2 Cute Freebie and Challenge

Well, I said I was going to enter the challenge....just didnt know I would get it done this quickly!  You know, when you sit there and look and look and can't decide what to do....then all of  sudden it just comes together!

SO....the challenge at 2 Cute Rubber Stamps was to use their freebie to make something...love challenges like this lolx

Its a sweetie box!  And a card to go with it of course.

Close up of the box - this fabby paper was a freebie, absolutely ages ago, from a magazine.  The box is one of my Graze boxes given a makeover.  These are great for keeping kiddie sweeties in (mind you, I normally eat them first!)

Such a shame - you cant see the glitter!  All of the white icing is glittered, the heart is glazed with sakura pen.  Oh and liquid pearls around the edge.  Maybe if you click on the photos you will see the glitter...can you tell, I like the glitter!  Its all sparkly and shiny!

And onto the card.  I used little pink bugle beads and more glitter on the icing for this one.  I then covered the whole lot with glossy accents.

.....well, you can ALMOST see the beads at least!

Hey ho!  You just have to take my word for it - they are all glittery and pretty!

LOLx

Thanks for taking the time to look

Rx

Edited: Have just checked...if you click on the pic and tilt your laptop screen/monitor then you can see the glitter...or maybe crouch down and peep up!!!

Edited AGAIN!!!  Lisa left me a lovely comment and suggested I enter this into Moving Along with the Times whose theme this week is Glitter - yep - got that one alright!  Thanks Lisa!

Another DT call!

Well, there seems to be alot of changes in blogland at the moment - lots of coming and going.  One of these is Emma is leaving 2 Cute Stamps, so they are looking for a replacement (if thats possible!).  Here are the details - I am gonna have a try at their challenge this week - so keep an eye out for that.  Oh - and Aud Sentiment was sponsored by 2 Cute this week - so scroll down and take a peek!

Thanks for looking

Rx

Delicious Doodles Meets Simon Says and swiss roll in trifle!!!

Hmmmm - is all birthdays and presents!  And there isn't either on this offering!

This is one of the Delicious Doodles birthday freebies!  They are one year old - I seriously thought they had been going for way longer than a year - in a good way!

Well, there is a challenge to use one of the freebies they have been giving away this week - and this was my pick - so versatile!

And inside, is a mix and match game.  You know - you draw the top half and bottom half of something and then mix and match...or it could be the front and back...it could be parts of words...think hippo(potamus) and Meer (cat) = hippocat!  I was just chatting to Josh about this and he said they used to have one at school that was foods and toppings - he always used to turn it to bolognaise and chips!

Simon Says Challenge is to make a present - and this will be winging its way up the country to this little cutie....in case you are not sure which one...its the little one in pink!  The two smaller ones are my bestest friend's little ones - yes, and the one in the middle is the dreaded JOSH!  And - yes, he has had a haircut recently!

The kids made trifle last week and were astonished how well it turned out...considering we didnt have any cream, or sponge fingers!  My mum used to make trifle with swiss roll, so did my friend's mum (the mum of these two!) so it was perfectly fine with us to replace the sponge fingers with swiss roll.  BUT my mother in law and brother in law had a happy time teasing the heck out of me (about a year ago - not that I remember - lol) at just the thought of doing something so sacriligious!

SO - is it just our mums who used to do this (they lived at the other end of the country and didnt know each other!), or did your mums do this????

Thanks for looking!

Rx

Karen's Doodles - Halloween Freebie!

I do like Karen's images - I have quite a few of them now!  Oh the joys of digi downloads and the temptation of that instant gratification!

And....the observant among you will have noticed that the card on the left is NOT a Karen's Doodles image!  Nope - its my trusty wishblade in operation again - I designed the image myself, linked it all up and (eventually) got it to cut out!  YAY!  Was very pleased with myself!

And if you open the card - here is what is inside!  YAY Karen's image!  Have doodled the cobwebs and spiders and added glossy accents to the pumpkin so it stands proud.

This shows the card standing up!  And you will notice it has another "layer" - so...you open up the trick and treat panel and find the Karen's Doodles panel...then you lift that panel and find the final panel!

Theoretically, I guess you could just carry on with this - use it for little brag book?  A way to show off some images perhaps---oh come on - you with imaginations will know of something to do with it!

So - you get a rectangle of card, fold it in half (into a mini card) and then add another rectangle of card (but this one sits at 90 degrees - so the fold is at the top) - hope that makes sense!  To continue on, you would just add the next "card" in with the fold at the side again (like the first layer - although, you could of course put the fold on the right side rather than the left side!)

Ha ha - have just re read those instructions!  Make no sense!  If you want me to, just leave me a comment and I will put up a quick photo tutorial to show what I mean!

Oh....the final panel......

Thanks for looking - go and check out Karens Doodles on facebook!

Rx

Aud Sentiments - Any Sentiment and DT CALL!

First the bad news ..... hey, I always prefer the bad news first - then I can have fun with the good news!.... Wendy is leaving the design team over at Aud Sentiments.  I have to say that I have learnt alot by looking at Wendy's work - she has been an inspiration to us all! 

SO.... we are looking for 2 new design team members. If you are interested please put DT next to your entry to this challenge. The call will be open until Tuesday, August 31 and we will announce our choices on Thursday, September 2 with the new challenge. The term will run until the end of December. You will be required to make a project for each fortnightly challenge, to comment on the entries, and help in selecting the winners. Its such a lovely team - and Aud organises things brilliantly - I would apply all over again!

Don't forget there is still time to enter our new monthly drawing. The link is here. You are still eligible to win even if you are applying to be on the DT because your term will not start until after this drawing is over.

OK, now onto the challenge...


We are so so lucky to be sponsored by 2 Cute Rubber Stamps . They are giving the winner a free rubber stamp or 2 digi stamps! Thanks so much! If you haven't had a chance to work with their images go and check them out because they are so much fun! here is a little something about them...

"2 Cute Rubber Stamps are cute and whimsical stamps that are offered as both digital and cling cushion. I decided to create a rubber stamp business to have an outlet for all my illustrations where others can enjoy! The BEST thing about 2 cute rubber stamps is that YOU can get involved in the creative process by voting on my sketches and being able to post ideas of what you would like to see as a stamp."

This time around the sentiment is... ANYTHING GOES! This will work out so perfectly to for the DT call because you can showcase all your favorite things to do! Enter as many times as you would like and if you are applying for a spot on the team make sure that each entry has DT next to it. 

OK, now onto the challenge...I have honestly never tried anything like this before!  I hate the idea of scrunching up a bit of paper and making it messy!  But just had to do it for this image!  I know what my son and I look like after we have been down the yard so it just seemed right!

So - if you would like to join in the fun... ride on over to  Aud Sentiments  and link up your entry - suspect it will be a busy challenge!  Two more things - dont forget, if you want to enter the team call (oh go on, it will be such a blast!) then add DT after your entry and finally (!!!!!) dont forget the candy!!!

thanks for popping by

Rx

ONLY 16 Entries!!

Hey - you gotta love those odds!  Only 16 entries so far for the challenge at Audsentiments - the theme is Relax.  Now surely that has to be worth a go?  16:1 - hmmmmmmm - might enter myself!!!  Oooo and if you do the challenge...you get an extra entry for the candy!


Have a great evening!


Rx

Monthly drawing for Blog Candy

 

We are having so much fun over at Aud Sentiments that we have decided to add something new... A monthly drawing for CANDY!

Here is how it's going to work...
In order to qualify for the drawing all you have to do is

1. Become a follower of Aud Sentiments

2. Post on your blog about the candy AND the sponsor with a link back to the candy post over at Aud Sentiments

3. Put the badge on the bottom of this post with a link back to the post on Aud Sentiments on your sidebar

4. Link your post to Mr. Linky over at Aud Sentiments

That's it.

Sometimes we will have something extra for you to do to earn another chance to win. For example, for this drawing if you enter in Challenge #8 you will get to enter the drawing again. Just link your entry to Mr. Linky and put a #2 next to your name.


OK, now onto the sponsor. We are so lucky to have DeNami Design Rubber Stamps as our first sponsor. They have a wonderful selection of rubber stamps and other goodies and they are giving the winner a $30 Gift Certificate to spend in their store! WOW! Thank you Denami Design! Here is a little bit about their company...

"Established in 1989, Denami Design has been known for a timeless style featuring simply elegant art. From our extensive line of quality rubber stamps to the newer line of coordinating scrapbook papers, buttons, ribbons and glitters, we specialize in stylish and sophisticated products. These delightful designs are easy to mix and match for a designer look on all your paper crafts!"

They also have a challenge blog. Here is the link. Check it out! They have fun challenges over there!


This candy will go on until Tuesday, August 31 and Aud will announce the winner on Wednesday, 1st September

Good luck!

Help = bit of advice needed!

Hey all, 

really don't know why I didn't think of this before....I need a bit of advice and realised you would very likely know just exactly what I need to know....ermmmm yeah!


I am looking at getting a cricut with the gypsy...but do I need one?  Oh please say yes!!!  Hee hee....I already own a wishblade (craft robo) but dont really use it - its such a faff to get out and hook up, and then the fiddling around with getting the pressure right etc etc.  I do like it - and will poss still play with it again at some time...but!

So, I really wanted to know if the people who have cricuts use them very much...is it just as much of a faff as the wishblade is?  I know you dont need to hook the cricut up to the computer so thats one thing less....but still - how much do you use yours?  Do you need to set the pressure etc - does it cut little fiddly things without rucking the paper?

Am I right in thinking that the gypsy will allow me to design my own stuff?  One of the things I like about the robo is that I can design what I want and am not reliant on cartridges - is this the same for cricut?

And finally - does anyone know of a REALLY good deal for getting one?  Have been peeping at ebay etc. 

Oh - and finally finally (!!!!!!) is the basic cheaper version ok for cards etc, or do I need to look into the more expensive ones?

Really appreciate you taking the time to pass on your advice - hmmmmm, if anyone owns a company and would like to donate one to me (or give me one cheap!) - that would be very fab!  Would happily trade for a blogging series on first impressions and continued use by a strange person!

Hey, mum always said that you if you dont ask you dont get.....or was that, if you do ask you wont get???

Rx

Craft Emma's DT Call

Just a quick heads up - to celebrate Emma opening her own crafty store (see in my sidebar!) - Emma is going to set up her own DT!!  I have put my name forward for this - please go for it yourselves....here is the link!  Was gonna add something about what a nice blogger Emma is - but dont want her to think I am toadying up!!!!

Go and check it out! 

Rx

Relax.....at Aud Sentiments!

The challenge over at Aud Sentiments this time is to use the word RELAX - hmmmm between you and me, I did it a little wrong and added the "you deserve it" bit!!  Hee hee - but the good news is that you can now either just use the word RELAX or you can add an ending on it!

We are so lucky to have yet another fabby sponsor this time....or should I say "Sassy Sponsor" as its Sassy Studio!  

The winner of the challenge will be able to choose 4 free digis...now I gotta say that they have a really cool mix of stuff over there - and their new "Little Honeys" Fairytale Collection is just so stinking cute!


We were lucky enough to be given a couple of digis to play with - I am often daunted when we are using the same digis (kind of along the lines of "I know my work isnt as good as anyone else's and someone is gonna spot that soon and then the game will be up and I'll be kicked out!!!), but I did just love this image so much.

I coloured her with promarkers and used some sakura on the bath - and the fabulous glossy accents for the bubbles and puddle - such a shame you cant seem the dimension these add!

Shoved the whole lot onto a box of mini soaps and I was done! 

I actually did these for a member of my team - then I was sick on her birthday and have just realised I never gave them to her!!!  Ooooppppssss - think I need to do that soooooon!

thanks for looking, please take the time to pop over to AudSentiments and see the other creations and also pop over to Sassy Studio and check out their images!

Rx

Felting!!!

Oh - I have had so much fun this last week!  We had annual leave and did some daytrips.  We live in a London Borough - which means we are considered to be London - but I have never really done all the touristy things around London - so we went on an open top bus yesterday, all around the sights!  Such fun.  Included in our ticket price was a cruise down the Thames - we went down to Greenwich.  Now - this seems like so much rambling BUT its not!  Well, it is!  But not without a reason!

When we were in Greenwich we met this lovely lady who was doing felting.  Excuse the dragon - take a peek at my sidebar - we do a library blog with Dexter!  Anyway - the lovely lady showed Josh and me how to wet felt - we made a strawberry each! Then she showed us how to needle felt.

I liked this....alot!  Its quick, you can't do it wrong and its lots of fun!

This was my first thing I made.  Its a holder for my phone.  There is no sewing in this at all....not a single stitch.  Nope, not for putting it together, not for the flower or the strap - no sewing at all!  I had a strip of felt in my kit so felted on top of that - made it a bit thick but its definitely going to protect my phone!

Josh liked the case and wanted one for his ipod touch - have to say they feel really soft and fluffy!  Did this one with no backing felt which made it even softer.  He chose the colours - and, NO, I didnt put a flower on it!  Obviously this picture is of the back of it - it has the same flapover as the one above.

And this is a little bag I made today.  Its from normal felt - then I felted on the flower and edging.  I didnt use a pattern, just kinda made it up as I went along. 

Here it is again - it took a few hours, but all in front of the tv watching a film - so really no hardship!

And this is just a little something!  Not sure what I am going to do with this, was just playing around really. 

Could really see uses for this - flowers for cards, little scenes, just abstract colours etc.

I would urge anyone to go away and try it out if you have the time and inclination.  Its really lots of fun - and you cant actually do it wrong!

Thanks for looking

Rx

People leaving after candy winners announced!

Hmmmm - what can you do?  I had a little blog candy - Victoria won it!  There was no criteria for anyone to become a follower to enter the candy - but some people did, so I was really happy - and then a couple left when it was announced.  Just dont get it!  Mind you - am still so excited to be over the 100 mark - so yay to everyone else who didnt leave!  Think I will find a little candy for existing followers only!  Mind you - have to post the other one out first!

Watch this space - thank you for hanging around!

Rx

Pollycraft Flash Your Freebie! (PFYF!)

Oh Paula, from Pollycraft, is spoiling us now!  She gave us a freebie last week for using a freebie - now, if we use that freebie then we can get another freebie!!!  Eeeee!

This is the image we all received!  How cute?  And the challenge was to "go green" - I really wanted to hit the eco angle on this...but didnt!  LOL x

I couldn't decide what sentiment to use - and also didnt want to over-embellish - so went for a tent card with the sentiment you see!

But wait......

Flip it round and you see my other choice!  Hee hee - thought I could put this on my desk as a "mood monitor"....but - have lost it to my son already!  He has snaffled it for his room - which sounds great, but I just know that I will find it in a coupla weeks squished under a pile of books!

Hmmm - maybe I wait for him to go to bed then sneak in and nick it back off him!

Thanks for looking

Rx

Aud Sentiments - Christmas!

Christmas has come early over on AudSentiments!!!  YAY!

Hmmmm - actually, I dont send Christmas cards!  Ok - its really not THAT shocking!  Lolx  I used to go out and buy all my cards, sit and write them, address them etc but never actually POST them!  I used to get so stressed about this that I decided I wouldnt send Christmas Cards anymore!  And the best bit is, that no one notices!  Seriously - those who are close to me know why I dont send them and dont mind - no one else seems to realise!

Last year, I was saying to my team that I dont send cards and one of my team was absolutely insistent that I had sent her cards every year!  It is just so busy at Christmas that no one really notices if you dont send a card!

So - onto the challenge!  This challenge was sponsored by Digi Doodles and we were very kindly give a pick of images. Ahhhh how could I have chosen anything else?

So - the challenge is to make a Christmas Card with any appropriate sentiment.  I used the shiny blotchy stuff.....mmmmm crystal something....eeee cant remember - but used it on the baubles.


Well - why dont you pop over to Digi Doodles and check out their great images - then go and check out the rest of the DT's wonderful offerings over at Aud Sentiments.  And finally - go make one and link it up!  This challenge is getting crazy out there now - we had over 100 entries this time - so if you wanna be in with the crowd, come and play along!

Thanks for looking

Rx

WOYWDW, WOMBDW & Candy draw

Yep - all 30 goodie bags done!  Also got Josh to write the thank you cards last night so everything is finished and in bags for tomorrow - feeling quite organised now!

Oh, by the way - this is my WOYWDW - or actually Tuesday!

This is WOMBDW - "Whats out my back door Wednesday!" - hee hee

And this one too!  We don't have a huge garden - enough for a trampoline, some grass and some flowers.  For where we live its a good size,  but this is England, we save all the green bits for the parks!  Oh and of course the Lake District!

Yes - this isn't in the back garden - a little cheat here!  Oh - and it wasnt taken on Wednesday - actually on Monday evening!  So I suppose it would be - WOMTITFDOME - Whats on my trailer in the front drive on Monday evening!  This is out moggy Popcorn - and she was absolutely disgusted because we had just given her some flea treatment!  

Final picture!!!  This was taken on Sunday - and no I am not going to work out those initials!  We launched our Summer Reading Challenge in our libraries over at a community fayre.  It was very hot and very busy - the theme for the UK this year is the "Space Hop" - well we couldn't miss out on the chance of getting space hoppers!  I was doing facepainting with a colleague and was the one lucky enough to do this guy - he was such a good laugh!

OK - CANDY!!!  The winner was Number One - that's Victoria!!!!  Well done Victoria - could you email me your addie - gedalovitch at gmail dot com.  

Thanks so much to everyone who joined in.

Rx

Thank you cards finished

Well - his nibs breaks up on Thursday - so still got a few days to go.

Goodie bags are packed and just need their tops added.

Lisa and Ladies (above) are the dinner ladies who always seem to have a lovely smile - no matter whether its before school, selling lunch tickets, or at lunchtime!

Mrs Kelly is the classroom assistant in Josh's class - she is so sweet and lovely!

Mrs Bush is the headteacher.  We haven't had a great deal to do with her (its a large school) but she has been very nice to Josh since he arrived just before Easter.

Mrs Mangan is the lady in the office!  Boy, when my kiddo wants thank you cards he wants them for everyone!!!

And finally - the classroom teacher, Mr Evans.  He says that Josh is highly intelligent, extremely elequent but with the concentration of a gnat!  YEP!  Thats my boy!


CANDY - I will pop back tomorrow evening and announce the winner....just building up the tension - lolx

Rx

Emma's New Shop!!!

WOW - fancy winning £10???  Well Emma is offering a £10 voucher to her new store here.  But you know, even without the incentive to blog about it...I would have put this up! 

Emma was one of the first people I came into contact with when I first set up my blog - she was kind and welcoming to blogland which counts alot to me!

Go on - go and check out Emma's Store - its looking good - Emma's still adding things - but think I am gonna pop over later and grab some Dew Drops.....mmmmmmmmmmm spend money!

Good Luck Emma!

Rx

WOYWW

Dont seem to get the chance to play along with this very often!  But just had to today......yep its cute and furry!

Not sure what the wonky photo is about!!!

But yes - that is a rather cute and furry hamster - called..... DA BEAST!!!

She is just sooooo sweet!  She really belongs to Josh - but I quite like her too!  Mind you - we have a lizard, two cats, two guinea pigs (up until Sunday it was 3!!), some fish - and ....DA BEAST!!

Ok - the makings of Josh's thank you cards for his teachers - and also, just behind, the toppers for his bags of sweeties - 30 of them!  Hence the very plain design - lol

And these are just a sample of the pics I took trying to get something useable!!

Thanks for looking

Go and check out the other WOYWWers

Rx