Papertake Weekly - Christmas Crackers

Hi girls. Thanks for visiting my little blog. It's great to have your company a while. I have my cousin coming to stay with us later today for a few days. She is on her own and comes to stay occasionally just for a wee break. I have scheduled posts up to and including next Saturday and I will try to use any crafting time to visit my regular blogs but please forgive me if I miss a day. I will catch up - promise.

This Papertake Weekly challenge came along just at the right time. They were looking for "Christmas Crackers".
Well last Thursday I went to Stampaholics in Perth to a class run by Siobhan, the owner, when she showed us how to make this Tri-shutter Snowflake Card. She is very creative and has been a great inspiration for me since I tentatively entered the world of card making about a year ago. The design is all Siobhan's I just followed the instructions and put it together. I just had to share it - I think it's a cracker of a design.

These are two views of the card when it's opened out.

The card is cut from a 12"x12" piece of card. By cutting the card across portions of it's breadth and folding in different directions the tri-fold effect is achieved. It is embellished with the Snowman from the Inkadinkado Holiday Sentiments Set 995507. It's large snowflake is cut from Nesties Snowflake N01 and the others are cut using an Alpine punch. The card surfaces are either embossed or simply sections of papers stuck on.
I hope you like this design. I would love you to let me know what you think of this one. If you can spare the time please leave a comment.
Have a great day and enjoy your crafting.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Sketch & Stash Challenge 24 & Roses on Paper #25

Hi girls. Great to have you here on my blog. I hope you like today's offering. Goodness, it has just dawned on me that the challenges I am entering this card for are the last for November. Frightening!! - less than 4 weeks till Christmas. We had a really crisp frost on Saturday morning so the real winter is not far away. Back to scraping the car before we can go out in the morning.

I have tried to combine the sketch for Sketch & Stash with the theme of Romance or Sweet for Roses on Paper. I know that Tilda is sweet so that's ok and the fact that the present is probably for Edwin hints at romance. The stamp is one of my new Magnolias, "Tilda with Christmas Present" coloured using my trusty Copic Ciaos. the apers are Bazzil and Basic Grey's "Eskimo's Kisses - houses (reversed)". The embellies are from my stash and the flowers are handmade.

I really enjoyed making this card and I hope you like it. If you do, why not leave a comment to let me know. I love your input and delight in any comment I'm fortunate enough to get. I hope you can find the time.

Thank you for dropping in.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Crafts4Eternity Recipe #8

Hi girls. Great to see you back gain in my little part of blogland. I hope you find something to help the mojo juices to flow.

This week's recipe from Crafts4Eternity was to follow the super sketch provided, add a flower or two and add a sprinkle if glitter. I chose to ink up Penny Black's "Christmas Tree Ted" and coloured him with my Copic Ciaos. The papers are from Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye - Colourful Christmas Bright Stripes. The embellishments are from my stash but the bow and flowers are handmade. The image is glittered although the photograph doesn't show it too well. I am afraid that it has been dark and overcast here for a while and I wanted to avoid using flash.

Thank you so much for visiting me here. It would be great if you left a comment to let me know you've been - I promise to visit back. I love reading your comments and I find great encouragement in them.

Enjoy your crafting day.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Basic Grey Week #8 - Glitz & Bling

Hi girls. Thanks for popping over to my blog. The rain has returned after a few hours respite this morning. Long enough for me to attend a class taken by Siobhan at the brilliant Stampaholics in Perth without getting a soaking. I made this card for the Basic Grey challenge. I used a stamp of a church from a Stampin Up set and masked the Penny Black stamp "Caroling Trio" from the new Slapsick range to stamp in on top. I am quite pleased with the result. The paper is the reverse side of Basic Grey's "Eskimo Kisses - reindeer games" and all the embellishments and ribbon are from my stash. The flowers are handmade and cut from gold mirra card. The whole image was treated with glitter to give the glitz and bling.
I hope you like this card and have enough time to spare to leave me a comment. I love reading your opinions and really appreciate you taking the trouble to leave them.
Do have a nice day, keep safe and enjoy your crafting.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Friday Sketchers #7 & Just Magnolia Week # 32

I didn't think the wind and rain could get much worse but I was wrong. The winds have intensified and it has poured here for the last 24 hours. Still we are far better off than those poor people in Cumbria and SW Scotland. Hubby worked for the RNLI for 11 years before he retired and he has been fretting all day about any Lifeboat Crews that may have been called out today. Those guys and gals (there are a lot of women on lifeboats) are the salt of the earth. If you want to consider a Charity in your Christmas giving they are worth helping.
Anyway on to the crafting. I decided to combine the requirements for two challenges in this card. I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers and the "Masking" asked for in the Just Magnolia challenge.
The stamps are Magnolia's "Old Wooden Bench" which I stamped with a masking so that I could superimpose "Sitting Santa". They were coloured in using my Copic Ciaos. The papers are "Colourful Christmas (falling flakes)" by My Mind's Eye and Karen Neuburger's "Share Bear" by Paper Adventures. The snowflakes are punched out of mirra card using an Alpine punch. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado's "Holiday Silhouettes" set and the ribbon is from my stash.
I enjoyed making this card and I hope you like it enough to find time to leave a comment. I really love reading your views on my cards and find them so helpful and encouraging.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day whatever you are doing. Go safely. Thank you for visiting my little blog.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Charisma Cardz #46 & Colour Create #32

Hi there girls welcome to my little blog. When will all this rain and wind stop? It's bad enough here but it must be horrendous for those in Cumbria and SW Scotland - my heart goes out to them.
I'm afraid the this is going to be a long post because I've got Awards to deal with later. So on to my card for today.
This card was made to enter into two challenges:
Charisma Cardz gave a great sketch to follow and Colour Create asked for a colour combo of "Green, Red and White"
I used and Inkadinkado "Bauble with Ribbon" and embossed it in red and gold. The papers are the reverse side of "Eskimo Kisses"and an unknown one I had lying in the bottom of a drawer. The flowers are handmade and the other embellishments are from my stash.
I hope you like the traditional Christmas colours and that you have enough time to leave me a comment to let me know what you think about this one. You have no idea how much I appreciate them - they are so helpful.

BLOG AWARDS

Well I'll get on to my unfinished award business. Firstly I have been given this lovely award by Tracy at Country Mouse. Tracy is a fab crafter and has followed me since I started my blog in late July and I am really flattered to receive this from her.

Now I have to list 7 things about myself before I pass this on.

1. I am a qualified Aromatherapist but had to give up because of my back trouble.
2. I am an only child as was my dad.
3. I love going on cruises (haven't been able to for a while - crutches and boats don't mix well)
4. My hubby is now retired and we spend all our time together.
5. Kinross, where I live is on the shores of Loch Leven where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned.
6. I have never lived outside of Scotland and have no desire to.
7. I never, never watch "Soaps" on TV.

I would like to pass this award on to the following people

Kim at Kim's Card Corner and Emma at Mrs Giraffe's Bloggy

You might recall I was given 2 awards by Gez at GezzyBs Crafty Bits last week and I delayed passing them on. Well I am going to do that now.

This first one requires 5 facts about myself and since I am not comfortable talking about myself I am going to cheat slightly and refer you to the facts above.

I want to pass this award on to:

Tracy at Country Mouse

Teri at Teri's Cards and Toppers

Jane at JEM's Crafting Blog,

Linnie at LinniePink and

Cheryl at My Cardmaking Haven

The second award is:

and I would like to pass iton to:

Dawn Marie at 3 Sneezes and a Magpie

Kim at Kim's Cardmaking Corner and

Emma at Mrs Giraffe's Bloggy

Do have a nice day and enjoy your crafting.

Hugs,
Fiona x

Creative Inspirations #35 & Simon Says ...Animal Antics

Hi girls. Thank you for taking the time to pop over to my little blog.i'm glad you came. I hope you find something to gladden the eye and make your visit worthwhile.
I made this card to enter into two challenges:
Creative Inspirations where the theme was "Sparkle"
and
Simon Says ..... Animal Antics
I decided to push the boat out and use 2 stamps for this one and thought that these Henry Mouse stamps from Whiff of Joy fitted the theme nicely. They are "Ice Skating Henry Mouse" and "Skiing Henry Mouse" and they are coloured in using my Copic Ciaos. The papers are from the Dovecraft 8"x8" Designer paper pack "Winter Wonderland". The snowflakes are made using the Alpine punch. The sentiment is from the Inkadinkado "Holiday Silhouettes" set.
I would really appreciate your comments on this one if you have time to leave one. I love reading them.

NEW CRAFTY SENTIMENTS CHALLENGE

Why not pop over to the Crafty Sentiments blog where Lisa has set the first challenge and give it a go.
Have a good day and go carefully.

Hugs,
Fiona x

Papertake Weekly #28

Hi girls. Well we're at the beginning of another blogging week and it's getting pretty late in the year. I suppose for many of us winter has arrived with devastating effect and Christmas is just round the corner. What a gloomy start to my blog today - I hope you find something here that might bring a little joy.
I made this card for the Papertake Weekly challenge because I really liked the sketch they gave us. I decided to use Gillian Robert's "Mistletoe and Mice" by Stampavie. I think this stamp is one of the cutest I've seen. I coloured it using my Copic Ciaos. I didn't use any papers and used shades of Bazzil Bling card for everything. The corners were cut out of gold card on my Sizzix Bigshot using a Cuttlebug die and the sentiments were home made on my laptop using Microsoft Word. The flowers are handmade and the fronds were cut with a Martha Stewart punch. The basic card is quite plain but I liked the overall effect - I hope you do too.
If you can spare a minute I would love it if you left a comment just to let me know you visited and give me your opinion. I really appreciate every comment I get, they are so encouraging and helpful.
Thanks for visiting and I hope all goes well for you and that you have a happy crafting day.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Mojo Monday #113

Welcome to my corner of blogland. I am pleased to see you. I hope all is well and that you are having a good weekend.

I made this card for the Mojo Monday Challenge and inked up Magnolia's "Tilda with Wood Basket in Snow Blizzard". I have coloured her using my Copic Ciaos. I have used two shades of turquoise Bazzil and mounted a band of My Mind's Eye's "The Merry Days of Christmas - Holiday Shimmer". I have embosed a panel of paper with an unknown folder. The snowflakes are cut with the Nestie Snowflakes No.2 die. The ribbon is from Stampin Up.

I hope you like this offering and I would love you to leave me a comment letting me know what you think. I love reading them - I get so much from them.

Thank you so much for taking time to visit today. I really appreciate you taking the trouble. Have a nice day.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Crafts4Eternity Recipe #7

Well girls, Saturday again. What do you have planned for today? Creating, blog hopping or spending on stash? I think I might do a bit of each actually if I can.
Anyway thanks for popping over to see me. I have made this card for Crafts4Eternity where the recipe was a combination of their sketch, a snowman and some cotton wool. I used "Snowman with Flake", a new stamp from Magnolia this year and coloured him using Copic Ciaos and some glitter. His hat is trimmed with cotton wool. The papers are Pale Blue and Navy Bazzil and a multi-shaded blue from Doodlebug Design Inc. The large toothed circle is cut on my Cricut Expressions. The snowflakes are handmade using Siver Mirra card and flakes cut with a Glacier punch. The sentiment is made on my laptop with Microsoft Word. Other bits and pieces are from my stash.
I hope you like the look of this enough to leave me a comment. I love to hear your views and really appreciate the time you take to give me feedback.
Thanks again for your visit.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Allsorts Challenge #27 - Something for a Child

Hello again girls. Thanks for joining me today in blogland. I hope all goes well with you and that you find something here that will whet the appetite for crafting.
I made this card for this week's Allsorts Challenge where we were to make something for a child. I used this super new stamp from the latest Crafty Sentiments collection and she is called "Lulu" and coloured her with my Copic Ciaos and used Flower Soft in polar white for the trims of her coat. The paper is from Stampin Up SE1 - "Christmas Mint/Raspberry Truffle" and is mounted on to a pieceof green Bazzil. The snowflakes are cut with Nestabilities set No. 2 and the bell and ribbon are from my stash. The sentiment is from Crafty Sentiments Christmas Set.
I hope you like this one and would love to read any comments you might have time to leave.
Thanks for your visit.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Friday Sketchers #78

Morning girls. It's getting late in the week again and time to post a card for Friday Sketchers where I really liked the look of the sketch they provided.
I used a new stamp, "Christmas Eve Tilda" by Magnolia and coloured her as usual with my Copic Ciaos. The paper is "Falling Flakes" from the Colourful Christmas range by My Mind's Eye and I used ribbon from my stash to create the stripw effect across the card. The flowers are handmade and the fronds are cut with a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment was done on my laptop using Microsoft Word.
If you have time why not leave me a comment telling me what you think of this one. I really get a lot out of reading your opinions and it would be a pity not to record the fact that you visited.

Two Blog Awards

What a surprise I got today when I visited Gez at GezzyBs Crafty Bits, her wonderful blog, and found that she had given me two awards. The first one:

requires me to give 5 facts about myself that you may not know, so here goes,

1. I am in the 40th year of married life with my best pal
2. I have been on crutches for over 2 1/2 years after back surgery
3. I have two daughters-in-law and they are both called Sarah
4. I do most of my cardmaking through the night when I can't sleep
5. I was a nurse in Sick Childrens Hospital in Edinburgh (many many moons ago)

The second award I aready have but I am thrilled to be given it again.

Thank you so much Gez for thinking about me. I will have to give a lot of thought to who to pass these on to so I hope you don't mind if I wait a couple of days before I do.
Well girls, that's it for today, so thank you for visiting my little corner of blogland.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Cute Card Thursday #86 & Charisma Cardz #45

Hi all, thanks for popping in to see me. I hope all is going well for you and that your creative juices are flowing. I am of course still involved in the Crafty Sentiments Blog Hop and really enjoying it. Have you joined in yet? If not, why not give it a go. The details at at the top of my blog.
Anyway, this card was made to enter into 2 challenges. Cute Card Thursday, where the theme was "Glitter me Silly" and Charisma Cardz where the Theme was "Merry and Bright".

I used the Whiff of Joy stamp "Henry with Bauble" and coloured him with a combination of my Copics Ciaos, Gold and Silver ink and glitter. The papers are My Mind's Eye - "Rooftops" and Stampin Up - "Merry Moments". The embellishments and glitter are from my stash.

I do hope you like this enough to leave me a comment. I really enjoy reading them and appreciate the time you take to leave one. Thanks.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Simon Says ...."Thinking of You"

Hi everybody and thank you for coming to visit my wee spot in blogland. I am so glad you popped by. I hope you find something to make your visit worthwhile. I haven't had a very good day today healthwise and haven't managed my usual round of visits to the blogs I follow, I promise to catch up tomorrow.
Fortunately a few days ago I made this card for Simon Says where the theme was "Thinking of You". I tend to post my entries for challenges a couple of days before the deadline although I make them when the challenge is published. Well last Wednesday/Thursday through the night I just could not sleep. I had made a couple of attempts at colouring this new Tilda (bought by my DIL Sarah at the NEC for me) during the day and both had ended up in the bin so I decided at 02:15am that I was as well trying again rather than tossing and turning. Hubby sleeps the sleep of the dead anyway so it wasn't going to disturb him. Well by 04:15am the whole card was done and dusted and I felt great. That's the great thing about this hobby - you can do it any time, day or night. I really enjoyed doing it and felt so much better for not having wasted time trying to sleep.
The stamp is Magnolia's "Tilda with Mistletoe" coloured using my trusty Copic Ciaos. I think she looks as though she is wishing that Edwin was there to get the benefit of the mistletoe and she is no doubt thinking about him. The paper is Winter Wonderland (Frosty) from Crafts House and the flowers are homemade. The ribbon and other bits and pieces are from my stash.
I hope you like this card enough to take the time and trouble to leave a comment for me. I really enjoy reading them. Do have a creative day and go carefully.
Hugs,
Fiona x

A Spoon Full of Sugar #77 - Create a Scene

Hi girls glad to see you back to my little blog again. I hope you have all had a great weekend. I had a great day yesterday with the Crafty Sentiments Blog Hop that is still on until Wednesday so if you haven't had a go yet why not start off with my post at the top of my blog. I had a bit of a problem at the beginning of the day since Blogger managed to make the text on my post so small it couldn't be read and it had been posted for 3 hours before I was aware of it. Anyway I managed to fix it and the rest of the day went quite smoothly. I had over 100 hits worldwide but only 39 comments which I thought was a pity - particularly since it was a blog hop - I hope my card wasn't that bad!!!

Anyway back to today's business. I am aware that in the last week or so I have made quite a few cards with shades of blue as the basic colour. Strange, because I prefer pastel shades but I think blue is a Christmassy colour. This card is being entered into the latest Spoon Full of Sugar challenge which asked us to "Create a Scene". I used a Crafty Individuals stamp to create the scene and mounted it into a Nestabilities frame I purchased after a class at Stampaholics in Perth where we created a similar style of card. The backing paper is "Blizzard" by Doodlebug Designs Inc. and I have embossed snowflakes in silver onto this paper. The sentiment is also from Crafty Individuals and the embellishments are all from my stash.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Crafty Sentiments Blog Hop

This post will stay at the top until 6pm on Wednesday 18th November.

Welcome to my little corner of Blogland. I'm glad you took the trouble to visit.
I am not entering this card into any challenges because it is solely for the purposes of the blog hop. It was made using stamps and sentiments from the Crafty Sentiments range. The image is "Daisy" coloured using my Copic Ciaos. The background is Bazzil Linen and the wavy paper is from GCD Studios 48 Sheets Collection Pack - "No Worries". The flowers are handmade and the embellishments are from my stash. The arched border is cut using a Martha Stewart punch. I hope you like what you see. If you have come from Bev's blog you are obviously on the blog hop. If not I need to tell you that this is a circular blog hop and there is candy somewhere along the way. You may start here and just continue on to the next name on the blog. The end of the blog hop is when you land back on the blog you started on. You don't have to hunt for the blog candy! We want you to enjoy the hop so to be eligible for the blog candy you MUST do 2 things.
1. You MUST be a follower of the Crafty Sentiments Blog, and
2. You MUST leave a comment on every blog (6 comments in total).

The blog hop is to formally launch new sets of Stamps and Sentiments available only from Crafty Sentiments and to introduce you to that new blog if you were not aware of it before. So please join in the fun. Leave a comment here and then hop to the next blog.

The next blog to visit is Kim

Happy Hopping and please spread the word to other bloggers you visit.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #15

This card was made to enter the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge based on the sketch that they provided. The only other stipulation was that stamping had to be included. I used an old Inkadinkado stamp by Lyn Dillin called "Snow Friends". It was one of the first stamps I ever bought. The papers are Eskimo Kisses - finial and Eskimo Kisses - rooftop by Basic Grey. The sentiment is from one of Suzette's Christmas sets over at Crafty Sentiments. The embellishments are all from my stash.
It would be great if you felt like leaving a comment just to record your welcome visit to my blog and to let me know your opinion of this card. I look forward to reading them.

and now, as they say, for something different:
There is to be a Mini Blog Hop over at Crafty Sentiments starting at 06:00am on Sunday and finishing at 18:00pm on Wednesday. This will be a circular blog hop and you will be able to start on any of the 6 blogs to be visited. Why not start with me here. There will be candy somewhere on the way so why not join in.

and lastly,

Believe it or not, I was given this award by both Tracy at Country Mouse and Angela at Sparkly Cards on the same day. How fortunate am I?

Now the stipulations with this award are quite extensive. I have to pass it on to 5 people and I have to answer a longish list of questions (in one word if possible) so here goes;
I am giving this award to

Linby
Jem
Amanda
Kim
Joey

and as for the questions, well here goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? - in hubby's pocket
2. Your hair? - Brown
3. Your Mother? - In Heaven
4. Your Father? - In Heaven
5. Your favourite food? - Curry
6. Your dream last night? - didn't sleep long enough to have one.
7. Your favourite drink? - Peach Lift
8. Your dream/goal? - To get rid of crutches
9. What room are you in? - Family Room
10. Your Hobby? - Card making
11. Your fear? - Anything happening to hubby
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years time? - with hubby
13. Where were you last night? - at home
14. Something you aren't? - confident
15. Muffins? - No thanks
16. Wish list item? - Good Health
17. Where did you grow up? - Midlothian
18. Last thing you did? - visited hospital (appointment)
19. What are you wearing? - top & tracky bottoms
20. Your TV? - you mean HIS TV!!!
21. Your pets? - a one eyed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
22. Friends? - faithful
23. Your life? - Blessed
24. Your mood? - Contented
25. Missing Someone? - yes
26. Vehicle? - Peugeot 308SW
27. Something your not wearing? - Makeup
28. Your favourite store? - Stampaholics in Perth
29. Your favourite colour? - Pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? - today
31. When was the last time you cried? - about a week ago
32. Your best friend? - Hubby
33. One place I go over and over? - Perth
34. Facebook? - No
35. Favourite place to eat? - Home

Hugs,

Fiona x

Allsorts Challenge #26 - Bring out your Bling

Hi to everyone out there in creative cyberspace. Thank you for calling in to my little corner. I am so glad you took the time and I hope you find something of interest.
They say timing is everything. I had been asked by my friend Sally, the Avon Lady, to make a glitzy pink card for her youngest daughter Anna's birthday the very morning that Allsorts Challenge published this one to "Bring out your Bling" and since her birthday would be past by the time I would post this (I always post late in the challenge week) I had my card for the challenge.
The image is Sugar Nellie's "Postbox" by Elizabeth Bell and is coloured using my favourite Copics Ciaos. Unfortunately I have no idea what the pink flowery backing paper is called. I returned to an old file I created some time ago on my Cricut Design Studio software to get the merged border for this card and glued it round, then sprinkled some glitter to cover the excess glue. The sentiment and charm are from my stash.
I decided to make this a very special card so I did a folded insert.


This insert is based on a design I picked up at a course taken by Irene at Stampaholics in Perth a long time ago. I have learned some great techniques there. It is made from a 12"x12" paper folded so that the card can close but it opens out as the card is opened. Very clever. After folding the paper is decorated with sentiments, butterflys and bling and I included a panel with the "Fairy Tink" image from The Greetings Farm, coloured using my favorite Copic Ciaos. A central soft fabric flower finishes the whole thing off.
I really enjoyed making this one and Sally loved it so I'm pleased. I hope you like it and would love to hear your opinions so please leave a comment if you can spare the time.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Friday Sketchers #77

Hi all, thank you for visiting me here on my blog. I trust that everything is well with you and yours.

I'm really getting into Christmas cards now and this challenge over at Friday Sketchers was another opportunity to clock another one up. It's a fairly simple card. The backing paper is a blue spotted Bazzil and I cut a large Snowflake out of white glitter card on my Cricut Expressions using the Christmas Cheer cartridge and stuck it on top.The red snowflakes were cut using a Nesties set and I cut white glitter snowflakes using an Alpine punch to put on top. The red petals were cut using a punch. The ribbon is from my stash. The sentiment is from an Inkadinkado Holiday sentiments set. The image is by Forever Friends and coloured using my Copic Ciaos.

I hope you like this and I would be so grateful if you took time to leave me your comments on it. I really do value them.

Have a creative day.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Colour Create Challenge #31

Hi girls, thank you for taking time to visit my contribution to crafting blogland. I hope you find something to please the eye.
Well the good news is that my Copic Refills arrived - the bad news is that they were not in time for this card which is based on the colour combo of Blue, Silver and White with the added option of Winter & Glitter for Colour Create's latest challenge. I have modelled it on a design that didn't need any colouring I picked up on a course at Stampaholics in Perth about this time last year. I am really grateful for Siobhan's coaching when I first took up cardmaking - she was and still is a great inspiration. I have lost the name of the set that this stamp came from (way before my blogging days). The image is embossed with Detail White and mounted on card that had a turquoise and Pale Blue watercolour wash prior to doing the tree. The snowflakes are cut from Silver Mirra board and White card using a Nestie Snowflake die with an added flake punched with an Alpine punch from white glittercard. An extra glitter flake was added to the bottom of the card. The papers are Bazzil Bling in Turquoise and White cardstock put though my Sissix in Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Snowflake Folders.
I hope you think this card works and I would love to hear your views if you have a minute to leave a comment. I love going through them and really find them helpful.
Have a good day.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Simon Says .... "Give Thanks"

Thank you for coming over to visit my blog - I hope you find something you like. The weather is definately changing here in this part of Scotland. Heavy frosts in the morning and a distinct chill in the air. Nothing else for it but to turn on the craftroom radiator and snuggle up with my goodies and get creative.
For this challenge for Simon Says the theme was "Give Thanks" and I decided that peach would be the order of the day so I chose as my image Magnolia's "Peachy Tilda", coloured as usual with my Copic Ciaos (still no sign of my refill inks in the mail - I'm beginning to get a bit concerned). The striped paper is from Rayher Hobby Gmbtt and I don't have a name for the other one I'm afraid although I thought it went well and was quite pretty. I made the flowers from scratch and the other embellies are from my stash. I quite enjoyed this one because I wasn't working from a sketch and had to come up with the layout on my own. I hope you like it enough to leave a comment for me. I do enjoy reading them and it's nice to know who is visiting my wee blog. I hope your day goes well for you.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Papertake Weekly Sketch #27

Hi girls. Thanks for visiting my blog if this is your first time, or even better, for coming back if you have been before. I hope you like what you find here.
Well the weekend is over and it's time to start another round of challenges. I had a great weekend and found out that I had won the weekly prize over at Crafts4Eternity - I'm really chuffed.
Well enough of that let's get to the card. I liked the look of the sketch for the Papertake Weekly challenge this week and decided on a Christmas theme. I took the chance to use my recently aquired Inkadinkado Holiday Sentiments Set No. 99507 and used the christmas tree and the sentiment. The card is very loosely based on a card I made a few weeks ago at a class at Stampaholics in Perth (where else I hear you ask) taken by Siobhan.
The backing paper is from Doodlebug Designs. I cut a scalloped narrow rectangle out of Dark blue card and used that as a backing for another Nestie rectangle cut out of white glitter card. Mounted on that is the stamped design on white card edged in blue. The sentiment is on white card, cut with a Nestie, edged in blue and is mounted on blue ribbon across the bottom of the card. All the card and ribbon are from my stash. The snowflakes were cut from Snowflake Nestie No.2 and the Alpine Snowflake punch.
I hope you like the overall effect of this card enough to find time to leave a comment. I love reading your comments, they are so encouraging and helpful.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Cupcake Craft Challenge #64

Thank you for taking the time to visit my little corner of crafty blogland. I reckon many of you will be worn out with your toils at the NEC (can you sense the envy - all those goodies 350 miles away!!!). My DIL, Sarah, tells me that she has bought me some Christmas Tildas - she's a good girl.

This card was made for Cupcake Crafts challenge where they provided a sketch to follow. I delved into the new paper stocks and came up with some from the Designer Series - "Perfect Plum" by Stampin Up. I thought they would suit the layout. The image is of course Magnolia's "Rainy Day Tilda" coloured in using my Copic Ciaos which are now fast running dry. I am waiting for an order of refill inks to arrive so until they do I may be limited in my colour choices. The flowers I made by cutting out petals from the papers with various sizes of punches and using a brad in the middle to hold them together. The brads and ribbon are from Stampin Up (handy having a DIL who is a demostrator) and the fronds and sentiment are from my stash.

If you have time I would love it if you left a comment. I value your opinions and it's such a shame not to leave a record of your visit here.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Crafts 4 Eternity - Recipe #5

Hi all. Hope everything is well with you and that the weekend will be dedicated to crafting, or for those of you who live near enough, browsing (and of course buying) at the NEC.

Hubby and I were out for a meal last night with some of his old pals (and wives) from his Gas Board days. Goodness, its 12 years since he left there. It's nearly 3 years since we were all together the last time so it was good to catch up. There were 15 of us so we had a good time.

The challenge this week over at Crafts 4 Eternity was a recipe that required us to use their Sketch and add at least one Paperclip and 2 Ribbons. I used a new stamp from Inkadinkado, No. 98177.P, (bought at my favourite shop, Stampaholics in Perth). Not my usual style but I hope to use it on "man" cards. The papers are Coffee Dot from Bo Bunny, an unnamed Cream with Brown Spots and Brown Shimmer from Meridian Import Company. The embellishments are all from my stash. There are two ribbons, a narrow brown one on top of a wide net one and the round metal swirls are fancy paperclips. The sentiment is one from a set available from Suzette over at Crafty Sentiments - why not pop over to have a look at what's available.
I would love to know what you think about this one because I was slightly out of my comfort zone. If you have a mo to spare please drop me a comment. I love reading them.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Penny Black Saturday 73 - White on White

Morning again girls - I trust you are all well as the weekend approaches. I know many of you will be heading for the NEC and I hope you have a great time - spare a thought for those of us so far away that we can't go.

When I saw this latest Penny Black challenge I must admit I was taken aback. Everything white except the image! - now that really had me going for a while. Where was my mojo, it didn't seem to be at home. However eventually I came up with an idea.

I put a sheet of white brushed silk paper through my Sizzix in a Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and used a Nestie to cut out a frame. I used a piece of white card on which I embossed trees from a Stampin Up set. (I bought this set recently because I think it will make some great "man" cards - I have always had a block with these). I stamped the Penny Black image "Coming your Way", coloured using my Copic Ciaos on top of the trees and placed the frame over the top. The flowers are handmade from shapes cut out with a petal punch using the instructions in the new fabulous Magnolia magazine - If you haven't got it then get it, it's brilliant. The white ribbon is from my stash.

I really enjoyed doing this card and I hope you like it enough to leave me comment if you can find the time. I really appreciate your visit to my blog and value your opinions.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Just Magnolia - "Monochrome"

Good morning girls. I really hope that you are in good health and that your mojo is overflowing. At this time of year when the eather is not too good and the dark nights are with us it's great to be crafting.

I must admit to being a bit confused about the ongoing debate on what is meant by "Monochrome", the theme of this weeks challenge over at Just Magnolia but I have chosen to define it as different shades of one colour (with a hint of white).

The papers are The Paper Company Studio, My Mind's Eye - Fun Lovin and My Mind's Eye - Pure Joy. The image is Magnolia's "Tilda with Hearts" coloured using Copic Ciaos. The flowers are handmade and the ribbon is from my stash.

I enjoyed making this card once I got used to the monochrome idea and I hope you like the outcome. As always I would really appreciate your feedback if you have time to leave a comment. I get a lot out of reading your views. Thanks for joining my blog today and have a good day.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Charisma Cardz Challenge #43 - No Backing Papers

Hi everyone out there in the land of blogs. All is well with you I hope. The weather continues to be very wet and windy so there is nothing for it but to shut myself in the craftroom and make some cards.

The requirement for this challenge from Charisma Cardz was that there were to be "No Backing Papers". Sounded odd but when you think about it you can do a lot with card and ribbon to create patterns so it was an enjoyable project.

I have mounted turquiose bazzil bling onto white card and stuck white card that has been through a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on top of that. Then more turquoise with a punched Martha Stewart Arched border. I have added a decorative ribbon along the bottom just above the border. Mounted on that is a cream card that has been through a Cuttlebug Snowflake folder. Finally I have mounted the images from Inkadinkado set No 99466 - Holiday Sillouettes stamped onto white card.

Thanks for looking at my blog, I really appreciate it and would love you to leave a comment if you have time.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Simon Says....All That Sparkles

Well it's the start of the week and I'm feeling a bit more up for it today. Sad that the family are back home in Solihull but glad they were able to come up for a few days.
This card, made for Simon Says .... All that Sparkles, is an adaption of a card that I made at a class at Stampaholics in Perth taken by Jean. I hope to use it in various forms as one of my Christmas cards this year.

The image is an amalgamation of two Magnolia stamps - "Sitting Santa" and "Chimney". The paper is unknown and predates my blogging days, sorry. I used white glitter card and put it through my Sizzix in a Cuttlebug snowflake folder. The flowers I made using a pattern from the new quarterly Magnolia magazine (really top quality publication, if you haven't got it I would recommend it) and the ribbon and bells are from Stampaholics. I put some glitter on Santa's hat band, beard and boot tops and the snow on the top of the chimney (you might have to zoom in to see it).

I quite enjoyed making this card and I hope you like it enough to let me have your opinions. I really appreciate you taking time to leave a word or two.

Hugs,

Fiona x

Copics Colours #37 & Papertake Weekly - "Spots 'n' Stripes"

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you like what you find. I hope this finds you all well in blogland. The start of a new week and, guess what, no aquatherapy this week, I'm now left to get on with the routines on my own at our local pool ( 400 yards away) instead of travelling into Perth.
But on to business. There are two subjects for this post today.

Firstly, I made this card for 2 challenges,
Copics Colour where the colours are R20 - Blush, YG 06 - Yellowish Green and E33 - Sand and
Papertake Weekly - where the theme is "Spots 'n' Stripes".

The image is Magnolia's "Tilda with Presents" coloured as usual with my Copic Ciaos. All the papers are from My Mind's Eye - paper pad stack and the ribbon and flowers are from my stash. The bottom border was done using my new Martha Stewart Arch Border Punch.

Secondly,

Award from America

I was given this award by Linda at Payne Holler Cards a few days ago but the way things have been I am late in acknowledging it - Sorry Linda and thank you for counting me as one of your friends. Linda has been a faithful follower of my blog since the beginning and has been a great encouragement. She is wonderfully creative so why not give her a visit. In America when you are given this award you are asked to list 5 facts about yourself - so here goes.

I am a Christian and have been for nearly all my life and have been wonderfully blessed by the Lord who never fails me.

I have been married for over 39 years to my best friend who supports me in everything I do.

I have 2 grown-up sons, John and Andrew, who are both married to Sarahs, and have 3 lovely grandchildren, Jonathan (13), Ellie (6) and Daniel (9 months).

I have tried most hand crafts over the years but am now well and truly hooked on cardmaking.

I have a one-eyed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Amy who at 10 years old is still a playful puppy and cuddly lapdog.

I have decided to pass this award on to the following people,
Avril Ann - I've recently found her blog and love her work,

Teri - she has been a regular on my blog and is a great encouragement, and

Gez - I love her work which is so varied and always interesting.

Over to you girls,
Hugs,

Fiona x

Cupcake Craft Challenge #63

Hi bloggers. I trust you are all well. The last two days have been a bit of a write off I'm afraid. I probably did too much earlier in the week but I wanted to enjoy the family visit. We did enjoy the time we had together but didn't get to do all that we wanted. I really am grateful for the concerned comments you have left me - It's nice to know you care. Thanks.
I had this card almost finished at the beginning of the week so have topped and tailed it for the Cupcake Crafts challenge. The image is Magnolia's "Tilda with Dalecarlia Coat" coloured using my Copic Ciaos. The papers are from Stampin Up's "Bloom and Grow" collection and the flowers are handmade.
I hope you will find time to leave a comment if you like it - I love reading them. I am off for a good nights sleep and intend to catch up with my own blog visiting and comment leaving after that.
Hugs,
Fiona x