Has it really been that long ??

Wow !!!

Its been a while hasn't it ?
What can I say... So much has happened since I last posted.. Its taken me a while to pull myself back up.. I had lots of downs.. Lots of ideas  followed by lots of ups ..
What was that song
'The only way is up'  Not sure who it was by although I have the song in my head.

So where do I start... My darling Grandad passed away. My dad was found to have an aeortic anerorism , so had to have emergency surgery. I found out the company that I worked for was going into administration and then that our shop was closing. We buried granddad and the shop closed... That was all within 5 weeks and can I add just 6 days before Christmas.....

New Year started and I was determined that I had to do something.. Due to my mobility issues I wouldn't be able to walk into another job.. Even with experience that I had so..... I created my own shop then I had a job...

If I am 100 % honest, which I do always like to be ... Its my shop that saved me !! I have no idea where I would of been if it wasn't for me chanelling all my time and energy into getting my little shop open.
I love it there... Just going to work each day is just amazing... It makes me smile.. I have some of Grandma and Grandads furniture there with me too so I know they are always near.. ( Even though it has been painted up a little ;O) )

So now I have a little shop blog which you are welcome to follow if you wish too .
Or if you live anywhere near and fancy dropping in... Let me know as we love having a reason to eat cake ;O)

Heres a link to my shop blog
Oona Kay



Great big Hugs
Choccy xxx

OSAAT Challenge Time

Its Sunday, so that means only 1 thing .... OSAAT. Well maybe a roast dinner too lol ;O)

I have finally made the time to, join back in with the team and make cards again... Its been far far too long. For my .... comeback I got to use a gorgeous image/ paper pack by the stuntastic  Coosty Creations  and I used her brilliant Steampunk Ship Digital stamp and Paper Pack  Its such a great image especially for men. Which as we all know is one of the hardest cards to make ;O)

Heres my creation

I have used ric rac ribbon and hessian on my card along with 2 papers from the kit. Not forgetting the stunning image which I have coloured with my Pro Markers and a gold signo pen ;O)

Pop over to the challenge blog and join us in our Anything Goes Challenge.

The prize this week is all the images that our DT  girls used in challenge #184. So a fabtastic prize worth well over $20

Hugs
Choccy xxx

Saturday Demo Day

Now I must write a note to myself .... When doing a demonstration day at work. Put my camera into my craft bag !! I can not believe I forgot it .... again :O(

Ahhh well I suppose I can tell you about my makes and then update my blog with a photo when I go back into work on Monday ;O) Now theres an idea :O)

Today I made a Christmas Stocking bunting :O)  Using a template from the Creativity magazine think it was the September issue.. I made one for each staff member in Christmassy colours.. Then I added everyones names using a new Fabric Metallic letter stickers. They are soooo cool. For only £1 , I will buy some more.
I also continued to make some more of the Twelve Days of Christmas card set that I started on the last demo day.. So that's 8 out of the 12 made so far :O)  They will be finished on the next demo day.. Then the store will have 12 cards to give out to our sister stores. ;O) So that's a helpful demo make by me.
Lots of crafty questions were asked and answered. Overall a lovely day :O)

I promise I will update with a picture of the cool bunting :O)

Hugs
Choccy xxx

Team B Just Inspirational

Well its time for Team B to shine this week at Just Inspirational .... So that's me :O)

This week we are sponsored by the of course fantastic StitchyBear Digi Outlet

With a fabby prize of yummy digi images :O)

This week we had a great image to use as inspiration.. Here it is

 

Then heres my card using an image by one of their many digi image creators.

 

 

I used only 2 brads ... not a whole heap like the image ;O) But, picked up on the red and the blue brads .. I used glossy accents on the skateboard and his trainers. The image was coloured with my Promarkers.

 

Why not pop over to the Just Inspirational challenge blog and join in the fun ?

 

Hugs Choccy xxx

Not a card today

There isn't a card on my blog today. Just a little poem that was shared with me today at my Grandfathers nursing home....
The words are so touching, they never fail to bring a tear or ten to my eye..
My granddad is such a super star. Hes fighting myloema ( blood cancer) , his kidneys are struggling and now he has Alzheimers...  Seeing him struggle is so heart wrenching.. To think just a few months ago he was living in his own home, doing everything for himself and driving still :O)

So my post for today is one for my Grandad.. Who I love with all my heart xx

Do not ask me to remember
Don't try to make me understand.
Let me rest and know you're with me,
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I'm confused beyond your concept,...
I'm sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you,
To be with me at all cost

Do not lose your patience with me,
Do not scold me or curse or cry.
I can't help the way i'm acting,
I can't be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you,
that the best of me is gone.
Please don't fail to stand beside me,
love me till my life is gone

New challenge. New Design Teamies and a new start

Theres a brand new challenge over at OSAAT. One Stitch At a Time.
Its Everyones favourite !!!! 

'Anything Goes '

We also have lots of new Design Team Girls that have joined us too... Well they have been announced but at going to be joining in the fun for challenge #186..

I am off today so I shall be making a few samples up for my first ever card making ( Stamp a stash )  event.. There will be more about the event on here soon.... I need to finalise all the details. Then I am hoping that some of my local crafty friends or crafty want to have a try friends will come and join in..

Right off to the craft cave ......

A wave from me

Well its been a long while !!!
Where has she been you may be asking ? LOL ..

Wellll Choccy has been suuuuper busy working :O(  Now luckily I do love both my jobs But I also love sofa days where I can just relax.. That's what I have done today :O) 
My Grandad has been poorly and now hes in a nursing home :O(
The boys have been off school , for 6 weeks.
I have been doing demo work at the shop that I work at too. The interest in them has grown so much since I took over that we are now having monthly card making demos :O) The last one that I did was the busiest ever !! They are such great fun and I meet such lovely people. Both regulars and new visitors..  Hopefully I teach them new techniques and share little secrets with them ... They keep coming back so they must be enjoyable ;O)
Today is my first day off in 23 days and apart from sending out images to the DT... Working on setting the new DT into challenge teams ..
I've been planning a super duper Stamping Up Event.. My first ever !! A card making event... Oooh super excited. But I have huge butterflies trying to escape from my churning stomache ..
Venue ... sorted
Date ..... sorted
Make and takes ... sorted
Now to order all the items we need to order then order them ;O)
Then most importantly .... advertise advertise  advertise

Hopefully work will sort itself out now, with the holiday season over. The boys have gone back to school and college, well 6th form.
I must start creating again for both the design teams that I am on.

So I will be back with my regular postings again

Hugs to you all :O)
Choccy xx

Just inspirational

It's time for another fantastic challenge over at Just Inspirational challenges.
As always we have an inspirational picture to inspire you.

For this challenge we are sponsored by bugaboo. Who have a prize of 7 images,winners choice.

For my card I took the summer theme and the colours for inspiration.

Here's my creation.

Please visit the challenge blog to share your creations,with us.

Hugs

Choccy xxx

Another fantastic challenge.

Over at just inspirational challenges. It's time for team B to come and show you our goodies ;0)

So that me :0) 

This week at Just Inspirational Challenges. It's time for the team to be sponsored by Penny blossoms turn to sponsor us. With a fabby $15 to spend at their yummy store. 

Here's my creation for this weeks challenge.

Stop by our challenge blog to see our inspirational picture and enter your own creation..

With a new challenge starting every Tuesday... There's always something to inspire you 

Xxxx

Just Inspirational

A new challenge started this morning... But my internet hasn't been playing ball for the last 2 days   :O(  So heres my card... better late than never ;O)

The inspirational photo

The sponsor for this challenge is
Little Blue Button     

Heres my card :

 

and a few close ups

 

 

 

As you can see the card is for a birthday in September ;O)  No more shall be wrote about this... incase the owner to be pops onto my blog LOL

 

Pop on over to Just Inspirational challenges and join in the fun.

 

Choccy xxx

 

 

Just Inspirational . Team B

Well its time for another challenge over at Just Inspirational challenges..

Heres your picture this week

 

Now I feel this image screams Steampunk

 

But Steampunk and Choccy don't really mix ;O)

 

Anyway we have a great sponsor to work with ... Its the fabby Delicious Doodles.

Being a OSAAT girl too. I am honoured to work with these images quite often so picked leather and lace.

To see the exact prize please read our main challenge blog.

 

Onto my card

 

 

I coloured the image with Promarkers and then used a gold uniball pen to add abit of gold to it. The image was mounted up onto a brown dotty piece of card. I wanted to give the effect of the rivets.
That was all mounted onto a piece of Cronology paper. After adding some natural twine/ribbon.
To finish my card I added a few brown dots in the corners, just for the added colour.

Heres a close up

 

So that's it from me today. Please stop by my teamies blogs and leave them a little love too.

Then share your creation with us at Just Inspirational.

 

Hugs xx

Just Inspirational.. Team B

How exciting my first proper Just Inspirational challenges post in quite a while :O) Yes we are back .... just incase you missed our blog hop.

Each week the teams take it in turn to inspire you with super exciting inspirational pictures and great sponsors.

This week its Team B's turn...

The sponsor for this challenge is Dr Digi

They are offering 1 digi as a prize.

 

Your inspirational picture is

 

For my creation. I took the colours to make my creation. I also used the words. In making a Fathers Day card I used the word. Daddy ;O)

 

Heres the easle card that I created

 

 

A close up of the image

 

Don't forget to visit the challenge blog and leave a little love for my fabby teamies.

 

Hugs

xxx

 

 

Stampin Up retirement details

Now some of my followers know that I have recently started out as a Stampin Up Demonstrator

Well its a very exciting time there now.
Theres a huuuge retirement list available which you can browse then click through to my Stampin Up order page and order 24 hours a day.

Click here to go to my official Stampin Up page

To view the official lists please go

Here : for stamps

Here : For other items

Please remember these items are available on a first come first served basis.
When they are gone .............They are gone !

You can order from my page and have the items sent to you directly..

Enjoy
Choccy xx

Just Inspirational Hop

Welcome to Just Inspirational Challenges reopening Blog Hop!!

There are lots of prizes along the way from some very generous sponsors!!

We thought we would do this hop a little different from most.  We thought we would give you the option to choose what you win.

Below are the prizes offered by the very generous sponsors a list is underneath for who you visit to win that prize ;O)

                            From The Stamping Chef  $10 Gift Certificate 

                                                      Judith
                                                       Pam
                                                      Shelly
                                                  Trish the Dish

From Sassy Studios - 4 Digis

Tanja

 Kelly.L

 Dannii

 Teresa

From Bugaboo - 7 digital stamps

Kelly.M

 Jill

 Oona

 Rosica

From Dr Digi - 1 Free Digi

Tracey

 Sian

 Amii 

From Simply B Stamps - $10 gift cerftificate

Kate 

Cindye

 Stacey 

And from Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet store - $9 gift certificate

Janice 

Kelly S

 

Here's our blog hop picture to give you inspiration

 

Here's my card for the hop made with a Bugaboo image

I took the colours from the image and used those to colour and create my card. Using shades of blue from the sky. Red,yellow and orange from the flowers.

 

When you have completed your mini hop, remember you can enter as many as you like. Don't forget these little rules:

All you need to do is: 

• Spread the word about our Hop by sharing our Blog Hop badge
• If you leave a comment on all the DT members blogs for the particular sponsors you want to win, you will gain another entry 
• Add your name to the linky below for a 3rd entry

You should finish here.  When you get to the end, don't forget to link up with Mr linky.

 

Heres hoping you have lots of fun

OSAAT Yard sale

We all like a yard sale right ?

Well over at StitchyBear Digi outlet theres a fabtastic sale with 35 % off  everything !!

Plus, if you spend $3 you get a free image too ...
The yard sale is on until Friday 31st May ..... So get your bargains whilst you can.

Then why not pop over to the challenge blog and join in our StitchyBear ONLY  challenge ? There's some fantastic prizes on offer..

Hope to see you there
xxx

Just inspirational challenges ... The return

Well some of you may of noticed that I have a shiny new DT badge on my blog..  I haven't joined another . But one I was a member on before has re launched. So of course I took my badge out of retirement and gave it a shine :0)
There will be a blog hop to launch its return .

I will pop the blog hop logo here

OSAAT Challenge 159

Well after a total rubbish week, the sun is out.... It always amazes me how abit of sunshine makes everything seem abit better.  I feel as if i have learnt so much this past week,. Things still surprise me, I still get flustrated and i have such lovely friends and family... Thankyou to each and everyone of them that reminded me i was loved this week.... I really am blessed to have such support around me..

Onto my card this week.... Its a gooorgeous image by the very talented BeebeeKakes...
I tried to keep my card super simple this week.. The paper was super busy and i didn't want to take anything away from the scrummy image.

 

and a close up

 

 

The theme this week is BRIGHT....  Pop over to the newly decorated challenge blog and read details how to get your super free image ;O)

Hugs
Choccy xxxxx

One Stitch At A Time

Ooooh its been a long time since i've managed to blog... I promise i will try to join in with my teamies more....  Ive been a busy Choccy.. Setting myself up as a Stampin up demonstrator :O) and working more and more..

Anyway onto my post for today... Today i have used the gorgeous image 'Poodles' by our very own StitchyBear.... The image was chosen by my sweetheart of a teamie, Mandy.. Sorry ive abandoned you and left you to hold the teamie fort sweetie xx

Here is 'Poodles' All dressed up ready for summer... Now if the weather could just catch on that we are all here waiting for sunshine ;O)

 

 

Hope you stop by the challenge blog and join in the fun..

 

Big hugs

Choccy

xxxx

 

OSAAT challenge #155

Well theres no card from me today .Its been another one of those weeks.... but i have 2 days off this week. So i am going to spend at least one of those days crafting.... Its going to be my birthday too :O) How exciting to have my birthday the same week as StitchyBear store. ( I am a little older than 3 though hehe)  So appologies for my no makes.... I will be back ontop of things real soon. I will be back to share my birthday makes too :O) xx

The challenge at One Stitch At A Time this week is a super funtastic one to celebrate StitchyBear Digital Stores 3rd Birthday...

We have given you the choice of 2 themes:
1. All white
2. No Design papers.

Our tallented DT  girls have made examples using both themes. So theres lots to inspire you at the challenge blog.

Dont forget that the store has a whacking 33% off all procucts until 22nd March.

Happy Birthday to StitchyBear Digital Stamps.....

Hugs
Choccy xxxx

Happy Birthday

Today is StitchyBear Digital Stores 3rd Birthday

So to celebrate we are having balloons, cakes and a great big SALE....

Why not join us

Between now and March 22nd you get an amazing 33 % off all products in our store

 

Happy Birthday StitchyBear Digital Stamps ..

Heres to the next 3 years

 

xxxxxx