Cupcake Crafts #68 – red and green

Our challenge at Cupcake Crafts this week is to use red and green – easy peasy!!  I’m sure there’ll be lots of lovely Christmas cards popping up over blogland with this challenge.

We are pleased to welcome back The Creative Cottage as our sponsor this week and if you have not visited their blog yet you don't know what you are missing!

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 even Cupcakes to tempt you! They have recently launched paper packs without the extra elements so you can just purchase the design papers on their own. Their 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!

Had a fabulous weekend visiting my buddy Steph along with my two other new buddies Kate and Aimes.  We were all down in Essex for Steph’s fantastic PTI Make and Take – Click to see some photos - Make and Take Weekend.  There were about 30 of all together and it was just such a brilliant day.  I travelled back last night and am exhausted but I just have to say to all the girls who I met – it was so nice to meet up with you all and thank you for making it such a huge success for Steph.  The amount of time, effort and precious PTI stash that went into it all was incredible.  I really hope to see you all again sometime.  Oh, and I was tickled pink to have won the raffle draw too – how lucky am I???

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Mo’s Digital Challenge #8 – Create a Christmas Scene

This is my last “Hostess” challenge over at Mo’s Digital Challenge blog and this week we’d like to see you use more than one image to create a Christmas scene.  I have combined 4 images using Photoshop – very easy when you know how, honestly.  I have used Noelle With Gifts, Christmas Tree, Door with wreath and if you look closely the cute little Winter Delivery squirrel.

I have coloured the image with ProMarkers and then sprinkled flower soft for the snowy bits.

Okay, hope to see you over at the blog this week and to all those reading from the States – Happy Thanksgiving.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion For Promarkers #27 - Vintage

I have to admit a shiver went down my spine when I saw this challenge this week at PFP!  I don’t “do” vintage so was way out of my comfort zone.  I liked Natalie’s use of this stamp on her card so as I had it in my collection thought I copy and use it too!!  I actually like how it turned out so may actually make a few more like this.  Speaking of our Natalie, sadly she has had to step down from the DT which is a real shame.  We’ll miss you lots sweetie.

Our sponsor this week is Yellow Moon and one lucky winner will receive a £10.00 voucher to spend in their online store. Please have a look over on the blog and check out the other cards done by the DT – they’re gorgeous as ever.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge #79 – Brown with pink or blue

Sorry for this late post today – for some unknown reason neither of my scheduled posts worked so am doing it manually!!

Our challenge this week at ASOS is to use brown as your main colour and then team it with pink.  I had a bit of a mojo meltdown this week and am not that happy with my card but I guess this happens sometimes.  The rest of the DT have made some totally AWESOME cards so please do check out the blog.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is the Lovely Denise from Whimsy stamps One lucky player this week will win one of the New Crissy armstrong stamps that were released at the beginning of the month,this ones called Jolly Puppy Kisses
if that wasn't enough Denise would also like to offer all of our readers a 10% off coupon to be used during the this weeks challenge. So, it will be good from the 24th until the 30th november if you would like to take advantage of this offer click on the whimsy banner to take you directly to the store and this is the code you will need to use when ordering
ASFOS10.

Please check back later for my Passion For Promarkers DT card.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts #67 – Gift Card

This has to be a “post and run” job for me as I’m now propping my eyelids open with matchsticks and NEED to go to bed!! 

This is my card for this weeks challenge at Cupcake Crafts – make a gift card.  I had no idea to begin with this but in the end went for an easel card and just adapted it to hold a gift card!!  The images are two of Mo’s digi stamps combined and the papers are from the Wonderful Winter collection from Cosmo Cricket.  Right – sorry this is short and sweet but have to get this scheduled as I know I won’t get time tomorrow!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Anyone for cake?

Before I say anything I have to thank 2 amazingly talented crafters for sharing their ideas and providing so much inspiration for me and allowed me to make these.  Firstly, STEPH who shared her “cake” project with us a few months ago HERE.  I fell in love with this idea and thought it would be a great thing to sell at our school Christmas Fair so made these Christmassey versions.  Secondly I need to thank DAWN for the poinsettia tutorial she showed us on the Whiff of Joy blog a couple of weeks ago HERE.  When I saw them I knew they were EXACTLY what I wanted for the top of my cake boxes.  I have actually made 6 all together so when I get a chance to photograph the other three I will put them up here.  The snowflake one in the middle uses a sizzlit die set.  

I thought they would be great for a table centre or just to give little gifts in.  I have used my SU oval punches to make the little labels on the back (and to cover up the join of the punched strip (made with my various MS punches).  I also want to thank my chums Rajinder, Fiona, Nikki and Pauline who came round on Tuesday evening and despite it being a school night, worked their little crafty hands to the bone to get these babies assembled.  Couldn’t have done it without you girlies!!

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Mo’s Digital Challenge #7 - Recipe

For my third challenge as hostess over at Mo’s Digital Challenge I have created a recipe to follow:

3 different papers

2 ribbons

1 decorative edge.

I have chosen some LUSH papers from the My Mind’s Eye Wonderful Winter collection (almost shed a tear cutting into them!) and teamed them with some ribbons I had from a QVC buy.  The decorative edge is my Martha zig zag punch.  I have used a gorgeous image from Mo – the colours are more vibrant IRL – the problem with trying to take a decent photo at night!  They’re coloured with PMs and the fluff on their coats, if you can see it is white flower soft – my new best friend!!

It’s also time for the monthly Blog Hop over at Mo’s blog too.  This time you need to start with Mel the girls on the other team have surpassed themselves yet again, the work is amazing.

Hope you can pop over to the blog to see this week’s DT card, they’re GORGEOUS as always.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Passion for Promarkers # – Burnt Umber and Marsh Green

DOUBLE DT DAY – PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MY SPOONFUL OF SUGAR POST.

Our challenge this week at Passion For Promarkers is to use the colours Burnt Umber and Marsh Green.  I have to admit I was a little perturbed at first but once I found the paper (from the Earth Love Mini Deck by Cosmo Cricket available at Bunny Zoe’s Crafts) I was much happier.  I adore this stamp by Whiff of Joy – Elisabeth Bell draws hair so beautifully. 

Our sponsor this week is Letraset and they are offering the winner a pack of 5 ProMarkers – yay!

Hope to see you over at the blog – the DT creations this week (as always) are fantastic.  We also have the talented Barbara as our GDT so be sure to check it all out.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

A Spoonful of Sugar #78 – Baby’s First Christmas

We’re asking to see cards and projects for a baby or pre-schooler’s Christmas this week over at ASOS.  This was a handy challenge for me as it got me round to making a couple of wee cards for my new nephews both born in the last few months.  I love the latest release from Pink Petticoat – aren’t these the cutest little penguins?  I added the text to the image in Photoshop and then coloured the image very simply and quickly with PMs.  I have also been playing with my latest MS icicle border punch and white flower soft.  Been seeing this a lot on cards so had to get some – it’s a nice alternative to stickles or puffy stuff which is what I would usually use.

 

Our sponsor this week is our fabulous Nikki and she is offering a new Flapper Anya Greeting Farm stamp to the lucky winner.

Hope to see you over at the blog.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Cupcake Crafts # – Digital Images

Cupcake Crafts are very lucky this week to be sponsored by Sketching Stamper for our digital images challenge.  As you may know I do love me digis!  The DT were all asked to choose an image to work with and I decided to go with this gorgeous “Partridge in a Pear Tree” design.  It was so easy to colour and I think I’ll be making a few more cards with this for Christmas.  Hope you can pop along to the blog and join in the challenge too.  The prize is to choose 6 digital images and there are so many gorgeous ones to choose from.  Check out the other DT blogs too, they’ve made some amazing creations for you this week.

Hugs,

Caryn xxx

Forgot to share this!

I meant to post this little picture at Halloween but in the hurry to get packed and sorted for our holidat to Centerparcs I never got round to it!  We had a glorious day here so had a wee photo sesh in the garden - the kids all wanted to wear their new costumes so we had a Halloween fashion show and photo shoot!
Hugs,
Caryn xxx

Mo’s Digital Challenge #6 – Sketch by ME!

 

  This is my second “hostess week” over at Mo’s Challenge Blog and so I have come up with a sketch for you.  I really enjoy making sketches so I hope you all like this one.   

I have used the stunning Holly Fairy (available at Mo’s Digital Pencil ) for my card this week – I just ADORE  her and dusted off the old Cricut for the swirls and circle.  She’s coloured with ProMarkers and of course there IS glitter on there too!  I think the paper is Flair Designs but I’ve had it lingering in my stash for so long I can’t really remember!

Can’t wait to see how you all interpret the sketch and if you want some amazing inspiration then don’t forget to visit the rest of the design teams blogs (list on the left sidebar – scroll down). 

Big Hugs,

Caryn xxx

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