MIM#172 Time for a Story with Meljen's Designs

Hi everyone. Not only is today the start of the last Linky Party for 2013 at Make It Monday, but it is also my darling husband's birthday!!! Today, he is two years older than me, lol. Only for the next 4 months though!
Have you all had a wonderful time with family and friends over Christmas? It's nice to be back blogging after having a couple of week's off. I feel I owe it to my hubby to keep the house clear of my craft things for at least a couple of days before and after Christmas! I had to make my DT card for 613 Avenue Create and also this one so out came the bits and pieces. If you want to scroll down, you can check out yesterday's DT card and keep reading this one and see if your card has been chosen as a Pick of the Week from MIM#171.
Congratulations go to Emily as the featured artist from the last linky party and also to Valerie as the winning commenter!
This week we are being sponsored by Meljen's Designs and I have made my card using this cute image called Story Time Boy.
Here it is.......

 

Recipe:

SU Pacific Point cardstock for the cardbase and mattes

Scrap of SU Old Olive cardstock

White cardstock from stash

DP is from a Merci 6x6 mini stack

Nestie Dies - Wonky Rectangles

                   - Stars Five

Punches - large oval and scalloped oval from SU

Image is Story Time Boy from Meljen's Designs

Sentiment from SU set - On Your Birthday

Copic Markers

Memento Black inkpad

D/S tape roller 

Foam Dots

Our sponsor details are........

This week we are being sponsored once again by the everfun and cute Meljen Designs Digital Stamps!

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical rubber and digital images inspired by her kids and family. Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog, and freebies and promos now and then on our facebookFAN PAGE!  Please visit the Meljen's Designs line of stamps at our store HERE to browse through all of Melissa's lovely designs! You can also see Melissa's rubber stamps at her corner of Whimsy Stamps, too!

http://shop.meljensdesigns.com/

Meljen Designs Digital Stamps  are giving away the lovely prize of the winner's choice of 4 single digis!

 Now for POTW time....... hope it's your card that is being featured. Don't forget to check out the other DT blogs too!!!
Here's a cute little CAS card from Meg of Bits and Pieces and you can find it here on her blog.

 

And this beauty is from Julie of Stamps, Paper, Ribbons N Things. A cute image and lovely die cut card and isn't that lace beautiful too! You can find lots of pics here on Julie's blog

Okay, enough from me. The DT and I are looking forward to more fantastic entries. Let's make the most of the end of 2013 and have a bumper crop of entries to finish off the  year with!!!
The DT would love to see you pop in and don't forget, to be in the running for this weeks prize all you need to do is stop off at some of the other entries and leave a comment mentioning that you saw them on MIM. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Take Care,

Hugs,

Sandy

Challenge #52 ~ 613 Avenue Create - A Dotty Birthday with Bugaboo

It seems ages since I last posted as the blogs I have DT positions on have been on break and I've been busy with the pre Christmas hoo hah! and had to pack away my craft gear too after finishing off last minute cards.
Well, have you survived Christmas? We had four for lunch on Christmas Day and then for the evening meal there were seventeen of us. I cooked for both meals so spent the whole day with the oven going! We had roast turkey and roast pork with all the trimmings and my own handmade pudding for afterwards. Mum usually makes the white sauce/custard to go with it, but I've been making it for the last two years with no complaints yet, lol. We managed to make it to church for the morning service ( I sing in the choir) and back home in time to take the small turkey for lunch out of the oven and put the bigger one in.
It was a good day with family although my newest son-in-law seems to have lost his wedding ring. We didn't know until the next day so have now pulled all the lounge and seats to bits looking for it with no luck. Not under them either. He could have lost it anywhere between his place and his relatives in the morning and our place. He didn't notice until the next day that it had gone so really it could be anywhere!!!
Yesterday, my brother and Mum picked me up and we travelled to Wallaroo. It's a seaside town and took us between 1 1/2 - 2 hours travel time. The countryside is pretty boring - just paddocks mainly with a few small towns and it was so dry too! On the way back we saw the Country Fire Service putting out a fire in some of the paddocks bordering the road. They were lucky to catch it. We stopped on the way for a coffee break. My Aunty turned 70 and her daughter planned a lunch for her. She knew about some of the people coming but we kept it a secret that we were going to be there. It was a long day, leaving here about 9:50 and returning home about 6 p.m. I was still full from lunch so skipped tea!
Today starts off another challenge at 613 Avenue Create - the theme is always Anything Goes- this week the twist is to use Black and your favourite colour. My favourite is Purple!!!  Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Digi Stamps I got to play with a fun  image - Dotty Birthday
Another CAS card from me.......

 Recipe:
SU Black cardstock for the cardbase and mattes
White cardstock from stash
DP is  from Kaisercraft ~ 6x6 Paper Pad ~ Lilac Avenue Collection
Image is Dotty Birthday from Bugaboo Digi Stamps
Sentiment is also from Bugaboo Digi Stamps - came with JJ Tequila and Shoes image 
Nestie Dies - Standard Circles - large and small
Punch from SU for the sentiment
Pearls from stash

I am entering my card into the following challenges:(back later)
Hiding in My Craft Room - Challenge #130 ~ Anything but Holiday
Pumpkin Spice - Challenge #52 ~ Anything Goes

Our sponsor details are as follows:

 Our Sponsor this week is the ever generous   

Please check out the DT's blogs and maybe leave us a comment. We would love to hear from you and also to see your creations entered into this week's challenge. Can't wait to see what you all have been up to over the Christmas break!
Thanks for stopping by,
Take Care,
Hugs,
Sandy

MIM#171 Fairy Lights with Bugaboo

A new Linky Party has begun at Make It Monday. I'm still in the throes of last minute cards and housework and now that school is finished, babysitting as well. I have all three grandchildren today and I need to get petrol and go to the shops. While I'm sitting here in front of the computer they are happily watching Cars 2 in the family room.

How are your preparations going? All finished or like me still muddling along?

Well I want to congratulate Laura as our featured artist this week and also Billie Aas the winning commenter. Hope you enjoy your prize from Michelle.

I ended up going pretty simple again for my card. I just couldn't think as I wasn't feeling very well yesterday.

I have made a Z fold card but I've scanned it so you can't really see that. It was too dark for a decent photo last night and I think I missed getting it in for Michelle to include in today's Make It Monday post, so it might appear there later on.

Here is the picture of my card....

Recipe:

SU Real Red cardstock for cardbase and mattes

White card from stash

DP is one I've had for a long time from the cheap shop called Mini Deco Christmas Scrapbook Collection

Image is AKV Christmas Fairy Lights from Bugaboo

Sentiment is SU clear set - More Merry Messages

Copic Markers

Memento inkpad - Cottage Ivy

Bling from stash

DS tape roller

Foam Dots

http://www.bugaboostamps.com/

Everything That You Ever Wanted to Know About Bugaboo Stamps: A Short Essay

As if raising five children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the world of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. That was two years ago. Today Bugaboo Stamps is one of the leading companies in digital images, and we're still growing!  From seriously snarky to sugary sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects.  Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week! 

 If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps   atTotally Stampalicious. And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT   for weekly challenges at Catch the Bug. 

Bugaboo Stamps are offering a very generous prize of winner's choice of 7 single digis!

Drum roll please........POTW time so here are the two entries I've chosen to feature!

The first one is this gorgeous Christmas card from Cathy at My Creative Space and you can find it here.

The second one is from  Marie from The Joy of Cards and Paper Crafting and you can find it here.

Aren't those birds just stunning

Well, I seem to be having trouble saving my post and publishing. Hopefully I won't have to try all over again from scratch! (edited - I ended up saving this to a document and then pasting into a new post because I'd been trying for 40 minutes to get it to save and schedule and then just tried to post with no luck - Blogger playing games with me!!!)

Don't forget to pop in to see the DT's cards on their blogs and remember to be in the running for the fab prize from Bugaboo, just stop by some of the other entries blogs and leave a comment.

Thanks for stopping by and if I don't  "see" you beforehand I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas,

Take Care

Hugs,

Sandy

CAS card with Bugaboo Challenge #50 - 613 Avenue Create DT card

Sunday has arrived and I've not been feeling 100% We went out for our SIL's birthday last night and the food was good but this morning  I'm not! Could just be a coincidence!!! Anyway I didn't make it to church and have stayed here at home. I've pottered around getting some cards done and also a couple of loads of washing. It was my Mum's birthday yesterday too, so Happy Birthday, Mum!!!!
It's Team B's turn this week to share some inspiration with you and the theme this week is as usual Anything Goes with the optional twist this time of creating a CAS creation.
Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo and I got to play with this sweet little mouse (don't like the real ones...lol)

Here is my card... sharing it twice!!!
This one was taken with the camera

 and this was done on the scanner. A bit brighter, but the mouse is really grey as in the first picture and the other colours of the image are more true in the photograph as well

Recipe:

SU Night of Navy cardstock

White doily - a Christmas gift from a friends

Image is Christmas Mouse - present from Bugaboo

Sentiment was from a freebie set of stamps

Copic Markers

Memento inkpad

DS tape roller

Foam Dots

Our generous sponsor this week is 

winner will win 7 images

 

 

It's late afternoon here now so I had better go and get something for hubby for tea before he dies of hunger, lol (he would probably just forage in the fridge anyway....)

Why not head over and enter the challenge this week with those last minute makes before Christmas! We would love to see them.

 Remember if you haven't already linked up for the Block Party..This is your invitation! Click HERE  to link up!  Thanks for playing in our neighborhood!

I've also added a page at the top of my blog to you can check out the prizes for the Block Party/500 followers. Loads of fab prizes so check it out!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Take Care,

Sandy

CAS Snowman for Christmas

Still making Christmas cards? ......I am, lol. It's another day closer to Christmas Day and I still have several to make and get in the post. This one was a quick one, I coloured the image in on Thursday at our little craft group and I knew I wanted to keep my card  simple so I could show off this gorgeous snowman. He colours up just perfectly!!! Well, this is what I finished up with. I used a SU set of stamps that I really like and forget to use!
Here is my card....

Recipe:
SU Real Red
SU Burnt Brown Sugar
White cardstock from stash
Snowman Image is from DZ Doodles
Sentiment is from a freebie set of stamps (with magazine purchase)
SU Lovely as a Tree - rubber stamp set
SU Early Espresso inkpad
Copic Markers
D/S tape roller

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Sentimental Sundays - Challenge #184 ~ Snowman

Ok that's me for tonight. Hope you are having or have had, lol a wonderful day.
Thanks for stopping by today,
Hugs,
Sandy

Have you been Naughty or Nice - Santa is checking his list!

Hi everyone, thought I would make a couple of tags and try out a fab vintage set of stamps I've had for several months and haven't inked up. All the images are vintage Father Christmas ones. As a rule, I don't like Christmas cards featuring Father Christmas....but I do like Vintage ones!!! So far this Christmas I've received 2 cards with Father Christmas as the main feature and our kids are all grown up so I don't see the point, lol. Anyway we all have our own taste and the card companies churn out millions of cards a year featuring the jolly man!
So....lol, here is my jolly man checking his list. I wonder which side of the list you are on?
I tried to colour the feather with green and a bit of purple and I chose too dark a green and ended up trying to lighten it with the neutral marker but that didn't work as well as I had liked so now it's all green and darker purple!!! Not exactly what I envisioned! Oh well, I really didn't want to have to start from scratch again, so it's here to stay. The hat has clear Kindy Glitz (which tends to take on the colour of what it is put on, hence the red shows up a bit from the berries!)

Recipe:
SU Real Red cardstock for the tag
Green cardstock from stash
DP from Kaisercraft
Image is a clear stamp from Inkadinkado - Santas
Sentiment was a freebie from Bizzy Bec ( I typed the words into Google and found this freebie)
Kindy Glitz
Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Copic Markers
D/S tape roller
Circle Punch - 2 sizes

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments - Challenge 95 ~ Tags
Crafting With Dragonflies - Challenge #17 ~ Christmas Tags
Try It on Tuesday - A handmade gift or tag

I had better go, I've got 5 Christmas puddings bubbling away on the stove. My eldest daughter came over this morning and we went off to the shops for ingredients and then back here to mix up a huge batch of pudding mix. She wants one for a gift and another to take for dessert on Christmas Day when she and her husband visit his relatives. I quadrupled the mixture and ended up with 5 puddings of varying sizes!!!
Thanks for stopping by,
Take Care,
Hugs,
Sandy

BLOCK PARTY for 613 Avenue Create

Hi everyone, the following is to let you all know about what is going on over at 613 Avenue Create to celebrate their 1 Year Blogaversary. Lots of wonderful prizes to win so check out below for what you have to do to be eligible for the fab prizes.........

I've created a page and there is a link at the top of my blog so you can check out some of the wonderful prizes!

Hello, Crafty Peeples,

We are so close to 500 followers! 

 We would love to meet that milestone by JANUARY 12, 2014

CUZ

We're having a BLOCK PARTY to celebrate our 1 Year Blogaversary!

  Of course, we don't want to stop at 500, so KEEP adding your links.  

We have lined up some fabulous prizes for our BLOCK PARTY and more prizes are being added daily.  If you would like a chance to win here is a partial list of possible prizes:  WRMK - Envelope Punch Board;  Prima Mixed Media Dolls(We will be giving away two of these); A Ribbon Bundle from Really Reasonable Ribbons and the list goes on.   Eligibility is simple:

1.  Become a follower of our blog.

2.  Become a Facebook Fan.

3.  Add your blog to the linkup on the Block Party Giveaway Page.

Click HERE to go to our Facebook Page and Like Us!

Click HERE to go to our BLOCK PARTY PAGE

Hugz,

Chana

Well, that's easy, isn't it so head over to the Facebook Page and also to the blog using the above links and join up to become a follower of the blog and a fan on Facebook!

We would love to see you there!!!

Hugs,

Sandy

MIM#170 The King

Hi everyone, I've woken up this morning to rain! We are having such weird weather, hot for a couple of days and then plummeting back down with rain, or hot with rain, lol. No use putting the cardigan away or those long sleeved tops because you never know when you will need them.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I went shopping yesterday and bought my Secret Santa present for the person that I have this year. Now just have to organise food and drink for the big day and also minor pressies for the rest of the family and also gifts for the 3 grandies.
It's always a fun day on Monday as it's the start of a new Linky Party at Make It Monday and this week our wonderful leader, Michelle, is also our sponsor. She has an online shop called Pink Paper Paradise and is offering the winner a fab rubber stamp by Saturated Canary.
Congratulations go to Lisa T as the featured artist this week and also to Ann as the winning commenter. Enjoy your prize!
Now, I had better get on and share my card for this week (the kettle is boiled and my coffee is calling!). We were given a free hand this week but as Michelle is giving away a cute Saturated Canary Stamp, I decided to use one of their digital images. Just right for the Christmas season.
I made another twisted easel card but not the usual type.
Here is my card.... the card is made using 4 diecuts (basecard) and 3 smaller diecuts using the DP  - Two are held together on one end with a brad, the second one is folded diagonally to create the twist and the third is mounted on top for my image. My fellow teamie, Shirley, showed us how to make a card (with a pocket, another half diecut) using two diecut pieces with a brad in the left hand corner to hold the diecuts together, I thought that I could play with that idea and try to use it to make a twisted easel card. I started off with the brad in the corner, but it just wouldn't sit properly so changed it to the centre of the card and that works a lot better!!! The fourth diecut is chopped in half and placed on the bottom one to create a little pocket. You can put either a smaller diecut in the pocket for your greeting or maybe a gift card or some cash. Mine is empty at the moment so I could show off this gorgeous paper!

Recipe:
SU Night of Navy cardstock for the diecuts
White cardstock from stash
DP is from My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found Collection
Image is from Saturated Canary - The King ( it does have a little star hanging over the manger, but I couldn't get it to fit on my card because of doing it sideways on the diecut)
The sentiment circle is from Melonheadz ~ a cute little baby Jesus in a manger with the words "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given"
Nestie Dies - Label
                   - Standard circles - large
                   - Scalloped circles - large
Punches - circle
Copic Markers
D/S tape roller
Foam Dots

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
CAS on Sunday - Challenge #23 ~ Christmas
Come and Get It Challenges - Christmas challenge
That Craft Place Challenge - Christmas



Here's Michelle's details for her shop and the fab prize she is offering.......

Our sponsor this week is 

Pink Paper Paradise 

who are an Australian stockist of Copic Markers, Accessories and more.

With a large range of Sketch and Ciao markers and refills available, Pink Paper Paradise has your colouring needs covered. They stock a wide selection of stamps from La La Land Crafts, Flourishes, The Greeting Farm and Saturated Canary. Free postage is available on orders over $75.00 Although Pink Paper Paradise is only available to Australian Customers The fabulous prize of a rubber stamp
(Fairy Wishes  - Saturated Canary) offerered to the winning random commenter is available world wide.  

Here's the fun part... POTW Time.

The first one I've chosen is this one from Jodi at Kaboo Designs ~ a cute tag which you can find here

  

The second one I have chosen is this fabulous card by Deonna from For the Love of Cardmaking blog and you can see it here. I love the image of Father Christmas worshipping at the manger of baby Jesus.

 

So... now it's time for you to show off your creativity, We would love to see all those wonderful Christmas cards, tags and papercraft goodies and any other papercraft projects you have been making. Remember, you can share an older post if you would like and don't forget to stop by the DT and leave some blog love and check out the other entries to be in the running for this cute little fairy.

Thanks for stopping by today,
Take Care,
Hugs,
Sandy  

MIM#169 Little Girl Framed - with Lili of the Valley

Another week has sped past and I'm starting to get anxious about getting all my housework sorted out for Christmas. I haven't been able to bend down (my back is gradually getting better) so have got lots to do still (mainly putting craft gear away for a while and hopefully being able to find it all again, LOL).
It's Monday and that always means the start of a new linky party at Make It Monday blog
Our sponsor is Lili of the Valley this week and the team have come up with some fabulous projects to inspire you with. For my card, I kept it fairly simple, not using a sentiment and letting the image and the lovely frame speak for themselves. I think this card would be suitable for quite a few occasions, Birthday, Thankyou, Valentines, Thinking of You etc.
A busy weekend for me postwise, I would love it if you scrolled down and checked out my previous post for 613 Avenue Create using a Rick St. Dennis image.
Well that brings me to congratulating our featured artist, Bethie  J and also our winner, Debs M from last week's entries. I do hope you enjoy your prize. Don't forget to grab a badge too.
Here is my card to share, I managed to get the inside done too this time around so there's a pic of that also.

Front of card......

 Inside of card....... Plenty of room to add a sentiment later

Recipe:
SU Real Red cardstock for base and diecuts
White card from stash
Image is a freebie - from a mini stack of images with a magazine purchase
Embossing folder was also a freebie, it's a large one with a blank area in the middle, ideal for my card.
Dies - Cheery-Lynn ~ Sweetheart Frame Die
        - Cuttlebug ~ Hearts & Stamps
Copic Markers
D/S tape
Tacky Glue
D/S Tape roller

We are very happy to have LOTV joining us this week and offering our winner

an amazing 

£10 voucher

http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/

Lili of the Valley specialises in the design and production of gorgeous & unique rubber stamps, sentiment stamps, die-cut designs and papers for the cardmaking and crafting sector. “At Lili of the Valley, we strive to produce excellent quality products with beautiful designs that enable you to make lovely cards every time, simply and easily. We also pride ourselves on taking care with everything we do to make sure you receive great products, at a good price and as quickly as possible."

Oops! forgot to put in my POTW entries..... so just a quick edit to include a couple of favourites.
 This first one is a collapsible box that you can post - check it out at Crafting Passions. Nancy shares how to make it too!!! You can find it here

 

My second choice is this one by Julie at Rainbow Days. A lovely colour themed card in blue and white. You can check it out here . I love that little pop of colour on the daisy.

 

Time for me to go and get dressed!!! have breakfast and wait for my little grandson to arrive for me to look after. He is such a cutie, but a bit of a ratbag at home at times. A typical 2 year old!

We are looking forward to popping in to your blogs this week and leaving you a comment. so come on and join the linky party and inspire others to get creative. Don't forget to stop by the  DT team and leave some comments too. The fab prize this week will go to some lucky commenter, so make sure you pop in and leave some blog love to the other entries too and don't forget to mention you saw them at MIM this week.

Thanks for stopping by,

Take Care,

Hugs,

Sandy