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

Meeting my Hero!

You may need a cuppa for this post and there's quite a few photo's too.

Bank Holiday Monday didn't turn out quite like we expected, we was supposed to go to the coast for the day and my sister was going to have the dogs for us. She had them the other week when we went to the zoo, but Rebel our sable and white rough collie suffers with seizures, and had a fit and frightened my sister to death.

So after much thought we decided not to go, so how did we fill the day. My husband concentrated on the garden in the morning, while I groomed and trimmed all the animals. First was the Guinea pig, Ash, he needed to have his hair trimmed, this is probably his last trim now as he'll need his fur for the winter months, but he can get ever so tangled if we don't trim it. He is a sheltie and is nearly 5 1/2 years old, their life span is on average 5/6 years, so he is doing well. A bit on the thin side but is running round and eating well.

Now a couple of weeks ago I was having a browse at House Mouse stamps, I adore them but only own one, the images I have, I have done swaps for or won them on the House Mouse challenge blog. Well I spotted this, it's called Gorgeous Guinea, and I will have to get it with out a doubt, just have to save the pennies for it Lol!

Next the rabbit, Thumper, he's shedding so a brush and nail clipping required.

Baby our cat who is 9 years old and will only let me brush her, she's getting a bit temperamental now, must be her age Lol!

Now for the last and the most time consuming, my boys Rebel and Flint, my gorgeous loving Rough Collies, the fur takes about 30 mins each to brush and trim. But they're good boys and will stand there and let you do it.

So that was my morning taken care of, what now for the afternoon, how about standing in line for over a hour and half for a book signing. My eldest son Scott who is fourteen loves a series of books called the Cherub series, written by Robert Muchamore for teenagers, they are about orphans that become spies. Scott has them all and a new one was launched yesterday, we bought him a limited edition and queued to get it signed by the author, it made Scotts day. Although I did take Scott last year to a talk by this author and he had a book signed and met the author then too.

He is a very nice person and was quite happy to let us take a photo of Scott with him and a photo of Scott stood at his Range Rover. Scott met his Hero!

And yes Bobby got in on the act too, Robert Muchamore was quite taken with Bobbyand his toy animals and spent more time talking to Bobby than Scott Oh Dear!

So that was my day and no crafting, but must get on today and do some DT samples for a new Polkadoodles CD-Rom, and try to get around blogland and catch up.

I must say though I am having problems leaving comments, Blogger seems to be really playing up and won't let me leave comments on a lot of blogs. So I have been looking at all your fab creations but can't always leave a comment at the moment, sorry!

Have a great day

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Soft Shades Of Vintage

This week at Die Cut Dreams the theme is "Soft Shades Of Vintage", I loved doing this and I got to give my Debbie Moore stamps an airing. The girls on the team have done some fantastic work too, so pop on by and take a look. My large rose is handmade and I used a sheet of music distressed with distress inks to make it. I love these kind of challenges.


This is for
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Layers



Recipe:-
Stamps - Debbie Moore Art Deco Ladies,
Paper - Regency,
Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks,
Embellishments - lace, ribbon, gems, roses and leaves from stash

Fairy Wishes

I totally adore this image, it's my all time favourite stamp, I love colouring her. I saw the colour challenge at Colour Create and couldn't resist doing it. I have been so tied up with keeping on top of DT work and commenting that I don't seem to have done some challenges and just played and have fun with no set agenda. So I looked through some challenges and pulled these to one side and had a good old play. But just got some new goodies for samples so that will take care of my weekend and bank holiday Lol!


This is for the following challenges:-

1. Paperplay Challenges - week 34 - Sketch + new stash (new papers)

2. Magical monday - challenge 3 - Flowers

3. Pocket Full Of Posies - challenge # 5 - Winged Things

4. Colour Create - challenge 52 - Lilac, yellow and Mint + Doily

5. Lily Of The Valley - challenge 62 - Go dotty + Circles

6. Flutterby Wednesday - challenge 119 - Anything goes


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

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Ladybird, Ladybird

This is the sketch for this weeks challenge over at Polkadoodles, and you can only use 3 colours too. But as always the design team have come up with some great creations.

I have rotated the sketch


Everything I have used is from Paper Boutique 1 CD Rom which you can get here. I have used nestie circles instead of squares, they seem to go better with my ladybirds. My three colours are - red, green and pink.

Over at "Oldie But A Goodie" the whole Design Team is being announced today, after a DT Call, 4 new members were chosen from a whole lot of talented and wonderful entries.

This is the team:-

Francesca

Tracy (me)
Annie
Clare *Littlebear*
Debs
liza
Lisa
Fleur

There is also Candy on offer at the moment too, and the first challenge will be going live on Tuesday 7th September, so I hope you can join us and get out our old stamps and blow of the dust and ink them up.

Hope you have a fab weekend and thanks for popping by my blog
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Tilda In Lemon

This weeks challenge at Die Cut Dreams is "Tilda In Lemon", i'm not a big fan of Tilda but I quite like this image. It was a candy I received from Susie some time ago. I love yellow but don't often use it, but it reminds me of spring days, when all the daffodils are out, it's my favourite season, so maybe I should use it more. And if you want to see how many different kinds of creations you can get using the same colourway, just pop by and take a look.


This is also for the following challenges :-

1. Creative Card Crew - Sparkle and Shine

2. Crafty Creations - challenge # 81 - Butterflies

3. Crafts And Me - challenge 11 - Petals And Pearls

4. Flutterby Wednesday - ~118 - 1 part sparkle, 2 parts papers, 3 parts gems

5. Totally Papercrafts - challenge # 30 - Summer fun (I chose to do summer colour)

6. Let's Ink It Up - challenge # 1 - Anything goes with a twist of yellow


Recipe:-

Stamps - Magnolia Tilda, Polkadoodles butterfly stamp,

Papers - Gingham freebie from Bev, Papermania capsule,

Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks,

Tools - Nesties, cuttlebug, flower punches,

Embellishments - stickles, ribbon, gems, brads, pearl all from my stash


My lovely friend Fiona, has given me an award, she is so sweet and makes some of the most gorgeous creations. Thank you love.

Now you have to pass this onto 7 ladies, So this was perfect to give to these wonderful ladies, but let me tell you something about them first. We started off as a blog hop and it went so well, one of the ladies Brenda, who organised everything so well, turned us into a brilliant challenge blog. Every single lady is talented, kind and make a fabulous friend. I couldn't wish for a better team to be part of. Yes of course it's
Sir Stampalot:-
Brenda
Chris
Clare
Francesca
Lorraine
Pinky
Sally

Thank you girls for giving me such a brilliant experience, and lots more fantastic challenges to come.


But I really must say I am on other DT 's too, and hold them in high regard aswell, All my design team buddies are great and each of the teams are wonderful, so are the challenge blogs, but the reason for choosing this team is that we were all here from the very start.


Thanks for popping by and having a peek at my blog


Happy crafting


Tracy x

Anyone for golf

It is Jackie's second turn to host the Rosie-D's challenge this month, and she's chosen the theme of "One for the boys". The men in our lives often get forgotten when it comes to our card making and as it is Jackie's hubby's birthday next month she thought she would choose "One for the boys" but she would like to see a card for a big boy in your life not a little one.

So I come up with this golfing card, even though I don't know anyone who plays golf. But I do love Penny Black and couldn't resist using this cutie.


This is also forthe following challenges:-

1. Crafty Cardmakers - challenge 27 - Birthdays

2. Create 4 Fun - week 34 - A Birthday Card


Recipe:-

stamps - Penny Black, Daisy & Dandelion Sentiment,

Papers - Crafters Companion CD,

Colouring Mediums - Distress Inks,

Tools - Cuttlebug, swiss dots folder, nesties,

Embellishments - Embellies from stash,


Hope you have a good week and thanks for popping by my blog

Happy crafting

Tracy x

New Challenge Blog

Even though the DT call for the new challenge blog "Oldie But A Goodie" has closed, you can still join in the candy on the challenge blog. You have till the 5th September to enter. Then the first challenge will be going live Tuesday 7th September.


For our challenge blog we would like you to use older stamps, you know those poor things that haven't seen daylight for a while. They must be over 6 months old. And my stamp for the first challenge is the first one I ever bought, I thought it would be a suitable choice.

So please pop over and become a follower if you haven't already and if you have I hope to see for the first challenge.


Have a great weekend

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Vintage cakes

The theme this week at Polkadoodles is Vintage Style. For my creation I have used for the papers and the flowers, the All Around And Everywhere CD, and for my image I used the NEW Stamp doodles stamp, the cake stand which I then coloured with Aquamarkers. I distressed all my edges with Stormy Sky Distress Inks and added some stickles.


I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:-
1. Papertake weekly - sketch # 46 - sketch which I have rotated
2. Colour Create - challenge 51 - Ivory, duck egg blue + 1 other = added extra of shabby chic
3. Creatalicious - challenge # 13 - Vintage
4. ABC Challenge - B is for Blue
5. Stampin' For The Weekend - challenge 45 - Anything goes


I received my blood test results and they have come back normal, so I'm operation and medication free for another year, Yipeeeeee.
My sister went for a check up and x-rays yesterday, and everything is returning to normal, although she is now on inhalers for life and she has to take a tablet to prevent ulcers returning for life too. But on a whole good news.
And I looked after the twins while she was at the hospital and it was just like before and I realised how much i've missed looking after them.


Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and gets lots of crafty time. Thanks for popping by and having a peek on my blog.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Something different

A bit of a different make for you today, My eldest son had a mate to sleep over last night and did they mess about. To say they are both almost 15 in age, it was like having Bobby and a group of four year olds. It was 4.30am before I got any sleep, everytime they thought we were asleep they would sneak downstairs, raid the cupboards, put music on, and lots more. This went on till about 4.15am this morning. Banging about, up and down stairs, until they had everyone in the house up including Bobby. By hell they got the length of my tongue, I was so angry. No more sleepovers in my house, they are banned.
So I was up at 6.30 to see the hubby of to work, then Bobby was up at 7.00 am, so I cracked on with the ironing and some other bits of housework. Then got the urge to bake and it passed an hour.


Here are some of the dozen scones I baked, just plain this morning as the kids don't like them with fruit in. I think they turned out nice and fluffy due to me taking my anger out on the scone dough rather than Scott Lol!


Then I decided to do the kids favourite Flapjack, I know by the time I go to bed tonight and John and the kids have had flapjack for supper there will not be a crumb left.


So today I am gonna concentrate on DT work, and try to get round some of your lovely blogs, ladies.
Have a good day
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Cherries And Gingham Mmmmm

Mmmm what I love, red, cherries and Gingham all in one creation. I had a real good old play today, as you can see i've found something new to do with my hearts and flowers, which I use quite often to embellish my cards. I covered them in Versamark and then embossed with holographic powder, fabulous sparkle. I adore penny black stamps, and this is one of my favourites, I have used glossy accents on the cherries, but it doesn't show very well. But live they look scrumptious.

So I'm entering this into the DT Call over at Penny Black At Allsorts , I adore Penny Black critters and the challenge is monthly, it's worth popping over and taking a look, there's fab prizes up for grabs too.


I would like to enter this into the following challenges:-

1. Penny Black At Allsorts - Glitter and Glitz

2. Penny Black Saturday - week 114 - Feeling Fruity

3. Crafty Catz - challenge 45 - Animals

4. Simon Says Stamp - Summertime Blues



Anyhow I went this morning for my annual blood tests, as a couple of year ago I had half of my Thyroid removed, due to nodules being there. They had haemorrhaged (had to check the spelling on that word), and they gave me a 1/10 chance of cancer, after the operation they told me the half that was left in, also had nodules on but if the tests came back cancer free on the part removed, they would leave the rest until the nodules got bigger. I had my review at the doctors aswell and I was so pleased that the nodules have not grown enough yet to have anything done. So just awaiting blood results, but I feel fine, so I think all is well. Now are you asking, well why didn't they just remove the whole thing? My surgeon, who is very good, will not put anyone on life term medication, which is what I will have to have when it's all removed, unless it's completely neccassary.

So after having a very good day at the zoo yesterday and good news at the doctors, playing with my crafting goodies today was a real joy. Even the kids are being well behaved. I just seem to have had just a rough time of it lately with family matters that when you get a really good day like today you just want to tell someone Lol !

So I hope everyone else has a good week

Happy crafting

Tracy x

Tags And Fairies

It is challenge #61 at Die Cut Dreams, and the theme is "use a tag but no stamping at all". This challenge made me scrounge around in my stash, and out came some gold rub-ons for the sentiment, my tag is from a tag book by K&Co. My image is a Dufex decoupage called the Honey Fairy. Can't believe how many times I reached for my stamps, especially for the sentiments Lol !


I would also like to enter this in the following challenges:_
1. Flutterby Wednesday - challenge # 117 - Open Challenge
2. Crafty Creations - challenge # 80 - Winged Things


Yesterday we took the kids to the Zoo, and the weather was beautiful, sunny and quite hot at times. We had such a wonderful time and Bobby was with in 10 foot of seeing the male lion feed, wow that made his day, I have never seen him so mesmerized and in complete awe of the whole experience. Lions are his favourite animal and he is only 4, but he knows almost every animal on earth, just like his big brother. My highlight was, although I love lions too, was the baby gorilla, I love gorilla's. It was the size of a new born baby. But our poor Bobby was so disappointed that he couldn't see a Mammoth, and they were just plain old elephants. I did explain to him that they were extinct, but then he just said "well how did they make the Ice Age film then if there's no Mammoths".
So we took him to the dinosaur safari, and he was quite happy then, as you'll see in the photo's Hope you don't get too bored as I've put a couple of photo's on for any animal lovers.


Bobby just loved this Mammoth


I love butterflies, and couldn't resist getting this photo, the colours are just stunning.


Bobby's highlight of the whole day and an experience he hasn't stopped talking about.


All pile on !!!!!!!!!! Cheeky ringed tail Lemurs


This funny little monkey kept pressing it's food up against the window for Bobby and Jodie to have, bless him, he just wanted to share.

My highlight, how could anyone hurt these poor things, this baby gorilla was just so adorable.

Believe me there was plenty more photos and lots more species of animals, I actually took 97 photo's, but couldn't possibly put any of you lovely people through that Lol !

Hope everyone had a good weekend and have a good week too.

Happy crafting

Tracy x

It's A Boy

There's a new challenge this morning over at Polkadoodles and the theme is to print/stamp onto acetate/vellum. For my creation I used the Candy Doodles CD and printed the candy boys backing paper on to white vellum. I then printed and re-sized the stampies to match and coloured them with Promarkers. My main image was coloured with the fab Aquamarkers.

I would like to enter this for:-

1. Stamptacular Sunday - challenge # 71 - Snips & Snails & Puppy dog tails

2. Papertake Weekly - Something new and Something blue (I bought some nappy pins to use)


If you left a comment on my blog , with regards to the blogger problem of leaving spaces in between lines, and you also have the same problem .. .. try holding down your "shift" key and then pressing return. Hope it helps. I've tried it and it works, but you won't see it until you come off blogger then go back on. My blogging friend Jules finally was able so give me this solution. Thank you Jules x


I would also like to remind you about the DT Call on the new challenge blog "Oldie But A Goodie", it ends on the 20th August. And the challenge will start on the 7th September.

Recipe:-

Stamps - Daisy & Dandelion, Polkadoodles Candy Doodles Stampies,

Papers - Vellum Printed with Candy Doodles CD,

Colouring Medium - Aqua markers, Promarkers,

Tools - scalloped border punch, nesties, cuttlebug,

Embellishments - Brad, Nappy pin, from stash

I hope you all have a good weekend and thank you for popping by my blog.

Happy crafting

Tracy x