Cupcake Crafts #65 – Snow Much Fun

Donna has picked our cool challenge at Cupcake Crafts this week which is called “Snow Much Fun”.  I have had this gorgeous stamp for a couple of years now but it always comes out for a few cards every Christmas – I still love it.  I think it’s from Stampendous and is called Angel Trio (I think).  We are sponsored this week by Digital Delights and they have donated a £10 voucher.  Hop over to the blog to look at the gorgeous DT creations.

Right, this is the last of my scheduled posts as we are travelling back from our holiday today, sob.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Mo’s Digital Challenge #5 – All that Glitters

The month of November is my month as hostess over at Mo’s Digital challenge which means I get to set the challenges for the next 4 weeks.  For the first challenge I have picked a theme close to my heart – GLITTER!!!  Well, all things sparkly to be more precise.  I want to see at least three DIFFERENT sparkly elements on your card (if you want to add more that’s just fine too!)  My three shiny things are gems, stickles glitter glue and a silver snowflake charm.  I have used the combined images of “Kai in the Snow “ and “Snowman” .  The papers are from Papermania and the image is coloured with ProMarkers.

Make sure you check out all the bling over at the blog, the DT have made some awesome creations again this week.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar #76 – Sketch by Sonja

This is the gorgeous sketch created for us at ASOS this week by our amazing DT member Sonja.  This is a great sketch to follow and I had a great time making my card.  I have used “Snowman” (LOVE this image) by Mo’s Digital Pencil and coloured him with ProMarkers (I’m sick of hearing myself say that!!).  I hope you all get a chance to pop over to the blog and check out the other beautiful creations this week.  I am still enjoying Centerpars ) I assume – I’m scheduling this, lol) so will be getting very little blog-time in.  Will have to have a “fix” when I get back on Monday.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #24 – Grass and Canary

The colours this week over at Passion For ProMarkers have been picked by our lovely GDT Manda and she is asking us to use Grass and Canary.  I actually struggled a bit with these colours and my first two attempts ended up in the bin!  Not because they don’t go together or I don’t like them, they are just not “my colours” so my mojo was a bit flat!  In the end I went with this cute little Manga fairy from Sugar Nellie and made a Christmas card of all things!!  I may need to add something more to it to make it more Christmassey but I’m just not sure what!!

Well, hope you manage to hop on over to the blog and check out the other creations by the rest of the DT.  This is another scheduled post as I’m on holiday  so I’ll be a bit quiet around blogland this week!

Hugs for now,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #64 – My sketch!

 

Hopefully I am now enjoying a hard-earned break up in the Lake District at Centerparcs and have scheduled this post which you are now reading (with any luck!!).  For this week’s Cupcake Crafts challenge I have created a sketch.  I hope you like it and even though I say so myself, I enjoyed making my card with it!!   The butterfly is not a requirement, I just wanted to put something other than a flower on it!  As you can see from my card, I have substituted it for a snowflake.  The image is from Mo’s Digital Pencil and is called “Skating”.  Well, have fun with this week’s challenge and I will think about you all while I’m splashing in the pool and eating out every night!!!! Check out the blog for some fab inspiration from the DT.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Look what we did today!!

For me Halloween comes a close second only to Christmas.  I love all the hype and every time I watch those American movies with all the houses decorated to the hilt it makes me so wish it was a bigger thing over here.    We carved 5 pumpkins this morning – one for every child and tomorrow we are having a big party and going around our road (there are only 9 houses!) trick or treating.  I can’t wait although I haven’t got everything prepared just yet – it’ll be fine though – I’m sure!! 

 

Happy Halloween

Mo’s Digital Pencil #4 – Fancy Folds

This seems a rather appropriate card for me to post (late) today as I have succumbed to the dreaded bug that hit our house this week.  I will spare you all the details but it was not very nice and I am only just starting to feel anything like a human! 

We were asked to make a card using different folds this week at Mo’s challenge so I thought I’d try this easel card.  I have used Swine Flu coloured him with ProMarkers. 

The challenge winner will be chosen by Random.org, and the lucky person can select a free image of their choice from Mo's Digital Pencil. This challenge will end on Wednesday, November 4th, and the winner will be announced before the next challenge is posted.

The DT cards are just stunning this week so make sure you pop over for a look.

Ok, off to pop another paracetemol.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #23 – Any Colours + sketch AND ASOS # 75 – Cooking/Kitchen

This is a mega-quickie post I’m afraid.  I was meant to schedule both these posts last night but a horrible lurgy has taken over the house!  4 of the 5 children have been vomitting since last night and now hubby is in bed ill too!  I am OK FOR NOW and Olivia isn’t affected at the moment but it’s not very pleasant around here today.

This first card is for the Passion For Promarkers challenge which is “Animals”.  I will add details later when I get the chance!

The second card is for the ASOS challenge which is “Cooking/Kitchen theme”.  I thought a hamster eating a muffin was vaguely linked to cooking!!!

Right, I have to tackle the mountain of vomit-drenched sheets, blankets, towels, teddy bears etc – how I’ll keep my breakfast down I don’t know!!

Sorry if I’ve made any of you feel ill!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #63 - Sketch

 

This week at Cupcake Crafts we have a sketch – ain’t it perty?

The DT have come up with some fab takes on it so pop on over for a look.

 

I have made another Christmas card to add to the pile – I’m getting through them at a rate of knots these days!  Wonder if there’ll be any point in sending them though if the post doesn’t get itself sorted!

 

We are pleased to welcome back Quixotic Paperie as our sponsor this week and they are offering one lucky winner the opportunity to win a £10 gift voucher to spend in their shop

Have a great day everyone.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Mo’s Digital Challenge 3 – Anything but a Card

We have a great theme this week over at Mo’s Digital Challenge– Anything but a Card.  I have used Mo’s gorgeous and very useful “Door with Wreath” stamp and coloured it with proMarkers and stickles.  The house is done using a Lauren Meader template - “It’s on the House” which was just so much fun to make. 

Check out this week’s creations over at Mo’s challenge – the DT have been so creative with Mo’s images this week.

Have a great day,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge #74 – Sketch by Debbie

The DT at ASOS have been working with the cute little digi images from our lovely sponsor this week – Soft Pencil.  I chose to use Michu, his friend and a paper boat – very cute.  Our challenge is a fabulous sketch created by our gorgeous Debbie.  I LOVED this sketch, it just made the card so easy to put together.  The papers are from a K & Co paper WAD from QVC and I’ve coloured the image with PMs. 

Check out the blog for tons of inspiration.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #22 – Poppy and Forest Green

Our challenge at Passion for ProMarkers this week is a colour combo picked by our fab GDT Claire – Poppy and Forest Green.   This just screams Christmas to me (yes, I have NO imagination!) so have used another amazing image from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  This one is called Christmas Morn. 

Check out the rest of the DT cards this week  - all amazing as ever.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts # 62 – Things That Go Bump In the Night!

With Halloween fast approaching our challenge at Cupcake Crafts this week is to make something with a spooky feel to it!  I have made a little Halloween treat holder (the jelly snakes you can just about see peeking over the top were eaten within 10 minutes of this photo being taken)!  I have used a Lauren Meader template called Petal Pockets and used my favourite Doodlebug papers.  Our sponsor this week is our very own Jeannette so make sure you pop along to the blog to check out all the other girls amazing creations.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

If at first you don’t succeed…

I made this card for my DT card for this week’s Mo’s Challenge then realised I had used WAY more than 2 embellishments so had to start again!!  I decided to send this card to my fabulous ProMarker DT bud Michelle for her birthday which was on Friday. I have used a gorgeous image available from Mo’s Digital Pencil called “Tuesday’s Child and coloured her of course with PMs.

Right, off to have another cup of tea – have a teeny tiny bit of a hangover after a party last night – I really should stay away from wine!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Shameless plug alert!!

A few of you may know that in my real life I manage our portfolio of approx 40 properties around the Wirral / Merseyside area.  We started building it up around 7 years ago and have now taken the plunge and set up a Lettings Agency.  Here comes the “plug” part.  Our lovely new website went live about 3 weeks ago and we are trying to get it optimized in Google etc so eventually it appears on page 1 for Wirral lettings searches.  This will obviously take some time but I thought to give it a wee boost I would ask all my lovely blogging friends to help us out by just clicking on our link so that it tots up some hits and helps push us up through the Google pages.  

You don’t need to do anything except click the link – the more unique hits we have the better.  Why “Five Estates” I hear you ask!  Well, it took three months of trying to come up with a company name that was available at Companies House, as a .com and .co.uk domain.  EVERYTHING we tried had already been taken so we then came up with Five Estates simply because we have 5 children!!!!!  No mystery!

Ok, thanks to everyone who clicks on us – I’m eternally grateful!  If you feel like telling anyone else about us too it would be fantastic – the more clicks the better for us. 

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Mo’s Challenge #2 – Fall Colours with limited embellishments

A bit of a mouthful this week for the challenge at Mo’s.  This is actually my second card – the first one somehow ended up with three flowers on therefore not following the rules at all (not a good example for the DT to be showing eh?)  We want to see your cards done using an image from Mo’s Digital Pencil in autumn colours but with no more than 2 embellishments (not easy, I assure you!)  I have used Danielle and Muffin and she’s coloured with promarkers.  The papers are Stampin Up!

Today is also the first of Mo’s Dream Team Blog Hops.  There will be a blog hop on the third Thursday of every month and this month’s theme is Favourite Image and Favourite Color combination.  The hop will start with the amazing Lori Boyd so hop on over and join in the hop.

A Spoonful of Sugar – Sketch by lil’ ol’ me!!

(Please scroll down for my other DT post for Passion For ProMarkers)

This week A Spoonful of Sugar are being sponsored by none other than Mo’s Digital Pencil and the DT were all allowed to select one of Mo’s gorgeous designs to work with.  This was actually how I got introduced to Mo’s work and so to now be on her DT just a few weeks later is unbelievable!  I picked this image which is called “Skating” and is available from Mo’s store HERE.  She’s coloured with ProMarkers and the ribbon is from Papertrey Ink and the papers are from a Christmas pack by Dovecraft (I think!).Our challenge is to use the sketch below which is one of my little designs – hope you like it!  I actually messed with it myself and changed it from a rectangular card base to a square but don’t tell anyone!!!  Go and check out the rest of the DT’s work and our fabulous guest Judy, you won’t be sorry!

 

Have a great day everyone!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #21 – Sketch by Gina

Our lovely Gina has done a fab sketch for you all this week at Passion For Promarkers.  I thought I’d give mine an autumnal feel so have used this lovely stamp from CC Designs.  The little falling leaves were cut on a sizzlit die that I’ve had for yonks but have never used!  I have used Pumpkin on the pumpkin (naturally) and the pinafore and rose pink on the dress and shoes.  The papers are Stampin Up!  The rest of the DT have done some gorgeous cards this week so pop on over to the blog to check them out.

Our sponsor this week is the secret crafter and one lucky winner will receive 6 promarkers of their choice.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #61 – Buttons and Stitching

At Cupcake Crafts this week our challenge is to include some form or stitching (real or faux) and buttons on your projects.   Our sponsor is The Creative Cottage, they create the most fantastic digital kits that have a selection of funky design papers and elements all of which are suitable for either scrapbooking or cardmaking! Their current kits have the cutest little robins, a fairy and forest friends and the kits are great value as you get to print the papers and elements whenever you need them so you'll never run out of your favourite papers!

The Creative Cottage are offering one lucky winner the chance to win TWO of their digital kits this week.

My card uses a gorgeous digi image from Mo’s Digital Pencil (check out our the new challenge blog here!) and she is coloured with ProMarkers.  The papers are from Stampin Up!

Swine flu!

I LOVE this image from Mo's Digital Pencil - it's just so - NOW!!!!  I have been unfortunate enough to have suffered a bout of swine flu a couple of months back so can appreciate the humour in this!  Poor wee piggy!  He's coloured with ProMarkers and the papers are from Stampin Up!  Hope for the sake of my friends and family I never have to give this away!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Been playing in PhotoShop!

At last, some decent light to take a photo with!!  I’m bored of the grey weather we’ve had lately but today is lovely and bright here.  I have been playing in PhotoShop with some digi images from Mo’s Digital Pencil after being inspired the cards I’ve seen from some of my new teamies over at Mo’s Challenge blog.  If you want to know what I mean, check out Sheila’s blog.

I have used two different digi images – Kai in the Snow and Snowman both available from Mo’s Digital Pencil and combined them in Photoshop.  Sheila helped me out with the twiddly bits but I was amazed how effective it looks and how I’ve never thought about doing it before!!!  I flipped the snowman and reduced Kai a wee bit and then, making sure Kai was the “active” image used the eraser on the bits that were “covering” the snowman IYKWIM?  I then coloured it all with PMs and a bit of glitter and there you go!

Right, off for a quick shower then tidy up the house before the kids get home and trash it again!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Mo’s Digital pencil Challenge 1 – Yippee!

Today is the day!

Mo’s Challenge blog has been launched with a nice easy theme to get everyone going. Bella’s favourite colour is “perple” so that is what we want to see on your card.

I still can’t believe I made it on to the Challenge Blog DT and feel so privileged to be able to work with such stunning artwork as this. Mo has created a stamp of the gorgeous blog header and it will be available very shortly in the store. I have coloured her with ProMarkers and added a bit of sparkle to her little tutu. The papers are from Papertrey Ink and so is the sentiment.

The prize for this week’s lucky winner will get to name one of Mo’s next stamps ! How cool is that?

Make sure you pop on over to the new blog and have a look at the DT’s designs – they’re an amazing bunch of ladies on there and I have discovered so much about digi stamps in the last few days just by looking at their blogs.

Please scroll down as I have three DT posts today and the other 2 are down below!!!

A Spoonful of Sugar #72 - Halloween

There are spooky shenanigans going on over at ASOS this week where our theme is Halloween.  We are being sponsored by our very own Nikki (Bunny Zoe’s Crafts) and our fabulous guest designer (picked by moi – and a wonderful choice it is too if you don’t mind me saying) is Victoria (Blue Jelly Too).  Hop on over to the blog to have a wee look at the amazing DT work this week – it’s spooktacular!

I have used a cute little Tilda kindly given to me by my PFP teamie Sarah.  The papers are Doodlebug and I’ve used my MS scallop punch along the edge.  She’s coloured with Promarkers.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #20 – Card Recipe

At Passion For Promarkers this week there is a card recipe to follow : 3 shapes (not including the card base), 2 patterned papers and 1 ribbon.  You can use any colours you like for this one. This was not as easy as I first thought and managed to get to the end of my first creation before I realised I had used 3 different papers – doh!  My second attempt I think is ok!  The shapes are circle, rectangle and whatever those skew-wiffy shapes are called on the letter stickers!!  Before anyone points it out – I know I have stuck the image on at a funny angle!  Bronte looks like he’s walking downhill, lol.  The papers are all Doodlebug and so are the letter stickers.

The image is a freebie by Mo’s Digital Pencil and is available HERE on her PCP site (you will just need to join to get your hands on it and several others!).  Mo’s Challenge Blog launches at 10am GMT so don’t forget to pop on over to check it out.  You could nab this image as a taster and enter our first challenge with it!! 

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with this week and don’t forget to go and visit the other DT blogs to see their creations.  We have some fabby GDT’s for this month too.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #60 – Thanks a Bunch

We have a lovely, simple challenge for you this week at Cupcake Crafts which is to make a Thank You card.  We are  being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who are giving away a $20 voucher to one lucky winner.  No excuse to take part then!!

I have used a gorgeous image from Pink Petticoat (from In My Garden) – love the simplicity of this – great for a quick card in a hurry) and coloured it with ProMarkers.  The papers are from the DCWV Nana’s Nursery stack and the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  Although you can’t tell, the ribbon is a beautiful metallic one and is really shiny.  Looks velvety in this photo!

Have a great day,

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

OMG - amazing news!

I can't quite believe it but I have been picked for the new Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge Blog Design Team!!! I am pretty new to Mo's designs but have become so entranced by them in the last couple of weeks. When I saw the DT call I couldn't resist the opportunity and now I've made it I'm just about speechless! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us and am so looking forward to getting to work with more of her stunning images - ooh, I'm on top of the world! If you haven't come across Mo's work yet then go and have a look here - have your Paypal password handy though!!!

Right off to make myself a nice celebratory cup of tea and then to bed (if I can get to sleep now that is!!).

Hugs,
Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers #19 – Cool Aqua and Apricot

Well it’s Tuesday again so I have my double DT post for you.  First up is Passion For ProMarkers and this week we have a gorgeous colour combo picked by our guest DT member Sam which is COOL AQUA and APRICOT.  There is also the added extra of making your own flowers.  The image was sent to me by the fab Katy and the papers are from the Rainbow Sherbet set by SU!.  My latest purchase, my MS Double dot scallop punch has also been well and truly broken in this week so you may see it again very soon!!  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.  Our sponsor this week is Craft Obsessions and you could win a gorgeous Martha Stewart Cosmos punch worth £10.50.  Also for this week you can buy the new colours for just £1.50 each!  Pop on over to the blog for some fab ideas from the DT and have a go at the challenge.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Please now scroll down for my A Spoonful of Sugar DT card – it’s Christmas this week  - yay!

A Spoonful of Sugar #71 - Christmas

YES!  I do love Christmas, there’s so much glitter about!  As if you didn’t realise, our challenge at ASOS this week is Easter – gotcha, of course it’s CHRISTMAS!!  I have used a gorgeous image from Mo’s Digital Pencil called  Christmas Fairy Holly – isn’t she gorgeous?  She’s coloured with Promarkers but in real life the red of her dress is much richer than it looks in the photo.  I used Berry and Crimson for the dress and Pear Green and olive for the holly wings.  The papers are from BG (Fruitcake) and did you spot it?  Yes, as promised I have been busy with my new MS punch again.  Pop on over to the blog for some inspiration from the fabulous DT, the cards are stunning this week – as always!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #59 – Cute as a Bug

Cupcake Crafts are lucky enough to be sponsored this week by Bee Crafty who are offering the challenge winner a choice of 3 images or 1 set.  The DT have used some of the gorgeous images available from the shop in our cards  – go and check out the blog for some great ideas.  I am becoming SO hooked on digi images these days.  I love how they can be resized and so on and they’re SO cheap compared to rubber stamps.  Obviously there are some limitations but unless you want to emboss etc, then digi is the way to go!!   I wish all stamp manufacturers offered a digi version of their stamps (like CC Designs do).

Anyway, my card uses the Fluffy Bunny with flowers image coloured with PMs and stickles.  The the papers are SU! and the border is my favourite MS punch.  My “bug” is the butterflies!

Ok, have a great day wherever you are.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

PTW challenge – at last!

I have made this card tonight in a bit of a rush for my baby nephew Ben’s christening tomorrow.  I totally forgot to make one so I went scouring the challenge blogs for a nice easy sketch to give me some inspiration.  I haven’t had a chance to enter any challenges for so long as my DT commitments take up any crafting time I might be able to get!  Anyhoo, I thought I’d check out PTW as it’s one of my favourite challenges and Dawny always has great sketches on there and lo and behold there it was – perfect.  I have used some of the gorgeous PTI papers I bought recently (from the Hodge Podge paper pack) and found this gorgeous digi imge over at Mo’s Digital Pencil.  I am becoming addicted to her images and already have a few cards lined up over the coming weeks featuring some of her amazing artwork.  I have used my beloved ProMarkers to colour the baby, namely Tea Green for the dress ( which is a perfect match for the paper I might add – how cool is that?) and vanilla, ivory and blush for the skin. 

Right, I Sky+ ed X Factor earlier so am off to watch.  TTFN!

A Spoonful of Sugar #70 – Sketch by Nikki

This is the stunning sketch created by the gorgeous and so sweet Nikki for our challenge this week at A Spoonful of Sugar. Thanks for a fab sketch Nikki, it was so easy to work with.

I am keeping up with my pledge to get through as many Christmas cards as I can and couldn’t wait to play with one of my new Sugar Nellie Manga stamps. Doesn’t she look like she was made to swing on a star?! She’s coloured with ProMarkers and although hard to see (as always) has been glittered to within an inch of her life! The star was cut on the Cricut – Plantin Schoolbook cart (3” plus a shadow) and embossed with the Swirls Cuttlebug folder.

Check out the rest of the DT cards – they are truly stunning this week. Our guest DT is the super-talented Mina too – I love her work, she’s fabulous.

Our sponsor is Silly Monkey Crafts so pop along to blog and join in.

I am actually also entering this card over at the Secret Crafter challenge this week which is "One for The Girls" - this is pretty girly I think!!

Have a great day everyone,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #18 – Marine and Emerald (anything but a card)

This colour scheme this week at Passion For ProMarkers is Marine and Emerald and TBH it scared the bejesus out of me when I first saw it!  I had NO idea what I would do with it but when I saw the first couple of samples by the other DT girls I felt a lot happier!!  I think they’re very “oceany” colours so thought I’d use this Mermaid Emma digi image by CC Designs.  Isn’t she fab?  I have used Marine on her top and emerald on her tail (I used the blender pen to bleach out the colour and give the mottled effect).  Her hair is a mixture of Lime Zest (one of the gorgeous new colours), bright green (also new) and emerald.  The added extra for the challenge this week is that you must make anything BUT a card. 

After seeing the fabulous creations my mate Steph makes, I decided to try one of the Lauren Meader Timeless Templates.  I was pretty pleased with the result actually.  The problem is my Olivia snaffled it when she saw it and now I have to make some more for Georgia and Sophie and a manly one for Daniel (he is 10 now so nothing babyish for him!!).  The rest of the DT have made some gorgeous creations so pop on over for a wee look.  It’s also the last week for our first GDT members Sarah and Caroline who have been fabulous team members for the last month.

Oh, and our sposor this week is Yellow Moon who have donated a £10 voucher. 

 

Okie-dokie – must dash.  Have a lovely day whatever you’re up to.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #58 - Distressing

This week’s Cupcake Crafts Challenge is Distressing and yes, I found it distressing making this card!! I just don’t do the shabby look all that well (you may remember the Spoonful of Sugar challenge from a couple of weeks ago – I cheated with that one!!). I have sanded the edges of the card and used Core’dinations Whitewash card for the mount which has also been sanded a little. The paper is the stunning Blueberry Hill by Papermania (I love this paper) and the image is of course the gorgeous Daisy from Sugar Nellie (still my fave). She has been coloured with ProMarkers. If you want to see how distressing should be done then please visit the blog for ideas – the rest of the DT have done a grand job!

As this card features my favourite colour (PINK) AND my current favourite papers (Blueberry Hill by Papermania) I am entering it over at the Stamp Something challenge this week which is looking for your favourite colour/papers!

Righty’o, must dash as I am writing this on Sunday evening and have all the school stuff to get sorted for tomorrow. We’ve not long got back in from a day out in Birkenhead park at the Transport Festival (not as yawnsome as it sounds, honest) and ended up going for a Chinese meal – yum!

Ok, have a good Monday everyone.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers - card and pen giveaway (mini candy).

Well, the blog hop over at Passion For Promarkers has come to an end and the draw for one VERY lucky winner of the new 56 colours has been announced on the main blog. However, each of the DT have a wee mini draw of our own to make to see who will win our card and one of the new pens. Here is my result:

Here are your random numbers:230
Timestamp: 2009-09-17 23:21:37 UTC

This means NORMA in Vancouver is the winner.

Can you please get in touch via email Norma and I'll arrange to have the card and pen sent over the pond to you. If I haven't had a reply by Tuesday (GMT) then I will have to draw another name.

Thank you to everyone who took part and visited our blogs and to all those new followers - I am so touched by your comments, thank you so much.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

And the winner is.......

Picked at precisely 11.52am random.org selected number..................................................................

17

Who is Julie from JuJu Berries. Well done hun. If you get your details to me I will get the candy in the post to you.

Thank you so much to everyone that entered my candy and for all the gorgeous comments. I enjoyed reading every one and because of it have now had to add a fair few things to own Christmas wish list!!!

Hugs,

caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #17 – Polka Dots

Wow, what a response to the blog hop we’ve had over at A Passion For Promarkers so far.  In case you don’t know, there is a FANTASTIC prize of a COMPLETE SET OF THE 56 BRAND NEW COLOURS up for grabs and all you have to do is complete the hop by visiting the 11 design team’s blogs and leaving a comment.  Each one of us has a word which you must “collect” to form a sentence which you then leave in the comment box back at the main Passion For Promarkers blog.  That’s it!  Not much to ask for a chance at such a great prize I don’t think!  You don’t need to own any ProMarkers or make anything – just join in the hop.

Right, on to this week’s challenge which is ANY COLOURS but include POLKA DOTS.  I have a used a great digi image from Willow Designs and the papers are Doodlebug.  Right, I am really behind my schedule now – the washing still isn’t on the line and the breakfast dishes still aren’t in the dishwasher – slap on the wrist for me!  Don’t forget to visit the other DT blogs for some fabulous inspiration and of course join in the hop too.

Hugs,

Caryn.

p.s. I’ll be back in a while to announce the winner of my blog candy.

A Spoonful of Sugar #69 - Autumn

Bit late getting my posts up today – forgot to schedule them last night!!  This is my DT card for the challenge at A Spoonful of Sugar this week which is AUTUMN.  I LOVE this time of year when all the leaves are changing and the light is somehow different.  It really starts me getting ready for Christmas!!!  I have had this paper for years and never used it.  I think I was planning on making a scrapbook page with it at some point.  Anyhoo, I am making a pact with myself that before I buy any more new papers I am going to use up some of the old stuff I’ve got hanging about.  The GG is coloured with ProMarkers – loving these new colours – and the sentimant is from Papertrey InkWe have a great sponsor this week too - pixie cottage and they are offering two gorgeous stamps to one lucky winner

Right, better get on with sorting out the washing.  It’s starting to grey over a little here so want to get it out on the line asap!!

A little [Christmas] blog candy.

THIS CANDY IS NOW CLOSED

PLEASE COME BACK TOMMORROW FOR THE RESULT

Well, unbelievably my blog is exactly 1 year old today!! I have made so many lovely friends in that year and am lucky enough to be on three totally fantastic designs teams. I have learnt so much from my fellow blogging buddies and if you were to look back at my first posts you will see just what I mean!! A year ago I didn't know what ProMarkers were, what HTML meant or had even heard of Sugar Nellie stamps!!!

To celebrate my 1 year blogaversary (and my nearly 200th follower) I have put together a little giveaway. All you have to do to win my somewhat Christmassey-themed candy is this:

1. Spread the word and link my candy on your blog.

2. Tell me what one item is at the top of your Christmas list this year.

3. Help me make it to 200 and become a follower of my blog (not essential but utterly appreciated if you do!). Anyone who follows will be entered twice so make sure you tell me if you are already a follower.

This is open to everyone and I will post worldwide. I will randomly draw a winner on 14th September and entries will close at 8pm.

Good luck and thanks for dropping by.

Hugs,
Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #57 – Pearls and Swirls

The theme over at Cupcake Crafts this week is ‘Pearls and Swirls’. I have managed to overcome my fears and not only open my new Papertrey Ink papers but actually cut into them too! I’m certain I heard the barely-audible-to-the-human-ear sound of a million tiny high pitched voices screaming in pain as I did it, but cut I did!! These papers are called Pink Patterns and are just completely GORGEOUS, as are all the papers I’ve seen from PTI. I have paper-pieced the polka dot paper for her dress and hat and coloured the rest of her with ProMarkers. The swirl is cut from the Home Accents Cricut cart ( cut a sheet of them so be prepared to see it again!!). The sentiment is also Papertrey Ink. I'm actually entering this over at the Passion For Papertrey challenge this week as they're asking for a card in your favourite colour. As I'm totally in love with this paper and pink has always been my fave, I think this qualifies!!

Have a peek at the gorgeous DT cards over on the blog too – as always they are stunning.

Right, off to drag out the ironing board (will it EVER end??)

Hugs,
Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers Blog Hop

“THANKS”

Welcome to the Passion For ProMarkers blog hop!
If you have just come from the Passion For ProMarkers blog then you are in the right place!

We are celebrating the launch of the 56 gorgeous new ProMarker colours and have a whole set up for grabs as a prize. How brilliant is that? Letraset have been SOOOO generous to us by donating this prize (and many others for our regular challenges too) and we are all incredibly grateful to them.

What do you need to do for a chance to win?

Visit each of the 11 design teams blogs and leave a comment on their post. Once you have left your comment here then you need to hop on over to Debbi's blog and then follow her directions from there. To make things a little more interesting, each of us has a word for you to pick up along the way. Mine is “THANKS”.

If you are not sure you are visiting the design team blogs in the right order you can go back to the PFP blog and start from the beginning!

The team have all been playing with the new colours and have made a card. We will each be drawing a name from the hat at the end of the blog hop and one person will win the card PLUS 1 of the new ProMarker colours!!!

My image has been coloured using a few of my favourite colours from the new set: Antique Pink and Burnt orange for the top; Pear green and Moss (not new) on the trousers; caramel, walnut and tan for the hair.

Enjoy the hop and see you back at the main blog at the end where a lucky winner will be picked at random for that unbelievable prize.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Happy Birthday Daniel

Yes, 10 years ago today I was in sheer bliss holding my first of many perfect little babies! Oh, how he's grown. I was awoken (somewhat earlier than usual) with him whispering "Do you know it's my birthday now?" We had his favourite fajitas for tea with Granny Franny and Grandad Steve and a gorgeous chocolate fudge cake for pudding. He's having a sleepover party next weekend (he wanted to wait till he had his Guitar Hero before the boys came over) and so for my sins I will be entertaining 6 extra 9 year old boys for the evening - what have I done??? To be fair, I had them for his birthday last year and they were so good so I'm not too worried.....

Strangely enough, my fellow Promarker teamie Debbi's son Scott also turned 10 today - bizarre or what? Happy birthday Scott.

On another subject but equally as exciting, after weeks of anticipation me and the rest of the fabulous Passion For Promarker girlies recieved in the post today, wait for it, ALL 56 OF THE NEW PROMARKER COLOURS!!!!!! I don't think there have been so many posties being stalked in unison before! Gina, managed to negotiate a special deal with the wonderfully generous people at Letraset (hugs to you Simon, you gorgeous man) and allowed us DT member to get them a wee bit ahead of the official launch so we can have a play and showcase them on the blog. The colours are just beautiful by the way and I am so itching to have a good old play with them.

Although I can't say TOO much, I can tell you that to celebrate this wonderful event, we are hosting a prize blog hop over at Passion For Promarkers on Sunday. There will be an AWESOME prize up for grabs that NO-ONE will want to miss out on. Make sure you skip on over for a visit and join in the hop.

A Spoonful of Sugar #68 – Sketch by Michelle.

There is a beautiful sketch by Michelle over at A Spoonful of Sugar this week and I had a great time making my card for it (once I gave up trying to fit an arrow into it!!!).  When I saw a few of the other DT’s interpretations I realised it didn’t HAVE to be an arrow!!  I’m trying to get ahead of myself with Christmas cards so expect to see a fair few of them popping up over the next few weeks!  I have dusted off one of my much loved but now rarely used stamps for my card and teamed it with my favourite Doodlebug papers.  The buttons are also DB.  The image is very simply coloured with PMs.

Have a look on the challenge blog at all the other cards for some fabulous inspiration.  I am so lucky to be in three amazing design teams with some utterly uber-talented peeps and am never disappointed when I visit their blogs.  They’re all BRILLIANT!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers # 16 – Sandstone and Blue Pearl.

We lucky girls over at Passion For Promarkers were given an image of our choice this week from the gorgeous Sally-Ann at the Digi Stamp Boutique.  So after an hour of trying to pick just one out of the fabulous images she has on offer (great value by the way and SOOO easy to colour with your PMs) I chose this sweet little girl – Winter Sophie.  Of course I was drawn to her because of my own little Sophie but I literally could have had any of them.

The challenge is a colour theme this week – Sandstone and Blue Pearl, a lovely combination picked by our fabulous GDT, Caroline and one which made me think of winter – hence Winter Sophie (do you see what I did there?? lol ).  I’ve kept my card quite simple and the ribbon under the image does actually say “Happy Holidays” but the camera didn’t quite pick it up.

Ok, better dash. Our techie guy is coming to sort out the broadband for us in the newly reorganised and relocated office so if you never hear from me again you’ll know it didn’t go well!!

Au revoir.

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #56 – Red, white and blue.

Firstly, apologies for the slightly blurry photo – my camera skills go down drastically when there’s rubbish light and gale force winds getting in the way!!  You get the idea though!!

This week at Cupcake Crafts as you can see, we have a very patriotic theme of red, white and blue.  I didn’t know what to do to begin with but then found this fabulous digi download over at Summertime Designs.  I can’t recommend enough visiting Summer Driggs’ blog – she is so inspirational and has a lot of kits (aimed at scrapbookers but with lots of gorgeous papers etc) all for free!!  This paper is from the “Freedom” kit and I have teamed it with a fabulous WOJ stamp.  She is, of course coloured with Promarkers.

Well, as I’m preparing this post at precisely 1.30 am I suppose I better keep it short and get to bed!!  It is a school night after all!!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

More wall names – at last!

I have finally gotten around to doing the wall name for Pippa’s room.  I made them for Sophie and Georgia EONS ago and just have Olivia and (a reluctant) Daniel still to do!!  Here is a close up at a couple of the letters.  I have used 8” chipboard letters by Making Memories which I believe are now discontinued!!  Good job I bought all I needed when I did!!  I have traced around the letter onto my favourite paper du jour , Blueberry Hill by Papermania – I adore Cath Kidston which this paper is so reminiscent of.  On each letter I have embellished with a little something – a ribbon, butterflies, flowers etc.  They look really effective on the wall when they’re done and really don’t take much time at all.

Well, I am doing a nice Sunday roast for what feels the first time in a century!!  Over the summer holidays we were so out of our routine and I feel like I need to get back to some good wholesome cooking!!!  Don’t worry, it won’t last!!

Have a great day – and thanks to all those who have left comments on my candy post and become followers.  I am enjoying reading what’s on all your Christmas lists!!  It’s making me really excited and christmassey-feeling!!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Blog Award :0)

This gorgeous award has been kindly passed on to me and my fellow ProMarker girlies from our gorgeous and talented Sarah.  Isn’t this a great award – I love the name of it.  It has a condition – name 5 things you might not know about me, so here goes….

1.  I am compulsive about buying things in multiples of two!

2. I got stung by wasp on Thursday and it REALLY HURT!

3. I want to swim with Great White Sharks.

4. My eldest daughter is named after Olivia Newton-John.

5. I have 2 cats called Ollie and Scratchy.

I’m so boring aren’t I?  I listed anything vaguely interesting about myself for another blog award a few months back so was really struggling to come up with anything at all!! lol

I am passing this on to these gorgeous peeps as they make me smile whenever I read their comments or visit their blogs:

Steph , Victoria, Tracy and Aimes.

Big hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For ProMarkers #15 – Glittery and Girly

Our format over at Passion for Promarkers is changing slightly this week and will be different from now on.  Firstly we are lucky enough to be joined by our first Guest Design Team members who will be with us for the next 4 weeks.  They are the fabulously talented and ever so sweet Sarah B and Caroline.  They’re work has really impressed all of the DT every week and so we are delighted they have agreed to be with us for this time.  Secondly there is a change to the challenge format.  Instead of the DT picking colour themes every week it will alternate between a theme picked by a DT member followed by colours picked by a GDT member.  Make sense?  Good!

This week the theme has been picked by Moi and it is “Glittery and Girly”.  I love glittery, sparkly things and I love girly things so there it is.  You can use any colours you fancy on this one so ANYONE can enter as long as they use ProMarkers.  Yay!

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Secret Crafter and they’re offering 6 promarkers to one lucky winner. Back to the ironing for now :0(

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar #67 - Distressing

Now I don’t really “do” distressing so whenever I see a challenge coming up on that theme I do sort of shudder!  At A Spoonful of Sugar this week we’re looking for distressed effects on your cards so I have completely cheated and used a paper with a distressed effect already printed on it!  It’s from a HUGE K & Co pad I recently got from QVC which I have to say I am chuffed with.  It’s got some gorgeous papers in it and only a few that are “not me”.   I have paper pieced the clothes and umbrella with coordinating papers from the pad and used my retro daisy punches from Craft U Love for the flowers.  Please pop over to the blog and have a look at how distressing is meant to be done as the other DT members are all much better than me!

Well, it’s the final 24 hours before school starts again (hallelujah)  and as usual everything has been left to the last minute.  I still have uniforms to iron (with name tags to attach), PE kits to sort, lunch box contents to buy, children to bathe, socks to pair…..  Don’t get me wrong, I love having them around and have really enjoyed these holidays but I have SO much to do and the house needs to get back to normality.  They NEED school!!  I NEED school!!

Off to find the iron!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #55 – Recipe

Monday means Cupcake time and this week we have a recipe for you to follow – 3 buttons, 2 papers, 1 ribbon.  I really enjoyed making this card actually and am quite pleased with how it turned out.  I guess when you’ve got good ingredients it sometimes just comes together without much effort.  The papers are the lush Washington Apple from Stampin Up! and the cute stamp is a Ketto by Stamping Bella coloured with PMs and stickles.

This week we have a great prize up for grabs from Quixotic Paperie which is a £10 voucher to spend online.  They have some really beautiful and individual items in their store (LOVE the cherry charms)

Well hope everyone is managing to enjoy an unsurprisingly damp bank holiday!  We’re hoping to nip over to the Matthew Street festival in Liverpool later but if it doesn’t dry up a bit it might be the Blue Planet aquarium again instead – it’s inside!!!

Have a happy day one and all.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Papertrey – Clean and Simple

I only have a small selection of Papertrey Ink stuff at the moment but this paper (Raspberry Fizz) is one of my favourites.  The challenge at the moment over on Passion For Papertrey is “Clean and Simple” – not something I’m particularly good at but made easier by my limited supplies!!  Maybe by their next challenge I’ll have some gorgeous new PTI goodies to play with (I indulged myself with a little order through the gorgeous Steph – the PTI Queen!).

Ok, off to Blakemere today so better get the kids dressed I suppose!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar #66 – Sketch by Sonja

Our challenge this week at A Spoonful of Sugar is a gorgeous sketch by Sonja.  I was a bit scared of it to begin with but once I got my gorgeous Blueberry Hill papers out I knew what I wanted to do!  The beautiful Whiff of Joy stamp is just a dream to colour, I just love it.

Have a look at the other DT cards over on the blog for some amazing inspiration. 

Have a great day.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers week 14 – Lilac, Lavender, Amethyst and Aubergine!

This is one of my favourite images EVER! It is a Greeting Farm digi image and I just loves him! My daughter Olivia is unicorn mad and this little chap always makes me think of her. Our challenge this week over at Passion for Promarkers is to use a minimum of 2 of the following colours – Lilac, Lavender, Amethyst and Aubergine – unicorns suit purple don’t they? The pp is from the Nana’s Nursery stack by DCWV and the leaves are cut on the Cricut (Storybook font).

We have a great prize this week from Letraset of a pack of 5 ProMarkers.Colours may vary from that shown.

Well I have been up to my eyes in it as usual – I have had to empty two of the bedrooms completely for new carpets to be fitted today. At least once they’re down that will be the last of the big upheaval and I can start getting everything back in it’s rightful home! I can’t even remember where the children are all sleeping at the moment – they’re all in the house somewhere – I know that much lol!

Cupcake Crafts #54 – Shaped card

Firstly thank you all so much for your participation in our blog hop last week – it was great fun seeing all your sweet creations.  So without further ado, I can announce that the winner of my Blog Hop candy (picked by Random Org) is…….

 

JENNY

Congratulations hunny, can you please get in contact via email and send me your addy and I’ll pop the Penny Black stamps in the post to you toot sweet!

Now onto this week’s challenge which is a “shaped card”.

In other words – ANYTHING BUT A SQUARE!!  So I have dusted off my old Sizzix dies and gone for a hanging heart “card”.  The papers are from the Sweet Stack by DCWV (yummy) and the sentiment and oval punches are Stampin Up!  Hope to see lots of variation this week and some ideas for different shapes – I’m usually a very safe and square kinda girl myself so am looking forward to this!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers #13 – Pumpkin and Prussian (+ a Halloween theme)

This is the challenge this week over at Passion For Promarkers – Pumpkin and Prussian with a Halloween theme thrown in!  Sarah kindly sent me this image AGES ago because I unfortunately don’t own a single Halloween stamp!

Go and take a look at the other DT cards for some inspiration – everyone has done a fabulous job this week, as always.  Our sponsor this week is Hotshot crafts and this week's prize is a £10 gift voucher  

Cupcake Crafts 1st Birthday BLOG HOP!!!

Welcome to the (new look) Cupcake Craft Challenge 1st Birthday blog hop!
If you have just come from the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog then you are in the right place! I am Caryn and all you need to do is leave me a comment to be eligible to win my blog candy…then you need to hop on over to Denise’s blog and leave a comment there! Denise will then tell you which blog you need to visit next!
If you are not sure you are visiting the design team blogs in the right order you can go back to here and start from the beginning! There are 14 design team blogs in the blog hop and each one has some gorgeous candy to be won!
Don’t forget to enter this week’s Cupcake Craft Challenge to be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes that our sponsors have provided to help us celebrate our 1st birthday!

Good Luck with your entries you have until 8pm Saturday 22nd August to enter and the winners will be announced on the Cupcake blog on Monday 24th August

Up for grabs on my stop on the hop is this fabulous set of stamps by Penny Black called “Bubbly”.  To be eligible to enter into the draw for this candy (and all of the other candies on the other DT’s blogs) then just leave me a comment.  Please take part in the hop in full (ie, leave a comment at each of the Design Team’s blogs) if you want to go into the draws. Good luck and enjoy the hop.

Now, onto the challenge for this very special week.  We want to see “Something Sweet” on your cards – with the optional extra of a cupcake on your project.  Well, we are Cupcake mad over here!! I have used my favourite SU! Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and paper pieced the image using a mixture of SU! papers (Sweet Always) and PaperMania (Blueberry Hill).  I have added a little glitter and gems too– why not?  The sentiment is also an SU! stamp (Oval All).

A Spoonful of Sugar #64 – Sketch by Camilla

There is a gorgeous sketch over on A Spoonful of Sugar for you to follow this week which has been created by our lovely Camilla.  There are some fabulous DT samples too so pop on over for a look.  Our sponsor this week is Silly Monkey Crafts and you could be in win the chance of winning a fabby stamp set. 

I have used a sweet Leanne Ellis stamp and she’s coloured with PMs.  The papers are SU! and so is the sentiment.

Must dash – my life’s not my own at the moment!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers #12 – Cocoa and Rose Pink

We have a gorgeous colour combo this week at Passion For Promarkers – Cocoa and Rose Pink which was picked by Natalie.  I love these colours together.  We have a great sponsor this week too so pop on over and join in if you can.  The DT’s samples are amazing too so hope to see you there.

Our sponsor this week is Yellow Moon and Debs has a special request to make to all you lovely crafters out there.  This is what she has put on her blog: “This is a great place to buy crafty stuff for kids - ideal to keep them occupied during the duller or wetter days. I've bought loads form here, they also have a terrific selection of craft blanks e.g. wee gift boxes, pencil boxes bags etc. And I'm going to be really cheeky here and ask you all a favour - if any of you place an order at Yellow Moon, when you checkout there is a page that will ask you for a source code so that the commission on your order goes to a charity or group. As many of you know I'm the secretary/treasurer and co-founder of Extra Special Parents which is a support charity for parents and carers of children with special needs. Our source code is SSH10729 and I would really appreciate it if you could use that so that ESP receives the commission.”

Debbi Robertson

Secretary/Treasurer

www.extra-special-parents.org

www.espkids.org

Charity No. SC040185

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #52 – Tammy’s sketch and colour scheme.

Over at Cupcake Crafts Challenges this week Tammy has created a gorgeous sketch for us to follow but we must also use the colour scheme on the sketch too.  I love brown with blue so I didn’t find this too tricky. 

For my card I have used a gorgeous Sarah Kay stamp and coloured it with my ProMarkers.  The papers are from Stampin Up! – can’t live without these now!

The DT have produced some fabulous cards so be sure to pop on over for a peek.  We are also very excited about our 1st birthday celebrations next week and hope we can get as many of you as possible to join us – there’s LOADS of prizes up for grabs on the main challenge blog and among some of the DT too – DON’T MISS IT!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

An amazing blog candy on offer!

Steph who has a great blog called "Where'd All My Money Go?" has an amazing candy offer on until 28th August. She is offering a voucher worth $150 to spend at a store of your choice!!! How cool is that? Not to mention generous to a fault! I know exactly where I'd be going with it!! Pop on over for a chance to win.

Hugs,
Caryn xxx

Some gorgeous awards

The lovely and very talented Vicki (from not too far from me here on Merseyside) has been very generous and awarded me with not one, not two but three fabulous awards!  Thank you so much for all of them Vicki, you are so sweet and I appreciate all your lovely comments and support (((((hugs))))).  I am passing them all on to the following wonderful bloggers who are super talented and truly inspirational to me:

1. Julie (Julie’s Ink Spot)
2. Katy (Katy’s Blogeroo)
3. Debby (A Scrap Journey)

 

I have also been lucky enough to get this fabulous award from my fellow Promarker teamie Debbi (Wee Wicca Babe).  Thank you so much for this one too Debs, we have made a very special bond in our team and I am so proud to be  a part of it.

This one comes with some rules so this is what you have to do:

1. Make reference to award and publish it on your blog
2. Share 5 things you like to do
3. And share with 10 blogs
4. Inform each blog

The 5 things i like to do are :

1. Blog hopping
2. Making crafty things (obviously!!)
3. Watching home-makeover shows (sad I know)
4. Spending time with my 5 little angels (!!)
5. Eating out (coz I’m lazy)

I am going to pass this award on to all my Cupcake Crafts Challenge teamies – they are such a wonderful and talented group of girls and I love being friends with each and every one!  I know you are only supposed to pass it on to 10 and there are actually 14 of them – but who’s counting??

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers #11 – Any colours with sketch

This week (wow – week 11 already!!) our theme has been picked by Michelle. She has created a gorgeous sketch (see above) and she is letting us use ANY COLOURS!!

I have substituted stars for the flowers but have kept exactly to the sketch otherwise. The papers are Stampin Up! as is the sentiment. I cut the stars on the Cricut (once I blew the dust off it!! – poor thing!).

ProMarkers used:

Apple, Cool Aqua, Pumpkin, Raw Sienna, Vanilla, Dusky Pink and Cool Grey2.

The prize this week has been generously donated by The Secret Crafter – 6 Promarkers of your choice – fab or wot?!

Am hopefully enjoying some lovely sunshine at the moment up in the Lake District as you read this – am scheduling this on Sunday night (no, I haven’t packed so much as a bean!) . However, from past experience it is more than likely raining! (I guess it not called the Lakes for nothing!).

A Spoonful of Sugar #63 – Floral Fantasy

This week over at ASOS the challenge title is Floral Fantasy so as I’m sure EVERYONE has something flowery in their stash – punches, dies, Primas, silk flowers, papers etc, then there should be no shortage of players.  The DT have come up trumps too so there’s plenty of inspiration over on the blog.

My card is a little different to what I’ve been making lately in that it doesn’t have a stamped image on it.  I have used my new fabulous Retro Flower punches from Crafts U Love and my favourite Raspberry Fizz papers from Papertrey Ink (from my bud Steph of course) – I’ve made these go a long way but may just have to get some more now!  I’ve also used my other latest acquisition – my Oval All stamps and punches from Stampin Up.

I have actually sent this card to Steph to say thank you for the gorgeous gift (see Friday’s post) she sent me last week – I hope she gets the card before she sees this mind you!!!  lol.

Byeee!

Cupcake Crafts # 51 - Beach

Our theme over at Cupcake Crafts this week has been picked by Sandy and she wants to see something “beachy”!  There’s a real summery feel to all of the DT cards this week so pop on over for a look.  We have a fabulous prize on offer too this week from the Little Yellow Company of a free digi download.

I have used a sweet C.C Designs digi which I got from All That Scraps.  She’s coloured with ProMarkers and then stickled.  The papers are Stampin Up.

Well, as you read this I am hopefully on my up the the Lakes for a few days.  Knowing us we are still at home running round like eejits still packing!  We will get there eventually though.

I have my other DT cards scheduled for tomorrow but other than that I’ll probably be a bit quiet for this week (phew!).

Be good!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

LOOK how lucky I am!!

The post has just arrived with this gorgeous little box from a very special lady and look what was inside!! Steph (Stamping and Sharing) is one of the kindest people ever to grace this earth and she has sent these special little gifts to 5 of her blogging friends - and lucky, lucky me - I'm one of them!!!! I am so touched and the card, box, little tags - everyting, is just exquisite. Thank you Steph, I am soooooo chuffed to be your pal!

Big hugs,

Caryn xxx

Oink!

Yes, I have it! The dreaded swine flu!! After thinking I was over the worst of it yesterday I suddenly felt SOOOOO tired and lethargic. It was such a wierd feeling. My head was throbbing and I was sweating like a, erm, pig!! I do feel a bit better today again so hopefully am over the worst of it. I was perked up by a visit from the postie with two parcels - some retro flower punches (Debbie from A Scrap Journey made me do it - what she does with those punches is amazing) and my Oval All stamps and punches from Stampin Up! - wanted these for ages so thought I'd treat myself!
Ok, am off to put my feet up - couldn't resist a wee trip round blogland but I don't think looking at the computer screen for too long is advised!

Will catch up with everyone I haven't had a chance to visit later.

Hugs,
Caryn xxx

PFP Week 10 – Cool Aqua and Pastel Pink

This week’s colours (Cool Aqua and Pastel Pink) at PFP are my favourites so far ( I think I say that nearly every week!) and were chosen by Maria. They just look so good together and can be used for so many occasions – just check out the DT’s if you don’t believe me! I am carrying on with my aim to get through as many Christmas cards as possible and so decided to go with this gorgeous Anya. The papers are Ki Memories and I’ve had them for YONKS! There is a wee bit of stickles on there too – well it wouldn’t be Christmas otherwise would it?

Forgot to add to my post yesterday that there is a gorgeous sketch to follow too - what a doofus!!

I hope you can get a chance to pop over to the blog and have a go at the challenge this week. We have a fab prize from Daisy May Designs of a choice of 5 downloads! Cool or what?

Right, hope you’re all well wherever you are. I am feeling a bit better today and my head doesn’t feel as if it’s going to explode any more.

Catcya’ll later.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

ASOS #62 Sketch by ME!!

 

It is my turn to set the challenge over at ASOS this week and so here it is,  a simple sketch.  I designed it months ago and bizarrely it is quite similar to the sketch for this week’s PFP challenge by Maria (but hers is way prettier!).  I think there’ll be a good opportunity to combine these challenges this week actually as the layout is so similar.  See my other post for today to compare the two sketches. 

Anyhoo, here is my card.  I have used my favourite of the Leanne Ellis images and coloured her with PMs and then glittered the moon.  The papers are Daisy Bucket – LOVE these so much and the greeting is Craftwork Cards – what did I do before I discovered these fab little things?

Okie-dokey, must dash – promised the kids I take them somewhere today as I virtually never left the sofa yesterday.  I still feel yuk but kids couldn’t care less could they?  Your leg could be hanging off by a thread and they still want you to take them swimming!

Have a good day everyone.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Oh no – I WANT ONE!!!!!!

This is my absolutely GORGEOUS new nephew Thomas.  I haven’t seen him yet (didn’t think I should go near with this stinking cold) but hubby went this afternoon and took some piccies for me.  Can’t you just smell him from here?  I’m a bit scared of the effect he might have on me when I do see him though – I have a habit of getting broody around newborns – I want to eat them up!! 

Off to write myself a list of the reasons why six children would not work for me!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #50 Pink, Brown, Green + animals and flowers!!!

Ooh I’m a bit late with this today – am absolutely full of the cold and have been fit for nothing!!

Am in between paracetemols at the moment so have about half an hour before I start to feel pants again!! 

This is my card for this weeks Cupcake challenge which was picked by Stephanie.  The image is by Pink Petticoat and it’s coloured with PMs.  Right, sorry for the short and sweet but I need to lie down!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Thomas George
Born at 6.43 pm
7ib 13oz

Mum and baby are fine.

Ooh, I just want a cuddle now!

hugs,
Caryn xxx

He’s coming!!

My gorgeous SiL Nikki has gone in to labour!!  This is baby number 4 and is a boy after having 3 girls!!  I have had this card ready for the past week as I knew she was going to have it early (she’s not due till 8th August).  She just looked fit to burst!!

I will hopefully be back with the good news later.  EEEEE I’m excited!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Ida’s Sketch on PFP FP on FB.

Ok, if you’re wondering what on earth I’m talking about, it’s the Passion For ProMarkers sketch challenge over on our new fan page on FaceBook.  I showed you the gorgeous sketch by Ida t’other day (scroll down a bit – it’s fab) and this is my DT card for said sketch.  The image was in the bundle sent to me by the fabulous Katy (with the blogeroo!) and she is coloured with ProMarkers (Rose pink and blossom mainly).  The papers are Stampin Up, and the little leafy bits were cut on the Cricut (Storybook font).  There is still time to get a card done for the challenge and there is a great prize up for grabs too. 

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar #61 - Swirls

This week at ASOS we want to see Swirls on your cards.  There are all kinds of ways to achieve this as you will see from the fabulous DT cards over on the blog.  We also have a rather fabulous prize donated by Squiggle Stamps, a brand new craft company.  Check out their website – well worth a visit.

I have used the fabulous WOJ “Willow with baby” stamp this week and coloured her with Copics ….ONLY KIDDING, just seeing if you’re awake, of course I used my beloved ProMarkers!!  The papers are from DCWV Nana’s Nursery (Baby Boy) – loving these stacks -  and I picked the little roses up at The Range.  The swirls are American Crafts rub-ons.

Hope you’re all having a lovley day – it’s wet and miserable here but at least it means I’m forced to get on with the dreaded HW instead of going to the beach!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers - #9 – Lime and Rose Pink

WOWeeWOW – this week over at Passion For Promarkers we are lucky enough to be sponsored by one of the most amazing shops EVER!  It is a Norwegian-based company called Papirloftet and their website is a dream to explore – it’s beautiful.  Take a look at the prize and tell me you don’t NEED IT RIGHT NOW!!!

The DT were each sent a box of their goodies to play with and you should see what gorgeous creations the girls have come up with! 

The Colours, Lime and Rose Pink have been chosen by our Ida – a stunning combination.

 

I have used this gorgeous WOJ stamp, Shy Willow and and the papers are from the stunning DCWV Nana’s Nursery stack (baby girl).  The sentiment is from  Craftwork Cards and has also been coloured with the Blossom ProMarker.  The little leafy bit has been cut on the Cricut.

Ok, off to make sure the house isn’t being destroyed small humans.  How long till they go back to school????

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts # 49 - Christmas

The theme at Cupcake this week has been picked by our gorgeous Pops and is Christmas – my most favourite card-making occasion.  I was delighted with her choice and it has spurred me into getting organised.  I’ve sorted all my Christmassey bits n pieces out ready to make a bundle of cards over the next couple of weeks.  I just got this lovely stamp from Funky Kits the other day and love it.  I’ve coloured her with ProMarkers and she’s glittered a bit here and there.

Am scheduling this at 1.30 am – must get myself to bed!!

Caryn xxx