Just a quickie!

I know I said that I wouldn't be updating again until I returned from Somerset on Monday, but I couldn't resist showing you this photo of my little cutie!  Alex loves pretending to drive the car and especially while wearing his sunglasses...it certainly makes me smile.

I also have a little bit of crafting to show you and a confession.  The confession is that my first attempt at this layout ended in the bin!  I have never yet resorted to that, but it really did not work...even Tim who is ultra supportive of all my crafting experiments agreed that it was a bit of a mess.  So I had another go at the same subject matter (using the same photos rescued from the bin!) and am much happier with it.  I didn't use any patterned paper on this creating the design on the Bazzil cardstock by doodling and stamping (using JustRite stamps). As the photos are matted onto paint this page fits with this weeks challenge from Scrap and Stamp, and the title was taken from this weeks Scrap it with a song adapted slightly to fit the two special guys in my life. I just love this song so couldn't miss the opportunity to scrap it! The journalling reads 'Whizzing round the track at North Anston Butterfly farm resulted in two extremely happy smiles from my very special guys!'.  I am off to pack now ready for our trip tomorrow so have a great weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

A messy workdesk!

Well it is Wednesday and time for WOYWW again.  Mine is comparatively messy today as I have all my distress inks, craft sheet, sponges and numerous stamps out to attempt to make some altered tags for a swap I have joined in with one CM&PC forum.  I have never really altered tags before so this was a new adventure for me resulting in mixed success! As usual there is an almost finished mug of tea (I don't function without at least 8 mugs this size every day) and the trays at the back of my desk are chaotic with things shoved in them, but my excuse is I know where everything is...well I know where everything should be, although it isn't always where I think it is...you only have to listen to all the huffing and puffing that happens when I can't find something to know that my so called system doesn't always work! 

Here are the three finished tags for the swap - my favourite is probably the pink lady

This is a card I made for Gran's birthday and it fits with the 'punches' challenge from a spoonfull of sugar.  I also used a new embossing folder for the green stripe down the edge and promarkers to shade in the foxgloves.

This card is a simple stamped Christmas card coloured using distress inks and it fits with the Stamp, Scrap and doodle challenge of Christmas cards but no red or green.  That is all from me for today...I wont be updating as usual on Friday as I am off to my parents in Somerset...back to business as usual from Monday.  Have a great rest of the week and weekend.
Love,
Caro
x

Autumn weekend

Don't you just love Autumn?  You never know what weather it is going to bring.  Yesterday was damp and miserable so Tim and Alex made some binoculars out of old cardboard tubes and spent the morning pretending to be secret agents and then in the afternoon Alex and I went to Playspace to let him work off some more steam clambering around and sliding down the extremely fast slide.

Today was a beautifully sunny day so we went to the park where Alex looked very 'cool' (funny!) wearing his shades and a knitted bobble hat...don't you love it!  He had a great time scooting through the leaves and generally rushing round the place. 

As we haven't been busy this weekend I have had some time to craft which has been wonderful. First up I made this scrapbook layout from my childhood (Christmas 1987) following one of the Practical Scrappers sketches and this weeks recipe on Quirky Crafts (the challenge goes live at 6pm tonight).  The recipe was set by the lovely Anne and is to use two different items of gold, one piece of patterned paper, one piece of ribbon, a stamped image and a red and gold colour scheme.  Do pop over to Quirky Crafts to join in the fun.

I had a request for a card featuring a cat so came up with this. I coloured the cat using my Promarker pens which I am still loving (I need more!!).  The card also fits with the red, brown and green colour scheme from Crafty Creations this week, and with Penny's challenge of flying.

I liked the layout of the previous card so much that I made another one using an Autumn theme this time, so the card fits with this weeks DCM challenge.

I have also used the time this weekend to get going with my Christmas cards.  I have three new stamps and have used them in different ways to make simple but effective traditional cards.  The one on the left used distress inks whereas the one on the right used promarkers.

The left one was made using a graded brayered background and the righthand one used an embossing folder and layering.

The final card also used distress inks to create the colours. That is all from me for now. I would love to know what you think.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Sunny but cold

Don't you just love autumn days when they are sunny?  It is just a shame that I have been stuck at work, although Alex and I snuck out into the garden after work to try and catch a last little bit of sun so that I could do a little gardening...however it did start to get rather cold so we didn't last long outside. Sorry about the quality of the photo - it was taken on my mobile.

I have been busy scrapbooking over the past couple of days and made this layout following yesterdays Sketchy Thursdays Sketch.  It also fits with this weeks Scrap it with a song challenge as the song is Born to be wild and I used 'Go wild' as my title, taking the sentiment of the song as I feel that it fits well with these photos of my little boy going wild with joy and excitement in the water fountains in Sheffield's Peace Gardens this June.  This also fits the challenge by Lasting memories to make your own flowers.  This is the first time I have used this techniques, but I have to say it was great fun!

I also made a double page layout following this weeks Nuts about sketches sketch...this also features Alex playing in water...this time in the permanent paddling pools in Rivelin valley...he sure is a water baby!  That's all from me for now.  Have a great weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

WOYWW

It is Wednesday and that means it is time for another WOYWW!  My desk is still relatively tidy, but you can see the card in progress, featuring Draco the dragon who was coloured in using my promarkers (also present).  My mug of tea is almost finished (and cold - yuk!) and I am in the process of sticking the card together, hence the papers (Hampstead by Papermania), the double sided sticky tape, cutting mat and craft knife.

This is the finished card, made following this weeks PTW sketch and to fit with the Fairy tales theme from Creative card crew. Are dragons scary?  If you think so  then this card also fits with the OLL challenge this week!

I also made some trading cards. The halloween one fits with lots of halloween challenges this week (Spoon full of sugar, MTTC, Stamp with fun and the crazy challenge). What is more it used a freebie (the black cat which came from Craft Stamper magazine) and so fits with the Crafty cardmakers challenge, and I drew on a bat, so it fits with this weeks Kaboodle Doodles challenge. The two autumn ATCs fit with the Crazy4challenges autumn theme this week.

Finally I made a scrapbook layout following a Pencil Lines sketch from the sketch book, which also fits with the stitching theme from Scrap and stamp (there are stitches round the circle embellishments).  The stamps were from Tanda stamps (compass and boat). I look forward to your comments, have a great Wednesday and rest of the week.
Love,
Caro
x

Sunny October weekend!

We have made the most of the (mostly) nice weather this weekend by spending much of it outside.  Alex helped me to weed the garden (and doesn't he look fetching in his hat!!).

Yesterday we went to Western Park where we played with swords and ran through the autumn leaves. Sorry the photo is a little blurred...Alex was running so fast it was hard to catch him on camera.

This afternoon we went to our local park where Alex decided the sun was so bright he needed to wear his sunglasses,

even in the tunnel slide!

I have also had a good time crafting this weekend.  I made some trading cards for a Halloween swap that is running on CM&PC forum. I don't have a single Halloween image so had to think outside the box a little and use the black cat on a sunset sky with tree leaves and draw in some spiders in black pen.  I think they probably work OK so these ATCs fit with the CCC 'scary creatures' (spiders), Creative craft 'trick or treat', Stamp something 'halloween' and CCT 'bugs' challenges.

I also made some clean and simple cards this weekend using a brayer and Adirondack inks and some Penny Black stamps. These fit with the Lots to do theme as to all my cards this weekend.

This little cat card also fits with the OCC challenge to use at least three different embellishments.  I used two ribbons, one flower, one pearl and five gems so I think that it counts!

This final card fits with the MTTC national flag colours.  The English flag is the St Georges cross which is red and white hence the use of these colours...I also added a little black so I hope it still counts!

Finally I made a scrapbook layout following this weeks Sketchy Thursday sketch.  The layout is entitled ' Big Boy bed' and uses Basic Gray and Bazzil embellishments and cardstocks.  The journalling reads 'Alex was so excited about having a 'big boy bed' and was especially happy when he realised that Daddy could come in too! The games and giggles were wonderful to see and hear!'.  I look forward to reading your comments.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

so tired!

I have started attempting to get fit again...the only problem is that my hip has decided to object, meaning that I am not sleeping very well as it is giving me jip at night.  I am so tired today and so ready for a gentle and relaxing weekend at home with the family.  We have nothing planned which is a really nice feeling!

Crafting wise I have finally got going with my Christmas cards...simple and elegant is definitely the theme for this year.  This first card uses three Christmas trees (a free stamp from last year) stamped in versamark ink and topped with three gems, as such the card fits with PTW and PIO 'things in threes' challenge and with the stamp simply 'hard rocks' challenge this week.

The next card also uses three images, but this time three stockings, which have been coloured using my promarkers.

This card uses two different stamps, broken china distress ink, a white pen and my favourite sakura stardust pen to create this Winter scene that fits with the Spoonfull of sugar 'winter wonderland' theme and with the SCSC distressing theme.

Finally I made a birthday card with autumnal colours (Kaboodle Doodle challenge), and a butterfly (CCT -bugs and Penny's challenge - anything that flies). I would love to know what you think about these cards. Have a really nice weekend everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Wednesday...

I can't believe it is Wednesday already...where is this week going?  My birthday flowers are still looking lovely so I thought I would show you a quick photo.  Don't you just love the autumnal colours!

Wednesday also means time for WOYWW! My desk and shelves are still pretty tidy after my major clearout/up of last week.  You can see some of my free Christmas stamps (from magazines last year) and my box of versacolour inks and the ones in use out on the desk.  The card in progress is only my third Christmas card of the year (only another 67 to go!). At the back of the desk you can see about 10 blue buttons which I got out for a project and then decided not to use! I also haven't found a permanent home for my promarkers and am very much hoping that the present I requested from my brother (more storage) will arrive!

Crafting wise I have made this scrapbook layout with follows the Creative scrappers sketch this week and fits with this weeks song of 'vogue' from Scrap it with a song.  What other words would describe this photo other than 'Strike a pose'!

I have also made a quick and simple Christmas card involving two stamps, a promarker, a white pen (snow on the trees) some distress inks and my sakura stardust pen for sparkle on the snow. This card was a complete experiment and fits with this weeks A spoonfull of sugar challenge of 'Winter wonderland'. That is all from me for today.  Have a good rest of the week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Weekend of fun

The weather was fairly dull and misty yesterday, but as it wasn't actually raining we took a chance and headed out to Gullivers Kingdom at Matlock.  Poor Tim found the going tough as the theme park is built into the side of a hill, but fortunately we were able to work our way down hill, with most of the rides being gentle sit on ones and we got a chair lift back up to the top. He is exhausted today.  Although we had a wonderful time there are very few photos of us as we were all enjoying the rides together.  I couldn't resist buying this one of the three of us on the log flume though.  It was probably our favourite ride.

This afternoon we had beautiful and sunny weather so Alex and I headed to the park, leaving Tim to sleep in peace.  Alex had a great time playing on his scooter, clambering up the climbing frame, whizzing down the slide etc.  All in all we have had a lovely weekend.

I have also managed to do some crafting in the form of two birthday cards and two scrapbook layouts!  This first card follows the Crafty Creations sketch for this week, and uses my new stamp and promarkers, as well as my new background papers!

The next card follows Sketch Saturday's sketch and uses Draco the dragon coloured in more goldeny orange colours.  This is a birthday card for a little boy who will be 5, hence the brighter colour scheme, and therefore fits with the Crazy 4 Challenges 'Birthday' theme.

The first scrapbook layout follows one of the recent Practical Scrappers sketches and is titled 'Tradition'. The pace used an edging punch so fits with the Stamp something 'punches' challenge. The journalling reads 'No trip to Barr would be complete without a family walk across the fields to see the trains. Alex was very proud to be walking Juno and both boys were delighted when the train drivers waved at them. Aug 2010'.

Finally it is my turn to set the sketch over at Quirky Crafts where I am also providing a small prize for the best entry this fortnight as judged by the design team.  As this is the first sketch I have ever designed I have kep it nice and simple and here is my interpretation of it as a scrapbook layout, entitled 'Boots'. The journalling reads 'Alex and Daniel ready for a walk across the fields at Barr. Aug 2010'. That is all from me for now.  Have a great week everyone.
Love,
Caro
x

Birthday crafts

 Well I had yesterday off work to continue my Birthday celebrations (here is Alex blowing out the candles on my birthday cake!) and we had a movie and take away in the evening and I spent a happy day with Alex safely at nursery, not cleaning or cooking, but crafting and playing with my new stamps and promarkers. I have never used promarkers before so this was a new experience for me and I have to say that I found it great fun and very therapeutic.

This was my first ever attempt at promarkers using the Whiff of Joy, Willow with hot chocolate stamp and some K&Co paper.  I followed the PTW sketch #43 and this card also fits with the CCC 'happy hour' theme of drinks.

The next attempt at promarkers was Whiff of Joy's Warrior Charlie who I am using as an embellishment on a scrapbook layout (see below for complete layout) so this fits with the CCT 'make your own' theme.

This is the complete layout entitled Bolsover Castle and following this weeks Pencil Lines sketch.

I then decided to move away from colouring in people and attempted Draco the Dragon. I made him a green dragon and used this weeks Paper Play sketch for the card design. The card actually has the colours of autumn (green, gold and russet red) so fits with this weeks Kaboodle Doodles challenge as well as the OLL nothing floral challenge.

My final promarker attempt so far is Henry the mouse carrying a cupcake. This card follows this weeks sketch from CPS, the Birthday theme from creative Inspirations and the sparkle and shine theme from A spoonfull of sugar (glitter glue on the icing and pearls in the corners).

The final piece of crafting was this layout following this weeks Sketchy Thursday sketch and the theme of 'home' from this weeks Scrap it with a song challenge.  The title of the page is 'Yummy' and the journalling reads 'Alex loves days at home with us - he calls them 'Playing with Mummy and Daddy at home days'. Along with the usual car and rough and tumble games he enjoys helping me cook in the kitchen - he helps carry a chair through to stand on and weighs out the ingredients and mixes them - best of all is eating the mixture!'.  Well that is all for now and I would love to know what you all think of these promarker attempts.  Have a great weekend,

Love,

Caro
x