At last - A Cuttlebug!

BIG excitement over the last few days in my house.
I finally got my hands on a Cuttlebug!! I have wanted a die cutting/embossing machine for SO long, but never seemed to be able to save up enough money. There was always something else more imminently important to get first.
Also I was sort of holding out for a Spellbinders Wizard, which I have to admit was my first choice, but is SO expensive.
My daughter finally got me a 'bug' for my birthday,as she said I really needed it now. So I went a bit crazy and bought 3 embossing folders and a set of Nestabilities to go with it. After all, there's no point having a 'bug' and not being able to use it, is there?
These Nestability sets are going to be addictive, I can see, as I already feel the need for about 6 others. I made my first card with one of the folders & set anyway. It's for a lady on our Forum, but I don't think she follows this blog, so I'm pretty safe in posting it now.

I seem to be imprinted on one stamp lately!! I must move on from using Messy Rabbit for everything!

I also have a confession to make - I've been a bit naughty and spent more money. I've ordered some new clear stamps from Whiff of Joy. Its the February Stamp kit called "Birdie Love", and I can see such potential for this set, I just had to have it. I really love their stamps, they are such good quality.

I got some cooking done yesterday, I made an Apple pie and a Cottage Pie. It's the first time I've felt like cooking that sort of thing for a while. Amazing what a little sun can do! I must admit it did start out as a "must sort out the freezer" day, but what the heck! - I suddenly felt more creative than that, so the freezer will have to wait.........again!

UPDATE: My cousins wife came through her op ok, but they haven't got the results back yet about the Lymph system - the family holds it's breath and hopes..............

Going to cook a roast Sunday dinner in a moment and settle down for the rest of the day. Hope your day is fine too..........

Sunday Update

I got a phone call from my father last night requesting a card for my cousin's wife. She has to go into hospital on Wednesday for a Mastectomy, which will be followed up with Chemo. We won't know til after the op whether the cancer has spread to the Lymph nodes, so we are all keeping our fingers crossed for her. Anyway, I set to work and produced 2 cards. One for my father to send and one for myself and my daughter.




I've spent all morning sorting out craft bits, but haven't managed to make another card yet! I can't really settle into anything, I have something wrong with my ear, and it's niggling. I 'spose that'll mean a trip to the Doctor's tomorrow. It just feels swollen and painful inside. I probably caught something from the dog,lol, he's had a nasty pair of eyes all week. The vet gave us some ointment, but no clue how to give them to a 32kg GSX who doesn't like his head held, has NO intention of letting anyone near him with cotton wool to clean them or ointment to heal them. I think I've caught him asleep about 3 times, to insert some cream before he realises what I'm up to, but now his eyes fly open every time I move. Back to the vets Tuesday, and pick up a sedative tablet on Monday so the Vet can see what's what!

The Next Three Baby Cards

I finally got my camera to take something remotely useable. This is absolutely the WORST camera I've ever had. I traded in my old digital camera to Fuji, rather than get it repaired, thinking I was doing the right thing. I wish now I'd had my old one serviced. I returned this one to Fuji shortly after getting it because it was taking such awful grainy pictures, despite being a much higher resolution camera. They sent it back to say that there was nothing wrong with it, and all digital cameras bowed the sides of an image when close ups were taken! Well....fooey!...my old one didn't, and they've lost a customer now, cos next time I'll buy Canon. Anyway, Rant over....here's some more cards.

Cards for Twins/New Baby for my website.

Well, I've been toying with some ideas for baby cards. I wish my imagination worked a little easier! I really struggle sometimes. I love making cards but I'm much better with bespoke designs, where I know what elements people want on their cards.........ah well!

So.........The first 3, all the same basic design, one for girl twins, one for boy twins, and one for a "pigeon pair" as my mother used to say!






The final card shown (for boy/girl twins) I was undecided about the background colour, so in the end I've woven the two different colour papers and mounted the image over the top.
The lettering was printed off on my computer and coloured in with pro-markers. The font is called Patchwork, and the wording above was printed at the same time. I planned it all out in a graphics programme I have. Its actually one I bought years ago when I first made my own printed Christmas cards, and it was a very basic programme. However I find it works much better than some of the more involved ones I've seen since, and I would hate to lose it now!

Anyway, I have some more cards to take photo's of, and I'll get back to post them soon. Still finding this blogging lark a little unnerving, I have to say. I comfort myself with the thought that probably no one but me knows its here anyway, and if they did, they'd not find it interesting enough to read!!
The website is, after all, for public consumption. This is just me rambling on..........and on........and on.....

A Quick Update

I never did get back with more photo's of the new craft area the other day........sorry, but it's still not done!
I had to stop to make a few cards for the craft fair at the local college to celebrate International Women's Day. It was a fairly succesful day, not OVER busy, but a steady flow of people all day. I sold about 10 cards, and certainly hope I can get a stall again next year. I handed out lots of business cards. Of course, I didn't have anything that people wanted, so spent a lot of time re-personalising the stock I had with me. I spent a lot of time adding ages to cards and tearing off "Happy Mothers day " to replace with "Happy Birthday".
One lady wanted a card for a twin birth, (plus it was for boy/girl twins). Another gap in my stocks is now highlighted.
A couple of people said how nice it was to see cards for Goth's and Wiccan's. Despite the fact I've only ever sold one through the website, it does appear to be something that people can't get easily. So I've been trying to design a couple more to upload.
The Mayor and his wife purchased a decoupaged card for a blind lady they were visiting later in the day.

I've posted these couple of cards onto my MISI shop, and shortly will add them to the website.