Loopy Lindseys Crafty Corner

Less is More

2011-06-03T11:07:00.005+01:00

Morning everyone. Things are not good here in Loopy Land but I don't want to go into details. I have always found crafting helps whatever is going on but at the moment I am finding it soooo hard to motivate myself and i am battling to stop myself from just deleting my blog. I have managed to make this simple card for the Less is more Challenge http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/ (sorry but I can't find out how to do links on my lap top, the usual code just doesn't seem to work. I have even tried a different browser and no joy)

I have used my brayer to create the back ground and the horses are a Clarity stamp which has been much neglected.

Hope you are all well,

Linds x

My last Wild Rose GDT card

2011-05-31T09:48:00.002+01:00

Here is my last Wild Rose Studio's GDT card. The image is Grandad Relaxing and the papers are from the Men range. Thanks for having me Dulcie and Mathew, I have really enjoyed working with your beatiful products.

Linds x

Make yer own fab and funky flowers

2011-05-18T09:00:00.002+01:00

This is a quick scheduled post as I'm away at the moment.

The challlenge at Fab and Funky this week is to "make your own flowers". I have cheated as my flowers were made by my lovely teamie Heidy but they were soooo nice and begging to be used so it was rude not too. Thanks chick!

Will be around to catch up on my return!

Linds x

Wild Rose Studio GDT Card

2011-05-15T09:00:00.000+01:00

This is a scheduled post as I am away.....hope it works!

Just a quickie to show you this weeks WRS card, made again with the wedding butterflies set.....I tell you for some one who hates butterflies I'm loving these! The sentiment is from PTI and the papers are Bo Bunny.

Have a great weekend see you when I'm back!

Linds x

Fab and Funky DT Card and a sore bum!

2011-05-12T19:40:00.000+01:00

Ooops late again! Some how I have managed to lose internet connection today AARRRGHHH! And as I am officially a single Mum again this week as hubby is off on a work jolly somewhere in Sweden so couldn't even call for back-up. Luckily I am a VERY CLEVER Mummy and figured out that some little person had disconnected the modem all on my own (smug grin!). The only problem was bending down to re-connect the darn thing as I made the monumental mistake of going to a Legs, Bum and Tum class at the gym two days ago. I thought this was a very gentle form of excersise favoured by elderly ladies but it turns out I was very, VERY wrong! Think SAS/Marine type training....now multiply by 1000. I still can't walk. Well I can but I look like John Wayne after a long ride and so plugging the modem back in very nearly saw me trapped under the office desk and the kids making their own dinner!

Anyway, the reason I'm here.....

This week we have the theme of BUTTONS AND BOWS for our challenge at Fab n Funky this week and we are very pleased to be sponsored by Pink Petticoat. I'm afraid I have no idea where the image is from as I think I must have been sent it. It is coloured with Pro-markers and glitter although you can't see this in the horrible fuzzy photo! The papers are MME Stella and Rose.

Hope you can join us!

Sorry for my lousy commenting this week too, we are off to Centre Parcs and to visit family next week so it will remain lousy.....what i'm trying to say is please don't feel you need to leave me a comment as It could be a while before I get to reply at the moment and I know you are busy people! Thanks for looking anyway

Loves Ya!

Linds x

Corriander mixed with Wild Rose Studio's GDT card Fab n Funky Challenge!

2011-05-04T17:40:00.010+01:00

It's time fo a new challemge over at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges and this week saw the DT getting into a right old flap as their precious designer papers were cruelly taken away from them! Yep that's right, this weeks challenge is

"No Designer Papers"

How cruel.

I have again combined this weeks challenge with my GDT effort for Wild Rose Studio(http://blog.wildrosestudio.co.uk/)and have used their fab motorbike image from the latest release.......they very kindly sent me some gorgeous DP's to play with too but they will have to wait for next week! I have printed out some blokey motorbiking words onto the kraft base and coloured the bike with Promarkers.

This weekend I woke up to a right old ruckus. I drifted into semi-consiousness to shouts from Big Dude of "Corriander! Corriander!"

Let's picture the scene......

Me - (no make- up, bed head, dog breath but for the purposes of this dramatisation lets imagine Hollywood dishevelled sexiness) "Whattheflippingheckiseeeonabout?"

Hubby - (much the same state of non-glamour as me but lets imagine a well toned, bronzed hunk of lovin' with rose clenched between perfectly veneered LA teeth) "Somethingtodowithcurryithink"

From downstairs the strange herby chant continues and I think it would probably be responsible parenting to go and investigate further.

After stumbling downstairs in an out of shape pair of Marksies PJ's and my chicken slippers (whoops slipped out of character there, lets start again......after slinking downstairs in a pair of very expensive Jimmy Choos and very impractical (and slimming) nightdress. That's better!) I found BD and CC standing in the middle of the lounge with BD wearing a cape and brandishing a chopstick in a very aggressive manner at his little brother.

Me - "What's going on in here?"

BD- "I'm saving the world from Lord Voldermort." (Throw in an obnoxious six year olds "are you totally thick Mummy?" facial expression here. He's good at those.)

Me- "Lord Voldermort?"

BD- "yes, HIM!" Points to a bemused looking CC.

Me-"So why the chopstick?"

BD-"It's not a chopstick it's a wand and I'm being Harry Potter"

It's all becoming soooo much clearer now. Except why is Harry Potter shouting the name of a type of herb at Lord Voldermort? Does he not like aromatic cuisine or something?

No, it turns out that BD thought that "Corriander" was one of Harry Potters many spells. I must admit that it does sound almost Latin and very commanding when shouted in a confident voice at stoopid O'clock in the morning!

To those of you who are not familiar with Harry Potter I apologise as this probably makes no sense at all!

I would like to enter Divas By Design "anything goes"

Papertake Weekly "Anything Goes"

Have a good week

Linds x

Red White and Blue

2011-04-27T09:30:00.000+01:00

Good morning! I'm back for a flyong vvisit with this weeks Wild Rose Studio card and my DT card for Fab 'n' Funky Challenges. The challenge this week is "Red White and Blue" and I have use my Wedding Butterflies set from Wild Rose Studio, some papers from Bo Bunny and a ton of Distress Ink to make my card!

I'm rushing off to my Mum and Dads now so will be off line for a few days but I will catch up as soon as I'm back. Hope you all had a lovely Easter.

Linds x

Anyone for Sea Food?!

2011-04-19T10:05:00.006+01:00

Good afternoon! I'm back slightly later than planned with this weeks GDT card for Wild Rose Studio. I have used their gorgeous Wedding Butterflies set which was perfect for me to combine with the challenge at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges this week as the theme is .................Weddings! I have seen a lot of monochrome wedding themes around this last year so I kept it simple and black and white. I still think it's missing something and I can't put my finger on it......

Well we are half way into the first week of the Easter Holidays here and I have a rather large bald patch which is growing in area daily. Today I actually got in a bit of crafty time as the kids went off to the beach with Nanna and Grandad. They had a lovely time and have returned home all grubby and tired. Bless them they even brought me back a little present. No not choccies or ice cream or even anything you would actually want to eat. NO! I received an empty margarine container containing two dead mussels, a couple of shells and some festering shrimpy type things. I really need to dispose of them as they are starting to smell but each time I attempt BD gets really upset and looks hurt that I have rejected what he thinks is a genuinely fantastic gift. CC doesn't care, he's much more interested in his yogurt. Don't blame him!

I'm hoping that CC might sleep through tonight. For the last three nights he hasn't been interested in catching ZZZZ's prefering to stay awake and sing Bah Bah Black Sheep at the top of his lungs before feeling all lonely and shouting "Mummy air arr ooo?". I tell you what, when you are used to the little darlings sleeping through it doesn't half mess up your body clock when they decide that they don't want to anymore!

Hope you can join us this week

Linds x

Wild Rose Studio's GDT card and another Fab n Funky Challenge!

2011-04-12T14:43:00.005+01:00

Morning all! Is it really a week since I last did a post? Seems only a couple of days ago.......

Anyway I'm back with a combined effort this week. I was so chuffed to be asked by Dulcie and Mathew of Wild Rose Studio to guest design for them this month. They have a lovely new range out and this cutie is one of them. She is from the Cherry Cupcake Range and is called "Mia with Cupcake" I have followed the theme over at Fab and Funky this week which is "Spots and Dots" and paper pieced Mia's dress with some fab MME Tickled Pink papers and added a dash of card Candy and Ribbon on the sentiment.

Hope you are all well,

Lots of Love

Linds x

Just dipping my toe back in the water!

2011-04-06T10:35:00.004+01:00

Morning my little fruit loops!

I'm back after taking a bit of time out and hoping to get the mojo going again. It's nowhere near back yet :-(

Thanks for all the comments and emails enquiring as to my whereabouts and sanity. Everything is fine, life has just changed a lot since last year and I don't have as much free time as I did. I have cut down on my DT responsibilities by stepping down from Sweet Stampin but am remaining at Fab and Funky otherwise I might find myself disappearing from blogland altogether!

Anyway onto this weeks challenge......

The challenge this week is a fab sketch designed by the very talented Emma and we are very lucky to be sponsored by Polka Doodles this week so I hope you can join us.

I'm going to leave you with a picture of a very endangered species. It is a Batus Babyius more commonly known as a "Bat Baby". They are very shy creatures and tend to come out once a year in time for World Book Day. Batus Babius forages for food in refrigerators and fruit bowls. It has no concept of energy conservation and can be a menace to global warming as it has an annoying habit of leaving fridge doors wide open. This Lesser Spotted Variety was found in the Mid Glamorgan area of South Wales a couple of weeks back!

Hope you are all well

Linds x

I am a bad blogger

2011-03-05T09:07:00.001Z

Oh yes I am. Firstly I forgot to post Wednesdays Fab and Funky card.....so here it is!

The theme this week is "Spring".
Secondly I only remembered at the 11th hour that we have a fab sketch challenge for you over at Sweet Stampin this week. Do check it out and play along if you get the chance.

Thirdly, I haven't had time to blog hop this week, i have only just managed to reply to the lovely comments left on my last post. Thank you so much for taking the time, it means so much. I hope I managed to get back to every one who commented, if I haven't yet then I will very soon.

Oh and Papermill in Bridgend closed. Bad times. Where am I going to get card that doesnt cost 60p a sheet now!

Loads of love

Linds xxxx

A Fab and Funky Recipe

2011-02-23T09:09:00.000Z

Morning all!

Just a very quick post from me today to tell you about the new challenge at Fab n Funky this week. This week we have a recipe challenge for you and it's

1 image

2 embellishments (ooops I mis-read this bit!)

3 papers.

Hope you can join us

Linds x

Flipping Heck!

2011-02-09T09:00:00.002Z

Good morning! It's time for a new challenge over at Fab n Funky and this week the theme is called.

"Make It Textural"

I have used a fab Bo Bunny flower stamp which I have paper pieced using MME "Tickled Pink" papers. My texture element is.....no surprises.....HESSIAN!

We are sponsored by Robins Fetish this week and there is a great prize up for grabs!

The other day I discovered the Stats page on my blog. Yes, I know, this has only taken me almost a year to find! It makes interesting reading. Especially the "traffic sources" stats. I recognised most of these as blog friend sites but there were a couple I had never heard of before. So me being the nosey mare that I am couldn't help clicking on them. I know! You would think I would be a bit more careful what with viruses and all but I had to know as there seemed to be an abnormally high number of visitors from these sites.

OMG. I just hope the police never need to examine my pooter forensically as they are "Find yourself a Special Adult Friend" sites. Why the hell are they coming to my blog from there?! Unless my husband is trying to sell/hire me out!

Sooooo

1. Does anybody else have weird sites refering people to their blogs?

2. I know I have used the words "textural", "fetish", "tickled" and probably the word "rubber" in this post but if you have come here from a site which promises a good time....HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!

Linds x

New Challenge Blog Entry

2011-02-07T17:11:00.003Z

This is a card I have made to enter into a brand new challenge blog called

"Less is More"

The theme is Black, White and pink. Perfect! I need some more baby cards!

I have used a LOTV image stamped directly onto the card blank and coloured in Prismas. The sentiment is from a Woodware set from ages ago and the border punch is a Martha Stewart. There. Thinks that's all!

I've had a lovely day today catching up with friends who I feel I've been neglecting a bit since we started our little venture www.tiddly-prints.co.uk Thought we'd better as we have a busy week ahead taking prints at a couple of Toddler Groups so could be a while before we get the chance for a coffee again!

I'm not going to drone on tonight. What a relief I hear you cry! But before I go I was going to tell you about a conversation BD and myself had a dinner tonight;

CC was busy eating a yoghurt with his hand and making a right mess.

"Our baby is soooooooooo messy" I said to BD as I wiped CC's grubby paws.

"I know" replied BD "Lets take him back to the shop"

"I can't. I've lost the reciept and we've had him too long now"

"Doesn't matter, just take him back."

"But who would look after him?" I asked.

"Oh the man in Tesco will. We should really absolutely take him back Mummy. We could get a new baby!"

"But CC will be sad. Who will give him his "cuggles" and make his dinner for him?"

"Oh he can just get something from the 'frigerator! There are absolutely really loads in there. And cake."

Such brotherly love!

Linds x

Don't point children it's RUDE!

2011-02-05T08:00:00.002Z

Ahhhhh it's Saturday. This can only mean our ridiculously early trip to the 'Diff (Cardiff to non-locals) for BD's swimming lesson followed by a hasty trip round Morrissons before heading to a play centre for a class mates birthday party. Oh and of course a new challenge at Sweet Stampin'.

This week the challenge was set by Yvonne, our competition winner and the theme is

Spring Flowers

This months Spotlight Guest Designer is Kobie.

We are delighted that Ladybug Crafts Ink has generously agreed to sponsor us again.

Ladybug Cratfs Ink are offering one lucky winner, chosen at random, a stamp of their choice.

And this month, we are very lucky to also be sponsored by Quixotic Paperie.

I have used an LCI Nikki Stamp and coloured her with Pro-Markers and paper pieced her trousers and plastered her in stickles. The papers are MME Tickled Pink. Both came from the fabulous Hayley from Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn (link in my side bar)

The other morning I pulled up outside the school to drop Big Dude and Sensai off. We have a method/routine for car dis-embarkment. Sensai gets out first as his seat is on the road side of the car. With him safely installed (pinned) against a wall I then get BD out and put him next to Sensai before unloading Cheeky Chops. While I'm wrestling with the baby seat and fighting to get CC into the push chair its quite normal for BD and Sensai to prat around.

Today was no different.

I could hear them squealing and giggling and from the corner of my eye I was aware of some very excited movement.

I wasn't really taking much notice as CC was not a happy boy about being put in the buggy. As I became more tuned in I could hear what sounded like,

"It's a wig!! He he he he!! It's a wig!! It is!! It's a wig!! Ha ha ha ha!"

OK now my radar is beginning to pick up on something. I stand back upright and let the blood drain back out of my head to see the pair of them hopping from leg to leg while pointing at what I believe is known as an "EMO" kid. You know skinny jeans, lots of black stripy clothing, unhealthy levels of teenage angst, pale face but not quite Goth.

Oh, and seriously sculpted hair.

The sort of hair that will see a bathroom out of action for at least three hours.

Well this young lad was no different. The hair was poker straight, asymmetrical and appeared to defy gravity.

BD and Sensai were staring, pointing and clutching their stomachs laughing at him as he came up the road. He was close enough to hear and see everything.

Oh poo. What do I do what do i DOOOOO?! I wanted the ground to open up and pull me down into the bowels of the earth where being fried in magma would have been more comfortable than this situation!

Of course being the strict disciplinarian that I am I did what any responsible parent would do and stuck my head back inside the car and made a big display of "looking for something really hard to find" until I was certain he had passed and was out of ear-shot.......then I did the strict parent "it's rude to point and laugh at people" routine which had no impact whatsoever since I had tears of laughter running down my face at the sheer embarrassment of the situation! Ahhhhhh kids!

Jogging update......went for a walk instead!

I would like to enter Sketch and Stash

as I have used Vicky's FAB sketch. I have used my new LCI stamp and the paper were stash (ok from 3 weeks ago!)

Thanks for pooping by!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Linds x

Keep on Running!

2011-02-02T09:00:00.000Z

Happy Wednesday! It's time for a new challenge and Fab n Funky and this week we want to see Chocolate and Blue on your creations.

We are sponsored by Digi's with Attitude this week.

I have used a LOTV image coloured with Prisma's and Doodlebug papers with the obligatory hessian and raffia chucked in for good measure.

The other day when CC had his little friend over for a full on vandalism session, the friends mother and myself had a brainwave. I'm not sure how it came about or what came over us but as we sat on my comfy (and slightly sticky) sofa we decided to start jogging. Yes jogging. One minute we were whinging about our wobbly bits and poor lung capacity, how we would be over taken by frail elderly ladies on zimmers as we walked up the hill by school........the next minute we were enthusiastically agreeing to train for the London Marathon! This seemed such a good idea as we enjoyed our pecan maple Danishes washed down with a nice cuppa. We made the decision to start the next morning after we had dropped the boys off at playschool as there is a nice big rugby field next door. Oh I felt virtuous and even dare I say, slightly more toned already!

Fast forward to the following morning.

Not such a great sounding idea now is it girls?!

No cos it's blinking freezing out there. Oh and it's going to hurt. A lot.

So having made various feeble excuses to each other, we dropped the kids off and hit the playing fields, my husbands words of "Watch your back! Whatever you do make sure you warm up properly. Blah, blah, blah." echoing in my ears. After a couple of lunges and a quick circle of the arms off we went. Oh dear lord! I knew I was unfit but I NEVER knew quite how bad it was. We walked the long sides of the pitch and lolloped like wounded elks along the short sides. I thought my chest would explode and I'm sure I felt my heart flip into an arrhythmia. Good job A&E is only a couple of miles away! My friend wasn't much better. She didn't even have a pair of trainers only a pair of red flat ballet style pumps which were starting to skin her feet. Fair play to us though we did a whole 20 minutes! We were going to go this morning too but it was too wet. The ground would be too boggy. Bad for my back. Not good for my friends shoes. Very bad for our chests...........we postponed until Thursday. Do you think we'll ever go jogging again?!

Watch this space!

I hope you can jog on over to Fab and Funky and play along with us.

Linds x

Very quick and very simple!

2011-01-30T20:12:00.002Z

I'm feeling a little delicate today after a great night out last night so todays card is very, very simples!

I would like to enter

Paper Sundaes -Valentines

A Spoonful of Sugar - Valentines

Bunny Zoe - Love is in the air

Charisma Cardz - Valentines

Craft Your Days Away - Love

Whoopsi Daisy - valentine/love

Hope you've all had a great weekend!

Linds x

Oooh get me! I've had time to enter a challenge!

2011-01-27T09:00:00.004Z

After CC had worn himself out playing with his little friend yesterday I wrestled him into bed and finished picking the squished raisins out of my good wool rug.

My friend had taken my vacuum with her when she had left as hers is being repaired so all de-crumbing had to be done manually.

After a couple of minutes I began thinking rationally again and realised if the kids want to live in squalor then who am I to deny them. That sorted, I went and had a play.

I had seen the fab sketch over at Sketch Saturday and really wanted to use one of my new LOTV stamps so this is what I came up with. The image is coloured with Prisma pencils and the paper is from Papermania, a gift from a lovely blogging buddy!

I am working on the answer to some of the unanswerable questions....

Today I will address Debbies (Love Paper Crafting) question "which came first, the chicken or the egg". Well Debbie I would have thought this was blindingly obvious.....

The egg of course! Breakfast comes before dinner!

Actually no! The Chicken. It has been scientifically proven http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1294341/Chicken-really-DID-come-egg-say-scientists.html. Still don't get how the chicken got here........!

I would like to enter Sketch Saturday as I have used their lovely sketch.

Paperplay challenges Lots of Layers

Papercutz challenge Your choice

Secret crafter It's a couples thing

Have a lovely day!

Linds x

Use a Digi at Fab and Funky

2011-01-26T11:33:00.004Z

Morning all!

I'm a little bit late again today but I am getting better, it's still morning here!

The challenge this week at Fab n Funky is to use a digi.

We are sponsored by The Stamping Boutique who gave the DT some lovely images to play with. I chose this one as I thought it would make a nice New Home card. The image is coloured with Prisma pencils and the papers are MME Fine and Dandy Tickle Blue.

I'm a bit late with this post as I only finished the card last night and I wanted to take the photo in daylight in my usual spot. In hindsight I should perhaps have written the body of the post last night as CC has had a friend round to play and I'm writing this in between cleaning up this cess pit of a house!

As I was daydreaming (or hallucinating from the Sansodour fumes) as I coloured in this image, I started to think of an old post Fluff (Stampin Fluffnstuff) wrote donkeys ago about a conversation she and Georgie (Card Therapy) had one day.......I think the debate went something along the lines of "If a sheep is made of wool why doesn't it shrink in the rain?". Well I do believe I have come up with the answer to this conundrum........it's because they are hand washed only at less than 30 degrees. Simples!

So if any one else wants to know the answer to the un-answerable then just drop me a line and I will do my best!

Right I've been putting off picking the squished raisins out of the carpet for long enough now!

I am entering Papertake Weekly as I have used their fab sketch (if I have gone too off-piste then please delete my entry......I have a habit of doing this!)

Hope you can come and play!

Thanks for dropping in

Linds x

Candy winner

2011-01-25T13:39:00.004Z

I can't believe what is happening to my memory! i was meant to draw this candy yesterday wasn't I?! Nevermind better late than never. I have deleted any duplicate comments to make it fair on every one and now I'm hopping over to mr Random Org and I going to ask him very nicely to draw me a winner........................

and he's picked

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-01-25 13:38:35 UTC

No 4 that's Lindyloo! Congrats hun, I'll post ASAP

Thanks every body who entered my little bit of fun!

Linds x

A Little Bit of Birthday Candy

2011-01-24T20:06:00.000Z

Well as I promised I said I would put up a little bit of candy to celebrate my 5th 29th birthday. This year is extra special as Big Dude has agreed that I can remain 29 for th foreseeable future.....although I am apparently "a bit bigger" today!

The candy will remain a mystery.......!

(Ok this is purely because I forgot to charge the camera batteries so no piccie!)

Although it will contain a stamp set and paper pad amongst a few other bits and bobs.

All you have to do is leave a comment below (and give me your favourite tip for eternal youth!) and in one weeks time on the 24th I will announce the winner. I will post world-wide so it is open to all of my followers no matter where you live.

Please don't advertise this candy as I want to make sure it goes to one of you lot, and not to a "candy chaser" who will jump ship as soon as the draw is done!

That is all!

Good luck!

Linds x

Have you lost a Follower Today?

2011-01-23T18:14:00.003Z

I've just had to change my blog background so if anyone has lost a follower today can you check if it's me? Last time I changed my layout I seemed to stop following a couple of people at the same time. Please let me know if it's you!

Ta muchly!

Linds x

What CC did Next and Other Stories

2011-01-22T09:00:00.000Z

He slept again!

CC slept AGAIN yesterday afternoon for another 2 1/2 hours!

I was kind of glad as we had spent much of lunch time watching Balamory and by the time I had finished witnessing the spectacle that was PC Plum shamelessly trying to "get it on" with Miss Hooley, I really needed some "ME TIME!"

Something to bring me back into the real world, something true to life and gritty, something that would get me to think and exercise the old grey matter.

Good job I'd recorded Beverly Hills 90210 the other day then! I'm ashamed to say I have a series link on my Sky box especially for this.................aw c'mon, I'm only 29!

After my dose of sunshine, shopping and implausibly old looking teenagers all was still quiet. Crafty time! Wooo Hooo!

This isn't the card I made though, this was something I had to knock up at midnight one night for this weeks challenge over at

Sweet Stampin'

This week the challenge is called "Clear as Mud" and we want to see brown and one other colour on your card.

Oh...... a small toddler has just emerged from the toilet looking very pleased with himself...........excuse me!

Hope you can join us and don't forget that I will draw the winner of my birthday candy on Monday evening.

Linds x

Edited to add

OMG!

Do you want to see why the small toddler was looking so pleased with himself?

Brace yourselves.

That was a brand new pack of 64 Johnson & Johnson wipe. They aren't cheap either! I'm so glad I got there before he flushed. He likes flushing. Can you IMAGINE!

On the down side his older brother (who does not like flushing) came out of the toilet minutes before CC........... Now, I'm sure I have a box of surgical gloves somewhere................let operation U-bend commence :-S

Thanks for dropping by, I'd offer you a cuppa and a biccie but you never know where my hands have been!

Linds x

Sleep little CC.............

2011-01-21T11:12:00.010Z

Yesterday afternoon CC (aka Taz) had a............................NAP!

I KNOW! SHOCK, horror! The last time he had an afternoon nap was August 2010!

Not only did he have a nap........it was a 2 1/2 hour one. Well I was straight on-line looking for a sketch and challenge to enter when I saw this gorgeous skech over at

Lily of the Valley

Well how could I resist!

I had a lovely chilled out afternoon colouring, sticking and glueing. Thank you CC! It is very much appreciated!

The papers are from MME Fine and Dandy - Tickled Pink and the ribbon is stash.

As well as Lil of the Valley, I would also like to enter

Crafty Catz - Forgotten stamp

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Back to reality!

Today CC is in a STINKING MOOD. He's just had the most enormous paddy because he wasn't allowed to smear a tub of Glace Cherries all over the kitchen wall. The paddy can go from 0-60 instantaniously. Full on head walloping (I think the kitchen floor may need repairing!) fists flying, screaming, foot stamping . And all this while he was wearing his cheery red Mr Happy jumper! Im telling you that jumper has been jinxed, the worst tantrums happen when he's wearing it. I think that may be the definition of irony!

Gotta go, he's got a bottle of blackcurrant squash now and the rug is being threatened. Wish me luck!

Linds x

PS Squash has been abandoned in favour of a pineapple now. How fickle!

Such a great idea!

2011-01-20T12:35:00.004Z

Hello again!

I've just found this over on Abi's blog and though it sounded like a really nice idea. I have cut and pasted her post:

It's time for a bit of fun. I've entered a Pay It Forward over at Abi's blog so it's my turn now to Pay It Forward.

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who comment on this post. However, there is a catch, you must repost this, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules state that it MUST be something handmade or homemade by YOUand must be sent to 5 other people during 2011.

If you would like to join in the fun, then be the first to post a comment and something handmade or homemade will be coming your way this year.

Is that a great idea or is that a great idea?

Well I love it! I just hope that 5 of you would want something made by me lol!

Linds x

Oops I've done it again!

2011-01-19T17:45:00.002Z

Yup. Apparently it's Wednesday AGAIN! This is the second week in a row that I'm a teensy bit late with my Fab and Funky DT card. Sacking imminent!

The theme this week is

Animal Antics!

I have used a cute Penny Black image which has been coloured with Koh-i-Noor pencils and blended with Sansodour. Soooooooooo therapeutic (or is that the fumes?!)

The papers are MME Tickled Pink and I have added a bit of raffia from my stash.

Sentiment is LOTV.

Thank you for all you tips on eternal youth! Debs I don't know where you get the energy from lol!

I had a lovely day which I spent shopping in Cardiff with my Mum (no craft shops in the City centre though :-( and bought myself a very glameroooooos weekend bag.....now all I need to do is persuade the G Man to take me away somewhere.......................!

I had some lovely hand made cards so thank you soooooooo much. I was really touched! Having swept my arm across the mantle piece to clear it of shop bought muck they are displayed loud and proud and I have spent many a spare hour admiring them!

Ok must go and break up the fight that is breaking out in the lounge over a......................mini skateboard?

Thanks for stopping by

Linds x

Hayleys MASSIVE SALE!

2011-01-15T19:29:00.001Z

The lovely Hayley of FUNKY FARM SCRAPBOOK BARN is having a huge sale!

Here is what she says (Copied from her blog)

I've a little news to announce... (I know some of you are already aware)

I'm having a MASSIVE SALE!!!

There's lots to choose from including gorgeous Bo Bunny collections - Jazmyne, Sophie, Kitchen Spice, Love Bandit, Flutter Butter and more!!!

Beautiful papers, die cuts and accessories by MME reduced - Mary Mary, Little Boy Blue and Graceful

Gorgeous Crate Paper, Paper Doll papers, rub ons, stickers and brads!

Masses of flowers including Prima flowers! Ribbons, rub ons, brads, stickers, stamps and more!!!! Over 450 different products need to find a new home!!! (1000s of items!)

Remember there's FREE POSTAGE over £20.00 and you still collect loyalty points on sale purchases!

There's a mass of new products which have also been added including gorgeous new Prima products, papers, 6 x 6 paper pads and more!!!!

Feel free to grab the banner and help spread the word!

Thank you

xxxx

Warm and Toasty Colours ( a wee bit late...!)

2011-01-12T21:08:00.003Z

Oops. Looks like I had a bit of a "senior moment" and got my days muddled up! Seems I'm a day behind myself at the moment. I thought it was Tuesday but I've been reliably informed that it is in fact Wednesday and when it's Wednesday aparently I'm supposed to do a post telling you all about the new challenge at Fab n Funky . This week we want you to use

"Warm and Toast Colours"

I have used a cute LOTV stamp on mine and some fab papers (MME "Tickled Pink") which I got from Hayley at http://www.funkyfarmscrapbookbarn.co.uk/, oh and I got the zig-zag border punch that i've had my eye on for a couple of months there too!

No great waffling from me tonight as it has been a very uninteresting day. I have spent most of it on the sofa with CC watching kids telly as he has been really clingy and wants "cuggles" all the time.

Right better go and shove this on the challenge blog now. Bet I end up doing something horrible to Mr Linky by accident........watch this space!

Thanks for pooping by
Linds x

Have a play with silver clay!

2011-01-08T09:00:00.008Z

Good morning! We have a great new challenge for you over at Sweet Stampin' this week, a challenge that should take you out of your comfort zone with a bit of luck! This week we want you to

"Try Something New"

We are sponsored by Di's Digital Downloads who are kindly offering the winner a great prize.

Yikes ! I almost conked out over the try something new challenge! You see I'm one of those people who flits around getting very excited about new techniques and then giving up when it doesn't look as easy as it sounded (brayer!!!) so to be honest there isn't much stamping wise I haven't tried and failed at at some point!

So the cogs whirred and my brain creaked (according to Big Dude's Nintendo DS I'm 85!).

Nothing!

So in times of crisis what does a girl do? That's right I had a little chat with Audrey (Hepburn) and she reminded me that my friend and myself started doing a new jewellery range for our little business http://www.tiddly-prints.co.uk/ just before Christmas putting childrens hand and footprints and their own artwork etc onto silver. This involves making your own stamps (something VERY new to me) and using them to transfer onto the silver. So for this challenge I have made a baby card which incorporates a pendant with the babys handprint on it. Simples!

On a final note.......

Big Dude would like to know if a "Shreddie" is bigger than a planet. He also wants to know how the Earth stays "up in the air". Hmmmm, this subject is not a strong point of mine as I had to leave my pHD in Astro-physics when I joined the Pussycat Dolls a couple of years ago. Does anyone know how to explain gravitaional forces to a 5 year old?!

Oooh http://papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ want a card with metal on it! Hurray my first challenge in about 2 months!

And now i've just found http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ "New and Blue". Perfect!

and another one !http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ New Beginings

Have a fandabidozee weekend

Thanks for visiting!

Linds x

I'm Back....but for one week only......!

2011-01-07T09:00:00.000Z

Well it seems like an eternity since I last did a Friday post but the lovely Suzie over at Crafty Catz asked me if I would like to guest design for them this week and how could I refuse? It is like coming home!

For this weeks challenge we would like to see "Food or Drink" on your card. My favourite! If i'm not eating it then colouring in piccies of yummie cupcakes comes a very close second!

I still can't believe it's 2011 already. The 90's seem like yesterday to me. I'm not a really big fan of the New Year celebrations. I find the logistics of taxi's and baby-sitters a total nightmare.

I also lived in fear of each New Year through most of my childhood after some body told me about Nostradamus and his prediction for the end of the world in 2000. So every year as the clock would strike 12, I would burst into tears as The End Was Nigh!

As the eve of the Millenium approched,I had come to terms with the fact that we were all DOOOOOMED. I had had a good innings of 23 years. Naturally though if we were all going to get wiped of the face of the plannet by a giant meteorite I had absolutely no intention of having any recollection of it (chance would be a fine thing eh?!) so when the Manic Street Preachers announced they would be doing a gig in Cardiffs Millenium Stadium it seemed like a great venue to die at. I had planned on crawling into bed with a mahoosive bar of Dairy milk and a bottle of very nice red wine from Laithewaites when D-Day arrived but hey, who wants to be boring. Yes the gig was a much better idea. We could all get trollied and over emotional and cry to "Motorcycle |Emptiness" before passing out and getting squashed by the giant rock from outer-space. Brilliant!

Actually no.

The whole group got separated in the massive stadium.

The queue for the bar stretched back over the Severn Bridge.

Myself and the one friend left waited to get served for an hour and even then you could only buy two drinks each which she managed to lose by tripping down the stairs.

The sound quality was crap.

I waited to be squelched totally sober with only a packet of menthol ciggies to calm my frazzled nerves. Oh yeah I was quite the classy lady! Dot Cotton smokes them you know. For the record I am a total reformed charachter (and Mum if you are reading this IT WAS JUST A PHASE!)

Twelve O'clock came and went and the relief of not being pureed was immense......until I realised that technically the mass squelching could happen on ANY of the next 364 days!

Of course there wasn't a taxi to be had. We were wearing heels. The house was three miles away.

Have you ever tried walking barefoot for three miles? I wouldn't recommend it!

Hope you can join us and thanks for visiting.

Remember to look out for my candy which will be coming in the next few days!

Linds x

As If I Haven't Had Enough Choklit....

2011-01-05T09:05:00.003Z

Hello! Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that Santa brought all the crafting goodies you could ever wish for? I was lucky to get a bit of money to spend on such fab-ness so popped over to http://www.funkyfarmscrapbookbarn.co.uk to spend it. Can't wait to get my hand on it and shouldn't be long as it was posted today. Thanks Hayley!

Well, I was lucky enough to get my very long awaited net book from the Beardy Man (Santa not OH) so that should make my life soooo much easier! I also got a larger waist line and half a stone of the non-rock variety! Oh well the diet starts when ALL the choklit is gone....shouldn't be long!

So for the first challenge of the year at Fab n Funky which is an "Anything Goes" challenge I thought I would make a load of choklitty cards to top up my basket in the hope that they might provide some aversion therapy. They didn't, I'm muching on a Dairy Milk as I write!

I have used an image from Digi Stamp boutique and coloured with Pro-Markers.

Papers are Doodlebug and the sentiment is from Elzybells.

Unfortunately BD is showing signs of listening in school as he has started to "add up" and has realised that 29+1+1+1+1+1 does not equal 29. This is it. This is the year I will "Officially" have to turn 30. Since this is a big one I feel that I should celebrate the aging process with a bit of candy for you my lovely followers.......keep a look out over the next couple of days!

Hope you can join us!

Linds x

12 days of Fluffmas

2011-01-04T21:55:00.003Z

The Flufftastic Fluff Stampin Fluffnstuff

is running a candy on her blog to celebrate The 12 Days of Fluffmas and I think I just about have time to enter so here goes!

I have copied and pasted her blog post here....

Merry Christmas Everyone!

To celebrate, I thought I'd run a little bit of candy, but with a Fluffy twist!

So here's what you need to do;

Write a post on your Blog, with the answers to the following Twelve Days of Fluffmas questions and then link back here, using Mr Linky.

Fluffmas ends on 6 January 2011 and I will randomly draw a winner.

The winner will receive an item of stash for each question they get right, with possible extra stash for including links where appropriate and answering bonus questions correctly!

Simples, right?! ;)

Have fun and Good Luck!

1. How old is Sweet Cheeks? 2

2. What is the name of my Mum's Blog? It's an Alien Life

3. What are my favourite colours? (Clue; they're not what you might think they are!) hmmm...pink and yellow?

4. We recently moved, but from which county? Devon. Ooh Argh!

5. How many posts did I write in August? What only 16?

6. Which two Challenge Blogs do I play on? I know! I Know! Sweet Stampin' and Cupcake Crafts

7. When is my birthday? (Clue; I was on holiday!) 17/18.19.20/21 march. Year debateable

8. What is my favourite crafting item? possibly hessian. No twine. YES TWINE!

9. Name the alternate reality I inhabit? FayeWorld

10. I love this as much as crafting, what is it? jogging. Sorry typo. That should have read CHOKLIT

11. What do we refer to my Dad as? (Bonus stash if you can tell me what his remedy for anything is?)
Doc Shingles.....white Lightening!
12. Once Upon a Time, I had a career in? Eclair hurling

Last post of 2010 from me!

2010-12-18T09:00:00.000Z

Morning all! This weeks challenge over at Sweet Stampin' is called

"Celebrations"

This is a two week challenge so loads of time to enter between mince pies!

We are very lucky to be sponsored by

Fairy Dust Crafts and Prairie Fairy Designs

I can only appologise for the worst photo of a card EVER to be taken! Honestly it doesn't look quite as rubbish in real life (although admittedly it is a pile of pants!)

This will be my last blog post until the New Year. I hope I Santa brings me a new mojo :-(

I hope you all have alovely Christmas and a happy and health New Year. See you in 2011!

Big Hugs!

Linds x

Quick Christmas card

2010-12-16T21:14:00.002Z

Just a quickie to let you know that the challenge at Fab and Funky this week is to make a very quick Christmas card! We are sponsored by Stitchy Bear Stamps.

Roger that. Over and out!

Captain Linds x

Sweet Stampin' - No DP's..............eeeeeeeeeek!

2010-12-04T09:30:00.003Z

Good morning! Hope you are all warm and well!

This weeks DT card for Sweet Stampin' had me pulling my hair out as the challenge is "No Designer Papers". I LOVE my papers. Eventually I came across this little snowflake stamp which was a freebie from a magazine and made my own. The tree stamp and the sentiment were from the same set.

Another flying visit from me, I'm really only in and out of Blogland at the moment to post my DT cards as I am very, VERY busy at the moment. Myself and a friend have started up a little business doing silver fingerpint/ hand and footprint/ kids artwork jewellery and lets just say things are pretty manic at the moment! Hopefull in the New Year I can return to being a "good blogger" again!

Anyway, here's what it looks like in case you haven't the foggiest idea what I'm on about!

Hope you can join us this week!

Linds x

Happy Birthday Fab and Funky!

2010-12-01T09:00:00.002Z

Welcome to the Fab and Funky !st Birthday Blog Hop!

If you have arrived here from Emma's blog then you are in the right place, if not......whoops looks like the sat nav was playing up and you've taken a wrong turn! In that case go back to the Challenge Blog and re-program it.

We have LOADS of fab sponsors this week and each of the DT blogs is being sponsored by a company who are each very kindly offering a prize.

My blog is being sponsored by the fabulous Wild Rose Studio and they have very geneously offered the random winner picked from my blog two stamps of their choice from the Wild Rose Studio range. Wow!

All you have to do is leave a comment under this post to be in with a chance to win.My DT card this week uses a Wild Rose studio stamp and papers.

So after you have left a comment here you need to hop on over to Jenny's blog and do the same thing there!

Happy hopping and good luck!

Right I'm off for a nice cup of T!

Linds x

Only 2 Days late!

2010-11-26T09:36:00.002Z

Ok so it is actually Friday today....not Wednesday. I forgot to schedule my post. Doh!

So here it is.......my Fab and Funky DT card.

This week we are having a "Go with the Flow" week so you can let your creative juices run wild. I didn't have time so stuck to bright and simple following the Paper Sundaes Sketch (which I will enter later today if I get a chance to come back and link up!) I have used a super cute image from Di's Digi Downloads. Right I make that Christmas card number six! Wooooo Hoooo!

Sorry again for not being around much this week, I am trying my best to keep up with you but I'm a couple of days behind at the moment.

Better dash as I can hear chairs being moved around in the kitchen. CC thinks he is "helping" by washing up....................

Linds x

Sweet Stampin' 1st Birthday Blog Hop

2010-11-20T08:00:00.000Z

Good Morning!

Welcome to the Sweet Stampin First Birthday Blog Hop! If you've just come from Lesley's Blog then you are in the right place! While you're here, please leave me a comment, enter my Candy and then hop over to Lorraine next. Don't forget you need to enter this weeks Sketch Challenge at Sweet Stampin to be eligible to win any Design Team Candy! If you think you've lost your way, head back to Sweet Stampin and start from there!

For my candy I am offering up this Nellie Snellen stamp to one lucky participant. Remember that you need to enter our aketch challenge too in order to be elligible!

My card uses the "fairy Lights" kit from Pink Petticoat

Raffia and staples from stash

Happy Hopping!

Linds

Fab and Funky DT Card

2010-11-17T09:00:00.001Z

Good morning everybody!

Our new challenge at Fab n Funky is a good one!

"Forget Me Not!"

In otherwords dig out your long forgotten stamps or print out those digi's that have been languishing unloved in a cyber file and create something. That's it!

I have used a stamp from a baby set I "had to have" a while back from Digistamp Boutique. This is its first outing! The papers are Doodlebug

Thanks again for all your lovely comments recently, I promise I will try to catch up properly as soon as I can and there will be a little thank you candy coming soon (just need 5 minutes to get round to posting it!)

Thanks for dropping by

Linds x

I want this cat!!!

2010-11-14T19:53:00.001Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XID_W4neJo&sns=fb

Even cats aspire to being a couple of "box" sizes smaller!!

After the fire comes flood.........

2010-11-12T09:00:00.000Z

Morning my little chikadees!

It's time for the new challenge over at

Crafty Catz

For this challenge we would like to see some paper tearing on your projects. Simples!

This week we are sponsored by Sew Many Cards. The prize is 5 digi images of the winners choice. Nice one!

Anyway, back to me.

So we had the Great Fire of Toaster.

Next we had the Great flood of kitchen..........

Yeah I know. What's next? A plague of locusts!

On Wednesday night the kids went to bed at about 7.30 pm. Toilet, teeth and bed. Story Night night.........

Precisely 12 hours later as I sorted out the kids breakfasts, CC started to get very excited jumping about and squealing and pointing at the wall. I was still semi-concious as I hadn't yet had my first cup of tea of the morning. When finally the excitement became to much to bear , I turned to see what the fuss was about.......and wished I hadn't! You see the ceiling was leaking. All the joists were visible but worst of all the water was dripping down between the brick and the plaster on the wall, causing a four foot long "bubble" full of water.

The source of the leak was the tap from the bathroom upstairs. It had been left on so slightly that it was running along the underside of the tap and dripping through the join between tap and basin. B*&$*!R!.

Still, out of upset came joy.................even if only momentarily. You see in a former life I used to relish working with wounds. The gammier and smellier the better. My wall looked a bit like a giant absess and after some consideration and a brief risk assesment I decided it needed to be drained! Oh how my heart sang as I jammed a large wide gauge needle into that baby! Pop! Whoosh! Happy days!

I think we are going to have to get a "man" in to sort out the mess that has been left as unfortunately it's not a Polyfilla and paint job. I do fancy outting in some spotlights in the kitchen ceiling so perhaps he could do that at the same time. Hmmmmm. Think I'm going to start working on the hubby!

Thanks for visiting!

Linds x

I'm Spinning Around.....Get Out of My Way

2010-11-10T09:30:00.000Z

Baby, baby, baby!..............Oops, did you see that? You did didn't you?! Sorry, it's just that sometimes I lose about two foot in height and 6 stone in weight and transform into Kylie Minogue, she doesn't like it when I do this as aparently it's a breech of copyright.......I should be so lucky!

Is it Wednesday again? How did that happen?

It has been an eventful week at Chateau Loop

It all started when the toaster (RIP) spontaniously combusted at breakfast last Saturday. While I remained frighteningly calm, my husband and eldest son jumped around like a pair of big girls blouses. Hubby was yelling "turn it off! Turn it off!" as he ran the other way while Big Dude informed me that I needed to "Call Fireman Sam!". Cheeky Chops carried on eating his banana (or "narna")
Then Hubby bogs off to the States with work.
Next CC fancies a trip to hospital.
Big Dude (and Sensei) disgrace themselves at a party. Oh well, saves me money if he doesn't get invited to anymore..
Hubby returns home tired and grumpy (but impressed by the valet parking at his hotel and view of the Rockies from his office window........) bearing gifts of possibly THE most revolting Chokit i've EVER tasted......is ear wax really an ingredient?
Then to top things off on a very happy note I've become an Auntie for the second time as my Brother in-law and his wife have had a little girl. Hurray....a pink one!

I think that's enought o be going on with!

The days go by and I'm going around in circles..........which oddly enough is the theme of this weeks challenge over at Fab n Funky . This week we are sponsored by Stitchy Bear and the DT were all kindly given some images to use. I haven't used one because I was running around like a headless chicken and had to URGENTLY make a karate card for The Party BD went to on Friday so I used this fab Josh one from Digi Stamp Boutique instead. I never even finished it properly as I forgot to put the sentiment on! I'm telling you I came this close to going out and buying a card! The papers are Basic Grey "Lime Rickey"

Hope you can join us

Linds x

Photo inspiration at Sweet Stampin'

2010-11-06T09:01:00.000Z

Morning! Another flying visit from me! I really hope life settles down a bit soon, I feel like i'm constantly chasing my tail at the moment!
This week the challeng at Sweet Stampin' is a photo inspiration challenge (just look at these yummy iced gems! Actually I hate iced gems but hey, they still look good!)

We are sponsored by Pollycraft this week.

Hope you are all well and I can only apologise for my lack of commenting recently and thank you so much for still visiting me, I really appreciate it

Linds x

Spots and Stripes at Crafty Catz

2010-11-05T09:00:00.001Z

Sorry I've not been doing much commenting again this week but my youngest has been in hospital and although he's out now he's still not very happy and needing a lot of cuddles.

Thank goodness I did my DT cards last weekend!

This is my effort for Ctafty Catz. The challenge is spots and stripes and we are sponsored by Robyns Fetish.

Hope you are all ok, I will be visiting as soon as normal service resumes!

I would like to enter

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ sketch (I have actually used the Sweet Stampin' sketch but they are very similar and Kerry MADE me enter!!!!!)

Linds x

Crafty Catz goes all spoooooooky

2010-10-29T09:03:00.000+01:00

Another quick one from me as still not enough hours in the day which is a shame as I have some stories I must share with you when things calm down a bit!
The challenge at Crafty Catz this week is to make a HALLOWEN project, card or layout. We have a lovely prize from our very generous sponsor Crafty Ribbons.

I would just lake to say a HUGE thankyou to all of you who so kindly have been leaving me comments even though I have been unable to visit you in return, you are such lovely people and I really appreciate you taking the time. You really don't need to!

Hope you can come and join us
Linds x

CAS at Fab and Funky

2010-10-27T17:06:00.002+01:00

The theme at Fab and Funky this week is Clean and Simple so this is my offering! It's late because camera gone AWOL.
I'm so sorry i'm not around much to comment on your blogs at the moment, life has kind of taken over a bit so as long as you all know that I loves ya and I'll be back to catch up ASAP. Please don't feel you need to leave me any comments as I'm unlikey to be able to return the favour at the moment as I'm having to concentrate on the comments for the challenge blogs.
In the words of Arnold Schwarzeneger though......."I WILL BE BACK!"

Linds x

Anything but a card.....does a flat pack kids bed count?!

2010-10-23T09:00:00.000+01:00

Good morning! I hope you are all well.

This week over at Sweet Stampin' the challenge is to make

ANYTHING BUT A CARD

Oh. I don't really do anything BUT cards. Luckily I had a couple of deep frames from Ikea so I decided to make a framed recipe for my favourite Lemon Drizzle Cake so I could hang it on the kitchen wall and when I get brain freeze and can't remember the recipe.....there it is!

Apologies for the awful photo's. It was dark when I took it and the flash kept bouncing off the glass.

The image is a sweet little hAnglar image which Fluff sent me. Thankyou for the speedy response, you saved the day!

The papers and lemons were a Pink Petticoat freebie and the corrugated card and raffia was stash.

Well I'm slightly concerned about the number of Daniel Craig fanatics out there! Really? I'm sorry but i just don't get it!

Well we have busy weekend planned. We have had to get BD a new bed sooner than we thought as after CC decided to dive out of the cot on Thursday and land on his head .I felt it wasn't safe to keep him in it any more and he had gone into BD's little bed. BD has a cabin bed waiting to be assembled so we will be decorating his room and doing a lot of swearing as we try to read the instructions that will inevitably be in Japanese. I'm so glad we ordered a new case of wine cos I can guarantee i'm going to need a glass/bottle after this. Wish me luck!

Linds x

The names Bond.........I roll on the floor and get keys!

2010-10-22T09:00:00.002+01:00

Time for a new challenge over at Crafty Catz! This week the theme has been set by the lovely Carol and she would like you to use black, white plus one other colour on your creations this week.
We are sponsored by our fabulous regular sponsors Lilac Lemon Designs again this week.

I'm stuck in a rut. Every time I get a black, white & one challenge the "one" is always red!
Never mind it is a Christmas card! It's a very simple card this week. My mojo seems to have done a runner so I couldn't face anything too elaborate.
This is Christmas card number 6. Only another 50 or so to go!
The image is from Digistamp Boutique, I love this little guy as there was hardly any colouring involved. Perfect when you have mojo-itis! The paper is Papermania and i have just added some gliter to it. Ribbon from stash.

Big Dude (or Daniel Son) and Sensai have fallen out.
Sensei came round for tea and it all went swimmingly until two minutes before his Mum arrived and one pushed the other off the sofa and the other poked the one in the eye.
On the plus side, neither has been on the Naughty Wall this week as BD has decided he has a new BFF (I give it a week!) and their favourite game is James Bond.
Sensei doesn't want to play with them as he would rather build a bug house apparently!
Intrigued, I asked Big Dude how you play the game of James Bond
"You have to roll on the floor and get keys to open doors" was the reply I got.
"Oh........"
You should see the state of his school trousers!
"We love James Bond. He is soooooooooo awsome! But I don't know who he is yet though!"
I suppose I should be grateful this version doesn't involve fast cars and loose women yet!
So....who's your favourite James Bond of all time. For me it has to be Roger Moore, he's sooo funny!

Happy Friday y'all!
Linds x

Things that go bump, meeeooow, hissssssss in the night!

2010-10-20T09:14:00.000+01:00

Things That Go "Bump" In The Night.

It could be one of many things. BD falling out of bed, my husband walking into the doorframe during a midnight trip to the loo, CC lulling himself back to sleep by crashing his meaty little legs repeatedly up and down on the cot matress..............

Well this is the theme of our challenge over at Fab n Funky this week. I loosely interpretted it as Halloween but since I don't do Halloween my images are limited! Then I remembered a recent aquisition of Illegal Stash that had been sucessfully smuggled into the craft room ie, this fab "Magnum" image from Ladybug Crafts Ink .....before I knew it the cheesey sentiment had popped into my head and this card was born!

The problem is do cats go bump in the night? I am reliably informed that they do if you kick them off the bed cos they've made your feet too hot ;-).................

Image - Ladybug Crafts Ink

Coloured with Koh-i-Noor pencils and blended with sansadour

Papers - basic Grey "Pyrus"

Green raffia - HobbyCraft

Eyelets - stash

Thanks for popping over, sorry I can't offer you a bicky with your cuppa but CC has eaten them all!

Linds

All Together Now!

2010-10-15T09:13:00.002+01:00

Oh. Is it Friday? AGAIN?! How did that happen?

Must be time to pop over to Crafty Catz for our brand new challenge. Thankyou to every one who entered out Tilda week last week, what alot of fantastic entries! This weeks challenge has been set by the fabulous Trish and she would like to see a card which has been

Inspired by a nursery rhyme or song.

We are sponsored this week by Sassy Designs

This was great for me as I had to make CC a birthday card. My baby is two!

I had this image from Digistamp Boutique so thought of Puff The Magic Dragon (However my dear husband has just told me this is a 60's song all about drugs.......I'm not sure if he's winding me up as I'm quite gullable. For the sake of this card I'm still prepared to believe it's a childrens song about a lovely magical dragon who just happens to have the name Puff, because I can't think of another blinkin' kids song about dragons and I've made the darn card!)

The dragon (Puff) is coloured in Promarkers and Koh-i-Noor pencils and had been cut out and mounted on foam pads.

I have taken the sketch from a challenge blog and can't remember where now so sorry if it was yours!

The papers are from Basic Grey.

The letters were cut using the Craft Robo (Hooray thats twice this year it's been out of the box!)

A small ribbon tag has been stapled onto the side.

I have fallen out with the sewing machine Big Time. Just as I thought we were getting on he stops picking up the bobbin thread on some stitches when doing zig-zag. Then he jams up.Grrrrrrrrr! The dragons pressie hides the worst patch. I hate sewing at the best of times and the machine's so old I don't have the instruction book to try and fix the problem. Any one got any idea why this might happen?

Edited to add: Problem solved thanks to Google. I was a numpty and I didn't thread the machine properly. Relationship back on!

I would like to enter;

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ 3 of a kind (3 papers)

Thanks for looking

Linds x

Fluff Has A Sugar Rush!

2010-10-13T20:26:00.003+01:00

Quick! Get over to Fluffs blog Stampin Fluffnstuff beacuse she has some lovely sugar free candy to celebrate her Blogversary. Go! Go! Go! Oh and don't try bribing her with choklit or cakes as I've already done that!

Linds x

Yummy Yummy!

2010-10-13T09:26:00.003+01:00

Good morning!

Are you feeling Fab and Funky and ready for a fresh new challenge? Perhaps you are a little bit peckish, haven't had breakfast yet? Well come on over as we have a "YUMMY" theme for our challenge this week!

We also have a brand new sponsor Stitchy Bear who are offering a fab prize for one lucky winner.

So, onto my card. This was tricky as I am on a "Perma -Diet" and yummy things tend to send me right off track, especially choklitty things (right Fluff?!) but when I saw this fab image from Digistamp Boutique which is part of the "Birthday Zoe" collection I HAD to have it (and 3 others!) This one especially caught my eye as I got a couple of choklitty sentiments in the Elzybells sale which I hadn't used until now. I love it when a plan comes together! As usually she is coloured with my trusty Promarkers.

The papers are from "Making Memories" and the scrap of corrugated card fell out of my stash magically just as i needed it!

I borrowed the sketch from my fabbie Sweet Stampin' teamie Jo who come up with the most amazing sketches and has a complete library of the on her blog Siggi Shop . So thanks for that Jo!

Hope you will come and join us this week with your delicious creations!

I would like to enter

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ - buttons and bows (i hope the bow in her hair counts)

Linds x

Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend.............

2010-10-09T09:30:00.005+01:00

Happy Saturday!

This weeks challenge over at Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog is "Diamonds are A Girls Best Friend" so we want to see some bling on your cards, what else you do is up to you! Pop over to the challenge blog and have a look at the rest of the DT's fabby creations! The fab prize up for grabs this month is a set of Hero Arts Stamps and some gorgeous flowers. Yummy!

I wheeled out Audrey again. After Betty got an outing the other week I haven't heard the end of it from Aud so she came out for a play.

I have stamped her in black pigment ink and heat embossed the image with clear holographic embossing powder. I've used Papermania papers and added some diamond rings and earings as she is a glamour puss! I made a couple of quilled flowers and plonked a bit more bling in the centres befor adding some spirals of wire. Thats all really, this was a very quick make so I knocked out five!

Well, today I am on the case of tracking down a UFO in my car. No not an infestation of little green men, UFO is "Unidentifiable Foul Odour". I don't know what's causing it (i dread to think) but my car interior smells just like my dishwasher when it hasn't been turned on for two days. Wish me luck, this could be hazardous!

I would like to enter

Spoonful of Sugar - Sparkle and shine

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ - inspiration from a song......"mooooon river...."

Sarah Hurley - Flowers

Papertake Weekly (Tues- I have chosen the Shiney Sparkly and Special challenge from May 2010

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/ - make your own (in my case flowers)

Thanks for stopping by

Linds x

2010-10-08T12:07:00.003+01:00

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY DASH BOARD!!!!
I can't scroll down my reading list any further than posts added 6 hours ago! Appologies if you posted yesteday evening but I have no updates and don't know who i'm supposed to be commenting on! Anyone else having this problem?

Tilda Challenge at Crafty Catz

2010-10-08T09:15:00.001+01:00

Good morning everyone!

This week is TILDA WEEK at Crafty Catz and the challenge is set by our very own Suzie.

We are sponsored by Crafty Ribbons this week. Do check out their store as they really do have some delicious ribbons there.

Having two boys, I very rarely get the opportunity to use a Tilda image and I have had soooo much fun making this card. I have to thank my fab blogging buddy Kaylou for the images so "Thank you!"

I have just noticed the "deliberate mistake". Can you spot it? I must have been away with the fairies not to have noticed the backing off a foam pad stuck to Tildas hand in the photos! Duh! I can't take another piccie cos I mailed this card about four weeks ago! Oh well lets just think of it as a "design feature" Ehhrmmm!

The papers are Doodlebug and the white raffia lace was given to me by the lovely Fluffy Faye. The gems were from stash and of course Tilda is drowning in a sea of Stickles as is the LAW.

Oops nearly forgot to announce the winner of my mystery candy....

Its number 16

patriziawithaz

Have a lovely Friday everyone,

Happy crafting!

Linds x

Use a Digi!

2010-10-06T09:19:00.003+01:00

The theme at Fab and Funky this week (chosen by YOU the fabulous followers!) is to use a digi image. The DT have all been given images to use by our very generous monthly sponsor Soft Pencil so do go and check out theit fab work.

I have decided to make Christmas card number 3 (or is it 4?) either way, we're still very much in the low end of single figures!

Big Dude went for his first Karate lesson with Sensei tonight (It's Tuesday and I'm writing a scheduled post in case i've confused you!) I'm hoping they might learn the "discipline" involved in martial arts and we can put a stop to the regular visits to the Naughty Wall in the school playground. I'm not sure my plan is going to work judging by the handstands and high kicks going on in the living room! If you have seen "The Karate Kid" you will know that the Kid has to train by high kicking at a suspended bell...............I have wind chimes on my curtain pole..........!

So no ramblings from me as I need to restore some order downstairs now. He's too hyped up to go to bed so not much "me time" tonight!

I would like to enter

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ - go ahead get a hat

Thanks for looking

Linds x

Crafty Catz Birthday Blog Hop

2010-10-01T09:30:00.006+01:00

Crafty Catz is one year old today! Hurray!

To celebrate we are having a bit of a blog hop with lots of lovely prizes up for grabs, plus the DT are all giving away a little bit of candy on their blogs too.

I'll come back to the hop in a moment but first I need to show you my DT card for this weeks challenge which is

"Birthday card for a child and sparkles"

We are sponsored by Robyns Fetish.

I have used a Lily of the Valley image (oh there was a drama behind this card! I managed to lose the card i did for this challenge, that will teach me to try and be organised!) I have coloured with Promarkers and paper pieced her dress before adding Stickles.

So onto the blog hop.....
Come on in Hoppers! Put up your feet! Can i get you a brew? Slice of cake perhaps?!
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...

You should have arrived here from Dianne's blog. If you have got a little disorientated go back to the challenge blog and start again.

During the hop you need to collect the letters found on our blogs (some blogs have more than one letter on them!) and unscramble them to spell out a word.

My letter is

Details of what to do once you have found the hidden word can be found on Trish's blog at the end of the hop.

The prize is 5 digi images from Prairie Fairy Designs

To be in with a chance of winning my "mystery candy" make sure you leave a comment under this post. Once you have done that you need to hop along to Suzanne's blog. Have fun and thanks for stopping by!

I would like to enter

lili of the valley - Sketch by Bev

Stamp Something - Something to celebrate

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - autumn birthdays

Stamping for the weekend (1st and 3rd Fri) - Autumn inspiration (the colours)

Papercutz challenge 3 patterned papers

http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ All sew up

Linds x

I thought things had gone a bit quiet.....

2010-09-30T11:42:00.004+01:00

Thank god it wasn't a spray can!
Right, off to wash the walls now.

Linds x

Black, White Plus 1!

2010-09-29T09:16:00.003+01:00

Good morning! Is it Wednesday? Again?!
Ah well at least it's time for a brand new challenge at Fab and Funky. This week the challenge theme is a colour combo of
Black, White and one other colour of your choice.

I have used "Martini Nikki" from Ladybug Ink Crafts and coloured her with the usual mix of Promarkers and Koh-i-Noor pencils. She has been cut out and mounted using gel glue.
The papers are Papermania from a MASSIVE pad. I sent a good thousand of them to Faye and I still think I'm going to be using them in decades to come! Well they were very good value and i love a bargain!
The ribbon is from HobbyCraft and the bling is from my local florist wholesaler. Now that is where you go if you want 50m of plain coloured satin ribbon for £1.95 plus vat! I have a box load which would probably reach to the moon and back!
The sentiment was computer generated as this is a commission for a 40th birthday.

Now, onto Big Dudes latest "awkward" questions.
Recently he has become infatuated by death. Mainly mine! Often I am asked to quantify my time left on Earth in Numbers of Sleeps. Tricky that!
He even asked my Mother in Law if she planned to die soon...
She looked a bit taken aback and told him she didn't plan to and wanted to know why he asked.
"Because you're old Nana" (She is 60!)
Thankfully she thought on her feet and told him that all the vitamins she takes give her plenty of energy to keep her going and BD seemed happy with that
After a bit more pondering the "death chat" gets into full swing with BD demanding to know how you get transported up to heaven because you can't drive with your eyes closed.
"Does somebody come and pick you up and take you there? Do you have to go in a space ship? Do the clouds hold you up?"
I am honestly stumped on this one. Any ideas on how to handle this would be very welcome! I am a very matter of fact person but i do feel this subject needs to be softened alot for a five year old. I don't know where all this has stemmed from. I think I'll change the subject to "where do babies come from?" soon!

I would like to enter
Creative Cottage challenge - Bling
Allsorts Plain and simple

Thanks for stopping by!
Linds x

Sweet Stampin' Sketch

2010-09-25T09:10:00.003+01:00

Happy Saturday! This weeks challenge over at Sweet Stampin' this week is a fab sketch challenge.

Feel free to play around with it, re-size and rotate as long as we can make out the sketch that is absolutely fine!

This month we are sponsored by Wink wink ink

I have used a Wild Rose Studio image, coloured with Pro-Markers and Koh-i-noor pencils blended with Sansodor. I have added stickles to her dress and the stars.

I have added 3 eyelets and some jade ribbon and the borders were made using a Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch.

Sentiment was computer generated and i have no idea where the papers are from!

Hope you can play along with us this week

Have a great weekend wherever you are! We are at wedding number three this weekend. I think it should be a sedate affair with any luck cos I'm shattered!

Linds x

Crafty Catz DT card - Stitching

2010-09-24T09:10:00.002+01:00

Good morning Loopettes,

It's time for our new challenge over at Crafty Catz today and this week the theme has been chosen by the lovely Suzanne and she would like to see some stitching on your card. Two months ago i would have Grrrrrr'd at poor Suzanne for this but since then I have started to learn to quite like my sewing machine! Ahhhhhh! Yep, me and the sewing machine have been working out our differences and have started to find a mutual respect for each other. Especially since I have decided I actually really like the look of wonky stitching on a card. It's funky not squiffy!

So onto the card (does any one else keep typing crad instead of card or is that just me?)

The image is "Football Lad" from the fabulous Wild Rose Studio and he has been coloured with Promarkers and cut out and made 3d. The papers were sent to me by the fantabulous Lisa and i think she said they were from Making Memories.

I have used up a scrap of mesh and punched holes down the side of the image with my CropaDile before "stitching" with string.

The oh so wonky stitching (deliberate of course!) was courtesy of my new best friend Monsieur Sewing Machine. And guess what? .........not a drop of blood was spilt!

I though I would leave you with a piccie of what I found in the garden the other day. CC wearing a pair of specs belonging to Mr Potatoe head. He had put the on himself before "mowing" the lawn. What a dude!

Hope you can come and join us

Thank you all for your lovely comments, you brighten up my day!

Spoonful of Sugar anthing goes(Tues)

Charisma Cardz anything goes(Thurs)

Allsorts 3 punches (star, corner and holes)(Sat)

Secret crafter anyhthing goes (sat)

CRAFT Teenagers (thursday)

Linds x

Quote Me Happy!

2010-09-22T09:16:00.001+01:00

Good morning!
Time for this weeks new challenge at Fab n Funky! This week we are sponsored by Fred She Said who do a lovely range of digital images so do go and check it out if you get five.
This week is a very exciting week for us at Fab n Funky as we welcome our new DT members on board for the first time. Do pop over and leave them some love, I know they would really apreciate it!

Our theme for this week is

"Quote Me Happy"

In other words dig out your sentiment stamps or digi phrases and make that the main focal point of your card.

I was stumped on this challenge.
Complete bimbo head.
Nothing between the ears.
I thought and thought and then I thought some more before breaking for Coronation Street and a caramel digestive or five.
Still nothing.
Then Audrey Hepburn came to me in a dream.
My long term followers will remember that Audrey Hepburn used to live in a cupboard under my kitchen work top well away from direct sunlight. She is a delicate little flower. Well now Audrey lives in a Stack and Store box in my spare room (this is now my craft room, the kitchen has at long last been liberated!)
In my dream she reminded me of a friend of hers called Betty Grable who also inhabits the Stack and Store box under the desk.
"Use Betty" she said. "She hasn't seen the light of day in years and is developing rickets stuck in that storage container".
Well I couldn;t have that, so after some coaxing Betty came out to play in the ink (in case you hadn't guessed, Betty and Audrey are clear polymer stamps. Doh! you didn't think they were real did you?!).

So after applying a liberal sprinkling of glitter so Bettys behind I googled some qoutes for her and came up with this one;

"The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from up there"

Oh how true!

Thanks Betty! Oh and thanks Audrey for the idea!

I would like to enter
Delightful sketches make it sparkle (Betty has a very glttery behind, trust me!)

I do hope you can join us this week
Thanks for dropping by
Linds x

Sketch Challenge at OSCC

2010-09-18T09:30:00.003+01:00

Good morning all!
It's time for the new challenge at One Stop Crafts and this week the lovely Val has given us a gorgeous sketch to follow and has added the twist of using Autumnal colours.
We are sponsored by Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More this week and the DT were given some images to play with so do pop on over to the challenge blog and have a look.

I have used a Mo Manning image but used a Robyn image as an embellishment (the pumpkin)

The main image is coloured with Promarkers and Koh-i-noor pencils and i have added a touch of stickles (alright, more than a touch of Stickles!). The papers are a mix of Doodlebug and the Spiders Web one is a mystery!

The Pumpkin image was shrunk down and coloured with pencils before adding a layer of Glossy Accents.

I would like to enter
Pollycraft Autumn Colours
Spoonful of Sugar Autumn colours
Delightful sketches - Pumpkins ( there are a couple of little ones!)

Linds x

And the winner is.....

2010-09-17T12:22:00.002+01:00

So today is the day I get to put all the numbers into the random number thingumy jig and ask him very nicely to pull me out a winner for my candy................................

So in went the numbers..................

And he jumbled them all around..................

Gave them a bit of a shake......................

Then pulled out number................

Drumroll please.............................

Am I starting to irritate you yet?

No?..............................

Then we'd better have a fanfare too.......................

Ok, ok! I'll tell you now........

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:93
Timestamp: 2010-09-17 11:21:34 UTC

It was number 93

LYNNE - Handmade with love by Lynne!

Congratulations Lynne! Please email me your address (my email is in the side bar) and i will pop you candy off in the post for you. If I haven't heard from you by this time next week then I will re-draw, but i'm sure thatwon't be the case!

Thankyou to every one who entered, you never know it could be you next time!

Linds x

Crafty Catz DT card - Green and Brown

2010-09-17T09:00:00.006+01:00

It's time for another challenge over at Crafty Catz this week and it's my turn to pick the challenge theme this week At the moment i am totally loving brown. Brown and anything but particularly brown and green. I think it is a great colour combo for both male and female cards depending on the shades you use.

So this weeks challenge is to make a card using

Chocolate and green

We are sponsored this week by Lilac Lemon Designs

I really fancied making a brown and Duck Egg card but since i needed a birthday card for a six year old i went with a more masculine shade of "Monster Green"!

I have uses a Squiggles Stamps image and coloured him in with Promarkers and Koh-i-noor pensils blended with Sansodor. He has been cut out and mounted on an embossed back panel using foam pads. The balloon has been covered in glossy accents.

The papers are from stash and have been matted on Kraft card.

I have used staples as embellishments.

The sentiment is computer generated and although it doesn't show up well, it has not been mounted flat, the middle is raised.

So my little monster has been back in school for what? not quite 2 weeks yet and informed me that he has been on "the Naughty Wall" yet again . It was a repeat offence as he was reprimanded for the same crime on his second day back.

What was this heinous offence I hear you cry!

Well.....during the holidays BD's bestest buddy and partner in crime went to watch "The Karate Kid". Obviously after 90 minutes of intensive visual training in this ancient martial art, he is now a fully qualified instructor who should be known only as "Sensei". Of course every Sensei needs a "Daniel Son" and yep, you guessed it BD got the job! So the pair of them are high kicking and chopping during every break time so BD can be "trained".

It goes without saying that no Daniel Son can ever become a black belt without a training partner so interviews for this role were held and a suitable candidate was recruited to their cause. Training can now commence fully. Sensei instructs his junior trainees to perform various highly skilled and precision movements. The inevitable happens and the second trainee gets a kick in the face from Daniel Son. Dinner Lady witnesses the scene and Daniel Son and Sensei end up spending the rest of break time "thinking" on the Naughty Wall. Luckily the child who "ate foot" wasn't hurt and he happens to be my friends son so she was pretty cool about it...... Oh the joy of being a mother of boys!

Anyway enough from me!

I hope you can come and join us this week, we'd love to see what you come up with!

I would like to enter

Creative Cottage challenge Birthday Boy

Totally Papercrafts Happy Birthday

Stamps R Us Childs birthday

Stamp something Digi

Thanks for popping by my blog!

Linds x

Fab and Funky DT card - photo inspiration

2010-09-15T10:30:00.006+01:00

Hello! This weeks challenge at Fab n Funky is a photo inspiraion challenge.
Can you believe that this is actually a cake!
Ooooh to wear a cake! I'd be two stone heavier and starkers by tea time!
Anyway, i used this photo as an excuse to make a wedding card for our third and final wedding of the year next week.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do after seeing my fab friend Lisa's beautiful CAS card a couple of weeks back. You can see it here I thought her sketch would work perfectly with my Sizzix build a flower die so I made a flower out of vellum and held it together with a huge brad and put it in place of the butterfly, I added some coiled craft wire and pearl stems and some bling in the top corner. I have also moved the text to the top left hand corner and cut a little notch detail in the smaller stip. Thankyou Lisa for letting me case your layout, you are a star!

Close up of the heart which was first dry embossed. I then rubbed it with Versamark and heat embossed with silver tinsel embossing powder

The sentiment was computer generated using Microsoft Publisher to get the words positioned.

Close up of the vellum flower and brad.

Going onto a totally different tangent now I thought i would leave you with BD's latest

CC was off to bed and being uncharacteristically lovely about it, waving and "night night"ing, gurgling and clapping. He gave BD a big wet kiss and I carried him off to bed. As I was going up the stairs I heard BD say to my hubby;

"Daddy?" (every sentence starts with a question)

"Yes BD?"

"I LOVE my baby!"

"Thats nice BD"

"I know........ When is he going to turn into a brother?!"

I left Hubby to explain that one!

Hope you can join us!

Linds x

Oh Knickers!

2010-09-11T10:00:00.000+01:00

It's Saturday! I'm probably still in my pyjamas as this is a scheduled post and I had a girls night out last night.

So..........the challenge over at Sweet Stampin' this week is to make a note card. This is my attempt (its a bit pants!) I know, it's soooooooooooooo chessy but I just had to do it! The washing line is from a PTI set and the sentiment is computer generated. The knickers.....well that is my own line of lingerie designed by moi! Once i had made a little cardboard template I was well away and cut out loads of them. The card was so quick and easy to assemble that I made a whole load of these! They were finished off with a bit of bright pink ribbon. Oooo err missus!

This month we are sponsored by Wink wink ink

Hope you can join us!

Have a great weekend

Linds x

DT Call At Fab and Funky!

2010-09-08T19:52:00.002+01:00

Do you fancy joining the "Fab'n'Funky" challenge DT? If you do, why not apply for a position on our DT this week. We have several positions opening and you never know . . . "it could be you!"
Pop on over to the cahllenge blog Fab and Funky Challenges to find out more................

The closing date for applications is Sunday 12th September and the sucessful applicants will be announced on Wednesday 15th September.

Linds x

Whateva! Speak to the hand cos the face ain't listening!

2010-09-08T09:30:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the middle of the week Fab and Funky lovers! This week at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges we have a brand new challenge for you and it's a good one because you can enter ANYTHING YOU LIKE! This weeks challenge is called;

"WHATEVA!"

So anything goes! So no excuse not to enter!

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical digital images inspired by her kids and family. The Meljen's Designs store officially launched on April 1 and is steadily growing! Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Monday and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog. Please visit the Meljen's Designs line of stamps at the WHIMSY STAMPS STORE to browse and enjoy Melissa's wonderful images!

The Dt were all given some of Meljens images to use for this weeks challenge. I have used "Little Girl Bear Hugs" and she has been coloured in Promarkers and I have added some shading with Koh-i-Noor pencils. Needless to say the image has been drenched in Stickles!

I have followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday this week

I would also like to enter Paper Sundaes - Mixed Media Challenge

Have a lovely day wherever you are

Thanks for stopping by

Linds x

My papers are from Bo Bunny- A gift of love

An award

2010-09-07T21:28:00.003+01:00

I havbeen given an award by the lovely Martina Martina's kaartjes . Thankyou Martina! Now I am possibly the worst person for remembering to post my awards (I have a couple of others I need to do too *slaps wrist*)

So I have to say why I started my blog and then pass this on to 10 others (that will be hard! I will come back to that it a minute!)

So why did I start my blog..........It was after reading an article in Papercraft Essentials which interviewed Sharon (Truely Scrumptious Challenges) as she had been crowned PaperCrafter of the Year and in this interview she recommended starting a blog if you hadn't already and entering some challenges. So I did! I am so glad that I did as I have "met" so many lovely and talented people through blogging.

Now to the hard bit. Pass onto 10 others. This is difficult as you all deserve an award but....in no particular order..

Debbie

Really you all deserve it

Linds x

FAO Jane - Miss Daisy Crafts

2010-09-05T15:14:00.002+01:00

Hi Jane, I just popped over to your blog to say hello and I can't leave a comment on your post as it just won't let me :-(
I don't know why it is but it might be worth checking your settings.
You have a fab blog by the way!
Linds x

OSCC photo inspiration

2010-09-04T13:53:00.002+01:00

Happy Saturday! Time for this weeks new challenge over at One Stop Craft Challenge .

This weeks theme is set by Cat and is a photo inspiration challenge. You can choose which one you want. I have gone with a colour theme rather than an actual Flitty Flappy! I really like the colours of the first photo but i didn't have anything suitable :-(

We are sponsored this week by Dew Dropz

I have used a Mo Manning image coloured with a combination of ProMarkers and Koh-i-noor pencils

The papers are MME "Bloom and Grow"

Flower Prima

I would like to enter;

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Just the one (i've only used 1 flower and 1 image)

The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog - celebrations

allsorts challenge blog - New beginings
Saturday Challenge Clean and Simple
CES Challenge Blog - Flower Frenzy

Have a great weekend

Linds x

3,2,1....start cooking!

2010-09-03T09:00:00.001+01:00

Good morning! It's that time of week when Crafty Catz sets their new challenge and this week the challenge has been set by Carol who has come up with a tasty little recipe...

Take 3 embellishments.
Carefully fold in 2 designer papers
Simmer gently before carefully adding 1 image.
Mix it all together and enter our challenge. Simples.

CRAFTS and MEis our sponsor this week and is offering this beautiful Sweet Pea stamp to our lucky winner. The stamp is called Ching-Chou kuiks Fly Butterfly and is unmounted rubber.

I do hope you can cook up a little something and share it with us this week. We would love to see what you bake!

Iwould like to enter

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Cute

http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ make a start on Christmas

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Christmas in August

http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas in August

Paper Sundaes Christmas in August

http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.com/ make it Sparkle

Thanks for looking

Linds x

Liv-ing-in-a-mat-er-ial world.....mat-er-ial-al-al...material!

2010-09-01T10:00:00.002+01:00

Thanks Madge!
If you haven't guessed already, the theme for this weeks Fab 'n' Funky Challenges is

"Material Girl...(or boy!)"

So you can basically do what you like as long as you use some fabric on your creation. You can do better than a piece of ribbon!

We are sponsored by Softpencil this week

My card uses;

Image - Polycraft Freebie coloured with Promarkers and Kooh-i-Noor pencils

Paper - Bo Bunny "A Gift of Love"

Brads, paperclips, eyelets, ribbon and fuzzy star from stash

I have used some hessian for my material (OMG it stinks! ......mmmmmm....wet dog!) still when i sell it it will be sealed up in a bag so they won't know until they get home!

Did you all have a good weekend? We had a washout of a Saturday and Sunday and then a beautiful day on the Monday Bank Holiday. We went for an extended family picnic to a lovely Country Park which has a huge gothic looking "Castle" and enormous grounds. There is a little train which the kids love, a fairytale village, mini farm park, discovery centre and adventure playground to name but a few things. It's all free normally, you just pay £3.50 for the car parking.

On Monday there was a massive event on called "Animal Magic" with all sorts of shows for the kids, including a snake man. Ok I can handle that as snakes don't really bother me. What made my blood boil was when i read the sign for the "Mountain Gorilla Show" Well that was it...........How can they? This isn't a zoo! How have they transported them! They shouldn't be carted around and stressed just for entertainment factor!

The whole family was then marched by yours truely up to the enclosure, which was very unsafe and rickety looking but i couldn't really get a good look because of the crowds. By the time I managed to push my way through I was absolutely seething as there was no shade for these poor creatures which were an adult and what appeared to be an adolescent and.........OMG! there are kids in there with them!

By this point I have started to vent out loud.

Very loud.

Still on about the cruelty but mainly about the STUPID parents who are letting their kids go into the enclosure with these wild animals.......if anything happens.......what are they thinking! I can just see the national news tonight..........I drift off for a second as I imagine what I will wear when being interviewed by the hunky reporter...."Well, Martin, I said from the minute I saw this spectacle that it was asking for trouble.........."

Anyway, enough of the outfit dilemma, we can sort that later. I have lives to save, both human and 'rilla!

"Oh i'm not sure I approve of the kiddies being allowed in there with them" Says my Mother-in-law

"I know it's RIDICULOUS!"

"Think of all the germs they'll pick up" she adds (pardon?)

"If they end up as Gorilla Gastronomy then that is the least of their worries! Where's the organiser? Find me the organiser! Does any one know who is in charge of this fiasco?"

Some woman (who has the cheek to SMIRK at me!) points to a comical looking bloke in jungle attire. It is probably her children who are about to get eaten. Lets see if she is smirking then!

My husband is also smirking at me and telling me to calm down.

"Calm down! Calm down? Do you think this is acceptable?"

BD pokes me, "Mummmy?"

"Yes BD?"

"You Know the Grillas?"

"Yes BD"

"Can I go in and stroke them too?"

Hubby pipes up "Yeah go on then but be quick. Your mum wants to go to the craft fair"

Are my ears deceiving me?

"DON'T YOU DARE!! YOU STAY RIGHT HERE! And YOU!.....what planet are you on?"

"Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaase Mummy?" Whines BD

"NO WAY!"

"But Mummy...."

"NO!"

"But Mummmmmmmmmyyyyyyy?"

"What?"

"They aren't REAL!"

oh...........................my..................................god.

Please earth open up and swallow me right now!

They were the most lifelike Non-grillas I have ever seen. It was only when the show ended and they got up and evolved, walking effortlessly on two legs that i realise my seriously embarrassing error!

From now on I'm not getting involved. Ever!

Apart from challenges!

The Sweet Stop - fab sketch

Pollycraft nature (You will often find Beer Monsters inhabiting the local watering holes)

Christmas Stampin' - A non-Christmas card!

Cupcake Crafts - lets go digital

Stamping for the weekend (1st and 3rd Fri- anything goes

Happy Crafting!

Linds x

Distressed Birthdays at Sweet Stampin'!

2010-08-28T10:00:00.002+01:00

Good morning! We have a new challenge for you over at Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog this week and the theme is

"Distressed Birthdays".

This month we are sponsored by the fabulous Heather Ellis and her "Pure Innocence" range.

Ha ha couldn't you hear my "delight" when i saw that theme! So out came the inks and pokey tools and scissors and the chopping and assaulting of papers began. Now the first attempt was bad. Very bad. No one could argue that it wasn't distressed. It looked like it had been dug out of a landfill and would need forensics to establish that it was infact a card. So onto attempt two.......went a little less heavy handed this time and actually found the process more de-stressing than distressing! I have used "Toby with Presents" from Wild Rose Studio and i have no idea about the papers but I didn't like them so it was easier to crumple and rip them! The flower and ribbon brad came from my lovely candy win over at Alie's"

My next Birthday will be a distressed one as i need to decide wheter to turn 29 for the 6th time or officially have my 30th. Descisions descisions!

I would like to enter

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Have a great weekend

Linds x

Brown, Orange and Blue at Crafty Catz

2010-08-27T12:34:00.006+01:00

Whoops! Guess who forgot to schedule her post before she went away....?!

Anyway, the lovely Trish has chosen a colour combo for us this week at Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge

BROWN, BLUE and ORANGE

I have used one of my favourite Wild Rose Studio girl stamps coloured with ProMarkers and some extra shading with the Koh-i-Noor pencils, blended with Sansodor. I have added stickles along the outside of the image, not that it shows, added some brads and ribbon from stash. The sentiment is Hero Arts and the orange panel has been embossed tith a Cuttlebug folder.

Gotta dash, i think i heard the fireguard being ripped off the wall. Oh I just love these stolen moments to blog......................

Ok all is well. Fireguard intact. CC had squirted some of BD's Fruit Shoot into his eye and had given himself a fright. BD was concerned because "I don't want my baby to die Mummy!" after some reassurance that Fruit Shoot applied topically was rarely fatal, calm has been restored. So where was I? Oh yes.....

I would like to enter

Paper Sundaes - fab sketch

TotallyPaperCrafts - Keep it clean and simple (Yay! Lovin' this one! Thanks Joey!)

Hope you can join us

Linds x

A Fab and Funky Recipie!

2010-08-25T09:59:00.001+01:00

Hello! It's Wednesday again and time for our new challenge at Fab and Funky this week which is a recipie;

3 papers,

2 Embellishments

and one image.

We are sponsored by Doodle Dragon Studio's this week.

I have used

an image from Squiggles Stamps which I have coloured with my new Koh-I--Noor pencils and blended with Sansodor. I need practice! These pencils take so much longer to use than the faithful old Promarkers but they are so therapeutic! (Don't you agree Lisa!) I just love'em!
Kaisercraft paper
Silver mirri-card embossed with a cuttlebug folder.
my two embellishments are eyelets and the star (I have counted the "2" as two different types of embellishments, but it could just be 2 embellishments in all)

i would like to enter
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ - 3,2,1 recipie

By the way, don't forget I have candy up for grabs at the moment!http://loopylinds.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-candy-time.html

Thanks for looking!

Linds x

An Award (sorry it took me so long to post it!)

2010-08-21T20:36:00.008+01:00

Look! I got an award!

Now for the rules,

1. To thank the person who gave me the award so... thank you,

2.To post the award on my blog. Yep, done that.

3. Post 3 things I love about myself. Hmmmmmmm this is a tough one......

I love that I can have a laugh and am able to laugh at myself. Nothing ever seems as bad if you can laugh about it

I love the fact that I am blessed with two adorable (most of the time) boys and a wonderful husband.

I love my stretch marks. As Kate Winslet once said, they are "Battle Scars" and are a chapter in my life story! (However, you wouldn't catch me in a bikini these days!)

Phew glad it was only three things to put there! Any more and Houston we could have had a problem!

4. Post a picture I love

This was taken about 3 years ago in Saundersfoot West Wales. Big Dude wasn't really a big dude back then, he was only two and a half. He is trying to skim rocks with Daddy and if you look closely you can see his stone flying out to sea. I can't believe how much he's changed since then!

5. Pass this award onto 5 other people. Now this is a very tough one.....

All of your lovely comments make my day! I just can't decide and i've sat here for almost half an hour now! I would hate to offend anybody by listing only 5 when I am in regular contact with so many more than just 5 of you. You are all totally fabulicious followers, so please help yourselves!

Sorry that was a total cop out!

Linds x

One Stop - Not a Card

2010-08-21T09:10:00.001+01:00

Morning!
The challenge at One Stop Craft Challenge this week is

"Not a Card"

We are sponsored by

I have made a simple pen holder out of an old M&S biscuit tub (yum, they were nice ones, chocholate orange, highly recommended)

I have covered it in MME papers and covered a few chipboard shapes i had kicking around. Heck, i even inked the edges, my theory being it's going to look distressed enough in a few weeks time so i may as well make it look as if i intended it to!

I have been abandoned for the weekend as Hubby has gone to Newquay on a stag do. Sounds like it's not got off to a good start as they are spending the evening in A&E after one of the lads ruptured his achillies tendon during a game of football! I'm so glad i'm at home, Big Dude and I have just watched a film together and no injuries to report. Quick somebody pass me that plank of wood to touch!

Hope you can join us

thanks for looking

Linds x

Horrid Flitty Flappy Things and Beautiful Buttons!

2010-08-20T09:26:00.003+01:00

Good morning! It's time for another challenge over at Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge and I know I say this every time but where has the week gone?!
The challenge this week is set by Suzie and she chose the theme of

"Butterflies and Buttons"

I think someone is trying to treat my phobia by the "face the fear" method!
This week we are sponsored by Lilac Lemon Designs.

My card uses Papermania paper and the remnants of last weeks "old paper bag"
The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink "Big and Bold Wishes" and the swirls are anybodys guess!
The hideous flappy thing was picked off an ols M&S birthday card (none of my friends who don't live inside my pooter are crafty but they know that they HAVE to get me cards with bits I can pick off! This was one of them, probably given as a "joke"! Eugggghhhh! Look at the antenae on that beast!

I would like to enter
http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/ "Vintage"

I hope you can join us this week
Linds x

Happy Birthday Cupcake!

2010-08-19T13:58:00.005+01:00

Well, here it is Faye! I said I'd enter Cupcake Craft Challenges this week and...ta da! I actually managed to make a card that is not a DT card cos I got organised last week. Hurray! The recipie said 2 papers (yep) 2 ribbons (tricky but done, thanks Vixx for the eyelet idea!) and two flowers (well ihave 2 flowers but i had to layer them on top of each other to make them fit!) Hope this does you madam!

The other reason i HAD to make this card was because I got some lovely papers in the post yesterday from a very lovely someone who know exactly who they are! Thanks hunny!

I would also like to enter;

Papertake Weekly Challenge Who's fab sketch i have used

allsorts challenge blog - paper piecing (on the cupcake)

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - photo inspiration.

Pink Elephant - ribbon and sparkles (glitter on wings and cupcake)

Right that's all folks. Kids are calling!

Linds x

fab and Funky Flowers

2010-08-18T10:30:00.004+01:00

Oops need to flatten that wonky ribbon down!

This weeks theme is "Flowers" we chose this to tie in with our fab sponsor for this week. I have just had a nosey around the site and the flowers she sells are stunning so go and take a peek for yourselves!

The lucky randomly chosen winner of this weeks challenge will receive this stunning prize . .

Oh I wish I could enter! You can though.............just show us your lovely flowery creations and you never know, Mr Random Picky Number Thingumybob might well pick YOU! Go on you know you want too, there is so much scope with this one!

I have used a Squggles Digi and added a few clouds and birds from a woodware set.
The papers are Imaginesce (i think!)
Ribbon- stash
Flowers, brad, ribbon brad and clip all courtesy of the lovely Alie who's candy i won the other week. Thanks Alie!

i would like to enter
Totally Papercrafts Rainbow
Friday Sketchers sketch
Pollycraft In stitches (faux around the image)

Happy Wednesday
Linds x

My New Milton Stamp and Papers!

2010-08-17T13:48:00.006+01:00

Hello!
What a horrible day it is here! The kids are bored stuck indoors and I'm fed up of jigsaws and play-doh. Luckily my new Christmas Milton stamp and papers (Wild Rose Studios) arrived this morning. I got them from Kitty who has opened up a new online store called My Mums Craft Shop. Thanks Kitty!
So when Fireman Sam saved my day and all went quite for half an hour I made this. Oh he is so lovely to colour and the new papers are just lush! I love getting a brand new paper stack, every thing matches and there are so many choices!

Now, Faye i did say i would enter Cupcake Craft Challenges this week but i just couldn't get the two ribbon, two flower thing happening on this. Sorry! (Bit scared as she knows where i live!)

I would like to enter
Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog - Sketch (my new stuff is stamp and papers, gem and card from stash)
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Christmas in August.

http://christmasstampin.blogspot.com/ Two designer papers

Thanks for looking
Linds x

Sweet Stampin' - Favourite image/stamp

2010-08-14T10:00:00.002+01:00

Hello my gorgeous little chickens!
We have a new challenge for you over at Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog this week and the theme is
"Favourite image or stamp"
What better excuse do you need to dig out your favourite stamps or print of some of your beloved digis?
This month we are sponsored by the fabulous Heather Ellis and her "Pure Innocence" range
The Dt have all been given some gorgeous images to use so do pop over and check out their fab work.
I have to admit I had a job choosing which one! I finally settled on this adorable Christmas image so I could get ahead with the old Chrissie cards (this is number 2, think i'll be lining Mr Tesco's pockets again this Christmas, BAD BAD GIRL!)
I cut the top third off the card front and decorated it with Doodlebug Candy Cane paper. I used MS doily lace punch to make a border and hid the join with some red grossgrain ribbon. The large snowflake is cut from silver mirror card (looks black in the photo though!) and embossed using the co-ordinating folder. The inside of the card has been decorated using white paper that has been passed through the cuttlebug snowflake folder.

I would like to enter

http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ "What are little girls made of"

Have a great weekend

Linds x

Animals. But no vegetables or minerals.

2010-08-13T09:00:00.005+01:00

This week the theme at Crafty Catz is

Animals

This week we are sponsored by Crafty ribbons

So we want to see your lovely creations with animal images on them. There is quite alot of scope with this one! Pop ove and see what the rest of the DT have come up with for this weeks challenge.

I have used a Mo Manning digi image which is coloured with ProMarkers.
The Papers are a mix of Old Paper Bag, Papermania and Doodlebug.
Raffia from stash.

So........ wedding number two was last weekend. We had no idea what to expect as it was my husbands oldest freind who was getting hitched and he is the very laid back arty type who we never thought believed in marriage. Turns out he does. So he's getting married to a very lovely laid back arty girl. We were informed of his intentions and summoned via email (what? no hand made invite?!) only a couple of weeks before the big day. Indeed even as we arrived at the B and B we were staying in we didn't even know where to go for the do. All we knew was that it was being held "in a vineyard" somewhere near the B&B. This is turning into an episode of "Challenge Annika" but without the 'copter.

Anyway it turns out the groom is staying in the same place as us and so we all get a taxi to....

The Vineyard. Wow, it was a lovely setting for a wedding............except..................there was no wedding.
They had got married the day before!

This was the reception. It was lovely, only 40 people and a gorgeous marqee. The food was lovely (especially pudding!)

and my lovely wine! Loving my arty shot........haven't i always said that wine helps with "soft Focus" effects?

At 11pm the vineyard closed

"Lets go down to the pub!"

Hmmmm. I'm wondering just how far this pub is.

I do have fabulous shoes on and as my Grandmother always said, you have to suffer to be beautiful. I was in agony. Therefore my feet were gorgeous (in a blistered and raw kind of way). Walking of any kind is not appealing to me right now a) because of hideous eyewatering pain and b) a little wobbly due to "soft focus" effect of wine.

Unfortunately the majority rule and off we go

"It's not far..about 7 minutes walk"

"SEVEN MINUTES! YOU MEAN I HAVE TO PUT ONE MANGLED FOOT INFRONT OF THE OTHER FOR SEVEN WHOLE MINUTES! NOOOOOO!"

"C'mon. Everyones going"

Yes everyone is indeed going. Going the wrong way. Why are they all heading through the vines when there is a perfectly good road in the other direction?

"Its just down here and turn right at the bottom of the vines"

It's 11pm and pitch black. The only light is that generated by 39 mobile phones. I don't have mine. This seems to be taking a very long time and dear lord it hurts! So there I am staggering around a West Sussex vineyard in the middle of the night taking baby steps. Never mind the broken ankles, these heels weren't cheap! AN invisible branch nearly blinds me. This has got to be more than seven minutes?

Hang on....where are you going now? We seem to be climbing styles and scaling down embankments now. Yes this also includes the bride in full wedding attire (plus flip flops).

Amongst the chatter comes a strange noise. A sort of spittting noise. A huffing spitting noise and it's getting louder. The mobile phone light is coming back my way. What the.......? Are they running? Yes indeed they are. It turns out that somewhere at the bottom of the vines we took a wrong turning and ended up in a field of angry alpacas.

One millpond and two lanes later we arrive at The Rising Sun.....................................Getting home was a whole new story and i've gone on waaaay too long already!

I would like to enter

Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog which also has an animal theme this week

Crafty Angels Something old (brown paper bag) something new (image)

Papertake Weekly (Tues old, new, borrowed, blue (old and new as above, borrowed sewing machine, blue star)

Simon says Stamp "ain't no cure for the summer time blues"

CRAFT mini beasts (I night be pushing my luck but he has a frog about to eat a fly on his shorts!!!)

Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings (bet you can't remember what the card looks like now can you?!)

Linds xx

Favorite colours at Fab and Funky!

2010-08-11T10:05:00.002+01:00

Good moaning everyone! This is possiblythe quickest post ever written by me! I am so behind on everything at the moment that i just don't have time to tell you about last weekends wedding. I'll try and slip that one into Fridays post instead. I've been a bad blogger too but i promise i'll try to catch up with you all as soon as the dust settles a bit here in the next day or so.

This week the theme at Fab and Funky is to use your favourite colours.

I am also entering

Cupcake Crafts which is to use lace. I meant to enter last week as the fabulous Faye has become the scary boss lady over there but the theme was distressing and that distresses me. I would love to know if there are any nurses out there who can do distressing without it making them uncomfortable? Unfortunately for me, over the years I have become accustomed to wiping things with alchol gel not alcohol ink!

Have a great day

Linds xx

Lets Pretend it's Summer!

2010-08-07T09:00:00.007+01:00

Hello! Happy Saturday!

It's my turn to host the challenge over at One Stop Craft Challenge this week and I chose the theme of

"Summer Fun".

Yes. I know. The weather is far from summery. Unfortunately I didn't know it was going to be like this when I had to decide on a theme 2 months ago!

Hey ho! Such is life! Nevermind we can all pretend that it is scorching (well not too scorching, I could do without a hosepipe ban here!) and dig out our sunniest papers and images and have a virtual summer. Sorted!

This week we are sponsored by Dew Drop Craftz and Nikki has kindly offered a £10.00 gift voucher to spend on Dewdrop Craftz Digi Images!! Thankyou Nikki!

My card uses a Belles and Whistles image called "Goggles" I have had him a while and never used him until now. He reminds me of my eldest who used to be very dubious about getting in the water. He's a regular little dolphin now though!

The papers are again Doodlebug

Ribbon from stash

Sun sentiment cut with my rarely used Craft Robo (I told my husband that it would be sooooo useful when i bought it so it's good that he hears it chugging away every now and then!)

I would like to enter;
Paper Sundaes - Stitching
TotallyPaperCrafts - By the sea

Please come and play along with us this week!

Thanks for looking

Linds xxx

Crafty Catz DT card - Buttons and Bows

2010-08-06T09:30:00.003+01:00

In the words of the Legendary Pete Tong......"Welcome to the weekend!"

So yet again it is Friday and I am another week older but not necessarily any wiser. Ah well.

Crafty Cats has a brand new challenge for you starting today. This weeks theme is

Buttons and Bows

We are sponsored by Robyns Fetish again this week.

So as Aunty Sue sugests, cut the buttons of the Hubbys shirts and using a little bit of ribbon, turn them into a work of art!

Pop over and see what the rest of the DT made with their OH's clothing!

Unfortunately my Hubbys shirts were nowhere near good enough quality for my card. He's had them years and the buttons are all scuffed so I resorted to making my own with an EK Success punch.

I have embossed the side with a Cuttlebug folder (can't remember the name sorry)

The papers are digital from Pink Petticoat (thought I'd give you a break from the Doodlebug as you're getting that agin in tomorrows DT card!)

The Flowers are made with EK Sucess Retro Flowers punch

I have paper pieced the image and added some gems to the wings and the body of the Dragonfly.

I would like to enter

Die Cut Dreams - Gingham

http://www.cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - Whateva

Thanks for looking

Linds xx

Spots and Stripes (and i'm not talking chickenpox!)

2010-08-04T10:02:00.000+01:00

Good morning, time for this weeks new challenge at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges .

This weeks theme is spots and stripes.

No i'm not entering CC. He just thought he would show you his leftover spots! I actually can't show you the extent of his spots as they were all over his nappy area. He had a good few on his back too but at least you could see skin inbetween them unlike on his botty. Thank goddness he didn't have too many on his face so hopefully he shouldn't have scarring that is too bad.

He is feeling much better now after his little dose of Chicken pox. Thankyou to everyone who sent their kind wishes, I really appreciated them. Normal service will resume shortly!

We are sponsored by Softpencil
My card uses the cow from Softpencils animal collection and is coloured with Promarkers.

The papers are Doodlebug (you'll be seing alot of them in future as I picked up a stack in a sale. I really don't need anymore papers!)

The cheesy sentiment was computer generated and printed on a scrap of patterned paper

Bling from stash.

Have a lovely rest of the week and i do hope you can come and play along with us!
Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate all your kind comments

Linds xx

Sketch time at Sweet Stampin' and a little story

2010-07-31T10:00:00.010+01:00

Ahhhhhh! It's the weekend! The time of week I get to put my feet up, relax and generally indulge myself. NOT! Oh well. If this sounds like your life then why not brighten it up by popping over to Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog where this week we have a lovely sketch for you.

We are sponsored this month by Quixotic Paperie

My card uses a Mo Manning image "Tolerance" which is coloured with Promarkers.
Papers are Doodlebug
Sentiment tag and birthday greeting stamped using my new Papertey Ink (yes! I know!!!) Birthday set
Brad and rafia which had been plaited are from stash.

So...the holidays are going well. The kids are bored and i'm frazzled. Oh and then to make life a bit more interesting CC goes and gets himself chickenpox (or "chicken spots" as big Dude call them!).

We had a great time at "Wedding Festival" last weekend. When we eventually found it!
It was in a lovely big old house deep in the middle of Monmouthshire, about 30 minutes away. So, no need to leave too early then. Uh, well, yes actually. It would seem deepest Monmouthshire isn't covered by GPS! I'm not kidding we drove around in circles for about half an hour. By the time we stopped and knocked on a local door to ask directions (risky, could have ended up with lead shot in my ample behind!) the Sat Nav lady was shouting at us and I'm sure she was almost crying (she's a moody one. Very hormonal!). Luckily we arrived by the skin of our teeth in time for the ceremony.

Ah yes, the ceremony! It was a lovely civil ceremony, one of the nicest i've been too. There was a reading about butterflies and we had to sing Dolly Partons "Love is Like a Butterfly" (which i can't remove from my head now)

Then I notice it...............................The Butterfly. Oh Bum!

You see, I have a huge irrational fear of butterflies and moths and there it was flapping and flitting around the guests. Shudder! I count my blessings i'm on the end of the row. Is it meant to be here? I mean we are going to have to sing Dolly Parton and weddings do go in for crazy stunts these days. No, can't be, they are totally down to earh people. Aren't they?

What to do! What to do! Duck! Its coming my way all flappy and flitty. Kill it! Kill it! No can't kill it, could possibly be part of the decorations. Unlikely. But possible. Breathe! In......out! Sweating now. Consider running. Can't. Bride entering to...........Metallica? Very narrow aisle too. If run could plow her down. Would not make self popular............ahhhh, thank heavens butterfly has settled on wall quietly and non-flappily for the rest of the service. However, as soon as Mr and Mrs Bride and Groom proceeded out of the room (dancing to Morcambe and Wises "Bring me Sunshine", I kid you not!) I was outta there. All is good with the world.

Until it reappears during the meal..........
Having said that i bought myself a MS butterfly punch a couple of weeks back! FACE THE FEAR!

I would like to enter;
PaperPlay Challenges - anything goes

Charisma Cardz Challenges! - Something with a tail (hope this poor cat still has one once the kid has finished with him!!)
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Hot and Spicy Colours

http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

Simon Says Challenge - Dotty

I hope you can come and play with us this week!
Thanks for stopping by and putting up with my random stories! You are all stars!Linds xx
Linds xx

Material Girl at Crafty Catz

2010-07-30T09:00:00.003+01:00

Good morning and welcome to another new challenge at Crafty Catz!

This week the theme is

"Material Girl"

Basically we want to see you use some fabric on your cards. Simple as that!

This week we are sponsored by

Robyns Fetish

Who are kindly offering the winner 4 digital stamps of their choice.

My card uses Doodlebug papers

PTI tag sentiment

Felt flower cut with Sizzix Die

Wonderweb pleating down the side.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linds xx

A couple of challenges

2010-07-29T21:02:00.005+01:00

I have another wedding to go to in Brighton next weekend (I know! Weddings are like buses, none last year and now 3 come along in a row! - I have another next month too!). This was the perfect excuse to have a play with my precious PTI stamps which up till now have been too precious to take out of the case!)

It fits a couple of challenges so why not?! Got to be in it to win it!
The stamp set is PTI and the gems on the red tree are actually red NOT black as they appear in the photo!

I would like to enter;
clean&simple - Sketch
CAS - tastic Challenges - Bling it up ( Bling on hearts)
http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Love and Marriage
Totally Gorjuss Congratulations!

Thanks for looking
Linds xx

Buttons and Bows at Fab and Funky!

2010-07-28T10:29:00.001+01:00

Happy Wednesday one and all! Time to dig out your buttons and bows for our new challenge at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges . This week as the theme is......can you guess?..........No go on, have a guess!...........thats right, "men!". NO, not really! Don't panic! it is "Buttons and Bows" so you can go all lovely and girly and pink anf fluffy (as long as it has buttons and bows somewhere). This week we are sponsored by Some Odd Girl. Do pop along and see what the rest of the DT have done over on the challenge site.

I would like to enter;

sketch saturday Sketch

OLLCB Bithdays

Thanks for looking!

Lindsxx

Sketch Time at One Stop Crafts

2010-07-24T09:56:00.000+01:00

Happy Saturday! Over at One Stop Crafts we have a new challenge for you and its a sketch with a twist set by the lovely Lisa. The twist is to use metal.

This week we are sponsored by Tiffany Doodles. I have used "3 Fish". My metal is small circles of foil punched out to make bubbles and of course the eyelets. Seaweed freehand by moi. My papers are Doodlebug and the sentiment is computer generated.

This is a scheduled post so as you read this we are on our way to a wedding, hope the weather is nice!

Linds xx

Crafty Catz getz summery

2010-07-23T09:25:00.006+01:00

Flower tutorial can be found http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca">here

Hurray! Its Friday which means kids off to the Out-Laws and Hubby and I are off to a wedding (ok so that's not until tomorrow) which reminds me I haven't made a card yet........

Anyway, at Crafty Catz this week the theme set by my lovely teamie Dianne is "summer time" and yes i have looked out of the window as I write this. Perhaps we should have called it "British Summertime"? We want to see your summery fun creations which could be bright (or even grey monotone!) or have summery images on them. Its up to you how you interpret it!

This week we are again sponsored by Sew Many Cards

Sorry about the rubbish photos. I just couldn't take a nice one and the colours look all blurred and vomitty! I then messed about editing it too much and have in the process lost the original which in hindsight was better than this headache inducing shot!

My card uses a Mo Manning digi image, coloured with Pro-markers

Papers from Pink Petticoat Wild Blooms Collection

I am going to enter

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ make your own flowers

CAS - tastic Challenges Inspired by Summer

http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/ summer days

http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/- flowery

Thanks for stopping by

Linds xx

Quick and simple wedding card

2010-07-22T14:22:00.008+01:00

Can't find a darn thing to enter this in!!!!

Oh yeah Danderella photo challenge!

And thanks to whoever pointed Delightful Sketches out to me!

Thanks for looking

Linds xx

Recycle at Fab and Funky and some computer advice!

2010-07-21T09:00:00.003+01:00

This week at Fab n Funky the challenge is "re-use" and "re-cycle" so it's time to pick those cards you were never truely happy with to bits and turn them into something fantastic!

This week we are sponsored by Digital Delights and the DT were all knidly given some images to play with.

I have chosen Brierly at the beach as i needed to make a birthday card for a little girl who is 2 and I thought this was really sweet. My recycling is the card blank which i messed up the otherday and the corrugated card which came tucked in with a delivery of wine. Nice! Oh yeah, the raffia was from the shed, i drew the line at pinching it off the bean plants.

Now, I was planning to make this a quick post but thought i should share my new found computing wisdom with you today;

Well, I can't believe the drama I have had trying to do this post. I thought it wasn't going to happen as my computer started to play up and Icouldn't even get on to Blogger. Every time I logged in the screen would scroll to the bottom and I couldn't get it to stay when I scrolled back up. I couldn't even turn my pooter OFF!
Never fear my OH is a computer guy by trade so I thought i'd just wait till he came home from a hard days problem solving and present him with another.
He gave me the "pitying" look he reserves for me when I mess up with the pooter and went into the office to sort out my mess.
"I hope it isn't a nasty virus" I thought to myself as he turned it on.
I am at this point mentally trying to think which bloggers i have addresses for who are also friends of my fellow DT members so I could get messages to the challenge blogs to explain my absence. I must admit Im not bad at emergency strategy planning! I had just about got this plan sorted in my head, hubby informs me that problem is solved.

Me- " Oh thankyou! thankyou! thankyou! Was it a very bad virus? Have we lost our photos? WHAT ABOUT MY DIGI'S?!!!!"

Him - " Calm down, it's fine. There was nothing wrong you just left this sitting on the space bar" and with that he hands me my MS Doily Lace punch
Me _"Oh................."

Hope you can join us this week and please do stop over and see what the rest of the DT have made

I think this card fits in with the following challenges;
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ sketch
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/07/week-61-theme.html - distressing (inky edges)
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/07/craft-59- card for a baby or child
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ digital
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ summer holidays
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ icecream colour (toffe vanilla and strawberry)
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ sweet
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ "Cutie Patootie"

Thanks for stopping by
Linds xx

An award!

2010-07-17T14:53:00.002+01:00

I was lucky enough to recieve this award from Fi, Faye and Lindyloo .

Thankyou very much!

Now, I have to pass it on to 5 others and this time it's going to

If I could give to you all I would!

Linds xx

Photo inspiration at Sweet Stampin'

2010-07-17T09:00:00.000+01:00

Hi-de-hi campers! Welcome to the weekend!

So it's time for another new challenge at Sweet Stampin and this week is a photo inspiration challenge

Great photo isn't it? You can interpret this pretty much however you want to. We are sponsored by http://www.quixoticpaperie.co.uk/ this month.

My card was a retirement card for my neighbours collegue who is a teacher and the brief was cats and mortar boards, gowns etc. I think it looks more like a graduation card personally but my neighbour was thrilled with it so that suits me!

Now on the subject of inspirational photos................

This one is for you Danderella and The Stamping Banana. What could you do with that......?!

THANKS FOR LOOKING

Linds XX

Anything but a card at Crafty Catz

2010-07-16T09:00:00.001+01:00

Well what a day! I haven't stopped since the minute i got up today. There was a break in in the school shed and some horrible person nicked all the tuck we had ready for the school disco so we have all been running around trying to replace it and get the hall ready so the kids weren't disappointed. We had a great idea of why don't we make some emergency cakes to sell to try and recoup some losses so I decided to make a couple of banana cakes...............regular visitors to my blog might remember my last school event/cake disaster Banana Drama

Well this time I was determined that they would be edible and my loaf tins finally turned up (I lost them last time). What could possibly go wrong?................yes I made a banana cake WITHOUT the banana! I couln't even pass it off as a plain sponge as it was as dry as a bone!

So onto this weeks challenge over at Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge . This week the challenge is to make anything but a card. Mine is a bit of a cheat as it is some notelets made for the teachers in a box. I thought the box counted! I have been sooooo busy this week with the end of term that my mojo left me. The papers and image are Pink Petticoat and the sentiment on the box is from Papertrey Ink,. Pop over and check out the rest of the DT who are much more imaginative than me! We are sponsored by Beckie at Lilac Lemon Designs again this week and the prize is 2 stamps of their choice excluding A5 sheets.

Thanks for stopping by

Linds xx