Happy Easter

The colours used on this card are for In style Wednesday colour challenge:

The paper is Basic Grey, the yellow flowers were bought ages and ages ago at Early Learning Centre and the stamp is one of my favourite Easter ones coloured with copics.

This is also for:

Fun at fairy knoll: Easter and in all fairness ... spring
Craft your passion 54: you've been spotted (dots on the ribbon)
Rubber cafe 14: polka dots
Tuesday throwdown 45: polka dots
Basic Grey 42: Easter/spring
Crazy amigo: Easter
Crafty pad 116: Easter
Creative inspirations 57: Easter
Cutie Sunday 138: Easter
Die cut dreams 87: it's Easter time
Penny's 51: Easter
Scrappy frogs: Easter
ECP 36: Easter
Craft your days away 18: Easter
Picture perfect creations speciality 6: Easter
My time to craft 137: Easter wishes
C.R.A.F.T. 99: flowers
Paperplay 16: Easter time
4 crafty chicks 34: Easter
Kaboodle 63: thoughts of spring/Easter
Pixie dust studio 71: spring forward
Spoon full of sugar 148: let's celebrate - Easter is a good time of celebration
Whoopsi daisy: we are free and easy
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Stamp dreams 78: Easter
Stamp n doodle: Easter
Frosted designs fabulous Friday challenge: birds and/or butterflies
Fussy & fancy: springtime
Sukkersoft 121: eggs
Pile it on 16: smells like rubber - use a rubber stamp
Cards for men 8: Easter (think this one is suitable for a man)

Delicious doodles crocus for Easter

These are two cards made using the Delicious doodles crocus digital image - the first one was coloured digitially in Paint and the second one coloured with copics. Both cards use FF spring time papers and the second card also has a piece of DCWV pocket full of posies from my offcuts box. I used an embossing folder on the first card for a bit of texture and some stitched ribbon on the second card.


These are for:

Fun at fairy knoll: Easter and in all fairness ... spring
Delicious doodles 22: anything goes
iCopic lover 26: monochromatic (copics used on the second card)
Copic creations 48: favourite paper for copic colouring - smooth bright white card from PDA
There she goes 103: monochromatic magic
Sugar creek hollow sensational Saturday: monochromatic
Really reasonable ribbon 22: violets & lilacs & plums
Crazy amigo: Easter
Card cupids: pastel colours
Crafty pad 116: Easter
Creative inspirations 57: Easter
Cutie Sunday 138: Easter
Sentimental Sundays 51: celebrate spring/Easter
Die cut dreams 87: it's Easter time
Penny's 51: Easter
Scrappy frogs: Easter
ECP 36: Easter
Craft your days away 18: Easter
Picture perfect creations speciality 6: Easter
My time to craft 137: Easter wishes
C.R.A.F.T. 99: flowers
Paperplay 16: Easter time
4 crafty chicks 34: Easter
Kaboodle 63: thoughts of spring/Easter
Pixie dust studio 71: spring forward
Spoon full of sugar 148: let's celebrate - Easter is a good time of celebration
Aud sentiments 26: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: we are free and easy
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Fussy & fancy: springtime
Claudia & company 80: clean and simple
Creative craft: embossing (the first card)
Simon says: emboss it (the first card)
Your next stamp 40: texture it (the first card)

Rainbow of colours for Easter

Another Easter card, this time a fun one with a couple of chipboard glittered chicks. Crop stop 16 is asking us to use the colours of the rainbow, so I think this qualifies. Day 50 on 365 cards is 'blog inspired' - inspired by the blog header, which is a rainbow of colours. (this reminds me that I've fallen by the wayside yet again as far as the 365 challenges are concerned - I started off the new year so well, but a week away and other things have meant that I've got behind).

The papers (well they are card really) are Kanban from a QVC kit and the pastel ribbon across the bottom is some that I've had for ages and had forgotten about - sorry, you can't see the 'Happy Easter' on the ribbon very easily here.

This is also for:

For fun: Easter
Catch the bug: Easter
Fussy & fancy: springtime
Top tip Tuesday 30: open challenge
Creative Friday 42: open theme
Beary sweet 24: wings
Crazy amigo: Easter
Card cupids: pastel colours
Crafty pad 116: Easter
Creative inspirations 57: Easter
Cutie Sunday 138: Easter
Sentimental Sundays 51: celebrate spring/Easter
Die cut dreams 87: it's Easter time
Penny's 51: Easter
Scrappy frogs: Easter
ECP 36: Easter
Craft your days away 18: Easter
Picture perfect creations speciality 6: Easter
My time to craft 137: Easter wishes
C.R.A.F.T. 99: flowers
Paperplay 16: Easter time
4 crafty chicks 34: Easter
The lollipop ladies: Easter eggs (on the ribbon) with some glitter and sparkle (on the chicks)
Kaboodle 63: thoughts of spring/Easter
Pixie dust studio 71: spring forward
Spoon full of sugar 148: let's celebrate - Easter is a good time of celebration
Aud sentiments 26: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: we are free and easy
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Frosted designs fabulous Friday challenge: birds and/or butterflies

And another I made earlier

Here's another Easter card, this time using a favourite Magenta daisy stamp coloured with copics. Main paper is PM Honey & hugs and the pieces for matting ar FF spring time. The sentiment is a PM stamp (have used this loads of times this Easter, including on inserts - love it). The colours are for Paper pretties 150: pink, green, plus neutral and also for Pink elephant 98 colour challenge:



This is also for:

Dream valley 5: Easter
Sisterhood of crafters: it's an easter eggstravaganza
Cardmakin mamas 19: spring colours
For fun: Easter
Catch the bug: Easter
Fussy & fancy: springtime
Crazy amigo: Easter
Card cupids: pastel colours
Crafty pad 116: Easter
Creative inspirations 57: Easter
Cutie Sunday 138: Easter
Sentimental Sundays 51: celebrate spring/Easter
Die cut dreams 87: it's Easter time
Penny's 51: Easter
Scrappy frogs: Easter
ECP 36: Easter
Craft your days away 18: Easter
Picture perfect creations speciality 6: Easter
My time to craft 137: Easter wishes
C.R.A.F.T. 99: flowers
Paperplay 16: Easter time
4 crafty chicks 34: Easter
Kaboodle 63: thoughts of spring/Easter
Pixie dust studio 71: spring forward
Spoon full of sugar 148: let's celebrate - Easter is a good time of celebration
Delicious doodles 22: anything goes
Top tip Tuesday 30: open challenge
Creative Friday 42: open theme
Aud sentiments 26: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: we are free and easy
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Stamp magic 34: Easter
Stamp dreams 78: Easter
Stamp n doodle: Easter
Pile it on 16: smells like rubber - use a rubber stamp
One crazy stamper: April flowers challenge

Here's one I made earlier

Still no crafting here. John had his op on Tuesday - recovery going well so far. Thanks for all the best wishes. And yesterday we've had our DIL and girls here, which was lovely - we sat in the garden and the girls did some crafting.

For this card I used another shaped blank (I do like these cards), distressing the edges first with mustard seed DI and then with shabby shutters.

The image is Karen's doodles Easter cross digi, coloured with copics. Sentiments are computer generated and printed.

This is for:

Crafty sentiments: Easter cards
Pear tree designs 45: Easter
For fun: Easter
Crazy amigo: Easter
Dream valley 5: Easter
Sisterhood of crafters: it's an easter eggstravaganza
Card cupids: pastel colours
Crafty pad 116: Easter
Creative inspirations 57: Easter
Cutie Sunday 138: Easter
I did it: Easter
Sentimental Sundays 51: celebrate spring/Easter
Die cut dreams 87: it's Easter time
Penny's 51: Easter
Scrappy frogs: Easter
ECP 36: Easter
Craft your days away 18: Easter
Picture perfect creations speciality 6: Easter
My time to craft 137: Easter wishes
C.R.A.F.T. 99: flowers
Cardmakin mamas 19: spring colours
Paperplay 16: Easter time
4 crafty chicks 34: Easter
Kaboodle 63: thoughts of spring/Easter
Catch the bug: Easter
Bee crafty 49: Easter
Pixie dust studio 71: spring forward
Fussy & fancy: springtime
Spoon full of sugar 148: let's celebrate - Easter is a good time of celebration
Totally Gorjuss 76: no patterned paper
Ladybug 24: anything goes
Top tip Tuesday 30: open challenge
Aud sentiments 26: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: we are free and easy
Creative Friday 42: open theme
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Delicious doodles 22: anything goes
Ann's creative nook 132: anything goes with a technique (distressed edges)
Cards for men 8: Easter (think this one is suitable for a man)

Pastel Easter

I haven't done any crafting since we returned from our week away - I think my mojo has stayed on holiday! Anyway, I made a lot of Easter cards before I went, so I'm going to blog some of them now.

This is very similar to a card I showed a couple of weeks ago here, this time using a square card base.

This is for:

The paper variety: flowers
All kinds of cards 25: Easter
Sundays with Crissy April 16: spring is in the air
Tellen's place: Easter
Rainbow lady 148: springtime
Sisterhood of crafters: it's an easter eggstravaganza
Creative Friay 41: Easter
Card cupids: pastel colours
Crafty pad 116: Easter
Creative inspirations 57: Easter
Cutie Sunday 138: Easter
Dream valley 5: Easter
Sentimental Sundays 51: elebrate spring/Easter
Die cut dreams 87: it's Easter time
Pear tree designs 45: Easter
Little red wagon: Easter
Penny's 51: Easter
Scrappy frogs: Easter
Creative Inspirations 107: Easter
C.R.A.F.T. 98: Easter
ECP 36: Easter
Craft your days away 18: Easter
Picture perfect creations speciality 6: Easter
Totally papercrafts 62: springtime
Creative card crew: spring
Pals paper arts 89: flowers
Paper romance 46: paper flowers
Pixie dust studio 70: say it out loud - include a sentiment
Aud sentiments 26: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: we are free and easy

CHNC challenge 16: sing song

It's Saturday again and time for another challenge on my Craftyhazelnut's Christmas blog - your can find all the details of the challenge here - hopefully you'll be able to join in with a Christmas card inspired by a song or a carol.

My card is based on 'Away in a manger' using the Penny Black 'the manger' stamp coloured with copics - I kept the colours fairly subtle to tone with the My Mind's Eye papers from the Christmas Glitter book. These already have a distressed look, but I further distressed edges, first with spiced marmalade DI and then fired brick. The inner shape is a nestie, so I'm linking this for Jingle Belles challenge to use die cuts, - their challenge this time is 'cross-pollinated' with Betty Bee's Buzzing honeybee challenge, so I'm linking there too.


I'm linking this for:

Paper pretties 149: at leas two different designer papers
Alphabet: X for Xmas

A walk by the river

On Monday we met up with some of John's family at Allington, outside Maidstone and it was such a beautiful sunny day so we decided to amble along by the river into Maidstone - it was much further than we had thought and it took us a loooonnnngggg time (going at John's speed, or, should I say, lack of speed). Anyway, I took a few photos along the way.

The first photo is looking back at the Malta Inn where we had lunch.

Together again ...

While we were at Maidstone, Louise from Guide Dogs (whose parents now have Josey in retirement) brought John's ex-guide dog, Josey, over to the Hilton Hotel to see us - it was so lovely to see her again. She is looking so well and happy.

A few crafty purchases

While we were in Maidstone I just happened (cough, cough) to stray into one or two craft shops and pick up one or two (or more!) items. This is what I got:

Prize from Woodware USA

When we got back from Maidstone yesterday there was a lovely package among the post that had accumulated during our week away - a prize from Woodware USA - I was told here that I was the winner of the free stamp set for the month.

The package contained more than just a set of stamps - two sets, in fact, some lovely Anna Griffin stitched ribbons and some Jolee's bling dimensional stickers.


Thank you Nancy, for such a lovely package of goodies - I look forward to using them.

Honeys, I'm back - with my Salt LO: the servant king

Couldn't think of any other catchy title!

We're now back home, having had a week away in Maidstone - only about 30 miles away, but an opportunity to get away from everyday life and 'chill' for a while - and we were so blessed with the weather - lots of really warm sunshine.

I took my little lappy with me and memory sticks with cards on that I intended to blog ... in the end I didn't do any of it - only the post about my Christmas challenge and that was already prepared before we went.

One thing I managed to get down just before we left home last Thursday was a LO for today's Salt challenge 'The Servant King' set by Lythan - you can read more about it here.

It's a very simple LO (it had to be because time was very short). I used the Servant King song by Graham Kendrick and a couple of download pictures mounted on torn paper.

Unfortunately, when I prepared the picture I only saved a small version so you can't actually read the song, so these are the words:

From heaven you came
Helpless babe
Entered our world
Your glory veiled
Not to be served
But to serve
And give Your life
That we might live

This is our God
The Servant King
He calls us now
To follow Him
To bring our lives
As a daily offering
Of worship to
The Servant King

There in the garden
Of tears
My heavy load
He chose to bear
His heart with sorrow
Was torn
'Yet not My will
But Yours,' He said

Come see His hands
And His feet
The scars that speak
Of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars
Into space
To cruel nails
Surrendered

So let us learn
How to serve
And in our lives
Enthrone Him
Each other's needs
To prefer
For it is Christ
We're serving

© 1983 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

I hope to be back soon with some cards that I made before we went away and I might also show a few crafty items that I happened to buy during the week.

Life is going to get back to normal very quickly as we are up at Guy's hospital tomorrow for an appointment for John and then on Tuesday he is having the op on his hand.

CHNC challenge 15: going round in circles

It's Saturday and that means there's a new challenge on my Craftyhazelnut's Christmas challenge blog - if you haven't discovered it yet, why not hop over there and join in - all you have to do is make a Christmas card - and this week for challenge 15 you need to use at least one circle for 'going round in circles' - I'd like to see at least one circle - it might be the shape of your card, but it doesn't have to be - you can use paper with circles on it, die cut circles, dots or spots ... or even buttons or brads - as long as you use something round it will count.

We are actually having a break away atm, so I quickly prepared two cards for this challenge before we left home (and I have my little lappy with me and hotel internet connection) - time was running out so I needed to produce something quickly so I used Cricut wild card cartridge doiley card with some K & Co Christmas double sided papers (these were some of those that were sent to me by the lovely girls at the Order of the Opus Gluei. Just the addition of a central image and the cards were done.

So here are my two quick cards:




16 April update: I'm linking this for Ellephantastic 25: anything but square or rectangle (unfortunately, there's been a delay linking this because I was away and didn't know till now what the Ellephantastic challenge was - but it's still in time)

WOYWW 96

Just a quick post for WOYWW 96. We're going away to Maidstone for a week from tomorrow, so there's lots to do - I've just been to have my hair trimmed and need to pop into Bromley for a toy for Josey. Josey is John's ex-guide dog (regulars might remember her) - her new owner's daughter is going to bring her to see us at Maidstone on Friday, so I need to get a toy for her.It will be the first time we've seen her since John had to give her up.

The reason why we're suddenly having a week away is because John is now booked in for a carpal tunnel op on his left hand on 19 April - and this might have to be followed by a more complicated op on the elbow - time will tell.

Back to my workspace - it's cleared and organised ready for me to try and make a few more Easter cards - and I also want to get my Salt LO done for Thursday week because we won't be back till then.

On the left hand side you can see supplies for quick Easter cards and a pile of cards already made (I made 15 of them yesterday) and a nice space in the middle (when I've moved my keyboard and mouse) with a few stamps at the ready.

It's a glorious sunny day here - I got a lift to have my hair trimmed, but have just walked back. Managed to get the bedlinen washed and out on the line before I went and another lot of washing in the machine now - the fine weather is such a bonus.



Off to get a cup of coffee now and then start to get essentials done (and mildly panic ... lol!)

Another commissioned 80th birthday card

They seem to come along like buses these days ... 80th birthdays, that is - I've had a run of commissions for them and this is yet another.

I used the sketch given for Pixie Cottage 63:

I used a mixture of BG euphoria and wisteria. The image is PB letters & flowers stamped with Stazon vibrant violet. Just the addition of Poundland felt flower with button and a couple of other flowers with buttons and a computer generated and printed sentiment.

This is for:

Lexi 37: monochromatic
Woodware USA 21: monochromatic
Craft your passion 52: anything goes
One powerful hour: birthday wishes
Fairytale 12: happy birthday
Party time Tuesday 10: elegant birthday
Papertake 55: anything goes

When Father Christmas got stuck in the chimney

As it was April Fools Day on Friday, there are a few challenges around asking for a funny card to be made, so I found a Father Christmas joke on the internet and made a card with a pocket to hide the answer until it's pulled out.

The snowflake background paper was free with a magazine and the striped paper is a piece of Basic Grey. The Anita's Santa in the chimney stamp is one that I love - coloured with copics - but I don't think I used it at all last Christmas, so I'm entering it for Pollycraft 87 'old/neglected stamp'.

Please excuse the quality of the scan (better irl):

Thinking about it afterwards, I think I ought to add a piece of ribbon at the top of the pull out piece to make it more obvious that it can be pulled up.

This is for:

Incy wincy 88: include a pocket
365 cards day 32: April fools - make a funny card
Alota 56: April fools day - something funny
Phindy's Friday: humour - make us smile
Jingle belles: Batman smells - April fool's holiday card creations
Bah! humbug 13: cards that make you giggle
For fun: Christmas is here
Craft your passion 52: anything goes
Bugaboo: anything goes

Now I must make sure that tomorrow I get on with Easter and commissioned birthday cards etc.

I do love Poundland bargains

I happened to stray into Poundland the other day (as you do!) and saw some crocheted flowers and thought they would come in handy for Easter cards - there were two or three different colours - unfortuantely, I only bought one pack of each and when I went back a couple of days later they didn't have any - wish I'd bought more in the first place - hopefully they'll have them in again.

The first card uses one of my favourite spring time stamps 'Funstamps daffodil oval'. The striped paper is FF spring time. The centres of the flowers used on this card are actually brads (I didn't even realise this when I bought them).

The second card uses another favourite Easter stamp by Personal impressions. There's no designer paper on this card - just a pearlescent card cut out on the left and computer generated wording - and, of course, the addition of the Poundland flowers.


These are for:

Craft your passion 52: anything goes
Bugaboo: anything goes
Let's ink it up 12: Easter creations
Pink elephant 97: Easter
Stamp with fun 105: Easter
Stamps R us 105: Easter theme
Spoon full of sugar 145: Easter
Ooh-la-la 77: Happy Easter
Paper issues: what are you makin for Easter or to celebrate spring?
Creative card world: Easter is around the corner
Let's craft and create 16: Easter
Craft us crazy 5: Happy Easter
Fun with shapes and more 80: Easter
Paper cutz 85: Easter
Stamping vacation occasions oasis challenge: Easter
Sundays with Crissy 16: spring is in the air
Prairie fairy Fridays 49: oh so spring
Little Claire designs 4: spring celebrations
Wednesday stamper: enchanted spring
Nightshift stamping 59: spring awakening
Rubber cafe 11: spring flowers
Crafts and me: use yellow
There's magic in the air: let's use flowers

Circle apertures

This is another pearlescent card I found in a box - nine little circle apertures (I've covered up the middle one).

I cut off the front of the card to mat it on to a matching embossed shiny card blank and put a piece of PM bird song paper behind the apertures - the addition of a few Poundland gems and a DB flower from long, long ago and the card was done.

This is for:

Lexi 37: monochromatic
Woodware USA 21: monochromatic
Stamping vacation: lots of paper challenge - squares and circles together
Cooking it up with Katie 55: sparkle, shine and shimmer
Crop stop 13: shine on
Paper pretties 147: bring on the bling
Paper romance 44: bling
Frosted fabulous Friday: bling
Fun at fairy knoll: whatever!
Charisma cardz 13: bling & sparkles
Craft your passion 52: anything goes
Bugaboo: anything goes
Gingerloft: we've got the blues (added late because I was away and didn't realise what the Gingerloft challenge was - still in time to link)

The sun is peeping through the clouds

When I was looking for something else the other day I came across some packs of cards - four square apertures - I decided it was about time I used one of them - very simple card with four images from Poundland (bought ages and ages ago) peeping out of the apertures.

This is for:

Dream valley 4: things with wings
Pixie dust 68: fluttering wings
Secret crafter Saturday 128: butterflies
Polka doodles 13: no printed backing papers
Craft your passion 52: anything goes
Bugaboo: anything goes

Christmas gang sketch

I've been privileged to join in with the Christmas card gang - you can see who else is in the gang on the list in my sidebar. Just click on the names to be taken to their blogs where you can see their Christmas cards for the fortnightly challenges and, of course, the rest of their lovely crafting.

Anyway, this is a lovely group of girls who have formed a gang to encourage one another - and anyone else who'd like to join in - to make Christmas cards regularly throughout the year. As I started my own Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog this year, I'm keen to join with those who also want to spread the load of making Christmas cards throughout the year.

So, for my first card with the gang, this fortnight Sally has given us a sketch to work with:

I used papers, borders and sentiment from My Craft Studio collection 'beautiful baubles' that were given with Making Cards and the pink and silver paper is fro an old QVC kit. The image was recycled from a card that was received two or three years ago. I chose the colour scheme for ABC Christmas 'G for girly', which asked for these colours:


This is also for:

Winter wonderland: Teddy Bear's Christmas
For fun: Christmas is here
Kaboodle 61: let's get girly
Craft your passion 52: anything goes
Bugaboo: anything goes