It's all peachy.....and a bit blue

Hello there,

I hope you're well today.

I had a spare hour before I dinner prep this evening, so I headed to my craft room to make some cards. There is something so therapeutic about being creative and playing with colours - I blast my (country) music up loud, sing badly and get my craft on!

So tonight I decided to play with some colours that I don't use together very often....a bit of peach and a bit of blue....

I have used a combination of pretty papers, ribbon, a digi stamp birthday cake and a die-cut notelet that looks like a doilie. The notelet is part of a new set that I have, there are six different designs in the pack, but I think this is my favourite - its so pretty!

I have used two ribbons, they have been stitched to each other to keep them in place (which meant I got to use my sewing machine - woo hoo). At first I thought the blue ribbon was a little too dark, but I think I have balanced it out well with the blue cake plate in the image. I have coloured my image with my Promarkers, using an ivory colour for the cake, an orange and green for the flowers and a blue for the place. 

Finally I added a little glitter to my flowers with my Stickles.

All in all I am pretty pleased with this card. I think the colours give a delicate look to the card, which matches my fake doilie. 

I'd like to enter this card in the following card challenges:

Allsorts - ribbon and lace

Fab n Funky - something new - the diecut notelet

Cute Card Thursday - hey what's new - the diecut notelet

Pop by all these fab challenge blogs for more DT card inspiration.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

No Design Paper....No Problem!

Hello there,

Happy Saturday! I hope you are keeping well!

A couple of weekends ago my mum treated me to a trip to Hampton Court Flower Show....we both love our gardens and really enjoy trips like these. On this occasion it was a really hot day, and the show was packed...but we still made the most of the day and bought some lovely plants.

There were some beautiful ladybird poppies at the show that mum loved....but we couldn't see them to buy anywhere. They were bright red with black spots and looked very pretty, it was a shame mum couldn't buy any....so I found her the seeds from a local garden centre. I then needed to post them to her....and decided to use this week's challenge at Sweet Stampin to create a card for her.

Our theme is "no design paper" - so no pretty patterns. I trawled through my stamp collection to find the perfect image and created this card....

I used a gate fold card for this project and decided in the end to use no papers at all. I stamped and cut out the seed packets, once coloured I attached them to one side of the card in the middle. I then stamped the cute little flowers on the front too. Once they were coloured I added the faux stitching to complete the border.

I decided that I also needed to make the inside pretty...so I continued the stitching theme and added some more stamped flowers.....

I hope mum likes her card....and more importantly loves the seeds!

I didn't take lots of photos at the flower show this year....as I had too much to carry....but here is a taster....

For more inspiration for this week's challenge pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at all the gorgeous DT cards. While you're there take a peek at this week's sponsor too....

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Bingo...and a little competition!

Hello there! Happy Saturday!

Another week has whizzed by and it's time for another fab challenge from the lovely ladies at Sweet Stampin. This week we're playing a spot of bingo!

So you know how it works....three elements from the board....and don't forget some stamping! As soon as I saw the board I knew which line I wanted to include....

Yep, I had to go with purple....then I decided I wanted to work with embellishments as that's something I don't do very often....so I went with pearls and flowers.

I am really pleased with this card, although my photo is very wonky, I love the layout and think the embellishments work well (I will have to experiment more often I think!). I have used polka dot papers, along with a pretty light grey paper. The pearls are the sticky variety and I think they go well with the polka dots.

For more inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at all the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week. You'll also find out all about our fab sponsor....

Now...if you also fancy a bit of a competition...we are celebrating our little afternoon tea blog turning two this month and we are giving away a lovely tea tasting adventure. It's a simple leave a comment competition...take a peek at Tea With Me and Friends to find out more!

Thanks for popping by today, we're looking forward to seeing your creations!

Wedgie xxx

I do love a spot of gardening!

Hello there,

I hope everyone is keeping well. It's been ages since I last posted a card....I got a bit confused with my dates in April and managed to miss a Sweet Stampin challenge! Whoops! Lucky I have a lovely DT who understands my slight madness!

Anyway, I love this time of year....my garden starts to really demand my attention as things start to grow! My nan had really green fingers...which admittedly I thought was weird when I was younger....but I am pleased that I have grown to really enjoy gardening. I find it so fascinating to grow things, and rewarding to be able to eat your own fruit and veg.

I am so lucky where I live now, I have a lovely garden with lawn, fruit trees, flower beds and also plenty of space for veggies. I spent last Monday "finding" my main veggie patch....

It was a long day, but as well as that weeding and lawn haircut we also planted some plants in the other beds.

Now, why am I telling you all this? Well....as you'll see Sweet Stampin has a perfect challenge for me this week...we want to see your projects including spring flowers!

Here is my card....

I have gone with a slightly different design to my usual style (there's not a cupcake in sight!), using this cute stamp featuring a little girl in her garden. I picked this image as it reminds me of my garden and how much I enjoy a spot of gardening.

My image is stamped and coloured with Promakers. I have also added some flower embellishments (something else that I don't usually use) as I thought the card would look better with a pretty bloom.

For more spring flower inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin Challenge blog and take a peek at the beautiful DT cards that have been created. While you're there you can also read about our fab sponsor this week....

If you are looking for another read today and fancy something a little bit different why not pop by my blog dedicated to all things afternoon tea? We have a lovely guest post featuring the Biscuiteers afternoon tea this week!

Tea With Me and Friends

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

No Design Paper!

Hello there!

I hope you are well and have had a lovely week. Welcome back to another challenge post from Sweet Stampin. This week we have a fab challenge for you - we don't want to see any design paper on your card at all!

You can use as much plain coloured paper as you want....but no patterns! I love this kind of challenge as it makes you a little more creative.....not being reliant on pretty patterned papers.

Here is my card for the challenge.....

I have kept my card rather simple - using plain coloured papers to make my teapot and teacups. I have stamped white flowers on all the china and added a little white faux stitching. Finally I added my "thank you" sentiment. It was my Birthday last week and I was rather spoilt by my lovely friends and family and so this made the perfect thank you card to send to people for my pressies.

I have made several of the cards....

For more no design paper inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that Team Abi have created this week. While you are there you can also find out about our lovely sponsor this week....

If you are in the mood for creating any Christmas cards (getting a head start) then take a peek at our Christmas challenge over at Christmas at Sweet Stampin this month!

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Show us your Flowers!

Hello there,

Happy Saturday! I'm one happy bunny today...if you popped by on Wednesday you'll know that I am now on annual leave from work and very happy! I'm not going away anywhere...but I have loads of lovely plans with my friends (including a spot of afternoon tea and a spa day!).

Today I am here with a new challenge from Sweet Stampin, this week our theme is flowers. I decided I wanted lots of flowers on my card....

Yes, I opted for this fab flower digi image, plus some bright and cheerful flowery backing paper! I knew I wanted to make this a colourful card (well flowers are colourful aren't they!) and I love this combination of pretty colours. My image is coloured with my Promarkers and I have added some faux white stitching to the edges of the card.

For more flowery inspiration pop over to the Sweet Stampin Challenge blog to take a peek at Team Abi's gorgeous DT cards...while you're there you can find out about our sponsor this week...

Wild Orchid Crafts

If you fancy some other blog reading today, you could always take a peek at my afternoon tea blog!

Thank you for popping by today!

Wedgie xxx

Spots and Stripes

Hello there - Happy Saturday!

I hope you are keeping well and you've had a fab week!

This week we have a fab new challenge for you over at Sweet Stampin...this week we want to see lots of spots and stripes on your creations! We are lucky enough to be sponsored by SK Digis this week and they gave each of Team Abi a fab digi to play with....mine was soooo cute (thank you!).

 

See...I told you it was cute! I think this sentiment suits the image so well!

 

I've coloured my image with my Promarkers and I've added a background of garden coloured papers...featuring both spots and stripes!

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin blog to see how the fab Team Abi has used their images this week....and what spots and stripes they have used. While you're there you can also read about our fab sponsor this month

 

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Make it Monday

 

If you're after a sweet treat this weekend you could always pop over to my other blog and see all the gorgeous afternoon tea photos that I've included!

 

Tea with Me and Friends

 

Thanks for popping by today, its lovely to see you!

 

Wedgie xxx

 

 

Something a little bit different....

Hellooeee!

How are you? I hope you are well and have had a fab week.

Soooo...I'm back today with our new challenge from My Time to Craft....and this one is something I haven't tried before. We'd like to see your "triptic" cards...what's that I hear you cry...well basically we'd like to see you cut your image into three before sticking it onto your card.

Here is my card for you.....

 

Rather typically for me I've gone with a cake theme for this card! One of the reasons for this is because this is a lovely new stamp I have and its quite big...so I thought it would  look ok when I cut it up!

 

My image has been coloured with my Promarkers, I then cut it into three and attached it to the card, finally I added some sparkle with my Stickles. To compliment the pretty cake I went with a really girlie flowery backing paper and a simple Happy Birthday sentiment. I'm really pleased with this card.

 

Pop by the My Time to Craft challenge blog to see how the other fab DT members used this theme on their cards.

 

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Make it Monday

Fab 'n' Funky - Happy Birthday

 

I thought I'd also share a couple of photos with you from my foodie trip to Clapham Common last weekend. Becca and I spent a wonderful Saturday at the Foodie Festival...eating, drinking and listening to fab live music.

 

Here we are on our deck chairs...

 

We ate some wonderful pulled pork from the new Jamie Oliver restuarant Barbecoa....

 

Plus we might have had the odd cocktail or two....these were rather large and wonderful Mojitos!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx



In the garden!

Hello there!

Happy Thursday! Sooooo...this weather has taken a turn for the worse again in the UK....the sunshine seems to have gone back into hiding again and it's been rather wet and windy this week!

Still, that hasn't stopped me popping into the garden and making sure everything is growing well. As some of you know this is the first time in years that I've had my own garden and I have really embraced it! I've been planting all over the place!

 

Here are my new tubs that Joe's mum gave me...

 

I have some pretty pots on one of my outside walls...

 

Here are my potatos and onions....my potatos are in need of some extra earth....

 

My green fingers have inspired me to create this card.....to be honest this is probably the one thing that I'd like to add to my garden. I have a pretty summer house, but I would really love a green house!

 

I love this stamp, its rather large, but I love the detail. I've coloured my image and added some glossy accents to the windows to give a glass effect. I've then used pretty papers and a punched border in the background.

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Make it Monday

Allsorts - in the garden

Di's Digi Designs - beautiful borders

 

Pop by all these fab blogs to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created.

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Pretty Pastels

Hello there...Happy Saturday!

I hope you are keeping well and had a lovely week. Today my posts are scheduled as its the first round of the British Drifting Championships and I will be spending the day at the side of a race track in Kent watching Joe slide around the track. I have my fingers crossed that the weather is going to be kind to me....a race track is a cold, drafty place to be on a bad weather day!!

I also have something really exciting to show you...well I think its exciting.....this week I have been lucky enough to become the owner of a gorgeous purple Kitchen Aid mixer!!!

 

Sorry ....probably not as exciting to everyone else, but I really love it! I've wanted a Kitchen Aid for ages and so I decided to treat myself using some money that my Dad left me. Its going to last me forever and I will use it a lot.....so I think Dad would approve!! Oh and that's a rather lovely banana cake sitting next to the mixer...my first bake made with the mixer!

 

Anyway, you're not here today to hear about Joe's cars or see my new mixer....no you're to find out about this week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin! Well, this week we have a very pretty challenge for you...we want to see pastels on your project.

 

Inspired by my love of cakes and my new mixer here is my card.....

 

 

Hee, hee....I wish that sentiment was true of all cakes!

 

This is a new Digi Stamp Boutique image that I recently bought which I think is very cute! I've coloured my image with my Promarkers. I've used a combination of pretty pastel papers both plain and floral, along with a doily cut using a new die. Finally I added some punched flowers and some faux stitching. I'm really pleased with how this card turned out...pretty and girlie and full of cupcakes!

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin blog to see how the rest of the fab DT used pastels on their cards! While there you can also find out about the fab prizes our sponsors have for you this week....

 

 

 

I'd also like the enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Digi Stamp Boutique

Simon Says Stamp - April showers and/or spring flowers

 

Pop by these fab blogs if you've got a spare minute to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created!

 

Thanks for popping by today!

Wedgie xxx

What a productive day!

Hello there...hope you're keeping well!

Well, I have to say that I've had a rather lovely productive day! Today I have managed to make a batch of rather scrummy lemon and raspberry cupcakes....

 

I took some of these to my friend who has recently moved house....she was quite pleased with my offering! We had a gossip over a cup of tea and a cake! Then I came back home and I've re-strung a bracelet that I made and broke a while ago. I thought I'd managed to find all the beads when it broke, so I just re-strung what I had....but either I've lost a bead or two.....or my wrist has got larger!! I'm kinda hoping I've lost some beads!!

 

I have also managed to pot four blueberry plants and make a lot of DT cards for my blog! Oh and to compensate for all the cake I also managed to fit a quick run in! I'd say that was a good day, wouldn't you?

 

I also managed to make a card for a couple of challenges.....

 

 

I'm really pleased with how this card turned out, I love the pretty colours and papers! The image is a free one that I got with a magazine recently, I coloured it with my Promarkers and added a little sparkle to the buttlerfly with my Stickles. The flowers are punched from plain pink paper and I have added a gem to the centres.

 

The cute layout comes from Sweet Sketch Wednesday....and its a special one because it's Arlana's 200th sketch! How amazing is that?? Here it is....

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Allsorts - spring has sprung

Di's Digi Designs - flower frenzy

Top Tip Tuesday - girls and boys come out to play

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

 

Pop by all the fab challenge blogs to see the gorgeous cards that the DT have created this week!

 

Thanks for popping by today....I'm off to do a little more cross stitch now!

 

Wedgie xxx

 

Time for a quick challenge or two....

Hello there!

How are you today? Its been another really busy week for me....I've hardly had any time to craft! Now thats a sad state of affairs I'm sure you'll agree!!

Soooo, this evening I decided I needed to get crafting!

 

I started off with a quick tag.....

 

I love these cute stamps!

 

Today I've coloured them with my Promarkers, going for fab bright colours. I've used plain backing papers for the main background and then used a pretty patterned paper for the punched flower. Finally I added some faux stitching as a border and a pretty gem to the flower. The last thing I added was the bright and cheerful ribbon.

 

I'd like to enter this tag in the "tag your it" challenge over at Love to Create this week. Pop by the blog to see all the gorgeous tags that have been created by the DT.

 

I then had some more time and so I decided to make a card too....

 

 

I just love this paper...it comes from a set which are all similar....teacups, teapots, flowers, soft colours galore!! I decided to pair the pretty backing paper with this cute tea image and lots of flowers! I've coloured my image with my Promarkers and added gems to the flowers once again. I also added more faux stitching as borders to the image and sentiment. I'm really pleased with how this card turned out.

 

I'd like to enter this card over at the Happy Birthday challenge over at Simon Says Stamp where they are celebrating their 4th Birthday.

 

Pop by Simon Says Stamp to see all the gorgeous DT cards and to see the fab prizes on offer.

 

Thanks for popping by today, I hope to see you again soon.

 

Wedgie xxx

Feeling oh so girly

Good Morning! Happy Easter Weekend!

I hope the Easter Bunny has paid you a visit....or maybe he is still to pop by?? I am having an Easter themed crafternoon tea with my lovely girly friends this weekend....Anika, Becca, Sheree and Lorna will all be there. We're going to have lots of Easter treats...we are going to do some Easter crafts....and mum is laying an Easter Egg hunt for us! Yes, we're all grown ladies in our 30s.....no we're not too old to chase around the place hunting for eggs...plus mum does the best riddles!

Anyway, today's challenge over at Sweet Stampin is just up my street....and really rather fabulous! Thats because the challenge is "Girly"! So what are you waiting for...get those girly papers out....lots of glitter....anything that screams "I'm a girl and I love it!!".

I've even purchased a fab new stamp for the occasion.....

 

This fab image is from Digi Stamp Boutique....isn't she a sweetie! After the week I've had I think I'd like to spend the whole weekend in the tub! I've coloured my image with my Promarkers, and I've been trying to experiment with my shading.

 

So....I got all my favourite girly things out for this card...some polka dots, some flowers....lots of glitter and pink! Oh and some bubbles...both the bath tub kind and the drinking kind! I think the only thing I've missed is some chocolate or maybe the odd cupcake??

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog to see all the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week! While you're there you can also find out about our fab sponsors:

 

 

I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Love to Create - pastel colours

Passion for Promarkers - Bingo! I've gone with punches, glitter and blooms

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

 

Pop by all these fab blogs to see the gorgeous cards that have been created!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

This time its a chick!

Hello there!

Soooo...its Wednesday night...I've been to work...I've been to Brownies...I'm at mum's and I suddenly got the urge to make a card! What's a girl to do when she's away from her craft desk, but wants to make a card?? Luckily I have my laptop with me and so have a selection of digi images to choose from....so the image was no problem...but what about the rest of my crafty items??

Well....mum actually has a lovely supply of items in her "Brownie" cupboard....so I decided to raid it! I found some card blanks and some pretty papers.....so I decided to whip up a quick card....

 

Please ignore the wonky cutting...the one thing I haven't got here is a paper guillotine!! Whoops! Apart from the wonky cutting and slightly dodgy colouring thanks to the blunt colouring pencils I found in the "Brownie" cupboard, I am quite pleased with this little cutie!

 

After a weekend full of Easter bunny cards made with the same stamp I decided to treat myself to some Easter digi images from DigiStamp Boutique....I bought this little chick and a similar square with a bunny! The image has been coloured with the previously mentioned colouring pencils!

 

I've even attempted a little bit of decoupage on the wing and the flower. There were no 3D sticky pads to be found here...but there was some sellotape which I have folded in half several times. It kinda has the desired effect!!

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - Easter

Papertake Weekly - Easter treats

Simon Says Stamp - Easter/Spring

DigiStamp Boutique - monthly competition

 

Pop by all these fab blogs to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

I hope to see you again soon!

Wedgie xxx

Nothing like a cuppa!

Hello there...Happy Saturday....I hope you've had a lovely week!

Sooooo....we have a fab challenge for you this week at My Time to Craft....its one of those themes that I always love to see on a challenge blog. This week's theme is "food and drink"...you can create anything as long as there is some food or drink in the image.

Now usually I'd go with a cupcake image...you all know me, thats an obviously choice! But this time I decided to do something a little bit different....

 

Ok, probably not too different from the type of cards you'd expect to see on my blog.....but at least there are no cupcakes to be seen (although she is probably holding a cupcake in the hand we can't see!!).

 

I've coloured my cute image using my Promarkers....and then I got really girlie with my backing papers and embellishments! I'm really pleased with how this card has turned out, it really reminds me of springtime with the soft colours and cute flowers everywhere.

 

Pop by the My Time to Craft challenge blog to see what food and drink features on the gorgeous cards that the DT have created this week!

 

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Cute Card Thursday - spring fever

Pop by these fab challenge blogs to see what the DT have created this week!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Aarrgghh...out of my comfort zone!!

Morning All!

Fancy seeing you here today, I hope you are well and had a lovely week.

I have my mum and my aunt visiting me today in Farnham....I think I'll put on a lovely afternoon tea for them...keep your eyes peeled for yummy photos!

Sooo...as you will have noticed from my post title I'm not in a good place today...no the lovely Sweet Stampin ladies have shoved me right out of my comfort zone with this week's challenge....but there again it would be boring if all challenges were simple!

Sooooo...this week we want to see some embossing on your projects. A simple enough technique...both wet or dry...but just one that I don't get on with and I never use. But a challenge is a challenge and so off I went to create my card.....

 

I've opted for dry embossing, creating my little tag with my Cuttlebug. I'm actually quite pleased with how it looks now, but to start with I thought my embossing looked a bit odd just sat there!

 

I've coloured my image with my Promarkers, giving the Birthday girl a lovely purple dress. I've then carried the purple theme on the card with plain backing paper and pretty paper flowers. I've partners the plain purple with that gorgeous green lacy paper which I love. Finally I added some faux stitching to the image and some little gems to the flowers.

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin blog to see how Team Abi used embossing on their cards this week....there are some gorgeous creations! While at the blog you can also hear more about our fab sponsors....

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - a recipe - 1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Allsorts - for a lady

Cute Card Thursday - something old (I've had the embossing folder as long as I can remember!!)

 

Pop by all these blogs to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created.

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Making a Scene!

Hi there!! First day of the week gone already!

So, I got iced in at home today...luckily I had my work laptop with me and so I was able to work from home. The road outside my house was basically an ice skating rink...I could have charged people to have a go!!

Sooo....those fab Cupcake Craft Challenge ladies have an awesome challenge for us this week...they want us to create a scene...how cool! If you need some inspiration pop over to their blog and see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created....

I decided to combine an old faithful stamp with something a little floral....

 

Normally the pretty lady is enjoying her cup of tea at the table on her own, today I decided she needed some pretty flowers to make her smile some more (although if you ask me she looks like she's really enjoying that cup of tea!!).

 

I've stamped both images and coloured them with my Promarkers. You'll notice that my colour palette is slightly limited in this card...thats because Love to Create has asked us to share our favourite three colours with them. Everyone knows that I LOVE purple...but I also like a bit of pink....but today I decided to shun my inner girlieness and go with purple, green and blue for my favourite colours (if I was allowed a fourth I'd definitly add pink in!!). I think these three colours all work so well together.

 

As well as the two challenge blogs already mentioned I'd also like to enter this card over at:

 

Allsorts - flower power

Make it Monday

 

Pop by all the blogs mentioned to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Flower Power!

Hello there,

Happy Saturday! Hope you've had a good week. I've had another busy one....what with my annual leave days and the big event I am organising in London next week I have been run off my feet!!

Any hows...enough moaning...its Saturday morning...its time for another Fab Sweet Stampin challenge! This week we'd like to see your flowers....so what are you waiting for...get crafting!

We are joined by two fab sponsors this week....our monthly sponsor....

 

 

and our fab weekly sponsor.....

 

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin blog to see what prizes are up for grabs!

 

Here is my card.....

 

 

We've had rather a lot of wet and grey weather recently and so I decided to opt for a brightly coloured card...going for zingy greens and oranges! I've coloured my cute Pollycraft image with my Promarkers and I've added some punched flowers to the edge of the card. I have also added some sparkle to my flowers with my Stickles.

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog to see the gorgeous cards that Team Abi have created this week!

 

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

 

Cute Card Thursday - Girls Only!

Make it Monday!

 

Pop by both these blogs to see all the gorgeous cards that have been created this week!

 

Also....don't forget about the new fab monthly Christmas challenge blog brought to you by Sweet Stampin!

 

Pop over to Christmas at Sweet Stampin to join in our followers candy competition and the DT call...the fun begins early in December!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx