A lonesome visit to the NEC!

Hi All

Apologies for the lack of posting at the moment. Work has well and truly taken over. Five days left and then off for two weeks…awaiting Ofsted though so really hoping we don’t get a call this week for the first week back…otherwise that’s my hols gone! Lol!

Anyway, I decided to take a day off today and go to the NEC for the craft show. Have managed to catch a cold over the past couple of days…yet again!…but was determined to go. Unfortunately, my partners in crime, Becky, Mum and family friend Jill, weren’t able to come so it was just me on my own…was pretty lonely. I managed to cheer myself up with a bit of crafty retail therapy though! I have popped a piccie below of what I bought:

I got some lovely goodies, lots of Beatrix Potter stuff, some Little Claire Christmas sentiment stamps, LOTV stamps (couple of new ones), various bits of card and bits and bobs and one thing I absolutely love is a wooden mounted House Mouse stamp…couldn’t choose which one I wanted but went for this chocolate box one. Really looking forward to Easter so that I can have a good old play! Also won a fiver at Crafty Bob’s stall and got myself a gold bag…that was a nice start to the day!

It was also the Fashion and Sewing show too and they had the Downton Abbey costumes…I am a big fan so thought I’d show you a piccy!

 

That’s it for me for now. I have been very kindly nominated for a few awards and promise I will accept them when I break up. Thank you so much for my nominations :)

Hope to be back in the blogging world from the weekend onwards!!

Thanks for looking as always!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Yay….a crafternoon!

Hi All

Managed to finally do a bit of crafting today! Has been nice, determined not to spend all weekend working this weekend!

My first card is my fave…this is my very first Mo Manning image and I love it! I used some old Papermania black and white papers in the background and used my Spectrum Noir pens to colour him in. I’d like to enter this into the Papertake Weekly challenge which is ‘Anything Goes’ this month. Hope you like it!

My next card is using a new stamp I couldn’t resist! This is a new Penny Black stamp and I want to use it in my scrapbooking but couldn’t wait to test it out on a card…went perfectly with my ‘Keep calm…’ stamps. I’d like to enter this into the Totally Papercrafts challenge this week which is ‘My Favourite Things’. I am entering this as it is my favourite stamp at the moment and it is also of a place that is probably my favourite place to visit as it means lots to me-Steve proposed at the top of the London Eye!

I am really trying to be good and avoid crafty spends, hoping to go to the NEC at the end of the month, but couldn’t resist buying some more Bella stamps from someone who was selling them on ebay! Here are a few of my makes-the blue one hasn’t yet got a sentiment on (might leave it as a notecard…) and have stamped some other images waiting to go onto cards but what do you think? I love the style of image-I can think of loads of people that would enjoy getting a ‘Bella’ card. I have kept them quite simple but am liking this kind of card at the moment!

My next card is for my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. I have also made one for my Mum which I really enjoyed making but can’t share it yet….just in case she looks on my blog! This card is using a Lili of the Valley image which is sooo cute! I have also used a little bit of seam binding to finish it off. I’d like to enter this into the I Love Promarkers challenge which is ‘Ribbons and Bows’ (I have used tan, sandstone, blush, blossom, rose pink and buttercup) and the Allsorts challenge which is ‘Say it with flowers’.

There is more…hope you’re not getting bored yet! My next card is using one of the gorgeous Strawberry Kisses stamps-so sweet and this image is particularly mischievous-look at her opening her eye to see if anyone has realised she’s eaten some of the cupcake!! Lol! Not keen on the backing paper I have used…mmm…tis growing on me! I am going to enter this into the Facebook Crafter’s Companion challenge which is ‘Animals’.

Finally just one more Lili of the Valley card! Love this gorgeous image and have made it into a simple card just using some Papermania backing paper and card candi!

Thanks for looking-a marathon day! You should see the state of my dining room table! Will tidy it up in the morning! Off to watch Take Me Out now and have some tea :)

Night all, hope you have all had a lovely Saturday and enjoy Sunday just as much!

Hugs

Arline

xx

An award!

Hi All

Apologies for not being around much at the moment…I am determined that I will get some cards made today so watch this space! Work is a little bit crazy at the mo  and seems to have taken over once again!

I was really chuffed that a blogging friend of mine, Meg, has nominated my little blog for an award! Thank you so much hun, really made my day! Here it is:

 

The Liebster Blog Award is used to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to help spread readership and joy. As part of the tradition the award is passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me. It comes from the German meaning dearest or beloved but can also mean favourite. To accept the award you must:

1. Link back to the person's blog who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers (less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value
4. Leave a comment on the five blogs you chose to let them know

It is always hard to choose just 5. I have chosen these ladies because their work is fabulous and I often don’t get chance to visit them as much as I’d like. Please take some time to visit them, all so different with such gorgeous creations!

1. Amanda http://ajecreations.blogspot.com/
2. Keeley http://havingameday.blogspot.com/#axzz1oi56CD89
3. Ali http://simplystylishstamping.blogspot.com/
4. Angela http://www.tintinheart.com/
5. Clair http://valentines-sharni-clair.blogspot.com/

Hopefully will be back later today with some makes!

Hugs
Arline

xx