Bears need people...people need bears!

Typical!
I bought some cute, new Elf digis at the weekend, just as the printer decided to cough and splutter.
Some nice Kodak doctor is sending me a new head for it though - so after a transplant, it may yet survive.

I did need to make a start on my Christmas cards though.
It is only 61 days til Santa. Eek!!

I stamped and paper pieced my Me To You bear, adding some colouring and shading on the DP.
This card is best viewed from about 10 paces back - then you don't notice all my mistakes!! 
You're searching for them now, aren't you? :-)

 Challenges.
I followed the sketch at Christmas Challenges. I did move my image to the side though  (don't worry girls, just delete me if this isn't ok). There is also an added twist this week, to use flags/banners. I put my sentiment on a little die cut banner.
ABC Christmas - Up to You. 
Cupcake Craft - Pieced Off! 
St. Luke's Charity - Simple Christmas 
  
Supplies.
Stamp - Me Tou You, Winter Wonderland, coloured with Copics.
DP - Memory Box, Mistletoe.  Embossed Dots Folder.
Spellbinders Pennant Die.  Ribbon from my stash.   Sentiment, Craftwork Cards.   
 

Too Cute To Spook

I have finally found the secret to keeping dh out from under my feet, so that I can craft and bake all day.
James Bond movies... all 22 of them, all 'on demand' on Sky Anytime. 
Right now I am singing along to Goldfinger... da da da!

So, back to crafting, and here is my 2nd Halloween card, using the Tiddly Inks couple (scroll down if you want to see the first one).

 As you can see, I stuck with the same layout, just changed the colours.
This card is for my dd Maria, who is going to her party as a peacock (weird!). I know she has bought a blue/green dress, so I tried to reflect this in my colouring, and I had some fun with the red hair.

I also sprinkled some Glamour Dust on her dress and a little on her 'eyeshadow' - the camera hasn't really picked it up, but it's sparkly IRL.

 

Tip for Top Tip Tuesday.
I'm finding it difficult to find some thin black paper, for layering  (I use black a lot!) so I have resorted to running  my black Copic around the edge of my DP. This creates the illusion of a black layer and of course you can make it as thick or as thin as you like, or use a colour to match your scheme.
You're gonna tell me you've all been doing this for ages, aren't you? ;-)
 
Challenges.
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Too cute To Spook
Stampin' for the Weekend - Something Spooky (I know this is more cute than spooky, so if you feel it doesn't fit the challenge ladies, I will delete it, just let me know)
Top Tip Tuesday - Things with Wings (The crow cut from my DP)
Polka Doodles - Halloween

Supplies.
Tiddly Inks Digi Couple, coloured with Copics and Glamour Dust.
Little Claire's Silhouette Cats.
DP - Basic Grey, Max and Whiskers and Memory Box
Black Gems, Ribbon, Spellbinders Nestie Die.

When black cats prowl...

Is it getting chilly where you are?  I am sat here, in my boots, leggings, 2 cardis and a scarf!! 
The kitchen temperature thingy is reading 16C - time to blast the heating on me thinks.

I have just 2 Halloween cards to make this year, and here is the first one... for my dd Annabel and her b/f.

I know that my girls' have a big Halloween party planned, but I have no idea what Annabel is going as - she usually decides the night before and wants a costume making lickety split!

I do know that Maria is going as a peacock (weird!) - so I will be trying out my blues/greens on this image next.

Oh, and the 2 kittys I added are for Annabel's fur monsters - Benga and Nero.

Can you spot todays deliberate mistake?
I added some glitter to the bottom of her dress and sprinkled silver instead of my fav. Glamour Dust.
Definitely a *bleep* moment - it looked awful - so I went over it with an orange Copic to try and blend it in...   all I can say is - it's better than it was!

Challenges.
Tiddly Inks - Fall
Digi Galore - Goth (hope 'cute' goth is ok)
Cupcake Craft - Autumn
Papertake Weekly - All creatures great and small. 
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Divas by Design -  Anything Goes
Without Words - Things that go Bump. (Thanks to Squirrel for the heads up on this this challenge, where the focus of your card should be the image and they like you to have fun with colour.)

Supplies.
Digi Image from Tiddly Inks, coloured with Copics.
DPs - Memory Box, Blackbird.   Fancy Pants, It's the little things.
Prima, Printery.
Cats - Little Claire's, Silhouette Cats.
Ribbon,  Gems,  Spellbinders Dies.

Happy Birthday 2U

Don't laugh... it's taken me 6 hours to make this card. 
6 HOURS!!!!
I could have been de-greasing the cooker, or mowing the lawn, or tackling the ironing mountain!!
My vision of a squirrel in an aeroplane (don't ask!) ended up in the bin - twice.
Then, I learnt my lesson and went in search of a nice sketch, which was kindly provided by Natalie of Creative Inspirations.

I used stars, instead of  flowers and I couldn't quite squeeze them in next to each other, but I'm sure you can still make out the original sketch.

Can you believe, when I'd finished the card and went to stand it up, I realised I had tied the string all the way round it (not just on the top layer) Duh!! I had to cut it off and start again.

Challenges.
Creative Inspirations - Natalie's Sketch
Stamptacular - It's Your Birthday
ABC Challenge -  Y is for Y Chromosome (male themed)
Crafty Sentiments - Happy Birthday
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (optional extra 'celebrate' theme) . They also have a fabulous Blog Hop, with some amazing prizes, to celebrate being 5 !! Congrats ladies  xxx

Supplies
DP - My Mind's Eye 'Ooh La La'         
Stamp from Molly Blooms was a magazine freebie - coloured with Copics and popped up on foam pads.
Birthday tag from Craftwork Cards.    String.
Circle and Postmark stamps from Whimsy Stamps.

I just called to say....

1..   2..  3..   and I'm back in the game.
Did ya miss me? :-)
Isn't it incredible that we can land a robot on Mars, beam pictures and sound over 36 million miles, but it still takes 2 weeks to set up an internet connection!!!

Here's my first card in my new house :-) 
As you can see, I haven't yet unpacked my mojo!

This was a quick make for my BIL, with the help of a Dawny P sketch over at Papertake Weekly.
Stevie Thunder is coloured with Copics (which I have somehow forgotten how to use), and the sentiment was made on my comp.

Challenges.
Papertake Weekly - Sketch
Creative Inspirations - Bingo (white, blue, stamp)
Allsorts - Song Inspired - has to be 'I just called to say I love you' Stevie Wonder.

*****  It's good to be back  *****

1 of 365

Welcome to my new home....

just a word of advice to anyone considering moving...    DON'T !!!!
I have told Mr Kiss today, that I am not unpacking any more boxes because I am not staying here!!!  
I don't WANT to be 90 miles from my dd's -  my family -  my friends -  my favourite chocolate shop.
There have been tears!!  

Distraction is needed and, as it's going to be a while before my stash is unpacked I thought I would try a 365 Project.
Deets, if you're interested, are in my '365 Snaps' page (above).

With Love From Me To You

Come closer.... no, closer than that....   I'm gonna whisper    ;-)   
The house is sold and we are moving on the 14th!!    EEK!
I am almost scared to tell anyone, incase I put a hex on it, but the contracts are all exchanged and I am packing like mad!!

I just had time to make one more card, before my final craft supplies are boxed up.

I found this fab set of stamps in my local craft shop for only a fiver... bargain!!
I kept my card really simple.
I know these 'Me to You' bears are usually grey, but I coloured mine brown for the Less Is More colour challenge.

She's coloured with Copics and the little dots are done with a white gel pen.
I really like the dotty background effect - but whenever I do it, it always looks a bit of a mess. So, I've taken to just adding the dots at a few places around the image and that seems to be working better for me. Some of the dots are done with a glitter pen, which is hard to capture, but is very sparkly IRL :o)

Challenges
Less is More - Brown and Pink
Winter Wonderland - Walking in a Winter Wonderland.
Sweet Stampin' - Inspired by a Song. The Beatles - With Love From Me To You.
Ladybug Crafts - check out their very first challenge - Anything Goes.
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

This is probably going to be my last post for a while - but I will still be able to pop over to your blogs :-)
And hubby has had strict instructions to get the internet up and running ASAP in the new place.

XXX

Uptown Girl

I'm having a bad picture day today :-(    
I'm really disappointed with how this card looks - despite several re-takes I can't get it any better. IRL it's so pretty.

I don't usually buy stamping magazines, but the July issue of Docrafts caught my eye at my local garden centre on Friday - mainly 'cos it came with a set of free stamps. I love FREE :-)
This is just one of the pretty, girl stamps. Isn't she gorgeous?
Can't wait to ink the next one up.
 

 I coloured her with Copics and added some random, little dots around the image, in the same colours. I used a glitter pen for more dots and to highlight parts of her dress. These are hard to see on the photos, but very sparkly IRL.
I used a purple Copic to ink up the 'party' stamp and also to colour the pearls.
 

Challenges.
Mad For Markers - Anything Goes. 
The Paper Shelter - Clean & Simple
Charisma Cardz - Monochrome
Totally Papercrafts - Inspired by a Song. It has to be Billy Joel's  Uptown Girl.
Stampin' for the Weekend - Monochromatic
Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes. Sadly, this is the farewell challenge from CYDA and they want to go out with a bang - so make sure you enter, if you can. Thanks for a fab challenge blog ladies - it will be missed.

Supplies.
DP - Papermania, Heather Capsule Collection.
Stamps - from the Papermania, Strictly Party range. I'm not sure if you can buy the stamps, but the design is available as decoupage sheets - here
Copics - BV000/02/04  E00/11 E33/35/37  R59
Glitter Pen. Pearls

People's Republic of Yorkshire

It must be all those Yorkshire puddings ;-)

Hasn't it been a great games?
I have thoroughly enjoyed it and have suprised myself at just how quickly I have become an expert, in such a wide variety of sports ;-)
Congrats to all those athletes, organisers and games makers. 
Hope everyone enjoys the closing ceremony tonight.

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Random Act Of Kindness

It's the little things that make the difference, isn't it?
Today I am sharing with you a RAK that I received from my bloggin buddy, Lee.
After reading my woes on the house move, she sent me a little pressie - how amazing and thoughtful is that.
Aren't crafters the most generous, kind hearted people? 
Pop over and see Lee on her blog - you're sure to get a warm welcome.

Don't you just love this tea-towel? 
It's really inspired me to have a go at making some of my own. Some plain white cloth, a pretty stamp and some Stazon ink - sounds easy doesn't it? It's at the top of my 'to-do' list   :o)

**************************************

Bear Hugs xxx

Phew!  I've just managed to make a card for the Less Is More challenge.

I had this card planned in my head and had to rush out to the ribbon shop in my lunch hour yesterday.
Note to self - labelling packing boxes 'craft supplies' does not help when you are trying to find ribbon!!

I'm hoping Chrissie and Mandi will let me scrape through this week.
I know I should have a sentiment on here, but - yes, you know the drill - they are all packed away.
I will add a 'Happy Anniversary' to this, when I can - cross me heart :o)

I would also like to enter this for the following challenges -

Ready Teddy Go - Anything Goes. Check out their First Birthday Blog hop too, running til Aug 19th. Congrats ladies xxx
Top Tip Tuesday - Focus on the Ribbon
Digi Tuesday - Monochromatic
Totally Papercrafts - Monochrome
Cute Card Thursday - Clean & Simple

Supplies.
6 x 6 On the Edge Card Blank.
Teddy Bo Digi Stamp - coloured with Copics.
Ribbon.  Pearls coloured with a Copic to match the ribbon.