Tidying up!!

Well I don't seem to have been around much lately but it has taken me the best part of 3 days to tidy up my craft room. It isn't a very big room and I have sooo much stuff (much to the disdain of my husband LOL) you couldn't see my desk and I had to climb over stuff to get to it (not good for someone who has severe mobility issues)and then had to sit on the edge of my chair as that was full of stuff too!! Anyway I have almost finished now - at least you can see the desk surface now (just about) and my chair has less stuff in it now and I have some new storage towers which are full now and actually labelled so I know what is where. Hopefully tomorrow it will be finished and I will post a couple of photos (I did take a couple before I started but I might just be too ashamed to post those).
I haven't done much today due to overdoing it and to be honest I am feeling pretty fed up at the moment - there is lots I want (and need ) to do but my energy levels are so poor and my pain levels extremely high so I am not managing as well as I would like. Anyway I really mustn't grumble but I am hoping to get lots of crafting done this week and don't forget that the new Craft Us Crazy challenge blog starts on the 3rd of February so I will be able to reveal my first card as part of this design team - please  join  in if you feel up to it as it will be a lot of fun.
Anyway sorry for the rambling post - I hope you are all well and finding lots of time to get crafty.
I'll be back soon with my tidy photos ;o)
take care
xxx-

Blog candy winner

So here we are - thank you so much to all those following me - I can't believe how quickly my followers climbed to over 60.  So the winning number is;
RANDOM.ORG - Integer Widget: "True Random Number Generator

Min:1
Max:47
Result:
45
Powered by RANDOM.ORG"


That's no. 45 then so that's ...  Jenny.
Congratulations if you would like to email me here with your address I'll get it boxed up and sent this week.
I hope you all enjoy the cards I share with you so keep checking in.  I will also be having more candy soon.

Thanks again and hope to hear from Jenny soon

xxx

Card for Paper Sundaes challenge

Back again and so soon LOL.  This card is for the Paper Sundaes challenge, which this week is distressing!  Well I'm always distressed so I'm up for that ;0) 

 This card uses the Owlies stamp from Squiggles stamps - I can't get enough of their images as they are so easy to use and really on the right side of cute ;o)  I coloured them with distress inks. The papers are Basic Grey Cappella range, which I have distressed and then stitched around the edges.  The flowers were Prima white flowers which I sprayed with 'that special touch of Mica' sprays. 

The ribbon and buttons are from my stash (actually the ribbon is one of the East India ribbons available from Polka Doodles).

Hope you like this one.
xxx

Something a bit different (again)

Hello everyone - thought I would post a few pictures while I feel up to it ;o)  First one then is something a little different in that it isn't stamped!! So here it is-

 So this is a really simple Kraft card with a ;itt;e bit of stamping (well there had to be some)  and then a ribbon flower that I have made.  I was chuffed with this and I think it's really cute.  I just topped the centre of with a couple of buttons with some raffia and a little raffia bow at the bottom.

Not sure you can see from the photo, but the stem actually reads 'if friends were flowers I'd pick you'.  Thought this would make a really nice just because kind of card.
I really should find an outlet for my cards as I am making them and just popping them in boxes  -soon I'll be up to my neck in cards LOL

Back in a minute with more cards

xxx

Last call for blog candy

Well wow - that was quick getting to 60 followers!!  Thanks so much to all who have followed me ;o)  So this is the last chance for anyone to add their names to Mr Linky at the bottom of this post for the chance to winn my candy.  I will be doing the random number draw tomorrow afternoon so watch this space and keep your fingers crossed!  I also have a couple of cards to share so see you all tomorrow.
xxx

Cricut magazine

If anyone in the UK is interested in the new Cricut magazine email me as I am waiting for them to arrive!

You  can email me at; sammy.jane1@btinternet.com
I can't wait to get my hands on this!

See you soon
xxx

Last Kenny image for today

So this is a bit more girly - a good card for an older teenager I think;

These pictuers don't really do the card justice so I hope you'll forgive me.  Any way the papers are ffrom Kim and Co Classic K McKenna.  The ribbon and charm from my stash.  The sentimnet is a whimsy stamp and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. For some reason the highluights look like lines which they don't on the card so not sure how that's happened but never mind on the whole this is pretty cute ;o)
Hope you've enjoyed todays offerings.
xxx

Another Kenny K

So here is another brilliant Kenny girl;

So this is a really simple card using Bo Bunny Flutter Butter papers and some rafia finished off with a Lili of the Valley sentiment.  I really like the colours on this one and even though it is fairly light I think this could be used for a man's birthday - what man wouldn't want this little kitten?  LOL
One more to go!

xxx

Kenny K challenge

Well Sunday evening again  -I don't know where the time goes!  Anyway I have made a few cards today using some of Kenny K's beautiful girls.  I thought I would enter this one into Kenny K's challenge which this time is Blue, white and silver so I think this will be ok;

The image is obviously Kenny K, the papers are from a Papermania Capsule collection.  The sentiment is a Lili of the Valley and the ribbon and charm are from my stash.  I was pleased with this one - I love the Kenny K girlz as they are such fun to colour in and they make great cards.
I hope you like it too
xxx

Candy

Hello everyone.  So here I am with news of blog candy.  I have put together a few bits and pieces;

This isn't a great photo so here's a list of what there is;
SWALK CD Rom
12 SWALK stamp plates
2 x Popcorn the bear romance stamp plates
Tin of 12 Lyra Aqua crayons
Inky roller
Red pigment inkpad
A6 scalloped card blanks (white)
A5 scalloped card blanks (white)
Small Messy rabbit stamp plate
2 x pack of crafty bitz stickers with transparencies
Set of alphabet stamps
5 x packs lace
Pack of 12 mini card springs
2 x small acrylic blocks
Brilliance inkpads in galaxy gold and moonlight white
2 x pots print magic (golden stardust and ice blue)
13 reels ribbon
9 x small wraps ribbon
and 2 x sheets of springy fish stickers.
So all you have to do is become a follower, and post on your blog plus leave a link with mr linky below.  If you want to leave a comment that would be great too!  When I reach 60 followers I will randomly draw a number from the links
Enjoy
xxx

Help for Katie and digital fundraising

This really is for a great cause and enables you to get your hands on some great digistamps for a great cause.
Taken from Digital Delights write up so that no information is posted wrong. Please help such a worthy cause! Our thoughts are with you Katie!

Help for Katie

A number of artists and companies that know and love Katie (known for her Tuesday Tutorials on the Clear Dollar Stamps Blog) have banded together to help Katie and her family in this season of need, when I heard of this I wanted to do what I could to help in anyway that I could, I hope that you will too....please read on: .............................................. Jak Heath is a crafting friend to Katie and has organized this special digi benefit to help raise money for Katie's Treatment and to give her lovely boys a treat too.


A little about Katie: Katie Emmerson Renz is married to Kevin with 3 beautiful boys, the twins Nate and Will, aged 5, and Hunter aged 10, had some news just before Christmas that has rocked their world as they know it. Katie has been diagnosed with stage 4 Stomach Cancer and is currently undergoing her only option which is Chemotherapy.

Katie is a fellow crafter and is loved within the crafting community. You can read Katie's story on her own blog here, but before you leave me I want you to see what all of the dedicated talented artists have designed for the Help for Katie cause. Listed below are all of the digital designs that you will get for donating £15, as you will see you will receive far more in goods value than your £15 donation. (appoximately $23 USD) Visit Jak Heath's blog to purchase this set You will receive all of the following stamps for your donation...

 Jak Heath will also have some prizes... CLICK TO VIEW THE PRIZES ON JAK'S BLOG Every time a donation is made you will be entered into a drawing for the prizes if you donate twice you will get 2 chances to win one of the prizes. The drawing for the prizes will be made on February the 10th.

Katie and her Family would like to say a very special thank you to all of the artists that gave up their time to help make this happen 

I urge you all to visit Jak's blog and pick up this wonderful stamp set and help a very special young lady.

Many thanks
xxx 

New Year - new followers..

Hello everyone - I am hoping this year to be able to get some more followers and to post more regularly.  So, I am going to put together some blog candy for when I get to 50 followers and then some more when I get to 100.  I am alos going to be giving away (hopefully) a copy of the new 'bug magazine' which is a magazine for all those who love the Cricut in all its forms. 
Also I am hoping to set up a craft shop online so if there is anything that you would like to see in my shop - perhaps things that those of us in the UK find difficult to get hold of - then let me know.  You can either comment here or you can email me at;
Ladybug crafts
Well I hope you're all ok and now looking forward to the springtime and some better weather ( that's a big ask for those of us in the UK I know).
Back soon
xxx

Last one for today (I think)

Finally another card that I originally did for the Basic Grey dots and spots challenge.  I think this card is kinda cute!

This card uses Gasic Grey 'Mellow' papers and the stamps are from Crafter's Companion's Clearly Handstamped set.  I used nesties to cut some shapes and I finished the card with some red and brown twisted string, from Polka Doodles, which I plaited and attached to the bottom of the card.  I wanted to do something really simple which this is and I think it has actually turned out a bit better than I thought it would.
Anyway that's it for today - I think I am going to have a rest now as I am having a fairly poor day healthwise.
Hope you like the cards.
xxx

Something different

Well I thought I would try something a bit different for me and so I've made 3 cards that wouldn't normally 'be me'.  I'm not really sure how they've turned out but hey ho.  The first one I am going to enter into the Basic Grey Challenge blog which this time is dots and spots and also the Paper Sundaes challenge which this time is circles.

This uses a stamp from the Native American Spirit plate by Creative Expressions.  The papers are from Basic Grey Kraft and Basic Grey White pads matted onto kraft cardstock.  Not sure you can see but there are dots all over the papers.  I also used some East of India dotty ribbon (from Polka Doodles) - which started off as pink but I distressed it.  I also used nestie circles with walnut stain distress ink around the edges.  I then made a little bundle of feathers by tying them with some twisted string - also from Polka Doodles.
To begin with I didn't really like this card but it is growing on me and I am also going to apply to be on the Basic Grey Challenge blog Design team - perhaps this card will be a little different and get me chosen LOL.
Anyway I hope you like this card - Sorry the light isn't very good - I am trying to get hubby to make me a light tent to improve my photographic skils ;o)

xxx

Crafters Companion challenge

Okay, so this card is for the Crafters Companion challenge blog which is a sketch this month with the optional topic of 'new'.  So I have done a new arrival card;

 This is a slightly unusual easel card folded on the diagonal for a change.  The image is a Crafter's Comp[anion Popcorn the bear 'bundle of joy' stamp, coloured with pro markers/copics.  I have used kraft card with some faux stitching and the papers are Nitwits, butterfly kisses. 

I've used a Martha Stewart doily edger punch and some beautiful East India ribbon from Polka Doodles.  The little flowers are made from Magnolia Doo Hickey doily flower dies.
I was pleased with this as I think in the pinks and creams it would be lovely for  a new baby girl - not that I know anyone who is having a baby so might have to try to sell this on ebay LOL.
Anyway I hope you like it.  Just off to enter it into the challenge now ;o)
Love to all
xxx

Card for poorly friend

Well here is the card I made for my friend who is really under the weather at the moment and I hope it has a water mark on it after spending all afternoon trying to get it to work - think I managed it in the end but only by accident LOL;

 It's with a cute Lili of the Valley image with nit wit papers.  The lace is from Wild Orchid Crafts and the buttons I made myself with chipboard, some paper from my stash, crackle accents and distress ink.  I think that the sentiment is from Hero Arts but don't quote me on that !!  Finally the twine is cappucino twinery from Polka Doodles!

I am hoping that it might cheer her up a bit as she really is very down.  Anyway I have another piccie to post so will kove on to that one now.
xxx

Adding a watermark

I've been trying for the best part of an hour now to attach a watermark to my photos.  I have been using Adobe photoshop elements 6.0 but I just can't do it!!  Tried everything but can't group them together and the watermark ends up with a grey or white block behind it rather than just being a nice white outline.  Does anyone know where there might be a tutorial on how to do this?  I am starting to tear my hair out over it now.  I am useless with computers LOL.
Any advice gratefully received
Sam
xxx

Well the news is...

I have been chosen as one of the new design team for craft us crazy challenge blog.  It is a new challenge blog that runs fortnightly starting on February the 3rd.  If there is lots of interest though it may convert to weekly challenges so please join in if you can.  I can't wait to get started and I feel very privileged to have been chosen.  So hope to see some of you there.
I will be posting again later today with a card I have made for a poorly friend.
Take care and talk to you later
xxx

Exciting news...

but I can't tell you what it is yet.  Sufficed to say I am quite excited and dead chuffed.  I will let you know what it's all about as soon as I can LOL
xxx