Win a ticket for Ally Pally Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show 20-21 September

Update: Please see this post for the winner

This post will be at the top until the linky closes

For all other posts please scroll down

I was fortunate enough to win two 2-day tickets for Alexandra Palace for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show on 20-21 September.

It was a prize for a challenge at My Craft Creations in conjunction with the organisers of the show:

Every year I say that I will go to it and then don't in the end, but this year, I'm going to go and use one of the tickets. But the other ticket is going spare, so I'm inviting you to add your name to the linky (you can just link up with your blog address, name and email) and I will draw a winner using random. It seems to be the fairest way to give the ticket to someone who could benefit.

The ticket is for the 2-day event, so you would be able to use it on the Saturday or Sunday ... or go both days if you wish.

Please feel free to share this on your blog to give other crafters the chance to win.

Please only enter if you would be able to use the ticket, as I don't want it to go to waste. If you have any questions, please ask!

The linky will remain open until 23:55 UK time Friday 12 September, to give time for me to put the ticket in the post.

An InLinkz Link-up

The sweet pea stampers challenge: all creatures great and small

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is my design card for the new challenge for the next fortnight on the Sweet pea stampers challenge: all creatures great and small. Please click on the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team - and we hope you will join in our challenge.

The image is Norma J Burnell's Forest Guardian stamp (also available as a digi), inked with memento tuxedo black and coloured with spectrum noir pens. The shaped card blank was already decorated with the polka dots. I matted the image on to a snippet piece of Craftwork cards paper from long ago (think it was called sugar plum) and then matted on to deep pink mirror card (doesn't show up the shine on here, unfortunately. The flowers with centre brads are Panduro hobby and the swirls of gems were part of my recent prize from Flourish with a bling.

This is also for:

Alphabet: P for pretty petals
Art by Miran 14: anything goes (hand coloured stamp)
Kort o mania 114: anything goes as long as it's bling
Stamp and create September: circles or dots
Stampotique 164: birds or animals
Di's digi designs: all about animals
Jellypark friends: pets/animals
Cutie pie 77: two's company
Make my Monday: Indian summer - bright colours
Cute card Thursday 338: too cute
Totally Gorjuss 252: bling
Incy wincy: all things girly
Hobbybook: girly
That's crafty: girl power
Wags n whiskers 137: for the girls
We do doobadoo 14: something feminine
Whoopsi Daisy: throw on the flowers
Crazy challenge 179: three of a kind (three groups of flowers, 3 brads)
CCEE 1437: odd day - odd number of flowers and brads
Going grey with Scrap-creations: favourite embellishment - flowers
Cardmakin mamas 88: precious metals x 3 (brads)
Vintage stamping (flonz craft) 24: anything goes
Stamplorations September: stamps & markers
Crafting by designs: pretty in pink
Allsorts 275: pretty in pink
Treasured times 24: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 35: anything goes
613 avenue create 88: anything goes + option: colours yellow, blue, pink with black/white
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
A creative romance: anything goes
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 74
Crafting by design September: anything goes
DL.ART September: anything goes

Too good to waste

The packaging on a couple of prima flowers was too good to waste, so I've used two of the backing cards on these two quick and simple cards, adding Panduro flowers with brads to the first one and flowers from Hobbycraft to the second.

They are both A6 cards, although the photo makes one look bigger than the other. The birthday greetings are pink foiled, which doesn't show up in the photo, but the picture below gives a little idea:

These are for:

Kort o mania 114: anything goes as long as it's bling
Totally Gorjuss 252: bling
Whoopsi Daisy: throw on the flowers
Crazy challenge 179: three of a kind (three groups of flowers, 3 brads)
Crafting by designs: pretty in pink
Allsorts 275: pretty in pink
Eclectic ellapu: lady's birthday
Emerald faeries 59: springtime
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes
DL.ART September: anything goes

All she had now was words

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

The image for this card was taken out of a book of short stories, this one being 'All she had now was words'. I rather liked this picture, so thought it was worth using. Simply matted on to a ready decorated 7 x 5 card blank with some Poundland blooms added.

Colours prompted by the picture for Pinspirational 123:

Also Cosmic colours 5:

This is also for:

Going grey with Scrap-creations: favourite embellishment - flowers
Incy wincy: all things girly
Hobbybook: girly
That's crafty: girl power
Wags n whiskers 137: for the girls
We do doobadoo 14: something feminine
613 avenue create 88: anything goes + create your own colour - teal, blue, brown + white and black
Crafting from the heart 35: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 149: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes
DL.ART September: anything goes

Just for you

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is a re-purposed card - it started off life as an Easter card, but has been changed around and had the 'just for you' banner added - I just didn't want to keep the original till next Easter. Background paper is K & Co, matted on to a card blank that already had the fancy border, which I brushed with distress ink. Flowers from Hobbycraft.

This is for:

Papertake: repeat repeat
613 avenue create 88: anything goes
Crafting from the heart 35: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
Word art Wednesday 149: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

WOYWW 275

Having returned to WOYWW last week, here I am again (I feel the addiction creeping back already!). I enjoyed visiting other workspaces and thank everyone for visiting me and for leaving me comments. So here I am for WOYWW 275 - if you don't know what I'm talking about, click on the link and see Julia's post and then have a nosey at the other workspaces that are shared.

Last week I shared pictures that showed me accommodating my new toy, the Scan n Cut and later in the day I made a card that I linked to.

I shared that I had a bit of a dilemma because I have several DT designs to get on with and also need to sort a lot of my craft stuff. I admit that I was tempted to get on and play with the Scan n Cut, but I disciplined myself to get on with other things. I even did some sorting yesterday afternoon. It was a lovely day, so I took some boxed of stamps up to the summerhouse and did some sorting. A while ago I bought a box which is meant for gardeners to use, but I thought it would be just right to house small stamps in different categories. This is as far as I've got - thinking I might put some of the smaller ones on to uniform pieces of card to make it all look neat .... but I doubt I'll get round to doing that! Not sure yet where it will live - just perched here for the photo:

So, back to the Scan n Cut - last night I decided to have a look at Birds Cards where there are loads of free svg files that can then be converted to suitable files for the Scan n Cut using Scan n Cut canvas.

I downloaded a lattice file and cut - probably not the best to start with, because it's very fiddly to get all the bits off the mat, but hey ho!  It's 7 x 7, so I intend to use it on an 8 x 8 card ... but I'm not sure how or what for! Think I might make something to go under it using my gelli plate with acrylic paint or distress ink, but haven't decided yet.

This is what was left behind on the mat (poor picture because it was taken late last night):

Think I need to stop playing for a while and get back to doing things that need to be done. Watch this space!

Oh, and this is a picture of the workspace to the left of where I sit - thought I'd include it for those who think that I'm always neat and tidy!

The pride of the peacock

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

I wanted to make something in response to the Inkspirational challenge 64 where this lovely photo was given, especially as I bought a pack of peacock feathers recently.

I found that I had a lovely digital image on my PC that I originally got from Papercraft Star (no longer in existence, unfortunately) or a wrought iron peacock.

I printed this out on to a piece of pale blue card and lightly brushed with a mix of dusty concord and peacock feathers distress inks - they look more vibrant in real life than in the photo. I then place one of the peacock feathers over this and took a photo that I then used digitally with the quote to finish the card ready to be printed. This way, I still have the peacock feather. I think it would get too damaged to try to adhere one to the card, so I felt this was a good way round it.

This is also for:

Word art Wednesday 148: anything goes
Take a word: birds
Glitter n sparkle 101: use a digi
2 cute ink 114: anything goes
Kreativeinkauf 18: anything goes
Natalie and Amy 24: things with wings
Creative craft cottage digi creations 8: digi/things with wings
Little Miss Muffet 93: blues and greens

Full steam ahead ...

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

I was asked to make this card for a grandson going to a new school. My friend had seen this card and asked for something similar.

This is for:

Crafting for all seasons 85: wheels and/or cogs
Hobby cutz 64: for the boys
Papertake: repeat repeat
Cardz 4 guyz 35: clean and simple
Ooh-la-la 164: clean & simple
Fairytale 99: clean and simple
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Ahoy there matey!

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

One more seaside card using the Hunkydory kit with a little 3D boat sticker added. Difficult to see in the photo, but the sentiment circle says 'Ahoy there matey!'

This is for:

Country view crafts September: nautical
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
Hobby cutz 64: for the boys
Crafty sentiments: spots and/or stripes
Craft for the craic 8: something with circles on it
Craft your passion 39: going round in circles
V's sweet 27: circles and dots
Miriam's crafting 16: kids
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

More seaside

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

Singing: Oh I do love to be beside the seaside! Unfortunately, summer will soon turn to autumn, but it's always lovely to think of sunny days at the seaside. This is a birthday card made with some more of the Hunkydory seaside kit  (not much left now), with the addition of a pair of 3D flip flops sticker and a glittered beach hut, part of a prize from Flourish with a bling.

This is for:

Country view crafts September: nautical
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
Dream valley 90: no stamps allowed
Crafty sentiments: spots and/or stripes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 52: anything goes with buttons

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is my design card for Fan-tastic Tuesday challenge 52: anything goes with a twist: button or buttons. The challenge is being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique and I used their 'whimsical snowflake tree', printing it quite large and mounting on silver mirror card and then on to a card blank that is a cross between blue and purple - lovely rich colour. I decided to leave the image plain apart from the buttons and dots of glossy accents. Buttons are a mix of Do crafts Tilly daydream vintage and Teresa Collins.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Southern girls: we've got the winter blues
Sarah Hurley 96: buttons
The stamping boutique: glitter it up
Crafts4eternity R192: digital
Glitter n sparkle 101: use a digi
Ooh-la-la 164: clean & simple
Fairytale 99: clean and simple
Digi choosday 36: monochromatic

Happy retirement

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is another card made with Hunkydory seaside supplies, plus a lovely little 3D boat - the bottom strip of patchwork was cut off the waste from another part of the kit - waste not, want not.

This is for:

Country view crafts September: nautical
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
The squirrel and the fox 77: for a male
Craft your passion 39: going round in circles
V's sweet 27: circles and dots
Craft for the craic 8: something with circles on it
Dream valley 90: no stamps allowed
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Sandy toes and salty kisses,

Lazy days & summer wishes! Sadly, soon to be forgotten as autumn and then winter takes the place of summer.

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is another card made from some of the Hunkydory seaside kit, with the addition of a lovely sparkly glittered beach hut that I won recently, plus a pair of 3D flip flop stickers.

This is for:

Country view crafts September: nautical
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
Dream valley 90: no stamps allowed
Lexi 124: sparkle and shine
Dazzling divas 41: glitter or anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

The cheerful stamp pad challenge 94: anything goes, week 2

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is my design card for the second week of the Cheerful stamp pad challenge 94 - please click on the challenge link to see the designs of the rest of the team and join in the fun here.http://cheerfulstamppad.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/challenge-94-anything-goes.html


For my card I've used the Stitchy Bear's Lil Diva digi 'fun in the jungle', kindly supplied by the sponsor. I coloured with spectrum noir pens, tore around the image and brushed with brown corduroy distress ink. The background paper and the animal print panel were from my offcuts box, mounted on to a kraft card blank and wrapped with a piece of Boutique paw print vintage ribbon from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

Pixie's snippets week 141
Di's digi designs: all about animals
Jellypark friends: pets/animals
Scribbles designs 20: animal planet
Crafts4eternity R192: digital
Glitter n sparkle 101: use a digi
The squirrel and the fox 77: for a male
Hobby cutz 64: for the boys
Digitally sweet 104: chocolate and cream
The ribbon girl: add ribbons
Really reasonable ribbon 102: autumn colours with ribbon or trim
Fitztown 52: anything goes
Robyn's fetish 228: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Catch the bug: anything goes
Treasured times 24: anything goes
Crafting at the weekend 5: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Something beginning with S ...

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

It was my turn this fortnight to choose the theme for the Christmas Card Club challenge and I asked to see 'something beginning with S' - sounds a bit like playing I-spy!

My simple card is made with card,, topper and sentiment from Hunkydory's Traditional Christmas range.

So, here are my S words: shepherds, sheep, stable, straw, star, sentiment, shine ... and the story of Christmas.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Scrappy hands 20: peace
Sentimental Sundays 223: a touch of vintage
Just inspirational: vintage
Chocolate, coffee & cards 73: vintage
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Happy birthday matey!

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is another card made with pieces from the Hunkydory seaside kit. I added a little 3D lighthouse sticker at the top and a glittered beach hut sticker at the bottom (part of a prize I won).

This is for:

Crafty catz 245: one for the boys
Crafter's cafe 80: child's birthday
Country view crafts September: nautical
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
Bunny Zoe August: summer colours
Dazzling divas 41: glitter or anything goes
The stamping boutique: glitter it up
Craft for the craic 8: something with circles on it
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Second card for CHNC challenge 193

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

'Do you hear what I hear?' - That's the question I'd like answered this week for my CHNC challenge 193 - You might show a picture of a bird cheeping, bells ringing, carol singers ... or perhaps something on your card that makes a noise, like a shaker.

Like the previous one, thiscard depicts choir boys singing on their way into church, so I can hear 'Once in royal David's city' being sung. I've used card, toppers and sentiments from a Hunkydory Christmas choir set, part of their Traditional Christmas range. The background card was one piece, but I thought it was too good to fold in half, so I added each half to A5 card blank (the other card will be shown in the next post). The music strips down the side of each card were offcuts from the waste around the die cut toppers etc.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Time out 13: if music be the food of love play on
Scrappy hands 20: peace
Corrosive 207: let's hear it for the boys
Crafty catz 245: one for the boys
Tok bobok 16: masculine/male world
613 avenue create 87: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 26: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 107: anything goes/memories
Crafting from the heart 34: anything goes
Clear it out: anything goes (trying to use up this kit)
Party time Tuesday 187: anything goes
Penny's 193: anything goes
Crafty girls 26: anything goes
Crafty bloggers network September: anything goes
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

CHNC challenge 193: do you hear what I hear?

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

That's the question I'd like answered this week for my CHNC challenge 193 - You might show a picture of a bird cheeping, bells ringing, carol singers ... or perhaps something on your card that makes a noise, like a shaker.

This card depicts choir boys singing on their way into church, so I can hear 'Once in royal David's city' being sung. I've used card, toppers and sentiments from a Hunkydory Christmas choir set, part of their Traditional Christmas range. The background card was one piece, but I thought it was too good to fold in half, so I added each half to A5 card blank (the other card will be shown in the next post). The music strips down the side of each card were offcuts from the waste around the die cut toppers etc.

The sentiment says 'Wishing you Peace & Love this Christmas Time'.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Time out 13: if music be the food of love play on
Scrappy hands 20: peace
Corrosive 207: let's hear it for the boys
Crafty catz 245: one for the boys
Tok bobok 16: masculine/male world
613 avenue create 87: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 26: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 107: anything goes/memories
Crafting from the heart 34: anything goes
Clear it out: anything goes (trying to use up this kit)
Party time Tuesday 187: anything goes
Penny's 193: anything goes
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Crafty girls 26: anything goes
Crafty bloggers network September: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Suzy Bee's bloomin' challenge 45

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is my design card for Suzy Bee's bloomin' challenge 45, which is, once again, 'anything goes' - please click on the link to see the lovely designs of the rest of the team and we hope you will join in the challenge.

I've used 'circus AJ' and 'sunshine sentiment', kindly supplied by the sponsor of the challenge, The Stamping Boutique. I coloured with a mix of copics and spectrum noir, mounted on to red mirror card and then on to a white DL card.

Colours for Color throwdown 308:

This is also for:

Crafts4eternity R192: digital
Crafter's cafe 80: child's birthday
De creatieve zebra 13: card for a child
Miriam's crafting 16 kids
Copic marker Europe: anything goes with copics
Vandicrafts artistry 7: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

Completely Christmas 28

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

This is my design card for today's Completely Christmas challenge 28 - please click the link to see the lovely crafting of the rest of the team and we would love you to join in our challenge.

The image is The Stamping Boutique 'for Santa' (TSB are sponsoring the challenge), coloured with spectrum noirs. All papers used are from my Christmas offcuts box - the main piece is from the My Mind's Eye glitter pack I bought ages ago (will be sorry when the bits have been used up, but still have some left to play with).

Tore round the image and a backing mat using a couple of perspex ovals.

This is also for:

The 12 months of Christmas card link up
Paper creators 29: early Christmas
Scrappy hands 19: red
Time out 13: if music be the food of love play on
Di's digi designs: all about animals
Crafts4eternity R192: digital
Crafty girls 26: anything goes
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes

To a very special boy

Please click here for a chance to win a 2-day ticket for the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace 20-21 September

That's the sentiment on this card - another 'easy to put together' card using Hunkydory 'I do love to be beside the seaside' materials.

This is for:

Corrosive 207: let's hear it for the boys
Crafty catz 245: one for the boys
Tok bobok 16: masculine/male world
Country view September: nautical
Pink gem 127: it's summer time
Craft for the craic 8: something with circles on it
Crafter's cafe 80: child's birthday
De creatieve zebra 13: card for a child
Miriam's crafting 16 kids
Dragonfly dreams 8: inspired by a book you read as a child - Enid Blyton's 'At seaside cottage'
613 avenue create 87: anything goes
Scribble and scrap 26: anything goes
Artistic inspirations 107: anything goes/memories
Crafting from the heart 34: anything goes
Clear it out: anything goes (trying to use up this kit)
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 187: anything goes
Penny's 193: anything goes
Crafty girls 26: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafty bloggers network September: anything goes
Crafts and me 150: time for anything
Card and scrap 81: everything is allowed
Papertake: anything goes + option to recycle/upcycle
Let's craft and create 96: anything goes
Craftin desert divas 39: anything goes
My craft creations: anything goes
Sister act 73
Crafting by design September: anything goes