It's about time........

I showed you the progress of the loft conversion. Warning this is a photo heavy post! We are currently 3 wks in! The back of our house started like this, minus the scaffolding of course!
This is the view from the bottom of our stairs straight up into the loft and yes it still looks like this now!
This is my builders wrecking my roof lol! And yes wrecking my conservatory underneath when they dropped a roof tile! All will be fixed in the end.
Here is the massive hole they created whilst wishing the rain would keep away! Have you spotted my lack of chimney yet? Yep that went the week before, note the TV ariel stuck to the scaffolding lol!
This is my miniature tent! It sounded like that during the night as the wind blew around the tarpaulin, its over the partially built dorma frame here and it was cold (remember the hole to the roof?!)
This is what it looked like today. Dorma mostly built and reinforced inside. There is felt on the roof here and waterproofing to the sides.
This is the inside, taken tonight (I'm up a ladder!) note hubby trying to figure out the plans unsuccessfully I might add! Still lots to be done but its getting there I may even have stairs in just over a week!
Thats all the progress for now, can't wait to see the finished product although I will oddly miss my builders they have sort of become part of the fixtures over the last few wks!
Thanks for popping by to look! Hugs

Crafty sentiments xmas in June challenge and new release!

Hi Everyone! Well the kids missed sports day yesterday due to illness but we still have nursery sports day tomorrow so lets hope the weather holds out for that and lets hope noone else is sick between now and then lol!
Thanks to the national teachers strike though I still have a house full of children today and a house full of builders!
So what did I do last night once I got everyone in bed?! Did I craft my heart away?! No I spent my evening eating homegrown cherries dipped in chocolate and watching Twilight! Well a girl has to do what a girl has to do when she is fed up with cleaning up after sick children and messy builders! Hopefully I am now on the right track for the rest of the week, a good dose of RP and chocolate gets me right as rain again!!!
Todays challenge over at crafty sentiments is one of those mid year festive ones! I have to say that it's a good job we have xmas related challenges from here on in otherwise I wouldn't get around to making any xmas cards!
We also have lot of fab new xmas related releases and this is one of them and he is called "taking a nap".

I have followed the sketch this week at sweet sketch wednesday and have used papermania deck the halls paper. My sentiment is a freebie download ticket and my ribbon and brads are from stash. My flowers are wild orchids and my charm is from pink gem designs.

Isn't he a cutie? I have coloured him with prismas as per the norm!

I also want to enter this into Creative craft world xmas in June challenge, For fun xmas, Crafty catz add a charm and crafty Anns xmas in June challenge.
Please pop by and see what the other DT have made for this challenge and there will be another new release with blog hop happening tomorrow so look out for that!
Hugs to all and thanks so much for coming by!

Divas by design die cuts and punches challenge

Well folks all I seem to be doing at the mo is apologising for my lack of blogging! I really am not up to much at the mo and life is just getting a bit too much in the way. I was looking forward to this wk with hubby being on nights and me being able to craft into the wee hours but this is not to be! I am stuck with, yes you guessed it, more sick kids! In the last 5 wks there has been about 1 or 2 days where noone in the family was sick and it's really getting to me at the moment! I managed to get my son back to nursery last wk after nearly 3 wks of sickness and now both my girls are sick. I feel like a washer woman with all the laundry going in and out and am just a tiny bit tired of clearing it all now!
I also have the most ginormous hole in my roof! Actually its a great big roofless dorma and it does look fab but it has a mass of tarpaulin on it to keep out any rain (none at the mo!) but it sounds like we are sleeping in a tent on a very windy day lol!
I have managed to make a card for the Divas by design new challenge which is to use die cuts and/or punches although I'm not that thrilled with it!

I have used scraps of paper from shabby princess, nitwits and Robyns fetish and an image from our fab sponsor Stitchy bear and have followed the sketch at Crazy 4 challenges although I turned it on its side. I have used nesties dies and mariannes flourish die for the theme and have added corner metal scroll and butterfly from e crafts with flowers from wild orchids, sentiment from waltzingmouse and gems from stash.

I have coloured my image with prismas and used spiced marmalade distress ink. I wanted to highlight our sponsors more but my printer went funny and wouldn't print out the sponsor paper so I have added a couple of cards previously blogged onto the challenge blog made with the sponsors images too.
I also want to enter this into Pear tree designs stamp something challenge, Craft your passion use red, the crazy challenge beautiful women, Delightful fun in the sun and crafty pads bold and bright challenge.
Please drop by and check out the superb creations by the other DT members! I am also sorry I haven't previewed any of the new crafty sentiments xmas images but you can see them here from the other DT members. Hopefully some inspiration will drop in my lap soon and the kids will get better (they are even missing sports day tomorrow because they are too ill!)
Thanks for dropping by and big hugs

A new sketch at a gem of a challenge

Gosh it's saturday already?!! I just hope it the weather improves now, it's not much fun having a hole in your roof and it raining!
I will endevour to post some photos of the work soon but there isn't that much to look at currently!
On to our fortnightly challenge at a gem of a challenge which is a fab sketch again this time by my fab Teamie Lisa, pop across to check out the sketch! Thanks so so much to all the fab entries for my last challenge it was super hard to pick a top 3!
Here is my card this time...

I have used yummy digi papers from Pink gem designs along with another of these adorable new stamps available now in store, another super sweet Chloe! My fab postage mark sentiment is also new at Pink gems and comes in a set of 3 fab!

My image has been coloured with prismas and I have used satin ribbon and pearls from stash along with flowers from wild orchids. My card base is craftwork cards petal edged card.

I also want to enter this into Meljens stripes challenge, Alphabet challenge H for half a dozen (6 pearls), Totally papercrafts spots and stripes and Delicious doodles cute and cuddly challenge.
Please pop across and see the other stunning examples from the rest of the DT and why not join in our sketch this time!
Thanks for popping by and hugs

SFTW Favourite things challenge

Hi Everyone, this is my 2nd post for today, for my poodles parlour post please scroll down ...
On to our new challenge over at Stampin for the weekend and what a fab challenge it is! We want you to use your favourite things, so that could be fave stamps, fave embellies, fave colours etc
My favourites on this card are Fave stamps (Hanglars) Fave colour combo (pink and green) and Fave embellies (flowers, butterflies, sparkle, cheesecloth etc)!

My papers are from prima fairy floral and sweet fairy (I am just lovin the prima paper range at the mo) I have distressed all the edges in vintage photo ink. I have followed the sketch this time at Incy wincy. My sentiment is a totally fab stamp sentiment from a new set at Pink gem designs with a whimsy ticket stamp tucked in underneath.

My image has been coloured with prismas of course and I have used a flourish stamp from Stampin up in vintage photo ink again to create the vine edge to my image border. My horizontal under layer has been matted on punched cardstock using MS doily punch which is over my cheesecloth element. My flowers are from a wide range at Wild orchids along with a few little pretties from my friend Brendas candy which I won, all of these have been stickle sparkled and my sparkle butterfly is again from e crafts.

I also want to enter this into The emerald faerie gardens petals challenge, Lovely Hanglar onlys for a girl challenge, Just Magnolia and Hanglar butterflies and Crafty Emmas lots of sparkly flowers.
Thanks for coming by my blog again, don't forget to check out the other Amazing DT creations!
Hugs all

Poodles parlour come fly with me challenge

Hi Folks! There is another challenge over at the poodles parlour starting today and our theme is "come fly with me" so interpret at will!
I have made my card using the cute Ruby Digi and made her into a little fairy by attaching some wings cut with my trusty Mariannes butterfly die from glitter cardstock.

I have used wild rose studio papers from the candy floss set and have followed the sketch this time over at Simon says stamp. My ribbon is American crafts and my lace and pearls are from stash. My flowers are from wild orchids and my sentiment is waltzingmouse.

I have coloured this little sweetie with Prisma pencils and have edged all my edges in peeled paint distress ink. My sparkly butterfly is from e crafts.

I would also like to enter this into Theres magic in the air photo inspiration and Crafty creations let it shine challenges.
Thanks for popping by my blog I hope you can join in with us and please check out the other DTs fab creations!
Hugs all

Crafty sentiments Monochromatic challenge

This is my 2nd post today for my Craft us crazy post please scroll down...
Hey there again peeps! Well nothing but rain here at the moment which really isn't doing the builders any favours in our house when they want to cut a hole in the roof! I guess I will just pray for a little more sunshine next wk!
Todays challenge over at crafty sentiments is monochromatic. I love this sort of a challenge as several different shades of one colour can look so effective on a card or project, here is my interpretation.

I have used this fab Vicky digi from the CS store and chosen to use the colour in purple. My papers are papermania capsule papers again. My lace is from my local market with my satin ribbon coming from stash along with my pearls. My fabulous flowers are from wild orchids along with some roses I won from the fab Brendas candy and my sentiment is waltzingmouse.

I have coloured my image with prisma pencils and have edged in dusty concord. I have followed the sketch this time over at Cupcake crafts for my card.

I also want to enter this into Spoonful of sugars ribbon and bows challenge, stamp somethings pretty papers, do it with digis mono and craft your days away mono challenge.
Don't forget there are some new xmas releases being showcased around the DT blogs next wk, I can't promise to join in them all due to lack of time but I will try!
We hope you can join us for our challenge and pop by to see the other fab DT creations.
Hugs all

Craft us Crazy Red,white and blue / Summer challenge

Hi again everyone. It's challenge time over at Craft us Crazy again and I'm afraid this is my last challenge with the DT. I have loved every minute of being on Jeris DT and have loved the challenges and working alongside some amazing DT members. I have had to consider limiting some of my DT work though due to lack of time and have decided to step down from the Craft us Crazy DT. I wish all the girls the best of luck and will visit them regularly in blogging land!
The challenge for the next 2 wks is summer/red,white and blue. We are sponsored by limited runs and squigglefly so don't forget to join in!
I chose to go with the Red.White and Blue theme this time.

I have followed the sketch over at Sunday sketch and stamp for my card and have used papers from pink petticoat. My lace and flowers are wild orchids with my ribbon and button coming from stash. I have used petal edged card blank from craftwork cards and added red pearls along the edge.

My beautiful manga image is another one of those stunning cuties drawn by Sureya at DeviantART coloured with prismas and edged in stormy sky distress ink. My sentiment is waltzingmouse.

I would like to enter this into Crafts 4 eternity R embellies (red ribbon, roses, red pearls etc), Ladybug crafts ink use red, Die cut dreams red, white and blue, Pennys paper crafty red, white and blue and Stampin with the dragons friendship (the sentiment is to my friend in french).
I would like to say a huge thanks to Jeri for having me on her team and to all the fab ladies over there who have given me a tonne of support during my 5 month stint on the DT.
Thanks to all of you who have popped by today!
Big hugs all

Creative card crew Asian flair challenge

Hi Folks, Gosh it's been a while hasn't it?! Sorry but my son is in his 9th day of an aggressive stomach bug, my eldest daughter is still off school with a similar thing and the builders are in and out as normal!
Thanks to all my well wishers for the race for life. I had fun on sunday running it with a couple of girlfriends and we made it around in 37 mins, not bad considering I haven't run in about a year lol, maybe I will actually run some more this year!
Well, it's challenge time again over at Creative card Crew and we are sponsored by the fab Bunny Zoes and our challenge this time is Asian flair so interpret at will!
I have made a card using this adorable CC designs Geisha digi image that I recently aquired from all that scraps.

I have used yummy papermania capsule papers along with stunning wide lace from Wild orchids along with my stunning flowers. My sentiment is crafty sentiments and my butterfly from e crafts, with my gems from stash and my ribbon was recycled (it came off my daughters birthday cake!)

I coloured my fab image with prismas and have edged in victorian velvet. I made another attempt at black hair, not my best hair colouring but getting there!

Please pop across and see what the other fab DT have been up to for this challenge to grab some inspiration and to join in with us!
I would like to enter this into Sweet stampin things with wings challenge (my butterfly), Whoopsidaisy pile on the flowers, Simply creates wings, OSAAT things with wings and Corrosives ribbons and bows challenge.
Thanks so much for coming by, I have a few DT projects this wk so hopefully I won't be ignoring my blog so much!
Hugs all

Crafty sentiments xmas in July preview

Hi everyone just a quick post to let you know crafty sentiments will be having their christmas release on the 1st of July with previews fom the 26-30 so please remember to join us and you could win all 5 images all you need to do is to post this banner on your side bar and leave us your comments over the 5 days we have our previews.



Sorry for my absence there will be some cards soon it has been a busy time with sick children etc so will be back again soon.
Hugs all