Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas and my CRAFT Challenge DT Card

Good morning!  

As it's Christmas morning this is a scheduled post from me as I imagine the house will be in some sort of disorganised chaos much like the last few days.  I finished work on Friday and feel like I haven't stopped since then!  I'm looking forward to today though and spending time with my nearest and dearest.

Ok on to my card.  Today we have a new challenge starting at the CRAFT Challenge Blog and it's everyone's favourite theme - ANYTHING GOES!!!  As usual we have some fantastic prizes up for grabs provided by our lovely sponsors.  We would love you to take part and share your creations with us!

For my DT card I've used a delightful digi image from one of our generous sponsors Pattie's Creations called Pattieboops Giraff.  

I've coloured the image with Promarkers to tie in with the LOTV Bonnets & Bowties papers, to which I've added some faux stitching with a pokey tool and a Letraset Fineliner pen.  The sentiment is also from LOTV.  I've added a resin rose by Dovecraft, some black gingham ribbon and some pearls and gems.  All the dies used are by X-cut.

Thank you for looking and wishing all of you all the best for Christmas.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - December

Penny's Challenges - #208 Anything Goes

True Blue Tag

Hello I'm back again!

Not often I get the chance for more than one post in a day, in fact with the time of the year it is there's not even been many posts in a week lately!

Today has been pretty busy.  I was working in the morning then had a couple of errands to run before the school run.  After school it was a quick change for Iona then she was off to take part in a showcase with her pop choir.  It was a really varied show with everything from tiny Highland dancers to some older ladies tap dancing but they put on a great show for us.  

Ok on to my latest make, this time a tag.  I love making tags and it has been a while since I made one so I thought why not!

I've used a ready made parcel tag from Tesco then added 2 papers from the Dovecraft Back to Basics IV collection.  The stamped image is by LOTV and was a recent purchase from their retiring stamps.  I've coloured it with Promarkers in various shades of blue to match the papers and embellies.  I've stapled on some web net (not quite sure what the proper name is) and gingham ribbon and embellished with lots of gems and other bits and pieces from my stash.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - #96 True Blue

CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - December

C.R.A.F.T Challenge DT Card - Sketch Challenge

Good morning,

I hope you are all safe and well and not affected by the horrendous weather we've been experiencing of late.  We've had high winds and some sleety showers here in the Highlands but it's not nearly as bad as on the West coast.

Today we have a fabulous new sketch challenge starting over at the C.R.A.F.T Challenge Blog and we would love you to join us.

We have some fab prizes available from our generous sponsors

I've used a super cute and Chrismassy digi from Karen's Doodles called Bigsby Wreath.

As usual I've coloured the image with Promarkers to match the LOTV paper.  The sentiment I've used is also from LOTV.  The poinsettia dies are by Spellbinders and the scalloped square is by Sizzix.  I've finished off my card with green glitter domes, spotty organza ribbon and some pearls.

Thank you for stopping by.

Hugs,

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - December

CHN Christmas Challenge - #206 Bright Colours

CNH Patterned Paper Challenge - December

Sister Act Challenge - #86 Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers - #277 Mega Christmas Bingo Challenge  (Ribbon, Free, Blooms)

Cutie Pie DT Project - Anything But A Card

Good morning!

This is a scheduled post so I can't tell you what the weather's like today but yesterday we had our first snow of the season.  Nothing really to speak of just a few wee flurries and nothing lying but it came none the less!  It's a working day for me today hence the scheduling, 2 whole and 2 half days this week.  Apart from work I've got a lot on this week and I know it's going to be busy busy busy!  Kicking off tonight with daughter Iona's Christmas Carol Sing-a-long at Girl's Brigade.

Anyway enough personal waffle lol.  On to my DT project.  This month's theme for the Cutie Pie Challenge is Anything But A Card (and also, as always, your project must have a cute image).  We would love you to join us as we have some fabulous prizes from our sponsors Bugaboo and Flourish With A Bling.

I've stepped out of my comfort zone a little bit for this one and made an altered heart shaped box for my daughter Iona.  Bugaboo very kindly gave the DT some digis to work with so I chose Cheerleader Girl as Iona does Cheerleading as well as other types of dance.  I thought the box would be ideal for holding her growing collection of cheer bows!

I bought a plain box from Hobbycraft then gave it 2 coats of Artiste acrylic paint inside and out.  I then added strips of patterned paper to the sides and a heart shaped piece to the top.  The paper on the top is by Stampin' Up, the other I picked up as a single sheet in my local craft shop but I don't know the brand.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and added some Stardust Stickles to the pom poms.  I die cut the image into a heart shape using an X-cut die then edged it with some spotty organza ribbon which I folded into pleats as I went along.  The box is finished off with some sequin braid along the edge of the lid and some glitter dome stickers.

Thank you for stopping by,

Shona xx

Share an Oldie on Friday

Good morning!

I've scheduled this post as when it goes live I will be trying to rush Iona out of the house for school and I won't be around much at all today as I am out on my work Christmas lunch.  We are going to Cafe 1, a lovely local restaurant with fantastic food, followed by drinks in various pubs around town.  There will only be 3 of us as we are a very small team, although there is an organised evening party for the whole of the Finance department at a hotel later in the month.  The 3 of us are all good friends so it should be good fun.  I can't have too much to drink or be too late though as I have to be at Iona's school at 9am on Saturday to help set up for the Christmas Fayre!

Anyway, today for my oldie I have another Christmas Cross Stitch to share with you.  This is a cute wee picture that I made from a freebie kit that came with a Cross Stitch magazine at least 5 years ago.  The mount is pre-printed with the design and there's apertures in it for the cross stitch cat.  I think the artwork is by Margaret Sherry but I'm not 100% sure.

It comes out with the Christmas Decorations every year and brightens the place up for a few weeks.

Thank you for stopping by for a nosey.

Have a fantastic weekend whatever you're up to,

Shona xx

A-Z Christmas Challenge Y&Z!!!!

Good Morning,

I scheduled this last night as I'm not sure how things will go today.  At the time of writing this I've got a poorly Iona, she's been up and down for the last few hours with a really dodgy tummy.  There is a really nasty bug doing the rounds locally so I'm hoping that's not what she's got but it wouldn't surprise me.  Typically we have tickets booked for a show by a local kids group Performers UK who are doing numbers from Disney films.  Iona's pal is playing Flounder from The Little Mermaid and she is keen to see her, so I hope she's still able to make it tonight.

Ok on to my cards, and these are the last of my A-Z Challenge cards, Y for Young girl (scraping the barrel a bit now lol) and Z for Zzzz!

Y for Young Girl

Z for Zzzz

My Y card features a Hobby House topper by Sylvia Zet, Memory Box dies and MME Merry papers while my Z card features a Dovecraft glitter sticker, Sizzix die and freebie paper.

That's all from me for the moment,

Hugs,

Shona xx

Share An Oldie For Friday & A Slice of Pie...

Good Morning!

I had success yesterday morning with my first scheduled blog post so I'm giving it another go for Share an Oldie Friday as I will be getting ready to go to work when my post goes live.  As well as share an oldie it is also Dress Down Friday for me, my workplace does this the last Friday of every month.

My oldie today is a card I made just before I began to blog.  

The stamp of course is Gorjuss and I've coloured her with Promarkers.  I think a couple of years on I'm a bit better at colouring skin, she looks a wee bit pale here - peely wally as we say in Scotland lol!

The papers were magazine freebies, I think by Raspberry Road.  The sentiment is one of my favourites from LOTV.

Oh and if anyone read my post yesterday I'm happy to report that my Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie was a huge success if seconds all round was anything to go by lol!!!

Happy Friday, have a lovely weekend whatever you have planned.

Hugs,

Shona xx

DT Card for C.R.A.F.T Challenge #287 Christmas Present

Good Morning,

This is the first time I've tried to schedule a post so fingers crossed it goes to plan!  This is my first DT card for the fabulous C.R.A.F.T Challenge and I'm excited that my daughter Iona will also be joining me with her first DT card for the Junior team.  The theme this week is CHRISTMAS PRESENT and we would love you to play along.  There are some fantastic prizes on offer from our sponsors who this week are:

Hope Jacare

Bugaboo

QKR Stampede

Scribbles Designs

Crafts U Print

Ok, onto my card.  I was lucky enough to get a digi from one of our sponsors QKR Stampede to play with.  I chose Christmas Mail Snowman as I think it fits the theme quite well.

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and edged it with Stardust Stickles.  I've used 2 papers from the My Minds Eye Merry stack and the sentiment is by LOTV.  I've finished off my card with some spotty organza ribbon, pearls and a snowflake charm.  Not being used to American style mailboxes I had to resort to good old Google Images to find out what colour to make the flag. Although there were some variations, in the main they were red so hopefully I've got it right! 

On the subject of American culture I'd like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who celebrates it.  We don't as such here in Scotland but I'm going to try my hand at making Pumpkin Pie for the occasion!  Our big day, also coming up in the next few days is November 30th when we celebrate our Patron Saint - St Andrew! 

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - November

CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - November

Sister Act Challenge - #84 Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - #247 Frosty The Snowman

A-Z Christmas Challenge - T to X

Good Evening,

Well the last few days haven't exactly gone to plan.  On Friday I was tied up for most of the day baking for the sheltered housing Christmas Fayre, on Saturday I was at the sheltered housing nearly all day.  These events I had planned for.  On Sunday, I almost forgot that Iona had a church service with Girl's Brigade then she had dance in the afternoon/evening.  On Monday morning I was working on a little project for the Cutie Pies then took my Aunt to prize bingo at the sheltered housing in the afternoon.  Yesterday I planned to have a craft filled day and get the A-Z challenge put to bed but a burst water main put the brakes on that.  First we had next to no water at home then the school had to be closed so I had to go and pick up Iona.  I managed to get five cards made eventually yesterday but I was working on them until late last night which I hadn't anticipated.  I was back at work today, just in again on Friday this week.  I thought I'd blog all yesterday's cards en masse to make life a little easier.  Anyway just two more left to do - the last day is tomorrow.  I think my Y card should be Y is for Yay! Nearly finished lol!

Anyways, here's some photos of my baking and my cards.  I've already got the brownies recipe on my  Homecooked by Hamill blog, I'll put the mint aero slice on shortly.

 T is for Tatty Teddy

 U is for Under the Mistletoe

 V is for Victorian

 W is for Window

X is for Xmas Tree

Once I've finished Y and Z, apart from my DT projects I think I'll be slowing down on the craft front a wee bit in the run up to Christmas or I'll never get my cards written, shopping done, wrapping up done, tree decorated...you get the picture lol.

All the best,

Shona xx

Share an Oldie for Friday

Good morning,

I'd like to share a card that I made for Rab and I to give Iona for Christmas 2012.  I never got round to blogging it at the time as I took a bad chest infection just after Christmas that year then my Aunt took a stroke on New Years Day and I was off radar for some time.  Although it's a topper rather than a stamped image I quite like it because of the unusual colour combo.  The glitter ribbon looks purple in the photo but in reality it's a deep pink.

Apart from the ribbon, cardstock, dies used and embellishments all the other materials are by Papermania Me To You.  The star frame die is by Tonic and I think the glitter ribbon is by Dovecraft.  I remember being at the last minute trying to finish it off - on Christmas Eve if I remember correctly, oops!  Hopefully I'm more organised this year!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my oldie!

Shona xx

S is for Santa Hat & Stocking

Well hello again!!!

You must be fed up of me today, but I'm keen to get up to date with my blogging as well as the actual card making! 

Phew think that's me caught up with the Docrafts A-Z Christmas challenge now.  Here's S for Santa hat & stocking...

I've stamped the image with a stamp that was a magazine freebie a while back, it's been coloured with Promarkers.  I think this bear looks a little like Winnie the Pooh!  The papers were also a magazine freebie and are by Raspberry Road.  All dies are by X-cut and the sentiment is by LOTV.  I've added some gems and spotty ribbon to finish off my card.

As always thank you for taking the time to visit me and for any comments you may leave.

Hugs,

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - November

CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - November

Sister Act Challenge - #83 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge - #120 Use a sentiment for a December Holiday

Crafting by Designs - Get Ready for Christmas

Q is for Quilt

Good evening 

I'm back woop woop!  I've managed to get caught up with the A-Z challenge.  I've made Q and S today, for R I'm using a card I made a couple of weeks back!

So, Q is for Quilt.  I've made a patchwork background kind of in the style of a quilt.

I've used my MME Merry papers again cut into swatches with a Spellbinders nestie die and added some faux stitching with a Micron pen.  The image is a Sylvia Zet Wee Stamps topper from Hobby House and it's mounted on a Spellbinders lacey circle mat.  The sentiment is by LOTV and I've added a ribbon bow and some pearls to finish.

Thank you so much for your visit, any comments you leave are greatly appreciated.

Hugs,

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - November

SHN Patterned Paper Challenge - November

Sister Act Challenge - #83 Anything Goes

P is for Polar Bear

Good morning!

I'm feeling a bit brighter today and more in the mood for crafting and blogging, don't you just hate it when life gets in the way of crafting lol??!!  By life I mostly mean work, I was only in a day and a half this week but feel like I've been through the mill and like I've never been away from the place :(

On to some happy news now - I'm delighted to say I've been welcomed on to the C.R.A.F.T Challenge DT along with my daughter Iona who is on the Junior DT.  I will be joining the challenge fortnightly from next week, exciting!!!  They've just launched a new challenge today and it's an Inspiration Picture Challenge which you can link to here.

Ok, my card...  I'm a wee bit behind with my A-Z Challenge cards but I'm hopeful I'll catch up.  Today I'm on P although everyone else will probably be on S by now!  I've gone for P for Polar Bear.  I've wanted this Sugar Nellie 'Furry Friends' stamp for ages, It's possibly available in a digi format but I can't resist a rummage through the stamps when I visit the Papercraft Boutique in Elgin, which I was lucky enough to do last weekend.  They also had some of the new Sugar Nellie toppers by Hobby House and they look fantastic!

I've coloured the image with Promarkers, added some Stickles to the hat and gloves, then fussy cut around it.  I've used My Minds Eye Merry papers and added some more Stickles to the edges.  The snowflake circle die is by X-cut and I've used a LOTV sentiment on a Spellbinders lacey circle die cut.  I've added some crystal gems, blue pearls and gingham ribbon to finish my card.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Hugs,

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - November

CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - November

Sister Act Challenge - #83 Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge - #120 Use a sentiment for a December Holiday

Sugar Bowl Challenge - #118 Anything Goes/Sugar Nellie Image

O is for Owl

Good evening,

I've dropped off the radar for a couple of days.  I've had a day and a half at work this week and I won't lie they've been pretty stressful.  Thank goodness I'm not back in until next Wednesday.  I've also taken my aunt out Christmas shopping twice this week already so blogging and crafting have taken a bit of a back seat.

My card is another for the A-Z challenge this time we are on O and I've gone for Owl.

The die set is from X-cut and I've used various papers from the Papermania Craft Christmas range and edged all the edges with distress ink. I've added a tag for the sentiment topped with red berries and also added some capsule collection buttons.  It's not too bad but I feel I could do it much better :(

Hugs,

Shona xx

N is for Noel

Good afternoon,

A quick post for just now in the hope that I get back on later.  I'm a bit behind after being away yesterday.  We had a fab day though visiting family AND some craft shopping in Elgin so it was well worth it.

Yesterday we were on N and I chose N for Noel.

I'm ashamed to say this was the first outing for my Sizzix Noel die I picked up last year.  I've used it with white pearlescent card.  The paper is Papermania Boofle Christmas as are the cardstock stickers.  My very simple card is finished off with red pearls, glitter domes and some gingham ribbon.

Thank you for stopping by, I'll be back with you later, at least once more today...

Shona xx

M is for music

Hello again,

I'm procrafternating I should be finishing a card for a first birthday but here I am on my blog instead :(  I'll have to get it done tonight though as we are travelling to Aberdeenshire to see the birthday boy tomorrow although his birthday isn't until Sunday.  Oh and as if getting huggles from the birthday boy wasn't enough reason to get excited for the trip I also get to visit one of my favourite craft shops on the way - Papercraft Boutique in Elgin!  

Anyway back to my card, here's letter M and I've gone for M for Music.  Back to the old decoupage again for this one but hey its Forever Friends so I don't mind at all!

The decoupage is from the Forever Friends A Christmas Tale collection as is the sentiment.  I've used a selection of Papermania Craft Christmas papers and added some gingerbread man cotton ribbon I picked up in a little drapers/wool shop/haberdashery in Dingwall.  The bell and bow are both from Hobbycraft.  Some pearls and glitter domes finish off my card.

Now I'd really better go and get that card finished!

Bye for now,

Shona xx

L is for Little Donkey

Good Morning!

I'm a day late blogging these although I did manage to get them on Docrafts last night.  I had a busy day yesterday.  Chores and crafting in the morning then I had my 3rd session of CBT in the afternoon, then it was straight to the after school club to pick up Iona and take her to choir practice.  After making and eating dinner my other half was on the pc (even though he has his own lap top pah!) so it was late on before I got my turn lol.

Anyway.  For L I was a little bit stumped, I had a look through my stamps and found nothing so I then turned to decoupage, which I don't do much of now, and found two possibilities for 'Little Donkey' - one cute and modern and one traditional Victorian.  I couldn't make up my mind so I went for one of each!!!

For the traditional Santa one I've used Papermania Victorian Christmas decoupage pack and some extra papers from the same collection.  The dies are Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles and the lace is from Papermania Madame Payraud collection.  I've finished the card with some pearls, a button and spotty ribbon.

For the cute one I've used Papermania Boofle Christmas papers, decoupage and a sentiment from the cardstock sticker pack.  The card is finished off with ribbon, a heart shaped button, glitter domes and pearls.

I remember when I cut out this decoupage, I was babysitting for a friend and had taken this with me to pass the time, not being very used to cats I was sitting cutting out the decoupage and the offcut was getting longer and longer, much to my surprise one of her cats looked on it as a toy and started swiping at it!  It was amusing for about 2 minutes then it turned to annoyance as I couldn't get any more done and had to put it away lol!  Bless, I do like cats I just don't have any of my own so I'm not used to their little traits!

That's me for now, thank you for stopping by for a nosey.

Hugs,
Shona xx

A-Z Christmas Challenge - J & K

Good morning,

No work today!  I have put in my first 2 half days back at work and they went well.  I had a wee wobble after the first ten minutes but gave myself a pep talk and then it was fine.  Everyone was very welcoming and said they were glad to see me back so that definitely helped.  That's me off now until next Tuesday so hopefully I'll manage to get in plenty crafting time before then!

I didn't manage to blog yesterday so today I have two simple cards to share for the letters J & K of the A-Z Christmas Challenge at Docrafts - J is for Joy and K is for Kissing!

For 'Joy' I have used the Papermania Christmas in the Country collection and chosen one of the papers, some pre cut elements layered up to make the star and 'Joy' and a ribbon bow from the same range.  All I've added to the kraft blank is some brown pearls in each corner.

For 'Kissing' I've used the Papermania Forever Friends A Christmas Tale collection and chosen several papers, a topper and a domed sticker from the same range.  The border punch is by X-cut.  I've added spotty ribbon, card candi and gold gems to finish my card.

They're not the most inspiring cards ever but I'm trying to get into the spirit of using up some of my older stash.  I've got loads of decoupage sets and toppers from the days before I got the stamping bug that I'd like to use up to make some space and then I can treat myself to some new stuff - maybe more digis they don't take up any space at all, perfect!

Thank you for stopping by and taking a peek at what I've been up to.  

Hugs,

Shona xx

I is for Ice Skating

Good evening,

I'm back again, this time to share my A-Z Christmas Challenge card for the letter I.  I have gone for I for Ice Skating and used a Magnolia stamp.  I'm not a massive Tilda fan but I do have a few stamps now to pick and choose from but I think this one's my favourite.

I've coloured Tilda with Promarkers to match the unidentified but rather yummy paper that was in a bag of stash one of my crafty friends passed on to me.  I've gone a but mad with the die cutting on this one and used a Memory Box Frostyville Border and corner die as well as X-cut scalloped circles and Spellbinders Lacey Circle dies.  The sentiment set is by Paula Pascual and I've used Tim Holtz distress ink to stamp it for a change.  The only other additions are a Dovecraft doiley, spotty organza ribbon and some pearls.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit!

Hugs,
Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - November
CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - November
One Crazy Stamper November - Anything Goes

Cutie Pie DT Card - Festive Furry Friends

Good afternoon,

Ah so glad that's my first half day back at work done and dusted it won't feel so strange going back again tomorrow, it's just for the morning again then that's me until next week.  I usually work 37.5 hours a week but I'll build up to this gradually over the next 6 weeks.

Today's card is my DT one for the Cutie Pie Challenge and their latest challenge is Festive Furry Friends!  We'd love you to join us with your take on the challenge which must include a cute image!  Our sponsors this time are Stamp and Create and Meljen's Designs who provided the design team with some gorgeous digis to work with.

 I chose Cupid but it was a difficult choice as all their digis are just gorgeous.

I've coloured the image with Promarkers to match the papers which were a freebie a while back.  The sentiment is another one from one of my LOTV sets.  The image is quite big so I haven't added many embellishments to my card although I did find space for some MB Precious Hearts die cut in Kraft card topped with some red 'jingle' bells tied with bakers twine to match the reindeer theme.  My card is finished off with some gems and glitter domes.

I'll probably be back again later with my card for the letter 'I', see you then,

Shona xx

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - #272 Inspired by a Beatles Song (All you need is love)

I Love Promarkers - #244 Cute Christmas

CHN Christmas Challenge Extra - November

CHN Patterned Paper Challenge - November

Sister Act Challenge - #82 Anything Goes