My first Stepper card

Yes, i'm way behind the times, this is my first stepper card, I did enjoy making it aswell. I have a few ideas for more so watch this space.
It is that time of the week for Die Cut Dreams challenge, which is "Teddy Bears Birthday" this week, and there's amazing creations from the DT. We see some amazing entries each week and I think most people have a bear in there collection of images so pop on over and take a look.


Flutterby Wednesday - #123 - open challenge
Just Cute Bears - challenge # 36 - swirls and bling


Recipe:-
Stamps - Lili Of The Valley, Polkadoodles Butterfly,
Papers - My Minds Eye Quite Contrary,
Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks,
Tools - Cricut, flower punches, Sissix, cuttlebug, heart punch,
Embellishments - gems embossing powder, stickles, gems,


Thank you for popping by and leaving me a comment, I really appreciate it.
Have a great week
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Christmas Reindeer

Polkadoodles are doing a new range of stamps, this lovely pair of Reindeer is among them, and are from the Stamp Doodles range. The papers are from the CD Paper boutique 2 - Creative Christmas. I love the clean simple look of this stamp, it allows for some nice bright papers.


This is for :-
Die Cut Dreams Christmas - challenge #36 - Christmas furry things
Papertake weekly - Animal Magic



Sorry ladies a bit of a long post!


Last Sunday I started with a bad back, in the lower right side of my back. But all week I managed to cope with it and moving around helped it the most. Pain killers didn't even touch the pain. So the back end of the week it had started to ease off, then Friday (yesterday)morning I bent to take the washing out of the washing machine and up it flared again. OMG what a terrible night I had last night, I went to bed late 11.45pm thinking the later I went the more I would sleep, only to wake at 1.00am to go to the toilet, and couldn't move anything from my waist down as it was extreme agony. 1 hour later I had managed to roll out of bed with a thud and crawl crying to the bathroom. My hubby was trying so hard to help me. Eventually I managed to get to my feet and walked in a crouched and very crooked way downstairs. By now I was losing my breath and sweating profoundly. The only way I could cope after taking painkillers was to try and sort of walk round, I couldn't sit at all. At 4.00 am there was no improvement and the pain was constant and getting worse, so my hubby phoned a doctor out, after some strong words from me, as I don't really go to the docs unless I really have to I was willing to see the doc. 5.00 am the Doctor turned up and what a lovely man he was too, really sympathetic and understood my pain straight away.
He examined me and asked lots of questions while I was pacing round in circles, then told me I had either a muscle spasm or trapped nerve. Then he started reeling off the medication he was giving me, four lots of tablets. He had a dose of each in his car to put me on until john went to the chemist. I try not to take medication if I can help it but the pain is that bad I would take anything at the moment.
So today I have been following the docs advice, if I can manage to sit, it can't be no more than 20 mins. So as my craft desk is at the back of my lounge i have been cutting out butterflies and inking them, you may have seen them on some of my cards. I do a couple then go for a little walk round. As for the computer I can manage 10 mins at a time, but then it's agony to get back onto my feet.

Dreading bedtime though, don't want to go through what I went through last night.

Luckily I made this card the other day and it hasn't been posted on my blog yet, I found today it would fit these challenges, so as I cannot make any at the moment, I would use this one.

But on a brigher note, some good has come out of this I will have lots of little butterflies to use, and the rest of the scraps from where I cut the butterflies out I am using little heart punches and snowflakes etc to use up the scraps

So this is my weekend I do hope your all having a better one than me. And sorry to offload this on you, but depending on how the painkillers work, it will determine how I will be able to get round blogger.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

My Little Sewing Box

Polkadoodles has the challenge theme of Hidden Element this week, so you can do a card or box with something hidden within.

I have made a sewing box with a matching card, I have used Sundae Of Seasons for all the elements, which you can get here . This part is from the spring section and I adore these as they lend themselves so well for doing vintage with.

the winner will receive a special blinkie for use on their blog and something scrummy from Polka Doodles! Runners-up will also receive Blinkies!


Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for popping by my blog.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Pink And Girly

We had a good response to our first challenge over at Oldie But A Goodie, today it's challenge # 2 and the theme has been chosen by our lovely Lisa, and it is "Pink And Girly". The DT have done some gorgeous creations, so if you have a little time please pop on over and pay us a visit.
I have used Sara Kay, Time For Apple Pie which you can get here, at Sir Stampalot, and I was well impressed with my new distress ink, vintage photo. What a lovely cream colour I was able to do on her apron. I have also tried something new with some plain white flowers, the two outer flowers, I coloured them with promarkers. I was surprised with how they turned out.


I would like to enter this into the folowing challenges:-
Stampin For The Weekend - challenge 47 - Tag It
A Spoonful Of Sugar - challenge 122 - Anthing Goes



Recipe:-
Stamps - Sarah Kay - Time For Apple Pie, Dovecraft Sentiments, Polkadoodles Butterfly,
Papers - Papermania Rose Garden,
Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks, Promarkers,
Tools - Nesties, cuttlebug,
Embellishments - Stickles, gems, bow, flowers Prima E line white,


Thanks for popping by my blog,
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Tea For Two Little Mice

Had a play around at the weekend in between sniffling and back pain, and this is what I came up with. When I saw the challenge over at House Mouse i just had to use there sketch. I adore House Mouse and never tire of colouring them, such wonderful details.


This is for the following challenges:-

1. House Mouse - challenge 78 - Sketch

2. ABC Challenge - D is foor Distressing

3. Craftalicious - challenge # 8 - Thanks

4. A Spoonful Of Sugar - challenge 121 - Autumn Colours


Recipe:-

Stamps - House Mouse Spa Time HMKR1011, Dovecraft Sentiment,

Papers - My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow,

Colouring mediums - Distress Inks,

Tools - Border punch,

Embellishments - Gems, ribbon, stickles, Flowers, Leaves all from stash


Have a wonderful week and thank you for popping in on my blog.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Hanglar And Vellum

Today over at Die Cut Dreams the theme for this week is to use Vellum on your creation. Take a look at the DT creations and see the different ways to do this.
Sorry about the photo, we've had rain for days now so not great for taking photo's i'm afraid. I have made a vellum handmade rose, , and did some small flowers. Then I put a piece of lemon vellum through the bug using the stylized flower folder. Didn't think I was going to like this challenge but i've enjoyed it and the vellum works well for my handmade roses.And as you can see i'm using one of the Hanglars from Susie which I won for DT member of the month, isn't she just the cutest. She's going on my "I'll get it one day" list. Lol!


This is for the following challenge:-
Cute Card Thursday - challenge 130 - A Tweet And A Flutter
Totally Papercrafts - challenge # 34 - Happy Birthday
Allsorts - week 70 - use at least three punches (I have used four, 3 different flower punches and scalloped border punch).

Recipe:-
Stamp - Hanglar, Dove craft sentiment, Polkadoodles butterfly,
Papers - Nitwits (free gift for magazine),
Colouring Medium - Promarkers,
Tools - Nesties, cuttlebug, embossing folders, flower punches,
Embellishments - pearl bead, ribbon, gems, stickles,


Have a great week and thank you for popping by,
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Baby Girl And Gingham

It's a new challenge at Polkadoodles and this week the theme is to do an easel card. I have used the NEW CD, SUNDAE OF SEASONS for this easel card, there's gorgeous ginghams on it, and this cutie who could resist this, I just love the little clothes accessories too. I have added some sparkle with stickles but it hasn't come out too well on the photo. The winner will receive a special blinkie for use on their blog and something scrummy from Polka Doodles! Runners-up will also receive Blinkies!
This CD is absolutely the best one yet with so much on it, you can buy it here at Polkadoodles shop.


I would like to enter this for:-
Crafts And Me - challenge # 13 - Easel Cards


Hope you have a great weekend and thank you for popping by.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Clean And Simple

I really fancied doing something different today, and my first Christmas card, so I decided on going "clean and simple", and enjoyed it too. And of course these are one of my favourite Penny Black critters, I got them from here, at Sir Stampalot.

I made this to go into two challenges:-

Penny Black At Allsorts - September - Punch Away (snowflake border punch, two different snowflake punches), they also have a DT call at the moment too

Colour Create - challenge 53 - Red, Gold and White


My am I lost with out the kids, it is so quiet and I miss Bobby so much, he is enjoying school though. He has had a couple of accidents, yesterday he came home with two cuts on his fingers where he had trapped them in a door, poor little thing, but he's brave and it hasn't put him off in the slightest. At the moment he can't wait to get there.

Different story for my daughter Jodie though she had the cancer jab yesterday, totally mixed feelings for us, we discussed it and I had reasons against and reasons for it, after lots of talk we decided to let her have it.


So I have been trying to get around everyone's blog but finding it hard as there seems to be alot going on at the moment at home, and a few issues have cropped up with certain family members.

But i'm sure things will be resolved one way or another, and we can all get on with things. And I can get back to blogging properly, instead of stealing bits of time here and there.


Hope you are all well and not having as much rain as we are.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Sweet Little Girl

This week at Die Cut Dreams the theme is "Sweet Little Girls", and we have been given some images to work with from our sponsor Digital Designs.

I really fancied a change this week and after I had printed off the image thought she would be cute on a girls bookmark. I love making bookmarks, coming from a family of keen readers, and they are great for using scraps up too.


This is for:-
Totally Papercrafts - challenge # 33 - Lets Go Dotty




I'm very honored to receive a blog award from Debs, thank you so much. Now I need to
pass on this award to 10 other peeps and also say why I started my blog, well I started my blog because I wanted to show my cards but more importantly to be inspired by so many fabulous blogs that I started to visit. And now I wake up on a morning, get the kids off to school and the next thing is put the computer on to see what everyone is up to.
Now I hate having to choose people as so many inspire me, so i'm going to cheat and say if you haven't got this award and enjoy visiting my blog please take it with love.


Have a great week and thank you for popping by
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Shower Time

I love colouring these adorable little fellas, I think House Mouse are the cutest stamps around. Well I've Been doing DT Samples all week and haven't really had a play, so today I got out my inks and my favourite papers and gave them a distressed look. Finished off with handmade flowers. And I thought i'd do some challenges.

This for the following challenges:-

1. House Mouse - challenge 77 - Make A Splash

2. Truly Scrumptious - challenge 40 - Sketch + optional "Get Knotted"

3 . A Spoonful Of Sugar - challenge 120 - Animal Crackers

4. The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges - Challenge # 1 - Green, Pink, Chocolate and Kraft

5. Stampin' For The Weekend - Challenge # 46 - Shabby or Vintage

6. Stamptacular Sunday - challenge # 75 - Distress it


Recipe :-

Stamps - House Mouse Tin Can Showering (july 08)

Papers - Papermania Regency,

Colouring Mediums - Promarkers, Distress Inks,

Tools - Flower punches,

Embellishments - brads, stickles, ribbon,

Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by my blog.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Beautiful Butterflies

This week at Polkadoodles it's another sketch. We had to do a shaped flap and no fabric or ribbon to be used. Have I ever done a card without ribbon or a bow, don't think I have.

I have rotated the sketch

All the elements are from the All Around And Everywhere CD and Paper Boutique. The Image is from the Back To Nature CD, which can be found here.
I have made my favourite butterflies, I use them a lot. I make them using a small stamp from a set called Fairy Flutterfliy - Meeshelle, and they get a total coating of stickles.


This is also for:-

1. Aud Sentiments - challenge # 10 - Sentiment - Best Wishes



My baby started full time school on Wednesday, Bobby is only four, and same with my two older children it always feels too soon for them to be going. The house is silent and I've done more baking and cleaning than ever. He was very proud of his new uniform, and he let me go with out a fuss although he had tears in his eyes, and I could see the nerves showing through the brave smile. When I picked him up he said he'd had a good day, when we got home I opened his lunch box and it was empty apart from two slices of apple. Now at home he's a fussy eater and never finishes anything. He must have worked up an appetite. Just so glad he has settled well, It was me that was shedding the tears Lol!

The lovely Lisa has given me this award.

You are supposed to pass this on to 7 ladies, but I had this award a couple of weeks ago, so I would like to say if you pop by my blog and like what you see please take this award with my love.


Have a great weekend

Happy Crafting

Tracy x

New Beginnings

Today see's the launch of a brand new challenge blog "Oldie But A Goodie" . If you, like most of us have a stash of old stamps gathering dust, then this is the place to come. There will be a new challenge every other Tuesday and you can combine it with as many other challenges as you like, as long as the main image is stamped and at least 6 months old. You can make anything you like, a Card, ATC, L/O etc, as long as it fits in with the challenge.
Our first theme is:
New Beginnings
This can be anything from a new baby ,wedding, new friend new neighbour or even a new school.

This is my creation for the first challenge "New Beginnings", I have used the very first stamp I ever bought, luckily it fit in with the theme, I don't know the brand as it was from E-bay and I only paid £3 and that was including postage.

There is a wonderful Design Team who have done some incredible creations. Our Guest Designer is none other than the lovely Bev, and her creation is gorgeous.


This is also for:-

1. Allsorts - week 68 - New Beginnings

2. Stamp Something - Something cute

3. Crafty catz - challenge # 48 - Recipe (3 embellies - flowers, ribbon, nappy pin, 2 papers 1 image)

4. Incy Wincy Designs - challenge 58 - Celebrate (this is to celebrate a birth)

Please come and show us some support and join in, it would really be appreciated

Have a good day

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Pearls And Pins

Good morning, hope everyone had a great weekend. Over at Die Cut Dreams the challenge theme this week is "Pearls And Pins". I have never used pins on my cards before and i'm still not too sure about them. The DT girls have done some wonderful pins on their creations though, pop on over and take a peek.


This is also for :-

1. Whiff Of Joy - Sketch

2. Crafty Cardmakers - spotlight challenge - Glitter & Sparkle

3. Simon Says Stamp - Pearls and Lace

4. Crafts & Me - Gems and Sparkle
5. Pocketful Of Posies - challenge # 5 - Floral Fantasy

6. By The Cute And Girly - September - Indian Summer

A Reminder

I would like to remind you that the brand new Challenge blog "Oldie But A Goodie" will be going live tomorrow, please pop by and support us. You can blow the dust of some of your old stamps as we only use stamps on our challenge blog that are older than 6 months.


I actually had a good weekend, I got another TH distress ink to add to my collection, thats 11 colours now I have, only 25 more colours to go Lol!

And on Saturday at 5.00 pm we decided to go to Scarborough (only a 1 1/2 hour drive Lol) for a bag of chips at our favourite chippy up one of the back streets. We walked on the beach and the kids collected some shells. It was quite a nice evening not cold, just a bit of a breeze coming in from the sea. Then they had an hour in the arcades, then it was an icecream walking back to the car, then home. It was lovely, it wasn't planned but a moment of impulse kinda thing.

Then sunday was spent getting the kids ready for school and I got an hour or two in crafting, doing some samples for a great new Polkadoodles CD-Rom.

I am having trouble with blogger and commenting, but I am trying to get round you all. I don't know what's wrong with him as for the last couple of weeks it has happened about three times now.


Have a great week and thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Happy crafting

Tracy x


Recipe:-
Stamp - WOJ, Papermania sentiment, Polkadoodles Butterfly,
Papers - Rose Garden Paper pack,
Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks,
Tools - Nesties, cuttlebug,
Embellishments - Ribbon, lace, pin, pearls flowers, gems, stickles,

Gardening Apron

Polkadoodles has a theme this week to use templates, so I have used the apron template, and made it into a Gardening apron, the papers are from the All Around And Everywhere and the Candy Doodles CD's. The butterfly is from the Fairy Flutterfly stamp, Meeshelle. The ribbon and gems are from my stash, and the seed packets and tools I found through google.

I would like to enter this into:-
1. Allsorts - week 67 - Inspiration from a garden or park


Have a good weekend
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Blowing Bubbles

This is for this months challenge at Sir Stampalot, and the theme is "All Distressed". Shock horror, no pink and no flowers in sight, but plenty of distress inks. Even made my own bubbles. I adore this image, it's our Bobby right down to the bubble blowing. One of his favourite things to do in the garden and the dogs run round chasing the bubbles too.


Now on to the fabulous prize, the Prize includes some gorgeous stash including:

Tim Holtz Rulerz Book

Tim Holtz Accessories from Junkitz (metal framez, edgez, tabz, anchorz, braz, epozy stickers)Zision Tool kit from Provocraft (tool kit comprising 18 pieces : hammer, wire cutters, 8 tip punch set, self healing mat etc etc and zipped case to keep it all in)

2 dozen sheets of cardstock/patterned paperPaper

Edge Distressing Tool

Photo Mounting Tape

Tags Template

Alphabet Transparencies

Alphabet Bottle Cap Stamp Set

Metal Bottle Caps

Layered Sentiment Stickers

And a Melissa Francis Vintage Keyhole


There's gorgeous creations from the rest of the team too, so pop along and take a peep and join in the challenge.

This is for the following:-
1. Bunny Zoe's Craft - challenge 3 - Vintage
2. Papertake Weekly - Just The One - I used one colour Blue

3. Stampin For The Weekend - challenge 45 - Anything goes

Recipe:-

Stamps - Papermania Blowing Bubbles, Dovecraft sentiment,

Papers - Bearly Mine, Jak Heathe freebies,

Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks,

Tools - Nesties, circle punch,

Embellishments - Glossy accents,


Happy crafting

Tracy x