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