Friendship

A happy Boxing Day ,are you all full of festive goodies. I was very good yesterday and this morning I went for a walk to banish those extra calories.

365 Cards- day 296 - Imagine this- Mistletoe - I went with the colours instead of a Christmas feel.I've had the embossed paper for such a long time I've no idea where it came from.The sentiment is from Stampin Up. The flower is scalloped lace which I've gathered ,a crochet flower courtesy of my crafty friend Merry and a button from my stash.

HO HO HO

I hope you are all having a lovely day .Due to the bad weather in England our Christmas mail has not arrived yet ,our local postie brought lots of Christmas cheer in the form of the electricity bill ,the telephone bill and the registration charges for both our cars .

The santa image was a freebie ,the holly paper is HOTP .

Stamping Vacation -Sticky Situation -Border stickers. I've used a red sparkly border strip.

Cupcake Inspirations - challenge 90 - A beautiful cake shaped like Santa is the inspiration.

Southern Girls - challenge 8 - Vintage

The Crafty Pad -challenge 102 -Anything goes

flutterby butterfly

365 Cards- day 294 -Super Sketchy Sunday - use the above layout.

Stamping Vacation - Animal Applause- Anything with Antennae

weekend away

Hello peeps, I hope you all had a good weekend .Steve and I went to see the Eagles in concert on Friday evening ,as always they gave a polished performance .The downside is that we had to go to Melbourne,like any large city it is dirty and overcrowded.I was surprised at how many times we were asked for money by beggars.


December has been a very musical month as we have already seen Blondie ( Debbie Harry was dressed for a supermarket shop ,I thought her tartan shopping trolley was just off stage).She was a big disappointment .The Pretenders were fantastic and at 59 Chrissie Hynde can still rock it. Our favourite band Little Red were very good and if you need a quick Christmas pressie their new CD is very good.

All checked for Christmas

This is most definitely my last Christmas card ,I'm all out of inspiration and ideas.

Papercraft Star - challenge 25 -to use the photo at the top for inspiration.

Stamping Vacation - Embellish it - with a buckle or a slider.

All buttoned up for Christmas

A few years ago I received a Christmas card with this foam reindeer on the front .The card was thrown away but I kept this little chap to re use. I took the layers apart leaving the whole image to play with. I didn't want a solid image so I curled up a few strands of cotton and laid them across my card before loading the reindeer with ink and stamping. I quite like the effect so if your kids have any foam shapes laying around the house grab them.

My finished card is for Stamping Vacation -challenge - No punches -I've used lots of matting in burgundy,gold and brown before sticking to a burgundy card base. The flourish under the sentiment is sewn in gold thread.

Celebrate the Season

I've gone for non traditional colours in this card .I have a big stash of pink paper which I bought from my local discount store.

Pear Tree Designs- challenge 30- Christmas -

pretty pockets

I hope you all had a good weekend ,things were pretty quite at this end.My card making seems almost non existent at the moment .I came back from my holiday in New Zealand feeling refreshed and energetic and all this energy has been used to do some serious house cleaning .I hope to be back to my crafty self very soon. 365 Cards -day 284 -Pretty Pockets -make a card with two pockets . The patterned paper is just gift wrap . A couple of tags and a large chipboard button .I used a tutorial from splitcoast stampers for the basic idea.

Grey and Lilac

Earlier this week I dug out all the Christmas cards I made in July and August (this was me being organised ). At the time I really liked all my creations but a few months down the line and I was horrified , the cards are just awful . I've tried adding bits of lace and other embellishments as I don't have time to make new ones. Some of them have gone into the bin ,maybe 2 or 3 will be OK. I need to post the overseas ones today ,I just hope they get there in time.

This is a new one for my in-laws and I've kept it very simple ,I just hope they love the colour combo as much as I do.

my second attempt

Last week I made card using this framed sentiment and it didn't really work so I've had another attempt . I think it's a very calm , peaceful card ,my husband says it looks like a grave stone .

Dear Santa in Red

Southern Girls - challenge 7 -It's heating up -use heat-embossing,wax,burning. I've used embossing on the border at the bottom. I've used the same image and frames as listed in the previous post . I've used water colours again ,the background paper is vellum.

Dear Santa

Color Throwdown - challenge 21 - Use the above colours for your project.

The image came from Inger which I've had since 2009 and never used .I've used water colours for a change ,I like the translucent effect. The frame for the sentiment is from Scrap-a-licious ,at the moment these frames are my favourite embellishments.

A touch of christmas.

I said yesterday I would try to post a few cards today ,my efforts have not been very rewarding .My mind seems to be thinking about other things,having said that here are my efforts. I don't think the white centre works at all on this card and the angel should be blue or white .I do love the tag ,if I can find another angel and paint the centre square it might be OK.

Again I love the tag but mixing the old style tag with the modern Christmas Trees just doesn't work.

I had hoped the pretty paper would do all the work ,to me this card looks unfinished despite the embellishments.

I may not have inspired you with great ideas and layouts but at least you won't make the same mistakes I did .Back to the craft room for me ,I think some chocolate may be eaten today.

Maybe Thursday will be a better day ?

I was hoping to show you at least 3 cards today , I spent the afternoon in my craft room trying to be creative. The first image I used water colour pencils and way too much water which I smudged outside the lines ,the second image was a cat I coloured grey and didn't like . For my third attempt I made a Christmas tree which was too big for the card stock I wanted to use.Instead of cards I will leave you a little rhyme I remember from my childhood and before decimalisation occurred .

Christmas is coming ,the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old mans hat
If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny then God Bless you.

A ha'penny being a half penny .

Swirls and flowers

I love this navy and white paper , I decided it was too pretty to cover up so my card is very simple . I may add a sentiment later or just leave it like this.

Tagged

Another card for my charity box, the photo is a bit naff ,the colours are not shown very well and don't seem to match at all.
The little handbag is from K & Company ,I'm sure with a little effort I can make some myself. The background paper is from Dena Designs .

Copy Cat

I'm not very good at explaining things but here goes, Stamping Vacation have a challenge Inspirational Tag (details here ). Denise had posted a card and listed the items used as shown above,I make a card using two or three elements from that card and then invite you to make card using elements from my card.I used ; the colour scheme ,pearls and a lace border.

Elements you could you from my card ;

Colour scheme - pearls - snowflakes ,brads ,Christmas baubles ,lace border ,sticky strip for string on baubles -gold colour -square card shape -patterned paper - Christmas theme ,layout ,corrugated card.

Post your entry on your blog and mention which card /blog you used for your elements.Enter the challenge at Stamping Vacation to win a prize .

Christmas Greetings

Although I haven't put a sentiment on the front I think I will use this card for Christmas. The music stamp is from Uppity .

365 Cards - day 267 - They have a vintage theme this week and today's challenge must include a pin . I'm never sure what makes a card vintage so I hope this will be OK.

A bit of recycling

Over the past few months my card making has been a bit hit 'n' miss. I had intended to complete all the challenges at 365 cards and for a while I was OK. I'm not sure what happened but I am so far behind that it's just not possible to catch up.

365 Cards - day 266- Super Sketchy Sunday .I'm never quite sure how best to attach lace to my cards ,I find it easiest to stick a strip of card to the lace first and add some beads. A pair of earrings I no longer wear have gone into my stash and this is one of them .

I'm back

Well hello out there and a happy weekend to all. I've just got back from 2 weeks in New Zealand . Over the next couple of days I will try and pop by your blogs to see what you have made. I should have done some fact finding before I went away as I didn't find many craft shops on our travels. I did bring a few bits back,but not nearly as many as I was hoping for.

Enjoy the weekend

Daisies for Daisy

This card is for my mother in law Daisy who has a birthday in December . As you can see it's a Dufex pyramex picture.

another button card

Another quick card for Christmas ,it's a good way to use up your button stash.

A simple greeting

This lovely festive paper from Kaiser craft does all the work on this card , it would be a shame to cover it up.

One Stitch At A Time - challenge 37 - Christmas

My Creative Time -Thursday Throw back - Christmas

Little boy blue

I hope your weekend got off to a good start .I was up and about before 6.00am this morning and just about half way through a cup of coffee Steve joined me . An early breakfast and back into sorting through those pesky boxes ,I'm pleased to say we have almost finished. A trip to the local Salvos with our unwanted stuff,a grocery shop and we were back in time for coffee at 11.00am. After all this activity I'm tempted to do my craft room next.

I'm not sure if I should have added a bit more to this card ,I can never decide and sometimes my creations are just too messy.

Southern Girls- challenge 4 - Glitter it up - the moon and the large star have had the glitter treatment.

Moving Along With The Times - challenge 70 - A card for a child. This is probably for a new birth or 1st birthday.

Paper Romance- challenge 22- Make a card with some sort of pleated ribbon on it. I'm never sure how best to secure the pleats so I've used tiny pearls .
Totally Papercrafts -challenge 40 - Bling it on - Jewels,Gems ,Pearls, Glitter,anything sparkly or shiny. Again the moon and large star.

Happy Christmas

This is really in your face bright colours and I'm not sure if I love it or hate at the moment. I do like the clean and simple layout.

The Crafty Pad -challenge 94 - Christmas theme

Swim little fishes ,swim

A quick and easy card for a man who enjoys his fishing .The stamped circle is the base from my Justrite stamp kit.
The Stamp Man - challenge 8 - A card for a man .

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday- challenge 90 -Anything goes but Buttons and Bows .

With Love

This card is for
Paper Romance -challenge 21 - A Round Card - not my favourite shape ,but I always think other peoples round cards look good.

Stamping Vacation - Bear Country , the Movie - Now I haven't seen this film so Denise might not accept my entry.

Digistamps4Joy -challenge 5 -You Spin Me Right Round - Use circles -I've got a round card with a round doily and a round stripey button.

Shopping

I hate shopping for clothes and shoes ,me and my feet are too fat.Whatever I buy I know will have to be altered in some way, and as for shoes I need extra wide fittings. On Friday afternoon I launched an attack on the shops but I couldn't find shoes or clothes to fit. I saw this chunky bracelet which I liked and bought two extra to make a matching necklace so a good ending to the day. I love the beaten silver and chunky shapes.

A blast from the past 2009

Over at Tsuruta Designs they are playing 'Flashback Friday 4' post the first Christmas Card you put on your Blog. Not only is my card truly awful,the photo is even worse. My card making and photography skills have improved slightly since then. You can see the original post here .

If they have a prize for the worst card I am sure to win.

Hello Kitty

This card is for

Just Cute Bears & Friends - challenge 38 -the layout above .

Digital Tuesday -challenge 81 -Yellow,Black and Purple .

The cute kitten is a freebie from Dawn which I printed out twice ,the yellow paper is a scented drawer liner , a painted doily and a few black flowers.

One for charity

I really need to think about making some Christmas Cards for friends and family.I made lots of cards for the Christmas in July challenges but they will all go in the charity box along with this one.

good morning

I hope you all had or are still having a great weekend. My weekend has been very industrious,mixed with feelings of sadness and pleasure . In my almost 55 years I've lived in 23 houses in 3 Countries on 3 Continents as well as visiting another 50 + Countries for holidays. During this time I have gathered and collected more than enough for a whole life time.Each time we move the house has to be bigger with more rooms to store all this 'crap' ,can I say 'crap' without causing offence. Over the weekend the big clear out has begun. Boxes labelled 'Kitchen' that were packed up in 2006, I obviously don't need the contents or I would have unpacked them years ago. When did I last have a round dining table ,I'm guessing 1998,so out go the round table cloths . I'm sure most of you know what I mean so next weekend get into the loft or garage or spare rooms and make a start. All my stuff is going to the local charity shop ,books are going to the library.



You will feel better once it's finished and it means you have extra space for your craft stuff ,did I mention I won't be throwing anything away from my craft room.



Have a great week.

Birds in silhouette

Sentimental Sundays- challenge 25 - Black and White plus one other colour .The bird image is from 'my grafico' ,the sentiment free with this challenge.

All buttoned up

Plain and simple ,this card is for day 232 at 365 Cards -Bounty of buttons-Use 15 buttons.

A patchwork affair

This is for Get Sketchy -challenge 60 which is the layout above. The papers are from my local discount store ( Chicken Feed ) .The sentiment is a stamp from Kaiser Craft.

Fishy tales or should that be tails

This little fisherman is so cute and the card is for

365 Cards- day 225 -In stitches- Blanket stitches to be exact .not my favourite stitch as it never looks neat and tidy.

Digital Tuesday- challenge 80 -Sew special and a digi image.

Southern Girls- challenge 4 - 4 layers of patterned paper.

It's a Girl

Just Cute Bears -challenge 37 -Baby Creation with the option of gingham paper and ribbon.This card blank had an oval aperture ,I hand cut flowers and stuck them around the edges.The centres of all the flowers have small gems attached which don't show up very well.

On yer bike mate

This card is for a few challenges -

365 Cards -day 228- Sanding and Sponging -My sanding was done with an emery board ,I was too lazy to get sandpaper from the garage. I haven't joined in with their challenges for ages and I need to get back into the habit of making a card everyday.

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday- challenge 88 -Ink and Edge Distressing. A big thank you as I won last weeks challenge.

Paper Romance - challenge 20 -Use 3 buttons on your card.

Sitting Pretty

This card follows the layout above which I turned and is for challenge 4 at Digistamps4Joy. The image is one of the freebies they gave away a few weeks ago.The stripey paper is double sided and I can see the spots showing through from the other side,I will probably throw the rest of the paper away.

Paper Romance- challenge 20 -Use 3 buttons on your card-My buttons are chipboard.

It's snowtime

This is my first acetate card and it's not too shabby ,in fact for me it's pretty darn good. I've taken two piccies cos the first one shows all the shadows ,the second one against a dark background is better.

This is for

Just Us Girls - challenge 54 - Technique- use acetate . Thanks to all the girls ,I was a lucky winner last week on the Birthday Blog hop.

There's Magic in the Air - Magical Monday - a card with snowflakes -this image was a freebie from them .