Madcap Manor

This is what I've been doing the last few days, in between listening to the cricket as we RETAINED THE ASHES! It's been so exciting! The stamp is Hero Arts, and it's a delight to colour! I've been practising my shading, which I hope makes the flowers look 3D without the need to decoupage. The papers are scraps, mostly Bearly Mine Designs which are gorgeous! I requested the Bearly Mine Vintage papers last Wednesday evening, got the invoice, paid and downloaded within an hour! Fantastic service, especially just before Christmas! You might spy 2 new Martha Stewart punches, the butterfly border and the lattice one, which my DH got me for Christmas! My horrid cold has almost gone, I'm carding again, at last, and everything (except the foggy weather) is rosy! I hope you all had a great Christmas, and I wish you lots of crafting fun in 2011! Now I'm off to make a cuppa and listen to the highlights of yesterday'sVICTORY again! Obssessed? Moi? Thanks for looking! lu...

Yes, I have the lurgy. I'm so sorry I haven't been online recently, but I've been in bed, mainlining Lemsip. I hope you all have a wonderful, warm Christmas and an exciting New Year. This year, discovering your wonderful blogs and amzing creations, has been very special. THANK YOU!!!!! with love, Mags xxxxx

Ahahahahaha! I have finally managed to get this candy pic on my sidebar! I am not very good at this computer-ma-bob lark, you know! The amazing nanaseaside who has a fabulous blog and who makes the most amazing cards, is celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary with this amazing 'love' candy. It's so fantastic in these days that anyone can reach a Ruby Wedding Anniversary! And this lady is also very inspiring - if you haven't seen her blog, go over and have a browse, I guarantee you'll be inspired! luv, Mags x

I'm sorry I've been such a bad blogger recently! Last weekend my son visited from Shrewsbury and we celebrated his 21st birthday, (and to be honest on Monday I was a wee bit hungover, shame!) then this week my sister asked me to stay with her in Oxford - and she has no Internet! I hope to be back with a proper post tomorrow, since I have not been idle! (oo, I hope you can feel the excitement lolz!!!) much luv, Mags x

I love these Pollycraft 'Critters and Cogs' digis! This little chappie is really thrilled with his birthday cake! I'm entering the Pollycraft Monday Challenge whose requirement is to use chipboard. I used 3 sparkly stars that came free with a mag. The sketch is Friday Sketchers . Papers are from my scraps box: the black background was also from a mag, but I can't recall who made the others, since the label's gone! I glittered round the image and along the strips of dp. To mat the image I drew round the outside of the die that I used to cut the image and cut it out. I hope you're not having a lot of trouble with snow and ice. S-E Herts has only seen a quarter inch of snow, but the wind is just bitter! Brrrr! Stay warm! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers Azure, Royal Blue, Satin, Caramel, Cocoa, Shale, Cool Grey 2, Gold, Pearl Blue, Powder Blue, Lipstick Red.

I've liked Squiggle Stamps for a while, but only yesterday did I realise that they do digistamps as well as rubba! So here's a card for their November challenge, Squiggles and Sparkle. Well, Miss Evie has stickles on her roses, and stickled swirls around her, and all the dp (K and Co) has been stickled, and the Wild Orchid flowers have been spritzed with glimmer mist, as have the punched leaves. Unfortunately this pic is pants (best of a very bad lot.) The colours are brighter, and the stickles and glimmer mist really gleam! Thanks for looking! luv, Mags x recipe: Promarkers Blush, Dusky Pink, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Pastel Pink, Cocktail Pink, Antique Pink, Denim Blue, Aegean MS doily punch

At the Toddler Club where I work we are privileged to be visited by Santa at our Christmas Party, and this card is for him! Trad colours for a trad Santa! The paper is Dovecraft 'Tis the Season. The sentiment is Lili of the Valley - I love the script! All the borders have been stickled with Waterfall glitter. I matted everything twice, on red card and then green for a bit of variety, and raised Santa on sticky fixers. Now I must tidy my desk (again!) It's impossible to be creative and tidy at the same time, I find! Have a good evening, and thanks for looking! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers: Lipstick Red, Poppy, Blush, Gold, Leaf Green, Emerald, Cocktail Pink, Azure, Satin

This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge is 'Monochromatic Christmas. Isn't this Traditional Santa gorgeous?! It was love at first sight when I saw him on The Glitter Pot website. I thought I'd give him a vintage look for his first outing, and I'm really chuffed that he came out so well! IRL the browns are a bit darker, he's not really this faded! And the stickles dotted on his coat and on the star on his walking stick aren't showing too well! I also stickled the snowflake. I used a nice, straightforward sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday which gives the image the main emphasis. Ok, time to see to tea. I can recommend Salmon smeared with pest and baked in foil, it really is yummy! Stay warm this evening! Thanks for looking luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers Tan, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Putty, Ivory Papers: Papermania Vintage Christmas Copper stickles Marianne snowflake die Brown card and ribbon from stash

The lovely Melly has blog candy! Do go and have a look at her blog, she makes some lovely stuff! luv, Mags x

I do like this image of the Holy Family. It's by Francoise Read for Woodware - I have all 3 of her books on stamping, she has a great gift for explaining techniques. Promarkers again: Tan, Cinnamon, Powder Blue, Azure, Leaf Green and Emerald. The halos have been glittered. I need to cover the insides with dp to hide the Promarker bleeding, then I'll have finished all my generalised cards for family and friends! I expect there will be one or two more Chrimbo cards in the next few weeks, but now I can make non-Christmas cards without feeling guilty! The partridge casserole was delish, btw - I made it like a coq au vin and it worked really well! I love it when a recipe comes together!!! Thanks for looking, and have a good weekend. luv, Mags x

No, S-E Herts hasn't yet had any snow but I have made another batch of Christmas cards! This one is a Hero Arts stamp, isn't it lovely? I stamped it on the card (ulp!) and used Promarkers (Leaf Green, Emerald, Gold, Orchid, Pearl Blue, Lipstick Red, Tan, Cocoa). The stars are glittered and the red baubles covered with Liquid Pearls. The insideds have octagons of Christmas paper to cover the bleeding through of the Promarkers, but all the piccies I took were horrible so I deleted them! Gotta go, I'm potroasting two partridges in half a bottle of wine and I need to peel some spuds. Thanks for looking and stay warm! luv, Mags x

I made this earlier today, left it to dry, and I'm almost too late to upload to Friday Sketchers The cute snowbaby is Pink Gem, coloured with Powder Blue, Cocktail Pink, Antique Pink, and Burnt Orange for her nose. The fur is stickled. Papers are DCWV Rose-coloured Christmas (I think, the front's missing) poinsettias are Wild Orchid, rest from stash. Gotta love ya and leave ya! Thanks for looking luv, Mags x

It's another Chrimbo card! This is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge (I've worked out why my links went wrong - I was linking to the page, not the blog. What a prat!) I love this cute cat crowned with holly! So pretty! I glittered the holly leaves and put dots of liquid pearls on the berries. I used a Woodware punch on the corners of the image and mat to give some interest. The holly papers are a Lili of the Valley download. The greens are brighter irl. The horizontal strip is a scrap from stash, edged with a holly border punch, also Woodware. (Can you see a holly theme here?!) The snowflakes are Marianne, cut from silver holographic card from stash. The big one is raised on foam pads, and so is the image. The corner is a sticker (Craft Creations), and so is the ribbon (Papermania) My, it's cold! I'm off to clean the kitchen floor: at least the hot water will keep my hands warm! Thanks for looking. Hope you're all having a good Thursday - not long till the ...

Ironically, one reason I lost last week was because I was producing Christmas cards! I made 14 of them in 3 days - phew! The first is a Woodware stamp, embossed in gold, from the Nativity set by Francoise Read. I used Tan and Burnt Sienna Promarkers. The trusty CB produced embossed white card and the gold holographic frame. White ribbon from Hobby craft, stickles on the halo and edging all the papers. The next has the same background, as you can see, but with a poinsettia pot (which I've had for ages and it's lost its packaging so I can't say who made it.) Promarkers are Tan, Burnt Sienna, Lipstick Red and Crimson, and Emerald for the leaves. There are stickles here and there, too! The snowflakes are Marianne, punched from silver holographic card. I reckon I only need to make another 12 cards and I'm done! Then my main problem will be finding a pressie for my old man. If mens' cards are tough to make, finding mens' presents is even worse! Thanks for looking, and...

I was very wicked last month and indulged in some new stamps from The Glitter Pot . So my trusty breadmaker and my Big Pot For Soup are working overtime - but soup is cheap, healthy and (though I say it as shouldn't) delicious, so it's a win-win situation! Especially on a grey, chilly day in S-E Hertfordshire! Anyway, I made this for my friend who had the twins on Monday, because she's home but the babies are still being monitored in hospital. It's hard for her. I think she'll like the card - she likes History, and I get a mediaeval vibe from the image, as though the flowers have been scattered on an old tiled floor. Romantic, or what? I stamped on the card itself (gosh that's scary!) and used Blue Pearl and Orchid in patches, blended together to give a soft, worn look. The flowers are all 3-D, I used Poppy and Crimson, Gold, Antique Pink and Amethyst Promarkers for them. There's a topaz gem in the middle of the poppy. The dots on the background (which can o...

This pretty sketch is from Sketch Saturday and I'm sure I'll use it again. The Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week is a lovely one - All My Favourite Things. Where do I begin? I love PB, especially the cute hedgies (these are from the 'Bundle of Joy' set), and I love my Promarkers, and I loved my local craft shop (where the green gingham Craft Creations paper came from) until it closed, and I love punches, especially Martha Stewart, and I love Wild Orchid crafts flowers and I love stickles!! Most of all, I love my dear friend Nic, who had twins on Monday night, so this card is for her! Hubby has given up the footy in disgust and now is playing his computer game! Thanks for looking, and I hope you're having a better evening than our footy team!! luv, Mags x PS I got the idea for the MS lace corners from the inspiring Coops I hope you don't mind, hun! Promarkers: Vanilla, Caramel, Cocoa, Ivory, Pastel Pink, Azure. The sentiment is a sticker. Papers from st...

A Christmas card for one of my Sunday School kids, who lurves pink! The image is a Lil' Lolita from Tickled Pink Stamps - I love these quirky stamps! The sketch is this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge . I used Christmas papers from my stash (the pad is missing its front so I don't know the make!) which included the sentiment. The thin white ribbon is velvet, from Hobbycraft. I stickled her sash and bows and stuck purple gems to the middles of the snowflakes for a bit of bling. I remembered to choose the paper before colouring and matched the pink and purple snowflakes. I'm learning the tricks of the trade - slowly! My hubby is watching the footy - no, he's gone to the kitchen for a can of lager, since France are 1-0 up! I might be back with another card soon, if I can get a reasonable picture. Thanks for looking! luv, Mags Promarkers: Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink, Azure; Cinnamon, Cocoa; Cocktail Pink, Antique Pink; Orchid, Amethyst.

The current challenge at Bugaboo's Catch the Bug Challenge is to make a card using their sketch for World Kindness Day. No, I hadn't heard of it, either! The project has to be for someone as a kindness. This card is for my friend, who will appreciate the sentiment. Our vicar left in March, and she has been one of the people who have kept us going. Her sense of humour, like mine, is somewhat warped! This card is an encouragement and a thank you, I suppose! It's a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps coloured with Promarkers (once again I didn't list the colours! What a prat!) The papers are Basic Grey and the gems are from stash. I glittered round the sentiments and image with stickles. My friend loved the card, which is most gratifying! Hasn't it been cold today? I'm going to make a cup of chocolate and visit blogs, then I think it'll be time for bed, with a nice hot water bottle! Thanks for looking, and stay warm! luv, Mags x

I haven't been online in days, and I'm getting withdrawal symptoms! How sad is that? I've been doing Churchly things as we begin to prepare for Christingle and the Nativity Play. We're starting early this year, but of course the last few days will be a total rush as usual! Anyway, to the card! I meant to enter this into last week's PBSC, but I missed the boat. Too bad! Joey will recognise the stamp and papers because they're from the blog candy I won! The image is Penny Black, the papers are 'Paisley Road', the flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts. I didn't list the Promarkers, 'cos I just knew I'd remember 'em. Nope. It's terrible having a middle-aged memory, sometimes I even forget my children's names!! Now, I know that gorgeous armful of flowers are meant to be daffs, but I coloured them pink and put blobs of glitter glue to cover the trumpets, and I think it doesn't look too bad. I also used my Woodware trimmer with a wavy-edg...

Evening, all! I hope those of you going to a Bonfire Party have dry weather. I'm watching from my window as my neighbours send up rockets and whizz-bangs! On to the card: This week's Anyone for Anya Challenge is a lovely sketch. I had to shift the embellies, because my big snowflake wouldn't fit, so I hope this counts. If not, well, I had fun! I cut out Anya and mounted her on foam pads, and also the big snowflake. The image and sentiment are from the Xmas Sweeties set which I got from Dies to Die For here . Isn't she a sweetie? So happy! I glittered the trim on her hood and dress, and I glittered the snowflakes, and I stickled all round the papers. I also glittered my cutting mat, my trousers, and my hair. All now need a clean! That's what I'm off to do now before settling down in front of Have I Got News For You with a glass of vino. Thanks for looking, and have a good evening! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers: Blush, Dusky Rose, Pastel Pink; Tulip Yellow, Gol...

Over on the Pollycraft Monday Challenge the theme is 'It's Chill Time.' So here's a chilly, snowy card with the sweetest Penguins, which were a freebie. I'm getting into digi images slowly, though it's still easier for me to use rubber rather than faffing around trying to work out what to do on the computer!! I'm also entering Simon Says Challenge as this week they want white cards, apart from the image. Well, I've seen some fabulosus white cards recently, they look so delicate and sophisticate, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I used 3 CB folders, ribbon, and 2 Marianne snowflakes heavily glittered (I have interesting patches of glitter on my jeans, too.) I also randomly glittered the embossed papers, and the gem in the middle of the snowflakes is actually a clear diamond, not yellow. I edged everything with a silver Versacolor pad and used a MS punch on one edge. Thanks for looking and have a good evening! ETA: why are my links not working? I ...

Have any of you been to Glastonbury? I've only seen pictures on the telly, and I'm jolly glad! Camping in the rain and mud was something I did as a kid (wherever my family camped the rain always followed us) Been there, done that. This little chappie, though, is on stage at Glastonbury! There's brown mud, green grass (the growing kind, you naughty people, not the wacky kind!) and blue rain. But there are star-shaped floodlights picking him out, and he's about to be famous! Ok, ok, enough storytelling! This cute chap is a Sugar Nellie and the sketch (which does look a wee bit like a stage, you gotta admit!) is this week's Sugar Bowl Challenge with the option of 'One For The Boys.' It came along at the right moment, because my daughter wants a card to send to a friend, and the sketch was pretty inspiring! ok, time to see if the stew's cooked. Have a good evening, and thanks for looking! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink; Cocoa,...

I won! It's fantastic! I was feeling quite low yesterday (hectic weekend organising a children's party at Church on Sunday evening and then Microsoft Word decided I wanted re-a-l-l-y w-i-d-e margins for my documents so that there were only 2 words to a line and it took ages to go through and correct everything.) So this lovely surprise was very welcome indeed! If you haven't seen Joey's blog hop over, she's an inspiration! Have a good day, all! luv, Mags x

Here's a birthday card for a friend of my daughter! The dancing girl is Penny Black. She's one of the first stamps I bought, must be 3 years ago now, when I was just starting. The Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week is for zig-zags. Can you see the zig-zag pattern on the girlie's top and trousers? Cute, eh? The bp, which is only just visible, is also zig-zaggy, and came from an old mag, and of course I've also used the MS zig zag punch on the blue card (from stash). I think that's enough zig-zags! I'm also entering this into the Oldie But A Goodie challenge, which wants butterflies. I love the MS butterfly punch! I've stamped them from the pink matting card, ang stickled all over, then curled up the wings for dimension. You can just see the small Retro flowers that they're sitting on. The great sketch is Sunday Sketch and Stamp which I am just in time for! The one new item I used is the nestie, isn't it pretty? I distressed the edges with Spu...

Another thank you card for a colleague of my olde manne (mediaeval spelling because my kids think we're as old as Chaucer.) I made this last week for the LotV challenge, but I left it a bit late and then a friend came for tea so I missed the deadline, chiz. I haven't got many of the details because I had a Big Tidy-Up today and I must have chucked the details. The papers are from a mag, the fairy's been coloured following the great video by Laila on Youtube, and the flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts. Yes, I have surrendered and bought some of their gorgeous, gorgeous flowers! The sentiment is Penny Black (I love this font, so elegant.) So where's the history, you ask? Well, I've been watching Michael Woods' history series based on the village of Kibworth, which is coming to an end but still available online on iPlayer. Brilliant, brilliant series! I have just learned that a friend of my daughter was a)a Norman Knight in a re-enactment in an early episode; and b)met...

My Dad will be 91 on Saturday! His sight isn't too good, so I've gone for texture. The PB candles are gold-embossed and coloured in with Promarkers - Blue Pearl, Orchid and I can't remember the third! There's a mat of purple mulberry paper, and gold card edged with one of my fave MS punches. Fab'n'Funky Challenges has a 'Clean and Simple' Challenge, so I'm entering this card. The photo is a bit too pale, the background card is Deep Purple though it looks more blue here. Sorry I haven't been around recently, the Old Man and I went to visit our son, who lives with his girlfriend in a lovely village halfway between Shrewsbury and Oswestry. We were lucky with the weather, for once! Shropshire is so, so beautiful, especially with the leaves turning and the Welsh Mountains on the horizon. Coming home we got stuck in 4 traffic jams! It hosed down with rain, too. I was bawling my eyes out (my baby boy! All grown up!) as you do. I did it when he went to...

I loved making this card! The butterfly is Hero Arts and I've had it for ages, it looks as if it's made of embroidery and lace, so I coloured it very lightly. It demanded the MS lace doily punch!! Promarkers are: Blue Pearl, Lush Green and Pastel Pink. I stamped and coloured twice, then cut out one and decoupaged it, leaving the wings free, which I curled upwards. I stickled the edges of the wings and the peacock-feather spots. The sketch is from this month's CLP Challenge . The papers are MME, a freebie with a magazine, and I love them! I wish they'd come out brighter, but I had to take the picture in artificial light. That's my excuse anyway! The text is PB, the flowers are Prima, the little brads and olive green paper are from stash. I'm going to pour myself a glass of vino and watch Inter Milan v Spurs! Thanks for looking, and have a good evening. (Come on you Spu-urs!) luv, Mags x ETA: Oh dear. 8 mins played, 1 goal down, goalie sent off. Goodbye, you Spu-...

Here's a second birthday card I made for another of my Sunday School kids, whose birthday is this week. It's for Penny Black Saturday Challenge which this week has a great sketch! It's one of those sketches that can be stretched for an A6 card, and it also shows off this yummy paper (Basic Grey 'Origins.' The sentiment is supposed to read 'Hoppy Birthday' but my enthusiastic springing lines under the O make it look like an I, chiz! Isn't the frog cute? He looks so happy jumping in the water! I used my Woodware corner punch on opposite corners of the image and sentiment, and stickled them. The ribbon is Hobbycrafts. Thanks for looking, and have a good evening. It's nearly halfway to the weekend! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers Lush Green, Leaf Green, Vanilla Sentiment stamped with Woodware oriental alphabet

Here's a card I made for one of my Sunday School kids. She has just turned eleven - where does the time go??? The image is The Greeting Farm Hope and Grace - I snaffled the last one at Dies to Dies For mwahaha! I can't remember where I got the sketch, which is rather a striking one, I think. All the pink and lilac papers are from stash. I used Nesties for the circle and punches for the squares, and stickled all the frames. I also stickled the MS butterflies! I'm entering this for Cute Card Thursday I managed to throw out the list of Promarkers used - what a plonker, eh? Hope you're all having a good day - it's cold in Herts, but the sun is out, huzza! Thanks for looking luv, Mags x

Look, it's another Christmas card! Well, I do love these cute Penny Black Christmas Critters ! I'm entering the Penny Black Saturday Challenge with this. 'But the PB challenge is to use more than one PB stamp,' I hear you cry! 'Where oh where is the second one?' It's the music background! It's from the Clearly in Love set. I stamped it several times in a row, embossed it in black, and sponged with Tea Dye and Antique Linen to age it. I'm ridiculously pleased with how it looks! I went round the image with Broken China Distress Ink, brushing rather than distressing to give a rough-and-ready frame to the little mice. The sketch is a lovely one from Friday Sketchers , nice and simple and ideal for the man I've made it for, who sings in our Church choir. The bp is from stash - might be Papermania - and has the words of various carols and Christmas songs printed on it, though it's not awfully clear. I used Promarkers (surprise!) and stickles, st...

Look what Christine gave me! Isn't that kind? I should have posted it some days ago, but I've not had much time online recently - sorry, hon! Isn't it annoying how life gets in the way of blogging??! I'm meant to pass it on to inspirational blogs - well, all of you are inspirational and I love looking at your wonderful creations!! luv, Mags x

Joey has some fab candy here If you don't know her blog, do hop over thaere and take a look. I really like her creations. luv, Mags x ETA the link seems to be b*ggered so here's another: here Hope this works! Where are my children when I need to do complicated things on the computer??!!

Morning, all! Well, at last there's a little bit of sunshine out there, though it's co-o-old! I refuse to put the heating on until the end of October: luckily I have some thick woolly socks to keep my tiny toes toasty-warm! Might have to dig out the thermal undies soon, too! This looks like a simple, quick card for The Penny Black Saturday Challenge doesn't it? You would not believe how long it took me! First I went for a hexagon, and produced weird shapes unknown to geometry. Aha! Try an octogon, Mags, all you need do is slice off the corners, thought I. HAH! I'd failed to consider that all 8 sides have to be the same length, and the angles have to be just right, too. I never was much good at Maths. I managed, eventually! Anyhoo, the card is going to a colleague of my hubby's, who has a birthday next week. I like making cards in general, but making one specially for a particular person gives it an added zing. Ok, have a good day in the sunshine and thanks for look...

Just a quick post before I zoom off to the Toddler Group! It's another grey, damp day, but seeing the children and their mums having fun always brightens things up! Another faded piccie, I'm afraid. This adorable manga princess is a Sugar Nellie image, and the sketch is from The sugar Bowl Challenge You can just about see the end of the ribbon on the left hand side! Papers are K and Co, from Hobbycraft, where I also got the ribbon. Promarkers are: Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink, Tulip Yellow, Gold, Orchid and Powder Blue. I stickled her dress trimmings and headdress. I'm really pleased with this one! Thanks for looking. ok, gotta go. Have a good day, folks, and keep smiling - the rain has to stop soon!! luv, Mags x

The light was terrible today, and this piccie is rather faded! This is for the ABC Christmas Challenge which this time is 'T is for Tree.' I've used 2 tree papers but the one on the right is covered by the image - oops! These Penny Black hedgies are having such fun! I cut the purple mat with my Woodware Fingerguard trimmer, which comes with various slot-in cutters: this one is Twist. It's meant to show the speed that the sledge is travelling at! Papers are DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas and Christmas Blues - so pretty, and a change from red and green (though I love red and green, too!) The snowflakes are a Marianne die, the gems were a pressie from my daughter, and I've glamour-dusted the snowflakes and the snow and fur on the image. I added the little tree stickers on the sentiment because I thought the card wasn't 'tree-y' enough, but I rather like them! I am so enjoying having my craft room back! Thanks for looking and have a good evening! luv, Mags x Pr...

I love this little chap, he's so happy! I just wish the colours had come out better in the photo: irl they are brighter, and the glitter gleams! I'm entering the Whiff of Joy Challenge which this fortnight is for a thank you card. The sketch is Papertake Weekly which is a great one for showing off pretty papers! The gorgeous glittered papers are from the DCWV 'All Dressed up' stack which I've had for ages, but I've been so reluctant to cut them because they are so glittery and gorgeous! The unglittery stripy piece is from stash, and I'm rather pleased that it matches so well. Matching papers always takes me a long time! I'm sorry I haven't been around lately, but my sister's been staying and since my craft room is also the spare room I haven't been crafting for over a week! Hope you're all keeping well, and thanks for looking luv, Mags x Recipe: King's Jester Charlie by Whiff of Joy Promarkers: Satin, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink, Cinna...

Here's another birthday card for my bro, this time made for my sister to give him. My sister is staying for a week, which means she sleeps in my craft room, so I may be a little quiet until the weekend. I used distress inks for the bunnies in their flowerpots (aren't they sweet? I love this stamp!) The paper is MME 'Bloom and Grow' I also used my Martha Stewart zigzag punch, which is great for men's and boys' cards! I'm entering 3 - no, 4 challenges (Get 'em in while I can, I say!) Penny Black Saturday Challeng has a theme of Indian Summer Looking out of my window (when the rain stopped for a moment) I saw red, yellow and green on the trees, so those are the colours I used. Notice the large summer carrots: The sketch is a lovely one from Sketch Saturday. I really enjoyed working with this one, it all came together like magic! Papertake Weekly has the theme 'Animal Magic.' I remember that tv programme, with dear old Johnny Morris. Finally, the...

This is the card I made for my brother's birthday. He has just finished redecorating their kitchen, so the LotV image is very appropriate! The papers are from my local craft shop (before it closed down) and flowers are from stash. Sentiment is Whiff of Joy. Promarkers are: Vanilla, Honeycomb, Buttercup, Tulip Yellow, Gold; Tan, Caramel; Azure. This next one is for my sister-in-law, whose birthday is 3 days later! Image is CC Designs, papers are MME, rest from stash (I'm getting good at using up stash! Promarkers: Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink, Cocktail Pink, Pastel Green, Mint Green, Tan, Cinnamon, Cocoa. I stickled the roses and put Glossy Accents on the shoes. It's bedtime, so I'll say goodnight now. Thanks for looking! luv, Mags x

Apparently there's a Theme Park called 'Mayhem Manor' so I have changed the name. Though 'madcap' always makes me think of '5th Form at St Clare's' or 'The Chalet School' where there's always one girl described as 'Madcap!

Just in time for this challenge which ends at 6pm today! I turned the sketch sideways to allow for the lovely image. This little baking bear is so sweet! I've made this for my daughter, who makes wicked cupcakes! Her boyfriend has broken up with her, poor lamb, so she's been staying with friends in Birmingham for a couple of days. She has amazing friends! Everything is from stash. I stickled the edges of the papers and image: I used a nestie for the image to give a bit of texture. I'm expecting a friend for tea, so I must love you and leave you! Hope your day is a sunny one! Thanks for looking luv, Mags x Promarkers: Vanilla, Honeycomb; Pastel Blue; Ivory; Ice Grey 2; Tan, Cocoa

Here's another lil' cutie from the Rollcal set by The Greeting Farm via Dies to Die For The oval card is distressed with Antique Linen and stickled, and there are more stickles on the star I'm entering this into the current Create4fun Challenge which is another colour challenge, this time red, white and blue. The blue bp and card are from stash, the spotty red is from the MME 'Quite Contrary' pack that was free with a mag this summer. I used a Martha Stewart doily punch to give a bit of interest. Ribbon is from stash - I am loving the bow-maker, as I'm sure you can tell! Ok, time for bed. Thanks for looking! luv, Mags x Promarkers: Blush. Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink; Vanilla, Tulip Yellow, Gold; Lipstick Red, Azure

This little lad is so sweet! He's from The Greeting Farm, part of a set that I got from Dies to Die For The papers are Nitwits eerie-sistable too . I'm really getting into digital papers, as you can see! I'm going to enter this for the Anyone for Anya challenge which this week is a colour challenge of green, blue and brown. The card candy is Paperchase, from stash, and the brown ribbon for the bow came from a sweater! I always cut those ribbons off so I can recycle them on cards! Thanks for looking! luv, Mags x Promarkers: Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink; Cinnamon, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna; Lush Green, Denim Blue

This is for Pollycraft Monday Challenge where the theme is Autumn Colours. Image is from the Critters and Cogs digi set. Text is The Greeting Farm Papers are Bearly Mine for the orange background and Nitwits for the yellow patterned strip (Harvest Delights too) Promarkers: Vanilla, Honeycomb, Burnt orange. Green card for matting and everything else from stash. Sorry about fly-by post, I have a fish pie in the oven! Thanks for looking luv, Mags x

It has taken me forever to make this card! Every time I settled down to craft this afternoon I was interrupted. The phone. My neighbour (though that was a nice interruption, because we had a cuppa). The postie. The phone. A man selling stuff. The phone. You know what it's like! Some days you just can't start making a card! I persevered! I ordered pizza! This is the result. The lovely sketch is by Dawny P at Just Magnolia Challenge 72 Papers and gems are from stash (I'm trying very hard to use up my stash before it takes over the house!) I used Promarkers, and glittered Tilda's lace and the middle of the flowers in her hair. The sentiment is PB. I cut out the image (she is sooo cute!) and raised her on foam pads for some dimension. Thanks for looking! Night night! luv, Mags x Promarkers: Vanilla, Tulip Yellow, Gold, Mint Green, Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink, Orchid, Powder blue, Amethyst

I love this sweet bear, talking to a little bird in a field full of summer flowers! The stamp is Stampavie and I found it at Quixotic Paperie I only wish the colours had come out a bit brighter in my photo! The challenge for this week's Just Cute Bears is a photo of a peacock: Isn't that gorgeous! I picked out the blues, greens, dark pink and brown colours, and the texture of the tendrilly bits on the tail feathers. Papers are: Lilac mottled card from stash; Basic Grey Porcelain; DCWV (I think - it was loose in my paper drawer); and a scrap from a magazine. Sentiment is Penny Black. Apart from stickles on the image I left off any embellies: I wanted the papers to be clear, and also the A6 card is a bit small for anything elaborate! It's also for Early Birds, the Toddler Group where I work, and I don't want a little sweetie to eat something she shouldn't! Thanks for looking! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers: Vanilla, Honeycomb; Duck Egg, Cocktail Pink, Antique Pink, ...

My Old Man asked me to make a card for a colleague who's going on maternity leave. So I went straight to Bugaboo Stamps digi pregnancy set. This pregnant lady is called JJ - isn't she great? I love her glasses! The sentiment is from the same set! I wish my photography skills were better, this card has come out very faded! BP is from Bearly Mine Designs . Flowers are from stash (the Floradoodles ones by Petaloo already have gems on - very nice!), the butterflies are Martha Stewart's Monarch punch, leaves are a Woodware punch I coloured JJ with Promarkers (I've lost the details of which ones!!), distressed with Spun Sugar, and stickled. There's more stickling on the sentiment frame, which is a scrap of card from my scraps box. Does anyone else have a scraps box? I'm sure you do! Mine is a wooden box that originally contained 2 bottles of wine, which was a pressie to my hubby. He was about to chuck it out when I rescued it! I'm glad to say the recipient loved ...

This is for two dear friends at Church, who have just got engaged! This cute Lili of the Valley image is just right for them! The frame is a Marianne's die and this is the first time I've used it. I like the emphasis it gives to the Bunnies, though the A6 base card means there's very little of the bp (a scrap from stash) on show. I've finally got one of those bow-making gadgets which I used for the yellow double bow. All the embellies came from my local Craft shop before it closed down *sob*. The flowers in the top left are dark blue irl, but seem to have photographed as black. I've glittered the flowers and punched branches. Hope you're all having a good weekend! I was up late last night, reading the new book by Sherwood Smith, one of my fave authors, and I'm sitting here yawning sleepily and blinking at the evening sunshine! Thanks for looking. luv, Mags x Promarkers: Ice Grey 2, Blossom, Amethyst, Gold, Lush Green, Antique Pink

What a grey, muggy day it is today! While I was making this card for my brother I was imagining the wind whooshing past this gorgeous Teddy in his car and feeling quite envious! He is from Lili of the Valley and I coloured him with Promarkers. There's a new Tutorial Video here on colouring Deckchair Bear which is very clear and straightforward. The papers came from Creative Cardmaking's Summer Special Magazine, and I really like them! The sentiment is from The Greeting Farm at Dies to Die For I'm entering this card into LotV Thursday Challenge which is 'One For The Boys.' The Sketch is from Create4fun Challenge . Oo, the sun's just come out! I shall hang out the washing - I don't like having wet clothes draped over clotheshorses, but this summer there's been little choice! Thanks for looking, people! luv, Mags x Recipe: Promarkers Vanilla, Honeycomb, Caramel, Lush Green, Pine, Ice Grey 2. Glossy Accents on the goggles and windscreen

I'm sorry I've been missing this past fortnight, but things have been hectic recently! First there was the annual Holiday Club at Church: the theme was Pirates, and the Church was decorated with skull-and-crossbones banners, balloons and bunting! The children all shouted 'ARR-men!' at the end of prayers, in a Pirate voice. It was great fun, but quite knackering, so afterwards I went to Derby to stay with my Dad. Now, normally my brother, who lives nearby, kindly gives me a lift to the station when I go home. This time my Sister-in-law was using the car, so I got a lift on their tandem! My SiL has a custom-built saddle (very swish!) but her behind is definitely slimmer than mine, and I woke the next morning with a numb bum!! I've been busy making thank you cards for the organisers of the Holiday Club, using Pirate Edwin and Tilda. Here's Edwin: The paper is from The Creative Cottage which I got from Pollycraft And here's Tilda: Her background paper is from a...