Friday Sketchers #80

This one today is for the Friday Sketchers challenge blog. They have a great sketch this week by Tanja with a gorgeous Magnolia stamp as a prize courtesy of Magnolia-licious.
I haven't used any embellishments on this card.....shock horror! I didn't think it needed it, being a male orientated card.

Cardstock - DCVW
Papers - Dovecraft
Image - Sugar Nellie - Birthday Hamish
Sentiment - Funky Fairys
Colouring - Distress inks
Spellbinders labels dies
Circle punches
EK Success border punch

Thanks for stopping by.

Whiff of Joy #57, Cute Card Thursday #88 and Truly Scrumptious #21

Three in one tonight.........on a roll!

The sketch is from Truly Scrumptious

Whiff of Joy have asked for a Christmas card - with a WOJ stamp

Cute Card Thursday want cards for young boys

Card - SU

Papers - DCWV

Image - Whiff of Joy

Colouring - Distress inks

Martha Stewart punches

Sentiment - Funky Fairys

Snowflakes - chipboard, painted with acrylic paint and glittered

Swirl dies - Sizzlits

Thanks for taking the time to come to see me.

The Sugar Bowl #24

Thankyou for all your messages of support and concern. It helps to know that we are not alone. The people of Cumbria are a fantastic lot, a great sense of humour coupled with community spirit will get them through the days, weeks and months ahead.

This one is for The Sugar Bowl challenge blog. They have great sketch by Marlene with a superb prize on offer of the new and gorgeous Sugar and Spice stamps. Oh boy, would that sure cheer me up after the week we've had!

Cardstock - SU

Papers - DCWV

Image - Sugar Nellie

Colouring - Distress inks

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug

Ribbon - local shop

Flower - made with L Em punches

Spellbinders dies

Card Candy

Charm, chain and links

Thanks for stopping by.

Sketch Saturday #78

This one is for the Sketch Saturday challenge blog, I've gone with the distressed look again, but I'm not too sure on this one...........I think it has too much of the shabby rather than chic!
At the moment we are just waiting for the Calva bridge to fall, sad really, it has stood for a long time and is part of the landscape. When it goes we are likely to lose the phone and internet again. This has split not only Workington but the whole of the West Cumbrian coast north and south of the river. I'm busy now making a huge pan of soup - just incase the power goes, at least then I can just warm it up on the gas ring. I went to visit my mum this morning in Egremont - the roads out of the village are passable with care. We have a 4x4 so it isn't too bad, but the floods are getting quite deep in the road dips. Pete went shopping for me last night so we have plenty of food in - we won't starve!

Sorry about the awful light on this photo - it is very dark here!

Cardstock - Co-ordinations
Paper - Paper Cellar
Image - Whiff of Joy
Colouring - Copics and Distress inks
Embossing folder - Cuttlebug
Flowers - EK Succcess punch
Mulberry roses - ebay

thanks for dropping by, now I'm back to sit glued to the BBC news!

There's a new challenge blog on the block!

There's a new challenge blog about to start -  and it looks like it's gonna be a good one!

It is Sketchy Colours a Norwegian blog who will have challenges using colours and sketches. The fun begins next Sunday 29th November with their first challenge. In the mean time though they have some wonderful candy to give away..........so pop on over and take a look!

Create4fun challenge

Create4 fun have a lovely sketch this week and a super prize of a Greeting Farm stamp. I admit it......I had to tweak it to make it work for me.......hope this counts! It was bottom heavy (know how that feels) with the two flowers so I moved one up.
The flowers are made with the Leone Em begonia punch, it's really hard to find in the UK though, this one came from the US - don't ask what it cost with postage etc!

Cardstock - Bazzill and SU!

Papers - Papermania

Image - Gorjuss

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Colouring - Distress inks

Spellbinders dies

Flowers - L Em punch from parchment and handmade paper

Lace trim - local shop

The rains continue to come down, though thankfully the rivers haven't burst again, the bridge in Egremont is still closed and my mum is too close for comfort to the river. The sea is wild to say the least...........this is the view from our house...........and this is as close as I want to come to it today, thankyou very much!

Thanks for stopping by.

Friday Sketchers and the aftermath of the floods

Those people who live in the UK cannot of escaped the news that has dominated the headlines in the papers and on the TV. I live in Cumbria, born and bred. I cannot believe the devastation and drama that is being played out to the world on my doorstep. Our little village is not effected directly by the floods, but our whole community is shattered by the recent tragic loss of our local policeman. Each time I see on the news the bridge that has collapsed I can hardly believe my eyes. This was not a little bridge, it was a huge sandstone construction that appeared to be rock solid and stood proud across the river. I have crossed that bridge hundreds of times over the years, to take the boys to the pictures or have a little shopping exped with my mum. It is hard to imagine how we will recover from this. We will, but I think the area will be scarred for many years to come.

I is now raining again and howling a gale. We are essentially cut off from the rest of the country. The main road out - the A66 is closed due to flooding at Bassenthwaite lake. The phones and internet connection have been down and are intermittent now.

I've made a card to try and take my mind off recent events. This is for the Friday Sketchers, who do have a great sketch this week. I have practiced with the distress inks and like the effect that I get with them. The flower is meant to be a poinsettia, I used artistic license to make mine blue!

Papers and Card - DCWV

Image - Magnolia

Colouring - Distress inks

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Flower - L Em punch

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug

Spellbinders labels die

Card candy - Craftwork Cards

Thanks for dropping by to take a look, and please keep the people of Cumbria in your prayers. Thankyou

Passion for Promarkers

Well, here we are, my week in the spotlight as Guest Designer for Passion for Promarkers. I've chosen the colours Burnt Umber and Marsh Green and look forward to seeing what you all make with them.

For those who don't know, I'm not too well at the moment and have Swine Flu. I'm taking the Tamiflu, and I'm not sure which is the worst - the symptoms or the cure!

I'm scheduling this post but promise I'll do my best to visit you all through the week.

Cardstock - DCWV

Papers - My Minds Eye (Asparagus)

Images - Whiff of Joy

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Spellbinders dies

Martha Stewart border punch

Decorative buttons

Flat back pearls

Thanks for visiting, hopefully I'll visit you soon.