Scraps!

We've had some wild storms over the last 24 hours - weird weather - in between the torrential downpours and thunder/lightning, we sat outside and did the crossword!! It's raining quite heavily again now so it gave me a perfect excuse to have a little 'fiddle' with some odd bits laying about on the desk and make a quick CAS card!

Base card is Ivory Linen and the stamp is an old one!

The script paper is from a Papermania pad and I edged it with some scraps of black card cut with a scalloped punch.

An off cut of some cream vintage cotton lace was wrapped round the middle.

The tatty flower is just all bits of papers from the same paper pad. Cut it with different sizes of nesties circles, tattered the edges a bit, sprayed with some water and scrunched up. Once dryish put them all together with a brad.

The leaves and foliage were also punched from odd bits of paper and I just finished it off with some black pearls.

(There appears to be a small mark on the left - must have been on the camera cos it ain't on the card! My mucky fingers on the lens no doubt!)

Challenges -
Cuttin' and Stampin' - CAS
ABC - Use Scraps
Lady Annes - Monochrome
Card Making Mama's - Monchrome
Fashionable Stamping - Use Script

and although it's a bit wet for the Playground, have donned my wellies and am going to go splash in the puddles! x

Card making by Numbers! - Crafty Cardmakers DT

Time for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and this time the challenge has been set by  Elaine who has chosen the theme '1,2,3' -  so projects have to have - 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments  (and you must have the required elements in the required quantities to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot!).

Our sponsors this week are  THE PAPER SHELTER and SIR STAMPALOT

  So here is my DT card - using one of the fab images and co ordinating papers from the Paper Shelter - called 'Trattoria Chef'. He is all rotund and happy - just like I imagine chefs should be (after sampling all their own food!! LOL)

I printed him out a couple of times and decoupaged him for a bit of depth.
I stitched all the papers and printed out a 'menu'. The wordart in the centre of the menu was a freebie from TLC and I added a little scalloped edge cut with the leftover paper, a tiny bow and attached it with a tiny wooden peg.

I made two 'napkins' from scraps of paper and lace and popped a tiny pearl in the centre, a couple more pearls and a 'recipe' and spoons from my stash.
I continued the papers inside but have yet to put a greeting on it as I'm not sure if it needs one or not!

Challenges -
Craft Your Passion - 3D it
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - Use a Digi
Addicted to Stamps - Lots of Layers
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything Goes


Thanks for looking - do pop over and see the other projects from my DT buddies and have a great day whatever you're doing! x
  

Hello Baby!

I've had a real nice week - been away for a couple of days playing - first in York then on to  Cumbria for the Ladies Festival. The weather was hot but bearable (just!), had lots of laughs with my teamies and we won the Fours competition on Tuesday! Sadly, though playing Monday and Tuesday did nothing for the neck and shoulder condition and although I gave it another go on Wednesday I have suffered since! So have spent today doing not a lot at all. (Any excuse.....)
All in all though despite all the aches, pains and crunching of bones one of my better weeks!!

I also found time before I went away to do a 'rush job' on a new baby card for one of my team mates to give to a work friend. 
Done in a mega hurry don't think it's turned out too bad! And she thought it was fab!

As time was at a premium it had to be CAS - Basic white linen card ran through the favourite and much used Swiss Dots embossing folder then layered onto pale pink.
The pram was inspired by an idea over on Pinterest (where else???? LOL) and is simple to do by just cutting two different sized nestie circles and chopping them in half!

I edged both with some pink and white lace from the stash and added a couple of fabric roses.
The wheels were also cut using a scalloped edge nestie, a circle punch and a tiny flower punch. Layered them all together and popped a pink pearl in the middle.

Handle of the pram was a nestie label die which I chopped up to get the required shape!
LOTV stamp greeting and some pink organza ribbon finished it all off.
AND - as I used up the 'left-overs' from the main piece of card after embossing for the pram I'm sneaking over the wall into the Crafty Playground very late this week..... and tip toeing past the swings before I get locked out!

Challenges -
CRAFT - For the Girls
Milk Coffee - Emboss It
Paper Crafting Journey - Punches and Die Cuts
Die Cutting Divas - Twice is Nice
ALBC - Die-ing for it  

Hope you've all had a great week! Off now to catch up with you all. x

Post Cards

It has been such another beautiful day and I am beginning to feel very spoilt with all this lovely sunshine. Long may it continue - although I have heard lots of people complaining about how hot it is - there's no pleasing us Brits is there - moan when it rains, moan when its cold and now moaning because it's hot and sunny!!
No moaning from me............. well not about the weather anyway!
I did though take a rest from the searing heat and spent a few hours indoors - this card is the result.
The papers are all torn from the Prima Botanicals pad, distressed and stitched.
The post cards seemed very apt for the sunny weather!
The heavy dark cream lace was in my stash and I used Kraft cardstock for the card base.
The chipboard birdcage is from Maya Road and I did consider embossing it but changed my mind as I thought the cardboardy colour blended in well with the overall appearance.
Added some flowers and lots of swirly pearl bits and the scrummy ribbon was a present from Maureen. I used a vintage button in the centre of the bow and stuck in a couple of pearl pins.
The little metal bird and letter charm was from my stash and the sentiment was stamped using Versafine Smokey Grey ink.

Made a change to make something vintagey and adult after all the kid's cards recently!

Challenges -
All About the Vintage - Summer Sparkle
Emma's Cards - Lace/Pearls
Shabby Tea Room - Pearls/Lace/Flowers with Romantic theme (hope my little love letter carrying birdie counts!)and a fab Inspiration Photo
Created with Love - Anything Goes
Frilly and Funkie - Summertime
The Hobby House - Vintage
Craft Room Challenge - Vintage Stamping

Thanks for visiting and leaving comments - I really DO appreciate it! x

Birthday - Crafty Card Makers DT

This week's over at Crafty Cardmakers Lin has chosen the theme of 'Birthday'  to celebrate our challenge's Birthday!
So we would love for you to join in and share your birthday creations with us - some great prizes from our sponsors - pop over to the blog and check them out!

This is the last one of my recent commission for children's birthday cards.

I think this little ballerina from Mo Manning is such a cutie!

I printed her out and coloured her with promarkers then cut her out with a fancy nestie oval.
Her tutu was liberally covered with some pink stickles and all the papers were from my stash.
Added some corner die cuts and some pearls and ribbon before fixing the greeting.

The inside is decorated to match.

I can only apologise for the poor color quality of my pics recently - I haven't found somewhere yet in the new house that quite matches the light of the window of the previous office and think that my pics look a little 'washed out'!

Challenges -
2 Sisters - Make it Sparkle
Paper Creator - Think Pink
Word Play Saturday - Birthday
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Crafting Musketeers - Ribbons/Pearls
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi


Thanks for stopping in - know those of us here in the UK are busy enjoying this fab weather we're having - so hope the sun is shining for you too! x

Summer!

Isn't this weather just the absolute BEST?!! Glorious!

I have been having a little play with distress inks - I was lucky enough to win some blog candy offered by fellow crafter  Sylvia-Anne and I used the voucher to buy some DI's in colours I didn't have (amongst a few other things!! LOL).

So armed with the newly acquired 'Squeezed Lemonade' and a combo of other older inks (!!), I made this quick CAS card for a relative of mine who has been having a worrying time just lately. 

Basic bright white cardstock with a column masked using torn post it notes.

Sponged Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold inks onto the panel, then after removing the mask, stamped one of my very fave and very old Agapanthus stamps on top.

Popped on a couple of pearls and a wee bit of sparkly on a couple of the flower heads, then layered  onto black cardstock then onto white.

The sentiment stamp I really like - and I thought it made a change from the usual 'Thinking of You'.

Challenges -
Oldie but Goodie - In the Garden
Shopping our Stash - Summer Colours
Crafters Cafe - Anything Goes
Paper Minutes - Anything Goes
Emergency Crafters - Summer Days
Crafting Cafe - Summer's Here

Off to enjoy the sunshine - hope you are too! x

First Birthday

The days have just disappeared in the last week so I have had no time to blog - in between running about like the proverbial headless chicken I have been trying to complete an order. This is the second card - for a little boy's first birthday.
The papers are from Summer Driggs and are called 'Easton' and I really like the bright sunshiney colours (just apt for the glorious weather we're having at the moment!!)
The image is a digi stamp from I think Digi Stamp Boutique, (I apologise if it is from somewhere else but honestly can't remember!) and I printed out a few times then layered it up to give it some dimension.
The addition of a few buttons,some bright orange thread and a teeny bit of stickles finished it!
Challenges -
One stop Craft - Anything Goes
HCTB - Use a Digi Stamp
Crafty Catz - Childs Play
Totally Papercrafts - Let's hear it for the Boys
Wags n Whiskers - Cute as a Button
Sweet Pea Stampers - For the Boys

Thanks for calling in - am off to finish another card then hopefully will get a couple of hours sitting enjoying the view outside!
Will catch up with you all later tonight! x

Holiday Destinations

Time for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers - and this week Jack would like to see projects that depict or are inspired by a holiday destination. This doesn't have to be somewhere you have been, it can be somewhere you would love to go. Please explain where you have chosen and why in your blog post and please please to keep things fair for everyone make sure you read those challenge rules as you don't want to lose your chance to win a prize from one of our two fab sponsors - CRAFTS AND ME and THE PAPER SHELTER.

 Onto my project - a long time ago I went to Italy. (Be warned this post is pic heavy!!)

I visited Rome, Pisa and Venice. 

I adored Italy - the culture, the art, the food(LOL), the wine (LOL) and well - just about everything! 

I have promised myself that I will return again and it's on my ever increasing list of 'things to do before I become too old and decrepit to enjoy them'!!  

So it was an obvious choice for me to choose this as my destination.

Instead of a card, this week I have altered a slide mailer. 
The mailer was inked with Dusty Concord DI before adding the papers (which are from Crafty individuals).

The pic with the Colosseum in the background - from a time when 'visiting Europe' was only something done by rich and privileged families seemed perfect to use. 

On the front I added a small fabric leafy flourish (cut off something or other!) and a metal camera charm. I popped a die cut in the top corner after colouring randomly with the same DI.
 
Inside another image, a bit of stamping, some ribbon,  and lace and a fabric flower died with DI. 

Under the slides are two more Italy images - of course no visit to Italy is complete without a trip on a venetian gondola or a visit to marvel at St Peter's Basilica.  
I used some tiny beads at the top of each one.

Same papers were used on the back.

I hope my project has inspired you to come and join us this time - we love seeing all your creations!

Challenges -
Our Creative Corner - Captured Memories
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare - Photo Inspiration (please visit their blog!)
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Cards und More - Travel/Adventure  
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - From the Past
Lexi's - Summer Holiday 
seemacrafts - Holday/vacation

Thanks for visiting! x
 
   

Scribbles!

The rain today gave me the perfect excuse to sit and start on a small order of cards -as if I needed an excuse after having being deprived for so long.....

Monty is the great grandson of one of the ladies at the Club -and having bought this Mo Manning image a while ago - simply because I liked it!- I thought I would use it. As I am not 'child friendly' at all, I hope it isn't 'too old' for a 3 year old!

I imported the image into a graphics program and then added what I hope are kiddie type letters for the greeting.

Printed out and coloured with Promarkers - and I confess I really enjoyed colouring this little man - his facial expression is priceless!
I mounted him onto some blue cardstock.
The backing papers are from the Nitwits 'By the Sea' and 'Land Ho' collections and the two small tabs secured with brads on the left were added as I thought it looked a bit 'plain'!
I don't possess a Cricut or similar machine, nor do I have any alphabet/number dies so the number was hand cut - (Not perfect but passable!)
The two 'crayons' are from the button stash and the inside is decorated with the same papers.

Challenges -
Red Carpet Studio - Going Digital
My Time to Craft - Spots and Stripes
Fashionista -  Birthday
The Cupboard Trilogy - Birthday
Crafting Cafe - Here Come the Boys
Sweet Pea Stampers - For a Child
Gem of a Challenge - Male Birthday

Thanks for visiting - happy crafting! x

Flying In!

It has been soooo long since I have been able to actually DO any crafting - but finally the new craft room is almost finished and  I am able to access some of my stash - not all of it yet as I still have some re-arranging etc to do but the shelves and storage spaces are all done and now all that is required is for me to organise where I want everything!

I did however find enough inky stuff and some stamps to make a quick card - and it was good to get some ink on my hands!

This pic may be a bit dark - am still trying to find the best spot in the new room for taking photos!

I masked off a portion of the card and sponged on some Distress Inks in Mustard Seed and Scattered Straw.

Then leaving the mask in place stamped the flower heads and double embossed with White embossing powder.

Removed the masking tape and over stamped with a Crushed Olive DI, then simply scored two lines down either side.

The sentiment stamp done in Versafine ink and to finish off I drew a tiny butterfly shape in the top left of the panel with a white gel pen.
It's not a spectacular effort to be honest, but it looks quite pretty!
I was given an order yesterday for 3 children's cards so will need to get my mojo up and running quickly!

Challenges -
CAS on Sunday - One Layer Wonder
Crafting When we Can - Keep it Simple
Opus Gluei - Wings
Penny Black& more - CAS

Am happy to be back in the swing of things and looking forward to catching up with everyone later! Thanks for visiting. x

Crafty Cardmakers DT - Steampunk

Aren't the weeks passing quickly?! It's time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this time Doreen decided on 'Steampunk'.

Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I really like Steampunk - trouble is I never seem able to do it!! Consequently I have one single set of stamps that could loosely be interpreted as steampunky grungy..... I wanted to do something other than a card which just taxed my brain cells even more...
In the end I settled on a digi stamp which I coloured with distress inks and messed about adding thin strips of metal for the balloon 'ropes'. 
Image completed - what was I going to do with it???
It gathered dust for a while on the desk and then I found a small 3" x 2" canvas.

Here's the finished article!

I used the reverse side of the canvas and started by gluing on bits of torn tissue paper round the frame. Once dry I painted it with gold acrylic paint then blasted it with a heat gun till it 'bubbled'.

When cool I randomly ran some mica powders and metallic rub over it.

The background embossed bit and die cut cogs were a present from 'Steamy Queen Maureen'. I used some gold mica powder on the background and added a large metal fastener to the middle of the cog.

The 'Beware of Airship Pirates' was an internet download and it just appealed to me as no one was likely to hijack this mad balloonist!
 

Hope you will all have a go at our challenge this week- as always there's some great prizes up for grabs - From Di's Digi Downlads and The Stampman - just please please make sure you check out the rules before adding your creation.

And if you're struggling like I was pop over to see my teamies to get some inspiration!
Challenges -
Seemacrafts - Mixed Media
Sparkles Monthly - Steampunk or Vintage
LOC - Steampunk
Our Creative Corner - Recipe (and I used Canvas for my fabric,Metal - balloon and fastener and Paints) 
Sugar Creek Hollow - Mixed Media

Thanks for calling in - have scheduled this to post as I am still busy getting furniture etc for the house! Will pop by you all later. x

Happy Broadband!!

British Telecom finally got their act together and connected us yesterday with our broadband.... not before time I might add......!
So here's the news from here - we are settling in well in the new home. Lots and lots to do and for the last two weeks it appears that all we've done is wait for deliveries of one thing and another. The end isn't really in sight yet but we're getting there slowly!
Think I might feel better when the electrician has been and put up the new lights - bare light bulbs are singularly unappealing aren't they!! And my blinds and curtains should be here in the next two weeks - although the view is fantastic (see previous post down page!), I would like to be able to shield the new sofas from the sun!
One downside is that my craft stuff is still in boxes and is likely to remain so for at least another week as the office/craft space hasn't been kitted out - although it is ordered and expected this week - then all dear husband has to do is assemble all the desks and shelving!! (Not much eh?????!!!!)
But -
want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has commented on my scheduled DT posts and now I am back in business with the internet I will be along to visit you all properly!
A quick share with you all with one I made earlier -
used black pearl card as a base, added some torn and distressed K and Co papers for the background.

The Steamboat stamp was stamped onto co ordinating paper with Verasfine ink and mounted onto the same black card.

The fan shape at the bottom was done with a punch and I used the black circle off cuts on the image and on the tag!

The sentiment was a freebie (I think from TLC).

The ribbon here has shown up much lighter than it actually is - it looks white in the pic but trust me it's definitely cream!

Still lots of man themed challenges about  -
City Crafter
Crafty Sentiments
Loves Rubber Stamps
Tip Top Tuesday
Ladybug Crafts
Crafters Cafe 

Off to grab a coffee and a trawl through blogland! x

Crafty Cardmakers DT - Father Day/Inspired by a man in your life

Our latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is being hosted by Feebs, who has chosen the theme of a  'Father's Day'.  Let's see anything you've created for or have been inspired to make by the father figure in your life. It could be anything from a card, a scrapbook page, a knitted scarf or a piece of altered art. It does not have to be specifically for Father's Day but let us know the inspiration behind your work. 

Please ensure you let us know the inspiration behind your work to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot and don't forget to check out those pesky rules before you submit your entry! Two fab sponsors again this challenge - THE PAPER SHELTER - with a $20 gift certificate  and Woodware.
Here is my take on Feebs' challenge - 
I created this card in tribute to an elderly family friend, who was a loving, generous, warm hearted man with the most endless supply of patience when I was growing up and a great sense of fun! He also was the smartest dressed person I knew - I can never remember seeing him without a stiff collar and tie. I saw a similar card to this on someone's blog a long time ago and remember thinking right away that I could have sent it to him if he'd have still been with us.
Basic textured black cardstock for the  jacket. 

I covered the collar, lapel and top of the pocket with black velvet like fabric - this seemed a good idea until I actually tried to do it - after a lot of fiddling about I actually managed to get it looking half decent - thankfully you can't see the underside of the lapel as it's stitched!!

The paper for the shirt and handkerchief is from the 'Man About Town' stack.

I stamped and embossed the pocket watch twice and then glued together with a couple of circular layers in between to give it some substance. The 'glass' face of the clock I did with glossy accents although it doesn't show very well.

The 'chain' was a bit of something I saved at some time and I tucked it inside the top flap of the pocket and secured it with a brad.

Finished off with a silver and black button from my stash. 
I want to say a big thank you to those of you who are still stopping by and commenting - I had scheduled my DT posts as I still have no broadband connection (5th June!!) and BT Openreach are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard at the moment.  
So I am really late linking this into the challenges this week but have managesdto get a wireless connection-
My Sheri Crafts - Fathers day 
Sugar Creek Hollow - Fathers Day (and I hope the vintage watch is enough)
Sweet Stampin' - Fathers Day 
ABC - Masculine 
Love to Create - Fathers Day
Ladybug Crafts - For the men




 

See - just when you thought it was safe and I had left you, I've turned up like a bad penny!! 

Got home Sunday night after a fab much needed holiday.

Unfortunately though this again is only going to be a fleeting visit as we still have no proper Broadband connection as beloved BT laid the fibre optic cable to the wrong cabinet.. whatever that means - LOL

But I understand enough to know that for the time being I'm having to connect the PC to my mobile phone and use up all my internet allowance to access anything - so visiting and commenting are still at a premium - as are uploading pictures onto my blog.. but hey ho thought I'd sneak this one in...................

Here is the view I am now blessed with seeing from my new lounge window and from my new bedroom......

The sloping green bit is our garden (bit of a change from the other one eh???? LOL), the small road is a private service area for the residents, no caravans, boats or anything else allowed to ensure your uninterrupted view only 'visitor' parkling!

(Please note I didn't take any pics of the cardboard boxes, bubble wrap etc which is currently housed on the entire top floor room of what is eventually going to be our office and my craft space...)

Life is going to be a bit hectic over the next few weeks - (as if it wasn't bad enough moving just 4 days before we went on holiday!) - we don't have any wardrobes or storage space anywhere - wardrobes, new bed etc all being fitted middle of next month, new furniture arriving for the lounge next week (I hope) and we're going to make a start kitting out the office once the floor has been laid so until then no crafting for me (sob sob - have got SEVERE withdrawal symptoms  as it's now over 3 weeks since I last made messy!)

I promise to try and stop by you all as often as I can and thanks for calling in and commenting.... hopefully I should at least be able to have Broadband by the middle of next week.....even if the stamps and ink and stuff are still asleep tucked up in cardboard!

Hugs from me. x

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 91 - 3 different techniques

 I have scheduld this post and am keeping fingers crossed that it appears when it should as I am still on holiday! 
Our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers has been set by Sharon  and is the theme 'Pick Three Different Techniques'. Our fab sponsors this week  are MILK COFFEE DIGITAL STAMPS   and   Sir STAMPALOT.
 
Take your pick of 3 from the following list and be sure to state which 3 you've used to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot:

1. Embossing (wet or dry)

2. Distressing  

3. Masking

4. Making your own flowers  

5. Paper piecing/patchwork

6. Shrink Plastic 

I chose this lovely image from our sponsors Milk Coffee Digital Stamps called 'Michelle in Hot Air Balloon'. Isn't she pretty?

Having chosen what image I was going to use I thought about my 3 different things... and promptly ended up using four from Sharon's list!!

I paper pieced the balloon using different scraps of pink papers - (My first technique done!)- and cut it out with an oval fancy frame die.

I coloured the rest of the image with promarkers.

The background is Core-dinations cardstock, embossed with 'Oriental Blossoms' folder (second technique) and then sanded it. I also distressed the edges (third technique).

So with all my techniques done I decided to finish off the card by using a trellis die cut along the bottom and some twine - and as Michelle was scattering flowers from her balloon, I stamped two flowers onto some shrink plastic, coloured them and blasted with the heat gun to shrink them , popped them onto the trellis with a couple of die cut leaves and a pearl in the centre. So 4 techniques for the price of 3!!!

A sentiment printed out onto a tag, layered onto pink card, some twine and a couple more pearls finished it all off.

Hope you can join us this challenge!

a quick hello

Hello everyone!  Just a very quick visit. House move went smoothly..I have no idea how I managed to accumulate all the stuff that I did! Mixed emotions too - sad to leave after 26 years but looking forward to a new place.
Anyway we're here and so far so good-settled in better than i thought and it actually feels like home despite all the cardboard boxes!!! And the boxes will be here for a while yet as we're off tomorrow for 2 weeks to sunny Cyprus
Our new neighbours (there's a novelty -neighbours LOL) are keeping their eye on the place so we're leaving behind this amazing view to look over blue sea!
So will be trying to pop in on you all dependent on internet connection - thank you all for your good luck messages. Will be back soon. X

April Showers

Todays challenge at Crafty Cardmakers has been set by Tracey, who has chosen the theme 'April Showers bring May Flowers' and her criteria is 'cards that include an image of something rain related and are embellished with at least 2 flowers'.

(Remember in order to qualify for one of the prizes from our two sponsors this time -  (a $10 gift voucher to spend at Di's Digi Downloads and a £10 voucher from The Stampman (and Lady of course!)) 

 
So here's my DT card - have you ever come up with something that you think is a good idea? And then when you come to try and execute your idea you wish you hadn't bothered??? Well this was one light bulb moment that maybe I should have turned off as soon as the light came on!

I fiddled about with it for ages until the finished article looked half way presentable! And then trying to photograph it was a nightmare as the light was terrible!

The shape is a template from Whimsy Stamps and this is why I had so much trouble - not the template itself but as I don't have a cutting machine I had to cut it by hand - and I am really bad at following lines!! Consequently it's a bit hit and miss if two sides actually turn out looking anything like each other!!!!

But it's not too bad now..... I don't think!!

I used 300gsm card for the actual template then covered with papers are by K and Co. The handle is simply colored with a promarker and finished with two eyelets.

Once all layers were assembled, I covered the inside with plain cream paper and stamped a few flourishes using Shabby Shutters DI to leave a suitable surface for writing a greeting.

Tracey wanted at least 2 flowers so I attached these tiny pink flowers to the points of the brolly and added a die cut flourish, some pink ribbon and a couple of suitable blinged Victorian Velvet Distress inked butterflies.

The sentiment was a freebie from BrossArt, printed onto cream card and cut out with a nestie. I attached it using a tiny peg.

Using the heavyweight cardstock as a base meant that the card stands up without any props (thankfully!!!).

Well there it is, hope it has inspired you to come over to CCM  and have a go this week!
I am currently in the process of moving house! Will try and catch up with you all as often as I can over the next few weeks -  Hugz from me. x

Challenges - 
Cheerful Stamp Pad - April Showers
Cute Card Thursday - Can't stop the Rain
Word Play Saturday - Weather
Kraftyhands - April Showers

Cardboard Boxes

Slipped away from the bubble wrap and cardboard boxes to do this quick post - after all the anquish of the last two weeks (and the previous 2 and a half years)  it now looks like we will finally be leaving here early next week.
Will be glad in one sense as it's far too big for us and the huge garden is now becoming a chore rather than a labour of love, but will also be very sad as I have been here for over 25 years. Time for a fresh start....
So I will try and keep popping in and out until we go - then will have to use the lappie as nothing connected in the new house and as it's all finally come together in the last 3 days it will be a while before we can get PC's up and running....
Made a couple of quickie cards whilst resting my back from the packing and also finally managed to add the finishing touches to this one -

He just makes me smile - not many in the Premiership of English Football look like this do they????? LOL
Don't know how he can see the ball with his round tum - never mind chase round after it!

All shapes cut with Nesties and the paper is odd bits from my stash.

The image is called 'Dunderton Academicals' from Dr Digi and I layered him up a bit to give him some definition from the background.

The sentiments are all PC generated and I applied liberal helpings of Antique Linen DI all over the place in an attempt to make it as grubby as his shorts!I can think of one or two players who live by the aforementioned 'Rules'.... LOL

I made a stand for the back as opposed to a 'flip open' card and covered the stand in footie paper.

Hope all is well in all your worlds and thanks for looking. x

Challenges -
Creative Corner - Unusual Shapes
Crafty Catz - One for the Boys
One Stop Craft - Not Square
1 Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Cards for Men - Anything Goes

Stress and Sentiments!

I have not had any inclination for crafting this last week  but yesterday sat and forced myself to make 'something'- I am hoping that it doesn't look too 'thrown together' and completely lacking in imagination!
We are currently going through one of the 3 (so they say) most stressful times in a person's life - having previously experienced 2 - divorce and death - this house selling is by far the worst time in my life to date. We are still in limbo, having had to cancel the removal firm once, we are running up huge solicitors bills, and all because we are waiting (as are our buyers) for their solicitor to get his act together. This has now been going on for weeks and quite frankly I am thoroughly sick of it all.
Enough of my personal problems - am sure you all have enough of your own without listening to mine....

So back to the 'something' card!

I have had this beautiful linen textured wedgewood blue colour patterned paper since last year - and I decided it was about time I steeled myself and used it.

Not having any enthusiasm/inclination for colouring images I just distressed and stitched the paper onto a plain darker shade background.
Added two pieces of gorgeous lace which was a present from a blogging buddy and edged a bit of shabby seam binding in between the two strips.

Made a bow and had a metal filigree circle (again in my stash for years) which I stitched to the bow centre. The blue/white resin cameo flower circle brought it all together.

Sentiment stamped onto a nestie tag using Adirondack 'Stonewashed' ink and hung a metal birdcage and birdie charm from the bottom of the tag with a scrap from another tag!

Finished with some pearl pins, a couple of flat backed pearls and die cut corners.
Inside co-ordinated to match.

Thanks for sticking with me whilst my blogging is sporadic - I appreciate that you come back and love reading your comments. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Challenges -
Little Red Wagon - Cameo
Live & Love Crafts - Bingo (Lace, Vintage, Pearls)
Charisma Cardz - Colours of a Flag (Finland -blue and white)
Papercrafting Journey - Use a Sentiment
Craft Room - So Sentimental
Crafty sentiments - Pearls and Lace
Oldie but Goodie - Girly  (my paper and metal circle both over 6 months old)
Belli - Pastels
Totally Papercrafts - Monochromatic

CAS

I have had a week of ups and downs, none of which I will bore you with, but sometimes don't you wish that you could just get through one day without more bad news/stressful situations/illness and anything else that contrives to add up to a crappy day????
I try to keep reminding myself that there's millions of others who are worse off than me at this moment in time!!
So how did I try to cheer myself up and shake off all this doom and gloom??? By making sympathy cards of course................... I know, I know, probably wasn't the best idea but didn't have one single solitary one in my stash and on Sunday I was asked by 4 different people if I had any!
I won't depress everyone even further by sharing them all, promise! Will save them for another day!
Here's one which wasn't exactly intended as a sympathy card but is likely to be sent to someone to let her know we're thinking about her as she goes through a particularly difficult time.

I used basic linen textured card. After cutting out a panel to fit across the card I ran it through a houndstooth embossing folder and wrapped a length of brown and white gingham ribbon across the centre, then stuck it on the card using 3d pads.

The stamps are an assortment from different companies but all are inked with Versafine Sepia Ink. I added some Stickles to the seed heads in the centre oval for a wee bit of sparkle.

The ovals were cut with a nestie using the scraps from the card base.
Sentiment stamped on bottom with same ink.

Sorry about the poor pic - think my little digi camera is about to go to the picture gallery in the sky as my pics are not as good as they should be................. or maybe it's ME????? LOL

Challenges -
Crafty Creations - No Squares
Card Mania - Diecuts/Punches 
Card Crafters Circle - Die cuts/dry embossing
Cards by Lady Anne Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes
HIMCR - Scraps Saturday
My Craft Spot - Anything Goes

It's been a gloriously sunny day here today - am just off for a stroll down the lane to feed the ducks! Thanks for calling in. x