Debby's Fave 5 and a time to reflect

Following from the Fave 5 Christmas Cards as always there is Debby's Fave 5 of the Year. If I thought choosing 5 from Christmas was bad choosing 5 from the year has been worse!! But here they are (and there's a special message from me to you all at the end of the post).
Am also joing Mynn over at 'On a Stampage'.

First up had to be this baby card (original post here) - am not a 'baby' person really but do like frilly and fancy (sometimes LOL) so when I was asked to make a card for a special arrival I turned to Pinterest (again!) for some inspiration and this was the result

Next is another fussy one! I love this sentiment - think it's so true-  original post here

Ok - so this one isn't a card - but it does rank amongst my faves so have included it! - original post here

A 'man' card - unusual for one to be amongst my faves - cos let's face it, we all hate making them! - original post here

  I have this year made quite a few CAS cards - out in blogland many have perfected this art of CUSP ('Completely Understated and Strikingly Perfect'!!) and I have become an avid follower of several blogs who make these gorgeous cards. Here is a 'case' from one - original post here

So that's it - another year has gone past. I hope 2014 has been good to you but if it hasn't may 2015 be better. For me it has largely been a good one, some lows but many highs. 

Sad today as it would have been my darling Mum's birthday - I miss her every single day and it's particularly hard when you can't share the 'highs'  - maybe that's why the sentiment on the second card means so much to me - it IS the little things (like sharing a cup of tea with your Mum) that make life so big.

Thank you for visiting me this year and I wish you all a 2015 filled with the 'little things'. xxx

Favourite 5 Christmas Cards 2014

Debby is once again hosting her 'Favourite 5 Christmas Cards'. 

I play along every year - and every year I have trouble picking 5 cards - not cos they're all my favourites but because there's such a lot I think I could have done better!

Anyway here goes with my 5 picks -

 My fave 'twiggy tree' die used every year for a lot of my cards, and a blue glass star which I've had in my stash for simply ever!

 One which I hadn't previously blogged - done on cream base card which is a change for me - getting the lines round the edges of the layered squares reasonable straight for embossing was a bit of a challenge!

Another White on White with a splash of colour and a few sparklies!

An image from the marvellously talented Mo Manning has to appear in every list of my fave cards!

And last but not least a  card which shows a stamp I used an awful lot this year - it's detail embossed beautifully and I made a lot of cards using different coloured embossing powders and spent a lot of time sticking on teeny gems in contrasting or coordinating colours!

 Looking back on this years I did manage to make my cards using different techniques - dies, embossing and of course colouring despite trying to keep those that I had to post very thin so it didn't cost a fortune!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and thank you to Debby for hosting the Fave 5 again this year!

The Night Before....

Well here we are with another Christmas Day almost upon us!
OH and I spend our festive period quietly at home and whatever you're doing over Christmas I wish you all a lovely day filled with everything you could wish for.

Sharing another Christmas card - I expect everyone is fed up with them by now. This was the first year when I have been ready well in advance and I think perhaps I missed that last week panic when I still had zillions of cards to make like usual in previous years!!

I made two cards of this design - this gold and white one and another in the more traditional red/green combo on cream card which I will save for another time!

I gold embossed all the edges of the square panels and the edges of all the petals of the die cut poinsettia.
The flourish was cut from gold card with a recently acquired holly die and I also cut another petal layer from the same card for the base of the flower.
Popped a gold pearl in the centre of the flower and embossed the greeting.

As this had a few layers and I didn't want the flower to get squashed,  it was hand delivered!
Challenges -
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Just Inspirational - Christmas
TTCRD - Anything Goes
CAS on Sunday - Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to comment, enjoy your Christmas. x

Trees!

Well I survived  the last 48 hours - JUST! Friday was spent cooking and baking and yesterday was the actual Party Day - think everyone enjoyed it - we came home, poured a very large Gin and Tonic for me, a not quite so large Whiskey for the other half and collapsed!! 
From today we are concentrating on our own Christmas (which as usual will just be the 2 of us and quiet) but I first need to get the Christmas Tree up otherwise it won't feel like Christmas at all!

All my cards are done and sent so am sharing some from the 'For Blogging' folder. These 3 are a variation on a theme from last year and were an original design a few years ago by the very talented Birgit.

I made a batch of these using up the odd snippets of glitter card for the green one and other odd bits for the pink and kraft ones - and of course a few scraps of lace!
Snow embossing folder on the background then the 'tree' shapes ran through the corrugating machine, pearls and lace added and some white organza ribbon then matted onto coordinating card.
The stars were punched from the oddments and another pearl added.
Am off now to get covered in glitter and tinsel (makes a change from flour) - will be back later for a chill out blogland visit. Thanks for visiting today and enjoy your day!x
Challenges -
Suzy Bee's- Anything goes with Pearls
My Time to Craft - Trees
One Sweet Challenge - Christmas
Challenge up your life - Christmas without stamps
Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 156/157
CHCCE - Anything Chruistmas

Grainy Pic!

Another bad card to photograph! Looks really grainy to me but after 20 minutes of picture taking I finally gave up and you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that in real life it's actually quite a nice card!

I made a conscious decision this year not to make cards with lots of layers that were expensive to post or even worse were well squashed and damaged when they arrived at their destination.

I popped up the snowflake edges to take the pic but it does actually lie reasonably flat -must have been OK cos it's now arrived and it's recipient said it was lovely....

Just basic white card with a piece of left over pale blue/white polka dot cardstock - scalloped edged because the left over wasn't straight and I had to disguise it to use it up!
The snowflake cut from an odd bit of white card, glittered and a centre blingy.
The PB sentiment stamped and hear embossed in white onto another teeny scrap of blue/white striped paper (the 'sister' to the polka dot one!).
 Will be paying a visit to week 155 at Pixie's Playground with my odd bits card this week too!

Challenges -
CASology - Snow
Use Your Stuff - Anything Goes
Crafting Musketeers - Bling
Crafty Sentiment - Winter
Sentimental Sundays - Ch 237 Anything Goes

I'm doing a Christmas Buffet for 45 club members on Saturday so will be up to my elbows in sausagemeat/turkey and smoked salmon for the next few days but will make some time to pop round and visit you all! x

Frosty

Title of this post describes the scene outside here this morning - beautiful - all sparkly white with a thick frost - (even the cars have turned white and blended into the landscape!) and a glorious clear blue sky - although the window up here on the top floor hasn't yet defrosted so I feel a bit like I am sitting in a white cave!

Am sharing another white card made up with odd bits of sparkly paper which I've been hoarding - (see previous post!)
Quick and easy - and because I wanted to get all sorted early it has made me use up quite a bit of christmas stuff this year although the 'seasonal stash' area is still overflowing. How did I accumulate all this stuff? I had a mega clear out 18 months ago when we moved and I swear I haven't bought any new Christmas stuff since but still I have tons of papers!

White snowflake vellum background (which is really pretty and I know why I didn't use it before now!).

Wrapped some sparkling white organza ribbon around and added a bow. Stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of vellum and clear embossed, adding a couple of tiny sparklies then tucked it underneath the bow.

Three snowflakes  die cut from glitter card and more blingy - and finished! (Card is now adorning my neighbour's mantelpiece - she thought it was really nice!)

Challenges -
Allsorts - White Christmas
City Crafter - Glittering Snowflakes
Opus Gluei - Let It Snow
Fussy and Fancy - Snowflakes and Ribbon
Crafty Catz - Last Minute Christmas
Crafty Creations - Die Cuts

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Winter

Winter has officially arrived here in my little part of England. And it has arrived with a BANG... snow, sleet, hail, coupled with the most horrendous gales (made worse by the fact that we are up on the top of the hills!). According to the forecast it is much the same everywhere so that makes for smiling crafters doesn't it - cos the weather is 'too bad for us to go out'..................!!!!

I have (I am glad to say) finished all my cards, now written and in the post. This is the first time for YEARS I have actually finished without having that mad rush that is usual for me.
So christmas stuff now ready to be put away for another year!!

What a devil of a job I had taking this pic - typical of White on White. I think this was made worse too by the sheen on the vellum paper.
Simple card really, tore some white pearlised card for the snow 'drifts' , used a snowflake background from a hoarded vellum paper stack ( bought about 4 years ago - one gold and one silver - so used some of it this year finally!), 3 trees cut from  the same white pearlised card then layered between the snowdrifts and liberal helpings of glitter.
The star was punched from silver glitter card and I embossed the sentiment.

 Challenges
Die Cutting Divas - No Red/Green
Incy Wincy - Snowy days
Dies r us - Winter Wonderland
TIOT - Winter Whites
Apart from the aforesaid (dusty) vellum sheet the rest was from odd bits... so it's off to the playground for me this week too!  Pixies Snippets Playground Week 154. 
Thanks for taking the time to pay me a visit - I appreciate it.
(I know people have been having trouble with word verification... can anyone tell me if it has appeared here on my blog? ) x

Last Posting Date

I am a smug little person today - spent yesterday writing my Christmas cards and discovered that in the 'Card box for Christmas' stash I only need to make about half a dozen more for some close friends.. Could this be the year that I actually have them all finished before the middle of the month???

This card is winging it's way across the pond  to our adopted niece who lives in the USA  -(or will be come Monday when I am robbed by that Dick Turpin man usually known as Royal Mail) 
Lauren is growing up fast now - she is I suppose a bit of a tomboy but has her 'girly' moments too so I am hoping that she likes this!

Stamped and coloured with Promarkers then the edges distressed and a little sprinkle of glamour dust.
The background holly paper from  my stash layered onto dark green card, then a scrap of coordinating dark green  holly paper stitched over.

A die cut corner and a great big dark green bow added, the post box given a little bit of that expanding flocky stuff (wish I knew what it's real name was......)  and finished with some red flowers and a green crystal drop.
The 'letters' were cut from a 'flowersoft' sheet which I have had for about 8 years - they just seemed to fit!
Inside done to match.

Thanks for looking today - it's a cold day here so no play possible as the green is frozen - we have been very lucky up to now -this is the first time we've not been able to get on the green this winter - for me now it will be in the warmth of the craft room for the rest of the day I think!

Challenges -
A Crafty Mess - A/Goes- Traditional Christmas colours
Alphabet -V for Variety - 3 different embellies (Flowers/Crystal/Ribbon)
Fussy & Fancy #128- Happy Holidays
Crafting with the Dragon - Christmas Time
Aud Sentiments - Bingo (Diecut/Stamp/Bling)
STAMPlorations - Stamps and Designers Choice - (September - Stamps and Markers)
Jingle Belles - Anything Christmas Goes
Completely Christmas - Anything goes/Twist - Holly

Bloom

We had a nice lunch out today with M-I-L before she goes off (again!) on her latest jaunt to sunnier climes for Christmas. Then I popped along to the Crematorium with some flowers for Mum, stood and had a little chat and told her all my exciting news - been one of the greatest things I have missed over the last 4 years - not being able to share in person and have hugs.

Anyway on to the card - was feeling a little 'christmassed out' (even though my card making is nowhere near finished!) and have been wanting to have a play with some goodies for a little while.

As normal when you want to do something different Mr Mojo decided he didn't want to appear - so I have CASE'd and put my slant on a card I saw on Pinterest earlier this year done by Nikki Spencer - I suppose this is quite a severe colour combo but I like it - although yellow is not normally a colour I use a lot.

I layered the flower (from SU's Bloom With Hope set) to give some depth and coloured with Inktense pencils-  the leaves were cut with an 'emboss and cut' punch and I used another stamp from the same set for the background.
The sentiment stamp is an old one as is the embossing folder I used on the dark grey pearlised card.
This is another card for the 'stash box'.

Challenges -
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
ALBC - Anything Goes NOT Christmas!
Crafty Sentiment - Anything Goes
Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes - twist embossing

I think Winter has arrived here in my part of the world - it really is cold and the fields at the back of the barn are already white with frost. Perfect excuse to try and find Mr Mojo in the craft room I think! Thanks for visiting. x

Another Christmas Card

Grey skies equal bad photos!
Not the sharpest or the brightest but you get the general idea!
Another card made for my own stash.
Simple and quick too, so may make a couple more.....

Rudolph stamped in Adirondack 'Latte' ink then clear embossed.

Snowflake flurry embossing folder.

Wrapped some red and white twine round the bottom to break up the expanse of white (which I had to leave cos I wanted it to fit onto a 7 x 5 inch card base!)  and stamped a small sentiment onto a tag shape and tied to the twine.

Stuck it onto red card then layered it with foam pads onto the white base.

Added a larger red sparkly for Rudolph's nose and three of the tiniest red sparklies you have ever seen in your life which were at the bottom of the gem jar - I spent ten minutes chasing them round the bottom of the glass jar to get them out and then another 20 minutes trying to pick them up off the craft mat to stick them on!

Challenges -
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Happy Holidays
Crafty Little Fairies - Not Square
MAWTT - Inspired by a Song (a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - very original!!!)
Time Out - Embossing

Thanks for taking the time to visit - we have quite a nice day here so am away to the Club to play in the 'Frostbite' League (suitably wrapped up of course!). Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

One month away...

I have had a real nice few days - was at the Ladies National Presentation Dinner in the Midlands on Saturday night and yesterday spent a few hours in the North in the company of Sylvia and her friends making Christmas cards round Sylvia's kitchen table!
Two long drives but both worth it!
 In my crafting time on my own I have been busy getting on with some Christmas cards too...

I bought this PB stamp last year and used it once! This year I have made a batch of cards with it, using distress markers in Festive Berries (for the flower) and Shabby Shutter for the greenery.
I stamped one image straight away after applying the markers and then lightly spritzed the stamp for the second.
Simply layered each onto co-ordinating card then into white base card, a sentiment in the same inks and added a few tiny pearls to the centre of each flower.
It is the final Rudolph's Day challenge of the year -and also Sarn's final time as host so thought she might as well spend the rest of the time towards Christmas in shock that I have managed two challenges on the trot!

Other Challenges -
Love 2 Scrap - Sentiment stamped in colour
Merry Monday - Red/Green/White
Ooh La La - Christmas
C C A Y R - No Patterned Paper
PB & More - Anything Goes
Thanks for visiting. x

It's been a strange week!
Lots of places to book for overnight stays during May to September, trying to juggle a few home commitments amongst all the travelling and visiting across the country and generally just trying to get my head round the enormity of what is actually happening to me!

I spent a quiet day yesterday making a few Christmas cards for my own stash -
Made a couple like this - (had terrible bother taking a decent photo!) and just used up some odd leftovers for the die cuts and the embossed background. So I will be paying a visit to the much missed Playground this week.

I was going to put the birdie on the branch but changed my mind at the last minute and popped him on what was intended to be a snowy floor - not sure it works but hey ho - too late now!!

Snow embossing folder used then an oddment of white card just randomly cut with sharp scissors, sentiment stamped with Versafine Crimson Ink and layered over background with 3d pads. Teeny bit of sparkle on the edge.

Some sparkle added to the branches and a few tiny red gems (note to self  a great idea if you have loads of time to chase the tiniest sparkly bits round the craft table..... not so good if you're in a hurry!) 

Birdie stuck where his feet will get cold and a tiny red gem on the 'i' of the sentiment.

Layered the whole lot on white base card.

Challenges -
4 Crafty Chicks - Make it Sparkle
As You Like It - fave Christmas Style - Modern and CAS - cos I love White on White and think it's perfect for Christmas!
Aud Sentiments - Sentiment for December Holiday
Divas by Design - Snow
Delightful Challenges - You're a gem (Bling)
Crafting by Design - Christmas

I suspect I shall be getting a lot of practice at making a lot of CAS cards during the summer months over the next four years as crafting time will be at a premium!
Thanks for visiting and if you've left a comment I appreciate it. I am going to spend this evening trawling through blogland and catching up with all I have missed this last week! x

Lows and Highs

What a week!  Some desperate news over a 48 hour period last weekend, one not unexpected but the other a huge terrible shock and then on Tuesday morning whilst standing on a very cold and windy Railway Station I received a phone call with some amazing news which has now thrown me (and likely the other half) into a wonderful adventure over the next few years!

I don't want to bore you with all the details but I have been elected as Junior Vice President of Bowls England - so the succession means JVP in 2015, Senior VP in 2016, culminating in the Presidency in 2017. I am honoured, excited and maybe a little scared(!!) at the enormity of it all.

(The press release can be viewed a little way down the page here -  https://www.bowlsengland.com/news/page/1/presidential-and-selector-election-results or here  a little way down the page on the Clubs facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bolton-Flat-Green-Bowling-Club/504991522857091)

Anyway that's enough of all that - after all the excitement of the Club of the Year win and now the President thing I need some time out and I am going to spend today making messy - I have promised myself!
 About the card - a commission for a young lady's 3rd Birthday.
Image from All Dressed Up, coloured with promarkers and fussy cut. A wee bit of Frosted Lace stickles on the cake top.
Sentiment computer generated then cut with nesties, papers, lace, ribbon and pearls all from my stash.
Challenges -
In the Pink - KISS with lots of Pink
Crafting for all seasons - Birthdays
Creative Moments - Anything Goes - Celebrate
Fab n Funky - Birthday
Cuttlebug Mania - Girlie
Passion for Promarkers  - Lace
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes with ribbon
Am away to blogland now for a catch up, thanks for coming to see me today. have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Angel

Since my last post I have had a weekend of shocks and bad news so haven't really felt like doing much but had to get the last of the commissioned cards finished today.
I managed to finish the order and take some pics (now all stored away for future use) and decided to post one today.

Just did a plain cream colour scheme - backing paper from my stash distressed and stitched. Added some cream lace and ric rac braid and a paper doily.
The angel image is from LOTV highlighted with a bit of sparkly. I distressed the edges, took the cotton out of the machine and just ran round the edges with an empty needle.
A piece of cream organza ribbon tied into a bow and added some stamped and gold embossed stars.
Challenges -
Alphabet - T - Traditional Christmas
Christmas S.A.Y.L - #36 Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Ribbon & Lace
Crafty Catz - Ribbon & Lace
Creative Corner - Christmas
RRR - Winter Holiday with Ribbon
Crafty Calendar - All About Christmas

Thanks for looking today and if you've left me a comment I appreciate it very much. x

Been getting on a bit with the commissioned cards the last couple of days although I think that today I might have to do something else as I am beginning to get irritated with Christmas!

This is another one of Mo's images I have had for a long time but rarely coloured. Opted for a pink and blue theme as something a little bit different from the normal red and greens.

The papers are from my stash and I added a little bit of spiders webby sparkly fabric stuff (no idea what it's real name is....) on top of the base layer before layering up everything else.

The stamp was coloured with promarkers.

Some blingy in the form of dies cut from sparkly paper and a few dabs of Stickles.

Another one off the ordered list!

Challenges -
Milk Coffee - Hand Coloured Image
Delightful Challenges - Patterned paper
Bearly Mine - Christmas Cards
C.R.A.F.T - Winter
I love Promarkers - Cute Christmas
Papertake Weekly - A/goes with sparkle/glitter

Am sat here listening to the rain lashing down - perfect excuse not to venture away from the craft room - (as if I even needed an excuse! LOL).
Thanks for visiting - have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Bird House

I had a mass clear out when we moved house last year - and amongst the things that went to the Charity Shop were lots of Christmas ornaments and decorations so I took the opportunity of the challenge to make something which I will hang on a wall somewhere!

I had a devil of a job taking a pic of this.

The birdie house is a wooden template - part of a set of 2. This was the smaller one and it measures  just over 5".
I used up odds and ends of paper scraps and rescued a torn die cut - so entering this into Pixies Playground too.

I painted the wooden base with a white gesso wash then used up an oddment of woodgrain paper (had to join it in the middle but simply ran down the join with a grey promarker to hide it) as the background.
Used modelling paste on the roof and in the hole in the centre, just slapped this on and once dry painted over it again with white acrylic paint and while the paint was still wet threw some glamour dust over it - instant bling!!

The snowflake die was the rescued piece - I had cut it from some thick sparkly paper when making this card here but it hadn't cut all the way through and I ripped it - but thankfully it was just the right size for this.

The holly die was a new buy. Once cut, embossed the berries with red and then ran over 'Mowed Lawn' DI.

The rolled roses were just done from oddments of paper and randomly embossed with silver and the white fibres were from my stash. I stamped a tiny sentiment and embossed in red.

And here is my little robin ready to be placed strategically (!!) when I decide where I'm going to hang his house! 

Challenges - 
Pixies Snippets Playground - week 149
Completely Christmas - Anything Goes /Twist add a robin
MAWTT - Winter is Coming
Fab n Funky - Christmas
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything but Square
CHNC - Anything Christmas Goes
The Crafting Cafe - Not a Card
  Thanks for looking in today Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Feed the Birds

Had a very exciting couple of days - more of that later at the end of the post.
In between all the madness I relaxed a little by carrying on with my commissioned cards. Here's another one done and on the stack which is half way finished.

I have had the image called 'Ragged Urchin' for a while but this is the first time I have coloured it.

I don't know why either- even though I can't pick a fave from the talented pen of Mo Manning this one does rate somewhere near the top of the list - there she is all muffled up against the cold, with patches and darns on her pinafore but she has managed to find enough pennies to feed a little bird to protect him from the winter - Love it!
I coloured her with promarkers.

Keeping embellishments to a minimum once again but couldn't resist the pearls!
The berry trim was in the fabric box and I estimate it's about 8 years old but I think it goes quite well with the papers and image.
The sentiment die was bought last Christmas and used for the first time for this Christmas....and the big green brad is another oldie!

So shall now tell you about the rather pleasant shock I got yesterday - received a phone call to tell me that my club had won the Bowls England Club of the Year................ OMG!!! How good is that!

If you're really interested the press release is here -
https://www.facebook.com/bowlsengland/photos/a.171055699631612.40631.141047599299089/726637634073413/?type=1&theater

What a year we've had - Commonwealth Games Squad match, Bowls England President's Team match, hosting the lawn bowls of the British Transplant Games and now Club of the Year - No wonder I'm worn out!

Oh and the best bit -- - - - -  another new posh dress required - well can't wear the same in February as I'm wearing at the end of November can I ????? LOL

Challenges -

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Delicious Doodles - Baby It's Cold Outside

Jingle Belles - Christmas card with a Creature 

Winter Wonderland - Pick n Mix (Brads, pearls and berry trim trim which I'm hoping will count in the ribbon/lace category)

That's it from me. Have a fabulous weekend everybody. x

Wedding Day!

Time for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers (aren't the weeks just flying by?) and this time Sonia has chosen the theme of 'Cut It Out' - so dies and punches are to be used on your project this time and we are sponsored by HOBBY ART STAMPS and DI'S DIGISTAMPS.

I am sharing a Wedding card I made as a commission earlier this month. 

I was asked to include some 'pink somewhere' on the card as the Flower Girl attendants were wearing a baby pink colour.

I used my fave linen textured card, rescuing all the offcuts to use for the die cuts!

The background has a punched edge (Martha Stewart punch set) which I edged with Petal Pink ink.

The flower wreath was also randomly sponged with the same ink and some pale pink and  teeny white pearls were glued to the flowers.

The heart and butterfly die cuts also edged with pink ink and a couple more pearls to the butterfly body.
PC generated sentiment to finish.

Other Challenges -
Ecletic Ellapu (Pink Team) - Flowers/Anything Floral 
Pixies Snippets - Week 148
Stampin Boutique - Congratulatory 
Crafty Calendar - Bingo (Pearls/Sentiment/Die Cut)

Suzy Bees Blooming Challenge - A/Goes with twist - Wedding

Thanks for visiting - hope you will have a go this time with the challenge - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Rudolph Day

I go missing for ages then am back 2 days in a row!!
I'm feeling very pleased with myself as besides the commissions, I am actually making a few cards for my own stash for Christmas - nothing too fancy, mostly CAS and I know that I will still not have anywhere near enough by 1st December - but at least I am trying my best!!!
Rudolph Day is here again and this is my first entry this year (challenge has been running for months and this is the next to last- typical of me-  LOL) -

This 'Christmas Lights' stamp by Penny Black is a 'never before used'/ - don't know why - just found it whilst looking for something else - 

OK truthfully I had FORGOTTEN I OWNED IT

so in order to make up for it's years of neglect I made 3 cards with it! (only showing 2 here - saving the other for another day!)

Just plain white card, embossed one in silver the other in pink ( another 'never before used' embossing powder!), matted them onto same coloured card before putting them on base card, then added a few sparklies of the same colour.

Quick, easy and I quite like them! Got lots of different coloured embossing powders crying out to be opened too so likely will have worn out said previously forgotten stamp by the time I've finished my cards.....

Challenges -

Rudolph Day

PB & More - Christmas

Anything Goes w/a twist- Twist is PINK 

Allsorts - Christmas

Completely Christmas - Anything Goes - twist -add a sentiment

Oldie but Goodie - Christmas (stamp)

Not too many hectic days (she says) - Club Presentation tonight, TWO AGM's tomorrow (County and Club) then completely nothing in the diary for a whole week! So once all the minutes are done from the two meetings I intend to shut myself away and chuck ink all over the place!! x

Soon be Christmas!

Have been at 3 County Presentation lunches in the last 6 days - all in the North of England, - Cumbria, Yorkshire and Northumberland -nice food, nice wine and nice company!! My waistline however is not so nice!! So 'eat as little as possible' this weekend - despite it being my own Club presentation tomorrow.

I relaxed on Wednesday by making a start on the dreaded Christmas cards. Have a commission for a few as well as my own to do so here's the first commissioned one finished - The little cutie is of course by Mo Manning and I think she is amongst my faves!

I coloured her with promarkers in a soft pastel green and highlighted her wings, leg warmers and bobbles with a touch of pale blue grey and some glamour dust.
 The background was done using a mix of blue and yellow chalks.

Cut out with a nestie, edges distressed and stickled then mounted onto the background - paper I think from Wild Rose Studio. Just distreesed the edge and again - out with the Stickles!

All the snowflakes are from the same Memory Box die just cut up using scraps of white sparkle paper (which doesn't show up very well here but it is really sparkly in real life!)!
 The sentiment was a freebie from a magazine, added some bright white ribbon and a couple of crystal gems.
Not heavily embellished really or too thick - so it will be OK in the post!

Challenges -
Red Rubber Inspirational - Focus on Stamping
Crafty Little Fairies - 1 Designer Paper
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin - Snowflakes
Crafting By Designs - Get Ready for Christmas
Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 147
CHNC Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas

Am off now to remove the trophies from the cabinet at the Club and get stuck in with the silver polish so all the winners tomorrow will be able to see their faces reflected!!! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Not a good end result?

My mojo has been seriously lacking since I came back and haven't managed to create very much. I think perhaps because I have been so busy with paperwork and other stuff that the crafting bit of my brain has been pushed that far back it's disappeared completely!
Even getting an order for 10 cards hasn't spurred me into action.
So instead I opted for simple things and made a start on my own Christmas Cards - did a large batch using the same stamp which I am keeping to post show later this week- just in case Mojo doesn't re-appear!
This one was a 'good idea' thought - I fear a thought was all it was as I not too sure it looks exactly how I had thought it might but am sharing it 'cos I haven't got anything else!!!

I have had this embossing folder for a couple of years and this is the first time I've used it.

I made the silly mistake of using pearlised card..... won't do that again- was really difficult doing this 'Belleek' technique on slippy card!!
And as for the pic- have no idea why there's dark smudges on it cos there isn't in real life!
Used silver ink (another 'not a good idea') and swept it across the embossing folder, ran through the cuttlebug and carefully extracted the card. Gave it a blast with a heat gun to dry the ink.
From the remainder of the pearlised card, simply tore two strips, stamped and clear embossed the sentiment and ran some stickles across for more bling!
A little red gem for Rudolph's nose and some sparkly bits on the main star.
Overall it's not TOO bad I don't suppose?!

Challenges -
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Never used/Forgotten (my embossing folder)
HIMCR - Embossing
Christmas Card Challenges - Card/optional photo insp
CAS on Sunday - Emboss It
Allsorts - Embossing
My Perfect Life - Any Christmas Card

Off to find Mr Mojo! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Wonderful Day

The 'Wetlands' set from Stampin Up is one of those rare sets that I own and feel like I spent my money wisely -  I have lost count of the numerous stamps I've bought and only ever inked once or even worse, never used at all!
This has to rate amongst one of my better purchases and it's a set I am not yet tired of.
So here's another card!

Stamped onto plain white cardstock and coloured lightly with Distress Inks.

Matted the image onto grey cardstock and then layered onto a black off cut strip.

The background paper is I think a Kaisercraft one - but I might be wrong! Like it tho - has a lovely woodgrain textured look to it in real life.
Also layered onto grey and black.

Stamped the sentiment, cut out into a banner shape, added a grey pearlised button with some twine and done!

No nonsense quick card for the 'man' stash.

Challenges -
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything with Wings
Stamps and Fun - For a Man
Creative Card Crew - Black Cardstock

Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Finally!

So the thought that I would be able to sit and make messy four days after my last post was a little optimistic! But FINALLY last night I did something!!
Before going any further I  want to say a warm welcome to my new followers, Maritza, Leslie, Julie, Karen S and Little K  - thanks so much for looking at my humble blog!
I had left a pile of stuff out on the craft table before I went away and once I'd removed the 3 week layer of dust(!) I decided to use it up rather than put it away so it is a similar make to a previous card I posted before the holiday.

I opted for cream tones throughout with the image only having the splash of colour and stitched everything!

Striped background paper from Anne- Marie designs and the square layer behind the image has a muted cream/ivory swirl pattern (doesn't show up very well in the pic), which is from an old Papermania pad.
All edges distressed with Antique Linen DI and added some Stickles to the image edge and also to the champagne glasses and drops.

Two lots of lace from my stash, some ivory ric rac braid (to hide the lace join),  ivory organza ribbon, a layered flower ('stickled again!), some pearls and a few pins to finish.

Oh and a stamped banner sentiment.
Inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Ribbon Girl - Lovely Lili Add Lace
Sugar Creek Hollow - 1image, 2 papers, 3 embellies (flower,lace,pearls)
Fab n Funky - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Paper Shelter - Shabby Chic
Suzy Bee's - Anything Goes with Stripes
Country View Challenges - Sparkle and Shine
Scribble and Scrap - Anything Goes

Have a bit of tidying to do outside (sun is out!) but then am looking forward to a blogland catch up and of course a bit of creative nonsense this afternoon!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Penny Farthing - Vintage Stamping DT Post

Just another 3 days to go before I am unleashed back in the craft room! Actually it's likely to be at least 4 as I have a mound of paperwork to do for forthcoming AGM's and other meetings but still am sure I'll squeeze in a little bit of inky stuff!

-
got a stamp set of vintage transport images from Flonzcraft, all which are great for male themed cards - airplanes, trains, balloons, ships and the like. I had a bit of an inking session with all the stamps using different ink colours and then just made them up into cards, using up scraps of card on the way so am also calling in at the Snippets Playground this week too.

 And this time our challenge over at Vintage Stamping is a colour choice - you can use one or ALL of the following colours! Green, Orange, Black, Purple, Red - which of course 'scream' Halloween but I don't do Halloween so my offering is - as with most of my 'Cards for Men' - a CAS one. (Yes I know ANOTHER CAS and a basic card but it  pads out the numbers in the box which really are very low at the mo!  )

Having stamped the image in Forest Green Stazon,  I cut it out with a circle die then layered it onto another circle cut from dark green cardstock.
I embossed a piece of white card (the folder I think is from the Oriental Cuttlebug set) then layered it over the same green.
Cut out two banner shapes from oddments of paper and finished off with a scrap of green grossgrain ribbon and a button!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - White plus one
STAMPlorations - Stamp and Embossing
C.R.A.F.T. - Embossing
Crafty Ribbons - Buttons and Ribbon
Crafting when we can - No Designer paper

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Feeling Blue!

Yet another post done before the holiday - (edit) am now desperate to get back into the craftie space to make messy ..... 

Before I came away I needed a card in a hurry but didn't want to settle for all white - so opted for Blue instead! I seem to have made a lot of 'quick cards' recently and they're all basically CAS - I shall be embellie crazy when I next get chance!

Started with navy blue cardstock then layered some striped, then polka dot paper.

The flower was stamped with Versafine Majestic Blue then fussy cut. I dabbed a bit of Glossy Accents in the centre.
Once dry I stuck it with a 3D pad onto a tiny square scrap of embossed white card which was laying about on the desk! (Waste not want not!).
Sentiment stamped with the same ink and a couple of dark blue pearls to finish.

Quite a 'severe' card I think - but it works with the straight lines and monochrome colours?
I also needed to post it  -didn't want it too thick but wanted it to have SOME dimension so hope it achieves the objective!

Challenges -
Time Out - Stamping (optional Twist apples - which -obviously!-I didn't use)
That's Crafty - Keep It Simple
Crafty Calendar - Bingo (Flower, Sentiment, Blue)
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
ABC - U for Unique (Anything Goes)
Anything Goes With a Twist - Anything Goes


Only thing with holidays is there's - lots of lazing about, eating out with friends, more eating as OH cooks on the Barbie and of course the odd glass or two of vino! Which adds up to diet and detox when I get home at the end of next week!!
Thanks for taking the time to call in - have a great day! x

Birthday Girl!

A quick CAS card for a teenager's birthday to share with you all today - (again a post typed before I went off to sunnier climes and quickly updated!)

Asked to make a card in a hurry (less than 24 hours) and Mr Mojo disappeared off into the sunset so had to settle for a quick digi from All Dressed Up.

Love these stamps though - this one is from the 'Love to Shop' set and thought it was a reasonable choice for a very pretty grown up young lady of 15!

Printed both image and sentiment direct onto linen card and coloured our grown up girlie with Promarkers.
Matted the coloured image onto some orange card and then added a couple of banners from the cut off scraps of the orange sheet, running both scraps through two different embossing folders and then shoved the teeniest bit of orange card left into a heart punch and stuck above the sentiment!

The spotty ribbon and button from my stash.
Am sorry the pic isn't as sharp as it should be -don't know why.... think the really 'right between the eyes orange' of the ribbon and card overshadowed everything else!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - White and one other colour
Pixies Playground Week 144
Gem of a Challenge - CAS
Di's Digis - Girly
Crafty Catz - Birthday Celebration
My Sheri Crafts - Buntings or Banners
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with Buttons and Ribbon
Passion for Promarkers - Autumn Colours (and I chose orange!)
All Dressed Up - Favourite Colour (love all colours but bright ones are my fave!)

Thanks for having a peep at  my CAS card - am off for a quick laze on the sun lounger by the pool! Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Champagne!

Did you all think I'd left the country??? Well you're right, I Have!!! 3 whole weeks to be exact - currently sunning myself and chilling out with the odd glass or two of wine in 30 degrees of heat!

Typed this post up before I left and have just added challenges and stuff to it now I have a good internet connection - a commissioned card to share made for an anniversary for a friend's relative.
Still using up the paper stash and I am now soooo proud of myself that it has been almost 6 months since I bought a paper pad!!! Am still in danger of being buried under the paper mountain in the craft room and don't seem to have made any difference to the pile even though I have been trying to use it!

This card used a sheet of paper from the 'Exquisite' Pad by Papermania. This I think is only the second sheet I have used from this old pad!
Distressed the edges and then ran some Antique Linen DI round.
I used a paper doily and tucked some scripted vellum behind, then wrapped a piece of white organza ribbon round the card, layered some maroon satin ribbon on top and added a scrap of ric rac braid.

Next layer was a piece from Prima 'Fairy Rhymes' pad before topping off with the drunken mice!
I put some Stickles round the edge of the image and also on the champagne bubbles.
Finished with some pearls, a few flowers from my stash and a silver champagne glass charm.
Inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Crafty Little Fairies - Sparkle & Bling
Card Mania - Doily
Sisterhood Snarky Stampers - D for distressing
Sweet Pea - Creatures Great and Small
Wags n Whiskers - Furry Friends
Alphabet - P for Pretty Petals
ABC - Flowers/Sentiment/Doily

Thanks for looking - apologies from me if I don't get round to visiting you all for the next couple of weeks - promise to play catch up again when I get back to England! x

Ribbons, Lace and Pearls

Jackie is hosting our challenge today at Crafty Cardmakers and her theme is 'Ribbons/Lace and Pearls', so she would like to see ribbons or lace, {or both} AND pearls on your creations.

For my DT card I made this -

Ribbons, pearls and lace HAS to be vintage and shabby as far as I'm concerened! 

It gave me an opportunity to dig out this much neglected stamp which is I think perfect for a vintage look.

Stamped it straight onto coloured cardstock, and coloured the roses slightly with Distress Inks. Added some pearls for the buttons (very fiddly - took me ages!!) and tied a tiny shoestring bow in the same colour as the backing card.

Ripped and distressed the edges.

The other papers are oddments from various pads - spotty one first, (Prima Botanicals) then overlaid with some very broad cream lace. Next layer paper is from 5th Avenue pad (a scrap I had left), and two pre cut pieces from a Paris themed paper pack from Craftwork (I think!).

All stitched then overlaid with another piece of lace before adding the stampoed image.

The large lace 'rose' is a recycled piece from a very very old sweater  and I stuck a white pearl in the centre.

Two more pearls added and the inside decorated to match.

Please pop over and join us this time round - 2 great sponsors - Woodware and Di's Digistamps- are offering prizes this time round! 

Other Challenges -
We Do Doobadoo - Feminine
Suzy Bees - Anything Goes
A Vintage Journey - With a Flourish
Choc, coffe and Cards - Vintage
Delicious Doodles - Fancy & Frilly
Charisma - Lace & Pearls 
ALBC - Distress It 
Joan's Touch - Vintage/Distress/Layers

Thanks for visiting - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

In the Garden

Have had a nice couple of days - made a few 'quickie' cards to bulk up the stash a bit, finished an order and then today have been out shopping for the 'essentials' for the impending sunshine holiday ( 6 more sleeps then the sunbed for me!!!)
As we've been having some lovely weather lately I made a card with a 'summery' flavour!

Polka dot background paper distressed and stitched, a scrap piece left over from something else torn and stitched then some old white lace overlaid across.
The image (from LOTV), stitched to a plain white die cut frame and I lightly glittered some of the flowers (although it doesn't show up very well!)
Flowers and pearls from my stash and the little wooden 'Friends' banner was part of a challenge win.
Inside decorated to match.

I have a small die cut butterfly which I think may find it's way to the front of this card just to the left of the flowerpots on the bottom of the frame!

Challenges -
Crafty Sentiments - Spots
Oldie But Goodie  - Stitching
S.O.S - Bird image
Tuesday Throwdown - 1image, 2 papers, 3 flowers
Bunny Zoes - Lace
Incy Wincy - Girly
Pennys Paper Crafty - Stitching

Hope the sun has been shining where you are - thanks for looking and if you've left a comment I really appreciate it! x