TGIF! The weekend is really close!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... I used a similar design a short while back and I really liked it. Thought I could make it in to an anniversary card for hubby with a simple addition and change of sentiment ...

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and red, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card for my sentiment ("LOVE YOU" on the front and "ALWAYS AND FOREVER" on the insert) and heart image
• Creative Expressions image (from CEC897 - "loopy textures and elements" - June 2018) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• StudioLight grungey circle image (from SL342 - from July 2019) stamped using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• Dina Wakley hearts image (from MDL43874) stamped on to a white snippet using Versafine Clair strawberry ink, sprinkled with Funstamps holographic embossing powder, heat set and (once cooled) fussy cut out and glued to my card front.
• Craspire sentiments (from DIY-WHO167-57-0250 - July 2026 and NBUS) stamped on to a white snippet using Versafine Clair nocturne ink and, once dry, fussy cut out to glue to my insert and on the card front I mounted using dimensional foam pad

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. NBUS - challenge No. 88 - USE NBUS
2. Paper Rocks Scissors - challenge No. 18 - USE PAPER AND SCISSORS
3. Word Art Wednesday - challenge No. 762/3 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Color Hues - challenge No. 137 - BLACK AND RED (with the accepted neutral of grey too)
5. Unicorn Challenge - challenge No. 122 - NO DESIGNER/PATTERNED PAPER

Wonderful Wednesday!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... the idea to use a plane image may even have been sparked by the recent Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in black and white
• Tim Holtz plane image (from THMM105) and sentiment (from CMS155) both stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Using a makeup brush and Versafine Clair paradise ink, I applied a light covering of ink, taking care to go close to but not over the plane image
• Placing my Clearly Besotted cloud stencil I used the paradise ink to add the "sky"

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Stencil Fun - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) PATTERNS
2. Love to Craft - challenge No. 93 - ANYTHING GOES
3. The Little Things - challenge No. 066 - FLAMINGO/ELEPHANT/ANYTHING GOES
4. Tagalong and ATC's - July challenge - FAVOURITE COLOUR OR ANYTHING GOES
5. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2629 - ANYTHING GOES

I was a TOP3 over at The Little Things recently, thanks so much peeps, I do appreciate it

Monday - here comes a fresh, new week - ENJOY!

Morning readers,

Hope you've all enjoyed your weekend, was it just me or was Sunday a bit cooler?

Anyone watch the football? I certainly didn't but .. one of the Surrogates had drawn Spain in a sweepstake so, pretty sure they'll be happy this morning!

I've a make to share with you today ... another Christmas card ... the "same but different" as my previous post (you can scroll down or click on this link should you wish to check it out). What did I change? The image panel turned out slightly smaller, I changed the cat image to that of a dog, I changed the sentiment (though it WAS from the same set) and matted it, and I embossed the card front ... the same BUT different - hope you like this one too. Surprising what a couple of small modifications can do to the finished card - I can't make up my mind which I like best!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card (landscape fold) and envelope
• Card in white and Christmas red, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card in both white and red, for my image panel and for my sentiment panel
• I ran my white card front panel through my Big Shot inside a snowflake embossing folder (I THINK it may have come from The Range)
• Aall & Create dog image (from set TP-1320) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Clearly Besotted sentiment (from "Simply Said Christmas") stamped using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour
• Stardust stickles to add some festive sparkle

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Can You Handle The Pressure - July challenge - ANYTHING (using an embossing folder) GOES + (optional) STARS & STRIPES
2. Classic Design Challenge - challenge No. 07-2026 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) ANY HOLIDAY
3. Fab 'n Funky - challenge No. 641 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
4. Crafters Cafe - challenge No. 332 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
5. Inkspirational - challenge No. 372 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I was selected as a CAS "perfectionist" this weekend, over at Addicted to CAS - thank you so much, I always appreciate when people like my work.

Saturday - have a great weekend

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... I was doing so well with my 2026 Christmas cards and then ... I wasn't! So, this is another one to add to the pile!

Materials used:

• White, 300gsm, C6 landscape card and envelope
• Card in white and Christmas red, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of white and red card for my image panel and matting layer
• Clearly Besotted sentiment (from "Simply said Christmas") stamped using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• All & Create cat image (from set #TP-1321 - Jan 2026 - NBUS) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour my image
• Stardust stickles to add some festive sparkle to the hat, bauble, grounding

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Kleuren met Potloden - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES (so long as it's coloured using pencils)
2. NBUS - challenge No. 88 - USE NBUS
3. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 829 - CAS (Clean And Simple)
4. Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - challenge No. 276 - "X" is for XMAS

TGIF - the weekend starts ...

Morning readers,

Had a good week? Got plans for the weekend? We've had a good week, celebrating with Surrogate family on Wednesday ... a birthday BBQ, so lucky with the weather - not too hot!! Pheww! We also have family coming to dinner on Saturday so that will be another mad evening, hope the weather will mean we can sit outside and watch the bats!

I've a make to share with you today ... a seriously CAS  card and with only one additional layer. Whilst this is a card that would suit many occasions, I used it to send a couple of ATC's to a pal ... and it definitely made a change from all the sympathy cards I've had to make recently.

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• White card, for my card front and insert
• Provocraft dragonfly (35-9182) stamped multiple times, using Versafine Clair warm breeze ink
• MFT sentiment (from BB.49 "Bitty Bears") stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stardust stickles - to add some serious sparkle to the dragonfly wings

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Simply CAS (Clean And Simple) - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) BIRTHDAY
2. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 829 - CAS (Clean And Simple)
3. CRAFT - challenge No. 784 - THANK YOU or ANYTHING GOES
4. I Spy With My Little Eye - challenge No. 39 - SOMETHING WITH WINGS
5. Creative Crafters - challenge No. 102 - ANYTHING GOES

Wednesday once more ...

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... an inky little Artist Trading Card, with some white embossing - striking!.

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and hot pink
• Using my round mini blending tools (and domed foam pads) I applied Distress Inks in: mustard seed, salty ocean and picked raspberry, blending the inks at the joins. I set aside to dry thoroughly before proceeding
• Cart-US bee image (001883/1060) stamped using Versafine embossing ink, liberally sprinkled with Funstamps white embossing powder and shaking off the excess before heat setting
• Tim Holtz sentiment (from THMM113) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• I felt it needed a little something extra on the blue and pink panels so ... using the same distress inks I applied a further layer of colour through the stencil from the THMM113 set
• A quick spritz of Crafters Companion spray and shine - to protect the water based inks and then, all that was left was to add some stardust stickles to add some sparkle to my bees wings!

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Little Things - challenge No. 06 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) FLAMINGO / ELEPHANT
2. Stencil Fun - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) PATTERNS
3. Crafting Happiness - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) RED / WHITE / BLUE
4. I Spy with my little eye - challenge No. 39 - THINGS WITH WINGS

Monday, have a great week

Morning readers,

Here's hoping you all enjoyed your weekend and that the weather didn't spoil any plans you may have had ... frankly, it was too hot for me and I spent much of my weekend indoors! We were dog sitting and the lovely Riddick wasn't really much interested in doing anything other than resting in front of the fan!! He DID seem interested in sitting out in the garden once it had started to cool off though, bless him.

I've a make to share with you today ... I've had occasion to use yet another sympathy card, this time for the husband of a trading card buddy. I HOPE there won't be any more of my friends passing for quite some time now.

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and pearl grey, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card in white and pearl grey, for my sentiment panel
• Hero Arts foliage (from CL-477) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Hero Arts sentiment (from CL.342 - 2013) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Simply Clean And Simple - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) BIRTHDAY
2. Crafty Catz - challenge No. 717 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Gem of a Challenge - challenge No. 7 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Hearts Quest Celebrations of Love - challenge No. 30 - BEWAS (Birthday, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary or Sympathy)
5. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 7 - ANYTHING GOES

Saturday - have a fab weekend - got plans?

Morning readers,

Hope you are all managing to get by during this heatwave but ... boy, is it warm? What's your best tip to stay cool?

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Card. I needed to make two with a theme of butterflies ... you can see my other one here. For a change I used embossing folders on both ATC's but they turned out quite different to one another, I do hope the recipient will like them both.

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white, orange, burnt orange (circle) and black (brick effect)
• Unbranded faux stitched nesting circle dies and unbranded faux brick die
• Chocolate Baroque butterfly (free with Craft Stamper) stamped on to a white snippet using Versafine Clair nocturne ink, once dry I fussy cut round the butterfly and then traced the inked lines with stardust stickles, for some serious sparkle!
• I ran my burnt orange snippet through my Big Shot with the faux stitched circle die and then again ran the circle through inside the Provo Craft foliage embossing folder
• The unbranded brick die was used to cut a section of "wall" using a black snippet of card
• MFT sentiment (from CS.74) stamped on to a snippet of white card using Versafine Clair nocturne ink, cut out with scissors and then mounted on to a snippet of bright orange before attaching with dimensional foam tape

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Can You Handle The Pressure - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES (with an embossing folder) + (optional) STARS AND STRIPES
2. Snippets Playground - challenge No. 536 - USE SNIPPETS
3. Cardz4Galz - challenge No. 280 - FOR A FRIEND or FRIENDSHIP
4. The Little Things - challenge No. 6 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) FLAMINGO and/or ELEPHANT
5. GirlzRebel - challenge No. 54 - GLITTER

TGIF peeps! Have a good one!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Card and definitely NOT Clean And Simple!

Stamped and Stencilled - then embossed & 3D'd

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and in Costco double sided pack, plain side used
• Finnabair butterfly ( from 965389) stamped twice, once on to my ATC front panel and once on to a snippet of white card (which I then fussy cut out as I intended to mount in 3D fashion)
• Using a makeup brush and Brilliance pearlescent jade ink, I applied a light layer of colour to my ATC front panel, taking care to avoid the butterfly image
• Overlaying my Aall & Create stencil (#70) I added a further layer of the jade ink, again, taking care not to ink over the butterfly
• I then ran my ATC front panel through my Big Shot inside the Provocraft "swiss dots" embossing folder, to give some extra texture and interest
• Using a bone folder, I marked the edges of my butterflies body both sides and creased crisply, to give my glue something to stick to.
• Stardust stickles to add some sparkle to the wings.
• Once dry, I applied glue to just the body of the butterfly and adhered it - to give a 3D image - directly over the image stamped on my ATC front
• Tim Holtz "small talk" sentiment (cut in to two pieces) and with extra glue to assist the adhesion over the embossed front

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Paper, Rocks Scissors - challenge No. 18 - ANYTHING GOES .. but MUST use paper and scissors
2. Love to Craft - challenge No. 93 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Word Art Wednesday - challenge No's 760/761 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Triple B - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES WITH 1 or more BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES or BLOOMS
5. Stencil Fun - July challenge - ANYTHING STENCILLED GOES + (optional) PATTERNS

Wednesday - mid week, hope it's going well for you all

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... sadly, I have had need of yet another sympathy card and this one has already been dispatched, as have my other recent makes.

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and pearl grey, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Katzelkraft sentiment (From KTZ291 - 2023) stamped using Versafine Clair nocture
• Hero Arts foliage image (from CL-477) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 7 - ANYTHING GOES
2. HQCOLB - challenge No. 30 - BEWAS (Birthdays / Engagement / Wedding / Anniversary / Sympathy) - + (optional) MASCULINE
3. Pattie's Creations - challenge No. 244 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Love to Craft - challenge No. 93 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Creative Inspiration - challenge No. 40 - ANYTHING GOES

On a brighter note, we recently had a Surrogate family BBQ which was a bit of fun, there's always a quiz at some point!

Not sure that this was part of the quiz but ...

Monday and the start of another week - ENJOY!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ...

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and gold (mirri), for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Paper Artsy image (KCM012 from early 2026) and Paper Artsy sentiment (from JOFY14 dating all the way to 2013) both stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink and set aside to dry thoroughly
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour my image
• Arden Creative Studio distressed diamond stencil used, with a makeup brush, to apply Memento dandelion ink
• Stardust stickles to add some sparkle

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 827 - BIRTHDAY
2. Seize the Birthday - challenge No. 329 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) BLULE/PINK/YELLOW
3. AAA Birthday - challenge No. 87 - FOR THE GIRLS
4. Crafty Calendar - July challenge - BIRTHDAY
5. Simply Clean And Simple - July challenge - BIRTHDAY

We were at a charity flying event over the weekend that my husband has been involved with over the past few years. There's usually a flight related talk, a BBQ lunch and then (weather permitting) the chance of some flights ... there are usually a few small planes and helicopters. In 2025 I got one flight but Surrogate grandson got two (one was in a helicopter). He got an acrobatic flight yesterday and my hubby was in a bi-plane ... safe to say they were both DELIGHTED!! A lovely day out and, once the flying was over, a relaxing chat over a bottle of something chilled and fizzy (designated driver and underage attendee's "chilled and fizzy" was cola!)

Hubby in the Stearman bi-plane

Zac in the acrobatic plane