Thanks Nicki

It was a nice surprise to receive this award from Nicki today - I haven't come across her blog before, so have been enjoying looking at her lovely cards.
It made me realise that I have been a really anti-social craft blogger for quite some time - I couldn't think of people to pass the award on to even, except 2 friends that I made when I was a more committed craft blogger! (see below). I changed my old craft blog ('Madness at the Malting') into our family blog, when I felt that crafting was taking over a bit, and wanted to re-prioritize things. I started this blog because I still love making, but I suppose I kind of forgot that there are so many great bloggers to mix with!

1. Copy this award to your blog

2. Link to the person who gave you this award

3. Identify 7 interesting facts about yourself

4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass this award on to

5. Link to their blogs

6. Leave them a comment to let them know about this award

OK, these are the friends I would like to pass the award to: Pesc and Mariska - lovely people and great crafters!

I nearly forgot my 7 interesting things! Just read my other blog and see if you come across 7 things interesting enough. (Sorry - I have a cold right now, and it hurts to think!)

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

I started on Christmas cards at last! I stitched a felt gingerbread man together, and filled

it with wadding to make a Christmas ornament that can be removed as a little gift (It is just stuck on lightly with a couple of glue dots). The card layout is based on the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch.

PP: DCWV Christmas stack

Scallop edge cut with Sizzix scalloped card die

Cuttlebug Snowflake Embossing folder

Art Warehouse Christmas circle stamps

Martha Stewart craft paper stickers

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

My brother and sister-in-law had a baby girl this week - hurray! I'm an Aunty again! I'm so glad things went smoothly for them.
I wanted to make a very pink 'fluffy' card, and based this on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You.

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

I really should be starting some Christmas cards at some point, but this card just kind of made itself! I saw the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You, and it shouted Window Card to me...

Card Patterns Sketch Card

I had some nice Melissa Frances products come in the post today, and made this card with them using the sketch from Card Patterns.

Daring Card Makers Punch Challenge

The challenge at DCM was to use a punch, so I used a Stampin' Up one that I've hardly ever used. I also decided to use up lots of old alphabet sets that I have accumulated - rub-ons, chipboard, stickers and stamps - and thoroughly enjoyed making it!

Papertake Weekly Challenge card

I used the sketch at Papertake Weekly Challenge for the layout for this card. My little nephew's birthday is coming up...

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

Another baby card - a very simple one this week, based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You.

Mojo Monday Challenge Card

Lots of friends' birthdays coming up this month - I need to get making some cards because I have nearly run out somehow! I made this card based on the sketch at Mojo Monday, with K&Co Tag Pad, glitter shapes and spotty ribbon, and Basic Grey Papers.

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

I've been feeling a bit left out lately - it seems most my friends have either just had babies or are pregnant! I thought this card could be used as either a baby girl or baby boy card - with the lovely colours from the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love range. The card layout is from 2 Sketches 4 You's latest sketch.

2 Sketches 4 You - Bonus Sketch Card

My daughter is 12 at the weekend, and is having a Cupcake themed party, so I made her this birthday card to match! Kim's Bonus Sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You was helpful for it.

All the papers are from K&Co Sparkly Sweet, with Sizzix Alphabars chipboard numbers.

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

I have been working on some cards for Christmas gifts recently. I bought some nice tins to decorate and fill with blank cards. I've kept the designs fairly simple, and have had the challenge of including a few male cards. I used the 2S4U sketch this week for another male card. These are the ones I've made so far - will do another few yet.

PP: Cosmo Cricket and K&Co

Chipboard: Sizzix star

Sentiment: Fonts printed from www.dafont.com

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card (Book!)

I love books and am often borrowing them and lending them. I made this book so I can keep track of them. I used the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You, turned on its side, for the front cover.

PP: K&Co & MM
Chipboard: Cut with Stampin' Up Sizzix Alphabet & Flowers

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

A birthday card for Scott's Nan, using the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. Using a challenge sketch really makes me have a go at different things! It's the first time I used my new Stampin' Up Sizzix Alphabet, and I love how simple the letters are - other Sizzix alphabet styles have never really appealed to me that much, but this I like!

All shapes: Sizzix
Chipboard: Mountboard cut with Stampin' Up/Sizzix
Papers: Bazzill and Basic Grey Sultry
Ribbon & Brad from stash

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

I think this card is going to be for my sister - she has a very cute sock monkey collection, and I've been meaning to use this K&Co paper for ages for her. For the circle, I cut out an old frosted plastic notepad cover that I'd saved, and stamped it with the sentiment from Art Warehouse (I think). I cut the scalloped edge with one of the big Sizzix card dies.

Cute Card Thursday: Stitching Challenge

I treated myself to some new crafty stash this week, including the massive Sizzix die that cuts out these scalloped cards. I also bought the little square Cuttlebug embossing folders, and a couple of things from the new K&Co Madeline range - tried them all out here!

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Card

I was a bit stuck with the sketch at first... thought it had a more masculine look, so no bows/flowers/scallops on this one!

I used 2 of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders, and sprayed the corrugated one with silver Glimmer Mist, and layered it onto some Crate Paper. I cut out stars from the other embossed cardstock, and raised up the ones behind the sentiment with foam pads.

The monsters and sentiment are from Dafont fonts, printed out and covered with different coloured Stickles.

Caarvarks Challenge Card

Amazingly I'm running out of birthday cards!! Here is one using the cute sketch challenge from Caardvarks.
Card stock - Bazzill edges
Paper - Stampin' Up
Chipboard - Colorbok XYZ, and Sizzix Stars with Stickles
Sentiment - printed on PC using a Dafont font

Baby Shower Gift / Papertake Weekly Challenge

I'm going to a baby shower for a friend tonight - I got her some Sanctuary goodies, and wanted to make a little wall hanging for her baby boy when he arrives too. I wouldn't normally put orange into a baby boy colour scheme, but it matched the Sanctuary packaging colours really nicely! I started off using the Papertake weekly Challenge, though it got rather adapted I'm afraid...

'Thanks for the TV' card!

I haven't done any crafting for a while, but wanted to make a Thank You card for some friends of ours who gave us their old telly, after ours blew up!
I had a look at some challenge blogs for inspiration, and actually based this card on four different challenges - so much help I didn't really need to do anything myself :) The layout is from 2 Sketches 4 You (always love them!), the Caardvarks challenge was to make a window card, Cute Card Thursday was to use stitching - real or faux, and Daring Card Makers was to use Blue and Green together. Anyway, here is the result....