Money Making!

Again, today, I've been sorting through dies and embossing folders that I know I am never going to use and listing them on Crafty Sellers Facebook page.
It's much better than eBay etc as there's no fees to pay and all the members are crafters in one way or another so you're items are highly likely to sell.
I've parcelled 10 items today to post tomorrow and made a good bit of money to buy things that I will use!
I'm usually a bit of hoarder when it comes to my craft stuff and I really struggle to get rid of things "just in case" although I've quite enjoyed "the sort" so far, well apart from running up and down stairs to find boxes and bags to post the items in!

Another bit of moneymaking, I don't know if you remember the book journal I made last year? Well, it was a Christmas gift for my sister and she has asked me to make one for each of the other three members of her book club.

And a Bit

Just got around to finishing the other bit of "a bit" I started on Saturday at the crop.

Busy sorting and selling again today so not much time for crafting.

So here's the "a bit" and the "other bit" put together and a quick 80th card for a Dick Barton fan!

Fundraising!

Do you know when somebody wants to tell you or ask you something. Like when I say "Daaaaaad" he know I want something!
Well, I had that feeling yesterday when I returned home from the crop. I knew DD wanted to tell or ask me something. She had something to show me!

I went up to her bedroom where she put on a pair of glasses and "pitched" to me about the reasons why she should go to South Africa on a school trip next year. The trip is approx £1400 for a week! Her pitch was cleverly done (I didn't tell her I had already read all about it on the school website), she and BFF have been, once again, conniving and planning how to get around their parents. They've come up with fundraising ideas of a bake sale, lemonade stand and car wash.

So today I've finally been sorting out the shed and sold a great deal of her garden games etc. It prompted her to sort out cupboards to sell things she's been hoarding and although far from being anywhere near to her target, she's made a start.

We haven't even told her she can go yet!

A Cr(o/a)p Day

Today has stirred every emotion possible.
Happy, sad, angry, annoyed, worried, scared and the list goes on....
Without going into detail I wish you all my love and hope things turn out for the best.

A great day at the monthly crop with great people and great cakes.

I managed nearly 3 layouts today which is better than last month. One person, who shall remain anonymous, didn't even finish one layout!

A Bit of PINsperation...

 Behind again with my cardmaking for my sister, I need some quick inspiartion for a few cards.

I find that PINTEREST is always a good place to start...

She asked for a high heeled shoe card and I have plenty of digi images for those. So with a bit of inspiration from HERE, my first card was made.

The inspiration for this card came from HERE as she'd asked for a "normal" anniversary card...

And a flower card...

Bagaholic!

That should probably be my nickname!

I absolutely adore bags and own (and hide) quite a few of them.

My latest addition is a wonderful creation from susibee.

I saw this on her blog HERE and wondering if she would like to sell me one, posted a comment to that effect.

I was delighted when this very creative lady contacted me to say she would indeed make me one!

Tuesday morning came and a little parcel arrived all wrapped up with a gorgeous little card.

I absolutely adore my new bag and will wear it with pride.

Thank you Susi !!!

Inspired by Spring

You may have just stumbled upon me, be a regular reader or be on the CKCB April Blog Hop.
If you have missed the start of the hop please click HERE so you don't miss out!
So hopefully you will have hopped from

 Leslie's
blog post and I hope I can provide you with some further inspiration.

The Counterfeit Kit Challenge this month was to be inspired by this beautiful picture of Spring.

At the time of the CKCB post, we weren't having much of a Spring  but I can happily report that the UK weather is improving.

Inspired by the road and the colours, here's the story and the layout that emerged from it.

We were on a jet boat trip headed up river on a scorching hot day. 

The river was very windy and the pilot would anchor on his brakes to create a huge splash over the boat to cool us down. 360 degree spins in close proximity to rocks were also a trick of his.

On the way back down, the pilot slowed to avoid splashing a family at the riverside.

Great cheers rang out as it became apparent that "Granny" was standing on the boat ramp, knickers down, peeing into the river!!!

So, can you see where my inspiration came from?

Leave me a comment and let me know before hopping over to Rebecca's blog for more.

Thank you for stopping by, until next time...

(Here's the full list just in case you get lost)

 CKCB              http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/
Lisa H     http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com
 Leslie             http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/

Lesley     http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk/

Rebecca     http://howiburb.blogspot.com/

Lisa E             http://lisae-design.blogspot.com

Candace     http://usthreebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

Julie             http://spendlesscraftmore.blogspot.com.au

Jennifer     www.jennifergracecreates.com

Jemma     http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk/

Card Catch-Up & Giveaway

Ok, so it's not my giveaway but well worth a look.

Jennifer Grace has a giveaway on her blog to promote her "Onward and Upwards" event.
Last year's event was fantastic with great ideas, giveaways and tutorials so you'd be daft to miss this year's!!

Onto my cards...

Every year, my sister asks me to make all her cards.

She gives me a list and the event then nearer the time, suggestions of colours and theme.

Occasionally, the list will be added to...

I was very up to date with my card making but,

once again, I've left it until the last minute to start on the May list.

Here are a few I made yesterday...

 Now to wait for a theme for the next lot....

My First Ever Challenge!!!!

Sometime back in 2012 I put my hand up to volunteer to set the weekly challenge on UKS.

"How easy can that be?" I thought.

I've never set a challenge before so pretty please go easy on me!

I came up with a few ideas, ummed and ahhhed then finally settled on the following...

Here is my layout...

As I'm not in a team, a couple of good friends offered to help out with their very own takes on my challenge (thank you Ally & Tracie - full marks to you both!!!)

Ally

Tracie

Punky, Paper, PJ Day

Don't you just love a good PJ day?

In our house, DD and I have them as often as we can.

OK, lazy to some, but we love them!

I've wanted to get around to Punky Scraps challenge for over a week now. Finally getting around to it today, I realised I'd used the 12x12 that I'd set aside on another layout!

The challenge is to use the sketch for inspiration

AND

use a lot of yellow and some feathers (or other eastery stuff)

well I have no feathers so I've used the wrapping from an Easter egg and yes, LOTS of yellow.

I've stamped into acrylic paint and "blasted" some liquid pearls.

 

 

 

The file folder opens to

 reveal hidden journalling.

 

 

Why not hop over to Punky Scraps and have a go...

Every Little Helps

Yesterday before we went to the Drive In, I called in on a fellow UKSer who had posted on the "charities" board. Her son, Oliver, has a very rare condition called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva which basically means his muscles turn into a bonelike state which in turn causes a frozen body.

Oliver's Mum, Helen and her family have started a charity

Friends of Oliver
(if you've got a minute pop over to their site and see if you can help)

to hopefully find a cure for this disabling condition.

In a few weeks time, Helen and her family are holding an event to raise funds to help find a cure.

I took a few cards along for her to sell (hopefully)

A few hours in the garden today making an enclosure for Claus, our tortoise, followed by a little scrapping after seeing the Counterfeit Kit Sketchy Challenge

I'm sure the girls over at CKCB look at my kit to make sure I've got the right items in it before setting the challenges! It seems my kits always fall in with the challenges!

  Liz Qualman's Little Yellow Bicycle February Sketch

 I didn't need to add anything to my kit for this page and I love how it's turned out

A Bit of Grease

What a cool way to spend an evening.

DD and I are currently watching Grease at the Drive-In, let's hope we don't get stranded!

and they all lived happily ever after :)