Oh Where Oh Where Have I Been????

Good morning followers.  I am so sorry to have neglected my blog but family life has gotten in the way of my crafting.  Now where to begin - well my lovely SIL has been ill recently, but 2 weeks ago we helped her and her hubby to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary.  We all had a fantastic day and one we will not forget in a hurry.  However, only a few days later we received the devastating news that  "Mr Horrid" has come back but unfortunately there is nothing the doctors can do this time other than make her comfortable and keep her as pain free as possible.  As you can imagine we are all very distraught at this news.

That was the 1st thing, next my computer decided to throw a wobble and so no internet access for nearly a week (not on my priority list at the moment though) which of course means no posting on my blog and no showcasing my DT work...well there was none to show - last thing i could be bothered with was crafting!!!

Next - I have been in hospital to have a fractured tooth removed - plain and simple..no not in my case as they had to remove part of my jaw and I have quite bad tissue damage to the inside of my mouth and bottom lip.  The tooth hasn't given me any problems which is more than can be said for my very swollen lip...OUCH!!!

Well this morning (I have had to have a couple of days off to allow the swelling to go down) I decided to get on and complete some orders.  (Mainly wedding)..Well here is the 1st one....

and this one is the thank you card to go with it

My craftroom looks like a bomb has dropped on it so off to tidy up a little before getting on with my DT work..

Enjoy your day, me I shall not be stepping foot out of the door anytime soon as the rain is coming down in torrents and even the dogs won't thank me for taking them out in this!!!

Toodles til later

Challenges
Paper Playtime
Dream Valley Challenges
No Matter Which
Heck of a challenge

Sylvia xx

Morning all....

Hope you are all well and feeling happy...who turned the temperature down...brrr was a bit chilly yesterday here in Derbyshire!!!!

Now then over at CRAFT Challenges this week we would like to see your projects using the theme "Autumn".  I have to say this is my favourite time of year, all those beautiful colours on the trees and the ground...i love them!!!  I love the unexpected sunny days and the cool crisp mornings but best of all i love to walk through the park with the dogs kicking at the fallen leaves...

My card is a CAS one...not something i am particularly good at, i like lots of layers and stuff.  I chose to use a digi from LEJ Designs and this one is called Floral Digi Daisies

Coloured with my promarkers - pretty ribbons from stash and a sentiment stamp from Stampin Up.

Do come and join us this week as we have fab sponsors with fab prizes to give away to the lucky winners

See you all soon

Sylvia xx

I am so looking forward to tonight when for the 1st time in ages i shall come in from work and have the whole house to myself until bedtime...now what shall i do???

xx

Friday post...

Yoo hoo it's Friday again already :)

Bit of a sad day for me though as I have been working with the recruitment team for the last 7 weeks and have loved every single minute of it but unfortunately today is my last day with them...On Monday I shall be going back to my office job but never mind they have asked me to go and work for them again in October....

Right then what have I been doing for the Poodles Parlour Challenge this time...well the theme is........ "For The Girls"

and we have a new sponsor "Papelitos Stamps" and I chose to work with this oh so cute image "Lola and her duck" - 

coloured with my promarkers and the papers are from my ever-increasing stash!!!!  My team-mates have made some fantastic cards to inspire you for this challenge so do pop over and say hi to them

Look forward to seeing your creations

Love and hugs

Sylvia xx

Challenges
No Matter Which
Paper Playtime
Papertake Weekly
Papercraft Star
DYSU
Delicious Doodles Challenges
Heck of a challenge

CRAFT Challenges

Good morning...Thursday again already.  I shall be spending my penultimate day with the recruitment team today so sad face and even sadder tomorrow.  They are a fab team and it is a real pleasure to work with them, I have been with them for 8 weeks but the time has come to return to the office!!!!!

Anyway stop mopsing girl and get on with the job in hand!!!!  The challenge this week over at CRAFT Challenges is ...................................An inspirational picture.................................. but to find out what the picture is you will need to pop over HERE  and whilst there have a look at the fab things my team mates have come up with...

I used some lovely tartan papers and a fantastic stamp from FLONZ 

They are stunning stamps and excellent quality too, if you've never seen them before do pop over to their store (but be warned you will be there a while as there are so many to choose from) .

I have also used a sentiment stamp from Stampin Up which i thought went perfect with the image and the twine!!!

Enjoy your Thursday

Toodles til later

Sylvia xx

Challenges
Papertake Weekly
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge
Papelitos Stamps
DYSU

 

Countdown to Christmas

Over at Nutcrafters we have begun our "Countdown to Christmas" starting with some brand new digis/stamps from the oh so clever designers.

I got to try one of the jolly Santa's out too...he is so cute - a proper cuddly Santa!!!

 I coloured him with my promarkers added some glamour dust to his jacket and a few embellishments and there he is with his feet up with a well-deserved cuppa!!!

I promise to be real good this year so I can have lots of craft stash in my stocking!!!

Do come and join us with your festive projects - we would love to see you

Until next time "Happy Wednesday".....

Challenges
Papertake Weekly 
Papelitos Stamps
The Cutie Pie Challenges
Dream Valley (new digi old backing papers and reindeer)
No Matter Which Challenge

Sylvia

xx

Shaped cards

Come on then dig out those templates and those funny shaped cards you bought (cos they seemed like a good idea at the time!!!) and come and join us over at CRAFT Challenges this week.

I have made this one (terrible piccie though) but the tesco shopping man turned up just as the last of the light disappeared, so had to put the shopping away first !!!!  I have used a Dreamee template (although i had trouble getting it to stand up for me!!) and a darling little image called Audrey from The Stamping Boutique.  Coloured her with my promarkers and everything else on there is from a docrafts goodie bag..

Do come and join us as we have lots of great prizes on offer this week....

Right off to work we go (after I have been to the hospital for my pre-op checks) damn teeth!!!

Odd Request ???

My daughter asked me to make her rosettes for a hen party so guess what I have been doing ???  I have made something else too but ssshhh it's a secret but i will make an announcement very soon!!!!!

Sylvia xx

Poodles Parlour - challenge

Hi there followers are you all looking forward to your 3 day weekend - I certainly am !!!

Now for this weeks challenge over at Poodles Parlour we have "winged things" so anything that has wings needs to be part of your project.  I used a lovely little digi from the Digi Garden for my card and coloured her with my promarkers.

Do come and join us this time as we have a fab sponsor "Di's Digi Downloads" who has a fab prize for our winner

Enjoy your bank holiday weekend (but don't expect sunshine) whatever your plans....

Love and hugs

Sylvia x

Fairies ..................................!!!

Now for those that know me well - know that I do not DO Fairies...I hate anything with wings - they scare me!!!!  I am fine with birds and butterflies as long as they stay still and don't flap their wings but the minute they open their wings i am off - running for the hills.

The challenge this week at CRAFT Challenges is "Fairies"  - Oh no i thought but then I was given this fab digi by Krista Smith from Saturated Canary and her name is Whispy.

She is so cute even with her fairy wings...I have coloured her with my promarkers, used some fab DCWV backing papers and then some butterflies and a swirl from my stash.

Do come and join in the fun over at CRAFT Challenges this week as we love looking at everyone's creations

See you over there!!!

Challenges
The Paper Shelter
Paper Pretties
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog
The Crafty Pad
Paper |Playtime
Craft Your Days Away

Sylvia xx

What is.....?????

Your favourite colour combo???? that is our challenge over at Nutcrafters

I have a couple but one of my favourites is pink and brown so I chose to use one of the new digis and make a little gift bag - well actually it's not that little and perfect for a little girl whose birthday party I am going to in October.

I got the idea from here at Little Claire's - clever Gaynor gave me the inspiration so thank you for that.

I have used backing papers from a swap and some freebie ones, my martha stewart punch for the frilly edge, some fancy lacey ribbon from a super friend over at timcraft and finally butterflies and bows from my stash.  I coloured in with my promarkers of course...

Do come and join us over at the Nutcrafters Challenge and you never know - this week may be your lucky week....

Challenges
The Paper Shelter

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge blog
The Crafty Pad
The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog
Craft your Days Away
No Matter Which Challenge

Sylvia xx

Good morning...

To you all - hoping you are all fine and dandy!!!!!

This week over at CRAFT Challenges our DT challenge was to make a "BOX" and incorporate one of the sponsors' digi images into it.

So I used a lovely ribbon and holly digi from Robyn's Fetish and decoupaged it on my little pillow box.  This was so easy to make as i printed the template straight onto some Kanban card, coloured my image with my promarkers and then added some ribbon and a swirl (re-cycled from an old Christmas card i had from a friend last year)

 

I loved making the little box and will certainly be making more nearer to the big day as little stocking fillers.

Please do come and join in the fun as we have lots of lovely prizes up for grabs from our fab sponsors

Love and hugs

Sylvia xx

Poodles Parlour Challenge

Good morning followers - Friday again and also time for a new challenge over at Poodles Parlour

Our challenge this time is sponsored by Meiflower who sell the most beautiful ribbons and embellishments not to mention one of the best DST.

Our theme though is "Die-Cuts" - anything you like as long as you use a die...

Here are my 2 cards

So over to you now - lets see what die-cuts you can find to add to your cards this week for our challenge

Have a great weekend but don't forget to join in the challenge at Poodles for your chance to win a fab prize from Meiflower

Sylvia xx

Fish Whisperer for my brother!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning again followers

I am back again to show you my DT card I have made for CRAFT Challenges - the theme being "Add a Charm"

We have fab sponsors and prizes on offer as usual and I chose to work with Gus - the fish whisperer as i knew just the charm i could use for this card

The papers I have used are from Making Cards May 2010 and just perfect for this male card for my super brother.  He loves fishing so i know he will think this card is just perfect for him...  I have coloured Gus in with my oh so trusty promarkers  and the sketch is from Pink Gem Designs (thanks for the inspiration)

Challenges
Pink Gem Designs
The Crafty Pad
Papertake Weekly Challenge
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge blog 
Here Come the Boys

Do come and join us with your charms, we love to see all those great projects in our gallery

Until tomorrow

Toodles Doodles

Sylvia x

My turn !!!!

Good morning crafters

Today it is my turn to host the challenge over at Nutcrafters.  I have chosen the theme of embossed backgrounds so that we could all dust off those embossing folders and show us what you make with them.

I have of course used a nutcrafter digi - coloured with my promarkers, a Happy Birthday embossing folder and then just added some stars - also coloured with my promarkers.

My lovely team mates have some fab projects to inspire you, so why not pop on over and take a peek

Enjoy your week ahead

Love and hugs 

Sylvia xx

Woo Hoo I won!!!!

I have won a blog challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenges so I am one happy bunny...

Marianne Dies were the sponsors so I have won a vintage paper pack, a Leaning Tower of Pisa die and a stamp.

Lucky me...

Wonder if i could win the lottery this week too

Enjoy your evening off to make another card for a challenge - involving a fisherman!!!

Sylvia xx

It's sketch time...

Good morning to you all

Hope you are all well and not too wet...did i blink and miss the summer???????

Over at CRAFT Challenges this week we have a lovely clean and simple sketch for you.  I quite enjoy following sketches.

I have coloured my image with promarkers and flexmarkers and the backing paper is a freebie from one of the mags this month.  My image is from "My Heart Pieces" and is called "Can you see the beach"..I love it and definitely think i should have done a shabby chic card  - maybe next time ....

Do come and join in the fun as we have lots of great sponsors which can only mean one thing.....lots of prizes.

Enjoy the rest of your day, I shall be in a training room full of nurses whilst you are reading this and wishing it was home time....

Challenges
Charisma Cardz Challenges
Stampin for the Weekend
Dream Valley Challenges
Cupcake Craft Challenges

Love and hugs

Sylvia xx

Anything goes

Helloooooo - anybody out there????

The Challenge this time over at Poodles Parlour is really easy

"Anything Goes"

I have used a Bugaboo digi - oh so cute and coloured him with my promarkers.  The backing papers and strips are from the Docrafts Goody bag i bought when i was in Devon.  The sentiment is from the hot diggity dog elements range and i love the sparkle!!!

Look forward to seeing all your wonderful entries

Challenges:---
Paper Pretties
Charisma Cards
Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps
Dream Valley Challenges 

Have a great weekend

Sylvia xx

In Stitches...

Good morning followers - over at CRAFT Challenges this week our theme is Use Stitching - now these stitches can be real ones (get the sewing machines whirring) or faux ones like mine.  Mine are actually rub- ons and i know they are wobbly but if you saw me use a sewing machine!!!!!Enough said....

I have been so lucky and got to try out more of the fantastic stamps from Flonz who are just one of our fabby sponsors this week.  I have to say these stamps are fab and definitely worth a visit to their site.  Have i used my promarkers....drum - roll.....NO...I have used a water brush and distress inks!!!! and lots of Kraft card (my favourite at the moment) and some backing papers/card from Kanban.

Off you go then and get sewing...

See you very soon with your lovely creations

Challenges
Papercraft Star
Paper Pretties
Cupcake Craft challenge
Charisma Cards

Sylvia xx

Butterflies and/or Bows

What a great little challenge we have for you today over at Nutcrafters - Butterflies and/or Bows. Well along with my cute little image as you can see I chose to use Bows and some beautiful jubilee papers.  My image was coloured with my trusty promarkers and finally I added a bit of bunting..

We shall look forward to seeing your latest creations very soon and don't forget we have fab prizes on offer for the winner.

Good luck

Love and hugs

Sylvia xx

Challenges...
Charisma Cardz challenge
Digi Doodle Shop's Best
OSAAT
Dream Valley Challenges
Paper Pretties

Sunglasses needed!!!!

Hello my trusty followers - well i think i should warn you to go get your sunglasses out for my DT card for this weeks challenge at CRAFT Challenges.

I have used my brightest promarkers and some fruity coloured free papers this time using a lovely fun image from Hope Jacare

We have wonderful prizes and sponsors this week so do pop by and show us your projects...but don't forget to include a "playing card"

Good luck

Challenges for my clown....
Digi Doodle Shop's Best
The Paper Shelter
Papertake Weekly

How would you like to get your hands on some yummy Nutcrafters Blog candy... well Nutcrafters are very kindly giving away 2 fabulous prize's so here's what's up for grabs...

Prize 1

  1 lucky winner will receive the full set of New release of Cutie Pies 'Making a scene' digi stamps...

Prize 2

2nd lucky winner 2 digi stamps of winners choice from the New release of Cutie Pies 'Making a scene' digi stamp set...

What fabulous prize's right?!?!?

Here's what you have to do...

1) You must be a follower

2) Must help spread the word by adding it to your sidebar

3) Add your name to mr linky

4) Tell us which is your fave image from the New releases...

This candy will end on the 26th July & the winners will posted shortly afterwards!!

Summer and the perfect man ?????

Now i know what you were all expecting...Mr Christian Grey but alas no......................

The theme this week at CRAFT Challenges is Summer and I chose to use a super digi from Bugaboo called "the perfect man" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am not sure where either the summer or the perfect man is but I am married to the next best thing...RRRRRR bless him

So if you are not too wet from all this rain we have been having do join us with our summer theme as we love to come and visit your blogs and I for one have lots of catching up to do after my hols

Challenges
DYSU challenge blog
Digi Doodle Shops Best
Delicious Doodles Challenge
Sassy cheryl's Digi Stamps
Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge blog

Until next week

Love and hugs

Sylvia xx

Making a Scene...!!

Ohhhhhh - How about this then for something different.  Over at nutcrafters we would like you to make a scene....

Mine was made using two of the new "scene" digis from Nutcrafters - I just loved this little cake shop and the cutie pie cake girlie!!!  Coloured with my promarkers - of course...backing papers were yummy freebies and the sentiment was stamped from my new Little Claire set i bought at Doncaster last weekend.

Watch out for sneak previews from the girls at Nutcrafters over the next few weeks too

Now whilst you are reading this post I shall hopefully be having a paddle in sunny Cornwall as I have had to schedule this post due to going on a well earned holiday to Cornwall and then moving up to Devon...Bliss just me and the hubby

So i will take this chance to thank you all for joining in the fun at Nutcrafters and until next time...Have fun!!!

Off on my Jollies - yippee

Please don't send the search parties out for me for the next 2 weeks !!!!!! I won't have disappeared- I will just be on my holidays .
For the 1st time in 35 years we are spending our summer hols in the UK :) really strange not to be thinking money tickets passport.   We are off to Cornwall for a week and then travelling upto Devon for another week and this time it is only me and hubby.

We are both ready for a complete chill out but some of our time will be quality time spent with my SIL who is slowly loosing her battle with the dreaded C   .

Please be good whilst I am away, stay happy and healthy and i shall return in a couple of weeks time.

Love and hugs to you all

Sylvia xx

CRAFT Challenges...

Hellooooo one and all - Are we having a good week ??

Over at CRAFT Challenges this week our challenge is a "Colour Combo" to guide you on your projects.  You can use all of the colours or just some of them.  My card is a very bright one and i got to use this very pretty young lady from Beary Dust.  The backing papers came free in my Cardmaking and papercrafts magazine "Beach Babe" they are called and I have used loads of them already !!!!

Challenges...Digi Doodle Shop's Best (sketch)
Charisma Cardz Challenge

Only a  very quick post this week -  lots to do as I am off on my hols on Saturday for 2 weeks - bliss!!!

sunday afternoon playtime No 2...

Same stamp - different colour scheme

The middle bit is punched using a Martha Stewart punch on both edges....a very CAS one 

right off to get hubby's dinner on

xx

Sunday afternoon playtime...

Well it would appear I am on a roll today...must be my new SU goodies....

I have used my new stamp for this one - Sail Away and i fell in love with it as soon as i saw it.  My brother-in-law lives in Canada and he loves boats and used to have his own a few years back and i just know he is gonna love this card.  The craft card is from Stamp Magic last weekend - the green card is yummy and from SU - ribbon and sticky gems from my stash and the sentiment is a forever friends one!!!!  Quick and simple but i am really quite pleased with it...

Challenges
Creative Card Crew (I am Sailing - Rod Stewart)
Dream Valley Challenges
DYSU Challenge
Charisma Cardz

Sylvia xx

Sunday morning play...

Good afternoon folks - well we have a little bit of sunshine here in Derbyshire this morning so after finishing the baking I got out my new goodies from Stampin Up and i have been playing.

What yummy papers these are and the ribbon was almost too pretty to use.  Only the dst and the sentiment aren't from stampin up...this little box is also perfect for a challenge I saw at Crafty Cardmakers ...right off to play with my new boat stamp...mens cards are on their way lol....

Enjoy the last of the weekend as I'm sure most of you are just like me and back to work tomorrow.

Sylvia xx

Jubilee Cutie!!!

Do you like my Jubilee Cutie...the digi is from Digi Garden over at the Poodles Parlour and as you have probably guessed the theme this week is Red/White/Blue.  Hope you're not tired of the Jubilee celebrations and will join us in our challenge.  We have a super prize up for grabs so do pop by and see what my fab team mates have made.

I coloured my cutie with my Promarkers and the paper is a freebie - the doiley is from a stash i had forgotten i had (oops) and finally a craft work cards sentiment, some gems and a swirl I had from a lovely lady Linda.

Right off to work we go

Have a super weekend

Challenges...Cupcake Craft Challenges .....Sassy Cheryl's Digi Challenge Blog.....Passion for Promarkers.....The Paper Shelter

Love and hugs

Sylvia x

Just for You Dad....

Toot toot say hello to Guy from Bugaboo - isn't he just perfect for the challenge this week at CRAFT Challenges - Father's Day.  My daughter has chosen this card to give to her Dad on Sunday - it is sooooo perfect for him as he is a Car Salesman...

Coloured with my promarkers, computer generated sentiment, fair bit of distress inks and some backing papers from an unknown pack!!!!

Challenges...Cards for Men...Dream Valley Challenges...Passion for Promarkers...Papercraft Star... Paper Shelter...DYSU...Charisma Card Challenge

To all those great dad's out there "Happy Father's Day" for Sunday...Enjoy

Sylvia xx

Spots and/or Stripes

and i used both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the lovely Helen's turn to pick the challenge this week over at Nutcrafters - phew i survived my time last week.  The 1st one of anything is always the worst but now i have done one (without too many mistakes) I will be ready and able for the next one...

Okay so what did Helen choose------drum roll...clash of symbols....trumpets

Spots and/or Stripes

I used one of the digis from the Nutcrafters "Travel Range" and i just  love this wee man with his camera...coloured with promarkers -  die cut - spotty ribbon to sit on - freebie sentiment - card candi and stripey paper from a colour swap i did over at trimcraft

I really do hope more of you will come and join us for this challenge, there are super prizes up for grabs

So hopefully see some of you over there

Challenges...The Paper Shelter.....Passion for Promarkers.....Sentimental Sundays.....Digi Doodles Shop Challenge

Sylvia xx

Blog candy Winner

Where did the week go????  I was meant to post the winner on Monday but time seems to have run away with me so without further ado I should like to announce the winner of my Birthday Blog Candy (even though i didn't reach the 100 mark) never mind!!!

Jackie ........it is you...thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my blog

To all my followers thank you for the lovely comments you have left over the years- very much appreciated i can assure you!!!

I am sent you a message Jackie..

Sylvia xx

New sponsor at CRAFT Challenges

Hope you all had a great Jubilee weekend - I certainly did

We have a great new sponsor over at CRAFT challenges this week - all the way from New Zealand.  they were very generous and let us choose a set of stamps from their great collection . Flonz is the unusual name of the company but their stamps are fab and the delivery was superb - less than 5 days to arrive!!!

The challenge this week is for you to show us your male cards - thought mine would be perfect for father's day!!!  I do hope you will come and join us as we have some great prizes up for grabs!!!!

Challenges
Digi Doodle Shop's Best
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog
Papercraft Star
Papertake Weekly
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog
Cards for Men

Sylvia xx

Birthday Blog Candy

Good evening followers and how nice it is to have you all visit me. :)

Now i have been tempting you with a birthday blog candy now for a few days well today is the day!!!!

I shall leave this post on for 10 days so you have until 2nd June to leave me a lovely little message..

So what do you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this candy ???

Firstly *** Put a post on your blog telling your friends about my blog and the candy i have up for grabs

(you don't have to add the piccie if you don't want to)

Secondly***Be a follower of my blog

and finally*** leave me a little comment letting me know you have looked at something else on my blog other than the candy.

Hope this is ok with you all and that you will help me to get my followers up to the grand total of 100 - now should that total get to 120 i shall increase the blog candy to 2 lots of crafty goodness.

Right then off we go...................................................

A Friendship Poem

Once In A While
We Meet Someone
Who Makes Us Feel So Good
Who Seems To Understand Us
In A Way Few People Could
Someone Who’s Truly Glad
For Us
When Things Are Going Well
Who’s Always There To Listen
When We Have Something
New To Tell …
Once In a While,
We Find Someone
On Who We Can Depend
I Know Because
I Found In You
A Truly Wonderful
F.R.I.E.N.D 

Poodles Challenge

Brrrr did someone turn the temp down....

Happy Jubilee weekend to you all and sincere apologies to my teamies at Poodles Parlour for forgetting to add my card to my blog yesterday.  Blonde moment me thinks..

anywooo here it is my challenge card for the Poodles Parlour Challenge "Father's Day/Male card".  We are being sponsored this time round by the fab Kenny K (thanks Deb !!!!) and i have to confess that until i started blogging i had never heard of them.  But now ??? i love them.

do pop over to the site and check out what my fab team-mates have come up with - gosh they're a clever lot

Challenges for my card...
I love Promarkers
Here Come the Boys

Sylvia xx