Pink Candy by Caroline

Hula....

Well, its been ages since I posted but I do have good reason.  I have moved rooms, so now have my own Studio!!  And I don't wish for that word to make it sound any grander than it really is, but its my room and one where I can shut the door and leave any mess behind.  I am hoping it will encourage me to actually craft more - hence the name Studio, lol.  Although of course I do need more hours in the day to help achieve that too....

I'll sort some pics out to share with you when I have finished sorting it all out.  I've been in here almost two weeks but the room I vacated has had to be redecorated and therefore the whole house seems to have been upside down.  Almost done though.

Abi spent a week doing work experience at the main Worcester Library, and she really enjoyed it.  They appreciated her efforts to and she came home at the end of the week with a big box of Quality Street.  Its great as I am the only one in the house who loves the Orange and Stawberry creams.  How can people not like those?!  I'm not bothered about any others, I just love the fruity creams.....

I have done some work for Charmed Cards DT.  I think they are showing on the main site, but here they are:

12x12 layout showing Abi rock climbing and shell collecting in Looe, 2006.

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This card is for my friend whose birthday happens to fall when we are on holiday, so its a card/postcard combo.  Just got to remember to take it with me!

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Notebook, with an acetate cover to protect.  Used my Bind it All too (and about time - I've had it since November.......oh the shame).

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This is a bit of fun.  Shes been naked for ages and these K&CO Grand Adhesions seemed perfect for a bra, hehe.

All made using K&Co Sea Glass collection.  All products can be found at Charmed Cards.

Thats all I've managed to do over the past couple of weeks, although I now need to do some projects for the next Bubbly Funk Kit - on sale 1st July!!

Also, for those of you who don't know already - on 20-21 September, Bubbly Funk Forum is having a mahoosive CyberCrop in aid of Breast Cancer Care.  There are lots of challenges and classes on the day, but also in the coming weeks leading up to the Crop.  We need lots of handmade crafty items to be sold at the Think Pink Craft Sale being held by Di, in her home town, in October, all proceeds going to this charity.  So the next few months will see a frenzy of activity on the forum as we all make goodies to be sold at this sale.  We need loads too as around 100 people are expected to attend!  So get your Think Pink heads on folks!!  And for those of you who don't like Pink (noooooo, surely not!), products made don't have to be Pink - this is just taken from the Breast Cancer charities logo which is the pink ribbon.  Although, no doubt, I will make plenty of pink stuff....... :-)

Anyway more info about that to come.....

DCM Card - Animalia

Well would you Adam and Eve it.  I actually made a card for the DCM Challenge Blog.  Been meaning to for aaaaages.....

This weeks challenge was:

Hi everyone, it's my turn (Mel) to set the dare this week :)

I've based my dare on the book by Graeme Base called 'Animalia' (just because that book happened to be sitting near my desk when I realised it was my turn for the dare this week).

So, all you have to do is create a card featuring an animal. I hope you all enjoy having a play with this dare, don't forget to come back and let us know where we can see the cards you make - because we do love to see all the wonderful cards you make.

and here is mine!

The image is from PCCrafter.com and I was able to print out in black and white and colour myself.  Used Zig Scroll and Brush pens and then heat embossed a crystal powder over the complete image.  Also used sewing machine, crumpled circles and lacy edge punch.

Thanks for looking!!

a glorious pair........

Been working on a layout for the Bubbly Scrumptious Blog.  We are following the Elsie Challenges on that Blog - which can only be viewed by Monthly Kit customers, and this is what I came up with for Challenge #1.....

Pic of of my eldest son Jake and Sam walking down to the sea front in Looe, Cornwall August 2006.  The words are from a poem by Edgar Guest.

Used KIM Lace Cardstock, Adornit Bleu Circles paper, kraft card, fancy handmade paper.  Some net is used to slightly frill out at the bottom of the photo and the circles are all hand cut and then scrumpled up and doodled on!

Acrylic paint bottom right and then a glue flourish added and covered with Fun Flock to give a velvety effect.

The Bubbly Scrumptious Blog is being very well received and I am so pleased with how the change in the monthly kits has gone.  They are proving popular and the Blog has the potential to be a massive source of inspiration with projects and info being added every month.  Love it!  Thanks to all of you who support it too....xx

The next thing on my craft 'to do' list is this weeks DCM card, which I did aim to do last week but never got around to it, but I will try for this week!  I have been out of card making for so long, but actually made two this past month, and I did enjoy making them so will give it a go.

Another thing to spur me on with the card making is I have ordered some Prismacolour Pencils.  I love stamping and have so many gorgeous stamps ideal for card making and scrapbooking, but wanted a better medium to be working with.  I've heard so much about these pencils and seen the lovely effect they give, so tracked some down on Ebay and they should be with me next week.  Expensive for pencils, but apparently worth every penny.  So looking forward to being able to make the most of my stamps!

My little car has been poorly of late - something wrong with the temperature as sometimes it would overheat and sometimes be OK, but you always had to watch it.  My cousin looked at it today and it needed a new water pump.  Just normal wear and tear for a car of its age, and an expensive job, but what can you do?  I wubs my car so it had to be done, and  and I've just got back from collecting it.  So its like new again!

The new stock of the RiffRaff Chipboard has been a very popular purchase this past week and I have some more new and exciting chipboard on its too!  All the way from Australia, fingers crossed for sometime next week.  So be sure of look out for that folks!

Well a cuppa tea is calling me, and I'll have a little think about the DCM card too - watch this space, lol.

Things that make you go 'oooohhhh......'

Found some gorgeous 'stickers' whilst shopping.  From Accessorize for £2.50 you get 32 flowery resin spots - great for the centre of a flower or on their own.  I do like finding potential crafty items in non-crafty places, don't you, lol ! 

Got two CJ layouts done this weekend.  One for UKS Retailers called 'Pop' where we had to show our first pop idols.  My first really serious interest in music was for Adam and the Ants.  I liked Bay City Rollers when I was ten and I liked others after that, but the ones that really made me go 'ooooh' was Adam and the Ants.  I liked them even more cos my Mum and Dad thought they were rubbish, lol.

The other CJ was for one on the BF Forum and this one was Kathy's called 'Stash Attack', where we had to use some of our favourite crafty bits.  I could of filled a whole CJ on this subject just by myself, but llimited to just one layout I kept it simple.....

left hand side of layout and.....

the right hand side......(the bit of fibre hanging from the top of this page isn't part of my layout, lol - its from a tag on the sign in page)......

I am getting braver with my own handwriting too.  Darren says its awful and difficult to read, but its mine and its me and I can't do much about it!  At least the children will see a part of me on every layout and page I do that has my writing on it.

And, some of you may be surprised now, but I made a card!  And I enjoyed making it too, so you might see some more from me, lol.  This was a Confirmation card for my friends son.  Now what do you do for a ten year old boy on his Confirmation?!  So I just went with birdies and bright and lots of heat embossing!

My cards and my layouts, in fact anything I do, seems to come together if I doodle at the end.  I just have to do some doodley frames or bits to finish it off.   Harry said he liked it anyway, so thats what matters.  Although it might have been the £10 note inside......hehe

Busy

Well, busy has not been the word for it.  Mega busibloominlotaliciously flippin' mega amounts of stuff to be done, lol.

I had DT projects to do, of which you can see some peeks here and then pop over to Charmed Cards to see them in all their glory.....

and I had one for Fidgeons to do too which is due to go out in a leaflet later this month I think, but you can see a sneaky peek here:

As well as that I did two CJ layouts, which cleared me and made me up to date for a bit but they are piling up again, lol.......

I also did a layout for my friend to display for her beauty business, but she picked it up yesterday and then I realised I hadn't taken a photo of it!  I am seeing her tomorrow though so will grab one then.

Anyways, other than the stuff I have been doing things are busy on the shop, with gorgeous new Maya Road goodies in, and the Auction for Ellie finished on Monday evening with a whopping £227 raised and a further £15 donated today.  How fab is that!  I have spoken to Kirsty and she is pleased too.  Thanks you to everyone who helped and took part.  Love you all.....x

I was tagged by Janice a while back - sorry hun not forgotten, when I blog hop I will pick it up and do it.  My desk is looking like a bomb has hit it.  Two weeks of unorganised chaos has left me with a 3 inch space on which to rest a cuppa and thats all.

Catch ya later.........xx

That spring feeling........

We started a Book Club on the Bubbly Funk Forum (hereafter know as BFF, lol) and our first read was The House at Riverton, Katie Morton.  I haven't picked up a book for months and months and so was glad to get into one again.  Anyway finished it within 10 days or so and feeling bereft of books I paid a visit to the local library.  Haven't been for ages but picked up three for now.  I love a bit of suspense, occasional horror and books I know with absolute certainty, I will not be able to put down.

Dean Koontz and Stephen King do it for me every time.  I know I am guaranteed a bloomin' good read with these guys.  Anyways, just finished reading Velocity by Dean Koontz.  The only problemo with reading is that it eats into my day and I know I have one zillion other more urgent things to be doing.  But I just have to get to the end of a chapter, and then maybe just start the next one cos its a short one - you get the picture.

I love reading though.  Transports you away for a little bit.  Whether that be into the mind of an old woman or into the mind of a homicidal maniac, either way you are in their lives for a while.  I kinda imagine that when I have finished reading the chapter and put it down for a while, that these characters are suspended insitu until the next time I give them life.  Or sometimes I think that even though I am not reading about their life, they are still living it and going about their daily business.  Ho hum.....

I managed to finish the Feb Sketch for the BFF (do ya remember what it stands for, lol) and so thats another page for my album.  Must try and do more than just one a month though, eh.  Have some yummo pics of the boys to do too, so that is my creative focus at the mo - scrapbooking.  Love it......

Here is the sketch, which, incidentally, I always make up after I have done the layout.  I don't make up a sketch and work the layout to suit, its always the other way around.  Purely so that people can use the sketch in a simple form if they want, and it kinda gives permission for people to scraplift, which when I do a sketch is fine by me......although it is nice to be given credit for the sketch....

Half term now for this next week.  Have such a lot of exciting things planned - dentist *open wide*, opticians*can you see it yet* (in a Rolf Harris twang), hairdressers *oops*.  The kids are gonna love this week I can tell you.  We plan a whole day sorting out the loft too.  We all need to have hands in on this one, as the loft is chocka with all sorts, that once sorted can go to charity.  I reckon there will be enough for them to collect in a van!

oooh, that Spring cleaning feeling is upon us folks......such fun.......:-)

Catch up.......

Ooooh its been ages since I blogged.  Losing Kappa left me feeling a bit flat for a few days and I still feel the loss whenever we bring Wiggy inside at night.  He must feel the loss more than anyone, and we try to give him lots of touchy feely comfort and some warmth from another living thing, which we all need to survive, don't we.  I have always spoken to them lots and I know he knows my voice.  He has started to make a kind of purring noise whenever I speak to him, so cute, bless him.

Anyways, thanks for all the kind words and comments from those of you who read the last couple of posts.  I knew some of you would understand *hugs*......

Nothing very exciting to talk of really.  Jan-Feb are bleak months aren't they.  Although the sun is shining lovely today and I wish it would stay like that for a bit more than just the odd snatched hour here are there, before clouds roll in and make it a murky grey again.  Can you tell I feel a bit sun-deprived.  I'm not on my own there I am sure.

Did a few crafty bits over the past couple of weeks.  I was asked late last year to be a guest designer for January for the Artist Trading Club - a website is due to be live soon, www.theartisttradingclub.com.  Its a club where ATC's are swapped and exchanged and is run by Christine.  I had to do five Black and White with a red accent, so I am looking forward to getting a mix of five back!  Here is the one I did.......

I was also reminded by Linda that I had her CJ to complete, which I did and it was posted yesterday, sorry for the delay Linda.  Kids Cult TV and my theme was The Magic Roundabout.  Linda's theme was 'Best Friend', so I had to do Dougal of course.  I think I did about Dougal in most of my entries into this round of CJ's.  The top is the left hand side of the layout and the bottom the right hand side. 

I also completed an entry in the Retailers CJ, although that was done a couple of weeks ago.  My Favourite Book.  If you have never read Meet Me Under the Ombu Tree by Santa Montefiore, then you must.  I love it and its one of my faves.  I kinda made an extra page in this entry so I could include a pic of the cover of the book, lift it over and there is a write up of the book.  Go get it now and read!  You will be enchanted.....

I made use of some beads I had too and I was able to sew easily into the cork flower too.  A mass of glue bound the beads to make a centre for the flower - you might see better on the close-up.....

It was Rosie's b'day on 2 Feb and I actually made a card!  Must admit I don't like making them, sorry to you cardmakers out there, but I do try and am usually disappointed with what I do.  Part of it is also busting a gut to make something wonderful and then having to give it away, lol!  Is that selfish?  I only bother with cards if I know the person will appreciate it, and only if I have the time.  I am so desperate to get on with scrapbooking that cards come way down the list......

note the little 'hehe' I have inserted in the doodley bits.  Not sure if Rosie noticed.....hehe xx

It was my turn this month to set a cardmaking challenge on the Craft Diner, so go take a look and see if you fancy having a go!

I am in the process of organising a February Scrap Sketch for the Bubbly Funk Forum too, so will update on that once I have finished it!

Well, so much to do and not sure if I have enough ooomph to do it.  Perhaps a cuppa will give me some much needed get up and go...........xx

Sneaky Peeks....

Well my blocked ear is a little better.  It started popping at the beginning of the week, so I am not quite so deaf, lol !  Thanks for everyones kind concern.....

Did anyone watch {Gordon Ramsay} last night?  Darren and I did and we are going to have a cooking sesh later on and try and do what he did (minus the scallops though) cos it all looked so scrummy and the choc mousse especially looked so delish and easy to make.  Have to make a trip to tescos later.

I quite like Gordon Ramsay.  There is something a little bit sexy about him, I think.  Am I alone on this, lol ?!

Spent some time this past week making bits and pieces with the Design Team kit Karen sent me from {Charmed Cards and Crafts}.  Lovely For Peeps Sake glittery papers and embellies from Imaginisce.  Here are a few sneaky peeks.....

but if you pop along to the Charmed Cards site (link above) you can see them in all their glory.......

Went shopping yesterday with a friend and popped into a little sewing shop.  She has some lovely buttons and I just had to buy these beauties.  A whopping 6cm diameter, I thought these would look stunning in the middle of a large bloom and on the front of a notebook or something similar.....

I love going into little shops like this one and finding treasures, don't you.  There were other colours too, so I may well find myself back there........hehe

Abi - you really shine.......

Well you had a sneaky peek in the previous post and as this is now 'live' on the Bubbly Funk Forum and Craft Diner forum, I can show it here!!

I really enjoyed working with this photo as it shows Abi at such a gorgeous age, and she was a gorgeous baby inside and out as you can see.  Her dress and little bonnet were such a lovely combination of colours that it was easy to coordinate and combine.  I like working with pink anyway, lol !

I vow to do at least one layout a month and sincerely hope I can do more, time will tell.

The pink papers underneath the photo are Blonde Moments Sugar Dumpling, which will remain a firm fave of mine forever, I am sure.  To me they are timeless too and still look good two years after release.  I think I am right there, I am sure they were released two years ago.  Good old Autumn Leaves acrylic stamp 'You Really Shine', acrylic paint to create the spots and ribbon and blooms and buttons.

Here's the sketch if you fancy having a go.  If you do create using my sketch then please let me know as I would love to see!

Happy New Year!!

1st of Jan and the beginning of some resolutions for lots of us I suspect.  I vow to be more efficient, or at least as efficient as I used to be, or as hubbie puts it 'like you were before you had the shop'.  I used to be mega efficient you see and now I have less time to be efficient and so have more time to be dis-organised, lol !!

I also want to scrapbook a lot more and have made a start on that.  I have done a page which will go on the forum as a sketch also, so people may be inspired to have a go.  Hopefully that will go on as a monthly challenge/inspiration thingie tomorrow, but you can see a sneaky peek of the page here:

Twas a quiet new year's eve for me.  Darren was at work, Abi at a friends house sleeping over and the boys both upstairs on their computers.  I didn't feel too good and so spent most the evening on the setee but I did watch the film, Girl with a Pearl Earring.  That was a nice film. 

I managed to get a CJ layout done today for posting this week.  Its Traceys book 'Colour' and I had to go with my fave Pink, Purple and Oranges.  Love those colours together.

This post is taking me hours, lol !  Snatching the odd sentence inbetween advert breaks of Shameless which started a new series tonight.  That programme is soooo brill and I am watching the second episode now in E4 cos I can't wait for next week.

Do you watch it?  If not then why not?!

This isn't aimed at your general direction (hope it doesn't offend :-) ) but meet Frank Gallagher from Shameless.......hehe