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)

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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.

Asparagus Hues

Hey there crafters - how are you enjoying the wall to wall sport? 
Fabulous isn't it? 
After today's viewing, I am an expert in Slalom Canoeing and Synchronsed Platform Diving (snort*).


OK - those eagle eyed amongst you,  may have noticed I have no card to show you today - 
that's because I've been working on a new look blog instead.
Whatdya think?
Can you read it ok?
Hubby said he didn't like the colours - so the dog will be getting his dinner tonight ;-) 

I spent ages choosing them from Design Seeds.
If you're looking for colour combos check them out - they would be great for card challenges. 

I made my header using a little clipart girl by Babystar Design at My Graphico.
Then I just whipped up some buttons for my sidebar and a post divider.
All easy to add to my template - no messing with that nasty html :-)

Now, I must run - gotta brush up on my Artistic Gymnastics knowledge :-)

Birthday Balloons

Well - flippin 'eck - 'ave a gander at this - I've managed to make a card AT LAST!
It's a tad simple  -  I  did manage to find some DP's, but couldn't for the life or me remember which box contained my sentiment stamps :-)

This cutie pie, from Digi Stamp Boutique, is coloured with Copics and the balloons and presents are decoupaged and popped up on foam pads.

Challenges.
Digi Stamp Boutique - July Challenge
Divas By Design - Happy Birthday
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - Birthday Girls

Now - the wine is in the fridge, the cupboard is full of snacks and we are ready to settle down to the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Let's just hope that's it's more than a couple of double decker buses, an old british bulldog and a sing song of the hokey cokey.

PS: Huge thanks to everyone who has left me a comment about my non house move :-)
It really meant a lot to me to know that you were thinking of me - now stop messing about on craft blogs and find me a BUYER !!! :-)

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No card - just chat :-)

No card from me today folks - in light of what's happened with the house, I am debating whether I should unpack my craft goodies. I am sooo missing crafting and blogging. 
For now though, I will feed my habit with a little chat :-)

For our Anniversary, my dd's bought us a meal at the Devonshire Arms. (Gotta love those girls ;-))
It's a beautiful spot and from the hotel there is a lovely walk through the fields and along the river to Bolton Abbey.
I took this pic. on my Blackberry,  just incase you'd forgotten what a sunny day actually looks like :-)

Back to the grind stone now. Can you believe that, because of the house move, I had handed in my notice and last Saturday would have been my last day!! Fortunately, I have a very lovely boss who has agreed to keep me on for another month.... phew!

Now all we have to do is get the place ship shape again - cram boxes into every cupboard available, get the house back on the market and put in a cosmic order for a buyer :-)
Simples ;-)

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Bad Day

Awww shucks... the contracts were signed, we were days away from exchanging and the chain has collapsed :-(
The first time buyers, at the beginning of the chain (we are 3rd in line) have decided not to go ahead.
You've got to be kidding me! 
We are beyond furious - it's cost us all in solictors fees etc. - not to mention the stress.
Now, we have to put the house back on the market and go through it all again.

PS: If anyone else says to me 'Keep Calm and Carry On' I will not be responsible for my actions!!!

Je t'aime

I'm still here :-) 
Busy packing up the house and hoping that the sale goes through ok - keep everything crossed for us won't you?
I had to find time to make a card for my hubby though - next week is our 27th Wedding Anniversary.
What is the traditional gift for 27 years?? Is it Copics or Designer Papers? ;-)

I went with another very simple layout - enlarging and then cropping this fab Tiddly Inks couple.
The look I was going for was a kind of 'sepia' style, I know it's not quite right, but I didn't have the E Copics I needed and had to make do with my limited browns. I like the way it turned out though.

Of course, I sprinkled on some tiny gems - just because :-)

 

I wanted to put the years we've been married on there somewhere, but couldn't see where it would fit on the front, so I added a simple, layered panel to the inside of the card.

Challenges.
Cupcake Craft - Number Cruncher
Digital Tuesday - Inside Out
Crafty Creations - Free For All
Sassy Cheryl's - Show Me Thursdays
Allsorts - Take Inspiration. (I took inspiration from the roman numerals on the clock, that reminded me of this gorgeous DP I had, which would fit my colours perfectly. Seeing the gems too, made me realise that I had to add them, somewhere ;-))
Stampalot - What's Your Crafty Passion? Mine has to be colouring - I'm not great at it, but I do love it. Concentrating on an image like this makes me completely forget the time.

Supplies.

Digi Image 'You And Me Baby'  from Tiddly Inks

coloured with Copics.

DP -  Bo Bunny Timepiece.  Gems.

Je t'aime stamp from Penny Black

6 x 6 On The Edge, Petal Point Card Blank

Here's a pic of my craft room all packed up.
It's a good thing the dog keeps moving, or she might end up in one of those boxes!!

xxx

True Colours

You can't move these days for and red white and blue - 

I even saw some Union Jack toilet roll the other day!! 

I draw the line at that :o) 

but, I thought I would give the colours a try on my brother's birthday card.

I used the cute Hugo, from Pollycraft.
Now that Paula has closed down the Pollycraft store, you can get her images from  Little Miss Muffet

I came so close to messing this whole card up when stamping my sentiment - luckily I stamped on some scrap paper first and my fav. stamp came out as 'nappy birthdau'  !! Time for some stamp shopping :-)

Challenges.
Crafting for all Seasons - Patriotic/Military/Fireworks
2 Sisters (celebrating their 2nd Blogaversary) - Red, White & Blue, Optional Glitter/Bling
Moving Along With The Times - Birthday
Craft Your Days Away - Teddy Bears
Cute Card Thursday - Patriotic
Totally Papercrafts - Digi Image
Ready-Teddy-Go - Up, Up and Away

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Leave the lights on.

I tend to come unstuck when I try and make an 'artsy' card. 
What I see in my head never really equates to the card I make.
But, that's the style my dd likes, so I thought I would give it a go for her 'new home' card.

I used my new Memory Box landscape die to create a little scene. 

I put some orange paper behind the windows,
so that it would look like lights were on ;-)
and added some gems to the DP at the bottom.

For the moon, a circle die cut was covered with glamour dust (IRL it's very sparkly) and then the sentiment was added to one of the clouds - all popped up on foam pads.

 Challenges.
Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up - Blue Sky and Clouds 

Supplies

Memory Box dies - country landscape and clouds.

DP - Prima, Moulin Rouge

Gems, Glamour Dust