The Other Side Of Me

Blog Candy

2008-08-22T16:15:00.004+02:00

This post will stay at the top of my blog until the 22nd August.
I didn't realise it till today but I've just gone over the 37,000 hits mark!!! So I'd like to say a big thank you to all who visit my blog, I really appreciate your comments. And I'd like to thank you by offering out some blog candy.
When I first joined the DT on Alota stamps, Helene kindly sent me some duplicate stamps to use as blog candy. So....
I'm offering up this gorgeous country girls stamp and some stamped images. This stamp is only part of a range of the country girls stamps. You can see all of them here.

All you have to do is put up a post and a link on your blog telling people about my Alota blog candy and then leave me a comment on this post. I will randomly pick out a winner on Friday 22nd August. Good Luck!! :0)

Proud Mum Again!!

2008-08-21T08:42:00.002+02:00

Elliott took his Science and Maths GCSE exams a year early and this morning received his results. A in Maths and A* in science! I'm soooo proud of him.
Congratulations Elliott!!!

I don't have a clue where both my eldest got their brains from!!!

Cute Card Thursday

2008-08-20T19:57:00.007+02:00

Ooo doesn't time fly , the Summer holidays are nearly over and the dark nights will be coming soon!! Anyway onto a more happier note, the theme this week over on the Cute Card Thursday blog is...

Bright colours

You couldn't possibly say this card isn't bright can you? Too much maybe? Anyway I've used two Alota stamps for this one, the little girl with her truck is from the Country Girls range and the strawberry plant border. I embossed a piece of raspberry card with a cuttlebug embossing folder for the background. I've used a Stampin Up simply scrappin set for the papers and embellies. both images are coloured in with promarkers. I've added 3 buttons to give it a bit of depth and the images are on 3D pads.

Stamps:- Alota stamps
Papers:- Stampin Up simply scrappin - Cutie Pie
Embossing folder:- Swiss Dots

To cheer you up, if it's gloomy where you are , why not go over to the blog and have a look at the DT's bright colours cards. I'm sure they will inspire you to make your own brightly coloured card.

You can find all the details here

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog

2008-08-20T18:57:00.004+02:00

As you probably already know the theme on the Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog is the seasons. I've already shown you my Winter and Summer but I have now put up my Autumn one too.

And here it is, not a good photo sorry. It's very gloomy here at the moment. I used a scrap of SU paper and inked the Magnolia flourish stamp over it with distress ink and also sponged the edges. I then added a leaf brad and a mulberry leaf. The Magnolia image has been coloured with promarkers. The sentiment is made with a tape machine. And to finnish off I lightly sponged the whole of the ATC with distress ink.

Stamps:- Magnolia
Paper:- Stampin Up designer paper
"Autumn":- Around the block taper writer

Don't forget to keep checking back on the blog as the DT are adding their ATC's gradually until the end of August.
You can find all the details here
http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/

Best of Friends

2008-08-20T10:06:00.004+02:00

Look at my big baby, I do mean Milly!! She is now 5 months old and she weighs 14 kilos!!! She is going to be a big dog! Robbyn and Milly were taking a rest after playing together. She really is a lovely dog, so gentle with the kids.

Friday Sketchers

2008-08-19T20:53:00.007+02:00

Mumur designed the sketch this week for Friday Sketchers.

And here is my card for the sketch. I've used an Elisabeth Bell designed stamp called "Girl and Birdhouse". I've used promarkers to colour the image. All the papers are from a SU designer paper set. The sentiment is a stamp from a SU set. The blooms are from my stash but I lightly sponged them with some olive ink. The ribbon is from ever increasing stash of ribbons!

Stamp:- Elisabeth Bell " Girl and Birdhouse".
Papers:- Stampin Up designer papers - Le Jardin
Sentiment:- Stampin Up - Warm Words

You can find the Friday Sketchers challenge blog here
http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/

Papertake Weekly Challenge

2008-08-19T14:59:00.006+02:00

On the Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog there is a sketch to follow from Katharina. I love following sketches so I have made a card for this week's challenge.

Here's Katharina's sketch.

This is my card for the sketch. I've used Urban Lilly papers with an Elisabeth Bell stamp called "sitting with bear". The image has been coloured in with promarkers. For the embellies I cut out the shapes using my Cricut and used a SU stamp for the sentiment. The swirls are a Quickutz die using the same Urban Lilly papers.

Stamps:- Elisabeth Bell - Sitting with bear
Papers:- Urban Lilly
Sentiment:- Stampin Up - Riveting
Shapes:- Cricut cartridges - Mini monograms & Doodlecharms
Swirls:- Quickutz Flourish

Gorgeous work from the DT , you can see all the cards here

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/

Great blog candy!!

2008-08-19T10:00:00.006+02:00

I've just found out that Debbie is offering out some great blog candy as she has gone over the 10,000 hits mark. Congratulations Debbie :0).

Here's what she has to offer

8x8 Dovecraft Winter wonderland paper pack,
matching Ribbon stickers and Funky Brads
3 Bundles of Fibres
and a brand new Whiff of Joy Charlie with Snowballs rubber stamp
I have my fingers crossed for this one as I need some new Xmas papers and I haven't got any of the Whiff of joy stamps yet!!
You can find out all about here at Debbie's blog.

http://debbieeastmancardsimake.blogspot.com/

It finishes this Sunday 24th August.

A Spoon Full Of Sugar

2008-08-19T08:51:00.007+02:00

This week on the A Spoon Full Of Sugar challenge blog we have a sketch for you. It was made by Debbie.

Here is the sketch

And here is my card, I turned the sketch 90 degrees as the image was quite big. I've used a Lady and Friends stamp called "Under the blanket". How cosy do they look? I've used promarkers to colour the image in. All the background papers are from a Stampin Up designer paper set. The blooms were just plain but I used a script stamp to stamp onto them to change them a bit. I think it worked okay. The adorable is from an Art Journey set.

Stamp:- Ladybug & Friends - Under the blanket designed by Rachelle Anne Miller

Papers:- Stampin Up designer papers - Cutie Pie

Swirls:- Rhonna Farrer

A great prize again this week, a stamp from Whiff Of Joy called Charlie with dog is up on offer. Why not go over and get all the details?

You can find the A Spoon Full Of Sugar blog here

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/

And more good news as from this week we are allowing any make of stamp to be used on your cards!! So it's even easier now , you can use your favourite stamps!!

Cold As Ice

2008-08-17T10:02:00.006+02:00

The theme for the Tilda & Co Challenge Blog this week is

Cold As Ice

The sun is now drifting away very fast and soon it will be as cold as ice....
Using the colours Blue & white Only . Show us how cold your projects can
feel this week.

Here is my card. Sorry but I've used an assortment of papers from last year and I don't know who they are by. I need to buy this year's Xmas papers soon. The back right paper is a cuttlebug embossing folder with ink sponged onto it.The image is a Tilda with lantern which I have coloured in with promarkers and I've also used some stickles on the wings and the pom poms. The swirls have been cut out of vellum and a handmade paper. The other bits are from my stash.

Stamp:- Magnolia
Swirls:- Quickutz flourish

If you would like to have a go at this week's challenge and a chance to win a fab prize of Dovecraft winter wonderland pack then have a look on the blog here

http://magnoliachallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Sorry the post is a bit quick but I'm off out on a long walk with the kids and the dog. :0) Have a good day whatever you are doing. And don't forget to enter my blog candy!!!

FOR SALE

2008-08-17T09:00:00.003+02:00

I have for sale a new pack of Stampin Up bold brights markers. I now have promarkers so I don't need them. They are retailing at £26.95 in the SU catalogue but I would like £20 which would include postage. Payment by paypal only please.

Thanks. :0)

Happy Halloween

2008-08-15T15:17:00.004+02:00

A just because card. I decided to make this Halloween card today as I wanted to use this adorable Happy Halloween stamp from Alota.

I used a cream hammered blank card to start with and then used a smaller piece of SU pumpkin pie designer paper. I then stitched around it with black thread.The card frame was made with my cricut and rouge de garance paper. I stamped out the Happy Halloween stamp and then coloured it in with promarkers. I then lightly sponged all over it with a amber chalk ink. It was then layered onto orange card. The "web" and spider were both made from the same paper. I don't have a clue who makes it, sorry. I cut the web from the pattern on the paper but the spider was cut on my cricut. To make the spider hang I used a glittery orange thread. To finish off I added some metallic orange brads and some black ribbon.

Stamp:- Alota Rubber Stamps

Papers:- Rouge de Garance & SU pumpkin pie
Cricut:- Stretch your imagination & Doodlecharms

2008-08-14T18:13:00.002+02:00

Karen has some great blog candy, 4 K&Co paper pads. You can see the details here.

http://charmedcrafts.blogspot.com/

A Proud Mum

2008-08-14T17:02:00.002+02:00

My daughter , like so many others , received her AS results today. I am so proud of her she got two B's and one C. I can't believe this time next September she will be off to Uni.
Congratulations Sigourney xx

Cute Card Thursday

2008-08-13T20:10:00.009+02:00

This week's challenge is...

Soft Furnishings

This week the theme for the challenge is
Soft Furnishings
you can use
fabric, ribbon, stitching, buttons etc, anything you can find on the soft
furnishings in the home ie curtains, cushions, sofas etc.

You can't really tell straight away , my "soft furnishings" bit on my card, but it's the blue and green background behind the images. It is two pieces of material. I layered them onto some patterned paper and stitched around them with a yellow zig zag stitch. All the papers I've used are from Stampin Up.
Now all the images are from Alota stamps, the cow and the sentiment are from a unmounted set called Molly Moo. The wishing well can be found here and the bug, Keelie on cloud can be found here. All the images have been coloured with promarkers. I then just added some little gems and some photo corners.

Stamps:- Alota
Papers:- Stampin Up designer papers - Petals & Paisleys
Photo corners:- Ellison thin cuts

This week one lucky random winner will win 2 stamps from Alota that Helene kindly donated to me for blog candy. They are the couch and the window. These two stamps work really well with any stamps you already have ie. Magnolias, Hanglars etc. Why not have a go at this week's challenge? I'd love to see all your soft furnishing cards.

You can find all the details here
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

Another Bella card

2008-08-13T17:31:00.007+02:00

This time it's a Fella card, think it's Golfabella.

I've coloured the image in with promarkers. Just a simple, quick card. I tried to make the charm look like a medal so I threaded some of the ribbon through it and used a brad to "hang" it. The charm says "Thanks Dad".

Stamp:- Bella
Papers:- Sassafras
Brads, charm & ribbon:- in my stash

Bella Sketch Challenge

2008-08-12T19:12:00.009+02:00

I've really been neglecting my Bellas just lately so I saw this Bella Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers and had a go.

I've use a Retailbellafella stamp and coloured it in with promarkers. All the papers used are from a SU designer paper set called Le Jardin. The sentiment is also from a SU stamp set.

Stamp:- Bella - Retailfellabella
Papers:- Stampin Up designer papers - Le Jardin
Sentiment:- Stampin Up - Riveting
Photo corners:- Ellison thin cuts
Scallop:- Cricut - Mini Monograms

A Spoon Full Of Sugar

2008-08-12T08:54:00.012+02:00

Hello , I hope you are all enjoying the summer holidays. It's been beautiful weather here but today it is raining. So if you can't go out why not take part in the "A Spoon Full Of Sugar" challenge blog. This week it is...

A Secret Message

We would love you to hide a message somewhere in your card.

We have one
of the new release High Hopes stamps "Juggles" to send to one randomly chosen
winner this week. The stamp has very kindly been donated by Bryony from Silly Monkey Crafts. Silly Monkey
Crafts have lots of the new High Hope releases instock.

Here is my take on the challenge. I've used Rouge de Garance papers. Love these , so bright and cheerful. I layered up the papers and cut out some of the flowers to make embellie. Because the colours are so strong I didn't want to add to much to it, so I just added the blue brads. The image is a Hanglar stamp coloured in with promarkers. Umm yes I have ordered some more, the 3 sets of add ons. ;0).

So where's the secret message? Here! I cut out another tag to go over the image one and adhered it with a brad so it "swings". On the original tag I have stamped the "thank you".

Stamp:- Hanglar
Papers:- Rouge de Garance
Sentiment:- Scrapagogo

The other DT members have made some gorgeous cards you can see them all here

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/

Why not have a go at your "secret message"

Tilda & Co Challenge Blog

2008-08-10T16:00:00.001+02:00

This week the theme is..

Christmas is coming

Please create anything as long as it is Christmas Related,
Maybe you're
starting your Christmas cards for this Year already!
Please remember
your work must include at least one Magnolia image.

Again I couldn't get a good photo of this because it's an acetate card.
I measured and folded a piece of acetate in half. I then clear embossed the Magnolia snowflakes onto the acetate using a glitter gold embossing powder and versamark. I tied a piece of red ribbon around the left hand side of the card and attached a little christmas tree charm to it. The image has been done with all Magnolia stamps. The "snow" is the magnolia cloud stamp. I masked off santa to do this. It's been coloured in with promarkers and I've also added some diamond stickles. I then layered the image onto two different coloured card.

Stamps:- Magnolia

Some gorgeous work from the other DT members can be seen on the blog this week, maybe inspiring you to make an early start on your Xmas cards? Why not go over and take a look and then you can join in? You can find all the details here

http://magnoliachallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog

2008-08-10T14:15:00.008+02:00

I showed you my Winter ATC a while back for the Tilda & Friends Challenge blog well now I've completed my Summer ATC.

I've use SU papers for the background and stitched around the edges with a pink thread. I then used the leaves and Tilda from the Summer kit, colouring them in with promarkers. I adhered them onto the ATC with 3D pads. The little label was given to me by Annie. I sponged pink ink around the edges and added the summer sentiment , which was done with a tape writer. I then used brads to fix it on.

Stamps:- Magnolia
Paper:- Stampin Up designer paper - petals & paisleys
Sentiment:- Around the block tape writer

All through August the theme is "seasons" and the DT will be adding their season ATCs as they do them, so keep checking back.
You can see them all here

http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/

Sketch Saturday & Stamp Something

2008-08-10T08:04:00.006+02:00

Two challenges in one, the first is Sketch Saturday and I also would like to put it in for the Stamp Something challenge blog, their theme is a colour challenge of pink, green and blue.

Here's the sketch for Sketch Saturday,but I turned it 90 degrees.

Sorry it's not a very good photo but it's 8am and raining and gloomy here. But you get the idea.

I've used a stamp from the Ladybug and Friends range designed by Rachelle Anne Miller. I actually received this image from Frances. Thanks Frances. :0) I've coloured it in with my new promarkers. Umm guess what I ordered some more, but only because I didn't have the right greens, you understand. ;0) I've layered up the image onto 2 different cs. The little photo corners are all from Annie. Thanks Annie. All the papers are from a Stampin Up designer paper set. I also made the blooms from the paper and added a little gem to the middle. The sentiment is done with a word window punch and a stamp from a Stampin Up set.

Stamps:- Ladybug and Friends - Just For You
Papers:- Stamping Up , designer papers - petals & paisleys
Sentiment:- Stampin Up, warm words

Friday Sketchers

2008-08-08T15:35:00.006+02:00

I decided to have a go at the sketch on Friday Sketchers this week.

Here is the sketch and this week is done by Beatrix.

And here is my card. I've used a Sugar Nellie image designed by Elisabeth Bell called Post Box which Annie kindly sent me, thank you Annie. I've coloured her with my promarkers. Hmm I think I NEED more colours as my grass isn't very good. I've used Basic Grey Periphery papers for this one as they always look good when you distress them with distress inks. I've done a lot of sponging with the weathered wood and vintage photo distress inks on the edges and torn pieces. I had no blooms to match properly so again I had to sponge the blue bloom. The sentiment is from a SU set.

Stamp:- Elisabeth Bell - post box
Papers:- BG periphery
Sentiment:- Stampin Up - Simply Said

I really enjoyed this sketch as it was a bit different from the norm. If you would like to have a go you can find all the details here..

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/

Promarkers

2008-08-08T12:11:00.004+02:00

Woohoo at last my Promarkers have landed!! Ok so this is my first go at using them. On first sight I really like them. They go on really smoothly and it's easy to create shading with them. I need lots more practise but they are easier to use than I thought.

I also received my GoGo Greetings kit ,so I've used that too. That's all the papers and the die cuts. For the main image I've used one of my Alota stamps, this one is from the Lilly Ladybug unmounted sheet.
I've coloured her with the new promarkers and added some highlights with a white signo pen. Then I just added some zoomz.

Stamps:- Alota
Papers:- Chatterbox & Crate paper
Die Cuts:- Crate Paper
Embellies:- Zoomz

Blog Candy Alert!!

2008-08-07T20:56:00.003+02:00

This is one you won't want to miss....

Katharina is offering up some great blog candy. To celebrate her 100,000 hits on her blog she is offering the whole collection of the Whiff Of Joy Guardian Angel Collection.
Here's what Katharina says

Here is the deal:
The winner of my blog candy give away gets the complete Whiff of Joy Guardian Angel Collection by Elisabeth Bell ( 4 stamps )
for free
AND I (or better Whiff of Joy Stamps ) will host a blog candy give
away on the winners blog. You can choose the terms and I will sponsor your blog
candy with another complete set of the Guardian Angels

To see one of the stamps and get all the details go over to her blog it's here

http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

Cute Card Thursday

2008-08-07T07:39:00.006+02:00

The theme for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge blog is

"The Two Of Us"

We would like you to use two of something on your card, it could be 2 people, 2
animals or 1 of each, we love to see your own interpretation as always!

So for my card I've used Alota stamps, these come from an unmounted sheet called Western Days. I was hoping to use my promarkers but I couldn't get hold of them (long story) so I had to use prismas instead. I've stitched just around the first PP this time and layered up contrasting paper and cardstock from SU. For the embellies I used copper coloured eyelets and the for the side ones I threaded through some organza ribbon. I also stamped out an extra piece of lassoo and coloured that in to layer onto the bottom of the card. And then the sentiment was stamped straight onto the SU paper.

Stamps:- Alota
Papers:- Stampin Up, Fall Flowers
Embellies:- From stash

Again there are some great cards made by the DT, so why not go over and have a look and even join in. There is a fabby prize of a daddy stamp from Nikki at Dewdrop Craftz for one lucky winner.

Have a great day, we are off to a place called the "Externsteine". It has a massive lake and we are teaching Milly how to swim!!! The weather here is gorgeous. :0)