Some news for you all

Well folks, I have been running this Challenge blog now for almost four years and never taken a break... so now I plan to do just that.

Sorry if it comes as a shock but I have thought long and hard about it and made the decision that the time has come.

The reasons being.....

My husband is returning to work in the UK in June from Bermuda (hurrah and thrice hurrah) and I need some time to find somewhere for us to live in London - this will  take up valuable crafting time... together with all the unpacking of the boxes he is sending back from overseas... finding homes for it all,,,, then repacking stuff for him to take to the new flat... when we find it etc etc.... I won't bore you with all the details I am sure you get the picture.

So, I plan to take the next few months off to get everything sorted and to spend some quality time with my best friend Geoff my lovely husband. He has been away far too long and I and he will be glad when he is back working and living in the UK.


So please forgive me and bear with me and if you can, rejoin me sometime in 2013 to continue where we left off.

I will be posting every now and then on here to let you know how things are going.

Until then have a lovely summer.... hopefully we will get one here in the UK!!!! enjoy the Jubilee and the Olympics and I will see you all again next year I hope.

Please don't forget me and thanks again for all your support over the past four years ( I only started the blog to see if it would work lol)

Now scroll down for the last challenge for a while and enjoy

Bye for now xx

LAST ONE FOR A WEE WHILE - Challenge 206.... Pink and Turquoise in honour of Bermuda Day

Last week there were more lovely entries... thanks to everyone for their entries.

This week on May 24th we celebrate Bermuda Day...a National holiday there. There are two colours most prominent over on the Island, pink for the sand and turquoise for the water and the sky... so there is your challenge.... PINK AND TURQUOISE. Two lovely colours I think you will agree and lots of possibilities here for cardmaking, scrapbooking and journaling. This will be our last Bermuda Day...as G leaves very shortly and returns to the UK... so no more Bermuda type challenges.

Well actually no more at all for a wee while... see other posting.

As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog. Thanks and enjoy the challenge.

Now check out the DT cards all super as usual.


BERYL








CAROLINE

CYNTHIA

Happy Bermuda Day to one and all x

Challenge 205.... 'Let's get Inky'

Hello again crafters... well this week has not been a good one for me as since returning from the fabulous Create and Craft Cruise I have been confined to my bed with flu....all say ahh....
I have not been on the computer much at all therefore not commented on your entries last week... for this I must apologise...BUT... I am now up and about, first time today though still coughing for the UK.. I would certainly win the Olympics if there was a coughing category...lol - I am sick of hearing myself and of looking at my very red and sore nose.
At least the aches and pains have eased somewhat and I managed to stay up all day today woo hoo.

So thanks for your entries... I know my fab DT loved each and every one and I know I will when I get round to looking at them.

The winner I will post at the end of the posting so keep reading.

The new challenge this week is a favourite of mine....'Let's get Inky'... I love nothing more than playing with inks and getting mucky (as we say in Yorkshire lol) but even this fab topic I have not been able to complete... maybe I will get it finished before the week end.



As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog. Thanks and enjoy the challenge.


Now check out the fab works of art created by my super DT and do look at their blogs too... thanks again ladies... you are gems.


BERYL





CAROLINE







CLAIRE






JENNY





So now onto the winner of the super Pinflair blog candy....

come in number.....6


that is you Lindsay... well done.


Please do email me with your address info before the 23rd May to claim your prize.

Challenge 204.... 'Age....as in decoupage etc

Many thanks for all the  lovely Memories you shared with us last week.... I will get to comment later as just in the house after the fab Create and Craft cruise.

This week the challenge is sponsored by 'Pinflair' makers of the fab Pinflair gluegel... and the topic is 'AGE.. as in decoupage, pyramage, trinitage.... etc ... you get the picture I am sure.

So get your thinking caps out and you could be the lucky winner of the Pinflair blog candy.


As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog. Thanks and enjoy the challenge.

Now for the winner of Joanna's voucher this month


Number 7... yes again... was picked out by my lovely friend Linda on the cruise... as I did not have access to Mr Random Generator this week due to being on the high seas.. and boy were they rough at times lol... another story for another time lol

So come in.....Deanne....well done on winning this week

please do contact me before the 17th June to claim your winnings.

Now check out the fab work done by my great DT below and don't forget to visit their blogs.


BERYL






CAROLINE







CLAIRE






JENNY

Challenge 203 - Memories

Another week gone by and more lovely entries for the challenge thanks so much everyone.
First down to business....and the winner of the super Dyan stamps is


number   7


well done.....Jax

please do email me before 2nd May to claim your blog candy. And please note I will be away for a week on the cruise so don't worry if there is a delay in you receiving them lol.

On to this week's challenge... 'Memories' is the topic... lots of options there I think.
As this is the first of a new month our sponsor once again is the lovely Joanna Sheen with a gift voucher up for grabs.

As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog. Thanks and enjoy the challenge.

Now check out the fab creations by my super DT.. thanks ladies always a pleasure to see them. Sorry not had time to do my own card this week lol



BERYL







CAROLINE







CLAIRE







ELIZABETH






JENNY

Challenge 202 - On The Street Where You Live

Well folks another week has gone by... most of it very wet, cold and windy up here in the Highlands.... hope yours has been better wherever you are. No drout up here lol.

Thanks again for your entries last week... all super.

Last week we said goodbye to Jen (thanks again Jen) and so this week we welcome our new DT member Beryl .. here is what she has to say

'Like many crafters I started as a child with knitting, crossstitch and
crochet. I started making cards when I first got a pc in 1997, then
progressed to papercrafting in 2005 after my niece Terrie came to stay and
showed me what I could be getting up to. I love stamps and stamping - I've
collected more stamps than I'll every use probably - but it doesn't stop me
adding to my collection when I see some 'must haves'. I have made some
lovely friends through crafting, mainly after getting broadband in 2009 and
joining the 'blogging' experience. I'm thrilled to be joining Rainbow Lady's
Design Team and look forward to contributing to the coming challenges'.

Do be sure to check out her super blog as well as the other DT members blogs.

So the challenge this week is 'ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE'... and is sponsored by Laura from That's Crafty.... she is giving a super set of Dyan Reaveley stamps... woo hoo you lucky people.

So get your thinking caps on and let us see your houses....

As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog. Thanks and enjoy the challenge.

Now check out the fab works of art from the DT... thanks ladies.



BERYL






CAROLINE








CLAIRE











CYNTHIA

ELIZABETH







JENNY

Challenge 201... St George's Day/Patriotic/British

Wow another huge amount of entries last week... thanks so much... and for your congratulations on my 200th.

Many thanks also to the lovely Hels for being my GD.

I will post the winner of the blog candy at the end of the posting.

Now on to challenge 201.... on the 23rd April we in the UK celebrate St George's day and it is also our Grandson's birthday.... so the topic this week is St George's/Patriotic and British.  We have lots going on in the UK this year so plenty to celebrate with the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as well - there area lots of Union Jacks around with red white and blue everywhere... so you have plenty of scope I think.

Sadly, we are losing one of our fab team - this week will be Jen's last so many, many thanks for all your hard work and super contributions Jen... we will miss you.

Our new DT member will be revealed next week.

Now check out the fab creations from my lovely DT below and don't forget to check their blogs too to see their other works of art.


CAROLINE








CLAIRE






CYNTHIA

ELIZABETH









JENNY







JEN






AND THE WINNER IS


lucky for some number 13

That is you Trace Croft Cards

Please do email me with your address info before 25th April..... and well done x

Wow it's Challenge 200.... yes really 200.... CELEBRATE WITH A TOUCH OF VINTAGE

Many thanks for all your lovely Easter offerings... they were all spectacular.

The winner will be announced lower down the post.

This week I celebrate my 200th challenge... yes really.... I started this blog off  'just for fun' to see if it would work... and thanks to all of you here I am still blogging each week.

For many weeks there was only little old me....then I decided to move with the times and get myself a Design Team... and boy oh boy what a fabulous set of crafters I have been lucky enough to work with... so thanks to all my DT members both old and new.

There are so many challenge blogs out there nowadays so I am very appreciative of all you lovely folks who enter week after week... you make me feel so happy and blessed.

There is some blog candy on offer this week to say thanks for all the fab entries over the years.... but only to those who actually enter the challenge of course.

'And what is the challenge - get on with it ??' I hear you say....well CELEBRATE
with a touch of VINTAGE is the answer.
Now for the exciting bit....

Another of my blogging and personal friends the lovely Hels had her 200th challenge last week... I was lucky enough to be her first Guest Designer all those weeks ago so I asked her to be mine for my 200th... Am I lucky or what? as Hels she said yes...woo hoo I am so honoured and delighted as she is the most talented designer I know.
It is also Hel's 200th challenge this week as well so do check out her blog too.

So get your thinking caps on, enter the challenge and maybe win the goodies below which include a fab set of Lindsay Mason clear stamps, Distress Inks from the Master himself, cards, decoupage, stickers, pens, butterflies and some super glitter glue (perfect for glittering your Christmas baubles) and maybe some other bits I may decide to throw in for good luck.

Now for those of you who have been living on another planet and don't know HELS here is a bit of info for you - but where have you been????

About Hels:

'Hels has been crafting in one form or another since she was a little girl when she used to cover herself, her Grandma and every available surface with glitter and cotton wool. She really got bitten by the papercrafting bug back in 2003 when she took up cardmaking and scrapbooking. A chance meeting with Tim Holtz in 2007 made Hels realise that her true passion lays with anything inky and stampy. She created her blog, the aptly named Ink On My Fingers (pinkleart.blogspot.com) in September 2007, and she shares snippets from her daily life along with tips, techniques, tutorials and artwork. She has been published in several craft magazines and is currently on the Craft Stamper Design Team. Hels is a Certified Ranger Educator and has been teaching workshops for the last three years and she is also a regular demonstrator at the Alexandra Palace craft show. More recently, Hels has brought her art and passion for crafting to Create & Craft TV with the wonderful Studio 490 range, that, in Hels’ own words is “the best range of crafty stash in the world”  (she even put on a Jeremy Clarkson voice when she said that!)'

Now check out Hels wonderful DT work of art and check her blog too and also the fab creations by the rest of my DT.

CAROLINE









CLAIRE






ELIZABETH






JENNY






JEN





LESLEY







Thanks to all who have made this Challenge blog work out so well... you know who you are... both old friends and new - some folks have never missed a week and thanks also Hels for your fab work of art.

Finally the winner of Joanna's voucher last week is


number 23

well done
Stargroves (Anne) that is you

Please do email me before the 18th April to claim your prize.

Message for TG

Please go to your blog and enable comments... we can't leave you any at the moment and your creation is lovely.
Thanks x

Challenge 199 - Happy Easter

Well, what a week we have had up here in the Highlands.... last week we broke all the heat records - this week we had SNOW.... yes really... I woke up to 7 inches of the stuff on Tuesday morning.....brrr.. back to winter we go... and it is APRIL now.

So welcome to a new challenge which is, of course, sponsored by the lovely Joanna Sheen as it is the first week of the new month.... she offers a gift voucher to one lucky winner.

Easter is with us as tomorrow is Good Friday and amongst all the eggs and chocolate I hope you will all spare time to remember the real Easter message.

So for your challenge anything connected to EASTER will be acceptable either religious or non religious.

As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog.
Have fun and enjoy the holiday and if travelling do take care.
Now check out the fab works of art from my super talented Design Team - thanks again folks.


CAROLINE






CLAIRE







CYNTHIA




ELIZABETH








JEN






JENNY







And now for the winners... yes I did say winners of last week's challenge

The winner is  ta da

number 3

that's you Yvonne


and three... yes three runners up are

21 Cath W
53 inkypinky
56 Debbie R

Well done everyone

you have until 11th April to contact Caroline at dg.rawcliffe@blueyonder.co.uk to claim your winning digis....lucky you...enjoy them all.

Many thanks again to Caroline for her generosity.

CHALLENGE 198 'Butterflies'

Many thanks for your super entries last week..... if I have not commented yet please do be assured I will do so as soon as I can... just returned from NEC so way behind with everything.
We have had the most fabulous weather here in the UK over this last week... even Scotland had wall to wall sunshine and broke the temperature record three days running, so very appropriate that this week the lovely Caroline is sponsoring the challenge... the title being 'BUTTERFLIES' as I am sure there must be some around somewhere in this heat.

Caroline gave the DT some lovely images to work with and as you can see they all turned out beautifully and all very different.


As usual you may create whatever you fancy be it atc, card, scrapbook layout, tag, inchie, 4 x 4 - the choice is yours. As always add your creation to your blog or email me direct with the picture if you don't have a blog. Leave me a comment with a direct link to your work of art and I will pop over to have a look. Please include a link to my challenge site on your blog. Thanks and enjoy the challenge.

Now check out the DT work below, super as always, thanks ladies.
So come along and join in the fun and the challenge ... you could win something super from Caroline.



CAROLINE






CLAIRE





CYNTHIA

ELIZABETH







JENNY







JEN