Mad Hatter

Good morning all.

Well, both my kids are not in school today. There is a major strike here in the UK which is effecting schools. The kids don't really mind as they get a day off.

Finally managed to get to the hospital for my E.C.G. yesterday. It only took a few seconds to do the test - how can they get an accurate reading from a few minutes?? Well, as I am not the expert I guess I just have to wait for the result. Will go back to my doctor once all the tests are done. Having a Blood Pressure measuring machine fitted next Monday so should be finding out by the end of next week whether or not my blood pressure is too high.

Well, onto today's show which is a little different ...............



............ I have not made an ATC for a long time and I needed a break from all the christmas cards so decided to play along with the Octopod Factory Challenge. Their theme this week is Anyone for Tea and I thought it would be a great opportunity to use my Mad Hatter but with a twist - No more Tea parties :). Hope you like him.

Thank you for dropping by and have a great day. Hugs, Mette

Dilly Beans Giveaway Challenge

We are all so excited about our new challenge blog!
To kick off the challenges we are having a challenge/giveaway!!!
We are offering the Snow Family digi for FREE! just right click the image & save to your computer!
We want to see what awesome things you can create with Dilly Beans! So use the image & get crafty!
When you are finished just link it to the challenge to be entered in our BIG crafty giveaway.
You have 3 weeks to get your project finished & all linked up :)
Enteries must be in by December 19 at midnight to be included.
The Dilly Beans Design Team will be picking their favorite project for the first place winner.
Then top three will be chosen to recieve 1, 2, or 3 free digi stamps of their choice!
We hope to have lots of participants so spred the word about Dilly Beans Challenge Blog!!!
Happy Creating XOXO



So, to get your free Snow Family image and join the Challenge for the fabulous prize please visit DILLY BEAN CHALLENGE BLOG

Hugs, Mette

Hippie Chick

Good morning all.

Well, my son is finally back at school but have Phoebe home today. She has been really poorly over the weekend and has problems breathing. I just wanna make sure she's 99.9% before sending her to school.

Sorry for not posting for a few days. It's not that I have been ideel - I have been really busy getting stuff ready for the new Dilly Bean Challenge and also made a lot of christmas cards. Honestly, I am getting a little fed up with seeing christmas papers and images lol.
The other day I received a big box from my mum. She had collected a lot of things for Phoebe including paper dolls. I LOVE PAPER DOLLS, it was my favorite childhood toy. I would sit for hours drawing, colouring cutting, organising etc. In the box from my mum were about 15, all from a danish magazin and I love them. So I have been helping Phoebe cutting and organising..... guess who had the most fun?!

Anyhow, this is my card for today ................



..................... My son's girlfriend has a birthday on christmas eve so I made this card with a gift pocket inside for a voucher. I love this image with her HUGE eyes and relaxed expression. I used the colour theme from COLOUR Q (I am too late to enter the challenge) and will enter it in SATURATED CANARY CHALLENGE too :).

MATERIALS USED

Hippie Chick from Sugar Nellie
Various papers
buttons
Promarkers

Thank you for dropping by and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Zombie christmas elf

Good morning all.

It's really starting to get cold here now - well, winter will be arriving shortly so only seems fair she has her moment. After that it's SPRING :). Don't get me wrong I do love winter but there is something about spring that is just special - maybe it's the promise of a new beginning.

Some of you may remember that I mentioned that my baby brother plays in a ultra heavy rock band in Denmark called The Hitchcocks. Their music is very dark and sinister and frankly scares me lol - yup, I scare easily. My brother however, is a wonderful young man and although for most of his life I have lived away (there is a 22 year difference here) I love him to bits. So I was pretty sure that a christmas card featuring the cute and sweet was definately not for him. Enter Megan Suarez and her fabulous images at .....................



............ DILLY BEAN STAMPS. They are just perfect for him and anyone else who likes to walk on the wild side. And yes, she also have lots of cute and funky images to satisfy any taste. Don't forget that the DILLY BEAN CHALLENGE BLOG starts on the 2nd December 2011 and if you pop over and become a follower there may just be a few surprises posted before then. Did you know Dilly Bean also has a facebook page just clich HERE and push the likey button :).

This card was made specifically for my brother and I think he may just think it's kool enough lol.

MATERIALS USED

Zombie Christmas Elf from DILLY BEAN STAMPS
Cardstock
Paper: Bo Bunny
Ribbon
Buttons
Handwritten sentiment (I apologize in advance to Santa)

CHALLENGES

Card and Scrap - Traditional Christmas colours
Everybody-Art-Challenge - Christmas
Creative Craft Challenges - Free for all
I love Promarkers - Anything goes

Thank you for dropping by and have a fantastic day. Hugs, Mette

Waterbabies

Good Morning all.

Hope you are all doing fine today. The sun is out but I still have my son home. Some of these flus can really knock you for 6 I think. This is the second one he has had this autumn :(.

Well, I didn't make it to the hospital yesterday. The bus never showed up and living in a rural village I am relying on un-reliable public transport. One one bus per hour goes near the local hospital. So I had to ring them and cancel the appointment and the book one for next week - yup, they only do E.C.G.s once a week. The lady did inform me that it may be a male technician who would be doing the test and I said that "as long as he doesn't look like George Clueny we shouldn't have any problems". Not sure whether she got it. Can you imagine if he did - my E.C.G. would go of the Charts :).

So onto today's card which I know is not christmas related ..................



................ isn't this image just the sweetest?! My daughter goes to quiet a few parties being at school and she is always asking me to make a card. However, she will choose the image, the papers and embellishments (hence the flower) and if she's not happy I have to redo lol. Luckily she just loved this one, she's into fantasy and fairytales, so it might also be a hit with her friend.
I will be entering this into the QUIXOTIC SKETCH CHALLENGE.

MATERIALS USED

Waterbabies by Carmen Medlin
Basic Grey "Kioshi" (love the paper)
Ribbon
Flower
Gem

Thank you for dropping by and have a fabulous day. Hugs, Mette

Super Kool News

Good morning all.

Well, Mr Sun has decided to make a brief appearance this morning - let's see how long it lasts. I have James home with flu and Phoebe has complained a little about ear-ache. She's at school but if it doesn't get any better I am taking her to see a doctor.

In a moment I am of to the local hospital for my E.C.G. I am not really worried as I think it's just a few checks to make sure everything is going fine :). And to be honest - nothing can spoil my day and my creation for today is in relation to my super kool news ...................



............. A little while ago I found a fabulous free digi image on the talented Arielle's blog and thought "Wowzer - this is right up my street". Quirky and a little goth with a twisted mind hehe. This image was by the super talented Megan Suarez of DILLY BEAN STAMPS. When I saw that Megan was starting a challenge blog and looking for designers I decided to try my luck and guess what!? Well, I am sure you have guessed it - I am not the proud member a a fabulously talented design-team. The challenges will start on the 2nd December 2011 and I hope you'll come join in the fun.

Thank you for dropping by and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Charlotte

Good afternoon all.

So we are having typical english autumn weather here at the moment. You know when it's grey, foggy, cold and generally miserable. Hate it!! I want to be able to see the sky and the sun even when it's cold. Not this "can't make up my mind" weather. Been out for a few walks but with my feet still being painful and no sign of a fysio appointment yet it's not much fun.

Tomorrow I am having my E.C.G and on the 5th December a device fitted which measure my BP every 30 min over a 24 hour period. Hopefully after that my doctor will be able to tell me that I am as healthy as an ox hehe.

Over the past few days I have had another look through my stamp collection and remembering exactly why I bought my stamps. Some of them were impulse buys - you know the ones you buy cos you see them on different blogs and absolutely must-have - and they are currently being sold on ebay as I know I will never use them. As a single SAHM of 2 kids with limited finances (kids grow so fast and cost so much lol) I have to be think hard when it comes to buying stamps. So when I get a "I WANT THAT STAMP" moment while surfing the blogland I have to apply my spending brakes. And ask myself 1. Is this one of my favorite artist? 2. Is the stamp versatile? and 3. Will I be using the stamp more than once?. That way I know I get what I really want and stop myself from buying stamps that will just gather dust. I am sure I am not the only one having to do this :).

So the stamps I do have I treasure just like the one used for this card ...........



............. for KRAFTIN' KIMMIE CHALLENGE which is a sketch. I love Annie Rodrique's images. And I wish I could get them all hehe. They are quirky, so much fun to colour and suitable for both young and old alike. This was the first Annie stamp I bought and I think she's fab.

MATERIALS USED

Charlotte from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps
Scrap papers
Ribbon
Hero Arts "Heart to Heart" stamps
Versamark
WOW! emboss powder

Thank you for dropping by and hope you have a wonderful day. Hugs, Mette

Colourful World

Good morning ladies.

Wowzer - the sun is actually out today. For the past week it's felt like living on the Northpole. Low cloud, dark, grey and miserable and it sure makes my mood low and grey. So am feeling very springy today with the sun.

Today Phoebe is having a teddybear picnic at school. All the children are joining in so she had to bring a lunch-box and a few pennies for a cake. It's a small village school with only 80 pupils so they are able to do such events for everyone in school. She's was all excited this morning choosing which one of her vast collection of teddies was allowed to come to school with her.
This event is arranged to collect money for the annual nationwide "Children in Need" charity event. The TV station BBC hosts this and a vast amount of money is collected through a huge variety of events and individually sponsored challenges (yes, some people actually jump into a bathtub filled with custard or baked beans). It's so much fun watching it all on TV which will be tomorrow evening.

Anyways, enough rambling from me today. Here is today's share for TIDDLY INK CHALLENGE ...............



............... yup, told you my mood was spring'y lol. I have used this super image by Christy - I think she's just fabulous. The colours were choosen for the CUPCAKE INSPIRATION CHALLENGE, they are just my favorite citrus colours and I used a sketch from THE SWEETEST THING.

MATERIALS USED

Colourful World @ Tiddly Ink
Papers; SU (black/white) and Paper Adventure
Ribbon
Buttons

Thank you for dropping by today and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Anise

Hey again

Yes, second post of the day which is so not me lol. But just wanted to post this real quick for PASSION FOR PROMARKER ...................



............... their theme is "Kraft + 1". Well, I do love kraft so had to play along. Used one of the little tags I posted yesterday but made a little card to go with it. Pink is always a favorite with the little girls.

MATERIALS USED

Anise by Stamping Bella
Kraft cardstock
Dp scraps
glitter glue
little heart gems

Thank you for dropping by and enjoy your day. Hugs, Mette

Tiny Tabita

Good morning all.

It's still mild here considering it's mid November but grey, dull and foggy. Hate it! I wish it'll be proper winter soon - yes, I know it's cold but atleast you can call it a season, this weather is just "can't really decide what season I wanna be".

Am still in the process of making a few more christams cards so this one is for SASSY CHERYL CHALLENGE ..............



........ and I love this little girl. She's so super cute all wrapped up for a play in the snow. But she still had to wear her pretty skirt - typical. I have used both dry and heat embossing.
I don't know about you but I keep remembering people I need to send a card to, soon i'll need a bank-loan to pay for the postage lol.

MATERIALS USED

Tiny Tabita digi from Sassy Cheryl
Cardstock
Memory Box "Tinsel" paper
Versamark
Stampendous emboss powder "DISCO BLACK"
Buttons
ribbon

Thank you for dropping by and hope you have a lovely day. Hugs, Mette

Good morning all.

Just a real quick post from me today as rushed off my feet again. Just been for a long walk with my kids (James couldn't possibly live without Call of Duty 3 on Xbox).

Just came online to share these tags I made for THE PINK ELEPHANT challenge.....



......... I love these cute Ketto stamps. They are just perfect for cards and tags for little girls and since Phoebe goes to quiet a few parties I need to make more. And these tags are also brilliant for using up some of the scrap I have accumulated :).

MATERIALS USED

Suzette and Anise Ketto
Scraps
Ribbon and heart gems

Thank you for dropping by and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Herbert

Good morning all.

Well, it's one of THOSE morning. You know the ones where everything goes wrong. Had planned to go to the hospital this morning to have my blood-test. So had a shower, a coffee and toast and then I realised - I had to be fasting lol. So I will have to go tomorrow. I was also going to get my shopping done - I am out of bird food (I have a very noisy cockatiel named Loui). Then my son dropped quiet a few bomb shells on me like "mum, I am cooking tomorrow" and "Oh, and there is a 6th form meeting at school tonight at 6.40". Well, my face must have been a picture for the record-books lol. I don't have the ingredience he needs and have not made arrangement for the meeting so am now having palpatations and hot flushes. Having a few moments to calm down and plan my day lol. On top of that he casually mentioned that there is a tutor review day soon and he needed money for school trips (and they are not cheap) - all of these things he must have known ages ago. But hey, I think he's making sure I am still amongst the living lol.

Good thing my card is a little on the quiet side ..................



.................... actually it's very CAS. I don't think I have used this fab stamp for well over a year - no, even longer. Isn't he great?! I decided to go with a very simple lay-out - minimalistic rather. Hope you like it.

MATERIALS

Herbert from High Hopes Stamps (2008)
Cardstock
Medium: Promarkers
Handwritten sentiment

CHALLENGES

Creative Craft Challenges - Minimalistic
Less is more - Red and Orange
CAS-ual - over the edge
High Hopes Stamps - Anything High Hopes

Thank you for dropping by and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Victorian Christmas Lylah

Glood morning all.

Another miserable day. Grey and wet here so what better excuse to stay indoor and do a little crafting. Besides christmas is approaching and I still need to do a few cards.

So today's card is a christmas card for TICKLED PINK CHALLENGE and BASIC GREY ........



................. both have the same theme - nice and easy Anything goes.. I really enjoyed colouring this image - all the fabric is an excuse to really go to town and do something dramatic :). I used a simple lay-out for my card. The sentiment is danish for "Happy Christmas".

MATERIALS USED

Victorian christmas Lylah from Tickled Pink Stamps
Cardstock
Basic Grey "Jovial" paper
buttons

Thank you for dropping by and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Marci with panda

Good morning bloggers.

Wasn't yesterday gorgeous - sun all day. So unlike today - dull and grey and wet :(. But We can't change the weather so it's just a case of enjoying the day. Am a little busy today - not done a lot over the weekend but enjoyed having all my kids around me and spending time together. Time to clean up after them in a moment lol.

First I wanted to share this card using a fabulous sketch from DECONSTRUCTION ......



................ and a sweet image which I have had my eye on for a few weeks and finally decided to get. She's just perfect for little girl cards. Love her cheeks :).
I choose the colours to tie in with Color Q.

MATERIALS USED

Marci with Panda from LaLaLand
Cardstock
Papers: Bo Bunny & DCVW
Buttons

Thank you for dropping by and hope you have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon

This is what I am listening to at the moment. I know it's a little old-fashion but I absolutely LOVE Sinatra and this is one of his best. So this will be my contribution to Marcea's Music Saves my Soul. You may want to look at Landay Eugene Murphy Jr who won America Got Talent 2011 and be amazed.

Current Ebbtide

Good morning bloggers :).

Went to the doctor yesterday to have a blood-pressure checkup (it was on the high side 2 weeks ago) and it's still high :(. This means I am having to have further tests done i.e blood-tests, E.C.G and a measure device attached for 24 hours which will measure my blood-pressure at a 30 min interval. I am pretty sure that I am fine but it's a lot of hassle as the nearest facilities means a day-trip lol. But it's better to be on the safe side.

My mum called me yesterday. My gran has been moved to a nursing home and everyone there have made a very welcome. Unfortunately she is a lot weaker as she has suffered a few minor heart attacks in hospital. My baby brother (he's 28 - born when I was 22) came home from Copenhagen for the first time since my gran got bad. He told me it was a shock seeing her like this. But she is being well looked after around the clock so hopefully she'll pick up a little.

So, this is today's card and I used the sketch for PINK {INK} SKETCH ...........



............. and dug out another stamp which was purchased cos I absolutely adored her and then forgotten. Isn't she adorable?! She's one of Amy Young's beautiful mermaids. My daughter has already ear-marked this as her birthday card lol. This will also be entered into PAPERTAKE WEEKLY and ALL THAT SCRAP WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE

MATERIALS USED

Current Ebbtide from CC Design
Cardstock
K & Co papers
Glitter pen and stickles

Thank you for dropping by and have a super day. Hugs, Mette

Anise

Good morning all.

it's so nice having Ben in the house again. Somehow everything feels right again lol. I do miss him but I know he's having a brilliant time living his own life and he's loving Uni. I think it helps having 2 other kids at home still - the real test will come once Phoebe leaves. As she's only 5 I am not worried yet lol.

Looks like the sun didn't listen to the weather report this morning. It was suppose to rain but I am NOT complaining. It's really mild here considering it's the beginning of November. Omg - I had better get on with making some more christmas cards.

Alas, this is not one of them lol. Made this using the sketch at CLEAN AND SIMPLE ..........



.................. they are just so ........... clean and simple :). Used one of the little Ketto stamps I got resently at a very reasonable price. I think they are great for smaller cards and especially for quick little notes. Phoebe likes them and has coloured up a few to give to friends at school - "but not the boys Mum, they don't like pretty". I would like to enter this into BOWS'N'BERRIES and KORT'O'MANIA who are both asking to see CAS.

MATERIALS USED

Anise from Stamping Bella
White, pink and kraft cardstock
MME designer papers
Sentiment from Papersmooches Chubby Chum set
Stickles

Thank you for dropping by and have a lovely day. Hugs, Mette

Purfect!

Good morning all.

Another sunny day here although it is cold :). My Ben is coming home today - he claims he is missing my cooking lol but I really do not care what excuse he's giving - it's lovely to see him. I am hoping he stays till Saturday and we can watch the firework display here. In the UK we celebrate the 5th of November with hige bonfires and fireworks because of THIS event.

There is mayhem and carnage at Phoebe's school this week. They are putting in new toilets down in reception/class 1 so they have been moved to the big hall. The class teacher has asked parents if they are able to stay a little while in the mornings to help with reading etc - so that's what I have been doing. It feels good to help the little ones (of whom my Phoebe is one) read :).

So my card for today is for the PAPER SMOOCHES SPARKS challenge ...............



.............. there is a super inspiration photo and I have yet again used the chubby chums stamp set. They are just fabulous and I love them. The little cat has been paper pierced.

MATERIALS USED

Chubby Chums from Paper Smooches
Echo park papers
ribbon

Thank you for dropping by and have a fabulous day. Hugs, Mette

Natalie the Knitter

Good morning all.

I hope that everyone in the US had a wonderful halloween. I was unable to take Phoebe trick or treating as I was looking after a friends to little ones but judging from her reaction at the school disco it was prolly a good idea lol. Didn't get many callers either compared to previous years so stuck with a lot of candy :(. Halloween isn't such a huge event here in the UK.

Here is today's card made for KRAFTIN' KIMMIE CHALLENGE ...................



.................. "Monochromatic". This is another stamp I puchased and then she just went into the Lonely Stamps Club. Why I haven't used her yet I don't understand - she's fabulous. The sentiment comes with the stamp which just brings it all together. I have used a sketch from ANNABELLE'S STAMP BLOG - it was nice and simple :).



MATERIALS USED

Natalie the knitter from Kraftin' Kimmie
Jillibean Soup dp + ???
vellum
Ribbon

Thank you for dropping by and have a lovely day. Hugs, Mette