Sale-A-Bration

I really can not believe it is Sale-A-Bration time already!! Free, yes Free Stamp Sets from Stampin Up.

All can benefit from this fantastic offer.

Guests for every £45 spent you get to choose a free limited edition stamp set

Hostesses hold your own workshop with me and if your orders exceed £300 then you also get to choose a free stamp set. In addition I will also be offering an exclusive gift from me for anyone who books a workshop between now and February.

New Recruits join my team and extended Jem Family during Sale-A-Bration and you get to choose a free stamp set of ANY VALUE to go with your Starter Kit, which in itself is a bargain at £119, the products are valued at £270!


Follow the link on the right of my page to view the Catalogue. It is A-MA-ZING!!

Becki
xxx

I Heart Hearts

Seasons Greetings Everyone, hope you are all enjoying the festivities.

Boxing Day always tends to be a quieter day in our house. The children are occupied with new gifts (once assembled, uploaded/downloaded, batteries sought and found, instructions read after failed assembly), tummies full of festive food and chocolates, so I thought I would play with my toys - my craft stuff :-)

My niece got engaged on Christmas Eve, so I spent a little time today making an engagement card using I Heart Hearts. My new favourite card size is 14.5 cm x 14.5 cm


Little decorative border on the inside using the tiny heart


Card Stock: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Stamp Set: I Heart Hearts (own sentiment)
Punches: Scallop Trim Border, (own heart punch)
Ribbon: 5/8" Satin Rich Razzleberry

It has been nice to get back crafting again today after having a little break due to recent events.

Thank you for stopping by and hope to be back soon with some more cards.

Love
Becki
xx

Celtic Football Card

Hi everyone, how are you all doing? Hope everyone is well.

Sorry I haven't blogged for a week but we have been dealing with some difficult news. Granddad is also still in hospital, but is getting stronger each day, which is good. The other bit of good news is that the builder can start tomorrow on the snow damage. Fingers crossed that is doesn't snow overnight!

Today's card is a request from a friend for her partner. He happens to be a huge Celtic fan. So green and white were the order of the day.

I opted for a CAS style. Rather than an envelope I made box for it to go in. The scallop circles were made from the old favourite Cuttlebug.







Card Stock: Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive
Stamp Set: Afterthoughts (plus an old sale-a-bration set)

I'm off now to have a read through all your blogs and catch up on all the goings on in the crafty world.

Thanks for stopping by.

Becki
xx

Blueberry Crisp

Morning everyone, how are you all doing? I'm sorry for not blogging much this week (if at all), it has been a difficult week for the family.

My wonderful 89 year old granddad has taken poorly after, well 89 years, of being fit healthy and very very independent. We had to take him into hospital last night for various investigations and it was felt best that he be kept there until he is well enough to come home. He still managed to keep his sense of humour and one of the nurses declared he had the most cheeky face - which he does. I am sure he will keep them all on their toes on the ward.

I had a lovely class planned for this afternoon using the Blueberry Crisp Designer Papers. Unfortunately, the church hall I had booked has suffered a very similar snow disaster as myself, and therefore the Warden has called off all events for now.

Hopefully, I can get a class up and running very soon.

In the meantime, I would like to share with you one of the cards that will go in the gift / keepsake box. There is a full tutorial of all the cards and box available at £2.50. Please email me if you would like to receive a copy. Anyone who attends the class will receive this free.



I am going to end today's post on something wonderful and positive. We finally got to have cuddles with baby Esther this morning. Here she is with Leanne - simply gorgeous :-)



Thank you for stopping by and your patience.

Love Becki
xx

Memorable Birthday

Hi everyone, how are you? I will admit straightaway that I haven't got a card to post today, but as you read on you will understand why.

Firstly, I have to say thank you to so many people for their lovely birthday messages. Unfortunately, the snow has kept postie away, so I shall be like the Queen and have two birthdays when he finally does make it.

The day started out really well yesterday. We managed to get out of the village and to Tesco for some shopping - Old Mother Hubbard had nothing on me by Friday night! On the way home I stopped off to collect the most wonderful birthday cake ever! My very talented work colleague and fellow blogger Jean made this amazing creation. I had seen a cake Jean had done earlier in the year and I knew straightaway this is what I wanted.

Isn't it just fab? And you know what? It tastes Devine. Death by Chocolate Cake Yum Yum


And the bling is so me :-)


Pop over to Jean's blog and take a peek at all the wonderful creations she has made.

Ok so shopping done, cake home safely (without slipping on the ice with it), a few chores done, a bit more snow shifted, a sit down with a cup of tea. For those who don't know, I live right next door to mum & dad - in fact our houses are semis.

Whilst having a deserved sit down, the snow decided to avalanche off the house roof right through mum's conservatory roof. Fortunately, it brought the panels down in whole pieces and didn't smash them but the conservatory had about 2 ft of snow inside it. All hands to the deck to clear and fix as best as possible.

Ok so conservatory cleared, damage to be assesed in the morning, when my son shouted that I had better come back home and upstairs to his room.

The snow that had collected on the roof and found it's way through the roof tiles and was running a river down his bedroom wall, so much that the wallpaper had to come off. John had to get up onto the roof in the dark to move as much snow as possible to stop further water coming in. Patched up, damage to be assessed in the morning.

Still with me?

Not content with shedding the snow through the conservatory and Christopher's bedroom, the big thaw had one final avalanche.

This time it brought down all the fascia on the front of the house, the guttering, the top of the toilet waste pipe and corner ridge tiles. Normally the Laguna is parked up to the corner of the house (you might have noticed from the snow pics), but John left it further back yesterday. A good job as the corner ridge tiles landed right where the car would have been.

I have to say a big thank you to my family who have been so supportive and helped out. I couldn't have done it without them.

This birthday will be remembered as the Snowy one and I'm sure will be talked about for a few years yet.

You know what though? After getting really stressed about it yesterday and thinking why us? I am so grateful that no one was hurt, all my family are safe and that I have insurance!!!! :-)

I think this one is going to be my final snow picture -
Chris and Leanne on the trampoline enjoying the snow.



I really do hope you are all safe and well.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love
Becki
xx

Artistic Etchings No2

Evening, how is everyone today? I ventured into work today, but have to be honest and say that I didn't drive, my OH did. The temperature was -9 in the car at 7am. The village roads are terrible and think will not clear until Spring time (slight exaggeration!). It is all compacted and now freezing over. TGI Friday!

I thought I'd share with you the card I made for my niece's boyfriend. The instructions were manly but lovey dovey!! I think I have managed it - welly my niece likes it, so that is the main thing.





Card Stock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobble
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Love Letters
Stamp Set: Artistic Etchings, Sincere Salutations, I heart hearts
Punch: Word Window, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Border

When I was in London last weekend, I found a little stall at Covent Garden selling bronze stamps. I wanted to purchase a B but he had sold 4 that day and had run out (just my luck) so I went for R. Now there was something familiar with this stamp - does it remind you of the Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set??



Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Love Becki
xx

ps - have you noticed that there are no snow pics tonite :-)

Bauble Bash

Evening everyone, how are you coping with the snow? For those of you without snow, how are you this evening, you lucky people?

Another day off work for me, no buses running and the cars couldn't move off the drive. Well 4 hours of digging this morning has put paid to that. I am EX-HAUS-TED!!! I have not done such a workout since...... well forever! Here's some more snow pics - anyone getting bored of them yet? :-)

There is a car under there somewhere!




Didn't even attempt to get the Clio out - she can stay in her igloo for a few more days


After a little sit down and some lunch, I set to crafting. I had a commissioned card for my niece's boyfriend to do and another batch of Xmas cards. Keeping in the festive mood with the snow, I'll post the Xmas cards today.

Browsing through the blogs early this morning, I was inspired by Vicky to get out Baroque Motif and not having a tiny bauble I went for a big one. After my Dasher Marathon the other week, I thought what the heck, make the most of my day off.

My favourite - Concord Crush, sob sob I only had enough left to make 3 cards :(


Baja Breeze and Pacific Point (the flat back rhinestones stand out on this pic)


Cherry Cobbler and Melon Mambo


All together


Forgot to do Rich Razzleberry - I might do them tomorrow after work

I hope you have enjoyed my cards and snow pics - it's back to work tomorrow after all that hard work. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a few days off :-)

Thanks for stopping by. Keep warm and safe.

Love
Becki
xx

Centenary Blog

Afternoon everyone. How are you all doing?

I can not believe that today I am publishing my 100th Blog!! When I started out I didn't think I would ever have enough to write about, or that my craft would attract an audience. But, happily, I have been proved wrong.

Your support and fantastic comments make it all worth while. As a thank you I have put a special offer at the top of my page - no minimum order, no hidden costs, simply my way of showing my appreciation.

You may have gathered by the day time post, that I could not get to work today. Here's the reason why........


Look at the depth on the trampoline compared to last nights post. Poor snowman is nothing more than a mound!




Managed to get the gate open, but couldn't get through it!


I hope it all goes very soon, as beautiful as it is, it is causing havoc with school, work, roads, shops etc. Can you believe people are panic buying? I also hope that it goes before next week. There is training at Julie's house to go to and I have my own class on Saturday 11th December.

Seeing as though this is a craft blog I ought to share something crafty with you. Well I've decided to give you a little sneak preview of my class. We will be making a presentation box and 4 cards to go inside. If you would like to come along please get in touch.


Keep safe, keep warm, but most of all keep crafting!!

Love Becki
xx

Snow, snow and more snow

Hi there, how is everyone? Hope you are all warm and keeping safe out of the snow. It took me 2.5 hours to get to work this morning - it normally only takes me 25 minutes!

I thought I would just share a couple of pictures I took this evening. We are having quite a heavy snow fall at the minute.

The snowman's features are now disappearing (there is a little windmill for a hat!) and the trampoline is well and truly covering again after the children had cleared some of it for a snowball fight.





The patio furniture gives you a good idea how much snow we have had over these last few days.



Will be interesting to see if I can dig the car out tomorrow!!

Keep safe and will be back soon with some crafting.

Becki
xx

I've neglected......

my blog recently, not by choice but purely by so many things happening lately.

I shall start with some really good news. You may remember a while ago I posted a baby card using the Fun & Fast Notes Set and used Pretty in Pink as the base. Well my prediction of a baby girl was correct. Baby Esther arrived this weeked, a little earlier than expected, but both mum & baby are doing really well. Can't wait to see them both.

This weekend was spent away from the snow - no not in some sunny climate but in London, where we had no snow but it was bitterly cold. A great weekend of shopping, eating, a glass or two of wine and a play. The play was Onassis, based on Aristotle's Onassis and his very colourful life. Now I am a little young to remember this era and needed a quick history lesson from my sister! Robert Lindsay played the main character and all I can say is he was A-MA-ZING :-)

Work related, I have just taken on a Level 5 Management and Leadership course and I'm now wondering whether it was a very good idea!! Think it will be heavy going for the next 9 months. Please be patient with my blog if assignment writing takes over crafting and blogging. Hoping that there will be time for both!

I keep telling myself it will all be worth it..........

It looks as though everyone has been really busy with their blogs and crafting so I am going to have a cup of tea and sit back and read through all your hard work.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to have something crafty to blog very soon.

Love
Becki
xx

In Colours - Blushing Bride

Hi everyone, hope you are all well.

I thought I would have a play about with the Hostess Level 1 Designer Papers and chose Blushing Bride. Something a little more delicate after the bright Dasher marathon.

This is one of the first times that I have ruched up the ribbon, it's not perfect, but as the saying goes... practice makes.....





Card Stock: Very Vanilla
Ink: Blushing Bride
Stamp Set: Razzle Dazzle, Sincere Sentiments
Papers: Designer Papers (Hostess Level 1)
Ribbon: Very Vanilla
Punches: Large Oval and Large Scallop Oval, own corner punch
Adhesive Pearls

I have a wonderful weekend in London planned with my sister and two friends - the annual Xmas shopping trip - hope the snow keeps away!!

Will be back after the weekend. Keep well and warm.

Thanks for stopping by.
Becki
xx

Dasher Marathon

Hi there, how's your Sunday been? The weekends go far too quickly.

With only 5 weeks to go till Christmas and having a huge family I thought it best to get on with making some cards. I needed something that could be easily produced several times over, not too complicated, but still look classy.

Inspiration came from Monica's blog. I hadn't thought of using Melon Mambo for a Christmas card, so once I used this, I decided to keep going with other colours and here they all are.......

Melon Mambo

Pacific Point

Old Olive

Cherry Cobbler

Baja Breeze

Concord Crush

All 24 together!!

A few rhinestones for bling on Dashing Dasher's antlers. After taking all these pics I forgot to show you the co-ordinating insides!! Basically a peice of Whisper White card stock stamped with the snowflake in the co-ordinating ink.

Now to decide which one is my favourite......... impossible task, I shall be here all night :-)

Stamp Sets: Dasher, Sincere Salutations and Sparkly & Bright.

A well deserved cup of tea and feet up now.

Have a fab evening and thanks for stopping by.

Becki
xx

Scary Scrapbooking

Evening everyone, hope you are all well. A quick post before Saturday night in front of the TV starts!

This afternoon was scrapbook class in Pudsey with Jules. The theme was Halloween and Fireworks. All the photos that I have I couldn't find any fireworks so I went with two Halloween pages.

Just love how these have turned out.






The afternoon flew by. I have two months to prepare to the next class. I wonder if I get my photos sorted in advance?? Probably not, it will be a trip to Asda instant photo machine two hours before class starts :-)

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Becki
xx

In Colours - Pear Pizzaz

Hi there, how is everyone tonight? All ready for the Children in Need marathon? Leanne needed something spotty to wear for school today, so I got out my 1 3/8" circle punch, a lot of coloured paper, tombow, a white tee and hey presto a spotty top was created.



I have MIA from my blog for a few days, but I haven't neglected my crafting. I have been busy preparing a tutorial for my next class. I just need one more original design then I think it is complete.

Whilst I had my craft stash out tonight I thought I ought to whip something together to show you. Unfortunately, this isn't an original idea, it is the gift card holder the my SU mum demonstrated at our training evening. As there are lots and lots of wonderful Xmas blogs out there at the minute, I thought I would change it around a bit and make it into a birthday gift card holder.

Hhhmmmmm now for some reason I ended up using Pear Pizzaz and Real Red - do you think I still have Xmas on my mind??


Sorry the next photo is a little dark


Complete with Matalan card :-)



Card Stock: Pear Pizzaz
Paper: Designer Series paper Pack - In Colour (hostess level 1)
Ink: Real Red
Stamp Sets: Punch Potpourri, Sincere Salutations
Punches:, Scallop Trim Border, Butterfly Extra Large
Ribbon: 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon Real Red

Tomorrow is a Scrappy day with the lovely Jules. I have only known the topic for the layout for over a month - I haven't printed out my photos yet!! Eeek I think I ought to make a move.

Have a fab weekend, will be back very soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Becki
xx

Quick Update

Hi there, a quick post tonight (and a late one at that!). Firstly, hope you are all ok and keeping warm. It's getting colder by the day.

A busy weekend it has been and a few busy days ahead, so apologies for the pending lack of posts.

Yesterday was spent out in Lincolnshire and a visit to RAF Donna Nook. Donna Nook is an area on the Lincs coast where 38% of the worlds population of grey seals come in to give birth and now is the perfect time to go visit. I was totally amazed - we were in touching distance of these beautiful and fascinating creatures. Unfortunately it was a last minute decision to go and didn't take the camera :( I do have pics on my phone, so when I work out how to upload them I will.

Today was full day at work, then hair appointment and as you ladies know that can take a couple of hours! Also an SU delivery arrived today, so I was assembling stamps whilst hair was cooking in foil. My lovely hairdresser Michelle has now got the stamping bug too!

I just love getting deliveries and today was exciting as it was the contents for my next class. I have put a little pressure on myself to come up with a totally original class. Fingers crossed it will all come out ok.

Tomorrow is another full day at work, then a late appointment at the hospital for May's CT scan. We are hoping that will have some answers once the results are back.

Wednesday again a full work day (this working malarky is getting in the way of card making), but then I have a couple of ladies coming round to my house for the Xmas card class that I did last Saturday - really looking forward to spending time crafting with them.

Gosh the week will be nearly over!

I am hoping to be back very very soon with some posts that actually contain cards!!

Thanks for stopping by and do come back soon.

Becki
xx

Artistic Christmas

Afternoon everyone, how are you?

I have had a couple of hours out shopping this afternoon with my sister and Leanne. My sister is an avid cross stitcher and needed a few new threads. I haven't picked up my cross stitch in years and it is shame as I have a beautiful one on the go. I might get round to finish it one day. Anyway we had a trip out to Hobbycraft at Meadowhall and bumped into Caroline and Sylvia - hi ladies :-)

After Hobbycraft we popped into Toys R Us. Of course Leanne has now added the entire store onto her Xmas list! I have finally bought my first Christmas present - I really must make a good start otherwise it will be Xmas Eve before I know it.

I have rambled on enough, so on to today's card. I have been on YouTube again!! I have seen Fish from the Ornament Punch and a Vase from the same punch courtesy of the lovely Julie, now I have seen Strawberries using the Delightful Decorations set and the Ornament punch.

But what really caught my eye today is the following card. I believe the lady is Stamp with Tammi who demonstrated this one. I have adapted it a little, but the principles are the same.


I have decorated inisde the card too - I know Vicky will appreciate this :-)




Card Stock: Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
(plus a brushed gold and brushed silver from my stash)
Ink: Versamark and my own silver ink pad
Stamp Set: Artistic Etchings and Delightful Decorations

The bauble itself can be punched out with 1 3/4" circle punch, I didn't have this so used the next best thing the old cuttlebug. The embossing powders are again from my own stash.

I am constantly amazed by the creative talent out there. Who would have ever thought of this stamp set being used for Xmas? Or an ornament punch for a fish??

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Becki
xx

Girly Artistic Etchings

Evening everyone. How are you doing? It's extremely windy, and rainy, out there tonight. Hope you have everything fastened down outside, I think it's going to be a rough night.

Thursday evenings are spent with the lovely crafty ladies at Hexthorpe, where we create our own projects in good company. My son has an invite to a friend's 18th birthday party later this month and needs a card, so this was my project. The first card was inspired by the SU catalogue, and I was pleased with it, but then I had another idea.



GW are the birthday girl's initials (but you had probably worked that out anyway!)


Card Stock: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Pretty In Pink
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso
Stamp Set: Artistic Etchings, Schoolbook Serif Alphabet
Ribbon: Whisper White & Pink in Pink Satin 5/8"
Paper: Brights Designer Paper Series
Adhesive Flat Back Rhinestones

I hope the birthday girl likes it - my son does, so that's a good start :-)

That's all for tonight, keep safe and warm.

Thanks for stopping by.

Becki
xx