Time for something a little bit different...

My brother is 21 in March and this year I have resolved to make everyones cards early instead of in a mad dash the day or two before! This is his card:

Its the first time I've attempted to make a side stepper card and I'm quite pleased with it. The images are digis from Kenny K's and the 'Happy Birthday' stamp is from papermania. The papers are also papermania and I've used the Martha Stewart doily lace border punch at the front. The embelishments are chipboard stars I found at the bottom of my stash, which I coloured with promarkers and added gems to finish. I made the sentiment on the computer.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

KennyK Krafty Girlz No Flowers

Truly Scrumptious Something Forgotten (Chipboard Stars)

I've got to go out now and take mum to a hospital appointment, which I dont mind except that Mr Postman has new stash for me coming today and I know I'll have to wait until tomorrow before I can go and fetch it from the sorting office! Oh Well!

Thanks for looking and take care

Berni x

Rescued Cat

OK, time for my first card now that I'm back into this blogging thing again :)

Its Pumpkin, or Aubergine? and I rescued him. My SIL took up crafting about a year after me, but she has one toddler already and another baby on the way and decided to give it all up. Luckily for this little cat, I was on hand to give her crafty stash a new home instead of it ending up in the bin :) I've coloured him with promarkers and layered him up to give it depth. The papers are from Forever Friends Spring collection and the sentiment is LOTV.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers Recycle something (rescuing is the same as recyling right? He was going in the bin!)
I Love Promarkers Purple & Pink
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday You're a Gem (Pearls)

Hope you like my first card entry of the year

Thanks for looking

Berni x

An Apology

Dear friends in blog land

I'm back.

You may or may not remember me. I disapeared and I'm sorry.

It started when my computer caught a virus, I couldn't get online and I couldn't upload a card for my DT spot at Stamping for the weekend I also had no way of letting my fellow teamies know. Eventually my lovely OH managed to make my computer better, but by this point I had missed at least 2 challenges and was too ashamed to get in touch to say sorry.

Then then pressures of my job took over. You may have noticed on my last post that I had left my job for a new, much better one right? No, not right. My new job involves working 45-50 hours a week including alternative Saturdays. Suddenly crafting took a back seat- I had no time or energy to make cards as my time off was spent doing the housework or laundry ready for the next working week.

Then I had the task of making my best friend and my brothers wedding stationary. I loved doing it and at the weddings I enjoyed having guests come over to me to ask if it was really me who made the wonderful invitation they receieved. But it had a downside- crafting had become a chore that I had to do and it came with a deadline. I spent hours alone in my craft room making the same thing over and over again. Its enough to sap anyones creativity, but I'd gladly do it again.

For a while now I've been considering coming back to my blog, I've found a way to manage my home/work relationship and Ive been crafting again since before Christmas. But I wont be looking to get on any Design Teams again as I have enough pressures as it is. I've been lurking around and reading my favourite blogs, theres one in particular that always gives me inspiration- A Scrapjourney - Thanks Debby, you've made me want to come back and enter some challenges again :)

I sincerely hope I didn't cause too many problems and upset when I disapeared and hope this goes someway to expaining my actions.

Thank you

Berni x

Mum's Birthday

Afternoon ladies (and gents!)

I took myself off shopping yesterday for new stash as I was very generously given lots of vouchers for my favourite craft shops when I left my job a couple of weeks ago. Promarkers and Nesties very willingly threw themselves into my basket along with a new flower punch and various other essentials ;) But after sitting in traffic for an hour and spending over 15 mins at the till when my vouchers caused problems I couldn't get off the sofa when I got home and didn't even put the stash away!

But it's my mum's birthday tomorrow, so I had to shift my bum and make another card! and here it is:

I've used the beautiful "Swinging Chloe" stamp from Pink Gem and coloured her with Promarkers. The papers and ribbon are from papermania. I used my new embossed flower punch from x-cut and teamed them with roses from wild orchid coated in glamour dust.

I cut Chole out with my new nesties and embossed the mat with a cuttlebug folder. The butterflies and sentiment are Anita's.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Sketch
Cute Card Thursday - Signs of Spring
Passion for Promarkers - Sugar Rush
Simon Says Stamp - No Cook Recipe

Thats it from me for today, I'm off to link up :)

Take Care
Berni x

Stampin for the Weekend Challenge 5 Springtime

Good Morning Everyone!

Its time for another new challenge over at Stampin for the Weekend and this time we're embracing the coming of Springtime!!

We are sponsored this challenge by the wonderful Simon Says Stamp  who are very kindly offering the winner a $20 voucher to spend in store!

So here is my DT card:

I've used the 'Spring Chloe' stamp from Pink Gem Designs and I've coloured her with Promarkers. The papers are from the Forever Friends Spring Time collection (how appropriate!) and the ribbon is papermania. The Flowers are from Wild Orchid and I've coated them with Glamour dust. The leaf pins finish the design, which were from The Ribbon Girl.

Please come on over and play with us, we love to see your beautiful creations!

Take care and happy crafting

Berni x

All that glitters

Evening all!

I'm back as promised with another card, I put most of this together yesterday, but needed to wait for the glitter to dry before I could finish it off. I've spent this evening sourcing supplies for more wedding stationary, and inevitably a few things jumped into the basket for me....!!

Anyway, here is todays card:

I've used one of my favourite stamps "Sitting Chole" from Pink Gem and coloured her with Promarkers. The papers are from the Forever Friends Spring Time collection and the ribbon is papermania. I've used flowers from Wild Orchid and have used a liberal sprinkling of glamour dust!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Buttons, Brads, Beads, Bows
I Love Promarkers- Stitching
Cute Card Thursday- Sketch

I probably wont be back again until Friday, when I have a DT card to share :)

Thanks for looking

Berni x



One for the Boys!

Evening Bloggers!

I'm back at last! I mentioned on my last post that I wasn't very well- I'm still not 100% three weeks later! I've been poorly with a cough and a cold, then I started a new job and my carfting had to take a back seat for a while. Anyway, I'm back now and I have a card to share with you:

The stamp is from Pink Gem and is called Skateboard Andy- I've coloured him with Promarkers. The papers, brads and buttons are from Papermania and the ribbon is by Smirk.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge BUTTONS,BRADS,BEADS,BOWS
Sketch Saturday Sketch
Passion for Promarkers One for the boys
A Spoon Full of Sugar Birthday Wishes
Cards for Men Recipe

I'll be back tomorrow with another card (I'm waiting for the glitter to dry!)

Thanks for looking

Berni xx