Golden

Here is our first Stamping Sensations challenge of 2016 and it's 'Stamps and Dies' and our sponsors are Tonic who have offered a fab prize of their new colours of Nuvo Crystal Drops and matching glitters!

 

AREN'T THESE FAB?!!  

This was a commissioned card and thankfully the recipients celebration was before this challenge was due to go live so they will have seen it in real life.
In the last couple of months of 2015 I struggled really to come up with anything what I considered to be inspiring. I think having the busy summer left it's toll a little bit - someone said 'only another 3 years to go'... am hoping though that now I know what to expect having almost completed my first year I will be able to relax a bit more when I am not travelling away.
Anyway back to the card -
As we are a stamping challenge there HAS to be stamping as the focal point. My focal point is of course the huge vase holding the flowers! Trust me this IS a big stamp - and years old so have no idea where or when I bought it! I stamped then gold embossed with Tinsel Gold EP which really sparkles (!) before cutting it out.

Before putting the EP away I ran an embossing pen round the edge of the layered card and gold embossed.

The flowers are cut from gold matt card and gold mirri card. I don't really like mirri card very much - I think it is really east to overdo its use but think it looks OK  used sparingly, so just one flower stem whereas two stems from the matt card.

The metal heart is another old buy found in my stash and just used some thin gold wire to pop it into the vase.
The butterfly is a one of a set of 3 dies and I stuck some gold and pearl tiny beads onto the body.
Sentiment was computer generated.
I made a box with a gold lid out of a sheet of mirri card - got to use it up somehow!! Used up quite a few odd bits on the main card too so am away to get my hat and coat on and wellies and splash about in the Playground!
 

Other Challenges -   

Sweet Stampin- New Occasion/Event,  

 Glitter n Sparkle - A/Goes,   

AAA - CAS/Glitter,  

Simon Says Stamp - Party,  

Cupcake Inspirations - Chall 341 where they have this pic for inspiration!

2016!

Happy New Year to everyone!
Here's my first post of 2016 - thank you to everyone who followed me in 2015 and I hope you will come visit me often in 2016!
I have had a very quiet Christmas and New Year - and I managed to make a few cards. Most have been CAS and some have been inspired by blogging friends and of course Pinterest! But as it's the first day of a new year instead of CAS I have chosen this to share -

Once I'd finished I thought  maybe it was a bit sad considering this is the start of a new year! There he is standing in the rain gazing longingly at an image of the woman he loves - this movie star beauty who he captured on his camera before she became famous and then when she was lured to the silver screen she upped and left him  -- Or maybe that's just my over active imagination......... LOL!

So back to the card -
Basic cream card. Background paper is a piece I found in a drawer and used it because it was the right colour!
I printed the Photographic Studio image onto cream card then stamped the 'Movie Star' words on the top, added a metal diamond shaped brad in the centre and rubbed some Walnut Stain DI onto a clock hand (which was something else I found in a drawer!) and secured it with another brad.

I know Umbrella Man has been about for a long time but it was one that I  didn't own so was pleased to unwrap it at Christmas! The film strip die cut and Umbrella Man were cut from textured black card. Quite pleased with it close up as it has a nice subtle sheen to it.

I stamped the 'Movie Star' Image onto cream card  (I have had this rubber backed stamp for a long time and have no idea now which company it was from),  then positioned the die cut film strip over it so that only her face showed. Coloured her lips red! (Kiss Kiss!!!!)
The tickets are of course from Graphic 45 and to finish it off I punched out some sparkly silver stars and added some black blingy gems to the middles.


Challenges - Crafters Cafe (Square Cards),  Paper Creators Crafts (Anything Goes), ABC Challenge (Y for Your Choice), WWODTC (Anything Goes),  Crafts Galore Encore (Anything Goes), Dies R Us (Something New ).

The sparkly stars and black card were left over bits so am popping across to the Playground to see if there's anyone still asleep after last nights very very late party!
Thanks for sharing a little of the first day of 2016 with me. Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Happy Sunday

Finally we have a dry day here in the North of England - the blue sky has a damn cheek showing it's face after the horrendous weather! I often have said about being here on the top of the moors and the gale force winds we have when everyone else has a little bit of a breeze, but my goodness have I been thankful for being so high up when you see the floods in the nearby villages.
The destruction and devastation caused by the water has been unspeakably bad - even a 200 year old pub was washed away. Big mop ups underway today but I fear tho' it is only going to be a brief respite as the weather is going to be bad again mid week - am hoping that those who have had to leave their homes are able to get back into them today - even if it's only to retrieve some undamaged possessions.
I don't feel very Christmassy now (did I ever????? LOL) so instead here's a snippet make.

The bike is a wooden one - part of a card of wooden embellies bought last year after seeing a similar make and thinking it was a good idea! (Something else found in the recess of a drawer....)

The paper was from the 'odds and sods' box and I layered it onto a piece of beige coloured left over card before mounting it onto the white base card.

I stamped a teeny basket, cut out then stuck it onto the bike wheel, added a couple of punched flowers with tiny blingy centres and two pins.
Stamped the sentiment in Versamark Sahara Sand Ink onto another snippet of card.

Father Christmas (in the guise of my long suffering OH) bought me a new digital camera so I have been playing about with it! Pic is certainly better  - and it is nice and easy to use - but it has loads of different settings which I've not even tried out yet!
Another lazy day for me today - feel guilty as I think I should have gone out because the rain has stopped but honestly can't be bothered!!
Challenges -
Pixies Snippets
Allsorts - Anything But Christmas
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
That's Crafty - Anything Goes.


I hope you all had a lovely Christmas with everything you wished for.Thanks for taking the time to call in today - I appreciate it! x

CAS Snippets

Another Christmas card to share - and another made with a few left over pieces.

I drew a sketch and saved it into my drafts file so it is likely that this is a card similar to one I saw previously somewhere.

You can tell from the pic quality that once again it has been a grey overcast day here - although when I dragged myself out of bed this morning the sun was shining... didn't last long but it was nice to see even for a short while!

Simple card this - script stamped onto a scrap piece in grey Versamark then cut out with a nestie die, sponged over the edges with Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters DI.

Holly is one of my fave Christmas dies and added some red bling! (Cos it's Christmas!)

Quite like the clean look of this and even with the bling think it's OK for a man - hope so 'cos that's where it's going!!!!

Challenges -
Sweet Stampin - Merry Christmas
The Male Room - Christmas
MTTC - Last Minute Christmas
Glory of Christmas - Anything Goes
Pixies Snippet Playground

We spent yesterday cooking serving (and washing up) Christmas Lunch for 35 at the Club. I was on my feet for almost 11 hours solid so am REALLY suffering today - my legs feel like ton weights and like they don't belong to me!
The tree was supposed to be getting put up today but neither himself or I could summon the energy.............we're really busy over the next 2 days so said tree likely won't adorn the lounge until Wednesday! At least it'll be there in time for Christmas Eve!

Thanks for sparing the time to call in to day. Appreciate it. x

Another try!

Following on from my confession about Kraft card (here if you want to read), I sat for a little while looking at the little (??) stack of nondescript colour card which I bought 'cos it seemed like a 'good idea' at the time.
I have recently acquired yet another Christmas stamp (I need these like I need a hole in the head) but it was a bargain in a sale - so was determined that this one wasn't going to get put away uninked - like two I bought last year and several I bought the year before that.......
Stamped it and heat embossed in white.
Flipped it over, masked off the flower and stamped/embossed a few more stars across the top of the card leaving a space.
I coloured the flower with Fired Brick DI and used Mowed Lawn DI on the leaves/stem.
Heat embossed the sentiment which was a freebie with a mag.
Matted it onto dark red card and used another sheet of the (boring) cardstock for the base card.
Quite pleased with this - altho' am still not going to say I like Kraft!! (Not yet anyway.....)

Challenges -
City Crafter - Heat Embossing
PB & More - A/goes with a stamp
OSAAT - A/Goes with Red

Am off to do a bit more food shop for the Club Christmas dinner on Saturday - so thanks  for taking the time to call in and Ill catch up with you all later! x

Thankful for Saturday

Another week almost gone - and I shall be glad to see the back of it. It has been just been a week of devastatingly sad news - and it seems even worse as it is so close to Christmas.
Cards are done and most posted thankfully. Still no sign of any Christmas Tree in the house or any decorations!
Am not big into Christmas - bit of Bah Humbug here! I think it's because it's a time for families to be together and as we are rather short of relatives (!!!!!) I find myself not wanting to be bothered with all the rigmarole that surrounds it - - apart from of course eating Christmas Dinner!!!!
Will get round to putting the tree up sometime this week no doubt - we are doing our usual cooking Christmas Lunch for 40 at the Club next Saturday.

Here's another NBUS!

Have rather a lot of these 'never before used stamps'.
Seeing something similar on Pinterest I thought I would give this a go.

The large background stamp was gold embossed and coloured with Distress inks in shades of pink and green.

I ragged the edge a bit and sponged a little Antique Linen DI round it and a little randomly on the stamped bit.

Stamped the top only of the smaller bauble onto a scrap piece and decoupaged it, adding some tiny blingy bits to the middle.

The poinsettia on the large bauble was done using one of the MUSOC stamps this year -(most used stamp of Christmas). Am surprised it has not worn out.
Coloured with the same DI then layered and a die cut flourish and a big blingy centre.

This really IS a bad photo. The weather here has just been soooooo bad - and it's still raining!
Challenges -
One  Crazy Stamper - Christmas
In the Pink - Pink Christmas
CRAFT- Christmas
That's Crafty - Seasons Greetings
Fussy and Fancy - Happy Holidays
Fantastic Tuesday - A/Goes - Twist Christmas

Thanks for looking and leaving any comments. Have a great weekend! x

No excuses!

The wonderful Crafty Ribbons are our sponsors this month at Stamping Sensations and our challenge theme is 'Anything Goes with Ribbon' - (but don't forget your stamp must be the focal point of your project!).
There's no excuse then not to join in this month particularly if you're like me and now in a mad panic about Christmas Cards...

We got a few nice ribbony goodies to play with for this month from the sponsors and I had to steel myself to use a piece!
I struggle a lot making scenes with stamps and ink and deffo need more practice but I wanted to have a go and here is my result.

For a change I used a navy blue card base. (As well as having tons of paper I also have rather a lot of coloured card so am going to use that up too!)
I embossed a piece of white linen textured card with the random dots folder and wrapped round a piece of the scrummy ribbon and tied into a bow. The sentiment was stamped using Midnight Navy Stazon.
For the scene, I used Mermaid lagoon and Tumbled Glass Distress inks, masking off the moon with a £2 coin!
The trees were also stamped in Navy Stazon and I dragged a little Mermaid lagoon ink at the base of each trunk to give some depth.
Simply cut out with a nestie then finished it all off with a little sprinkling of glitter and a few dots round the 'lights' on the biggest tree - this doesn't show up very well in the photo but I didn't want to overload with glitter - it looks OK I think in real life!

Other Challenges -
PB&More - A/Goes with a stamp
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Winter/Christmas
OSAAT - A/Goes with Winter
Crazy 4 Challenges - O Christmas Tree
Wags n Whiskers - Ribbons
Pile It On - Anything Christmas/Winter

Thanks for looking - please go see what my talented teamies have done with their stamps and ribbon this month and I hope you will be inspired to join in!
Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Gales and floods

The weather here is the worst I can remember - we are suffering with gales of 70mph plus and so much rain. There's road closures all over the North of England and floods. (Floods thankfully don't affect us as we're so high up on the top but we therefore have the worst of the winds!)
I am not looking forward to a 6 hour drive tomorrow down to the South coast and am hoping that this bad weather eases a little before we leave.
I have spent this morning doing a little shabby card making - which I will show at some point but as we're still in December here's another Christmas offering

 A little bit of pinkiness as a change from the trad colours - and another card inspired by Pinterest.
I have had this paper pack for a long time - it was one that I wanted and this is only the second time I have used anything from it. (Typical........)
All over snowflake embossing folder used on two pieces of card. Larger piece matted onto dark pink then base card, smaller embossed piece cut out with a nestie and I ran some Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar DI round the edges.
Aforementioned never before used paper simply cut into 3 tree shapes and stuck onto circle piece with 3d glue.
Added some blingy gems to each tree.
Finished with a double shimmery organza bow - one pink ribbon and the other white.
Sentiment from SU.  

Challenges -
Craft Garden - Non Trad Christmas Colours
RRR - Shimmer and Sparkle
CHPP - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Embossing
Creative Corner - Sparkle & Shine
Mod Squad - Emboss/Ribbon/Colour

Thanks for taking the time to have a look today. I hope you are all warm, dry and safe wherever you are. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! x

Let It Snow.....

Wish it would snow  -  it would be a change from all this rain! It's hardly stopped for days now and is really making me feel miserable! At least snow makes everything look bright - rain is just GREY!
Yet another CAS card to share - made a couple of these too - one in black and one in blue - 

(design inspired by Pinterest!)

The circles were cut out of the left over pieces of card using a die for the larger ones and a punch for the smallest. (So Playground again for me!)
Heat embossed sentiment and different snowflake stamps in Winter White embossing powder and then simply ran a white ink pad round the edges of both cirlces and base card.
The sentiment was a free one with a magazine.

A single sparkly gem for one of the flakes - cos a girl has to have a bit of bling - even if these cards were made for male relatives!!
Aren't these photos rubbish??? Tried taking a few recently and there seems to be a lot of 'bleed' on the images at the bottom of each pic. Some are worse than others - OH thinks the antique camera may be on it's last legs... perhaps Santa will bring me a new one for Christmas!
Challenges
Cardz 4 Guyz - CAS Christmas
OLLCB - Let it Snow
Paper Players - Snowflake/Sparkle/Die or Blue/Sparkle/Embossing
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Winter
Creative Card Crew - Cold Outside

Thanks for looking. I woke up yesterday with a stinking head cold - am getting on my own nerves at the mo - feeling very sorry for myself!!! x

Sparkly

Another grey, wet, windy and miserable day here - perfect craftie space weather! (But terrible for taking pics).

Am just finishing my Christmas cards and this is another quick make - so much so that I made half a dozen in different colours whist I had the dies out.
It's just a variation on the theme of the dangly star below.  

Bright white base card, a layer of red and another white layer embossed with a snowy folder.
Offcut of the red card used to cut out the bow ( I have had this die since last year and this was the  first time I have ever used it....)
The stars were the outlines from the cards I made here.  The die cuts out lots of different sized star shapes and outlines so this was one way of using up the other stars.
Have now depleted completely the roll of tiny silver metal beads, so at least I can say I have used SOEMTHING up! The bow and star were stuck with 3d glue so they are raised from the base card.
Sentiment from SU stamped in Rocket Red Versamark ink.
Challenges -
Uniko - Christmas CAS
Rudolph Day
Sweet Stamping Christmas - Stars
Crafty Addicts - Use a Die Cut
Rubys Rainbow - Christmas/metallic twist (my beads!)

Thanks for taking some time to look at my blog today - hope you are having a great day whatever you're doing! x

Posh Frocks and Bow Ties!

Saturday saw the annual Bowls England Ladies Presentation Dinner. A really good night (pic of me and him below) - once the serious stuff of awards and speeches over then came the dancing, drinking and..........       skipping!
The girls won the 'skipping challenge' AGAIN! High heels abandoned, some had to hitch up long dresses, others were holding down short skirts! The sight of men suitably dressed in dinner suits and ranging in age from 20 to 60 trying to skip in a long line was hilarious, and of course the silly other half had to have a go too.....thankfully only thing that was injured was his pride!
Right onto the other serious stuff which is of course cards!
Here's a share from me for today -

I have made a lot of CAS cards this Christmas mainly owing to lack of time.
This pic is pretty awful to be honest, but the light here is dreadful - a proper November day - grey and raining!
White linen textured card onto a silver matt base before layering onto base card.
The branch was cut out twice from snippets of card - one a bright white plain card and then a scrap of silver glitter card.
Silver piece layered over the white piece - (it does give the effect of a snowy top in real life but can't see it in the pic!) and then raised onto the card with 3d foam pads
A silver star also cut from an oddment and a piece of silver beaded cord wrapped round the branch to hang the star from.
Sentiment silver embossed.
Quite like this one! Might do a few more!
Off to the Playground with my snippets share for this week.
Other Challenges
CAS on Sunday - Christmas)
613 Ave Create -  Square/Christmas/Silver + White
Bunny Zoes - Sparkle
CCC- Anything Goes
Addicted to CAS - Dimension
AAA - Anything Goes

Almost forgot! Here's the pic of us from Saturday night (before the tie and jacket were abandoned for the Skipping fest.....and just in case you thought it was all old fogies who play bowls....here's a pic of Katie and Sophie who walked off with the ultimate prizes of 'Young Bowler of the year and 'Bowler of the Year'!  (They're pretty good at skipping too!!)

Thanks for leaving any comments too - appreciate it. Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

White (and Red!)

It is the most AWFUL day here weatherwise! Wind is howling and the rain is battering down... glad I don't have to go anywhere!
A white on white card to share today - used up a few bits of white card too (Playground for me then!!)

 

I have some sheets of this leather effect card left (bought it years ago) so used some for this card.
It's quite a nice texture.
This was not only CAS but QAE (Quick and Easy!).

The holly flourish die was one I bought last year and have used it quite a bit.  I cut it out twice using the left over piece from the A4 sheet that I used to make the square card.
The poinsettia is the same that I used on the DT cards this month - (hadn't put it away so thought I might as well use it again!)
Added some red blingy bits to the holly and the centre of the flower and a little sparkly stuff to the poinsettia petals.
Sentiment stamped in Rocket Red.

Got a mountain of ironing to do but am intending to spend some time chucking glitter all over the place later - got to get these Christmas cards made!!

Challenges -
Fab n Funky - WOW
Beccy's Place - CAS
Clear it Out - White plus 1
Paper Players - CAS Christmas Card
Glory of Christmas - CAS
 
Thanks for looking today - hope you're warm and dry - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Kraft(y)????

My turn for the mid month post at Stamping Sensations where all the DT have to make something in a colour that they're not comfortable with. 

There's not many colours I don't like - sometimes what I call the harsh colours (yellows/oranges) I think are hard to work with but the one that tops the list for me is not one of the harsh ones but one I call NONDESCRIPT! Put simply the colour is Kraft! 

Don't know what it is about this buff coloured card but I find it really difficult to use.  I have tried many times to make Cards with it - some have turned out OK, (and just OK) - others have just ended up in the bin! 

It always seems drab and dreary and reminds me of boring cardboard boxes and packages!

So tasked with the mid month challenge I jumped in and got out the Kraft card. This is the third attempt! (others are in the Kraft cemetery).

I also tried to keep with this months challenge theme which is 'Festive Florals and Foliage'.

Overall I am happy with this as I think the contrast colour 'lifts' the dreariness- I used Weathered White white embossing powder for all the stamping  and 2 stamps (the script one and the border one) which have not seen the light of day for eons.
The poinsettias are the same as I used on this months DT card, (here)  again stamped, embossed in white and then fussy cut.
I used watercolour pastels to colour the flower and leaves.
A little bit of string (there's those boring cardboard boxes again....!!) and a couple of sparkly bits for the centres of the flowers.
There's still time for you to join us for our Festive Floral challenge - just remember the focal point of your project has to be a stamp! 
Am submitting this into -
Crafts Galore Encore - use a Stamp
1 Crazy Stamper - Winter/Christmas
Alphabet Challenge - 'T' - Tis the Season
CSAYL - Anything Goes
PB and More - Anything Christmas

Hope everyone has/had a great weekend. x

Moonscape

Home very late Sunday night - apart from the heavy rain the motorways behaved themselves and we managed it back in 5 hours!
Another journey yesterday - this time on the train - to a meeting a couple of hours away. Home at a reasonable time late afternoon so found some 'me' time (much needed) and made a couple more cards!
All Christmas ones and here is yet another inspired by something which I must have seen somewhere else at some time or other!

The pic is not the best - it's been so dark here today and now it's raining quite hard!
This is my take of a Christmas Moonscape! (I resisted the urge to put an earth in the sky!)

I used -
basic bright white smooth card, then added a layer of dark grey. Another piece of white cut to layer on the top and a rectangular aperture cut in the middle.

Two snippets of white card cut with a landscape die and the trees/houses snipped off! I used Salty Ocean, Broken China and Tumbled Glass DI's and inked the snippets, then took 3 scraps of patterned paper and cut into slim triangles, tucking them in between the two inky bits.

A white gel pen dotted randomly in the 'sky' and a little Diamond stickles added to the 'hills' and round the edge of the aperture.
SU sentiment stamped in Smokey Grey.
Now that the dead rockets and ash mess has been cleared up after the Bonfire Party I am calling in at the Snippets Playground.

Challenges -
CCC - Anything Goes
Glory of Xmas - Glitter/Shine
CCAYR - Oh Christmas Tree
Fantastic Tuesday - A/Goes - twist letter B (Blue inks all used)
Fab n Funky - CAS

Am settled now to come into blogland and catch up with you all! Thanks for looking today. x

Seeing Stars

Friday again! Off to Suffolk tomorrow - Presentation lunch is Sunday. It's another 5 hour drive so hoping the motorways are kind to us!
I am trying to be a bit  more organised this year and have been doing a few Christmas Cards whilst I have been at home - and it's given me a chance to just switch off from speeches and 'what am I going to wear this week'. Social media is the curse of the wardrobe!

I have done a lot of CAS cards and can't take the credit really for any of the designs as the images have been rattling round in my head so likely I saw them on Pinterest at some point when I was 'trawling'.

I made a couple of these using a previously unused star die - the star shapes are all different sizes so no doubt there will be more of them turning up on other cards.

Apart from having to wipe the dust from the sewing machine this was a really quick make and used up little bits of paper! (Which I confess I rescued from the bin on the desk..... am not sure that's the idea of using up snippets but hey ho!)
Risking visiting the Playground again - (and I hope someone else has cleared up all the dead rockets......)

I used Brilliance Rocket Red ink for the sentiment as it was a perfect match for the red star.

Challenges
A2S&M - CAS
Snowflakes Promise - Winter/Christmas
City Crafter - Get Ready for Christmas
Fantastic Tuesday - A.Goes with Stars
Fab n Funky- Die Cuts/Punches
OLLCB - Embossing
Crafty Addicts - Die Cuts
Thanks for looking - have a great weekend! x

Festive

We have BE CREATIVE as our sponsors this month at Stamping Sensations and our challenge is ' Festive Florals and Foliage'. For those of you like me who are 'last minute' making Christmas cards there is no excuse not to join in this time and make a start!!!

We were given some scrummy papers from our sponsor to play with - the Winter Wonderland collection is lovely - all double sided too!
I distressed the edges and then dipped in some white embossing powder.

This stamp is one of my very fave Christmas ones, it never lets me down no matter what colour I use!
I stamped twice, once onto the DP and once again onto a piece of teal coloured card. White embossed, then cut out the centre oval from the dark card.

The poinsettias are another stamp set I use a lot, I used up the offcuts of the DP and the card for the petals and stick a little sparkly in the centre of each. Same sparklies used in the top right corner.

The sentiment is a really old wood backed stamp but it stamps beautifully on ANYTHING including vellum. Tore the vellum and then with the bits left over punched out a couple of ferny bits and ticked behind the biggest flower.

Hope you will share your Festive makes with us this challenge - and don't forget - any holly, ivy christmas tree, christmas flower is fine as long as the focal point of your project is STAMPED!!!!
Am going to pop this into the Playground as I used up every scrap of the paper - and have missed visiting the swings the last few weeks.

Other Challenges
Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas
Addicted to Stamps - Holiday
Fab n Funky - Christmas
Allsorts - Christmas
PB & More - Christmas
RubberDance - Tis the season

Thanks for visiting - I am currently in Dorset at a Presentation Lunch! Have a lovely day whatever you're doing.

Dreams of Summer!

Nice sunny day here but autumn definitely upon us as there's a definite chill in the air. Got me to thinking though when I saw the beautiful blue sky, of warm sunny summer days - then I remembered this stamp. Part of a set of 2 (the other is just a smaller beach hut) and I was fortunate enough to win them a long time ago in a challenge.
I have used them both a couple of times and hunted them out again this morning when I made this -

Get your sunglasses on!!!!

Image stamped with Versamark, then coloured with Distress Inks.
Papers are old (very old!) from my stash as is the hessian strip.

The sentiment was a freebie download, I added a yellow button for the sun and a couple of charms - a flip flop for the girl and a pair of swimming shorts for the boy!
Inside decorated to match.

As I am typing this I'm thinking that I am probably going to have to put the heating on - cos it definitely isn't flip flop and swimming shorts weather now!

Challenges -
Creative Moments - Spots/Stripes
Southern Girls - Stripes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
HIMCR - Any Holiday (and I chose SUMMER!)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting and if you've left a comment I appreciate you taking the time! x

No ink!

No stamping here as I decided I'd better keep my fingers ink free as I am at another Prize Presentation tomorrow - looks bad doesn't it handing out shiny Silverware and sparkling Crystal with dreadful ink stained fingers!!!

A little bit of recycling done - I love this image which I rescued a couple of years ago from the 'saved pics box'. It started out it's life on a pale blue winter themed card.
It was soft and ethereal.... I hope I've made it bold and 'stand out'!!!!

The background card does actually have sparkly spots on it - (bad light AGAIN so I had to use the flash)- and I layered it onto some red card.
I embossed a frame onto a scrap of card and placed the image on it, before rounding off the top corner and layering onto the same red.

The bling is from my stash and I added even more with the buckle for the ribbon - not satisfied with that I then splattered some glitter glue onto it by flicking a paintbrush!

A few punched snowflakes and a Christmas sentiment (also recycled) finishes it off.
(Definitely not one for the post box - have to be hand delivered!)

Challenges -
Crafting By Designs - Get ready for Christmas
Crafty Gals - Ribbon and a flourish
A Snowflakes promise - Anything Goes
CCAYR - No stamping
Crafting Musketeers - Christmas with a Ribbon
Card and Scrap - Vintage


Thanks for calling in - appreciate you taking the time as always. x

FIRST ONE!

Big round of applause please................. I give you ..................... my very first Christmas card of the year...... CLAPS WILDLY!!!!

OK - so it's not brilliant and the pic doesn't help (the light here is terrible today - typical grey and very overcast) - but let's face it it IS a card!!!
Just evolved after messing about a bit with inks really.
Used Pumice Stone DI on a scrap piece of card - really to see what shades could be achieved but then thought I would try stamping over it with a pine branch and Weathered White embossing powder.
Just dusted some sparkly on it when done and mounted onto plain white base card.
Sentiment is from SU also stamped in Pumice Stone DI.
You will have to trust me when I tell you this card looks fine when you get it in your hand! 
Will keep experimenting with the inks - I have almost all the colours and confess to sticking with my old favourites rather than seeing what I can do with the rest of them!

Challenges -
Addicted to CAS - Sparkle
CRAFT - Christmas
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unusual Christmas Colour (Pumice Stone!)
Fab n Funky - Square

Having a 'play day' today - driving to Kent tomorrow for a presentation on Tuesday - hoping I manage to get the ink of the fingers before I go! Hope your day is a good one. x

Girly Birthday

Sorry about the poor pic quality - am getting worse I think taking pics!
A quick post from me - card made in a hurry for a little one's birthday with one of the cute LOTV girly images. This is a pre coloured image (needs must when it's wanted in a minute!!)but I over coloured it with some watercolour pastels as I never think these pre coloured images are bold enough.

Once coloured cut out with a nestie then popped onto another die cut scalloped edge circle. Pus some glamour dust onto the balloon.
The gingham paper was another one languishing about in my stash and I cut out some corners from the pink base card.
Finished it with some lace and a pink organza bow and carried the theme into the inside.

Have been out and about again last couple of weekends - weekend before last it was Hereford and Cornwall and this last weekend it's been Warwickshire (Edgbaston) and Worcester.  And this weekend it's Carlisle then Kent!

Enjoying it though but am really looking forward to week commencing 26th when I have nothing for 6 whole days!

Got to make lots of thank you cards (for all the places I'm going to) as I've used up what I had in my stash, desperate to make a start on my Christmas cards and simply have to catch up with my DT stuff!!!

Challenges -
Fab n Funky (Square), Creative Card Crew (Ribbon), Cutie Pie (Pink), OLLCB (Pretty in Pink), Use your Stuff (Ribbon)

Thanks for visiting. Off for a trawl through blogland and a catch up with you all. x

Autumn Colours

My DT card for our Stamping Sensations challenge this month proves I have been very good this year (so far) and am still using up all my old paper stash and snippets (smugly pats herself on the back!).
Our challenge is Autumn Colours and we're sponsored by Foil Play

 
Matted every layer onto a burnt orange card textured stock.

The tree stamp is by Rubbernecker - I simply love it. It allowed me to have a little inky fun with some inks and a water spray! Used a variety of DI inks in oranges/browns/yellow, spritzed it all with a little water and stamped! Dragged a bit of the colour about with a thin paintbrush.
Quite pleased with it!

Used some badly neglected bright orange brads from my stash and die cut some leaves from left over bits of card.
Sponged a brown DI over them whilst they were still in the die to highlight the veins.
Used a little bit of twine round the biggest leaf and wrapped some round the card.
Finished it off by attaching a stamped sentiment with a bright orange peg.
The inside is decorated to match.

Other Challenges -
TIOT - Autumn
PB & More - Warm Autumn Colours
Allsorts - Inspired by Nature
Robyns Fetish - Add Leaves
Fussy & Fancy - Autumn Colours

Hope you will join us and please call in on my talented teamies to see what they have created this month too! x

Seed heads

Spent the last few days trying to find a short holiday and finally managed it yesterday - just one small point though - we go tomorrow!
So it's been literally a "chuck everything in the suutcase quick" kind of day!
In between this week I have managed to do a couple of cards, one or two inspired by Pinterest (of course!), and have started to try and put together a commisioned card which I confess for some unknown reason is proving really difficult.
Can't raise enthusiasm for it - so I know that although I have enjoyed my year so far it has actually been very tiring  - the travelling especially - and I think I DO need a few days rest doing not a lot except lazing about.
The pic isn't too good on this card - it's not very sharp (a bit like me!) - but the stamping IS - not blurred like it shows here!

This was a 'necessity' make for someone who is not very well - but didn't want a 'Get Well Soon' type of card as it isn't appropriate.

My fave white linen card used throughout.
The poppy head stamps are eons old and may have been bought at a long ago visit to the NEC. Same with the script stamp - eons old!

Used some Distress inks  (Wild Honey/Scattered Straw/Mustard Seed/Squeezed Lemonade) on a scrap piece of card, stamped the poppy and script and then tied round the trim.
Stuck onto another piece of card then layered onto the base card.

Am popping this into the Playground as I did use a couple of pieces of scrap for the layers.
Am hoping to get internet connection whilst I am away so will be able to keep in touch.

Other Challenges -
Crafts 4 Eternity - Handwriting
RRR- Orange plus trim
Addicted to Stamps - Make your Mark
Crafty Creations - It takes 2
Retro Rubber - Ombre

Catch up with you all soon. x

A long time....

You may be forgiven if you think the title of this post refers to me being absent for so long.... well suppose it does really(!!) 'cos I have! (Back at home now for a little while although I am trying to book a PROPER holiday - just for a week, but somewhere warm where I can just chill out and relax. Not having a lot of success finding somewhere at the mo....)
But the title also refers to this commissioned card which I finished a couple of weeks back.

A Diamond Anniversary - now that IS as long time isn't it!
I was happy with this when it was finished - although I really do NOT like taking pics of pearlised card as it never shows up well to me.

Embossed background and layered onto the base card. The sentiment was PC generated then cut out with a Marianne die. I placed some glitter paper behind it - again this hasn't shown up well buy looks really sparkly in real life!

The roses were made using what has to be one of my fave dies - and used up the leftovers from the base card in the process!  I love making these flowers, they look so delicate when finished. I added some glittery stuff to the edges of the petals and then punched out some leaves and ferny bits in both glitter paper and pearly paper, using up more leftovers - (Playground for me I think!)

I added a large corner die and popped a couple of small flourishes -which are the bits cut out from the corner die (waste not want not) behind the roses.
A small bow secured with a very sparkly diamond buckle, a couple more bits of bling and job done.

Challenges -
613 Avenue Create - Love me Do
Glitter n Sparkle - Beginning with 'G' (Gems/Glitter/Glitter paper)
Crafty Gals Corner - Bingo (2+layers/Embossing/Bling and Flowers/Ribbon/2+layers)
As You Like It - Fave die  (The Spellbinders die for the Roses)
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 327

A  massive thank you to all my bloggin buddies who have called in and left comments for me whilst I have been doing the Bowls England Presidential Team bit over the summer months... I have appreciated that you all remain visitors and more importantly friends! x

Sew Special

Stamping Sensations challenge this month is 'Sew Special' and we're sponsored by Sizzix with a fab prize so hope you can join in with us!
Here's my card -

and as the challenge theme suggests it's all to do with sewing!

The papers are from Melissa Frances' Classic Elegance' pad.
Distressed and stitched the background paper onto grey then white card before adding all the different layers.

All the distressing done with Pumice Stone DI or Weathered Wood DI.

I turned down the corner of the third layer before hand stitching the button Then machined the whole layer three quarters of the way round onto the base card.

Rolled up some material scraps and stuck them behind the turn down to imitate fabric rolls.

Added some lace and some cream seam binding ribbon, hanging the metal scissors charm from the centre of the bow.

All the stamps were from a free set with a card making magazine and the buttons are from my stash.
Other Challenges -
Come and Get It - Buttons and Bows
House of Cards - Stitching
Allsorts - Lots of Layers
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
CFTH - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to pop in today. I am home for a few days from the middle of this week so am looking forward to catching up with all that you've been doing whilst I've been doing my 'duty' elsewhere! x

10 days????

Cannot believe it is 10 days since I last posted! All of the days are now blurring together a little although we have been blessed with in the main good weather - just 2 days of drizzly rain - notably when the MEN arrived for the start of their 2 weeks! The ladies had great weather for their Championships!

So another full couple of weeks left for me - the rest of the National Championships (until Sunday) then off on another road trip for 2 more Celebration matches next week, a day at home then away to Yorkshire for the Northern Counties Championships. This will be followed by a trip to the Junior Mens' Internationals in Oxford AND THEN I SHALL BE HOME AND ABLE TO SLEEP IN MY OWN BED FOR MORE THAN ONE SINGLE NIGHT!!!!!! 

I had a bit of an inky session though on my day off but one is not finished so can't show it! This one was done also on Sunday - a CASE of one that I saw on Pinterest a long long time ago.
It is a mixture of a digital bird cage stamp printed in black onto white textured card  then over-stamped with a foliage stamp in Shabby Shutters DI. It is a tiny (old) stamp and I can't remember where it came from but know it was part of a set originally!
Used up some old striped cardstock (which I bought the last time I visited a craft show in 2013!) layered onto black, stamped the sentiment then die cut, added some black ribbon and a few black pearls.
Probably not everyone's fave colour combo but hey not bad effort considering it was just from a few bits I brought with me!

I am longing to get home properly as I have some new dies and stamps to play with.... roll on 17th September!
Challenges -
Use Your Stuff - Anything Goes
Paper Nest Dolls' - Anything Goes
Pennys paper Crafty - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

Once again thanks so much for sticking with me whilst I am blogging so infrequently - just that at the end of the day I am so darn tired I don't have the energy to do anything!x
Have a great time whatever you're doing until I catch up with you again. x

A Day of Rest!

At the end of week 2 and in preparation for the start of week 3 of the Championships I was given a day off today. Apart from one day in the last 2 weeks the weather has been kind to the ladies and so we're hoping for more of the same over the next 2 weeks when the men's championships gain momentum.

I found a couple of hours after the ironing this morning to make this card - I brought some bits with me and this has been the first time I have been inclined (or had the energy) to put anything together. The pic though was taken on my phone so if it's showing dark, fuzzy and awful I apologise!
No stamping done yet - I am gong to add a sentiment when I get home I think....
Papers are from the Prima's Stationers Desk pad which I won some time ago in a challenge over at the Playground - loved it when I saw it and love it even more now I have it!
Layered onto Kraft paper before putting onto the white base card. Distressed all the edges with Antique Linen DI - if I'd have been at home I probably would have stitched them!
A doily, some roses dusted with a little liquid pearls, small metal hanger with a scrap of vintage lace, a metal scissor embellie and a few pearls - job (almost) done! Will finish it off when I get home in the middle of September and then it will go in the stash box.
Challenges -
Crafting by Designs - 3 or more layers
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Gem of a Challenge - 1 for the Girls
Simply Create too - Anything Goes
My internet connection is OK at the mo so am going to catch up on some of my commenting before meeting up with some friends early evening for a meal.
Thanks for calling in - hope you are having a good day whatever you're doing. x

A Catch Up

I have a stable internet connection at the mo so popped on for a quick visit. Once again though am pleading for forgiveness as I haven't enough time to visit you all right now. Today saw the start of the second week of four of the National Championships and I have been really busy with the rest of the Presidential team.
Also I have discovered that I am WELL out of practice at getting up at silly o'clock (6.30am) - and being on my feet for most of the day until around 7pm each evening - daft really cos when I was at work I was up every morning at 5.45 and regularly worked a 12 hour shift!! - So I have been really tired this last week.
I have a quick card to share - one that was in my drafts folder (brought some crafty stuff away with me but haven't been awake enough to do anything!).
This card was born when I was making a mess with  inks and somewhere in the recess of my brain I think it is probably a CASE of one I saw on Pinterest - so if it was yours I thank you for the inspiration!
Just my fave white linen textured card and a snippet of the same used to ink up the scene.
Heat embossed the stamp in Weathered White embossing powder and dabbed an embossing pen along the bottom before embossing again.
Sentiment inked in versarmark.

That's it from me - have to iron my shirt and whites for tomorrow!

Thanks for calling in - I hope it won't be too long before I can call on you all - in the meantime thank you for keeping visiting - I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT!! xx

Challenges -
Pixies Playground - Snippets
ABC - O for Open (Anything Goes)
Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Anything Goes with a Die

 Tattered Lace are this months sponsors over at  Stamping Sensations and our challenge theme is 'Anything Goes with a Stamp and a Die'. They are very generously offering one lucky winner a £50 store voucher to spend at their on line store
I am currently away for the entire month at the National Championships so I hope my scheduled post behaves itself and publishes!

This was a reasonably quick card using coloured cardstock from SU throughout.
I really  like the pale green which probably has some delicious name (as all the SU cardstock does!) and I used that as my base.

I used an Indigo Blue large script stamp inked in Vintage Sepia onto the lighter card then matted onto dark brown.

The birdcage die is from Memory Box and I think the Ivy and tiny bird are Marianne (but don't quote me!).

I used a snippet of the base card for the ivy trail and whilst still in the die sponged on some Shabby Shutters DI  which highlighted the 'veins' in the leaves.
The little birdie got the same treatment and the birdcage was cut from another piece of the left over darker card, so this will be going into Pixies Snippets Playground!
Finished it with s small green pearl and a tiny stamped tag.

Challenges - (to be linked if I have time!)
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
Paper Creator - Dies
Gem of a Challenge - Birds

Thanks for looking - hope you can find time to join us this month too! x

Just Hangin' Around

Flags and bunting out!!! It happened!! I got to spend a few hours today in my little craftie space! Not that I did much - LOL
Did a DT card so I am still a couple of months ahead with these (just so I don't get into a panic- or even worse get too busy and away too much to fulfil the commitment) and generally then just mooched about!
Am thinking of taking some stuff with me this trip away cos I am away for the whole month - even if I just colour some things up it will give me something to relax to?
So here is a little make

and 'cos I used some snippets for the branch and the flowers I'm going to the Playground! See all this spare time ( 1 whole day) has gone to my head...

Back to the card.
I used plain white cardstock and sponged a little blue ink on the top.
The embossed bottom was done using an embossing folder which I think was free with a mag, then just dabbed a little green ink on the grasses.

I cut the branch from a scrap of brown card then punched out the tiny flowers from pink scraps.

The image is of course LOTV, layered up onto foam pads and positioned over the branch.
Sentiment also LOTV.

Weather here has been awful today - I am hoping it improves for the month of the National Championships which start on Saturday (hence my being elsewhere for the month of August!)

Challenges -
Glitter n Sparkle - Use the letter 'B' (Baby, Bunny, Branch, Blue)
Crafty Sentiments - Baby
Fab n Funky - No Patterned papers
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a sentiment
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything goes but Make it feminine

Thanks for visiting - off to do the ironing!Have a great time until I get chance to call in on you all (whatever you're doing!!) xx

Wildflowers

Yet another week passed and the only crafting I have done was to finish off a commissioned card and stamp up some images before setting off on the travels again. Spent a few days in Scotland again this last week - this time with the Under 25 (called Junior!!) Internationals. They made it 3 wins out of 3 for England in the Home Internationals Series so far - Senor men and women all winning earlier this season, now the under 25 women so the under 25 men have a tough act to follow in September!

Have a card to share done with some of my fave stamps.
Love the watercolor effect achieved with Rubbernecker stamps - so little effort on my part except to add the ink to the stamp!
I did a whole batch of cards with this stamp for my own stash box.
A few done in more muted pinks and lilacs as Sympathy and Get Well cards.
I have such little spare time at the mo and am seriously suffering crafting withdrawals and blogland absences!

 I also nearly missed claiming a prize I had won as I couldn't visit blogland every day either!

Back to the card. Basic bright white cardstock.
The stamps inked in Distress Inks - Barn Door, Seedless Preserve  and Peeled Paint.
Sentiment from the same stamp set.

Challenges -
Sweet Stampin - No Designer paper
Alphabet Challenge - K for Kind thoughts
4 Crafty Chicks - CAS
Fantasy Stampers - Pretty Petals
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a sentiment
Quirky Crafts- White

Off away again tomorrow but home at the weekend for 3 whole days, maybe some crafting time????

Thanks for taking the time to keep visiting me - I am missing visiting you all as often as I used to but it's good to know you're all still there! x

I am missing days.....

Where has this week gone???? Can't believe it's so long since I last posted.

Unusually for me, I was asked to make a card similar to one made some time ago - normally I don't do two of anything but as I liked the stamp (!!) and because of the special circumstances I said 'yes'! It is for the same recipient and the last card (although kept tucked away in a drawer) is rather the worse for wear so this duplicate will be put into a box frame and hung on a wall as a piece of artwork.

I love this stamp! It reminds me so much of happy days spent collecting shells on the beach with my Mum. Hence the sentiment.
I coloured it with Distress Inks then stitched it onto a scallop frame.
The papers were just found in my paper collection download box and the colour reminded me of sand.

Added some striped ribbon and a Martha Stewart shell type border and a printed vintage style postcard before using some scrunched up fabric, a pearl buckle and a variety of seashells.
The little tags were found in a drawer and I put a tiny silver metal flip flop charm to finish.

Challenges -
Eclectic Ellapu - (Purple team) Favourite Holidays
Glitter n Sparkle - Summer Sunshine
Pile it on - By the water
Suzy Bees - A/Goes - Twist - On the Beach
Craft for the Craic - Summertime
Fussy and Fancy - Beach Fun
Crafty Catz - Summertime
Dragonfly Dreams - Midsummer delights

Have stamped up a few images today and have a free day tomorrow so am hoping to do something constructive craft wise!
Am away at the end of the week at the Junior Womens Internationals - hoping that the weather is a bit more beach like than it is now - cos it's pouring down!!!
Thanks for keeping with me whilst I am blogging so infrequently - I appreciate it very much.xx

Christmas In July - and all the news!

Warning - LONG POST!!
The months are just ticking by and Stamping Sensations challenge this time is called 'Feature a Creature'. Little Claire are our sponsors too so as always a fab prize offered!

I confess that this was a stern challenge for me as would you believe I hardly own ANY animal stamps at all! Scratched my head a little then remembered this Hedgie Trio which would you believe was part of a challenge win!
They're actually quite a cute little triplet I think - so I stamped with Versamark Ink onto a piece of scrap card, coloured them with Promarkers and then fussy cut.

It seemed a little bit strange for me getting out sparkly card stock at this time of year - I am not the 'make Christmas cards all year round' kind of person and it's usually December before I even start thinking about it!
I just cut out a couple of 'slopes' then stamped the image again onto the slope using Stazon- which I've found is the only ink I don't smudge when stamping direct onto glitter  card - so I got the marks left in the snow by the sledge. With the snippets of glitter card used my 'Country Landscape' die to cut out some houses and trees - really fiddly sticking them individually but it provided the effect I wanted!

The blue 'sky' paper is from my stash.
I used up the rest of the scraps of sparkly card for the snowflakes.
Sentiment also stamped with Stazon

Challenges -
Paper Creator - Christmas in July
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar - Christmas In July
CSAYL - Snow/Glitter
Kitty Bee - Christmas In July
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Simply Create 2 - Get ahead for Christmas
Winter Wonderland - All that Glitters
and am also popping across to Pixies Snippets Playground this week.

So what have I been up to  recently - following on from the England Senior Ladies in Leamington, I then went to Hamilton Scotland for the Senior Men's Internationals. Another great win for Team England who took the title from the Scots in their own back yard - someone commented to me that 'even Dick Turpin wore a mask'!!!!!
After that a couple of games -and then home. Yesterday was our Macmillan Fundraiser Bowls Competition at Heaton Park in Manchester - I can report that my team actually won the competition (pic below)  but the real winner was MACMILLAN as in just one day we raised an ENORMOUS £1030!!!! One of our members can get 'match funding' from Barclays Bank so our current fundraising efforts now amount to just short of £3,500!

 

I am home for a few days now - time to catch up with everything (including the washing and ironing and housework (sadly) ) but am determined to find some 'me' time and make messy in the crafty space! 

Thanks for stopping by  and have a great day whatever you're doing! x