Christmas bling

This is for the sketch on Clean and simple FTL68:



Another one for Tueesday taggers 'red, green and gold'



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Christmas stars

This card is for Friday sketchers 78:


It's also another one for 3 clovers 40: 'a Christmas card with NO red or green' and also for Ildi Co 5: 'choose any Christmas song and let it inspire you' - the carol for this card is 'We three kings'.

The strips across the gold foiled card are Papermania. The outside of the image is recycled from an old card, with PM paper put behind it. The stars give a nice textured look to the card.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Wild animal!?

Well, he doesn't look very wild to me!

This is for lili of the valley 41 sketch:



It's also for:

Lili of the valley 40: 'recipe' - 3 papers, 2 stamps (the textured background and the sentiment), 1 type of embellishments (buttons) - I realise that I'm late for this one
Paperplay 41: 'recipe' - 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon, 3 buttons
Just Buggin' 11: ' into the wild' - use a Cricut animal (lion from 'animal kingdom' cartridge)
Simon says: 'animal antics'
Bubbly scrumptious 12: 'go wild!!!' - wild animals!
Elzybells 31: 'tempting textures' - I used the Elzybell texture background stamp with Colorbox copper embossed with clear; there's also texture on the ribbon and, of course, the buttons.
Little paper shop 42: 'use a die cut'
Another one for Little red wagon 3: 'distress it up' - I used four different colorbox chalk inks on the lion, finishing with an edging of copper.

Papers used were BG two scoops (for the lion and the squares) and obscure (for the textured piece and background).



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Hark the herald angels sing

I started this card a long time ago, with the background papers, but couldn't think what else to put on it, until this morning when I saw challenge 5 on Ildi Co: 'an inspiration' - 'choose any Christmas song and let it inspire you' - I then remembered one of my favourite angel stamps by Rubber Stampede, which has 'Hark the herald angels sing' music score in the background. This has been coloured with copics and stickles golden rod added on the wing, which qualifies it for Copic creations 16: 'golds'. Of course, there are also other Christmas carol titles on the torn paper on the right.

SPCC colour combo 23 is:

The colours for this are all there, even though the pink is minimal on the flowers round the angel's head.

3 clovers 40 asks for a Christmas card with NO red or green, so this fits the bill for that.

It's also good for yesterday's 'ad inspired' day 263 on 365 cards, which was deep blue and white.

The sparkle on the wings makes the card good for Creative Inspirations 36: 'sparkle' and another one for Frosted designs 'bling it on'; also another for TIOT 44: 'we've got the blues'.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Touchy feely baby card

This card is for sketchy Thursday 60 on Eat sleep stamp:



It's also for:

Dutch dare: 'felt like it' - use felt on your card - the duck on this new baby card is felt, the ribbon is touchy feely as well.

Little red wagon 3: 'distress it up' - sanded/inked edges - the 'boy' panel has been sanded and inked with chalk tangerine ink and the embossed 'boy' was chalked with Pebbles' orange.

Another one for three clovers 39: 'birds or bugs' - this time a bird.

The striped paper is K & Co, the background paper was free with a magazine.



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Piling on the ribbons

This card is for Pile it on 24: '3 flowers and 5 pearls' - I used a blue flower and two brown ones and 5 prima brown pearls.

It's also for the sketch for Truly Scrumptious 20, with the additional challenge of adding texture - there are plenty of different textures on the ribbons, on the floral sentiment and on the flowers.



These other challenges are included as well (the idea with 'Pile it on' is to combine with as many others as possible):

365 cards day 242: 'ribbon frenzy' - use several different ribbons (I was stumped with this one till I got inspiration from the TS sketch.
The play date cafe 4: 'blue, chocolate brown, tan and cream
Squigglefly 28: 'thank you'
All that scraps: 'thanksgiving project'
Flutter by Wednesday 83: 'thankful' and use a butterfly (yes), fairy or angel
La la land 13: 'thankful' - La la land says: 'To show our appreciation for you, in addition to this week's THANKFUL challenge we also have a Blog Candy to give away.'
Nutty nutshells 4: 'thank you/thankful'
Paper Blooms: 'thank you' (sadly their last challenge)
Three clovers 39: 'birds or bugs' (a butterfly is a bug!)
Frosted designs: 'bling it on' (brown pearls)



Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

ATG700 tape gun review

Some of you have asked about the ATG gun.

I use silicone glue for decoupage or for things that need a stronger bond, sometimes use glue dots or sticky dots, but the main form of adhesive I used to use was double sided tape. However, I started to buy some of the little sticky tape pens - the ones that you use and throw away - some you can get a refill for, but the refill costs nearly as much - and none of them last very long. I found that I was either resorting back to DS tape or paying out more for the tape pens.

So, having heard good reports from a few fellow crafters, I bought an ATG gun and can honestly say that I love it. I've used it since the day that I got it (so much so that, with the amount of cards I've made recently, I've been getting through the tape rolls!)

It seems strange to use at first, mainly because of its size, but I found that I got used to it very quickly and actually now like the solid feel of the size of it. It does take a bit of practice to get the sticky where you want it - at first I tended to be too far away from the edge of the paper, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it.

If you get some sticky where you don't want it, you can gently rub it away.

It's easy to change the reels of tape - only takes a few seconds.

I hope this review helps. If anyone has any questions, please ask.

Don't forget: If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

WOYWW today?

It's Wednesday again - WOYWW day at Stamping Ground - a day of nosing at other people's workspace! (I forgot about it last Wednesday). I haven't actually done any crafting today, but I'm sorting out my Christmas stuff. I've already made (and sold) quite a lot of Christmas cards, but need to make more and got to the point where everything was getting stashed in together - so I'm in the middle of sorting it all.

I hope to be back later on with some actual crafting (when my workspace will get a lot more untidy than it is atm).

You can see that I've had freeview Create & Craft on in the background, but tbh I couldn't tell you what they were selling, 'cause I didn't really take much notice.


Why not follow the link above and have a nose at people's workspace - and take a photo of yours and share with us.

If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Blue Christmas again

This card is for wacky Wednesday hump day sketch 7 on Paper Popsicles:

It's also for Try it out Tuesday 44: 'we've got the blues'.

Papers are English Paper Company, chipboard snowman is Brenda Pinnick and snowflakes are paper cellar.


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Birthday card

This is for Stamps and Smiles sketch 40:


The sketch looks as if it should be a Christmas card, but I couldn't see this actually mentioned, so I hope it's OK that I've made a birthday card.

The top section of the card is one piece of patterned paper cut into three (can't remember what this paper is), the strip across the bottom is K & Co.

The card is also for:

Paperplay 41: 'recipe - 2 patterned papers, 1 ribbon, 3 buttons
Gingersnap 30 spicy supply: 'buttons'
Quixotic 1 and 2: 'birthday' and 'stitching' (on the ribbon)
There she goes 29: 'in stitches'




If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Turquoise and pink Christmas

This card is for Penny's challenge 15: 'it's a sketch':

And also for Apron strings 16: 'ad inspiration':



Another one for Little Red Wagon 2: 'use your scraps' - bright pink papers are from a couple of years ago, the turquoise card was in my scraps box and the chipboard snowflakes were originally part of a kit a couple of years ago - somehow they got left behind in the box.

It's also for:

365 cards day 259: 'imagine this: snow' - not just the snowflakes, but the snow on the pink paper.
Crafty Creations 41: 'snow'
Pals paper arts 16: 'Christmas cheer' (another one for this)
Gingham girl's 'word of the week' 12: 'furfuraceous - consisting of or covered with flaky particles' - I think the snow on the pink paper is right for this.
Another one for Cute card Thursday 86: 'glitter me silly' - on the snowflakes
Another one for Frosted designs: 'bling it on' - glitter, shimmer - on the snowflakes



If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Red, green and gold again

This card is for the sketch on Diva Coffee Break designs for challenge 153 (this is my first time of joining DCBD:



It's also for:

Tuesday Taggers: 'colours - red, green and gold
Creative Belli 78: 'Christmas with creative cuts and more - themed embellishments'
Little red wagon 2: 'use your scraps' - use last year's scraps - these are definitely last year's or even the year before - the paper came with a magazine (I think it was Making Cards) and the stars embellishments is a 3D sticker that has been waiting to be used some time)
Susie's sassy 1: 'Christmas' (another one for this new challenge blog)
Pals paper arts: theme challenge: 'Christmas cheer' (another 'first time' challenge for me)

You can't really see on the photo, but the stars are red and green.


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

My CJ has come home

I've been so priveleged to be part of a Circle Journal group on Bubbly Funk forum over the past few months. Thank you, girls, for allowing me the opportunity to take part in your precious journals.

Thank you too, everyone, for your fab contributions to mine.

I wasn't sure how this would work out, because my theme for the CJ was 'What Next?' I asked each person to choose the topic for the next person - I think this worked out well.

My front cover:

My welcome and rules:

I asked Karen to tell us about when she was a teenager. Obviously Karen was already crafting by then - she says: 'I loved any craft and Mum and I would spend the winters playing with cane, wool, fabric ... anything really!'

Gez's theme chosen by Karen was friendship. Under the flap of 'friendship recipes', Gez says: 'Mix greetings and smiles thoroughly. Add hugs separately. Slowly stir in love. Sift sympathy and told in carefully. Bake in warm heart. Serve often.' How lovely is that?!

Suzie was asked for her favourite school memory. I've loved reading about the Debs Ball - and the super photo of the girls in their gorgeous white dresses.

Beth was asked which 3 people, dead or alive, she would like to invite to dinner. You can see Beth's choices and she says: 'I would hope that the four of us would all get along very nicely, laugh and have some fun. I'd love to be there and sit next to Robert de Niro!

Elaine was asked: 'What smell brings back a memory?' Elaine said that she hoped I would enjoy reading about her little advnture because she loved thinking about those happy times - yes, I did, thank you, Elaine - such a mixture of memories conjured up by smell!

Nicky's topic was 'Childhood favourite sweets' - what yummy choices, Nicky - mmm I can almost taste those black jacks - and I loved Spangles.

Net was asked what makes her laugh - I wasn't surprised to see Tinker and Harry on Net's pages and to know that parrot games were her source of fun.

Paddy had three wishes - super wishes, Paddy - I certainly hope they all come true, starting soon with passing your driving test

Leigh was asked: 'What is your favourite season?' This is a wonderful choice, with such beautiful colours - gorgeous photos Leigh has shared.


Sign in pages - everyone made a tag:

Back of my CJ:


I hope you've enjoyed looking at my CJ. I will certainly treasure it. Thank you, once again, girls.

Fruity tag card

This is a card for the sketch on the Pixie cottage for challenge 3:


I thought it would be good to make a tag for Dragons dreams 'tag it on' challenge 22: 'fruits of my labour' - so I chose to use my cherry stamp again, coloured with copics. It was stamped on to a piece of BG slightly coloured paper and lightly sanded and distress inks applied - tattered rose and old paper.

The card is also good for:

Everybody art 65: 'distressing' - not just on the tag, but also the torn paper behind it
365 cards day 234: Tuesday's trio: 'pearl, tag, ribbon'
Artful inkables Think ink Tuesday: 'make a tag'
My time to craft 65: 'tags so much!'
C.R.A.F.T. 25: recipe: '1 tag, 1 sentiment, 1 ribbon'
Squigglefly 28: 'make a thank you card'

Papers are BG Indian summer (apart from the piece that the tag's stamped on - unknown BG scrap!)


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Dottie Claus

This card if for the first challenge on Posh Designs scrapbook store, which is to make a card using this sketch:


It's also for:

Dottie's World: 'red, white and black' - Dottie Claus is, of course, a Charmed Dottie digi download
Digital Tuesday 32: 'holiday wishes' (the condition of the challenge is to use a digi image)
Doodle Palace Tuesday challenge: 'red and white Christmas card'
Susie's Sassy 1: 'Christmas'
Sparkle creations Christmas card 50: 'any Christmas card'
Creative craft 2: 'Christmas fun'
Die cut dreams 23 'Santa'
My creative moments Scrapbox 5 'it's all about Santa'

Papers are BG wasail


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

I've won some more goodies!

I won challenge 53: 'newspaper/text' on One Stop Craft - you can read about it here.

Postie came this with my prize, a lovely Hampton Art corset stamp by Diana Kovacs:



I also learned this morning that my name was drawn as the winner for Paper Popsicles week on 365 cards - you can read about it here - I'll get 20$ worth of digi images.

And the random picky thing on Cute Daisy May picked me for last week's challenge!

If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Cherry ripe

This card uses the current Forever Friends sketch - one condition is to use FF items - I haven't used any of the bears, but the flowers and sentiment are FF products:



This is also for:

Cuttlebug spot: 'let's get fruity' (I used a cuttlebug embossing folder)
Die cuts R us: 'emboss something'
Just us girls 7: embossing
Lots to do 46: 'embossing'
Corrosive 38: 'let's emboss something'
Tuesday taggers: 'no patterned papers'

The Petaluma cherry stamp has been coloured with copics. Gems are from Poundland and ribbon is Papermania.


If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Another autumnal scene

This is another card similar to the last, which is good for some of the same challenges:

Pile it on 23: fall challenge: use a leaf/leaves
Our Creative Corner: inspiration challenge
Paper Blooms: 'blue, orange and white'
Fiskarettes Monday challenge: 'use a leaf'
Kaboodle 17: 'fall splendour'
Cafe mojo: 'fall, fall, fall into the season'
Spoon full of sugar 77: 'create a scene'
Try it out Tuesday 43: 'create a scene'
Creative Inspirations 35: 'new or neglected' - definitely neglected, including the netting glittered leaves at the bottom
Incy wincy 17: 'thank you'
Pink elephant 40: 'be thankful'
How much is too much? 119: 'going green' - there is some green on here - and 'green' in the sense of 'recycled' - the leaves have been recycled
One powerful hour: 'leaves'

also for:
Colour Throwdown 68: 'only orange, dark neutral, real red, crushed curry'
365 day 115 : 'piece it together'



If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!

Autumnal scene

There are still quite a few autumnal challenges around atm, as well as those that cater for preparing us for Christmas.

This card is for:

Pile it on 23: fall challenge: use a leaf or leaves (the idea of 'Pile it on' is to find other challenges that can be done at the same time. So here are the rest:

Our Creative Corner: inspiration challenge, with this photo:

Play Date Cafe 4: 'blue/green, chocolate brown, tan and cream' - all there in some degree
The Color dare 42: 'really rust, chocolate chip, bashful blue
Paper Blooms: 'blue, orange and white'
Fiskarettes Monday challenge: 'use a leaf'
Kaboodle 17: 'fall splendour'
Cafe mojo: 'fall, fall, fall into the season'
Spoon full of sugar 77: 'create a scene'
Try it out Tuesday 43: 'create a scene'
Creative Inspirations 35: 'new or neglected' - definitely neglected: this invertage picture set is one among others that have been in a box at the back of the cupboard
Incy wincy 17: 'thank you'
Pink elephant 40: 'be thankful'
365 cards day 224: 'create a foreground/background image'
How much is too much? 119: 'going green' - there is some green on here - and 'green' in the sense of 'recycled' - the leaves with berries were off some Christmas crackers a couple of years ago
Inspire me Thursday: 'tree'
One powerful hour: 'leaves'
Hope stamps eternal: cupcake inspiration 33, with this picture:


The card is an invertage one (opposite of decoupage), although even taking the photos at an angle don't really show the depth of layers as they are irl. To give a clue as to the depth: the sentiment had to be built up with five layers of foam tape on the bottom half that stuck directly on the card blank.




If you go to the top of my blog you will find the post about my celebration candy - you've got to be in it to win it!