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

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

A sketch....some cakes and a new puppy!

Hello there! Happy Sunday!

Hope you've had a lovely weekend....I had a fab day with my mum and my aunty. It was lovely to spend a couple of hours just drinking tea and relaxing...and of course eating some homemade cakes....

 

We had a selection of sandwiches and some mini quiches. Then we washed that down with some chocolate tarts topped with raspberries....some vanilla cupcakes, some coffee cupcakes topped with walnuts and mum provided some delicious marble cake.

 

Phew! It was all so tasty...do you fancy a close up...

 

 

After all those sweet treats I had to go out for a long run this morning!

 

Anyway, I must apologies to the lovely Sweet Sketch Wednesday ladies...as everytime I enter one of their fab sketch challenges I seem to have lots of photos of cakes to post too!! I'm sorry if I've runied anyone's diets or left anyone with rumbling tummies after visiting me today!

 

Speaking of Sweet Sketch Wednesday...here is the fab sketch that we have this week...

 

 

When I saw this I wasn't 100% sure how much I was going to enjoy using it...but when I combined it with the "Great Outdoors" challenge that Stamping Sensations have this month I soon got cracking!

 

I have to say that I love being outdoors....and now that we have moved to this lovely house in Farnham I finally have my own garden! There is a veggie patch that needs digging, a lovely big flower bed and three cute fruit trees. I can't wait for the springtime to come along!

 

Inspired by this passion I have created the following card:

 

 

Isn't she cute??

 

I've coloured my digi image with my Promarkers and then I have backed her with a combination of green and flowery papers. I have added some faux stitching to both the image and the sentiment in green pen and finally added some dinky pink gems.

 

For more inspiration pop by the Sweet Sketch Wednesday and Stamping Sensation blogs to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week!

 

Finally I wanted to introduce to you someone very special....my sister has a new puppy......

 

 

 

This little lady is called Gertrude (or Gertie) to her friends! And here she is making herself at home in my chair! She is only 14 weeks old and she is incredibly cute!

 

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Something a little different....

....hello there! Woo hoo...we're half way through the week!

Soooo....today I decided to try something a little different and to be honest while I was making it I was a little worried that it looked odd....but actually once I'd coloured my image and attached it all together I was quite pleased with the final result!

What do you think....

Now I bet you are asking yourself...well whats different here? Its the colours!

I've gone with a hot pink and then some vintage papers - flowery and yellow! I've stamped my image and coloured it with my Promarkers and added some blue punched flowers, finished off with a little yellow glitter!

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

Oldie but a goodie - flower power (the punch I used for the flowers is ancient!!)

Tuesday Throwdown - hot colours

Cute Card Thursday - Gardener's World

Pop by all the blogs mentioned to see the gorgeous DT cards!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

In the Garden

Hello peeps...hope you've had a fab Tuesday!

I'm back again with another creation...this time with a garden theme, using one of my favourite new stamps....

I've used a basic blue background and topped that with two different design papers and a lovely piece of bright yellow ribbon. I have topped my bright and cheerful background with the green house image that I have coloured with my Promarkers. Finally I finished off the top right hand corner with some faux stitching.

Now I bet you're thinking...why has Wedgie used all this bright paper....these aren't patterns you'd normally find in the garden! Well, this is because I have been inspired by the fab photo challenge at Passion for Promarkers this week....take a peep at this photo....now when I saw this fab collection of ribbons I instantly thought of a rainbow - hence the bright, cheerful stripey paper! I also love nothing better than a garden full of bright flowers...so this paper seemed perfect.

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

Passion for Promarkers - photo inspiration - I went for a rainbow look and added a ribbon!

Papertake Weekly Challenge - in the garden

Crafty Ribbons - flowers - I have some in my green house and some on my blue backing paper

Hooked on Crafts - flowers

With all this talk of flowers I thought I'd also show you my latest addition to my flat....this is Larry the lemon plant! He already has several lemons growing and currently smells amazing with all the blossom!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

In the garden....

....well, the snow came last night! It looks pretty out there, but I'm not a huge fan of the snow really....my car is rear-wheel drive and therefore goes mad in the snow and so I can't drive! Plus I worry about twisting my stupid knee and setting off a flare up (I really don't want to end up on crutches again!!). So, with all this white stuff outside whats a girl to do?? Get crafting!!

We're having a valentines themed crafternoon tea next weekend....and as usual I'm really looking forward to getting the girls together for some yummy food and fab crafts! I'm trying to pick the crafts we'll do this time, but I've already decided on my sweet treats!Plus I've been making some decorations for Lorna's flat! Sooooo exciting!

As well as all this planning, I've been making cards and have two I'd like to share with you....



My first card is a bespoke card that someone asked me to make for them.....its pink, shiny and A4 in size......and I had great fun making it! I was given the brief - shoes, bling, pink and silver and that fab sentiment! I'm not sure who its for, but I hope they like it!! I stamped the sentiment with my letter stamps and coloured with my Promarkers. Then I made the shoes out of silver and fab pink sparkly paper. They are 3D and really pop from the card....I added some sequins for extra bling!

I'm entering this card in Allsorts Free & Easy Challenge this week.

I'm really pleased with this second card....its another colour combo that I don't use very often, but I think it looks fab. Fab flowery backing papers, punched flowers, faux stitching and two little bunny rabbits = CUTE!!

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Hugs and Kisses (I think they're kissing!!)

Sir Stampalot Challenge - in the garden - I wish my garden looked this lush at the moment!!

Right, I still have lots more crafting time before Joe comes home for work....so I'm off!!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Cute as a button!

I've spent a lovely weekend with Joe at his flat in Aldershot, just doing normal things that I enjoy. I visited my local craft shop and bought some papers, I went to Squires Kitchen and spent a Birthday voucher on more chocolate making goodies and I wandered around my favourite antiques shop - its been lovely! Of course I've also spent time crafting and baking - no suprise there then!

Here is a little card that I've created for two challenges this weekend

I have to admit that the lighting of this photo is awful, so you can't see the stickles twinkling on the branches, but sorting the flash on my camera is a bit beyond me right now! I've decided to go for a contemporary feel for this anniversary card, with pretty pinks, blues and greens.  The theme of "in the garden" and the gorgeous layout comes from this week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin where they have given us the garden theme and a gorgeous sketch to follow - its up to you whether you use one element or both. Don't forget to take a peek at all the gorgeous DT cards on their blog.

I'm also entering this card in the challenge this week over at Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge where the theme is anniversary. I love this tree stamp and have used it on so many different cards, but I always feel it works so well on anniversary cards - portraying growing love. Oh, look at me getting all mushy!! Take a peek at the SCSC blog to see all the gorgeous DT cards this week.

I've also been doing a little baking today.......I always focus on the flavours of my cakes rather than what they look like, so today I decided to make a really good vanilla cupcake that looks cute too! I was inspired by photos I'd seen in blogland of some very cute button cupcakes so I decided to give it a go myself....

Aren't they cute?? I made the buttons myself out of pre-coloured royal icing - I cut out the circles and added the centre holes using a tooth pick. For the larger buttons I also added an extra circle around the outside. I'm really pleased with how these turned out.

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

Another week....

Hello there, this is a bit of a sad post I'm afraid as I'd like to say that the past week has been incredibly sad for me and my family as my dad lost his battle with cancer last Friday morning. Some people might say its weird that I've shared this with you all, but to be honest writing it on my blog helps me remember that this has really happened as it all seems a bit surreal at the moment. Dad first battled cancer 4 years ago when he was diagnoised with mouth cancer - he won that fight with the care of some amazing doctors and nurses. This March, exactly four years after the first diagnosis we found out that he had lung cancer and unfortunantly this time it spread very quickly.

Over the last week we've met some extremley caring people who helped us all through this difficult time. If you ever want to donate to a charity and don't know which one, I can tell you from personal experience that Marie Curie Nurses are very deserving of anything you donate.

Now, I know that Dad would want us all to be happy (he said he was always too busy to be sad), so today I've been crafting...catching up on some challenges.

My first card is for last week's challenge over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday...Arlana has created a stonking sketch this week, which I thoroughly enjoyed using......isn't it cute?

Check out the SSW blog to see all the wonderful DT cards.I've opted for pink papers, along with that lovely flowery backing paper to highlight the image.

I've also created another card, using a digi image that I've created on my new graphics pad - this is a new toy for me and I'm not the world's greatest artist, so bear with me on this one!

The image is Wedgie (yes me!) in the garden and I created her for the challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenge this week, which is "in the garden". Whenever I write a note to someone I sign my name and doddle this little lady, it always seems to make people smile so I thought I'd add her to one of my cards!

The cute layout for this card is a sketch from The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, which I've flipped on it's side. Since making it I've realised that I've missed the sentiment out so the ladies might not include me in their draw, but it was still fun to use. I'm also entering this card in the "spots, stripes and sparkle" challenge over at Sweet Stampin this week - the spots and stripes are on the baking papers and I've added sparkle to the flowers and water using my trusty stickles!

I've also done a little baking today....yummy peanut butter muffins....see my baking blog for more photos and the recipe I used!

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

In loving memory of my Dad.

Wedgie xxx

Digital Garden

Evening All!

I'm fresh back from a lovely weekend with my sister and her hubbie in Ledbury. It was a fantastic weekend...the weather was mostly good to us and Ledbury is a wonderful part of the world. So green and gorgeous...and full of tasty food! Hee, hee! Jim's family are lovely and looked after us very well. It was the first time I've seen their caravan park and I have to say its lovely. There is plenty of room, the facilities are brilliant and there is a wonderful lake to fish in or wander around. I feel soooo relaxed!

So, we got back a little earlier this evening and I thought I'd log on before I unpacked to see whether I could complete any quick challenges! Nothing like a bit of crafting to complete a lovely weekend!

I'm pleased to say that I found a lovely challenge over at Cupcake which is just perfect for this evening....their theme is Lets get digital. As you know I'm keen to use my new software at the moment, so I put it to good use. I used the theme of gardens/parks from the Allsorts challenge and came up with this....

I found the quote on the internet, I think it will make a lovely card for a gardener! All the elements are digital, but the colours are quite subtle and therefore it doesn't look that great on this post, but it works well when the card is in your hands....honest!

Take a peek at both blogs to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created for inspiration.

Just a quick post tonight...I need some rest after a busy weekend! Thanks for stopping by today.

Wedgie xxx

Even more flowers!

Hello there! Hope you're having a good week so far. I've been busy making lots of cards and I thought I'd share another one with you this evening which has a flowery theme.....

I think this would make a lovely card for any budding gardner out there, or maybe for somewho who just enjoys being in the garden with all the flowers! I've made this card for this week's challenge over at Papertake Weekly. The theme is "in the garden" and the DT have created some lovely cards for inspiration.

I've used some fab pink flowery paper that I've recently bought....it was on sale for just 25p for a huge sheet...super bargain! The sentiment was created on my computer and the image is from a set of flowery stamps.

Right, I'm determined to get an early night tonight....I want to read some more of my new book before nodding off!

Thanks for popping by today.
Wedgie xxx

All things bright and beautiful!

Evening all! I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend...mine was lovely and relaxing!

I should be watching that Sophie Dahl cookery programme right now, but thanks to my stupid computer I am still sat here desperately trying to post my lastest make! I can't understand why it chooses to be sooooo slow when I want to get things done!!!

Anyway, due to my lack of posts recently I seriously need to catch up on some challenges! So I decided to combine several of my favourite blog challenges into one fab card! I was so inspired by the garden shed cards featured in this month's Papercraft Inspirations magazine that I decided to give it a go myself...and made this green house card.....

Now this is a 3D card, decorated on the inside and out...it was therefore a bit diffcult to photograph...so please excuse the millions of photos!

This card manages to fit in with the challenges on three different blogs....first we have the Allsorts Challenge which called for projects that didn't use ready made design papers. The DT have created some fab designs, take a peek here to see. The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge wanted projects with garden related images this week, again fab DT designs - take a peek here! Finally Cupcake Craft Challenges wants projects featuring handmade flowers - click here to see the lovely DT projects.

I think this lovely card manges to cover all those challenges - no ready-made patterned papers were used in the making of this card - in fact I used a white card blank, some acetate and some coloured papers! All my flowers are hand made - punched from the cooloured paper! Finally I think this is a lovely garden scene.....I just hope the SCST ladies agree!

For the front of the card I drew out the windows and door using pencil and then cut them out using my fab new pink craft knife (yes I'm easily pleased!!). The door actually opens and has a little door knob! I backed the front of the card with acetate to make it look like there is glass in my windows! I had to remember to cut out the door! Once that was done I could get on with creating my flowers!

I cut out the shapes of vases and pots from coloured paper to use as bases and then I punched out pretty flowers using my mini punches. I used coloured sticky dots for the centres and I cut out little green leaves too. Everything was stuck in place using very, very small sticky dots!

I really enjoyed making this card, although it did take a bit of time...still thats even more staisfying when I had finally finished! I hope you like this card as much as I do!

I also wanted to share some makes from my talented friends! I'm really into making mini felt characters at the moment, and some of my friends seem to have caught the bug too! Here are some little characters that we've made recently....the cow is mine...my lovely sister Lorna made the super cute door mouse and the ever ambitious Becca made the fab Yoda!! I'm so impressed with them - well done girls! Becca has gone out and bought her own felt supplies now and is currently making the whole Star Wars cast...I couldn't be prouder!!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Wedgie xxx