Finally Easter gifts for this year

I'm on a roll - 3 posts in one night!


I have just sat and made 34 lots of chocolate eggs/bunnies, for the kids to give out tomorrow to friends and teachers. Bunnies and eggs from Wilkinsons and Lidl and all I have done, is add some of each to a cellophane wrapper, to which I had added a sliver of Easter wrapping, before adding the bunnies and eggs. Really happy with these, and am very glad I had enough chocolates to make them all up. Will certainly be using this idea again in the future.

Easter cards...

With Easter at the end of this week, I have spent the last couple of evenings making my easter cards for this year - nothing quite like leaving it to the last minute is there!

I've had this idea in my head for a card, since I saw the qute rabbit recently, and am quite pleased with how it has come out. The Rabbit was cut on the craft robo, but making the topper was more fiddly than I thought it would be but the layered effect was worth it. To add a bit of dimension to the card I have put 3d foam pads on the back of the rabbit before putting it onto the pink square. The embossing was done on the cuttlebug with the 'daisy' folder. I'd like to enter it into this weeks Crafty Catz Challenge - which was to use white and one other colour.



This is another Easter card I made using some 3d chipboard letters that I bought a while ago in Poundland. The card is the second attempt at using the letters, as my first idea didn't really go to plan, so I had to think of another way to used the letters. Really pleased with how this card has come out.

Thank you to the 3 ladies on MSE

Been really busy, so a bit late with my thankyous, but here are 3 lovely things I have got through the post recently. The first is a lovely spring card from Gail, who drew me for the Crafty Place Spring swap. Gail also sent me some lovely brightly coloured peel offs.

Here is the stash I got from Anne who drew me in the March stash swap. She sent me some fabbie stamped images, and gorgeous papers, as well as some embellishments that I will be using on my future cards.

and, finally Jennie sent me some gorgeous papers, and a few other things, for winning the 'hearts' challenge card on Crafty Place recently. I was so excited to get the papers as despite having quite a few, these are the first ones that I have that a doublesided.

Thank you all so much for sending me such great packages.

My entry into the current MSE challenges

Lots of the lovely ladies over on the MSE thread met up yesterday at the NEC craft show. I was really gutted not to have gone to meet everyone, but for those of us on the thread that didn't go, Louisa (DTB) set a challenge to make a cake card, and this is my entry for it. Kept it quite simple so that I can also enter into the challenge that OAP1945 set for this fornight which is 'KISS' - keep it simple stupid. The challenge was to use 3 papers - plain, pattened, textured; either 3 buttons or 3 bows; and something sunny coloured.

For the card I have used an image off my pc, coloured in on paintshop pro; some cupcake paper; a piece of gold card; some pink gemstone card, run through the 'bug' with the happy birthday embossing folder and 3 buttons. To cheer the card up I have used some bright pink ribbon on the back of the image. The rectangles were cut with deckled rectangle nesties on the cuttlebug.

My chocolate cake

One of my best friends makes the most gorgeous chocolate cakes, and last night 4 of us went around to her house to learn how to do it, and what her secrets are at getting the cake perfect everytime.

Here is one of the cakes we made, and it tastes as good as it looks.

Since I have been out 3 nights this week, which is very rare, my OH said I could go as long as a bought back a cake. Well I did, but only half made it back to our house, as we had the other half after a chinese and couple of bottles of wine.

Had a fab night, and am now under pressure to recreate one all on my own!

Another card and voucher wallet for one of my best friends

I has been a gorgeous day here in Surrey, that the 4 of us and some friends went to the first day of opening at Chessington World of Adventures. The place was absolutely packed - busier than it has been in the summer holidays, and everyone there were annual pass holders. We did a lot of the rides, although only once because of the size of the queues, but no one wanted to try out their new ride - the Cobra - it made us all feel sick just watching other people on it.

I've come back to make a card for one of my best friends whose birthday is on Tuesday, and I also managed to make a double gift voucher card holder as well, which was a bonus.

I'm back in my comfort zone, with butterflies and embossing, as I really like this style of card, and they are relatively quick to make. The embossing is a cuttlebug folder, the ribbon came from my stash, and I cut the butterfly out on the craft robo using some gold glitter card, which is very sparkly but you can't really tell from the photo. I cut a smaller version of the butterfly out for the gift card holder.

Crafty Place Card Swap

I haven't been had much time this week to make cards, what with finishing my old job, and starting a new one, but have had a few crafty hours tonight to make a card for Gail for this month's card swap, whose theme was spring. I have pondered all week about what to make and have come up with this card.

This is an ivory square card, with a matting of gold and ivory. The backing paper under the daisy flowers is from a K&Company Daisy Pad, and the daisies themselves have been made with punches, and the centre is a small punched circle in cream. I have backed these onto small ivory squares made with the nesties on my 'bug', and I have put 3d foam pads on the back of each to give the card a bit of lift. The ribbon and flowers are from my stash and I have added a pearl to the middle of the flower. Struggled to know how to incorporate the word 'Spring', so decided to just type 'Spring is coming...' on the PC in gold and printed it out onto photo paper. I then cut it out and stuck it to the middle of the ribbon. Pretty pleased with the card, and hope Gail likes it too.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
The Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge; Allsorts Saturday Challenge; Pink Elephant Challenge; and Creative Cottage Challenge

A thankyou to my boss

Having left work on Tuesday my boss of 9 years gave me a beautiful earring and necklace set, so as a thank you I made this card.

Its quite plain and simple, but I like the layout and design. Ribbon from my stash and the flower was made from 2 punches - using purple card, and purple glitter self adhesive film - and a pearl added to the middle.

The image is an old freebie from 'Pink Petticoat', which I have cut out using an oval nestie. I have layered this onto a scalloped purple oval, followed by a plain silver oval and finally another scalloped purple oval. The card has a 3d effect as I have used 3d pads between the first purple scalloped oval and the silver layer.

Mothers Day - cards my boys made me

I've had a lovely day, first of all breakfast in bed, then a 2 hour lie in reading a book, and then spent a nice sunny day at Thorpe Park, with lunch out, so I haven't had to do a thing!

This is the card that my oldest Harry gave me this morning, which he made last week at school.

I think it is fab, as it is all his own work, but it is even special because of what he has written inside. Harry and I don't always see eye to eye, and we both have our moments. He isn't the most loving at times, and thinks he is too old for cuddles from his mum, but the word he wrote choked me up a bit, so deep down he does care!


A poem just for you:

Mummy I love you,
Usually happy,
Mummy you are fab,
Mummy forever young and beauiful,
You are the best,
You help me,
You cook for me,
You feed me,
and most importantly,
I love you

His one request was that I put his card on my blog for you all to see.

I'd like to enter it into the Creative Craft World Mothers Day Challenge.

This was my other card I got today from my youngest, Jack, and I love it as much as Harry's. The picture is of me cooking pancakes and dropping one on the floor.


The words Jack wrote were:

My Mum

My mum is special because she helps me to do my homework.

My mum is precious because she helps me.

My Mum.

My Mum.

Another boys birthday card...

this time for my oldest who will be 11 on Friday - where does the time go.

I've sat and made this card tonight, as I was really stumped as to what to do, and since he is desperate for an I-touch thought i'd give another 3d card a go. We slightly altered the calendar button with the day and date of his birthday this year, and spookily the time of 9.42am was the time he was born 11 years ago.

Pleased with how it has come out, but annoyed at myself for not getting the 'birthday wishes' more in the centre, and 3d pads aren't very forgiving when trying to move them.

All the buttons have been individually cut out again and stuck on with foam pads.

Hope Harry likes it. My OH doesn't, but then he can't like all my masterpieces, can he!

A card for a teenager...

I really don't like doing cards for males, as lets face it they are never going to look pretty because you can't use ribbons, flowers or butterflies!

I needed to make one today for my childminders son's 14th birthday on Wednesday, and the only things he is into is texting and playing on the Xbox, so I have come up with this - a card in the shape of an Xbox controller!

The card has a 3d feel to it as I have painstakingly cut out all the buttons on a second copy of the image and stuck them to the card using 3d pads. The sentiment is a peel off, and stuck onto an oval cut out of the second image of the controller so the colours match perfectly. Really like this card, and think it looks pretty cool.

I'd like to enter it into this week's Allsorts Challenge - which is 'Just for Men'.

To go with the card, I have also made a matching gift wallet for an I-tunes voucher, which again looks pretty cool, and as for the card above I have cut out each of the individual buttons and attached them with 3d foam pads.

I went out with a friend of dinner on Thursday night who I haven't see for ages, and got another birthday present of a bag of 3 chick flick dvd's, popcorn and chocolate.

I had a very crafty afternoon making cards, so made this one as a thank you for her. It is the same style as one I made earlier in the week, but this time I have used a slightly different size card, and used white and silver instead of ivory and gold.

I love this style of card, and am thinking that you could use it for others like; new baby; new job etc, but they are so time consuming to make because of all the sticky pads, that need cutting to size to fit the letters.

The letters were done on the craft robo, and the flowers with 2 different sized woodward punches to which I have added a blue jem to the middle of each flower. I like this card, but have to say I think I prefer the ivory and gold one as a colour way, as it looks a bit softer.

Perfect ending to a fab week...

because I've had another order for some cards for a friend of my mum's and have sat for 1 1/2 this afternoon making 6 of my 'Happy Birthday' butterfly cards.

These cards have to be one of the simplest I have done. The 'Happy Birthday' is embossed straight onto the white square card. A length of ribbon and some jems are added to the lefthand side, and I have used the craft robo to cut out the butterfly. The wings are slightly folded to give a 3d effect and is attached to the card using some 3d pads. To finish each card of I have made an insert with best wishes on it. Really, really like these cards in the colours I have chosen.

I'd like to enter these cards into the Magical Crafts Challenge for this week - things with wings and Flutter By Wednesday's Challenge

Another busy week, but a fantastic one!

I've had an amazing week, and managed to fit in making a couple of cards.

Its a great week as I only have 7 working days in my job before starting a new and exciting one, not that I am counting the days or anything!

On Tuesday, we heard that my oldest son, had got into the high school that we wanted, which is such a relief, and then on Tuesday night a couple of my best friends picked me up for a surprise birthday trip out, which turned out to be dinner and a ticket to see Mama Mia in London. I was so thrilled that I ended up crying (with happiness) at such a wonderful surprise. Just saying thank you wan't enough, so last night I sat and made these two cards to give them.

Since I got the black and white papers the other week, I have been dying to do a sillouhette card, so my OH found some ladies to use from the internet which was have cut out on the craft robo, and having now got some scalloped and plain ovals I put the 2 together, and am really pleased with the results. The images have been matted on white and black card, and I ran the white card through the cuttlebug with devine swirls. I have used foam pads on the back of the lady to give it a 3d effect. Ribbon and elastic cord on the left finishes off the card.

Ever since, I have seen some named cards on a couple of blogs I have been dying to make one. A friends daughter is 9 at the end of this month, so I spent a while yesterday making this for her, and love the finished card.

I have used linen effect ivory card, with a gold matt. The letters were cut on the craft robo, and attached to the card with foam pads, and for the flowers, I have used a couple of different sized punches and added a pink gem to the centre of them.

This card was relatively easy to make, and will certainly be making some more in the future.