My Mum's special birthday!

We spent a lovely day with

my Mum and Dad Yesterday.

They share a birthday but  2 years apart.

So Mum was 70 this year(Dad's 72)!

We went out for a lovely lunch at

Scotts at Largs Yacht haven,

then they came back to ours and we spent

a lovely afternoon catching up.

My Mum loves Ducks

so I went for this fun image

and had him hiding in a box.

I'm pretty sure the duck is Robyn's fetish design.

I'd like to share this with

Marianne's Designs Divas - Bloom and grow

(I have used several Marianne design dies)

2 Sisters challenge - fancy folds

(and also the card below)

My Dad also asked me to make her

 a card from him.

I used my Lovely flowers bird image.

Coloured with promarkers,

handmade flowers

and foliage sprayed with cosmic shimmer.

I'd like to share this with

Aud's sentiment challenge - Happy Birthday

Crafts and me - flowers

Polka doodles Design Team Call out!

In Nikky's own words.......

Yep, we need some new blood to join our lovely talented team on this challenge blog and also to make samples for shows and TV! So, if you LOVE colouring and you're great with your Promarkers, Copics, Prisma's and Watercolours (or any other colouring medium) and it's your speciality then please email us with a link to your blog and NO MORE than 50 words about yourself and why you want to be on the Polkadoodles team. If you don't like colouring then don't worry - we cater for everyone, but you do need to be able to use digital products and rubber stamp. It doesn't matter if you're a cardmaker, scrapbooker, a stamper or a CD crafter, we need someone who can be versatile and fit within the other talents on our fabulous, happy team. We look for all kinds of abilities and styles so you've gotta be in it, to win it, as the saying goes! You MUST have a blog where you post regularly. You MUST be able to commit to participating in the challenge blog 3 times per month, making TV samples when required AND commenting on challenge entries each week, so please ensure you can do all this before you apply - this is a permanent position and you must be able to offer the commitment we need. We will consider entries from around the world but as we need people who can also make samples, because of time constraints entries from the UK may have an advantage - if you're not in the UK please don't let that put you off, really we just need someone awesome, and we're looking for more than one person!! We will be choosing someone over the next two weeks and results will be posted here. Please do not leave comments etc, all bloglinks must be sent by email by 13th OCTOBER. Please ensure your links are correct and link to the homepage so we can see your blog properly. email us with a link to your blog and NO MORE than 50 words about yourself and why you want to be on the Polkadoodles team. (please note: Final decision will be announced on this blog after 13th October) ---- GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! We can't wait to see your work! xx

They are a great, friendly team to be on...a bit hectic sometimes but fab products to work with!...these are my words lol

Was that a squirrel I spoted hiding in that box......!

Another exploding box

with a squirrel image for a friend

who is celebrating a special birthday.

Hidden behind the squirrel is a little parcel

with a stamp inside....its amazing

what you can fit in these boxes!

This was a wee freebie I did a while back

but if you didn't get it - here he is!

Have fun with him - he's here for one week only

and please share the link not the image.

I'd like to share my card with.....

Cute card Thursday - Animal crackers

This image is free at SBS this weekend with any purchase over $3.....

I have this decorative owl free

this weekend at Stitchy Bear Stamps

with any purchase over $3

at the store.

Please note it is free with a purchase from anyone

at the store not just from me!

Polka Doodles..looking for a number! Create and Craft Show alert!!!!!

This is one of my samples for

Polka Doodles on Create and Craft.

Nikky is on today at 10am, 1p.m. and 4p.m

she will be exhausted...tune in

and cheer her on!

It happens also to fit with this weeks

challenge to encorporate a number in your project.

I have used all elements from the new

Simply Sweet cd,

buttons, Martha Stewart punch,ink

and spotty ribbon.

Come see the lovely projects

this week by the Polka Doodles team

and a big welcome to the new members

Alan,Claire and Diane!

Crafty Creations..CAS!

Over at Crafty Creations Amy

has challenged us to create a CAS card.

Elizabeth Mae is our sponsor this week

pop over and have a look at the lovely

images you could be winning!

I have made one for my friend Liz

who's birthday is today.

Stamped on Kraft card blank

and added my fimo find from yesterdays post

as my flower centres.Quick and simple.

Doodled happy birthday to fit in with stamp.

A little inking to edges.

Teeny fab embellies! Have you come across these?

I came across these quite by accident on ebay

recently and my head was full of possibilities

so I decided to order some to see!

They are sold for nail decorating! Have you seen them before?

They are tiny rods of fimo.

My starter pack above contains glue, razor blades,

2 storage pots and 100 patterned fimo rods

and cost approx £10 inc p&p

I have cut into a few of the rods above - its easy

but I cut them thicker than for nail decorating

so probably get about 40-50 pieces per rod.

They are about 5mm across.

what do you think? I'm thinking a bargain

and what fab embellies - the designes are brilliant

dragonflies, butterflies, flowers, fruit, animals

probably only a few bars I dont see myself using.

You can find theme here...some reason short cut not working!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-pcs-Cane-Nail-Art-Fimo-Fruit-Shaped-Stick-w-Cutter-/280581797434?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Nails_Manicure_Pedicure_CA&hash=item4153fa763a

Free image alert! Over at Stitchy Bear Stamps!

I know that you would love to have one of Stitchy's  images for free.

 This weekend she has one available for you 

 all you need to do is register at the store for your image of STARR.

It's available free until midnight on Sunday so pop over to SBS.

The code is a7b8ebc33b which you will input to the coupon box on the order form.

All the team have worked so hard to get the store

back up and running after its disappearance!

Pop by with a wee cuppa and have a browse while

picking up that freebie!

Thanks Stitch...just heading there now myself!

Polka Doodles - Distress it

The Polka Doodles challenge this week

is to Distress it!

And how beautiful are the new elements

from Nikky's latest cd

Pretty Sweet

I  have used all elements from the cd

to create my exploding box card.

The only additions

some ink, sticky gems, punches, ribbon and

 sandpaper for distressing.

This is one of the pre-coloured

Pretty sweet girls but there are loads

you can colour yourself aswell!

I'd like to share this with

Simon says stamp - dies to die for

Digital Tuesday challenge - People images

Crafty Creations...fabulous fairies

Aren't they fabulous fairies indeed!

Crafty Creations challenge this week is

so perfect for our great sponsor

Lilly of the Valley stamps.

I have created another picture for my studio

(still have a few spaces to fill)

using a mixed media background.

(tissue,glue,acrylic, crackle paint, ink, stamps)

Coloured the lovely Lilly of the Valley

 image with Aquamarkers.

With beautiful crocheted daisys

to create my hanger.

I feel that I haven't been here for ages.

I have been busy making samples for the lovely

Diane at Polka Doodles that is doing a

demo on Thursday evening at

But also struggling a bit with my eyes

some weirdy water pooling effect....

it may well be exhaustion due to lack of sleep

children not sleeping and Reuben was away

at the Goodwood revival. It's been better

today so hopefully its just tiredness.

Look forward to visiting those

fabulous fairies.....

come on how can you resist

the Crafty Creations challenge!

I'd like to share this with

Glitter Geeks - In the garden

Delightful challenges - Girly girl

60th birthday - Lovely Flowers

A 60th Birthday card using my

Vase of lovely flowers digi.

Slowly getting my etsy store stocked,

and hopefully not too long until

Stitchy bear stamps will be back on line,

Stitchy and the team are hard at work

rebuilding it from the bottom up.

Coloured with Promarkers,

Doodlebug dp and Basic Grey dp,

Prima flowers, lovely cotton ribbon

and some punched leaves!

A bit of a problem.....

There seems to be a problem with the store

at Stitchy Bear Stamps at the moment

hopefully it will be back and running soon

but for the meantime ....I have a few images listed at Etsy

and will get some more on today

I am doing an introductory offer of buy one get one free
(coupon code: welcome50)
should give you 50% off any purchase

so if there is any you'd like just shout-
or order through Etsy and it will get to you within 24hrs!
If you have any questions,

I can be reached at

hopejacare@yahoo.com !
I'll keep this going for one week only

A canvas for my studio....

Recently I bought some of the fabulous Octopode images

to make something for myself for a wee change.

Some pictures for my new studio.

I had a wee day in my studio with a friend

creating a canvas each yesterday.

Zoe was making a Home sweet Home picture

for her soon to be decorated hall.

I was playing with lots of things and having fun -

the first picture of many I hope.

The lovely crochet flowers are from

the Kanban Christmas collection.

I bought them at my local Craft shop.

I'd like to share this with

Cardmadfairy's digi days - digi and flowers

Polka Doodles...create a scene...mixed media...and a first!

Polka Doodles challenge this week is to create a scene!

I have used all Polka Doodles stamps

to create my little scene.

First glued tissue to my grey board

then gave a rough gesso coat.

Stamped some houses and painted over with gesso

to give a subtle background.

Stamped my scene and coloured with Sakura.

Added some definition to the stamps lines

with a black glaze.

Inked the edges of the cover.

I loved creating this notebook.

It was my very first project on my

Birthday pressie from Reuben

a Bind-it-all!

Can't say I perfected it but am confident next time

 it will have holes all the same size

....a bit of a slipping incident!

Hopefully well covered by the lovely fibres.

I'd like to share this with

The Rubber cafe - no dp's

Paperplay challenges - Use more than 2 stamps (I used 6 rubber stamps)

Hannah and Friends - little gifts

My Craft Spot - friends - made for my friend Zoe

Show us a scene at Polka Doodles!

Cross with lovely flowers exploding box...for a retiring pastor

One of my closest friends asked me to make

a card for her Pastor that is retiring.

I used my Sympathy cross but removed the sentiment.

In infinite wisdom

the Lord surely knew,

that we'd need a Pastor

as faithful as you.

A love of God's word

and a heart for His flock,

you give of yourself

and you stand on the Rock.

I should add that I was given the wording

to add by the friends I made the card for. 

I really love these exploding box cards......

I'd like to share this with

Deep Ocean Challenge - hearts!

Stamping sisters in Christ - Nothing bright

Crafty Creations.....anything but a square!

We are looking for

anything but a square at Crafty Creations this week!

I have a shaped easel card to share

for a big Celtic Football club fan.....

Not a footballer myself but the card went down

a treat so I'm told!

This is very brief as we have finally (fingers crossed)

discovered what is wrong with our computer.

It seems our AOL softwear was corrupted.

So new softwear now installed.

And trying to get this done and find everything I've lost.....

please bear with me!

Another exploding box......Hoola hooping hamster

Another fun exploding box!

How I love these!

What about that cute hamster!!!!!!

By 2 cute rubber stamps

I'd like to share this with

The Paper Players - Birthdays

Baby Boy card - exploding box.

Having such fun with these box format cards!

So here is a baby boy one.

I kept embellishments to a minimum

because the dp is quite busy.

Cute baby elephant from

Dragons Lair designs

Polka Doodles - Autumn Leaves.......

Polka Doodles - Autumn Leaves

Loved it to bits - played loads.

To create my gift tag I

used images from A Sundae of Seasons

coloured with Promarkers, sprayed with cosmic shimmer,

triple embossed....I got well inky!

I coloured the squirrel with coloured pencils

then tripple embossed him too.

Added some flower soft for extra texture.

Pop over to see what the girls

have created at Polka doodles - you won't be disappointed!

And we'd love to see your autumn leaf creations...