Humphrey….Christmas Humphrey!!

 

I was so very excited to receive the new Christmas Humphrey CD and all 12 stamps from my hubby for my birthday. I couldn’t wait to get crafting with it. Today I have had a play with the CD….stamps next weekend…I promise!

Here is my first card today…this is for the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is ‘Across the Miles’ and for the Pollycraft challenge this week which is ‘Swirls and Pearls’. I have used one of the 3D toppers from the CD, some old Christmas papers and a few pearls and swirls to finish it off! There is also a little bit of glitter but the camera hasn’t picked it up…you will just have to take my word for it! ;-)

My next card is for the Bah Humbug challenge this week which is to include a ‘Reindeer/Rudolph’ on your project….I’m hoping a dressed up Humphrey will be ok! Love this image….it is sooo sweet. This is one of the ‘Card Companions’ that are on the CD….all I added was a little bit of card candi and some pink card!

 

My next make was a paper gift bag. I used one of the gorgeous 3D toppers once again and added a little bit of ribbon, card candi and some stickles to bring it to life a little. Think I might make a few more of these….definitely makes more of a gift I think! I’d like to enter this into the Sparkles Forum Christmas challenge this week which is to include ‘Santa’ on your project….hoping again that Humphrey dressed up is ok!

I have also made a couple of cards today bit can’t share those with you as of yet….will have to keep you in suspense!

Thanks for looking and will promise to try and get a bit of blog hopping done this week!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Piccies as promised!

Hi all

Please excuse my absence from blogland for a while…work is starting to become very busy again now…should be marking right now! My sister has also been here over the weekend, we went to see Legally Blonde at the theatre….was fab…pink and girly…everything I love! So it seems that time is slipping away with me! I have been doing a little bit of crafting so will share that with you in a mo…am splitting my posts up to day as otherwise my post would go on…and on…and on…lol!

I thought I’d share with you what I was very lucky to receive on my birthday! I was spoilt rotten by family and friends! Here are the handmade cards I received…so gorgeous each and every one.

Here are some fabby crafting goodies that I received….can’t wait to have a good old play!

Here are some great baking goodies that I was bought….some fab books to get my nose into too!

Finally, here are some other bits and bobs I was given….a lovely clock, owl themed goodies and a few good girly reads!

I also had some birthday money and so I had a bit of a splurge with my sister over the weekend but I also ordered a ‘Smash’ book and accessories! Really excited to get started with it…my book should be here this week but all of the accessories have arrived! If you haven’t heard of these then YouTube them! I know you could make your own but I love that they are all done ready to scrapbook in!  

So I was a very very spoilt girl on my birthday, and apart from having to go work, I had a lovely day! Lol!

That is it for now….will share my crafting projects in my next post!

Thanks for looking.

Hugs

Arline

xx 

Woohoo....it's my birthday!

Hi All

Just a quickie! It is my birthday today....how exciting, 28 years young! I have had some wonderful cards and gifts....promise I will post some piccies when I get chance! Have been at work all day, kids have been monsters (didn't even give me chance to bribe them with sweets!!) and then a 2 hour meeting when school had finished! Phew....am just now relaxing at home with my hubby absolutely shattered! Promise I will get back blogging, crafting and posting very soon!! I am still here....have still been wrestling with this cold but think it may be on the way out which is very good news :)

Thanks to all of you who have sent me birthday wishes on facebook...really kind of you, I was a bit overwhelmed!

Hugs
Arline
xx

To craft or not to craft....

Hi All

Just a quick post today! Started back at work this week...had an OK week meeting all of my new classes etc. but now am feeling lousy! Was losing my voice over the last couple of days (thought it was down to being back and not used to using it so much!) but have got a horrible cold! Had to go bed last night to watch Big Brother as I was all achy and horrible! Can cope with a sniffly nose and sore throat but head is all over the place today :( So still sitting here in my PJs! Wondering whether to attempt some crafting and do work tomorrow or vice versa...or I may end up just sitting mooching! Lol! So apologies if I am not 'hopping' much, will try to put something worth looking at on my blog over the weekend! At least it isn't next weekend....tis 9 days till my birthday! Something to look forward to when I feel bit better anyway!

Sorry for a post having a winge but wanted to let you know I hadn't got lost in the blogging world! Lol!

Hugs to you all
Arline
xx

New Humphrey's Corner Christmas Collection!

Crafter's Companion are launching the Humphrey's Corner Christmas Collection on Tuesday 13th September...can't wait! Over on their news blog they are giving you the chance to win the new CD and the new Christmas Humphrey stamps...you must go and check it out...just click on the picture above! Also, look out for some fab sneaky peeks from the Design Team...they are so gorgeous! Thanks for the chance to win CC!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Last day of the holidays…

 

Well, it is the last day of the holidays today! I shouldn’t really complain after having 6 weeks off ;) I thought I would have a day crafting and chilling before the madness begins again tomorrow!

On Thursday I bought the ‘Papercraft Essentials’ magazine and I couldn’t wait to have a go at crafting with the free Humphrey stamp! So here are my attempts…hope I have done him justice! He is such a sweetie!

My first card today is a twisted easel card, I’ve never had a go at these before and thought it was ok for my first attempt! I have used some Papermania papers, a Cuddly Buddly sentiment, a small doily and a little bit of card candi just to finish it off! I have coloured Humphrey in with my Speccies and ProMarkers. I’d like to enter this card into the Crafter’s Companion challenge this month which is ‘Christmas Wishes’ and the Christmas Stamping All Year Long challenge which is ‘Fancy Schmancy-try a different fold’.

My next card, again using little Humphrey, is a Christmas card ‘For a Special Friend’ and this is for the Winter Wonderland challenge this month. I would also like to enter this into the Sketch Saturday challenge this week…I really loved playing with this sketch…I have wanted to have a go at bunting on my cards for a while so this gave me the push I needed! I have coloured Humphrey in with my Speccies and ProMarkers again and have used ‘Autumnal Colours’ which is the challenge over at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge this week. On all of my cards today I have also stamped Humphrey with brown ink…this is the first time I have had a go at doing this and it does give him a softer edge which I really like…it doesn’t show up very well on the photo but I promise you it does! Lol!

My final project this week is a decorated notebook, using Humphrey yet again! I am going to use this little notebook to plan my Christmas cards and projects I think…Humphrey is so cute! I coloured him in again with my Speccies and ProMarkers, used some gems and stickles to glitz up the background paper I have used and used a little bit of ribbon and card candi to finish this project off. (Sorry for the amount of pictures for this one!) I would like to enter this into the Allsorts challenge this week which is to use ‘Blue and Green’ and the Totally Papercrafts challenge which is to make ‘Anything but a Card’.

That is it for me for now. I am going to continue to try and join in with challenges even though I am back to school tomorrow! Want to try and make sure my work/life balance is right this year…think I burnt myself out last year! So hopefully my blog will still be updated regularly! Thanks to all of you who are kind enough to comment on my creations, I really do appreciate it.

Don’t forget to join in with the Christmas Crafting challenge this month which is ‘Christmas Sparkle’ and we are also holding a Christmas ATC swap if you are interested…all of the details are here. Would be great to see you all joining in!

Thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Christmas Crafting Challenge #3-Christmas Sparkle!

Hi All

How are you this morning? Hope you are well! I am off out to get my new 'school uniform' today! Groan....hate shopping for work clothes! I would imagine some naughty shoes, bags, jewellery etc. might fall into my bags....!

Anyway, onto this months challenge over at Christmas Crafting. This month the challenge is 'Christmas Sparkle!' So get your glitters, gems, bling etc. out and start getting sparkly! This month we are sponsored by the fabulous Sassy Studio Designs and the prize is four of their fabulous digital stamps! Definitely worth joining in!

Here are my two DT cards...we were very kindly given these two images to play with from SSD and they are great! Hope you like them....I have kept them quite simple, using some Papermania pink and aqua paper. The first one is using an image called 'First Snow' and is great for a teenage girl I think.

My sparkle is stickles for snow and some little gems on each corner of the image!

My next card is using this fabulous sexy Santa image....definitely one for the man in your life! I have coloured her in using ProMarkers Crimosn, Cardinal Red, Pastel Yellow, Blush, Tan and Sandstone. I would like to also enter her into the I Love ProMarkers challenge this week which is anything goes!

My sparkle on this card is the stickles on her suit and some more adhesive gems!

That is it for me today! We have had a blog makeover so please go and take a look and hope you can join in this month. We also have an Christmas ATC Swap going on....details are here if you would like to join in!

Thanks for looking and hope you have a good day!

Hugs

Arline

xx

A bit of sauciness and some ATCs!

Hi All

Hope you are enjoying the weekend, despite the weather. Haven't really felt like doing much today but did a little bit of crafting. Had a go at the challenge over at Cupcake Crafts this week which is to make a 'gift card' so I have made a money wallet for a man. This saucy Santa from Sassy Studio is fab for a gift for a man....don't know about you, but I always struggle with buying gifts for men, so often need a money wallet for cash or vouchers! Lol! I have added a little bit of stickles just because it needed something, even if it is for a man! Inside I have just made a little pocket so a gift card, voucher or notes will easily fit into it.

The rest of my time today was spent making ATCs! I haven't made these for a while but over on my Christmas Challenge blog I am shortly going to be holding a Christmas ATC swap so let me know if you would like to take part. Used to love swapping ATCs so looking forward to holding a swap and Christmas themed is even better! I made 8 ATCs so have just picked out four to show you up close and one photo of all 8 so as to not bore you with loads of photies! Lol! My first ATC I would also like to enter into the challenge over at Bah Humbug which is ‘Here come the girls!’-make something girly! Not that I need a reason, but I have used pink papers, pink speccies, pink gems and glittery ribbon to make this ATC super girly!

My next ATC is using another image from Sassy Studio. I have used some old Papermania papers and coloured her in using Promarkers. I have also added a little snowflake that I cut on my friend's Cricut machine!! I think I fell in love with her Cricut when I had a play the other day...has gone on my Christmas list ;)

My third ATC is using a gorgeous Penny Black Mimi stamp. She is such a sweetie and looks so angelic with blonde hair! I tried to just keep to blue and silver for this ATC, using a little lace and gems as finishing touches.

And finally, my last close up of an ATC I have made is one using one of my penguins I made using my friend's Cricut machine on Tuesday. We had loads of fun playing around with it and I have lots of penguins and owls...you know they are my guilty pleasure....to make up so watch this space! I have used some Papermania papers and ripped a little to attempt to make a little bit of snow!

And here is my piccie of all 8 ATCs that I made today. Hope you like them and if you would like to be involved in the Christmas ATC swap then please get in touch and I will add you to the list. All of the details will be posted on my challenge blog and this blog on Thursday 1st September!

That is it from me today. I am back to work in a week so not sure how much crafting I am going to get done this week.....hoping to take part in a few more challenges before my holiday ends! Enjoy the bank holiday everyone!

Hugs

Arline

xx

A Design Team and a Christmas ATC Swap!

Hi All

Just a very quick post from me today. Had a manic day as it has been GCSE results. Our school did really well and our English and Media results were really good so I am chuffed and very, very proud of all of the pupils I have taught over the past two years...their hard work definitely paid off...well done!

Anyway, onto a more 'crafty' post! Just a couple of announcements really. Over at my Christmas Crafting challenge blog, the design team have just been announced and I would love it if you could pop on over and have a mooch onto their blogs...their work is fabulous and I know they would love it if you'd like to say hello! As well as the excitement of a new design team, we are going to be celebrating with a Christmas ATC swap! On 1st September I will announce the new challenge and all of the details about the swap. If you would like to take part then please leave a comment on this post, the post on the challenge blog or e-mail me at christmascrafting@hotmail.co.uk so that I can pop you down on the list. If you are reading this not knowing what an ATC is, don't worry, I will post exactly what one is, with some examples, on 1st September!

I really hope you will come and join in the fun with the Christmas ATC swap!

Hugs
Arline
xx

Crafty playtime!

Evening everyone,

Well...I'm not sure if my mojo has returned but I have enjoyed crafting today. Again, I have had a play with some of my older craft products and some products I have had for a while but not played with...shocking!

My first card from my craftathon today is this 'thank you' card for the Lili of the Valley challenge. I have used this fabulous LOTV stamp....so cute and I really enjoyed colouring these two little girls having a cuppa! I'm not keen on the ribbon that I have used...think it possibly would have been better without...needed some of a similar purple colour to the background paper but never mind! I'd also like to enter this into the Sketch Saturday challenge which is this fabulous sketch...great one to work with...really enjoyed it thank you ladies!

My next card today is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is 'Shabby Chic' this week...I hope I have achieved this! I really enjoyed inking the edges with my distress inks and highlighting the embossed frame with them too. I also ripped the edges of the paper in order to give it that distressed look. I love this little image of Mimi from Penny Black...I usually colour her hair brown but how lovely does she look as a blonde? Doesn't even look like Mimi! Lol! Couldn't resist putting a little bit of glitter to highlight her angel wings, just to finish this card off. I'd also like to enter this into the Deep Ocean Challenge which is to use 'light blue' this week.

My next card I'm still not sure whether I like or not. I have used an old Magnolia stamp which I think is great for anniversary or wedding cards....although watch this space as I am thinking of turning them xmassy! I have had a go at making my own aperture in order to frame the image inside of the card but not sure if it works or not...what do you think? I kept it quite simple, using some old Papermania papers, some pearlescent card and a little bit of lace. I'd like to enter this into the Cute Card Thursday challenge this week which is to make a wedding card and for the Allsorts challenge this week which is to include a frame on your card...hope I have achieved this and it can be entered into the challenge. Jury is still out with this one....

The image for my final card today was one I really loved making! I bought these stamps last year but didn't get chance to use them and was so pleased to have the time today to have a real play with them. All of the elements are individual stamps so that you can make the scene up yourself. Not sure what the make of the stamps are...if anyone wants to know then just leave me a comment and I will it out for you. I coloured the sky using my distress inks, used the masking technique to get the fence between the houses and then used lots of 'crystal' stickles to give it a little bit of sparkle...ok a lot of sparkle...I couldn't resist! It was quite a big scene once I finished, so I kept the card really simple, using some snowflake paper as a background and a simple silver ribbon and bow just to finish it off (this does look better in real life...photograph hasn't picked the ribbon up very well!) What do you think? Hope you like it as much as I liked making it! I'd like to enter this into a challenge I've never had a go at before which is the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which is to 'create a scene' this week.

Think I might have brightly coloured houses, balamory style, next time I have a go at this!

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend and thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

An afternoon crafting...

Hi All

Back with a few cards today. Wasn't sure what to do today as just felt like snuggling up on the sofa! Think I have lost my crafting mojo at the minute, I have had a busy week so haven't had much time to craft, but even today I didn't feel like what I created was very good...hope it comes back soon :( To try and find it I decided to get some old bits and bobs out of my craft cupboards to inspire me!

My first card is using some of the gorgeous House Mouse Decoupage from Joanna Sheen. These are gorgeous little images and I am thinking of cutting some more out whilst watching The X Factor...really looking forward to that coming back tonight...that and Celeb Big Brother....in my element! Lol! Sad I know! Anyway, back to my card, I decided to use some of my large scalloped cards up by making some easel cards with them. My Mum made one out of the ones she had the other day and it looked really nice so I had a go! Loved these cards when I bought them but have struggled to use them. I have kept the bottom of the easel card quite simple, just used a little bit of lace and made a bow out of the lace too to make a stopper for the top of the card. I have also popped a quote from my favourite Christmas poem, 'Twas the night before Christmas...', as I thought it went really well with this little image of the mice in their house on Christmas Eve. I added a little bit of stickles to give it a little sparkle and have distressed the edges using 'brushed corduroy' distress ink...I was going for a 'wood' effect but not that happy with the results. I inked the edges of my quote to make that a little bit distressed too. I would like to enter this into the ABC Christmas Challenge which is 'Q for quote' where you need to include a quote from a Christmas poem or song this week, the Totally Papercrafts challenge which is 'Christmas in August' and finally into The Crazy Christmas Challenge which is 'Anything Christmas Goes' and take a look as they have started a monthly Christmas challenge as well as there original Crazy Challenge.

My next card is using one of my favourite Pollycraft images. It is of the little scamp 'Chester' eating Christmas Pudding. I think he is such a cutie and love working with him. He reminds me of a very special boy I know and think this card may be going to him for Christmas! I have again made another easel card and have used some old Christmas paper that I have had for a few years now! I have also distressed this card using my ink again around the edges (and the corner where I was going for a 'bite' out of the stamped image...not sure it worked!), I have torn the edges of the sentiment as well as sanding the background paper so it is a little faded in places, not sure the camera has picked it up very well. Apologies for the amount of pictures, I couldn't photograph this one very well and then my little Charlie cat decided to come and lie exactly where the best light was...you can spot him in one of the pictures! Lol! I have used a sentiment from Digital Delights which I love and thought went very well with cheeky Chester! I would like to enter this card into the Pollycraft challenge which is 'Distressing' this week, Cupcake Craft Challenge which is this fabulous sketch, the I Love ProMarkers challenge which is to make an easel card and finally for the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is a card for a man or a boy. The ProMarkers I have used on this image are Tan, Blush, Sandstone, Pear Green, Holly and Henna.

My final card for today is using one of my lovely new images from Digital Delights. I was lucky enough to win a few images from them and this is my fave. I was hoping to use him for the 'Light it up' challenge at WW last week but didn't get chance to make him in time :( so I just had to use him in a card when I was crafting today! He is sooo cute tangled up in his fairy lights! I have also used pink and purples for this card and really like it so think I might try this colour combination for Christmas cards again. Again, I have used some papers that I have had in my cupboard for ages and used some lace, gems and pearls to finish it off. I would like to enter this into the Papertake Challenge this week which is 'Bingo' where you need to use three things off the bingo board....I have chosen the bottom line where you needed to include lace, gems and then you had a free square so I have also included some pearls. I would also like to enter this card into the Christmas Challenge with Sketches which is this great sketch, the Bah Humbug challenge which is to use 'Something New' (my digi stamp) and finally the Christmas Stamping all year long challenge which is to use 'Non-Traditional Colours-no red or green to be seen!' A few new Christmas challenges for me this week. Was fun joining in!

That is it for now. Hoping my mojo is going to come back overnight as I am hoping to do a little more crafting tomorrow. Don't forget the current challenge over at Christmas Crafting is 'Cute Christmas', would love to see you joining in and thanks for everyone who has joined in so far!

Thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Bit of baking and lego fun!

Hi All

No cards today but some more baking and pictures from a lovely day out today. I was really happy to see that 'The Great British Bake Off' was back on Tuesday night and really enjoyed watching the first episode...looks like it is going to be a great series once again! Watch it on BBC2 at 8pm on Tuesdays. It made me want to bake on Wednesday so here are the results! Below you will find some small mince and onion pies that I made, although pastry has never been my thing so I have to own up to it being ready roll...(hanging my head in shame)....my Mum always says I have too warm a hand to bake pastry and that's why it never works!? Should really try to overcome this though....they were still yummy anyway, despite the pastry being a little thick!
My hubby absolutely loves scones but only the plain variety so I had a go. I usually only make cheese scones so was something a little different. They went down well and Dylan, my friend's little boy seemed to like them, he had two without any butter or anything! Lol! Think I need to continue to work on trying to make huge ones like in the shops though...these were a little bigger than normal as I put in a little baking powder as well as dipping the cutter in SR flour each time I cut out a scone....tip from a recipe book I have.

Finally, I went a little biscuit mad! I just made a simple biscuit recipe and used a few of my cutters to make different shapes biscuits....some went to my friend and her children yesterday, and some more went to my friend and her little boy Dylan today! Not sure what the verdict was, I liked them, just been polishing some off with a cup of tea whilst watching the launch of celeb Big Bro! I know some of you may despise the show but I love it! Looking forward to watching that.....although think Jedward might get on my nerves very quickly!!

Then today we have had a lovely day out at Legoland in Manchester with my friend, her partner and son Dylan. It was a fab day, lots of fun was had, even after Dylan and his Mum were a little bit travel sick! Hubby's driving I think! ;)

This is probably my fave photo of the day. This was right at the end before we went into the shop and left but this photo is fab of Dylan sitting in a huge pool of lego busy building!

Another picture of Dylan just before we went into the lego factory. In the factory Dylan got a special Legoland brick which had a ninja and 2011 on it which he was chuffed with (and we met Professor Brick-a brack!).

This was a fantastic car made out of lego bricks that Dylan loved sitting in...think he would have driven it home if he could have!

Spot Darth Vader in the next photo?!? Lol! Had to take a picture of the 'big boys' by Darth Vader before we left. Hubby on the left and Dyl's Dad on the right. Bless them....they were very disappointed though as there were no Darth Vader lego keyrings or Batman lego....better luck next time boys!

And then my final photo is of my new lego keyring of Hermione Granger! I love Harry Potter and she is my fave character so was chuffed with my buy :)

That's it for now! I have been neglecting my paper craft over the past few days...as we were away over the weekend and had a busy couple of days since we got back so I have missed most of the challenges I usually join in with....should be back to normal this weekend though!

Hope I haven't bored you too much with my photo heavy post!

Hugs

Arline

xx