Sketch by Katharina - WOJ - Challenge 1

Wow we are off the first Whiff of Joy challenge is up and running, and what a start we have the lovely and talented Katharina has designed a sketch for us and also supplied the prizes, (yes thats right 3 prizes) It is the cute Oakley in the Bathtub Whiff of Joy Stamp for 3 lucky winners, and if you think that is great just wait to see whats on offer next week. So come on pop over to Whiff of Joy Challenge and join in the fun. We are looking forward to seeing all your fabulous creations.



Oakley has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's with a little glitter on the bubbles. The papers are a free download from Shabby Princess, I do adore these papers, the buttons are Basic Grey and sentiment from stash.

Helping Hands - Stamp Something

Stamp Something - Embellish something

What a lovely challenge it is this week from Stamp Something Challenge, I am trying to work on improving my use of embellishments and everytime I visit your blogs I study your creations for ideas, so this is a chance to see if I have learnt anything. I have used one of the Fabulous Nikkis sketches, that you can find here Thanks. Nikki she has some really unusal sketches for us to use so please go and see them.



This is the first time I have coloured up this WOJ image she is so beautiful and what a wonderful Mothers Day Card she would make, Melinda has been coloured with distress inks and H20's and is rather more pastel than I usual paint my images, but I like it. Papers are Basic Gray and K & Co mounted onto Green and Pink Brazill Basics. I was tidying up all my boxes and found lots of punches I forgot I had, the little white doileys were punched with one of these, I think I bought it from C&C. Corners were cut on CB, sentiment ticket stamps are from Autumn Leaves, rest from stash.

Sunday Drive - A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge

This weeks Challenge is - Charming
To use a charming character or Charms on your card this is the challenge A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge has set this week. Come on have a go we love to see your fabulous creations.

We have a fabulous prize this week of a CC Design "Wintertime Fun" Stamp kit which has been very kindly donated by Bryony from Silly Monkey Crafts. This cute little set comes in a metal storage tin. As usual my Fellow DT members have come up with some great takes on this charming theme so why not go and have a look.

Owen is taking Olivia for a romantic Sunday drive, I wonder if he is going to pop the question this afternoon. This is another cute PM stamp, I have cut the hearts with Nesties, and the strip of Mauve Brazill Bling was punched with a daisy punch I have had for ages. The papers are left overs from previous cards that were on my desk and I thought they matched quite well. The flower embellishment with feathers was an idea I borrowed from Debbie, and swirls were cut on CB, Charm from Crafty Krafts.

Snow Fun - Sketch Saturday

Jo over on Sketch Saturday Challenge always comes up with great sketches for us to follow and this week is no exception, I really enjoyed working with this one Jo thanks!!. The DT obviously enjoyed it as well they have given us some great cards for inspiration so pop over and join in.

Being as the New Lili of the Valley Challenge is launching on Thursday this week, I decided to use one of their great new Christmas Stamps for this card, isn't he cute, he has been coloured with distress inks and H20's, I have added Flower soft for the fur and whist the glue was still drying sprinked glitter onto it. The papers are Figgy Pudding by BG, ribbon by Poppicraft, sentiment is WOJ and the rest from stash. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture my daylight bulb went pop, will have to get a new one.

Another Christmas Card - PBSC

Thank you everyone who joined us last week, this weeks challenge is in fact a bit of a challenge, Decorate the inside of a card, I am sure we will see some fantastic takes on this challenge. Thanks for all the support you have given Penny Black Saturday Challenge, we have been overwhelmed with the response and hope you carry on entering with your fantastic cards and creations.


I have made this little folder card for my entry, the base card is Red Su, and papers are all BG Figgy Pudding, I love this set of snowy stamps and I thought this was a good way of displaying them altogether for a change. The sentiment is also a PB Stamp. Off to see Charlie, Rob and Ben now, what a lot of lovely cuddles I have got to look forward to. Don't forget to pop over to PBSC blog and see the great creations by my fellow DT members

1 Card, An Apology and some news

First the card, this one is for CUTE CARD THURSDAY Challenge which this week is FOOD a subject close to all our hearts. Willow with her lovely biscuits straight from the oven is a WOJ stamp and is gorgeous. She has been coloured as usual with Distress Inks and H20's. Papers are Crate Paper and rest from stash.

Now the apology: I am so sorry that I have not been round to you all for the last couple of days (I should really say weeks), I know i have been a very bad blogger and you can give me a virtual smack on the hand, but I have been very busy, and as you know I have to get my regular Charlie Fix. I hate not visiting as I love to see everyones creations and pinching some of your ideas.
Now the news: There is another new Challenge Blog starting next Thursday, not another one I hear you say, but this is a bit different this is an Official Challenge sponsored by Lili of the Valley products, and they will be giving away a prize every week and its not just for stampers, decoupage and paper folding will also be encouraged. As the bl...y is playing up and will not let me save this post I cannot give you the link for the challenge here, but there is a link on my side bar. Please pop over and give it a look see and hope you can join us next Thursday.
Now I am sure there will be loads of spelling and grammatical mistakes in this post but I just not going to take the chance of losing it. Will correct it tomorrow, if blogger is not still on strike

WOJ Challenge

What you have been waiting for

There is now a Whiff of Joy challenge blog up and running!! The first challenge starts on Wednesday 24th September! Click on the banner to go to the blog for all the details.

If you havn't ordered you Whiff of Joy stamps yet hurry over to WOJ and get them now

Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday

Christmas Purse - Double Dutch Challenge

I found this new Challenge Blog quite by accident when visiting Marlenes fantastic blog last night, Although as the name suggest Double Dutch, is run by Dutch Girls they have kindly written it in english as well so we can all have a go, the instructions for this little purse are on the Blog, and is very easy to make. So go on have a go

I used SU red card for the base and a sheet of 12x12 paper from last years christmas stash, so sorry don't know who it is by. I have used all the stamps from the christmas set of Forever Friends, coloured with Distress Inks and H20's. All the sentiment stamps on the tags are by PB, the little round sentiment is by SU, Flower stamped with Stempleglede Retro Flower and cut with Retro Punch, everything else from stash.

Two in One - Ismaki and Cute Card Thursday

It is not very often I manage to combine my challenge entries, but I knew the image I wanted to use but didn't have a layout I liked, so was going to skip Cute Card Thursday this week and then I looked on Ismaki and found this brilliant sketch which seemed to fit the bill so voila.

This Scary King of the Jungle!!!! is another of Janets wonderful stamps from Spiral Whisper, and I hope he qualifies for Cute Card Thursday theme of Cats and Dogs. He has been coloured with (would you guess) Distress Inks, with Gold stickles on his crown. The great backing papers are a download from Shabby Princess, After seeing Beckys use of wire lately I thought I would have a go so this green wire, which is the stem of the pink flowers, has been wound round a pencil and then stretched out. The two sentiment stamps are PB rest is from stash.

Blue Christmas - A Spoonful of Sugar

Challenge 17 ~ Christmas is coming

I was asked to be Guest Designer for 4 weeks by Debbie & Nikki of A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge, this was to be my last card, but to my great surprise they have asked me to join the DT on a permanent basis, Wow!!! as you can image I jumped at the chance, who wouldn't want to work with such a talented bunch of ladies, so thanks Debbie & Nikki, hope I live up to expectantions.

We would love to see you make a Christmas card this week, as you now you can now use any make of stamp. There is a great stamp donated by the Fantastically talented Lim for one lucky person this week so come on and join us this week. There are some beautiful cards from my fellow DT members to give you inspiration.

I have used Nikkis great sketch from last week again for this christmas card, the sweet Penny Black Image was a RAK from the Fabulous Bev and has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's, The DP is from BG and snowflake stamp from WOJ, ribbon from Raspberry Ribbon, snowflake charm fron Rach, sentiment is by PB and rest from stash

Celtic Princess - Friday Sketchers

Heidi from Norway has given us a really great sketch to work from on Friday Sketchers Challenge, thank you Heidi. The Dt members have produced some beautiful cards if you need inspirtion.

This beautiful Elizabeth Bell stamp from WOJ is a joy to colour (excuse the pun), She reminds me of a Lavender and Lace Cross Stitch Chart I used a couple of years ago, I think it was called Celtic Winter, I have used the colours in that embroidery as inspiration for the colouring. She has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's with Sukura Silver Stardust pen, this doen't show up very well on the photo but is really shimmery IRL. Papers are BG Figgy Pudding matted onto Dark Blue Pearlised card, Snowflakes cut on Cuttlebug. Rest from Statsh.

Forever Friends Christmas - Sketch Saturday

Jo at Sketch Saturday has a great sketch again this week and the Dt members have excelled themselves with some beautiful creations.

Another new stamp from me this week (got to stopping buying stamps I have loads that I havent even inked up yet, I just have to have them) this Forever Bear is by Docraft and is available at The Glitterpot, he has been coloured with Distress Inks and lots of H20's for sparkle. The Papers are Figgy Pudding by BG corners are a Cuttlebug die, flower punched with retro punch and small flower punch, rest from stash. I am pleased with this one, hope you like it.

Tilda Co No 36 - Chocolate Delight

Chocolate, Pink & white...
So go as Chocolate Crazy as you like.
Please remember your work must include at least one Magnolia image.
Well this is the challenge on Tilda & Co, there are some really fantastic takes on this theme from my fellow DT members so go and take a look and join us again this week

Tilda has been baking with her Mum today and has made a lovely Chocolate cupcake with yummy pink frosted icing, wonder who this is for????

I have had a Charlie free day today, will have to go over to get my Charlie Fix tomorrow. I started to tidy up my craft room at 9am and am still going but I have found some great stash that I had completely forgotten about didn't realise quite how much DP, Brads, Flowers and Ribbons I had accumulated.

DP: Paper Crate, Ribbon Poppicraft, Distress Inks, Stickles, and Computer generated sentiment. Rest from stash.

Penny Black Challenge - Male Card No Blue

Wow we had some brilliant entries for last weeks challenge, thanks everyone for joining us, and hope to see you all again this week. Not quite such an easy one for you this week A Mans Card but no BLUE.
My Fellow DT members have made some great cards to give you some inspiration, so click
Here and check them out.

BG DP has been matted onto brown BC for this card and the image has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's, I do love these PB Cats and Mice hey all seem to have their own personalities. Hemp Ribbon is from Raspberry Ribbons and Sentiment from SU. Hope you like it.

Kisses of Joy - Sketch Saturday

Sketch Saturday's sketch this week is a joy to work with, thank you Jo. There are some great cards from the new Dt members on the blog if you run out of ideas, there is also a great Stamp on offer to one lucky blogger, so pop over now and join in the challenge if you havn't already.

Things are gradually getting back to normal, and I have managed to actually make a challenge card, I even had to put my WOJ stamps on hold this week but it was well worth it. I adore this beautiful Guardian Angel Stamp by Elizabeth Bell "Miranda Blowing Kisses", she has been coloured with Tim Holtz distress inks, and her wings have been waterwashed with Sukura Stardust. The sentiment is from SU, Spacers from my dear friend Donalda rest from stash.

Nikkis 20000 Hits Blog Candy

Nikki is giving away some fab blog candy to celebrate 20000 hits on her blog, if you have visited Nikkis Fantastic blog you will not be surprised at how quickly she reached this great number, her work is always inspiring and her colouring perfection, if you havn't visited do so now as you will be stunned by Nikkis wonderful work but be prepared to spend some time looking. Well done Nikki

Stamping with Sarah Kay - Challenge 11

Another sketch for you this week on Stamping with Sarah Kay thank you for all the great entries last week there were some fabulous cards. Please join us again this week and for inspiration pop over and see the other DTs great cards.


Sorry this is going to be a very quick post, I am going over to Ben and Stephs to make sure all is ready for Charlies homecoming this afternoon. The papers are all scraps from BG, circles cut on Nesties, everything else from stash.

Can I also apologise to not getting round to everyone these last couple of days I will visit you all as soon as I can but meanwhile thank you all very much for your lovely comments
xxxx Hugs to you all xxxxx

Nikkis Sketch - A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge

There is a Great sketch from the fabulous Nikki on A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge this week. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week I really enjoyed visiting your blogs and seeing your great creations. This week there is some great Candy for one lucky person picked at random, this has bee donated by Bryony at Silly Monkey Crafts. They also have a new DT member Sonja, so don't forget if you need inspiration there are some great cards from the DT on the blog.

This wonderful Father Christmas must be one of my favourite Christmas stamps he is called Jolly Santa and is by Stamps Happen. I have coloured the image with Distress Inks and H20's with lots of glamour dust on his beard and fur, I stamped a lovely snowflake stamp from WOJ with Olive Stazon around the Image. The Dp is BG and Ribbon from Raspberry Ribbons, the Bell and Star Beads are from stash. Sentiment is by Penny Black.

I would like to thank everyone who left such kind messages on the birth of dear Charlie.

My Bundle of Joy

Well Charlie finaly made his big entrance at 12.20am this morning, he was certainly comfortable where he was and after a long day for poor Steph he had to be helped into the world, As you can see he is beautiful, he weighed 7lb 9ozs, and as poor Steph is berely 5ft and has a tiny frame it was quite an effort for her, but she did so well and only had gas and air for the last 2 hours,
it was a bit traumatic at about Midnight when they had to take her into theatre thinking she may have to have a section, but with hekp from the Doctor he arrived naturally 20 minutes later. Mum Baby and Dad are doing well if a bit tired. Thank you all for your best wishes and wonderful comments. I havn't been to bed yet so think I will try to get some sleep now.

Stop Press

Just off to the Hospital seems Grandson is at last on the way, pains are 3 mins apart. will let you know when he arrives!!!!!!

Back Pack Chic - Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Hi everyone and welcome to challenge 13
Firstly we'd like to thank everyone for joining us last week and what a great response to our Stars & Strips challenge and lots of wonderful creations by you all again - thank you all for joining in the fun and sharing, we all love visiting your blogs.
So on to this weeks challenge
One For The Girls

We have been kindly given a £10 voucher for 1 lucky winner to spend at Poppicrafts
If you've not visited Poppicrafts before I can assure you, you won't be disappointed. Michelle has a fabulous range of crafting goodies ~ ribbons, brads, flowers, buttons, etc ~ and I'm told she will have a fabulous Christmas range arriving soon, so be sure to pop over and take a peek. We hope you will join in the fun and look forward to seeing what you create.

Michelle kindly donated a bag of goodies for the DT members to use for this weeks challenge, Thanks Michelle. My back pack was inspired by two fantastic creations I had seen on Sharys blog and she kindly gave me the link to the tutorial. The base card is SU and DP Daisy Bucket, The cute little chick is of course PB I had actualy forgotten I had this stamp and so pleased I found her, It has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's, circles cut with Nesties, Sentiment Autumn Leaves, Pearls from Donalda, rest from Poppicrafts.

Firework Night - Spiral Whisper

Spiral Whisper is a new Stamp Company that I am sure you have heard me rave about lately, they sell some really cute stamps designed by some of our fellow bloggers, their service is brilliant and I usual get my stamps by next day delivery, pop over to the site and see their gorgeous stamps, you will not be disappointed. They have also just started a challenge blog and posted their first challenge on Wednesday, it is a sketch (you know how much I like sketch challenges). Click here to see the sketch and the great DT cards.

This is Millie waiting for the Fireworks to begin. I have added lots of glitter to the Backing Paper which is from the New Crafters Companion CD. Ribbon is from the August Raspberry Ribbon kit, sentiment from SU, Base Card from SU, rest from stash. I am back in business on the printer front, thank goodness.

Sassy in Pink - Cute Card Thursday

Wow my Favourite colour this has got to be one of my favourite challenges LOTS and LOTS of PINK in fact the more the better. Thank you Cute Card Thursday team, to get your Pink Fix pop over to the challenge site and see the great DT cards.



The Fab layout for this card was taken from a card that the fantastically talented BEV sent me (Thanks Bev xxxx). This great Elizabeth Bell image is available from Sugar Nellie she has been coloured with (yes you have guessed it) Distress Inks and H20's, the DPs are Basic Grey EVA collection, rest from stash. TFL

Just for you - Tilda & Friends

Things are changing over at Tilda & Friends they have decided to allow some friends to join Tilda & Edwin, there are some limitations on the friends click Here to find out more and to see the great ideas by the DT Members.

I am going to use this ATC as a tag for a bouquet of flowers I will have to buy in the near future. The image is by Precious Moments and has been coloured with Distress Inks, Paper is Basic Grey and BC is from SU, the sentiment which you cannot see in the photo properly says Hello! apt I think

Bunny Bath - House Mouse & Friends

Great Sketch this week on House Mouse & Friends I do enjoy using sketches especially on MOJO's off days, so thanks for this one.

Papers: Daisy Bucket
Retro Punch for Flower, Sizzix Punch for swirls
Rest from stash.
Sorry such a quick post tonight but have really got to do some blog hopping, I am so behind with my return visits. Have a good evening

Time for a Walk - Stamping with Sarah Kay

Another lovely sketch from Moni on Stamping with Sarah Kay, she does gives us some great sketches to work from, thanks Moni xx, and my fellow Dt members have produced some great cards to get you started. So please come and join us again this week


I thought I would like to try tearing the large piece of DP but think I went a bit mad, edged all the papers with distress inks before layering, also distressed the flowers as I had none to match, creams and browns are a bit different for me but I do quite like it.

Millys Winter Ride - Friday Sketchers

Friday Sketchers have provided a lovely sketch by Claudia Rosa from USA this week. There are some great ideas from the Dt on the blog.

Don't you just adore Milly on her Reindeer, she is one of Janets great new Christmas stamps and is available at Spiral Whisper, there is a complete set of Max and Milly Christmas Stamps and each one is adorable, you will certainly be seeing more of these.

Colour - ProMakers
Paper - Dovecraft
Sentiment Stamp - Sassycrafts
Milly Stamp - Spiral Whisper
Rest from Stash

Rob's Doorhanger - Spoonful of Sugar

This weeks Challenge on A Spoonful of Sugar is to make anything but a card we have a gorgeous prize that has been kindly donated by Lana From Dottydocrafts, If you are stuck for ideas pop over to the blog and check out my fellow DT cards lots of ideas there.

Another door hanger from me, I know I make a lot of these but the GS do love them, and Robs old one was looking a bit tatty, I will soon be having to make one for the New GS he was due Sunday but still no sign of him (well he is a boy!). My poor old printer has finally given up the ghost so I am a bit restricted to Backing Papers, but it is having an upside as I now have to find papers from my Scrap, I have so much that its like a teasure hunt and I am finding papers I completely forgot about. The backing papers and letters for this DH are all from Nitwits downloads, Edwin, Rex and the Magnolia Houses have been coloured with Distress Inks I have added Sukura Glace pen to the windows

Let it Snow - Papertake Weekly

Another great sketch from Katharina again from Papertake Weekly Challenge this week, Thanks again Katharina, the DT members have also made beautiful cards for our delectation so whizz over and have a go. Katharina has donated a wonderful Guardian Angel Stamp from Whiff of Joy as a prize this week now what other excuse do you need

I didn't order this lovely stamp when it was first released(cash shortage), but ordered it last week and it arrived this morning so of course couldn't wait to get ink on rubba, she has been coloured with ProMarkers, Let it Snow and Snowflakes are Sizzix Dies, DP is from Dovecraft and ribbon and gems from stash. I apologise for the quality of the photo the card is much brighter IRL,

I baked you a Cake - Dutch Dare Challenge No 12

A Card for a Girl - Dutch Dare Challenge 12

Another Precious Moments image for this challenge she has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's as usual. The Dps are scrap but I think from a Funky Hands CD, Swirls Sizzix flowers Prima and Ribbons from Poppicraft. Round Sentiment fron Sassycrafts.