A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge card

I made this card for the A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge which is a card using something recycled.

I used the front sheet from a pack of Dovecraft papers as my backing paper, so that is the recycled part. The image was given to me in a bundle of images from dear Fe Fe (thanks Fe - I used one), and was coloured beautifully by my lovely assistant Vanessa.

I added a scalloped mat, and two BazzilL Butterflies blooms attached with a brad and topped with a gem.

Some quick cards and new stamps

A few new stamps, the box full are stamps by Crackerbox and the others are Penny Black and one Inkadinkado (the cafe scene).

The cards are my first attempt to use up the big basket of embellishments, I decided to get stuck in and just make some quick cards that I could sell perhaps a little cheaper than usual and that will make room for other stuff. The basket is hardly dented so I have a long way to go!

I have had quite a week or two, I lost my glasses at work, I had a spare at home but then I "lost" those when I was off sick. When I went back to work I found the second pair in the car.

Today I was sitting on my office chair, moved back and heard a cracking noise and something falling off the chair, when I looked down there were the first "lost" glasses"! Spooky! I had been phoning round, retracing my steps, searching cars and getting other people to search their cars - so how did I not see them on my chair? They must have dropped out of my bag when I was packing up and lodged in the bend at the back of the chair obscured by my cushion! They are in a grey case so don't show up well - maybe I need fluorescent green!

I got bitten by an insect and it got infected so I had antibiotics, but I had two days where I was feeling really ill and couldn't go to work, I just slept all day.

Whoops, just bought more stamps!

Sorry I haven't been around, I have had a few problems like not feeling well then getting bitten and getting an infected leg, so I am sitting here with the footstool from the lounge under my desk with my leg up which isn't too bad!

So with that and the holiday I haven't got any more cards made, or taken photos of the quick cards so I can bag them up but I will.

I have started a companion blog to tell all I know about crafting (shouldn't take long then!), and I started a section on stamps. (there will be a beginner section before that when I get round to doing it).

I have only got as far as mounted and unmounted rubber stamps and I mentioned magnetic then popped over to Rubbadubbadoo to check the link and they are having a sale! How can I resist at those prices?
I also ordered some stamps from I Brake for Stamps, and some punches from a good Ebay seller in the U.K.

The lovely lady at I Brake for Stamps asked me if I wanted to pay $8 or $12 for postage, I said $8 and she told me she will post them today (as it is still day over there).

The punches I ordered are a dragon border punch, a baby feet border punch and another Puzzle punch as I am quite impressed with the first one and will be posting about it on the other blog when I get to punches!


Now here are a few photos from "sunny" Torquay! Mostly with birds and all but one are gulls, spot the one sitting on top of the fountain? I had hoped to get a better shot but I don't think I used my new lens for that one.

Check out my blog candy alert section for new candy!

Great stamp sets up for grabs on Stempelglede and Bubble Deb blogs!

I'm back with a bird mystery

I am not sure what these little beauties are, they were on Brixham Quay. I am thinking Plovers but I can't find any online photos that look like these birds.

Can anyone tell me what they are please?

I have lots to tell and lots of photos but not tonight!


Could this be the answer? Junvenile ringed plover picture from the RSPB site.

We're all going on a Summer Holiday, fun and laughter for a day or two

Well not quite Cliff Richard, but the two of us are off to Torquay tomorrow, got dog/house sitter son sorted, not packed, panicking about packing.......eeeek I have a headache and don't feel good.

It was only thought about Tuesday and booked yesterday, I messed up at work as I thought I needed to be there in the morning but have found it is the afternoon so may have to leave late - not sure yet, I am grouchy, DH is building a mountain to take in my little car so I can drive when he has a drink!

I have made a batch of very quick cards with some embellishments I wanted to use up, haven't used many yet but I will take a photo some time soon. That reminds me I will have to pack camera, battery recharger, new lens, tripod, crafty stuff? Book, mags? Will I have time to read??

I ordered a modular bag for the new lens so it doesn't get damaged only to find it doesn't really go with my old same make bag, a filter that is the wrong size and a cleaning kit, then I signed up for a subscription to a photo mag that is giving away a great camera rucksack worth £70 so I won't need the modular thing if it is as good as it looks! It won't arrive in time now, and I can't get the filter in time. Haven't cleared my memory card either, oh dear!

I am washing clothes, need them to take. Got to sort out more packing now!

I see I am coming up to 6000 visitors so will organise some more blog candy soon!

I know I will forget to take something, probably something important, I always do!

Back soon.

Look what I bought this week

I bought the special offer from Paperartsy that was offered with Crafts Beautiful magazine. The offer was for three free credit card size stamps (the set of three on the right of the photo numbers, woman and doodles), the other set of three and the 25 sheets of paper were another £12 plus £2 postage. Then I saw these Inkadinkado Far East foam backed rubber stamps on Ebay and got them for less than £5 including postage.

I became fascinated by the Puzzle Punch by Craft Too and had to get one, I have been playing with it and it is really interesting so far. I will show you some results soon.

I also bought two sets of Penny Black T for Transparent stamps that I have been wanting for a while.

Opposites attract challenge card

This is a card for This Thursday challenge blog, opposites attract and I thought this cat and fish stamp would fit the bill.

I am going to send it to my friend afterwards.

The photo is a bit crooked, I may take a better one.

Late birthday offerings and some new cards

First some graduation cards using a House Mouse stamp, coloured in by the lovely Vanessa.
Then the Paper Gator that I bought myself which arrived today, looks pretty I think.
















I also made some birthday cards with the Hero Arts antique map that is so popular and added some brass charms. I made them very quickly and I thought I had some good paper to use but I can't find it anywhere!
























Next here are my only crafty birthday gifts from Vanessa, a lovely antique looking French butterfly stamp set in a neat tin, and another tin of great travel stickers that have a mat finish and are good quality. Thanks V!


I had the two lovely birthday cards shown below (sent as RAKs) both with Tilda on them, the paddling Tilda is from Fiona Haig-Gannon - Fe-Fe, and the Tilda with bird is from Linda, of Linanna blog.

Fe Fe sent me a heap of Tilda images too, thanks very much - you might convert me yet!

Pregnancy and baby cards

Here are some new cards I made, two baby ones using Paper Box (I think) patterned card, some toppers I wanted to use up and stamped sentiments with some blue fabric stars added.

The congrats card is an Inkadinkado stamp, I layered it on DCWV papers, and added some ric rack and blooms, and a flower sticker.

I used my newly rediscovered scallop blade to cut round the image.

Clearly clever challenge

I know you have seen this a little while ago but I think it is perfect for the This Thursday challenge card, which had to use something clear and be clever. As the outer card is acetate it is clear and I think the puddle and raindrops I made are very clever, so I am going to enter it!

New toy

I am still home sick but I thought I would show you what my new lens can do.

First a shot through the patio glass of a sparrowhawk by the bird feeders with baby bird clamped down on the ground, and a trimmed image as good as I can get from the main shot.

Then, sadly not the sparrowhawk, but the greedy wood pigeon on the feeders from exactly the same spot through the glass and using my new lens. I think I am going to have fun with this!

Happy Birthday to ME! (Or not)

What a day, I haven't been well enough to go to work and have slept a lot and woken up disorientated, but I did get some nice presents, a couple of things I wanted and some nice surprise presents, well it was all a surprise as wanting and getting isn't always the same! No craft related presents so far, but I have so much already and I have a present to come yet, I did get money and vouchers to spend too.

I did get a new camera lens so I can shoot those birds! I missed a shot of a Sparrowhawk that had a baby bird in it's claws by the bird feeding station. Nature taking its course, and I wondered if the bird was still around as I haven't seen it for a while.

I hope to feel well enough to play with my new toys, particularly my new lens and my Actifry - way hay I can make 3% fat organic chips (fresh ones not horrid frozen ones) now! I wonder if I can make 3% fat kettle chips?