don't need to use.

Best dinner services etc.

We have also done the shed and garage. Also a few trips to the local tip!

There will probably be a few more too!

 

Thanks for stopping by and you know that I always love to read

your lovely messages.

Big hugs,

Carolxx

 

The Most Adorable Snowmen

Hi everyone,

I have had the most amazing 10 days!

I will tell you all about it at the bottom of this post!!

 

We have a new challenge starting today at

Winter Wonderland.

The theme is Traditional Christmas Colours.

 

I have chosen to use a pre-coloured image from our Sponsor

The Paper Shelter.

It is called

The Most Adorable Snowmen.

It is also available as an outline digi.

 

I think you would agree, they are rather adorable.

I cut them out and used 3D foam pads to lift it off the background.

 

The gorgeous backing paper is also from our sponsor.

 

The 'snow' is American Snow Writer with Ultra Fine Glitter on top.

 

The sentiment is a very old stamp from my stash. I have heat embossed

it with Detail Gold Embossing powder.

 



The very generous prize from our sponsor is

$15 Gift Certificate.

 



 

Check out the stunning images and papers available here.

 

So get making your entries for this great challenge.

If you need further inspiration, then pop over to our blog and you can

see the stunning images used by our talented Teamies.

.................................................

Now for my news!

When we went up to Suffolk for the second week of our holidays.

We went, not with 'holiday eyes', but with

'would we like to live here eyes'!

 

The answer was 'YES'!!

So we registered with some agents in Halesworth and Beccles.

 

We came back home on Friday and on the following Thursday,

we had 2 Estate Agents around to value our bungalow.

They both priced it way above what we expected!

 

The next day, I spotted a bungalow that seemed to have everything

we were looking for, on Rightmove.

 

Our friend in Beccles went to look at the village where it was.

We then made an appointment on the Monday morning,

for him to view the property on our behalf.

 

He phoned us straight after seeing it and said

 we should get straight up there to view it, as there was lot of interest in it.

 

The agent we chose to sell our bungalow, was the man that sold it to us,

 6 years ago.

He was amazed what we had done too it.

He was coming back on Monday at 2pm, to take photos and measurements.

The office phoned at midday and asked if I could do a viewing at 1.30pm

Of course I said yes!

 

They came, loved it and said they wanted it.

The agent came as they were leaving and they told him they wanted it!

They then went off for a chat.

They returned 5 minutes later and told the agent,

they wanted it and for the full asking price and off they went!!!

We were both shocked, as it wasn't officially on the market yet!!!

 

So in 40 minutes it was sold!!!

We went up to Suffolk on Wednesday to see the bungalow.

A 3 1/2 hours drive!

It was the best we had seen and in a lovely village, in a very quiet close.

 

We went to the agent later and put in an offer, which was accepted and then drove home!!

 

It was like a whirlwind.

 

So we are on the move, hopefully by the end of August/early September.

 

I will let you know how it is going.

 

Thank you for stopping by and hope I haven't bored you with my long post!!

 

Hugs,

Carolxx

 

 



All That Glitters

Hi All,

Back from holidays and now could do with another one. Has been a bit of

a madhouse since we have been back.

 

We had a week in Jersey, which was very nice but not a lot to do there!

The Hotel was great, as the staff, room and food was brilliant.

It even had a swimming pool!

 

I think that will be the last time I fly. It was the first time since I had

my knee replacement. I set the security alarm off as I knew I would

but I was not ready for the awful way I was searched!! 

The woman even put her hand up inside my bra!!!!!!

Then around the top of my pants!! I felt violated.

I think this is taking security just a little too far.

 

Fortunately, the lady at Jersey airport did not go that far.

 

We at least had a lovely few days in Suffolk the

second week, visiting a friend.

 

We have a new challenge at Winter Wonderland staring today.

 

Our sponsor is:

 

All Dressed Up

 

And the prize is 2 Digis for the winner.

 

I must say that I would not know which ones to choose.

They are right at the top of my favourite Digi list!!

 

 

The theme for this challenge is

All That Glitters.

 

I Just adore this image and loved colouring it.

I know I will use it quite a lot this Christmas. Great for any age group.

 

 

I coloured her with Copics and added Stickles to her wings, dress,

parcels, stars and baubles.

The papers are from centuries ago! Who knows where they are from.

 

 

It's now over to you, to have some fun with the glitter.

Don't cover the dog or cat with it though!!

For more inspiration, our design team magicians,

 have conjured up some stunning cards for you to see.

 

Don't forget to visit the shop here and drool over the gorgeous images.

 

Thanks for stopping by and your lovely messages are truly treasured.

 

Hugs,

Carolxx

 

 

Crafting For All Seasons - Cute and Summery

This is my card, for Crafting For All Seasons new Challenge.

 

The theme for this fortnight is - Cute and Summery. 

 Betty Boots was my choice! She's brilliant!

 

The image, was from our generous sponsor for this challenge,

 

That Craft Place.

 

 

The prize for the winner is 3 Digi images.

 

The papers were free from an ancient Mag!!

 

 

 I printed her onto Langton Smooth, 300gsm Watercolour Paper. 

I used Distress Inks to colour her with and really enjoyed it.
She really is adorable and brilliant for the young teen.

The text stamp was from Lily Of The Valley.

 

My super talented Teamies, have some fab art work for you to view

and be inspired from.

So pop over 'here' and experience a 'light bulb' moment!!

 

I had to show you a photo I took today of my Orchid.

My Daughter bought it 4 years ago, for me on Mother's Day.

 

It has 26 flowers on it and I had to get 3 supports for it!!

I noticed this morning, that the flowers at the top, are just starting to go over.

So I grabbed my camera and took a few pics.

It usually sits on the window sill but I couldn't get a decent pic there.

 

 

So off you go and make a card for our challenge and Good Luck!!

 

Thanks for popping in and I love reading the kind words you leave me.

 

Hugs,

Carolxx

It's A Cracker!!

Anything But A Card!!

 

That's the theme, for our Winter Wonderland challenge this week.

 

I chose to make a Cracker, as they are a popular item at Christmas Fairs.

 

They are not a quick make but well worth the effort.

Of course, they do now have a die but I cut this from my own paper template.

The Poinsettia is an old Spellbinders die.

 

 

Our Sponsor for this week is

Crafts U Love

 

 

and the prize for the winner is a £10 Voucher.

 

So get making your items that we will enjoy viewing.

For more inspiration, pop over to see the gorgeous items,

that the talented Teamies have made to inspire you.

 

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving

me such lovely messages.

Hugs,

Carol xx

Crafting For All Seasons - It's A Boy Thing

Today is day one, for the latest challenge at Crafting For All Seasons.

The theme for this challenge is,

'It's A Boy Thing'.

 

Our Sponsor for this fortnight is Just Inklined,

with a great prize of a $10 Gift Certificate.

 

 

 I chose this image to use, as it's a very useful one.

It's called 'Football Crazy'.

 

Click here, to go to their site and see a fabulous selection of Digis.

So you can see what you will spend your $10 on!!

You have to be in it to win it!!!

 

The sentiment is one I picked up from Creative Expressions at Ally Pally.

 

I coloured the image with Copics for a change.

 

 

The small football is an old one from my stash, as is the paper.

 

I think this image will be well used.

My Son works for the Football Association.

Both my Grandson and Granddaughter play football.

My Son-in-law is a Fulham supporter.

 

I can already see a few different ways of using the image, to make it look different!!

 

My husband hates football!!

Well he is Australian and prefers surfing and sailing!

 

So for more inspiration, pop over to our blog here, where you will see an

amazing selection of brilliant cards from my talented Teamies.

 

Thanks for dropping in and would love you to leave me a message,

so I know you have been.

Then I can return the favour to you.

 

Hugs,

Carolxx

 

Winter Wonderland Challenge - A Touch of Silver or Gold

Hi everyone,

We have another challenge starting today at Winter Wonderland.

 

Our Sponsor for this week is M. R. Designs

and the prize you can win is

A 20 Euro Voucher!

   

 

 

To have a chance of winning the generous prize,

you have to make a Christmas card to the theme.

Which is, having a Touch of Gold or Silver, on your creation.

 

This is my card, using one of the gorgeous papers

that we were given from M. R. Designs.

 

They have beautiful papers for you to download.

Stunning designs for all seasons.

 

 

I stamped, using an old Poinsettia stamp, onto Vellum and heat embossed

with Detail Silver Embossing Powder.

 

The silver Snowflake is a Spellbinders die.

 

For more inspiration, check out the DT stunning cards to get you in the mood!!

Pop over here and you can get some great ideas.

 

You can enter up to 3 cards but they must all be Christmas cards.

 

Come and join in the fun!!

You could be the winner.

 

Hugs,

Carol xx

1 - 2 - 3 Challenge

Hi everyone,

We have a new challenge starting today at Crafting For All Seasons.

 

For the next 2 weeks, the theme is 1 - 2 -3, which is

1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments. Simples!!

 

Our Sponsor is:

 

Artby Miran

 

 

and the prize for the winner is 3 Digital images.

 

For my DT sample, I have used 'Lovely Irene' Digi.

I coloured her with Copics for a change.

Her skin is not very good, as my pen I use, dried up on me,

before I could finish her face!:(

 

The background was created by putting Distress Ink in an embossing folder

and placing a piece of white card in the folder, 

then running it through my machine.

 

I have added some Stickles around the bottom edge of her dress

and on her hair decoration. Not visible I'm afraid!

 

 

 

I hope you will join in the fun at Crafting For All Seasons.

You could be the winner of some gorgeous Digis to use for ever!!

 

Please check out all the beautiful cards that our DT

have made, to inspire you.

 

Thanks for visiting me and I read every message you leave me.

Then I enjoy returning the favour to you.

 

Hugs,

Carolxxx

Winter Wonderland Challenge - Festive Food

Hi everyone,

 

A new challenge, at Winter Wonderland starts today, for 2 weeks. 

 

Our sponsor for this challenge is....d-dohhh...

 

CRAFTER'S COMPANION

 

 

and the prize is......

 

A £10 Voucher!!

 

It's very easy to enter our challenge.

You just need to make a Christmas card and

the theme is ....... Festive Food.

 

I know my card is very loosely Festive Food!! 

I think some people would eat a Partridge at Christmas.

I must admit, that I don't actually know anyone that would!!

I only know that it's in the Twelve Days of Christmas song.

 

 I have no idea as to why a Partridge would be in a

Pear Tree either!!Lol!!

 If you know, please leave me a message!!!

 

The paper was from an old paper pad

and the stamps are antiques too!!

All images were heat embossed in gold.

 

The holly is a Sue Wilson die, with dots of red Stickles for the berries.

 

 

Well that's it from me, except to say that our challenge is 

great fun and an excellent way, of getting ahead

with making your Christmas cards.

 

Also you can win brilliant prizes too!

So how bad is that?!!!

 

I am surprised how many I have made already.

Instead of making just one,

I do a couple more and my box is getting quite full.

 

If you need some inspiration, the wonderful design team,

have some stunning cards on our blog.

So pop over and have a look, here.

 

Don't forget,

YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!!!

 

Hugs,

 

Carolxx