Gunhild's Blog Candy

Wow....another chance to win blog candy from Gunhild over at Stampelglede But you'll have to be quick you can only enter until Sunday August 31st. The winner will be drawn on 1st September. So hurry on over, this really is a fantastic opportunity.

2 Sketches 4 You

Hi there

Well, another challenge bites the dust.

My card for the 2 sketches 4 You challenge:

I love this CUTE card. Seems like everybody else really likes cute too. Why, I hear you say.....

Well take a look at the card I posted yesterday, not many comments at all, perhaps like Chris said it was rather sombre, but that's art. Each to his or her own. There is an expression about art, but I can't think what it is at the moment, but I believe there is a stamp of it somewhere out there. Maybe someone can enlighten me.

Anyway back to CUTE little Edwin. The papers are from Daisy Bucket again. I just love the soft blue's and browns, it's not too feminine to use for a boy. It's a very clean looking card I think, not too much clutter. I added a little knot, (I think its a reef knot, is it?) above the ships wheel charm. I was going to put something inside the little envelope, but couldn't think of anything suitable that I had to hand. And I copied a little technique I found on Irene's blog Scrapperlicious . You must take a look she's amazing, and produces some stunning work.

I'm working on my youngest Daughter Sophie's birthday card now, She's fifteen in just over a week's time. But you won't get a look at that until after her birthday. I might tease you with little peeks though, just to be mean.....

Take care

Mojo Monday #50

Hi All

I'm really enjoying my time off work this week. Which means I'm making good ground on the challenges. This time I've tackled the Mojo Monday one over at Poetic Artistry. I thought I would try something different this time, amd move away from all the cute images and colours for a change. I've had this stamp for an absolute age, and never used it, so I dusted it off, and what a great image.

I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. I did a little gold embossing around one layer if the scalloped circle, and down the one edge of the card. It was fun doing this challenge, and making a more classic, subdued look.

My mum would have liked this card if she'd been alive today. It is the tenth anniversary of her death on 31st August, so she's in my thoughts constantly at the moment. God bless her.

• Stamps: Paper Artsy, Dovecraft
  
• Papers: Basic Grey Scarlets Letter
  
• Flowers: Prima Essentials
  
• Other: All other embelisments HOTP
  
  

Papertake Weekly Challenge

Hi

I'm joining in the Papertake Weekly Challenge this week, 'A Stitch In Time. You have to show stitching on your creation, whether it be real or faux. The Design Team has done some incredible designs for inspiration, and you can submit almost anything you choose, as long as it has stitching on it.

I chose to do a card using a colour combination I have never really used before. Blue and red. I would never really put these colours together, but it just goes to show the power of inspration from other people. I have noticed this colour scheme on quite a few different blogs, and it has grown on me. So I purposly went out and bought paper with a blue and red colour scheme. I'm really pleased with it, and will definately use it again. This particular paper set is by Daisy Bucket, and I love it.
I folded the card back on itself in a sort of semi-concertina, (I'm sure there must be a correct term for this), so the inside of the card shows, and can be decorated too.

My stitches are faux this time. I know....I really should get my sewing machine out more, but just couldn't be bothered on this occasion, yes lazy I know, but you'll have to live with it.

So I have done faux cross stitch, and faux running stitch and I think it looks fine. The flowers are from Prima, and the gems and photo corners are from my stash. I coloured the image with my Derwent Watercolour Pencils. I haven't used them in ages, the colours were just right for this card. I'll have to use them more, but what I'd really like is some fantastic Copic Markers, for a more intense colour. Ahhh dream on.....

Corey Convict

Sometimes ideas come from the most unusual sources. Take my twelve year old son, Jordan. When he came in with his friend Pollyanna and said he was bored this afternoon, I was in the middle of a craft session. So I thought I'd get them involved. I stamped out some Magnolia images for them on plain white copy paper, gave them my watercolour pencils, and let them get on with it.

Now Both Pollyanna and Jordan have always complained that Tilda and Edwin had no mouths. They can't think of a human figure without somewhere to stuff food into or make a noise from. So they began to draw mouth's on all the figures I'd stamped out for them. So there they were expressing themselves artistically.

When I looked in on them some half an hour later. Pollyanna had coloured some lovely little Tilda's all girly, but Jordan had gone a bit further:

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He'd made cute little Edwin into a punk-haired convict complete with tattoos called Corey. Now psychiatrists do say that children express their true feelings through art. I do hope he's not trying to tell me something (GULP).

Sketch Saturday

Hiya

Well after an eventful couple of days the excitetment is beginning to subside, and it's back to crafting. I'm trying to get around as many challenges as I can this week. I'm also trying to visit some new blogs that I may not have seen before. So if you want me to take a look at yours, then just leave me a comment, and I will help you spread the word.

In the meantime here is the sketch for Sketch Saturday. If you visit their blog you will notice that they are looking for design team members.

Anyway here's the two cards I'm entering. Don't think I'll be that lucky, but you never know, somebody has to win, and I think the odds are not that bad. But there are a lot of talented people out there, who have already made it to Design Team status, on various other blogs, it's a little bit daunting.

So without further adieu, here are my entries:

Now, eye's shut, fingers crossed, turn around three times and make a wish xxxx

Welcome Home Louis

Well our very own Olympic hero returned home last night, bronze medal gymnast Louis Smith. It was Team GB's first gymnastics medal in 80 years and the first for a British individual in a century. And Louis is still only nineteen.

Louis Smith showing off his bronze medal outside his house.

Louis is also seen with my son Jordan and friend Polly bottom left

and my daughter Sophie bottom right.

We have known Louis and his brother Leon and mum Elaine for 15 years. My two eldest son's used to 'hang around' with Leon and are still friends, although they don't see as much of each other now they've grown up. They remember Louis as being Leon's little kid brother who just would not sit still. Now we can see where he channelled all that energy

Louis received a warm welcome home from the residents living in the street he has grown up in. We had waited about 90 minutes out on the street, and by the time Louis arrived home it was dark. The children had been helping decorate the street union jacks and balloons all afternoon. We made a real effort to decorate our own house too as you can see from the photo. We wanted to make sure that Louis got the welcome home he deserved. It was a magical moment, that relatively few towns across Great Britain would see, and we were there!!! (screaming excitement)

We are all proud of Team GB, including those who were not lucky enough to win medals. We are honoured to have them represent our great country. Louis himself is so inspiring, putting in an awful lot of hard work and dedication to get to Olympic level standard, and has secured himself a place in the history books. Not many of us can boast that at nineteen.

We have had the local television news crews in the street today, it's really been a great time I'm sure we'll all remember for a long time yet. The only thing to add to that is .......Keep watching this boy, and look towards 2012.

GO LOUIS, GO...

Just in case you're in any doubt, this is the routine that won him the Olympic Bronze Medal:

Olympic Bronze Medal

Well Louis Smith arrived home about 30 minutes ago, and we were there to greet him. I just had to post a photo of his medal

.......WOW.......

I have taken more but need time to edit them, so I'll be back with the full story tomorrow.

Blog Candy At Ariane's

Ariane is offering up blog candy this time, in the shape of this stunning collection of winter themed stamps. You have until September 12th to be in with a chance to win this beautiful candy.

A Spoon Full Of Sugar Challenge

This is the sketch that has been posted for the challenge at A Spoon Full Of Sugar this week.I did make a card, and a good one I think however....I've done it again.....WHAT? you may ask. Well I've forgotten to include one of the elements.

The strip going right across the middle..durrrr...

Seems that I was trying to cram so much in to this weekend, I wasn't looking at what I was supposed to be doing.

I've only just bought this stamp. I wanted to get some of the new school ones, but couldn't find any locally so I settled on this. I just love Magnolia's, as do alot of other people. I see such great ideas out there that I want to try them all. The papers I've had forever, they were not digital ones this time. My printer has just gone Ker Plunk, so I'll have to get DH to have a look at it before I can print again. Just when I was having so much fun too.

Anyway I'll try to take more care with the challenges in future, although I could just put it down to artistic licence. I have no more to show you today.

Louis Smith our Olympic Champion is returning to the village tomorrow, so we are going to 'fly the flag' and decorate the house to show our support, my two youngest can't wait. They love anything like that. Might even take some photo's to show you.

Bye for now.

Friday Sketchers

The sketch at Friday Sketchers this week is from Carole in England.

I used digital papers again. I will have to take stock of what I have as I tend to buy more and not think about changing the digital ones I have to suit my colour scheme.

I remembered the text this time.

I found this little insect at the Hobbycrafts Show at the NEC in March, and it just adds that finishing touch.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

Hi

Over on the Papertake Weekly Challenge blog this week the Katharina has designed the sketch:

This was a great sketch to work with, and I knew I wanted to work with brown again, after the last card. But this time I wanted to put it with pink which I love.

I used the same digital papers as before, but recoloured to get the pink. This paper was originally bright red and black. I printed them off using different scales for contrast, and I really like the result. One thing though I got carried away with the flowers, and forgot to put any text on. I wonder if they'll accept it.

And as you can see from the photo, it's a sunny day at long last HURRAH....

With A Little Help From My Friends

Hi All

I warn you, this is going to get a bit slushy but it's something I am compelled to do.

I'm having so much fun being involved in this big crafting blogging community that I thought I would dedicate this card to all those who have been kind enough to visit my blog, especially those who were gracious enough to leave supportive comments. I never thought so many people would be interested in what I'm doing. I also thank you for the inspiration you have given me, especially those who are willing to share their secrets. It's always a pleasure to 'tune in' after a hard day at work.I've had a rough time of it lately, both at home and at work, and I thank you all for helping me through, even though you didn't know you were at the time. I've been severly stressed with my son's motorbike accident, court appearance, his unemployment and his financial worries and debts. He still has a long way to go, but things are now being resolved, and I can see a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Work has been stressful with loosing one of our major clients, financial losses, and the worry of whether we will loose our jobs. Even though we don't know the answer to that one yet, I have had to evaluate what I would do if the worst happens. I have made plans, looked at what I want for the future, just in case. I have been at the company for 20 years, and I will be a huge change to my lifestyle if I do lose my job, but I feel I am in a better frame of mind now to be able to cope if it does happen.

I hope I can begin to look forward to a brighter future, and many more hours of crafting and blogging. God Bless you my friends and thank you all

I'm An Inspiration

Wow
I've been featured on Inspirational again. What an honour, I don't feel worthy, but apparently I am. I would just like to thank my friend Chris for putting me forward, she's the one who should have her work featured, not me. She's an amazingly talented funny lady. Take a look at her Blog I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Inspirational is a fantastic blog showing Inspirational work from all over the world. Pop on over and take a look, you're sure to be blown away. Anyway I'm just in the middle of creating, I'll be back later to post my take on one of this weeks challenges.

See ya later.

Blog Candy Alert

It's Caroline this time. She's giving away this super stamp....just to be nice....how cool is that. Very generous of her I must say. Take a look at her fantastic blog and enter yourself, I have!!!

More Blog Candy

This is turning into Blog Candy morning. Every where I go I see more and more blog candy, which is lucky for all those who like the element of suspense, surprise and elation when you win.....just like me.

So I'm stacking up the odds and entering this one too. It's up for grabs from Inger Marie The closing date is 24th August, so hurry on up now if you want a chance on this one.

Debbie's Blog Candy

From one Debbie to another...

Call me optimistic, but I thought I'd give it another shot. I might me on a winning streak, who knows. Maybe I'm just plain greedy....BUT...my recent win has spurred me on to enter another fab draw. Debbie is giving away Blog Candy.

She's just topped 10,000 hits, (I'm still way behind that) and giving away this fabulous candy, but the draw takes place tomorrow, so you'll have to be quick. Anyway hop on over and take a look, and while you're there scroll around and take in all her fantastic creations, and enjoy.