I love this!

What did I find when I opened the letterbox today??  A big fat spider (like last week) ... no ..... perhaps a rotten old Electricity Bill .... no not today .... hmmmmm some cobwebs .... well just a few ......... and this!

 Isn't it just perfect!!!!  I love it so much!!!!  That Strawberry is so perfect and the whole card is just SWEET!
I could go on and on and on about all the things I love about this card ..... but the thing I love the most is that it was made for ME! and sent to ME!!  for no particular occasion ..... It honestly bought tears to my eyes that someone made me something so special just because.  It came all the way from Ohio to me here in Australia ... I bet each and every postal worker that saw it thought WOW!  (it was in a gorgeous clear package)

So thankyou Shirley ..... you are a wonderful friend and I will treasure this card!  Did you know that Strawberries are my most favourite fruit?  Mmmmmmmm delicious.

You have made me feel like the luckiest and most loved person in the world today.

xoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxXOXOXOXOXXOOXOXOXOXOxoxoxoxoxoxox
Carly

Tickled Pink - Lil Perfect Match 50's Lestat

This week  Tickled Pink Stamps  are sponsoring TWO challenges - 

The Corrosive Challenge where the theme is "The man, the myth, the legend - Tim Holtz" (use at least one TH product on your creation)

 and

 Crafting When We Can where they have a fabulous sketch to play along with. 

The Design Team has some gorgeous cards to inspire you so be sure to head on over to Tickled Pink for a look.  

I decided to combine the two challenges.  We hope you pop along to these challenges to join in the fun and have a chance to win a some Tickled Pink images...

 For my card I have used the sketch from Crafting When We Can and put it all together with very minimal supplies.  The buttons are from the local discount store and are just plain wood.  I coloured them using a sponge and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot and Barn Door.  I also smeared Black Soot Distress Ink over the 'spotty' card stock using the Tim Holtz applicator tool.
The sentiment is from Stampin Up ... it just seemed the right word for the gorgeous Lil Perfect Match 50's Lestat from Tickled Pink.

 I attached the buttons using glossy accents ... this sets lovely and hard ... no chance for the buttons to fall off.  Lestat is coloured in Copic Markers.

Thankyou so much for stopping by ..... don't forget to head on over to 
Tickled Pink Stamps Blog
The Corrosive Challenge 
Crafting When We Can
for inspiration and to enter your own card into the challenges ...... there are some fabulous Tickled Pink Stamps up for grabs :)

Stamping With The Dragon - Birthdays

Is your Birthday in April????  if so Happy Birthday! and I hope you had a lovely one with lots of love, laughter and delicious treats.

Over at Stamping With The Dragon this week our theme is ..... yep you guessed it BIRTHDAYS!

This week we are being sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads .... you will find some gorgeous images there!  and of course as usual there is a lovely prize ...... 5 digi images from Stamping Dragons Designs ... yep 5 of your choice!!


For my Birthday Themed card I have gone for a masculine card ..... I guess it could be used for anyone but I was thinking of my Uncle as I was making this card .... he will love it :)

 I have used this totally gorgeous image from Stamping Dragons Designs called Ooo Cake .. you can find it here.  I have also used the balloons from the Ruperts Party Page Kit .. here.

I have coloured the image using copic markers and then used some Glossy Accents (by Ranger) on the icing. Once that dried I added some more to the bottom .. to give the illusion of that thick delicious icing oozing down.  Mmmmm don't you feel like a piece of cake now??

There are absolutely gorgeous Birthday themed projects over at the challenge blog for you to check out and be inspired by.

Thankyou so much for stopping by ........ Happy Birthday :)
xoxoxxo Carly

testing testing ...... Have logged in to look at all the gorgeous blogs I follow ... and its all VERY different ...I'm a bit dazed and confused.  Thought I would do a 'test' post ..... so here it goes .... fingers crossed :)

this is a photo of my daughter, Madalyn in the bathroom....... giving 'Ken' a bath!  Oh it was so funny!  I didn't even know she was doing it .. I thought she was washing her hands!

See you again tonight
xoxox
Carly

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenges - Distressing

Its another week ..... wow how fast is this month going! and over at the Whimsy Inspiration Challenge blog we have a new challenge for you ....

Distressing

This is such a fun theme ... there are so many things you could do!!!

For my card I have used a tearing method (always very satisfying) and a piece of sandpaper to rough up the edges also.

 As soon as I saw this paper I knew it had to be used for a 'diva' card of some sort.  I love this shopping girl ... she is from the Whimsy store and you can find her here along with a whole new bunch of gorgeous digis.

I have coloured Shopping With Rita in copic markers and spic pens .... lots of sparkle to match the paper .... the spicas never show up in photos though.  Her dress, shoes and the dog collar are all sparkly.

I hope you get lots of inspiration from the gorgeous projects made by the Design Team ... you can see them all here and while you'r there why not enter your own 'distressed' card ... our prize this week is

Looking forward to see your beautiful projects!  

Thankyou so much for stopping by :)

xoxoxo Carly

Creative Craft Challenges - Animal Antics

Hi there :)  Remember me??  Yes I have been very quiet of late ... lots of personal things happening .... such is life .... sigh ...

But I can't tell you enough how enjoyable this card was to make ..... I feel like a little balance has been restored in my world :)

This week over at Creative Craft Challenges we are being sponsored by:-

Bugaboo Stamps

&

Robyns Fetish

and our them is

Animal Antics

I just love animals and my home wouldn't be the same without my pets.  But as cute as this pet would be from Bugaboo ... I just don't think I would be able to afford to feed him ..... what pets do you have?

I have coloured this little cutie with copic markers.  The paper has been distressed around the edge and then I have done some faux stitching.  The die I have used for the leaves are from the Spellbinders Foliage set (S4-328) and then I have added some little pearls to look like berries.  All of this is mounted onto a black base card.

Make sure you head on over to the challenge blog to check out the gorgeous projects from the rest of the Design Team .... such a wonderful theme .... so get your card into the challenge!

Thankyou so much for stopping by and now I'm off to make another card ..... restore a bit more 'balance' into my crazy world :)

Big Hugs

xoxoxoxoxo

Carly

Whoopsi Daisy - Use A Flourish

Good evening :)

Over at Whoopsi Daisy this week we challenge you to

USE A FLOURISH

Who doesn't love a Flourish!!!!!!!  Enjoy the challenge and the super projects from the Design Team ... here

Thats it from me ... because somehow I have managed to get the timezones muddled up and I'm LATE! with my post!!!!!!  

xoxoxoxox Carly

I would love to enter my card into the following challenge:-
Pile It On - #17 Sparkle & Shine

Stamping With The Dragon - Sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy

Hello there :)  I hope you are having a great day.  Over at Stamping With The Dragon this week we are being sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy ... and our theme is Weddings ....

We were given a gorgeous sheet of images to work with .. and I selected the cake .... which made me hungry ... and therefore caused me to eat lots of Easter chocolate .... but getting back to the card .........

Its hard to see in the photo but I used Spica pens on the flowers, leaves and vines to give the card some shimmer.  I coloured the image using water colour pencils .... just for something different.

Thanks so much for stopping by ... be sure to head on over to the challenge blog to see the absolutely SENSATIONAL projects from the Design Team ... their cards are truly gorgeous!  A big thankyou to Whoopsi Daisy for sponsoring us this week .... if you are a follower of my blog you will know that I'm also a member of the DT over there ... and I love the gorgeous images.

Until next time ............
xoxoxox Carly

Whimsy Stamps - Easel Cards are Easy

Hi, Everyone! It's Wednesday again so that means it's time for a new challenge over at Whimsy.

Our Topic this week is
Easel Cards Are Easy

Our Prize this week is

Ok well before I show you my card I have a confession to make .....
this is my first Easel card ever!
Yep thats right .. I had never made one before and had absolutely no idea where to start .. and I thought it was going to be hard.  I have seen Easel cards a lot on blogs and thought they looked so glamorous and I didn't think I would be able to make one so I didn't try.  But let me tell you something .......
they ARE EASY!!!!!!

If you Google Easel Cards you will find lots and lots of instructions and tutorials.
And in Issue 3 of the Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Magazine (here) you will find some awesome examples of Easel Cards!

So without further ado ... here is my card

I have used this gorgeous new image from the store.  Don't forget to check out the new digi images for this month .. there are some fantastic ones that you just have to have :)

So get out your bone scorer and create your own Easel card .... enter it into this weeks challenge and you could be the winner of our prize!

And if you have never made one before ... don't be scared .... they really are easy!

Thanks for stopping by
Big Hugs
Carly
xoxoxoxoxo

Mad For Markers - New Release

Hello there :)  Did you know Chocolate isn't good for dogs???  I hope so ..... as not only would you not have made your dog sick over Easter .. but you would have been able to eat all the chocolate yourself :)

Over at Mad 4 Markers there is a lovely new release ........

Here is a bit of a sneak preview for you ....

How cute is this little pup!!!!!

As soon as I saw her I thought PINK! she has to be PINK!

There are some more gorgeous dogs in this release ... so be sure to head on over to the store ... here ... and check them out.

Sorry I haven't been around to see many of you these last few days ... I've been on arvo/night shift but I will be around visiting again soon.

Thankyou so much for stopping by.

xoxoxo Carly

Creative Craft Challenges - Sketch

Welcome and I hope you are well.  Did you have a lovely Easter break?  I hope so.  I worked all of Easter as my Husband was home to watch the little one and of course the pay rate was wonderful for the public holidays.  We are moving house very soon and we need the extra money.  The home we are in now is going for Auction on Saturday!!!  We are nervous and excited!  We have already purchased our new home .... so fingers crossed we get enough money for this one otherwise we are going to have one HUGE mortgage.

Anyway enough about me ...... over at Creative Craft Challenges this fortnight we have a Sketch Challenge for you.  Its a lovely sketch and you will have so much fun with it.

We were sponsored by Kenny K ... and I totally LOVED colouring this image.  She was actually quite easy and I was thrilled with the result.

For my card I have used this gorgeous image from Kenny K called Luscious Linda.  I made my own background paper using a clear acrylic stamp on some grey cardstock.  The little hearts are brads and I used some gorgeous organza ribbon down the middle.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Stampin Up.

I have coloured this gorgeous image in copic markers and used some spica pens for the 'metallic' bits.

I can't wait to see your creations for this sketch.  Don't forget to check out the rest of the Design Teams projects .. they are amazing!

Thankyou so much for stopping by .... mmmmm I may go and nibble on a piece of chocolate bunny now ... and do some blog hopping ....

Big hugs
Carly

Stamping With The Dragon

Easter Bunny is coming to town ..... and I tell you what I have one excited little girl!  My daughter Madalyn is nearly 3 and now knows the joys of chocolate (oh ohhhhh) she was given one of those Humpty eggs and it is sitting in the kitchen cupboard waiting for 'Easter'.  Every day she asks if it is Easter yet ... too cute!  She is being very patient ... she has more willpower than me.

I will not be giving Madalyn chocolate for Easter .. but I am giving her some art supplies and this cute card.  I used Jiggy Easter from Stamping Dragon Desings.  I coloured this gorgeous image in copic markers and added some spica pens for some sparkle and shine to the eggs, ears and wings.

The background papers are also from the store .. they are gorgeous!  Easter Medley Papers and you can find them here.  I really love these papers and will be using them LOTS!

I hope you have a lovely Easter (for those that celebrate this time) and really hope that you get to enjoy some 'time out' and perhaps a nibble of chocolate.

Dark chocolate is my favourite ... what is yours?

Thanks for stopping by .... don't forget to stop over at Stamping With The Dragon to see some totally gorgeous projects from the Design Team.

xoxoxo Carly

Whimsy Stamps April Release

April already!!!  Wow!  Some of us must be getting excited about the Easter break ... I know I am.  We don't do much over Easter ... we share a nice meal as a family and have a little Easter Egg hunt for the kids.

This month over at the Whimsy store there are some gorgeous Easter themed digis and more!

Over on the challenge blog we are having a Use A Ribbon & Add A Sentiment theme .... eggcellent!

I have used this gorgeous new image called Buttercup.  I love the little chick she is holding ... I have also used some fabulous digi paper called Softly Spring that you can also find at the store.

I loved this paper!  and wanted to make it the star of the card so I have kept everything else at a minimum ... also most of my craft goodies are packed as our house is on the market and we had to de-clutter (so that meant mainly craft stuff) ..... so this is crafting on a budget ... well suited to beginners.

I hope you have fun creating some Easter cards this year .... and don't forget to enter the challenge ... there is a fabulous prize as always.  So Hop to it :)

Have a lovely Easter .... and enjoy the time with loved ones (and perhaps a little chocolate).

xoxoxo Carly

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #24 - April Showers

April!!!  yes it sure is!  Showers ... nope not here unless you count the one I have once a month .... JOKING!!
We are having absolutely gorgeous weather here in Victoria Australia.  The sun has been shining and the days have been lovely and warm.  A nice bit of rain at night time would be great though.

This week over at Crafting For All Seasons we are being sponsored by :-

Bugaboo stamps    Prize - 7 digital images

Jani's Kreativwelt Digital Stamps

The Stamping Boutique

There are some fabulous prizes up for grabs ... so don't forget to check out the challenge blog and get your entry in.

 For this card I have used the Stamping Boutique's Audrey In The Rain.  I have coloured her in copics and then gone over her rain coat in Glossy Accents to give it a lovely shine.  I have used a beautiful Irish Blessing for the sentiment ... it is a bit hard to read on the photo but it says

"May you have warm words on a cold cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and the road downhill all the way to your door."

I hope you are enjoying life, family and craft .......

Until next time ....
xoxox Carly

School Pinkette Heidi - new images and Tickled Pink Stamps

Welcome ....... have you been checking out the new images over at Tickled Pink Stamps?  Aren't they just super cute!

Will here is another one for you ......

 Meet Heidi .... she is the last of the new School Pinkettes.

I have coloured Heidi in Copics and used some stickers from my stash ... I have had them for such a long time that they had actually lost their stickiness and I had to glue them on ... I thought that was pretty funny.

Be sure to head on over to the blog to check out the gorgeous projects made by the Pinkette DT ... you will be inspired!  And of course leave a comment while you are there ... you could win one of these images.

Thanks for stopping by .... xoxoxo Carly

Whoopsi Daisy ... Sketch

Another week gone by!  And another month!!!  My goodness!

This week over at Whoopsi Daisy we are challenging you to use a gorgeous sketch designed by Sande.

Be sure to head on over to the challenge blog to check out the gorgeous creations from the Design Team .... this was a lovely sketch with so many possibilities!

I have used mainly pinks and this gorgeous image from sheet 334 .. you can find the sheets of images at the store.  This is the latest sheet by Linni and I loved every image on it!  You get 4 images on one sheet ... how sweet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you create with the sketch .......

Thankyou so much for stopping by
xoxoxox Carly

School Pinkette Chloe - New images at Tickled PInk Stamps

Hello there :)  Its time for some new Pinkette images .... you are going to love these .. they are super cute!

Here is the first of the gorgeous new images ... Chloe .... isn't she just adorable!

 I have coloured this adorable girl in copic markers and kept the layout simple.  You can grab your new release digis (soon) and many many more sensational images from Tickled Pink Stamps.

Don't forget to head on over to the blog and check out the absolutely gorgeous projects from the Pinkette Team ... they are awesome!

Thanks for stopping by ...... will be back with another one of these gorgeous new images soon.

xoxoxo Carly