Blog Candy Up For Grabs

Wow!!! Over 15,000 hits!!!

As I promised, I have got together a few goodies to celebrate this milestone. It never crossed my mind that I would have this many visitors when I first set up this blog. So, if you are interested in getting your hands on this candy then simply leave a post on your blog with a link to mine. Then leave a comment here so that I can include you in the draw. I will put all the names into a hat and select a name at random. As a special thank you for their support, I will automatically include all my followers into the draw.

The set includes some stamped images (cut out with nesties) and scalloped shapes for easy matting and layering, some blank shapes which fit onto the nestie scallops so that you can stamp onto them, some notelet cards with apertures, some large tags, various die cut kits (including banners, snowflakes, teddies, grass, snowman, aeroplanes and people) and some die cut shapes for creating the take away boxes.

You have until the end of the month to enter.

Good luck!

(I shall leave this post at the top so newer posts can be found below)

New Elzybells

My new Elzybells stamps arrived this morning! Very quick delivery indeed. I've used the 'Bethlehem' and 'Little own of Bethlehem' stamps to create these quick and simple cards. I think sometimes that less is more and think that these may become a staple of my Christmas stock this year. The first is stamped onto White Linen cardstock and coloured in blue but I prefer the second one (brown on cream linen).

Here's a close up of the image so that you can see how well they stamp on linen card.

I also ordered some of the storage boxes and they are great. Have spent all morning backing my stamps onto kling-on and sorting them out into groups - only problem is that I only ordered 2 boxes and 1 sheet of kling-on to try them out, now wish I'd bought more!!!

Elaine's Blog Candy

Elaine has offered up some fantastic blog candy to celebrate her birthday. Go and check it out.

Pass It On Challenge

When I went to check my blog updates this morning, I noticed a little message frm Wendy with a little challenge for me. As part of a 'Pass it on' challenge which Elaine had sent her, she had to make a card but only using Pink Petticoat products. So here is my offering:

The card base itself was cut using my scallop rectangle nesties with an overlap to create a fold. I then cut and embossed a piece of gold which I stuck on top (this hides the missing row of scallops on the base card itself). I then layered my PP images and backing papers in Publisher before printing them out. The message is also from PP and cut using oval nesties and chalked the edge with gold. Finally, I attached the tag to a ribbon and put it all together.

Now, the rules of the challenge state that I must pass this challenge on. I thought I'd pass it on to SONIA. She was the one who started the whole challenge so I think it's just right that she gets to participate!

PIF from Elaine

The postie was nice to me yesterday and brought me my PIF from Elaine. I absolutely love the card she made for me. She knows I'm a dragon fan and am now off to hunt down these stamps. Not sure what I'm going to make with this stash yet but I'll post when I do.

Blog Candy!

Seeing as I am posting my first ever candy, I thought I'd have a look at others. I was shocked, there is so much Candy around the place lately!!! I have created a link on the left for easy access and reminder (both for me and others) about blog candy alerts, so check out what’s available:

Alex – some stunning cards and great candy.
Rach – an amazing array of candy to feast on
Maxine – 1000 hits blog, take a look
Gayle – great stamp give away
Julie – is celebrating becoming a SU demonstrator
Leonie – a fellow Elzybells fan
Nikki – ‘secret’ candy (what a great idea)
Daysleeper – 1000 hits celebration
Kadoodle Stamps – weekly stamp candy

Remember that my latest updates can be found below as I am leaving my Candy Post at the top for the time being.

Wine Themed Thank You

I had a (last minute) commission for a Thank You card with a wine theme. These Pink Petticoat images were the perfect thing. I like the sayings they have underneath but couldn’t use them because the card needed to be in Welsh. Coloured her in using Whispers pens and created the background using Pink Petticoat paper in Publisher and put a text box over some of the spots to create the sentiment. Because I don’t have all the oval scalloped nesties, I had to use to round ones but couldn’t fit her in on the second largest so cut her out at an angle. I think I pulled it off (rofl). Finished it off with a bit of ribbon.

And the PIF winners...

...are

Purple Nikki (purple set)

Lulu (Green set) and

Crafting Diva (Pink Set).

Congratulations to the three of you. I can't wait to see what you make wih it and hope you post it on your blog so I can see. If you e-mail me your addresses to paul@ford8.wanadoo.co.uk then I will post them off to you ASAP. Remember that you must now put up a set of PIF of your own and send it on to the first 3 to comment and they in turn do the same.

PIF Bags

Made a quick bag using my Sizzix Dies. I'm not really happy with it because of the colouring (the pens and the card didn't want to play together!!). So why am I showing you it? I wanted to show how they can be put together because...

...I won some PIF on Elaine's blog!!! Yipee. And as the rules of PIF state, I must now pass on some of my own and have decided to give away 3 sets of die cuts, ribbon and brads in PINK, PURPLE and GREEN colour ways. I have also included some ready cut panels for easy matting and layering too. The first 3 people to comment shall receive them, however, in my haste to be ultra organised, I have already stuck down the stamps on the envelopes and so I'm afraid I'm going to restrict it to UK residents only - sorry. When commenting, if you want to add a preferred colour option, providing it hasn't already been taken, I will send you it.

The rules for PIF are that in return for my PIF Candy you must then show this on your blog and do the same, that is, arrange PIF Candy for three lucky bloggers and then they do the same!

Cubs Halloween

We are having our Halloween party early with the Cubs because of half term hols and thinking of making a treat holder. Haven't decided which yet!!! Boxes are easier I think. Both are made using Sizzix die cuts and a clipart I found on my computer. If we make the boxes, the Cubs can personalise the orange sides themselves.

Quick Christmas

Just working on a quick Christmas card today. Used Cuddly Buddly Angel from the Giggles Nativity set and layered her on a background. Then, simply deoupaged but cut out the backing from the first layer to crete an 'alcove' type effect and then the angel on top. I think she may be in need of some stickles though.

Mooooooooooooo

Here's a card I made for a physiopherapist who loves cows!!! Not your everyday combo for cardmaking. The small little dangly thing on the cows tail is a mobile phone charm I made using a rubber stamp on some shrink plastic.

Edit - A few people have asked about the font I used. It is called STARRY NIGHT. I downloaded it a long time ago but Elaine has managed to track it down here: http://www.dafont.com/starry_night.font. Hope that helps.

Folder Cards

Here's are a couple of pics of some Folder cards I have made with a space for gifts inside. I have used the Cuddly Buddly Daffodil Fairy (wish as a Welshman, comes in handy quite often). I hope you like them more than the camera does! Sorry about the blurred pics, the camera has been tempromental lately.

P.S. This was also a test to see if newer posts will go below by blog candy one, so if it has worked, then Edna's instructions were not as 'clear as mud' as she thought! (fingers crossed)

Friendly Snowman

Updates 2 days on the trot! Can't quite believe it myself! Made a card using the Friendly Snowmen set from Cuddly Buddly. Simply decoupaged and stickled.

Simple yet Stylish!!!

I know I haven't been posting much lately, that is because I haven't been creating much due to a very busy few weeks (and the workload ain't going down). So here's a quick card I made using one of my fave Elzybells stamps. The cardstock is a glittery white and so it does not photograph well - sorry!

Seeing as though I am approaching 15,000 hits, I am trying to organise some candy so keep an eye out for it!