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Hello and welcome to my blog. Here I will be showcasing all my design team work, general crafting and digital scrap booking.I hope you enjoy seeing my creations and listening to my ramblings. If you leave a comment I'll know you've been and be able to visit you in return. I read and appreciate all comments which are left - good or bad! Thank you for taking the time to visit me. Pop back soon. Carol xx

Sunday 30 June 2013

Christmas Card Club - Make a Scene

Good morning all. Yesterday stayed dry but overcast so I got the washing finished and managed a bit of crafting in the afternoon. We took Freya for a walk after tea half way home she lay down on the verge and wouldn't move until she'd been tickled for five minutes...she's such a diva sometimes! Unfortunately I didn't have my phone with me to take a photo.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Lorraine has chosen "Make a Scene".  Here is my card:


Stamps are all from Creative Expressions and I've used Versafine and DI to stamp with, masking the images as I went. Dies are from Spellbinders.


You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:
Stampin for the Weekend - anything goes
Stampin with the Dragon - anything goes
Crafting by Design - anything goes
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes
My Time to Craft - masking
Polka Doodles - animals
Create a Scene - forest animals

Carol x


Saturday 29 June 2013

Menus

Good morning all. 
Yesterday turned into a lovely evening, very warm...we had a lovely meal out.

Today's share is the wedding menus, one for each table and a cocktail menu for the bar. Each of the menus will go in a frame the same as the cocktail one.


All the tables are named after flowers and there will be a floral arrangement on each table to match.


Apologies for my reflection in the photos, so difficult to avoid with mirri card.

Have a great weekend whatever you're up to.
Carol x

Friday 28 June 2013

Post Box

Good morning all.
The weather forecast is lousy here today although warmer than it's been.  Won't get the washing dried outside that's for sure. Hopefully things will improve as the kids break up at lunchtime for 7 and a bit weeks!! 
We're off out for a meal this evening with hubby's relatives before they head home tomorrow.

Had a good day crafting yesterday finishing most of the wedding stuff, just got to print off the table plan next week and put it together....all the bits are cut ready. Today I'm sharing the post box made so the guests can all post their cards and gifts on the day.


The box was bought flat packed, I just decorated it! Still need to make my wedding card...I have an idea in my head...just hope it pans out okay!!

Carol x

Thursday 27 June 2013

Alnwick Gardens

Good morning all. 
We had a lovely day out yesterday, the weather could have been warmer but at least it was dry. The gardens looked lovely and it was very busy. It's certainly not a cheap day out although it costs not much more to extend your ticket for a year.
Here are a few of the photos I took:

The flower beds looked wonderful.




The Cascade Fountain

Looking down the fountain to the Pavillion which is where the wedding reception will be held next weekend.

The Treehouse

and finally the Castle itself.

Hope to be back tomorrow with a card to share! Meanwhile enjoy your day and thanks for visiting.

Carol x

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Crafting for all Seasons #55 Make it Girly

Good morning all. 
Sorry I've not been around much but I've been busy with wedding stuff again, I think it's all under control now! Can't believe it's just over a week away now.

I'm off out for a day to Alnwick Castle and Gardens with hubby's Aunties and Uncle who are in Northumberland on holiday. Hoping the weather stays dry! Will also be able to check out the wedding venue whilst we're there.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Make it Girly". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Saturated Canary who gave the DT images to work with. This is a birthday card for my niece ready for next month.


I chose Muriel to work with and coloured her with promarkers before die cutting with a Spellbinders die. Papers are from Echo Park. Card is finished with a twine bow, charm and sentiment from my stash.


I've attached the sentiment with a springy thing which was a little bent! I love how this turned out, considering it was made in double quick time it all fell together peaceably...do like it when that happens!

Our Fabulous Sponsors for 2013

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:
Craft-room Challenge - blue, green and yellow
Crafty Sentiments - girl power
Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes
Digi Makeover - all tied up
Fashionista - wedding or birthdays
Catered Crop - dies and punches
Red Carpet Studio - going digital
Sentimental Sundays - for the girls
The Squirrel and the Fox - use something metal (charm)
Digi Haven - flowers

Carol x



Saturday 22 June 2013

Order of Service

Good morning all. Hope you're all well.
Feeling slightly more human today....the sore throat rocketed into a full blown head cold with my throat feeling like I'd been eating razors so for the last couple of days I've been pretty rough.

I did manage to put the Order of Services to bed yesterday...I was beginning to doubt I'd ever get them done which would have given a whole new meaning to "singing from the same hymn sheet". I did have a few hiccups on the way as the inserts wouldn't print out clean and it took a few attempts with a befuddled brain to sort out the problem; then there was the batch that was missing the print on pages 3 and 6 which I sorted out with the pages back to front!! Anyway they'll all double checked and boxed ready to deliver now so I've just got menus and the table plan to print now and a post box to decorate.


Enjoy your weekend.
Carol x

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Christmas Crafting (with sketches) #78

Good morning all.
Middle child appears to have gone back to Edinburgh leaving his sore throat behind...just what I needed when I'm going out for lunch with a friend!!

It's time for another challenge over at CCWS and we hope you're playing along with us this year and stocking up on those Christmas cards and projects. It's the turn of the Snow Angels to inspire you this week and Christina has designed the sketch. We are being sponsored by Crealing.


The image is a digi which I've had printed out for ages and I can't for the life of me remember who it is from (please let me know if you recognise it); * Thanks Wilma...the image is from Robyn's Fetish and is called Paul Penguin sleighing * I've coloured it with promarkers although I'm not happy with the end result as the batch of card I'm using at present bleeds horribly even though it's meant for promarkers. Papers were loose ones from my stash, dies from Spellbinders and Marianne Design, tag, stars and gems from my stash.
Despite all the layers this is still a thin card and hopefully will go ordinary post.


Photobucket

You will have to pop over to the challenge blog to see the sketch for yourself, remember to check out
 the inspiration of the other DT members whilst you're there. 

Challenges entered:
Cards for Men - boys will be boys
Digi Makeover - punches/dies
Digi Sketch Challenge - Christmas in June
Paper Playtime - anything goes
OSAAT - use a digi
Oozak - anything goes with a sentiment
Christmas Stampin All Year Round - Merry Christmas (R I S M)
Delicious Doodles - all creatures great and small
Digi Haven - anything goes
Polka Doodles - male theme

Carol x


Monday 17 June 2013

Start your Engines

Good morning all. 
A quick post from me today after I managed a little digi scrapping last night using photos taken of Mark at his birthday treat.


Created in Craft Artist using "Let's go Racing" from Template Dreams and basing the layout on template 1 from "Clusterfun Templates" also by Template Dreams.

Challenges entered:
613 Avenue Create - anything goes (optional special male)
Anything but a Card - masculine
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Lasting Memories - tell me a story
Simply Create Too - for a male

Carol x

Sunday 16 June 2013

Christmas Card Club - Baubles

Good morning all. Sorry I've not been around much but it's been a busy week with birthdays and I'm still up to my eyes in wedding stuff and trying to get ahead ready for my holidays next month. I'll try to pop in to see you in the next day or two though and catch up with you all.
We had a lovely meal on Wednesday for Mark's 21st and yesterday both him and hubby had their birthday treat of a Super Car Day at a local racetrack. They each got to drive 3 laps in 3 cars....a Lotus Elite, a Porsche and an Aston Martin. They also had an Ariel Atom there been driven by a racing driver friend of ours so me and Hubby each had a ride in it.......speeds of up to 100 miles an hour in under a 100 yards....absolutely fabulous!!
We're off down home today to deliver a card to FIL and hopefully have lunch out somewhere.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, Kerry has chosen "Baubles".  Here's a very quick card I made last night:


Using Spellbinders dies, snowflake card from Kanban and some peel offs, a bow and clear gems from my stash. I have used foam pads to lift up the baubles but the card is still very flat for posting.


Challenges entered:
CHNC extra - anything goes
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
CRAFT - Christmas
Southern Girls - punches or die cuts
Totally PaperCrafts - feeling blue

Carol x


Wednesday 12 June 2013

Crafting for all Seasons #54 One for the Guys

Good morning all.
Sorry for the lack of blogging, the lure of the sunshine proved greater than that of the craft room and now I'm chasing my tail trying to get all the wedding stuff finished, a pile of birthday cards made along with getting ahead with my DT work before we go on holiday next month!
Hubby was supposed to organise the holiday as he wanted to do Land's End to John O Groats or vice versa...guess who ended up doing it! I decided we'd only do Land's End this time so we're spending a few days in Wales at a lovely converted water mill before heading down to St Ives for a week. On the way home we're having a weekend in Devon and a few days south of Manchester. We'll probably have a night in the Lakes each way too. I've also ended up organising a few days away for our Silver Wedding in September...gave up waiting for hubby to do anything so we're going to Venice for a Monday to Friday break the week of our anniversary. 
So it hasn't all been sitting in the garden doing nothing!!

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "One for the Guys". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Bugaboo who gave the DT images to work with.

Today is my younger son's 21st birthday so this is the card I made him......can't believe how quickly the years have flown! We off out for a meal tonight to celebrate at our local Chez Roux restaurant.


My image is Monster Birthday Sign which has been part digitally paper pieced and part coloured with promarkers. The papers are from Template Dreams "Hey There" kit. I've printed everything several times and layered up the image. Border punch is from Martha Stewart.



Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:
City Crafter Challenge - all about him
LEJ Designs - something for the boys
Our Daily Bread - masculine
Papertake Weekly - hello boys
Top Tip Tuesday - masculine
Ladybug Crafts - for the men in your life
The Crafter's Cafe - for a male
The Crafting Cafe - here come the boys
Cards for Men - boys will be boys
Craft your Passion - masculine
Get Inky - for boys/men
Kaboodle Doodles - favourite guy
Lexi's Creations - special male birthday

Carol x



Wednesday 5 June 2013

Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Another glorious day yesterday, I don't think there was a cloud in the sky all day.
Had a very fleeting visit from one of my cousins who had been working in Fife and was on his way back to Devon....he'd no sooner got through the door when his phone rang and they wanted him back in Fife to run a test they'd forgotten to ask him to do before he left!! So it was a quick cuppa and no more!

The sun must have addled my brain though as I decided to go for a bike ride last night with hubby...ouch it hurt and we only did 3 or 4 miles!!

Another birthday card to share today.


Decoupage from Pinflair, I've had these for ages but made up loads of them a few weeks ago and I'm gradually getting cards made with them all. Embossing folder is a magazine freebie and I've inked it with DI before embossing. Dies from Spellbinders. Button, sentiment, pearls and ribbon from my stash. All the bits of card were leftovers lying on my desk.


Challenges entered:
Craftroom Challenge - use your scraps
Crazy Amigo Challenge - distress inks
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Shopping our Stash - no patterned papers
Tuesday Throwdown - embossing
Emma's Cards UK - buttons and bows
Sandy's Crafty Creations - embossed background

Carol x


Tuesday 4 June 2013

Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Another gorgeous day, don't think I'll be doing much except enjoying the sunshine today!

A quick card I made last night as I still have a few birthday's to make for this month.


Decoupage image is from Pinflair. Dies from Marianne Design. Backing paper was a magazine freebie.   Pearls and reel die were bought at a recent craft show. Binders twine and sentiment from my stash.


Challenges entered:
Craft Your Passion - haberdashery items
Created with Love - anything goes
A & T Emerald Faeries - dies and punches
Bastel-traum - birthday
Scrap it Girl - use your dies
Opus Gluei - anything goes
Allsorts - here come the girls

Carol x

Monday 3 June 2013

Christmas Card Club - Father Christmas

Good evening all. I hope you're all enjoying the same gorgeous weather we've had here the last few days....too nice to stay inside and craft!!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club......apologies girls I'm running a day late here due to the good weather...... Margaret has chosen "Father Christmas".  Here's my card:


The decoupage image is from Joanna Sheen which I bought years ago and I'm just getting around to using. The patterned backing is card from Kanban which I've had for years too!! Snowflake die from Spellbinders. Ribbon and sentiment from my stash. Bell recycled from a certain chocolate reindeer.


You'll find the links to the other girls in my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything goes
ABC Challenge - O is for open
Christmas Cards all Year Round - vintage Christmas
The Ribbon Girl - use a die cut
CHNC - use favourite embellishments (ribbon and snowflakes)
Crafts 4 Eternity - the same letter ( B for bow, brad and blue)
Jingle Belles - tie a holiday ribbon
Winter Wonderland - photo inspiration ( colour and vintage feel)
Divas by Design - tie a ribbon

Carol x

Saturday 1 June 2013

Big Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Arrived home safe and sound yesterday to a pile of dirty dishes!! I have to commend Easy Jet - four flights in 7 days all on time or ahead of schedule, you can't fault their efficiency.
We had a lovely relaxing time, the hotel was beautiful as was the view and the food was gorgeous. The weather was a little hit and miss but we did see some sunshine. The resort was still very quiet and peaceful which suited us perfectly.

Sharing a card today I made before we went away.


Peter Rabbit decoupage came from Pinflair. Dies are from Marianne Design. I've inked the base card with DI but it doesn't show very well in the photos.


Challenges entered:
Bloggers - to die for
Polka Doodles - to die for
Totally Papercrafts - anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Crafting by Designs - anything goes
Creative Moments - lots of layers

Carol x