Thanks a latte!

Hi, everyone, sorry to have been absent for a little while. Work has been very busy plus I've been laid up with a bad back. It was great to finally sit at my workdesk again this afternoon. I'm still very sore but at least I managed some crafting!
And what fun I had using the little coffee-to-go cups from Lawn Fawn's Love you a Latte set. So, so cute.

I printed the top phrase on the PC and then added the thank you stamp from a very old Hero Arts set.

I love all the little bits and pieces and details that you get in this stamp set: those little faces are genius!

I've created this card to link up over at the October Naughty and Nice Challenge. The theme is 'give thanks' so I thought a cheeky thank you card would be perfect to join in the fun!

Tobi and the gang have got a DT call out until the end of today. I've been a big fan of this fun challenge since day #1 so have decided to throw my hat into the ring and apply for a DT place. There would certainly be a nip o' something in my coffee to celebrate if I made the team!

Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

September Card Chain Challenge

Yay, I'm right on the money time-wise for the September reveal! I think this is the first time ever.

Here's the card I sent to my recipient Nikki.

Don't you just LOVE this little Mama Elephant cutie? She is my homage to Nikki's uber cute card made using the same set. The card I'm to receive is still winging its way across the sea from Sabrina in California but I've had a sneak peek and can't wait for it to arrive.

If you are thinking of taking part in a Card Chain Challenge I'd advise you to jump right in. We're a friendly little community and Deborah is a witty and genial host. I've made some great new blogging buddies as a result but be warned, this challenge is totally, TOTALLY addictive! The October sign-up page is here.

Happy crafting everyone.

The same but different...

Hi everyone, and a happy Sunday to you all.

Today I'm sharing a card made using my favourite stamp from the lovely Paper Smooches  set 'Leafy Greens'. I'm more than a little obsessed with this image and haven't inked up any of the other stamps in this set as yet.

The design is pretty much the same as the second card featured in this post a few weeks ago, I've just used different stamps and colours.

I'm linking this card with the lovely ladies over at Seize the Birthday. I was also going to link-up with the Anything Goes Challenge at Paper Smooches Sparks, but I missed the deadline. However there's a very tempting sketch on offer for the new challenge which is calling my name. The inspiration cards are as brilliant as always.

We're enjoying some unseasonably bright, warm weather in the UK today so please excuse me as I slip away to enjoy a little more of it!

Happy crafting everyone!

Here's one I made earlier...

I've been in two minds about whether to share this card. A few weeks ago I discovered a colleague was about to celebrate her Silver Wedding anniversary and had to get super speedy with the crafting as it turned out to be the next day! However 'super speedy' doesn't always make for a good end result.

All that said, this is the perfect Tiddlyinks image for the happy couple as Jayne teaches dance where I work, and wears her hair in a neat little bob. I tried to colour the image in grey tones but it looked rather washed-out, so I decided to 'pep it up' with some turquoise highlights and pretty papers. 

Thankfully Jayne loved the card and even did a beautifully choreographed happy dance to prove it!

Happy crafting everyone!

Very revealing...

Its the August Card Chain Challenge reveal!

Here's the card I sent to Oreet, who was my recipient this month. I decided to go bright and cheery... and totally whimsical with this cute stamp from Tara Wakefield. As always the big reveal over at Deborah's is well worth a visit as there are some very talented crafters who take part each month.

My sender for August was Dawn in NZ. I love her sweet Tiddlyinks card, as does my mom who would have quite happily taken it home with her if I had agreed!
.

The Card Chain Challenge runs each month under Deborah's watchful eye and if you click here you can go and sign up for her September Challenge. This month she has bagged another fabulous challenge sponsor meaning one lucky participant will be winning some gorgeous Lawn Fawn goodies at the end of September.

Finally, to further enhance my credentials as a crazy cat lady I'll point you in the direction of this fabulous post over at The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. Scroll through and enjoy all of the sweet kitten photographs but pause at picture #5 to see the world's happiest kitten ever! Guaranteed to brighten your day and melt even the hardest non-kitten-loving heart.

Happy crafting everyone.

A Sunny Sunday Morning

Hi everyone, I hope your Sunday is as bright and sunny as it is here!

I had a little time to get crafting yesterday while Hubby went to the football so I broke out one of my favourite stamp sets: Ranunculus by Stampendous. I need a batch of birthday cards to see me through September and October so decided to check out the challenge over at Seize the Birthday. This week the topping is 'black and white' and the DT girls have really pulled out all the stops with a fabulous selection of inspiration. I was especially taken with Janet's beautiful card and decided to have a go at the technique she'd  used.

Janet's original is stunning and so well made. My homage (or CASE!) is a little shaky but I think it's ok as a first attempt. Stamping across three layers proved to be difficult and in places I had to ink-in the lines that were faint or missing.

My second card uses the same stamp but this time I embossed in gold and added a die-cut. I think this card would also work well as a wedding or anniversary card in these colours.

Finally, here is a slightly blurry picture I snapped out in the garden earlier.

It really is begging for a caption so feel free to leave one as a comment if the spirit moves you!

Back to school/work tomorrow: where did the summer go?