Oops

Just a quick note to let you know that we're changing service provider and I'm having bother at the moment. The engineer has just gone - and left me in limbo I'm afraid. I'm not up to messing about with computers so it may be some time before I get up and running.

No crafting

I'm sorry to say that I can't do any crafting at the minute because I can't sit at my workbench. I've hurt my back somehow. I was sweeping the garage floor yesterday and when I'd finished I could hardly walk. I'm in agony when I try to sit down or when I try to get up. :(

This morning I went to see my niece's new baby. He was born early on Monday morning and is now at home with Mummy and Daddy. Eric still has pneumonia so wasn't able to come but our younger son, Tim, came to pick me up. He and his wife are expecting new puppies about now so DIL couldn't come either. Anyway, I decided I would show you a photo of William, seeing that I have no cards, jotters or anything else crafty to show you. Here he is with his pressie from Tim - only Tim would choose something like this!

We had a happy morning but I'm not having a very happy evening - these painkillers are worse than useless.

More Jotter Pads

Here are another two jotter pads that I've made this afternoon - well, I haven't MADE them I've just altered the fronts! lol We called in to Tesco after we'd been to the hospital so that I could buy some jotters. I love these stamps that I bought at the Bluewater Craft Fair in February but I have no idea who made them. I've lost the wrapper and so they are in a Really Useful Box with other 'unknown' stamps. If anyone recognises them please let me know the maker - there are three different 'seed clocks' in the set. These pads show two of them - I did make a pad with the third stamp but I'll have to keep that one because I scuffed the frontpiece as I trimmed it!  I stamped randomly in Distress Ink Forest Moss and then distressed over the entire piece with the same ink pad. I used Diamond Stickles to highlight the 'black spot' on the individual seed heads. One of the photos is much better than the other and I have no idea why - I did try to lighten the second one but it wouldn't play fair. 

I'm not entering any challenges with these jotters. They were just made in my fun time and in my favourite colour - GREEN!They'll probably be stocking fillers.

I hope you've all had a happy day. Thank you all for visiting.

Jotter Pad

When I had a stall at the country fair a few weeks ago I had every intention of taking some altered jotter pads. I had bought a few from Tesco and I was going to put new fronts on and put each one in a cello bag with a pen. I'm pleased that I didn't make them because the country fair wasn't a success. It catered mainly for a family day out and the adults weren't interested in buying, they were there to entertain the children. 

Anyway, on to my pad. On a panel of white Papermill card I randomly stamped the images in Memento ink in sepia. I'd used stamps from two sets, PaperArtsy Clocks 4 and Clocks 6. I then used Distress Ink in Faded Burlap over the entire piece. After I'd fixed the panel to the front of the jotter I used my Cosmic Shimmer bronze pearlescent glue to make pearl drops round the sentiment to make it stand out. I like it and I'm going to use it for my own shopping lists.I might make some more for stocking fillers.

I'm entering my jotter in to the following challenges:

Truly,Madly Crafty Challenges - Monochrome

Robyn's Fetish - No flowers anywhere at All

Creative Belli Blog - Anything but a Card

Simon Says Stamp - Anything BUT a card

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Depth of Distress

Red, white and blue

There are so many reasons to celebrate this year and red, white and blue says it all. I've used a Saturated Canary image by Krista Smith for the focal point and coloured her with my Promarkers. I coloured the inside edge of the Spellbinders nestie with Barn Door Distress Ink before removing the image from the die. The large scalloped card blank is from Craft UK. The red card is from Papermill and that was cut with a Spellbinders grand scalloped nestie square. I'd bought a Docrafts Papermania paper pad at the Glow, Bluewater Craft Show in February and hadn't got round to using it until I made this card. I did intend using it for the diamond jubilee street party invitations but as Eric was poorly that idea went out of the window! I used my corner rounder punch to cut the corners and then set the paper at an angle on the red mat. The image also had the corners rounded with the punch so that there were no sharp corners on any of the papers. I added some Union flag buttons  to two corners and I think that's it. They were bought at Bluewater too. 

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:

Saturated Canary Challenge 20 - Red, white and blue

Papertake Weekly - Bingo, Buttons, Free, Punches

Joanna Sheen - Summer Daze

Gingerloft Challenge - Red, white and blue

Robyn's Fetish - No flowers anywhere at All

 Love to Create Challenge 21 - Anything Goes

#119 Summer Dress

The theme is Summer Dress for this week's challenge over at One Stitch at a Time. You can choose to use fabric, summer colours or show us your interpretation of the theme. I chose Love Seat by Stitchy and loved colouring this beautiful image. You can buy the image at the Stitchybear Digital Stamp Store and whilst you're there you'll see lots more that you will need! lol

I used a Spellbinders grand circle nestie to cut a large square Craft UK card  into a circle. The green leaf backing paper is printed from a Joanna Sheen CD but I cannot remember which one! Oops, sorry. The purple pearlescent card is by Payper Box. I coloured the image with Promarkers and after cutting I used Distress Ink round the edge.  The wooden sun came from Create and Craft and that was coloured with Promarkers too. The embroidered flowers are from a pack of embroidery motifs that I bought in the USA about ten years ago. They suited the colours in this image perfectly and I think are just a perfect finishing touch.

The sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen and the prize is a £10 voucher for her online store. 

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts - Flowers in Bloom

Love to Create - Summertime Fun

Bearly Mine - Flowers

Crafty Sentiments - Bright Colours

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Summer colours, especially yellow, orange and red.

Die Cuttin Divas - Summer Colours - red, yellow and orange

The Paper Shelter - The Great Outdoors

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Going in Circles

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Summer

Cute Card Thursday - Here Comes Summer

Whoopsi Daisy - Use those Swirls

The theme at Whoopsi Daisy this week is Use Those Swirls. I haven't made a blue card for a while so the colour was decided. That was the easy bit! I had a lot of bother making this because my mojo just wouldn't appear. Eric hasn't been well and I think this has probably affected my crafting. Since initially writing and scheduling this post I haven't been well either. I was at the GP on Friday and am at the hospital on Monday to have an xray on my knee. I'm so glad that I had my DT cards made in advance.

I used this image from sheet 349 over at the Whoopsi Daisy shop. A sheet of four images is only £1.99 so it's very reasonable for such cute images.

Once again I used a small square Craft UK card blank. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and then carefully cut her out. I used a Spellbinders label nestie for the seat!  I used Distress Ink round the edges. The blue pearlescent card and the star paper is from Payper Box. All the swirls were cut with Spellbinder dies and using Papermill pale blue card.

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girls, Girls, Girls

Crafty Ann's Challenge - It's a Girl Thing
Stamping with the Dragon - Anything Goes
Sweet 'n' Sassy Digi Challenge - CAS with two layers
Great Impressions - Die Cuts or Punches

I've been to the hospital this morning to have an xray on my right leg. I will find out next week what's up, probably osteoarthritis flaring up. I've had it since I was a young woman but haven't had too much difficulty until the last few years. Ooh, it hurts!.

#118 Stitch It

The theme at One Stitch at a Time this week is Stitch It. For this theme you can either use real or faux stitching or use any images from Stitchybear's Store. I chose to use 'Artist's Palette' by Teri of Delicious Doodles over at the Stitchybear Digital Stamp Store.

I used a small square card blank by Craft UK. The red and yellow card is all from Papermill. I used two Cuttlebug embossing  folders, Happy Birthday and a large circle, on the red card and covered the join with a Spellbinders Parisian Motif die. I matted it all on to the bright yellow card. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and used Sakura's 3D Crystal Lacquer on the paint blobs and brush tip so that the paint looks wet. I carefully cut round the palette and raised it on 3d pads for depth. I generated the sentiment on the computer and that's it, complete!

For details of our sponsor this week, check the One Stitch at a Time challenge blog.

I'm entering my card in to the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - Masculine

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes

Desmet Designs - For the Men and Boys

Craft your Passion - Anything Goes

Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps Challenge - Birthday Celebrations 

Twisted Tuesday Challenges - Use something clear - I used crystal lacquer on the paints. Favourite embossing folders!

Inky Impressions Challenges - Celebrations 

The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes 

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge - Something Masculine

Inspire me Fridays - Always Anything Goes

Sorry, I'm AWOL at the minute.

Hello Friends

I'm sorry that I haven't posted since Sunday. Eric's not well and it's just been confirmed today that he has pneumonia. Due to other health problems he can't do much anyway but at the minute he's even eating less! We seem to be spending our time travelling between GP surgeries and hospital departments. I've been to the hospital today for my vertigo problem. I had to see a balance rehabilitation officer and fortunately the horrible treatment that I had a few months ago seems to have had the desired effect. Yippee. I have some exercises to do to counteract any faint dizzy spells and if they are more severe I can ring the hospital and make another appointment. We're back to the same hospital tomorrow for Eric's rheumatoid arthritis follow up. Our daughter in law says that we shouldn't have too much fun!!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know why I've been AWOL. I have tried to comment on some cards and I hope to be back in the swing of things very soon. Stay happy.

#117 For the man in your life

The theme of this challenge over at One Stitch at a Time is 'For the man in your life'. I've made this as an anniversary card and it could be used for male or female. The image is 'Waiting for You' by Priyanka over at Stitchybear Digital Stamp Store.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and then tore round the edges before inking them with Distress Ink in Spiced Marmalade. The wings of the fairies were made with fusible film and I burnt my craft room carpet when doing them! I switched my travel iron on and got the wings ready between some sheets of paper , on the floor! I noticed that the iron had a green mark on it after I'd ironed for a few seconds, doh! It was my carpet. Fortunately it isn't an expensive carpet, it's only a cord one - now with a patch of burnt fibres!! lol I've had suggestions from cyber friends to cover it with a butterfly or a flower, etc. That won't work, so I'll just have to admit to my folly when I get visitors to my room. Now, back to my card  - the backing paper is from my favourite First Editions pad Hideaway. It's a beautiful glitter paper and is matted on to tan coloured card from Papermill. I used the same card to cut the Marianne die leaves. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I generated the sentiment on the computer and tore it and edged it as before. Four pieces of Card Candi are in the top left corner. My card blank is from Craft UK.

Our sponsor is Creative Craft World - check out the challenge blog for details of the prize structure.

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:

Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Rainbows, Clouds or Wings
Paper Crafting Journey - Colour it up - Hand coloured images
Southern Girls Challenge - Things with Wings
My Heart Pieces Digital Stamps Challenge - Flower/s
Crafty Creations - Anniversary
Whimsy Stamps Challenge - Things with Wings
Anything Goes Challenge - Anniversaries
Digital Tuesday - Anything Goes but must use something digital
Polka Doodles - Lots of Flowers

My Favourite Green

It took me two days to make this card because I kept changing the layout! I used a Craft UK scalloped card blank. The lime green card is from Papermill and the flowered backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Baby Love CD. I cut the paper with a Spellbinders grand nestie before matting on to the green card. A piece of  green satin ribbon was tied in a bow across the top corner before fixing to the card blank. The Saturated Canary image was coloured with Promarkers and cut with a grand nestie oval. While it was still in the nestie I used Distress Ink round the inner edge. The top right die cut is a Spellbinders and the bottom left is a Marianne. I bought the three silver flower charms at Bluewater Craft Show but there is no name on the packet, sorry. The sentiment stamp is by LOTV which I stamped and shrunk to make it a better size for this design.
I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:
Crafter's Companion - Embellishments
The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Lots of layers

Fab 'n' Funky - Go Green plus A DT call
The CD Sunday Challenge - Gorgeous Green - the flowered paper is from Joanna Sheen's Baby Love CD
Saturated Canary - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings - Flowers and Ribbons
Crafting for All Seasons - Many layers
I Love Promarkers - For a Little Girl
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties - Favourite Colour Combo

Thank you for visiting - it's nice to see you.

Eat Cake!

Another of my Saturated Canary digis, coloured with Promarkers. I had fun doing this card using the brightest colours. The dots on her headscarf were coloured with a silver metallic Promarker and I added diamond Stickles to the cake. I used orange silk to stitch the threads of the bunting on the image. I cut the image with a Spellbinders grand circle nestie and matted it on to a scalloped nestie.The pink card is from Papermill and the glittery backing paper is from First Editions pad 'Desert Blooms'. I cut the backing paper with a grand scalloped square nestie and matted it on the pink card. The corners of the pink card were cut with my Carl corner rounder punch. I used my Whimsy bunting die on three pieces of coloured card to make the four triangles and then added a heart and star embellishment to two of them to match the bunting image on the digi. I tied them with orange silk and added two to each of the top corners. I had a cupcake stamp which I'd got free quite a while ago in my Creative Stamping magazine. I stamped three cupcakes and coloured them with Promarkers and Stickles before carefully cutting out. These were aded to the bottom of the card and were raised to give more depth to the design. The card blank is by Craft UK.

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:
Great Impressions - Die Cuts and Punches
The Pink Elephant - Vibrant Colours
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Die cuts and punches
The Crazy Challenge - Childhood Memories
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - For the Girls
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Texture - stitching, Stickles, and glitter paper
Ooh-la-la Creations - Make it Girly
House of Gilli - Vibrant Colours/Summer
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - For a Little Girl

Thanks for all your lovely comments. I hope all the UK bloggers enjoyed the weekend festivities. We're back in to the normal routine again now. Eric has been not too good and we had to visit the GP this morning. He was sent for an xray at the Cardio unit of a local hospital and we were in and out in ten minutes! Perfect. I'm not doing any housework today because we've been in and out, and in and out again, so I've decided there's been enough rushing about and I'll play for the rest of the day. Enjoy your day.

Whoopsi Daisy Summer Colours

This is my card for the Whoopsi Daisy challenge this week - the theme is Summer Colours and you couldn't get much hotter than these colours! 

I used one of the images from sheet 339 which you can buy here. There are four digis to a sheet and, at the minute, if you buy one sheet, for only £1.99, you get another sheet free,  a fantastic price for fantastic images.

I used a small card blank from Craft UK. The backing paper is from a freebie pad by Kate Knight - Totally Tropical Summer papers. The orange card is from Payper Box. I coloured the image with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens and then used a Spellbinders nestie to cut it. I matted it on to the scalloped nestie in orange. Three small orange gems from JJD cards are in the bottom right of the image rectangle. The orange ribbon is from my Australian stash - it's beginning to run low! Yikes.

I'm entering it in to the following challenges:

Fashionista Challenge - Simply Summer

Ooh-la-la creations Challenge - Make it Girly

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes 

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Orange

Die Cuttin Divas - Anything Goes - used my rectangle nestability dies

I love Promarkers - Use a Digi 

The Ribbon Girl Blog - Use ribbon or lace

#116 Use a Digi

The challenge this week at One Stitch at a Time is 'Use a Digi'. I was given the digi image of a Vintage Bike by Jess over at Stitchybear Digital Stamp Shop. During the month of June a set of collaboration digis will be available for the month - free of charge when you make a $12 spend in the store. Check these images out -

 

We have two sponsors this week - Stitchybear and Crimson Cloud. Check out the challenge blog for prize structure.

After receiving my image I decided that I had to go along with the distressed look. I used a large square card blank by Craft UK. The backing paper, which I used Distress Ink on, is from Create and Craft and the beige card is from Papermill. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and cut it with my Spellbinder large label die. While it was still in the nestie I used Distress Ink round the inside edge, leaving the white edge to make it stand out against the larger size beige card label shape. I'd distressed the edges of this too. I used three stamps from Paper Artsy, two sentiments and the watch. I stamped them, on to distressed paper, with Memento Ink in cocoa. I cut two of these freehand and the other was cut with a small label die. 

If you check out the rest of the DT cards you will see examples of how these fantastic digis can be used.

I'm entering this in to the following challenges:

Joanna Sheen Challenge - Remember when - and the answer is NO, I cannot remember these bikes! lol

Incy Wincy Designs - Vintage

Lexi's Creations - For the Boy/Man in our lives

Love to Create - Add a Sentiment

Simon Says Stamp and Show - One for the Boys

Oldie but a Goodie - Anything Goes but must use something at least 6 mths old - my Create and Craft paper.

Jackson's Digital Expressions - Anything Goes/Tim Holtz products used - Distress Inks 

Tuesday Throwdown - Masculine

I love Promarkers - Use a Digi 

Pattie's Creations - For a Guy

Farmyard Friends

At last I've been able to make a card for the CD Sunday challenge - the first time for a few weeks. I just seem to have been snowed under with digis and DT cards, apart from the day to day chores.

I used an image from Sharon Duncan's Farmyard Friends CD as the focal point. It was matted on to a backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD 2 and that was matted on to blue pearlescent card from Payper Box and black card from Papermill. I added two of the flowers that came on Sharon's CD and cut them out as corner pieces. The sentiment is a stamp that I've had for years, not sure which set it came from, sorry. A small card blank from Craft UK was used.

Bookmark

I've made a bookmark today - the first one for ages. I've also used PINK which I usually steer away from. I used my Spellbinders nesties to cut the image and the base of the bookmark. I coloured the Saturated Canary image with Promarkers. All I had to do then was add some Card Candi and a pink tassel. Job done!

I'm adding my bookmark to the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything for Kids
Saturated Canary Challenge - Bookmark

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - if you're in the UK enjoy the celebrations.  Be happy!