Lauren Payne was 21 yesterday

How time flies.  This cute little babe that I held at 1 day old turned 21 yesterday.  Lauren is our niece, studying music and drama in Bath.  A very accomplished performer on the outside but a girly girl within who still loves cute bears, pretty colours, and Playmobil.  Much like the rest of us in a lot of ways where we substitute Playmobil for  rubber stamps and crafting items.
Her Mum told her they were going for a Happy Meal and then to the park to play on the swings and then feed the ducks to celebrate yesterday but I think they went into London for a meal and a show. 

I made two cards for her - one from her Nan and one from us.  The one from us has the drama / music on the outside but her 'other side' on the inside.  The digital sentiment is from Raindrop Echo Designs and the stamp is from Butterfly Kisses.  I hope a digital sentiment is enough for WT354 challenge.

The greeting is computer generated and the stamp is from Lili of the Valley.




















The card for my Mum to give her is the one below.  It uses Tatty Teddy and papers from the Me to You collection.

Lauren - if you are reading this - May God bless your future and bring you and those you love happiness.

OCC - Home for the Holidays

This week's OCC challenge is to use something in your home decorations as inspiration for your card.  I was given a wonderful snowman trio last year when we spent Christmas with our friends in Minnesota and I have used this as the inspiration for this card along with these cute stamps from High Hopes.  The card is actually hanging on our lounge door.

The images were stamped with Memento black and coloured with Copics.  All the ovals were cut with Nestabilities

FOSTV Challenge Week 13

The challenge this week at Friends of Speedy TV is to make a Winter Card or use the colour blue.  I am sorry my card is not very inspiring - all the getting ready for Christmas seems to have sapped my creative energy.  I need to get it back again as I have an engagement card and 21st card to make, plus some thank you cards. 

I do hope you find time to join in the challenge.

Happy Christmas

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

May God be with you all this Christmastime.

FOSTV Challenge Week 12

Wow - what a busy weekend!  This is the only card I found time to make in between all the shopping, dog walking, housework, gift wrapping and of course going to the local amateur panto.   I was inspired by the Stampin Sisters in Christ post to use this sentiment - if you are a Christian or needing some true perspective on Christmas in this current economic climate please go and read that post.

The words are from the Marks Finest Papers New Pines set and they are embossed in gold.  Spellbinders dies have then be used to create the panels and the flower.  This week's FOSTV challenge is to make a CAS card - I hope this counts.

Marks Finest Papers - December Blog Hop Day 3

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

My card uses the Pine Cones coloured with Copics and with some added distressed stickles.  The paper is from K & Co.  It is one I will need after Christmas.

Marks Finest Papers - December Blog Hop Day 2

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

My card today is a simple one made using the Pussy Willow set.  I want to do more with this set but I a really short of time this week.  It is a great set though and makes me think of Spring - it also makes me want some Pussy Willow in my next flower arrangement but I might have to wait a bit!

Marks Finest Papers - December Blog Hop Day 1

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

I have made a card using the Pucker Up set that was waiting for me when I got home from Florida yesterday.  The sentiment inside is "Throw them back and demand CHOCOLATE!"

__._,_.___

Florida Nuthatch - FOSTV Challenge Week 11

Well week 11 of the Friends of Speedy TV Challenge is to make a Christmas Card - now go on you must need one more - so join us with this week's challenge please.
My card was made while we were away in Florida, which incidentally was a wonderful trip, and is therefore limited by what I took with me - far too much according to the hubby! Actually the ribbon was bought there - we used it on some Christmas gifts for our friends and this bit found its way onto my card.

The card uses the Nuthatch set which I love and was photographed out in the shrubs by the beach - hence the shadows.  Thanks for looking

Mojo218 & Farewell Florida

Heading off to the airport very soon so it is farewell to Florida and off back to a chilly UK.  This is one of my last cards and is for Mojo218.  Yesterday was a cloudy day and quite humid so I dived inside the house and created this.  With the limited supplies I had - everything cut with scissors - it didn't turn out too bad.  The image is a free one attached to a recent Card Making and Papercraft Magazine.


 Here is a detailed look at the image

Jugs 113

Our time in Florida is coming to an end but this is another card I have made while we have been here.  The friends that shared most of the time with us told us that their daughter's boyfriend turns 30 this month so this card is for young James.  I have used the Jugs113 sketch and improvised with things I had to hand like some ribbon used on Christmas parcels!  The stamps are from Marks Finest Papers and I have used Distress ink, Memento black and Copics.

OCC - High Hopes Snowman

The OCC challenge for this week posted on Saturday is a sketch .

I used this High Hopes snowman that I had pre-stamped to make this card based on the sketch.  I have limited supplies with me but I have used my new punch and some pretty ribbon on the bottom strip.  I have also tried to match in my gems and add a little stickles to ad some bling!  Thanks for looking.  Janine

Marks Finest Papers - Friends of Speedy TV Week 10 Challenge

This week's Friends of Speedy TV Challenge is Silhouettes.  I made two tags rather than a card - please join us on the challenge this week.  If you visit the Home of Speedy TV website you can find all the Friends of Speedy TV challenges listed. 

As you may have gathered from my recent blog posts we are away right now so all my posts use less dies, punches and general crafting items than I would normally - certainly more challenging!  In the UK Holidays are what you take as a break from work i.e. what I am doing right now.  The tag at the bottom has been attached to a gift for a friend we are with who is originally from the UK - hopefully it will remind her of the beach chairs from this week when she gets back to a very cold Minnesota.  The thread on the tags is dental floss coloured with copics - didn't have anything else to hand!

I also made this card but it is not silhouette like enough so I am posting it as an after thought!

Elves in the Snow

Another version of the digital elves from Bugaboo stamps.  Coloured with Copic markers and mounted simply with just some polka dot organza ribbon as my decoration.

High Hopes Snowmen

I have been trying to get the last few cards made while I relax.  I only have access to the stuff I brought with me and the papers etc. I picked up in the local stores so the cards are quite simple.

Fulham supporter (black and white)

Chelsea supporter (Blue)

Happy Advent

We are now in the run up to Christmas, where we celebrate our Saviours birth but we are fortunate enough to be enjoying some sunshine in Florida and enjoying the beauty of creation.  I want to share with you all this wonderful sunset which we enjoyed today.  My photo doesn't capture the sound of the waves and the stillness but gives a feel of the beauty I hope. 

Christmas Nuthatch in Florida

I have to say this is quite surreal.  I am sitting on the deck typing this overlooking a beautiful pale sand beach watching a few people shelling and others dog walking.  Back home in the UK they have had their first frost. 

This card, another Christmas one, uses a recent release from Mark's Finest Papers.  I die cut the circle and prepared the other pieces to bring with me.  Other cards made while we are here could have a few squares or rectangles and they might not be perfect as I only have a ruler and knife!  The card is for Challenge 9 and it is another easy one - use your favourite sketch so why not join in.

  Hope everyone had a great weekend especially those celebrating Thanksgiving.

Mad Rush

Off out very shortly but wanted to get this posted.  It is my card for Mum for Christmas - dogs and flowers!.  It uses this week's Jugs colours.

Marks Finest Papers - Blog Hop Day 3

This is the last day of cards highlighting the new sets.  The set we are  showing today is What a Fox.  My simple card features the scene from the set.

 

Trip to Lancaster - 50th

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

This card was made for my Brother in Law who turned 50 on Sunday.  He has always pretended to be much younger but with a big party on Saturday he could pretend no more.  The trip to Lancaster set with the great sentiment about age was my choice.  I have used SC359 sketch and my colour choices are from challenge CC348. 

Thanks for looking

First Blog Hop - Thanksgiving Nuthatch

This is a big event in my crafting life - my frst ever participation in a blog hop.  Sadly at the time of posting I don't know who is next on the Marks Finest Papers hop.  However I can share my card with you that uses the lovely little Nuthatch.  I have combined it with some Thansgiving paper and the sketch SC358 and mailed it out Saturday.

VLVNov011 Week 2

I am still struggling for crafting time but wanted to get some more cards completed for Christmas.  Majority are written and ready to post but I have one or two to make.  This one uses the Week 2 sketch for VLV.  The sketches are always that bit more challenging but here is my take on it.  This one is for the Vets who looked after our old Goldie Meg, plus our Lab many years ago.  This will be our 3rd Christmas without our own pooch! 

Golden Girl

This card is for Saturday's Penny black challenge - gold and presents. Nothing fancy but I like this image. 
Thanks for looking and keep warm.

Jugs110 - Ghosting

I tried the Ghosting technique (this week's Jugs challenge) on this card and one other which I won't even bother to post and I think I must be doing something a bit wrong as my ghosts are quite faint!  I saved this card with the white embossed snowflakes.

Friends of Speedy TV - Challenge Week 7

Well its another easy challenge this week at Friends of Speedy TV - so please join in and make a birthday card to add to your stash or better still give to someone.  This is my card using the flowers and butterfly from the Brick Wall set..

Quick Penny Black Cards

Tried to get our cards written today and realised I need 25 more cards.  These two are quick ones using a Penny black image, embossing powder and some gems.

Ducky Cuddles

This card is using Penny Black's challenge of Christmas, Snowflakes and Silver with the sketch from VLVNOV2011. 



Thank you for looking and have a great weekend.

Birthday Saloon

The WMSC72 sketch challenge combined with the OCC challenge to make a masculine card using non standard masculine colours is how I came up with this card.  I have used 2 stamp sets from Waltzingmouse and one image from Las Vegas stamps.  I was thinking saloon doors and that is why I put the show girl in too.  The colours are more "purpley" rather than blue and the green is more lime but the camera hasn't coped too well and my photo editing skills cannot make it right!

Friends of Speedy TV - Card with ribbon

I am not actually being very speedy right now with meeting deadlines.  With Mum only just out of hospital and work being crazy life is very much getting in the way of creating.  I stepped away from my Christmas cards to make this one which uses ribbon and an image from "He is the Lamb" set and a sentiment from the "Happy Pansies" set, both from MFP.  The Friends of Speedy TV challenge this week is to use ribbon so that should be easy for everyone - please do join in the challenge.  Janine

Holly Fairy meets WaltzingMouse!

Used this cute digital image with some Waltzingmouse stamps to create this card using this weeks sketch.  All in all a simple card.

Week 5 Friends of Speedy TV

This week's challenge is a Free For All so I made two cards - one is for Christmas and uses the SC356 sketch.  The other is autumnal and uses this week's Sisters in Christ challenge colours of  Crimson, Orange and Gold.  Both cards use the set Walk in the Woods

SC356

Stampin Sisters in Christ

Good job she is light!

I think it is a good job this girl is nice and slim and the present remains un-crushed. 

I recently went to a class at the Glitter Pot with Alexandra Kamann where we were learning about colouring with Copics and this was an image we got to play with.  During the class we coloured a non-Christmas version and stuck flowers over the holly so she could be used for spring card.  This version is for MMSC127. 

Mind the Woodwork

This card is for a Penny Black sketch challenge and uses an image from a lovely new PB set I bought recently at the Glitter Pot.  I have both friends and neighbours with cats so there will be plenty of homes for this card.. 

Thank you for looking

VLVOct2011 Week 4

Sorry it has been a while.  Yes I am still coughing but feel a lot better than I did this time last week.  I have had two plays with VLVOct2011 sketch for week 4 and neither is quite right but I still like elements of them both and they will get added to the Christmas card pile that still needs a few more additions.

This was my first take on it

 And this was my second take 

 

 

 

 

I hope you are in good health.  Thank you for looking.

Janine

Its hard to create when all you keep doing is cough!

I have been fighting with a cough since Wednesday and it has been getting progressively worse so being creative is quite a challenge.  I have been making cards mainly with images I had already stamped and even then they aren't totally fitting the challenge I started on so please forgive me. 

 

This card is a close as I got to MMSC126 but I couldn't bring myself to add a second holly and cover up my sky.
The stamps used on the panel are from Stampscapes and the holly is from Penny Black.










The second card also uses Stampscapes images but the card is not for any challenge

31st October Birthday

I don't really do Halloween but I had to buy this Doodlebug paper to make this little Birthday hat for this week's Waltzingmouse Challenge.  The colours are this week's Jugs colours. 

Double Trouble

This week's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge refers to the verse about Jesus sharing our burdens - a verse that I need right now with Mum in hospital and going through some tough times.

The challenge is to use double of everything - well I think I have done it - 2 digital images, 2 coloured card stocks (don't count white!), 2 designer papers, 2 tags for sentiment, 2 stars and 2 markers used for each colour in the image.  I have coloured with ProMarkers and used stars so it is also for the Pro Markers challenge this week.  Because it contains two folds, a joy fold card, I am also entering it in the Sentimental Sundays challenge this week - Fancy Folds

The images are from Bugaboo.

Jacob turns 12 today

Jacob has just returned to the UK from Ethiopia to start secondary school.  He has found it tough leaving all his friends behind and making new friends in an area he does not know.  I hope today, his Birthday, is a new beginning for him and that God will bless him with some new friends and class mates who will celebrate with him and be with him for all the challenges they will face going into their teens.  When he was away we sent Chelsea football shirts each Christmas so that is why the lad in this image has a blue shirt.

Speedy the Cat - Week 3

Well it is week 3 of the Friends of Speedy TV and the challenge for this week is Sweetest Day.

Well I blew it as I had no idea there was such an occasion and it was about your sweetheart - that to me is Valentines day.
So to explain my card - I thought it was about a sweetest day you could have so a lovely day on the beach (with my sweetheart of course) is what came to mind.  I hope you like my card - I would certainly want to be there!

Elves on the Steps

I found out about Bugaboo digital images when I did the digital class at My Creative Classroom and since then I have used them quite often. 




 
I had forgotten about the Christmas steps and elf images and then came across them again so combined  them on these cards.  I mounted them simply as I did not want to detract from the main images. 

Hope you like them.

Move the Builders Out and the Neighbours In

We will be so pleased when the builders move out and the new neighbours move in.  A tremendous amount of work is being done on the semi detached property that is attached to ours ready for our new neighbours to move in - a young couple and two sweet little girls!  I have made this card for them.  The two little mice snuggling up under the flower made me think of "new roof over their heads" - that is one thing that has not been replaced but lots of walls are coming down and others going up so the distressing is a reminder of all the dust!

I am entering the card for
Penny Black Saturday challenge 173
Jugs 106
VLVOct2011 Week 3
Splitcoast F4A86 - Cards with character

Penny Black Dusk

Had a little play with some of the sponging with distress inks that Jill Foster was showing on the Penny Black blog this week. I used Faded Jeans, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Wild Honey and Fired Brick inks plus a Crafts Concepts embossing folder I purchased yesterday at the Glitter Pot.   

Hope you like the finished card.

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 77 -Seeing Double

I have used SFF101411 with the Speedy Challenge to create a card with a repeated image.  I have used the seagull twice, the grass a few times and the flowers on the background many times too.  Now that it has turned chilly at night and in the morning I am dreaming of nice sandy beaches and balmy days!