Twin door hangers

My twins have just turned nine. I made these personalised door hangers using the 'Santa stop here' stamp of James bear from the Lili of the Valley collection. The stamp was so cute and just perfect for this job. I am entering this in the Lili of the Valley Monthly Challenge - anything but a card. They must have worked as he brought lots of great presents! http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html

Fore You!

This is one of my favourite Lili of the Valley stamps. I have used it for some of the men in my life. I wouldn't usually pick pink for a men's card but I think you can be a bit creative with golfers for their love of pattern! I am entering this for the Lili of the Valley Monthly Challenge - Pink and White I hope to be the first entry of a male themed card!

Summer fun

Beth lives in Tampa, Florida (lucky girl) and turned 15 this summer. This image and these papers felt perfect for a Summer birthday and a teenager and I just added some Summer-themed brads that I bought in America when I went to visit. Perfect.

Snowy Pink

I adore making Christmas cards and have been working my way through my stamps and stash as well as buying some new products. This card was made using a Lili of the Valley stamp and some paper from my stash. The snowflake die is a new purchase and the first time I have used it. I really like it. I am entering this card in the Crafty Cardmarkers #99 Snow and Ice challenge http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/99-christmas-snow-and-ice.html

Boys only

I generally find boys and men's cards much more challenging to make and even though I have lots of boy themed stamps and papers I still find them more difficult as I cannot add all the sparkles and glitter and flowers that I am so accustomed to! I did however make this skateboarding card and I am entering it into the My Mum's craft shop challenge - Boys only. Coincidently I bought the stamp from their shop. The papers came from the USA and the ticket stamp came from Lili of the Valley. I am also entering the Papertake weekly challenge - Child's Play http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/ http://mymumscraftshop.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-9-boys-only.html

A new baby

So many of my colleagues are having babies at the moment. I am suspicious that this is a way to get them out of night duty and being on call! This is one of the cards I have just made using one of my favourite Lili of the Valley stamps. I got the backing paper when I was in America and the brads too. The sentiment tags also come from Lili of the Valley. I am entering this card in the Ribbons or Lace! competition http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html

A first birthday card

I was asked to make a first birthday card for a friend's granddaughter as she couldn't find anything that was right in the shops for this special little girl. She requested lilac and these papers from my stash fitted the bill. The stamp is a Lili of the Valley one and just perfect for a first birthday. Happy birthday little Ashley.

I decided to enter this card into the Ribbon girl September card challenge (include numbers) http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/. This is the first time I have entered a Ribbon girl challenge.

Festive fairies

This new stamp has been used to make my niece Emily's Christmas card. She will love the pink and blue themed card. I might end up using this image for one of my twins too. I have decided to enter this card in the Lili of the Valley Monthly challenge - make it festive http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html

Christmas for children

I have just received my new Christmas Lili of the Valley stamps from their new launch. It was so hard to choose and I got the girls to help me. I wanted lots and lots! We chose two which are perfect for children - 'Santa stop here' and 'Snow Angel'. I have already had enquiries to buy Christmas cards which is great as I sell them and use the money for the Dorset Homebirth Group to buy teas and coffees at our meetings.

I have decided to enter these cards in the Lili of the Valley Monthly challenge - make it festive http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html

Friendship across the miles

This stamp is so beautiful for a friend and can look so different depending on the chosen colour scheme. I used this for my friend Bea in America as I love it so much.

My best friend

Seeing as I shared the story of Jacob's birth I needed to share the card I made for his mummy, my best friend Amanda. It was her birthday in January so I made a lovely winter-themed card for her. The stamp represents our love of meeting for coffee and cake! I love the little mittens brads that I found to add to this card.

My Godson is ten

My Godson Jacob turned ten and I can hardly believe it. Jacob is a very special little boy to me; his mum is my best friend and she is also a midwife. I was her midwife so Jacob was born into my hands and she was my midwife at the birth of my twins. It means that we have a very special relationship. Jacob is a big rugby fan so the Lili of the Valley rugby stamp was just perfect for him.

21st British Birthday

My friend Bea moved to America a few years ago with her husband and two children. Her son Marcus turned 21 this year. Although he has been in the USA since he was a teenager he remains resolutely British so he had to have a British themed card. With all the Jubilee and Olympic themed papers out the year before I had plenty of stash to pull together this very British card.

Oops! A broken leg for Grandad

My father in law took a fall on the golf course and broke his leg earlier this year. This card was a simple and quick make using Forever Friends to make him feel better.

Charlie is born!

My friend Jess had her third baby boy recently. She has Joseph and Archie who are 5 and 3 and now Charlie has given her a hat trick of boys. Welcome baby Charlie with this simple card.

A special 50th Birthday

So Keith, my husband was 50. This called for special cards and a special gift. I chose to use the Lili of the Valley Cricket stamp and added the words "50 not out" for the perfect wording. (My twins did not understand this at all!) His special gift from us was a speedboat trip in Tampa Bay. We were in America for his birthday so I wanted his to have something to remember and this was an amazing surprise gift. I made this travel themed card with a ticket on the front to let him know what we would be doing. This is one of my favourite ever cards.

Mum's birthday

This was a difficult one. My mum and I had a disagreement last summer and have hardly spoken since. I still wanted her to have a nice birthday card and to know that I was thinking about her. I actually think about her all the time, hence the 'Handmade with love' ticket on the card. This card was made with a new range of papers called Tilly Daydream.

My niece is eleven!

My eldest niece Alice turned eleven in August. I chose a bright paper pack to make this gorgeous beach themed card. The door of the beach hut opens and has the number 11 over the door for her age. I also added some beach-themed brads. Alice loved it.

Animal birthday celebrations

My aunt Lesley is a big animal lover so this image was just perfect for her. This is another Lili of the valley stamp and can also be bought in the art pads and the stamp pads collection.

Sister in law's birthday

My sister in law is in France for her birthday so I made this card a couple of weeks early and sent it off. It is The Lost Balloon stamp from the Lili of the Valley collection and I just love it. A plain and simple card which suits my sister in law - she likes things to be plain.

Christmas is coming...........in August.

I have been so busy that I haven't posted for ages and I really need to add the pictures that I have been taking of all my creations. However, I am now recovering from an appendicitis so I have the perfect excuse to make cards and update here. I have just ordered 6 more Christmas stamps from Lili of the Valley to keep me busy! This card will be given to my dad and his partner for Christmas this year. I love couple stamps at Christmas! I am also entering it into the Lili of the Valley monthly challenge. Wish me luck!

I have decided to enter this card in the Lili of the Valley Monthly challenge - make it festive http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html

A witch in May

One of the best things about having young twins is that they are always being invited to birthday parties which means lots of lovely birthday cards to make for young people. Children's and baby cards are my favourite to make. This time young Eleanor turns 8 and she needed a card to reflect her love of Harry Potter. What better than a little witch in the appropriate Gryffindor colours of red and yellow. This stamp is from Kraftin Kimmee and the character is called Lulu. My girls loved it and I hope Eleanor will be very pleased with this card.

A brother's birthday

Today is my brother's 44th birthday. He is quite easy to make cards for because he is a big sports fan. I made him two cards; one from me and one from the children but I chose a sports theme for just one of them. Happy birthday Paul.

My Anniversary

So today is my wedding anniversary. I married in 1991 which, when I look back on it was very young. I was 20. We have had our fair share of up and downs like most couples but I have been blessed with three beautiful children who are now 19, 8 and 8. Tonight we have a babysitter and will be going out to a new restaurant for dinner. I am looking forward to the chance to sit and talk and make some plans for the future. A home-made anniversary card is, of course, a must and this is the one I made.

GCSE luck

My best friend's daughter Eleanor is about to sit her GCSEs. I am sure that she will do well. She is much more confident about the humanities subjects than the sciences and maths. I am sending her this card to wish her luck with her exams. It is made with the Gorjuss selection of papers and stamps. I am hoping that in August I will be sending her a congratulations card! Good luck Eleanor.

A new home for an old friend

My friend Christine is finally moving home. It has taken ages to sell their home and buy this new one but this week they are moving just around the corner from me. It means that her daughter Annabelle will be in the catchment area for the same senior school that my son attended and it is one of the best state schools in the country. I am so pleased for her. This is the card that I have made to welcome her to her new home. My friend loved this card so much that I decided to enter it into the I love promarkers challenge - ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk

Now you are 39

My lovely friend Clara is celebrating her 39th birthday next week instead of her 40th. She is having a big celebration but sadly I am unable to go. I wanted her to have a special card so that she knew how much I cared and how much I was thinking about her. The verse from the Lili of the Valley stamps says it perfectly "Today's a celebration and this card is to show just how much you mean and how special you are to know." Happy birthday Clara!

University Exams - for luck and love and memories.

My son is sitting his first year university exams in Philosophy in just a few weeks time. He is a very clever young man but racked with self-doubt, which is such a shame. I have made this card to send to him at his halls of residence to wish him luck and to tell him that we are thinking about him. He is not really a great football fan but if he had to pick a team he would say Tottenham Hotspur. My granddad held a season ticket to the Spurs in the 1960's and my nan loved them. Today would have been her birthday so it seemed appropriate that I chose her team colours for the card to give her great grandson who was only six when she died. Miss you nan. Good luck Daniel.

Anyone for golf?

My father-in-law is an avid golfer and celebrates his birthday this month. My husband always gets me to make his family cards as he loves the fact that they are unique and special. They are always well received. This one is from the Lili of the Valley sketch pads. They are my favourite stamps and I have built up quite a collection. The golf ball brad came from America; I visit there a couple of times a year and always bring back fantastic craft items. I have just entered this one in the Lili of the Valley 'Boy O Boy' competition. It is the first time I have ever entered.

Twin birthday

Twins are a big theme in my life. I have my own and they have two sets of twins that they are friends with. Their girl set of twins turn nine this week and so appropriate cards were needed. The thing with making cards for twins is that you need to know if they like the same as each other or different. Mine like to be different and Abbie and Jess like different colours and to be different so I made these cards for them. I am happy to report that the girls loved them! Another successful project for me using Lili of the Valley sketch pads.