Blackbutterfly Handcrafted Cards

2012 - and hopefully a better year's blogging!

2012-01-26T17:57:00.005Z

My apologies to everyone that this blog has been largely abandoned in the past 8 months. Firstly, due to being overwhelmingly busy with other personal problems, and latterly due to ill health.
In fact, I've made very few cards since last April, and that includes Christmas!
I did manage to get my craft room moved, but I have since found that although I have a wonderfully tidy sitting room, my bedroom is so dark and poky, it stifles all inspiration.
I have to really struggle to make a card in there, and in the next couple of months, all the craft stuff is going to have to be moved again as the Housing Association is installing double Glazed UPVC windows. At present they couldn't even reach mine! So although I will try to update more often, for the next couple of months it may still be a bit 'iffy' as far as regularity is concerned. They have promised to be finished by March ..............but we'll see.

My daughter is looking for work in London, and also wants to move up there by mid summer. If this should happen her bedroom will become my craft room SO quickly it will make your head spin........hee hee! This would solve a lot of problems space wise, but I will definitely miss her. However, it's well past time she should be leading her own life now,........... and leaving me in peace!
I'll still have the dog and the cat to deal with, so life will be busy enough. Along with that, I have the Community Garden Committee to attend, and a lot of planting to do for the new season. Anyone interested in following our efforts at growing things may like to look at The Woodgrange Community Garden Blog.

Hopefully I'll have some crafting news for you all soon

seeyah!

Ruby Wedding Order

2011-04-26T13:08:00.007+01:00

I finally finished the Ruby wedding card, and I've posted the pictures off to the client to see if she is happy, or wants something changed ( or, worst case scenario........EVERYTHING changed!). I've not heard back yet, so I'm beginning to worry.........lol.

Anyway, I decided to post the pictures despite not hearing, and if I have to change the card, we'll have a before and after session!!
I was sent a couple of original photo's to use on the front, and one of my earlier cards from my bespoke gallery was chosen as a layout. The wording was also chosen by the client. This is what I've produced so far

The other photo I altered in my graphics programme and used on the insert. Then I found a verse that I thought might be suitable on Imag-e-nation

The front of the card is decorated with Roses and Cherry blossoms & Baby's breath from Wild Orchid Crafts, all in shades of red & burgundy.

The outside edge has been cut back and given a strip of ruby pearlescent card, over which I have laid a length of white Guipure Lace , also from WOC. A strip of burgundy satin ribbon has been woven through the length of it.

The wording was printed in Coventry Garden font and the labels raised on pads, as was the main image.

I hope you like it, and please comment..........it's lovely to hear views on my work.

Just a quickie............no pics!

2011-04-19T10:50:00.004+01:00

Just a quick post to apologise for deserting my blog for so long. I've been quite busy lately with one thing and another. I had to make 7 Easter Cards to swop with members of a forum I belong to. Unfortunately Easter Cards are always something I've struggled with for some reason, so I prevaricated and delayed ( 'cos we've known since Xmas we were planning this), until I was left with just a couple of days to go, and STILL not a card made.
In the end I rushed them through in the simplest way imaginable, without a spark of inspiration, only to receive the first from someone else with exactly the same image I'd used!!
I slept badly that night dreaming that we had all used the same stamp and everyone had made identical cards!! HORRORS!!
Anyway, they are all posted now, and hopefully I'll do better at the next challenge swap.
Got a nasty feeling tho' that the postman cleared the box early that day, cos as I dropped mine into it, it sounded VERY empty.
Collection was due at 5.30pm, I posted at 5,20..........sigh...........ah well, should have posted them a day early really.

I have a card order for a Ruby wedding, so I'm hoping the roses I've ordered from Wild Orchid Craft's turn up in time........there's too many Bank Holidays all of a sudden!! If they don't arrive Thursday, I'm going to be biting my nails off all over Easter! Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Still waiting to move my craft room back into my bedroom, so we can have the living room back and fit to greet visitors. It's embarrassing at the moment with paper, glitter and glue all over the place.
I just need to organise my son & my daughter to have enough energy and mild enthusiasm to help me, both on the same day!...............................ohhhhhhhhhhhh look!....another flying pig!!

I know they'll pitch in eventually.........but I'm not noted for my patience.....lol

ok......back to designing this Ruby wedding card............and I promise some pictures next time.

80th Birthday

2011-04-04T00:01:00.007+01:00

For the first time ever, I'm trying to set up an automatic posting ahead of time,(if you know what I mean). So if this goes haywire I'm just going to be pulling my hair out! ha ha!! I had been asked for a card for an 80th birthday, to show a kitten or something "fluffy". My neighbour had been invited to a birthday for a friends mother, but had never actually met the lady in question, so it was a little difficult to know what to get her. I found some stamps of Daisy & Dandelion that I could have used, but somehow it didn't quite feel right, and after colouring in three different sets of kittens I still wasn't happy. Then I had a brainwave... ............and found JUST what I needed.

Isn't he just the CUTEST kitten?? The picture leaves a lot to be desired I'm afraid. I had just enough time to take a couple of pictures before I delivered it, but didn't have a chance to check the quality of the photo's. Unfortunately, in my last minute rush, I forgot to switch on the flash. But, hopefully, you can see enough to make out that the colour is lilac and purple. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts ( as ever!!). The sentiment is a peel off, (and I don't use many of those these days!!) plus I added 3 little heart gems at the bottom edge & there is a heart sequin attached to the stem of the last rose.

The insert was cut out of a scalloped nestability the same size as the image on the front, and set exactly in line, so it doesn't show until the card is opened.

I hope you like it, I just adore Sinatra.........he's such a cute kitty!

Mothers Day Card

2011-04-03T11:44:00.013+01:00

I've been waiting to post this for several days now!! I couldn't do so until after the card had been given, just in case. The thing is............I finally got an order courtesy of Google!! I was amazed when I asked where the lady found me.

The request itself was pretty detailed,............ the image was to be of a "comfy chair", the colours asked for were peach and green, and there were to be orange roses on the card.

All the wording was supplied by the customer, so no frantic searchings through my brain or the web to find something suitable there! LOL .

My first problem was the image. You have no idea how hard it is to find a SUITABLE image of a comfy chair, that DOESN'T look as though it's been lifted straight from the pages of a catalogue!! In the end I found a VERY old clipart cd, that came free with something years ago, and on it was a line drawing that looked as though it might do the trick. I tried printing and colouring with promarkers, but it just wasn't that good an image, and I was VERY dissatisfied with it. Then I remembered some design papers I had bought from Bearly Mine, ( who have some April freebies up at the moment, I might add, for those of you who are interested).

The range I actually used was the Vintage set, and I printed the peach design on some white pearlescent card stock (to give it a sheen), then put the card through again with several copies of the clipart set to print over the top. Then of course, it was just a case of cutting out and decoupaging, and shading a bit with one of my promarkers. I printed out a couple of sheets of the green design and used that as backing paper.

I also put one of the sheets into a graphics programme and faded out sections to make the insert, again, printing the wording over it with the computer to complete. I put a touch of stickles glitter glue onto the edges of the roses, just to add a bit of glamour. Anyway..............this was the finished result and I got an email back telling me it had arrived safely and how thrilled they were with it. I'm so glad, 'cos I always worry about whether the customer will be satisfied with the final result. Big sigh of relief, and now I can share with you all.span>

I have an 80th birthday commission to share later on today (or possibly tomorrow), it's been an active few days!!

Candy available

2011-03-14T10:31:00.004Z

A quick post this morning just to let you know there is some candy being offered on Crafty Sam's blog. If you follow this LINK, you can see what is required to try for it!

Mother's day Order

2011-03-13T08:28:00.006Z

Just a quick post as I'm struggling with my M.E. today. Obviously I've done a little too much lately and its come back to bite me!!
(Note to self: "Don't go madly working as soon as you you feel fine")

This is the bespoke Mother's Day card I mentioned yesterday, finally managed to get the camera battery charged up, but in trying to get two reasonably clear picturees, I think it's nearly flat again. heh heh.........oh well..........
I was asked for "a card with a Robin on, and some flowers........what ever you think really" It's actually quite hard to find a Robin image that doesn't look as though it belongs on a Christmas Card, but I hope this swings it!

I've matted and layered the image onto silver mirri card, and then some glittered vellum. The base Rose embossed paper was from a 12 x12 pack I bought ages ago from Create & Craft. Beautiful papers which I should really use more often.
I added some swirls from a Marianne Die set ( I think it was called dreamy) & the large white flower was from a box I got from Joanna Sheen, and the Roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts (of course!).

The insert I edged with some of the base paper cut on a border punch from Easy Craft, it was a multi shaper punch, and I bought 3, but they were a little disappointing. They weren't as strong as I'd hoped and I rarely use them now.

I edged the join with some Anita's 3d border glitterations. I've had these 'forever' and never used them, but now I have I think I need to get some more!! I really liked the effect.

I really have to go now tho......a little lay down is needed. Hope you enjoyed seeing the card.

Oh The SHAME!!

2011-03-12T11:06:00.014Z

Oh the shame of actually posting a set of New Year's Resolutuions and IMMEDIATELY failing in all of them!! I really don't know where I've gone wrong this year, and I meant to be so much more organised. So from now on, I'm not promising to post more regularly, and we'll see if that makes a difference.

I've been keeping busy with jobs other than card making, although I have made several of those too. I've been getting involved with Resident Committee's and meetings with our local housing association. Mostly to do with Estate Services, but also with the planning and execution of a Community Garden. Also I'd like to do a bit more work on my own little patch of ground, but money is very tight at the moment. If I'm very careful, and don't splash out on any craft stuff, I should be out of my overdraft by June!! LOL. ..............but Lilli of the Valley have so many nice new stamps out........*groans*

I had a stand at the Local International Womens Day Event on 5th March. It was held at South East Essex College, and I shared a stand with my neighbour who makes Jewellery. She only found out about it quite late, and couldn't get a table, so we shared. Unfortunately, the tables were exceptionally small compared to last year, so we were quite squashed up!The event wasn't that busy, but I did manage to sell 7 cards, which is really good for me. I forgot my camera, but my neighbour remembered hers, so I've pinched a couple of her pictures!!

Looking at my picture here, and my profile picture, it's quite obvious that I need to update my profile. On the other hand, perhaps I'll keep it as inspiration to lose weight!! When I can take a "thin" picture, then I'll change it, LOL.

This picture is showing the full table ( small, as I said) but I think I have a couple of close ups of each side which are clearer.

We had a really great day with ( hopefully) a couple of leads to more craft stands later in the year. At least, they took business cards..........I just have to hope they DO get in touch.

I've been busy making a bespoke card for Mother's day, which I was going to show off, but its going to have to wait. Unfortunately the camera is out of battery. Still, at least you know there's a card to view soon! Going to cook lunch now.......see you later......

Finally..........managed to log in!

2011-01-23T15:50:00.013Z

Well, Blogger wouldn't let me in, cos Google didn't recognise my password. How crazy is that?? Anyway, after sending off all my details to Google, they sent me an email back saying they couldn't authorise my account, as they couldn't be sure it was me! Aaarrgh!
Frustration wasn't the word!! After playing around for a long, long time, I managed to reset everything back to where it was in the first place, and get Google to recognise me, and here I am!

I've got a new card to show you, that I've made for my friend in Holland, ( I've no idea where the last year has gone), I just hope he likes it.

I've used orange as the colour scheme (obviously), and as he's assured me many times that men like flowers too, I hope the subject brings a smile to his face.

I used some heavy 12" x 12" embossed papers from Create & Craft, I've had them for AGES but I couldn't bear to cut into them!! But I've done it now, so hopefully I'll be able to use them a little more often now.

The Rose image has been hand stamped onto card from LOTV. (its amazingly good !!) I then painted the Rose in Twinkling H2O's, (roses in Orange Peel, and leaves in Forest Green). Since the advent of promarkers into my life, I don't watercolour as often as I should. Silly really because I find it easier to shade with paint.

The roses were left to dry throughly, and then I stamped them all over with a versamark pad and clear heat embossed them.........twice. The plain orange card has been stamped with the happy birthday sentiment, and also with a swirl stamp in versamark, then heat embossed in "Glacier White". The lace edges are done with a Martha Stewart Punch.

The insert has been stamped and heat embossed, in orange, using a do-crafts corner stamp.

Finally, I added a small premade bow from the Papermania Capsule collection to the front, and fastened the cross over card, with a clip and brad.

I hope you like it, and after the hubub of Christmas, I'm hoping to get back into the routine of making cards on a regular basis again.

There is an event being held at the local college in March, for International Womens Day. It is the centenary of the event so the theme for this year is "Then & Now".

Blackbutterfly Handcrafted Cards will be there with a table full of cards which will hopefully take someone's fancy!!
This is one of only two times a year when I sell direct to the public, the rest of the time I stick strictly to my website, or occasionally, on E-bay. The costs of buying tables to sell at such events, often outweighs the amount I manage to sell, but this particular event is such fun to attend, I hope anyone local to Southend will try to get there. It's in South East Essex College Atrium, between 11am and 3 pm on 5th March. Come and say "hello" if you see me there!

Stamp Out Thieves Campaign

2011-01-06T09:51:00.002Z

As some of you may have seen from Facebook, Mo Manning has been fighting to stamp out theft of her stamped images in the last week. (There is a full article written by Mo if you click the stamp out image in the right side bar)

Also some more info from here . As you can see it would really help all the artists if you could join in with this campaign.

On a happier note, (or not!), I have been unable to load images from my computer to my blog since Christmas. It would only give me the option to upload from Google online storage. I save my images on my computer and on Disk so have been completely flummoxed.................until I remembered that I was using the new version of blogger. Tried going back to the old version and HEY PRESTO!!!...........I can now upload my pictures. The only thing I have to do now of course is make some cards!!

Hope you had a wonderful Xmas!

2010-12-26T11:16:00.000Z

My blog has been a bit bereft of posts the 5/6 weeks. I honestly don't know where the time has gone, but I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday and received all the presents they were hoping for. I had some lovely gifts, although nothing crafty!!

I promise I will try to post more regularly through 2011, and also give some updates on the revamping of the cards on my website.

I would like to make a concerted effort to get more people aware of my card making, it seems to be a well kept secret that I make them, and really I'd like the whole town to know that they can get their cards HERE!!

I am planning to have a stall at the International Womens Day event in March. It is being held at the South East Essex College. I had one there last year and it was a really fun day! Lots of other stalls and displays of dancing etc. Also a wonderful Indian food stall that I loved. I think I spent all my profits there!!

So, New Years Resolutions that I'd like to attempt: (fingers crossed)

1 Lose weight...........I know we all say that, but I have to knuckle down, as I was diagnosed as Diabetic last year. Also in relation to this last.....

2. Stick to my allowed foods........... so I don't end up on Insulin instead of tablets to control my blood sugar

3. Blog more regularly............. At the minimum, once a week and hopefully more!

4 Advertise my cards on my face book page every time I make one.

5. Revamp the website.

That's more than enough, otherwise I'll never keep it up.

And finally............

The last Xmas card order of 2010 is shown here!..........and I got two orders for New Year's cards on Christmas Eve, that I must get done today or tomorrow.

Have a Wonderful 2011, and I hope you'll not only visit often, but tell other people I'm here!!

Love from Bets

A LOTV Blog Hop

2010-11-11T12:58:00.002Z

I've not posted for a few days again, my life seems to get more and more hectic, despite my plans to de-stress my days. Ah well, at least I got a few cards made. I'll get back to those further down the page, but first off is the LOTV blog hop for some fantastic candy.

You need to go to the challenge blog where the rules will all be explained MUCH more clearly than I can do it here. It's well worth going to tho', I promise!!
Here's my entry. I found a blog the other day suggesting colouring images and making sepia cards, so I found a stamp I really haven't enjoyed colouring and tried it out!..................I love it now.
I finished it last night and although it's quite plain, when I found the challenge this morning, it seemed as though I had made it at just the right time.

I used a really yellowy cream card stock to print the image on, and although it wasn't very good quality card, it took the effect much better than I had thought it might.
Obviously I used nestabilities to cut out the image, then pearlised cardstock through the cuttlebug and background paper was from Papermania, 'the big one' 12" x12" pad "Temptations". The parcel ties and the stars on her shopping bag were highlighted with a Sakura stardust pen, and a thin matt gold coloured ribbon taken down the join of the two papers.
The image was coloured with promarkers, and I used blush, sandstone, cinnamon and cocoa. I would have preferred to stamp the image in a brown, but I don't own one.

This blog has taken a long time to get to this point. Blogger seems to have some issues this morning, or else my computer has some with blogger, but using the new posting settings it refuses to upload any pictures, so I've had to go back to the old system, which seems to have different settings font features.........or else its just me being daft as usual!

I've made a few more simple cards for the table sale I'm doing next week, so to cut a long story short, (and get them on view before blogger goes completly doolally), I'll just upload without any more chat!

Thanks for looking!

A Classic Christmas

2010-11-02T12:30:00.003Z

Wild Orchid Crafts have a new challenge this week, "A Classic Christmas". Which means using the colours, red gold and green in the card somewhere. You can find details of the challenge and the Candy on offer right here. I'm usually pretty awful at challenges, but occassionally one will grab my imagination and I have a go.This was such a one, and I spent all day yesterday fiddling with it.

I had some really old cardstock in my stash from when I first started card making in 2007. It is embossed with trailing leaves and I had it in a dark red and a gold.

I cut a shape out of the gold with nestabilities and backed it with the matching red card, then mounted it onto green card to give a border. Then I set it on pads and attached onto a gold backing paper I had covered my cardstock in.

I then cut my image out and stuck it onto two scalloped circles, both cut the same size, in gold & green, rotating them slightly so both colours showed.

I glittered some snowflakes, and roses in gold, and cut a swirl in green also. Found a piece of red ribbon hiding at the bottom of the box which had a gold edging and attached that too, along with a red glass brad. I added some Ivy leaves from Wild Orchid, but have to admit the roses are from MAC, as they were the only red ones I had.............(nb need to buy some from Wild Orchid asap)

The main image is from Whiff of Joy, and I think is just about my favourite of all time from them! I coloured it with Promarkers, glittered the bauble with a quickie glue pen and fine glitter, and dotted some platinum liquid pearls for the mistletoe berries.

I really enjoyed making that card!!

So lazy lately!

2010-10-19T11:23:00.000+01:00

Well I finally got back to write a bit more. I've been so lazy lately when it comes to blogging. Partly cos I share my computer with my daughter. The trouble is, by the end of the day when I have something to put on here, I've lost the desk to her!
I have been working on a few cards tho'. A few days back I came across some new digi images from Tickled Pink. So, although I've never been asked for a Halloween Card in my life..........I made THREE!
I googled an image of a haunted house, printed it onto photo paper, and cut out my coloured images and stuck them onto the background. The last image was of a witch, so I googled 'moon' and found another background for her. The witch was an A6 card and the other two are A5 size. The 'too cute to spook' wording was pinched from a set of stamps, but couldn't afford to get those as well...........sorry.

I haven't added wording to the witch yet, I'm playing with a couple of ideas for that, and can't make up my mind.

Yesterday I finally got the Lili of the Valley stamps I've been dying for!.............not new ones but just a couple of the little fairy stamps they do. I have just fallen for these stamp ranges ...I want them all!

( N.B, Xmas is coming, family type people!!)

Then browsing through the website ( as you do) I found the colouring tutorial video's for promarkers. As the demonstration stamp is one of the ones I just bought, and as I'm learning about colouring VERY slowly, I decided to colour the stamps as per the instructions. I ended up with 3 images I'm extremely pleased with. Thank you, LOTV, for an excellent tutorial. May you do many more of them for clutz's like me!!

Heres the three little cards I made out of the coloured images,

So, I hope you enjoy looking at these. Personally, I'm over the moon with them. I finally feel as thought I might be getting the hang of using markers to colour.

Going to play some more now, before I have to start with housework!! Have a great day wherever you are.

KennyK images

2010-10-05T14:16:00.001+01:00

Today, I just want to show off my latest KennyK gothic Angelz cards. I still can't get too into Xmas at the moment, and I love doing these, if only because I need to practice colouring them in.
I'm not very good at skin tones yet, and light and shade toning seems to come and go with me. Every time I think I've cracked the technique, it seems to go wrong again.
I have done some small Christmas cards and I may put them up later, but today I'm trying to catch up on adding missing inserts to the cards I've already done, ready for this table sale that's pending. Also, bagging and labelling needs time spent on it.

Enough waffling.........here's the cards!

At last .............I produced a card!!

2010-10-01T17:52:00.001+01:00

Well................half a card anyway!! I sent off for some the La Pashe Flippin' Men/Women stamp sets and they arrived this morning. As usual when I get a new stamp I can't wait for an idea I just want to stamp it up! So now I have a half finished card that I don't know how to salvage into something useable. I'll just have to put it away and come back to it at a later date. With luck some blinding flash of creativity will strike in a few weeks time.

The weather is dark and dank here, so the lighting on these pictures is abysmal. Please excuse the picture quality, my camera is bad on a GOOD day!!

The polar bears I coloured I have now made into 3 very simple cards. I do like them though.
I didn't want to do anything too fancy, as I have been invited to have a card table at my local Housing Association this month. Theres some sort of Christmas fair come table sale being held there. However from last years experience I know that people don't want to pay a lot for a card, so I'm doing some less involved ones.

Hopefully I'm not going to end up using more cardstock and embellishment value than the prices will cover. I think also I may try some memo pad covers, and some candles again. As the sale is a little earlier this year, someone may want a small token present or tree gift, so fingers crossed!
Running late again tonight with cooking so I'll have to go now, but I'll try to keep up to date with posting this month.

Polar Bears

2010-09-30T16:00:00.000+01:00

Still not getting a buzz from this crafting lark at the moment, but I have spent this afternoon colouring these three images, hoping inspiration to use them will suddenly strike me.............but nothing yet, and I have to go start preparing a meal now. Perhaps tomorrow will be better!!

Lost my mojo!

2010-09-29T11:29:00.000+01:00

This is just a short post mainly to confirm that I AM still about,......... I've just lost my mojo!! (Not really sure what a mojo is - but I'm sure when it reappears I'll recognise it!!)

The only thing I've made lately is a bottle top tag that I was going to enter for the Whiff Of Joy DT application. However, once it was made I didn't like it, and so never entered it. Perhaps in a couple of months I'll try again.

This was it........I used paper piecing for her coat and hat, promarkers for the rest of her outfit, and white glitter for the coat and hat trim. I've never made a bottle tag before, it was interesting - and useful for Xmas/birthday presents!

I have made a card for a Forum swap, but unfortunately I've posted it off without taking a picture of it. ARRGH!............ I HATE it when I do that!!
If by some chance we post pictures of the cards we received on the forum, I'll try to "pinch" the image back and post it here. It won't be til after October 2nd though, 'cos that's the date we all have to open them.
It was decided to swap one card with a partner for National Cardmakers Day, and the rules were that it had to be made using Autumn colours, and no one could open their card until 2nd October. We also had to include 5 stamped images as a swop, and some candy.
Can't wait to open mine!

I've ordered some of La Pashe flippin' men and flippin' women clear stamps which were on sale at imagenation. Only £1 each and there's still some available as I write this.

My daughter has been offerred some temporary work at a local company, just for a couple of weeks while they clear a massive backlog of orders. So its quiet here today, (much as I love her, it's wonderful to have time to myself) and I can just chill out all on my own. She is obviously over the moon to be offered ANY work at all. It's the first time I've seen her that excited in a long time!!

Everyone.........please order LOTS of craft stuff from the company that runs the aforementioned forum, so that way she'll be offered a longer work placement!!....LOL

Ok.............going to search for that missing mojo!............I know I left it around here somewhere......

Oh What a Night!..........and day!

2010-09-11T20:15:00.002+01:00

I was supposed to upload some cards yesterday evening, but had a major disaster and everything else was put on hold!.

I walked into the kitchen last night to behold a river of blood across the floor. My first thought?............what's the dog done??? PANIC!!!!
( From this you can gather that my dog is as clumsy as anything, injures himself without even trying, and was appropriately named BUMBLE.)

Anyway, a moments reflection made me realise that, despite my pounding heart rate, it wasn't blood.

Closer investigation revealed........Raspberry Juice..........leaking out of the bottom of the freezer,............ which had the plug switched OFF.

Obviously, this was unintentional, (ya think?) and had apparently happened when we had to move the freezer from under the kitchen window on Tuesday night for the window repair man to come on Wednesday morning.

Screams for help to my daughter ensued to come and get the dog, who by this time had discovered that raspberry juice was "nice"..........and "didn't it make pretty patterns all over the kitchen floor when you walked in it?"
So, mop in hand, I set about clearing up the river..........and then had to brave the worst bit.............seeing how much of the freezer full of food was salvageable.

It was heartbreaking actually. A freezer full of food has vanished, and in it's place are about 10 day's worth of meals. Most of the stuff had defrosted completely, fish was thrown, other bits had been sitting in a lake of raspberry juice and were ruined. Packs of peas, sweetcorn, broccolli, runner beans.............all no longer useable. I also had some Ready Meals in there too - all ruined. plus a load of bread and rolls.

I did manage to salvage a plastic tub with portions of Beef mince, another with Lamb mince, a pack of Rhubarb, some sausages, and a pack of chicken breasts. All of which had not QUITE defrosted. They went into the fridge overnight, and today I had to go into cooking mode.

I spent most of the day making all the defrosted stuff into 2 chicken casseroles, 2 sausage casseroles, 2 Beef Passanda, 2 Spaghetti bolognaise sauce, and 4 Shepherds pies, which all have gone back into the freezer now, and the aforementioned freezer has had it's socket switch taped into the ON postion!!!

Roll on payday. .........that's all I can say!

Soooooooooooo! on to the cards that should have been uploaded last night.

The first is the monthly card kit from Little Claire. I changed it slightly by decoupaging the flower, and raising the circles up on pads. It looked a little flat to me.......now I like it better!!

The image was coloured with Promarkers, and I used Berry Red for the main colour on the flowers and Burgundy for the shading, then for the decoupaged petals I used Poppy for the main colour and Berry Red for the shading. It worked out quite well, considering I'm a bit short of red shades!

After that I set about making a couple of cards for an Appeal for Ovarian Cancer that Sue Upson has on her blog.

They are just small cards, and not very fancy cos they have to go through the post, I didn't want things to get spoilt. The stipulation was that they should be in Teal colours, that being the Charity's colour. This IS Teal.........even if it doesn't look it!!

I did two using the same image. One I watercoloured, and used a holographic backgound paper.Very simply done, but with all that holographic effect I didn't want to overload it.

The other one, I've paper pieced using the same holographic paper. I cut our her top, skirt and shoes in the teal, and then used a silver holographic paper to print and paper piece the bouquet wrapping.
I added some flowers from Wild Orchid, a little silver heart from my stash, and some diamantes in the centre of the flowers. Lace is also from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I just have to get them sent off now, so need to email to ask for the address. I'll come clean and admit that the papers are Xmas wrapping sheets on a roll from the pound shop last year. I'm going to find some more this year that I can use. I LIKE them!

My daughter is dying to get onto the internet now, so I must close. Hope your weekend is going better than mine has so far!!

I probably won't post tomorrow as I'm spending the day at my fathers........

Busy, busy coupla days.

2010-09-07T11:43:00.000+01:00

Lots to do this week. Got my daughter's birthday on the 9th, and I haven't made her card yet.........EEK! The worst bit is, I have no idea what to do. Inspiration has vacated my brain at the worst possible point in time.
I have my Godmother visiting me tomorrow, along with my father. She is visiting him for a fortnight. Then in the afternoon, I am waiting for a man to come and fit new window latches. Since the winter I've had 3 break off. I assume it's metal fatigue, cos they were only cheap ones. Unfortunately that means I have to move my chest freezer from under the kitchen window, so he can get to it.
Thursday, as I said, is Jo's birthday. I also have HER godmother visiting for the day, plus I have to go out with the estate surveyor to do an inspection. This is part of my duties as an ESB (estate, Street, and block) representative. It all happens at once!
I have made one very simple card this week, (idea courtesy of Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard). Only made it cos I wanted to use my new die cut. Here it is

Might try to get back later today, if I get the freezer moved safely! I wish moving one thing didn't mean a whole room has to be reorganised!

Blog candy from Bev!

2010-08-31T15:45:00.001+01:00

I found a blog candy offer right here. I'd go and have a look if I were you........it's a great offer!
I found I was sitting there reading and I suddenly could hear myself going.....ooh!............ooh!........ ha ha!
Good Luck with it!

Whiff of Joy Challenge # 86 - Janes sketch

2010-08-27T19:35:00.001+01:00

I thought I would enter the Whiff of Joy Challenge blog this time. It's based on a sketch by Jane, and you need to use a Whiff of Joy stamp of course. Whiff of Joy are about to launch their new Christmas stamps, so I thought I would use an older one for my card, just because I love Henry Mouse, really! I hope you can see the picture ok, by the time I finished it this evening, I had to take a picture in artificial light. It seems ok, so I hope it still is by the time it reaches your monitor. All the details can be found at the link above, if you'd like to enter. In the meantime, here's my entry

Lots of glitter on this card..............but then it is for Xmas!

Here's a close up of the flowers. I glittered the edges of the petals with silver stickles. You might just be able to see that the mistletoe berries were done with platinum liquid pearls.

Thank You Andria!

2010-08-27T12:02:00.004+01:00

My first award EVER!! Thanks to you, Andria, at Iona-Rose . especially as her card making designs leave me in awe of her talent which makes this doubly appreciated! If you haven't seen her blog you should really pay a visit............and soon!
There are some rules to go with this award so I'll get that done now, before I forget!
1) THANK THE PERSON WHO GAVE ME THIS AWARD - Thank you once more, you can't imagine how pleased I am to get this
2) PLACE THE AWARD ON YOUR BLOG - Well, I did that first, ( just couldn't wait, y'see?)
3) LIST 3 THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF - Ohhhhhh difficult! I'm pretty tolerant of others opinions, "live and let live" is my motto. I like my eyes. I like to help others if I possibly can.
4) POST A PICTURE YOU LOVE - this took me a while to find, but was taken in April 2004. It features myself, my father and my very dear friends from Holland, and shows one of the happiest moments of my life.

I have been unable to go and see them for about 3 years now, and miss them terribly. This was taken on a boat in the Ijsselmeer somwhere between Medemblik and Enkhuizen. This is also the only picture with all of us together.

5) PASS THE AWARD TO 5 OTHER PEOPLE - Gosh! How do you chooose just 5? If I miss someone, please don't take it personally!! So in no specific order

1 - Squirrels World - just cos I love her cards.

2 - Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard - This is an amazing site and has opened my eyes to so many possibilities of using the bug I would never have thought of myself. I don't suppose she needs an award like this, her site is already so succesful and amazing, but she surely deserves it in my book.

3 - Jeanette at Happy Thoughts and Inkspots She's on several design teams and never fails to inspire me.

4 - Spyders Corner - because on my worst days, she still makes me smile when I read her blog. I would love mine to be half as much fun and as informative as this.

5 - And last but not least, ( and I hope this is within the rules ) I nominate NB Mr David.

Brenda and her husband are live aboard narrow boat owners, and she also makes cards, many of which feature wonderful scenes of the canals in all seasons of the year. She also sells her cards here, and was the person who first made me think about running my own blog. I follow her blog religiously, and its interesting to read about their travels as well as see her cards.

WOYWW

2010-08-25T14:16:00.002+01:00

I cleaned up my desk a bit today, but it never looks really tidy I'm afraid. Three pictures sorta scanning from left to right. One day I'd like a set of shelves above my desk for all my stack of stuff.............under the desk is full already! The only things on show this week are a couple of challenge cards I think. But if you can spot anything else, it's not a secret! :-) Why not head over to What's on your Workdesk wednesday and join in?

Scrappers Delight - Challenge #1 Sweet As Candy

2010-08-25T13:31:00.001+01:00

I've done this card for the Scrappers Delight Challenge - Sweet as Candy. I couldn't find a stamp of ice cream of any kind in my box, so I Googled an image and then hand copied it onto card with a black fineliner. Then I coloured the ice cream with promarkers and water colours for the cone. Then I added some glitter to the edges of the colours, I've done the same for the vanilla flavour too, but it doesn't show on here, unfortunately.

The idea is that the theme is either food related or the colours are candy tones.....also, (most unfairly), you have to own up to what your favourite snack is................Apple Donuts is mine, and even worse I have a Bakers about 5 doors away from me!

About midnight every night I get the most wonderful scent of baking bread through the windows..........yummy!.......but it does nothing for my will power! Back later for WOMWW!

A Complete Days's Crafting & Little to Show For it!..............

2010-08-23T20:49:00.000+01:00

.................but I did have fun!

I spent the whole day playing with stamps and water colours, and ended up with one complete card. I also have 5 toppers ready to play with tomorrow, but I just had a great relaxing day!

I just love LOTV, I have a hard job choosing my favourite rubber stamp suppliers as Whiff of Joy is up there too. But lilly of the valley have more cuteness to their 'humans', and of course, money helps too & they are slightly less expensive.

Doodle Diva's Challenge

2010-08-23T11:09:00.001+01:00

This card was made for the challenge over at Doodle Diva's Netherlands. I found all the details on Spyder's Blog, and fell in love with the image. Unfortunately, when it came to making it up my imagination failed. I don't usually make Halloween cards, and my mind went blank.................well,.....blanker than usual!!

I entered it anyway, and I'm hoping I'll get a bit more inspiration before the end of October!!

The sentiment was computer generated , and I used the font "halloween spiders" available free from Dafont.

The backing paper was another freebie that I think was available from Mad About Cards, and, now I've slipped away to check, apparently still is! (I know the link takes you to Printable Heaven, but it's the same company really!)

By the way...........the bats are a string of Halloween decorations I found in ASDA about 3 years ago!! I knew they'd come in handy sometime!

My latest LOTV stamp

2010-08-20T21:08:00.001+01:00

Just enough time to dash in and out to show off my latest LOTV stamp. She's such a perfect little angel!!
Got to go and put a couple of cards up elsewhere tonight, so no time to chat, really. It's been a lovely day, my son came to visit bearing gifts........a joint of meat and some veggies, so dinner tonight was on him! It was wonderful. He's just gone so I have to catch up on everything I haven't done earlier today! Please ignore the very bad faux stitching around the edge of the card. It's my first attempt and it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be..............I should have known, the easiest looking techniques are always the ones with the ability to go pear shaped at the slightest opportunity!!

Hope you like her, see you soon!

WOYWW

2010-08-18T14:42:00.005+01:00

For a while now I've been following Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday and been blog hopping & being nosey! So I thought it was past time I should show off my mess. I do admit I tidy sometimes, but usually only when things start to fall off the edges of my desk as I sweep my arm across for more space in the centre.
I know it's bad.........but sometimes my imagination needs more space than I have desk, what can I say?
Anyway............here it is, in the corner of my living room. I just spend my days hoping I don't get visitors!!
I have this dream of my daughter leaving home and a spare room emerging............bliss! A room that is purely for crafting! On the other hand............I'd miss her like crazy!

I'm feeling at a bit at a loss today, as I've run out of card suitable for stamping and colouring with promarkers. My usual supplier (Mad About Cards) has been out of stock for days, so now I've run right out.

I sourced a new supplier and sent off my order. I just hope it doesn't take too long to arrive. I ordered from PDA card & craft. I just hope Mac get some new stocks in soon cos there's a couple of other bits I need that they are out of stock of, too.

All Finished now, and a new image for me!

2010-08-15T12:36:00.001+01:00

I finally got the wording through for the birth congratulations card I made, so I've added a couple of pictures to show the finished article here

I also received in the post my long awaited Lili of the Valley stamp "Angel Gabriel". I haven't made a card with it yet, but it was so cute, I had to colour it in straight away. It just makes me smile..........it's every nativity play in primary schools all over the country!

The last couple of days I spent making cards from Pink Petticoat images, to offer as design team entries. They asked for cards, tags or projects,......... but only 2. Now I have to decide if the ones I made are good enough, whether I need to try again, or, if they ARE good enough, which two to choose, and finally whether my nerve will hold long enough to actually send them anyway. I made a little Origami box and decorated it lightly as a "project". I actually like this and think they would be great with one of those oversized quality chocs you see about at Xmas put in them. What a great tree gift!!

Then I made this little A6 card. The image is matted onto silver card

and has been watercoloured and the tree decorations glittered using a quickie glue pen and fine blue glitter. I added some silver lace down the card, which I threaded some dark green ribbon through and added a bow at the top. Not sure about this one I have to admit!

The next card was done with three panels, using 3 Christmas trees from the same set of digital stamps. After I made it I realised that it looked a little like a set of traffic lights (ARGH!!) but when I made it, I was thinking, Christmas colours - red, gold & green. Which in itself was a little unfortunate, cos all the time I was making it I then had Culture Club-Karma Chameleon running through my brain, and have done ever since!! You have no idea how annoying that song can get after two days solid!

Anyway, the images I put a small amount of colour onto, using sakura stardust pens, and outlined the main images using the Quickie Glue Pen, and silver glitter. They were matted a layered onto silver and coloured card from my stash. I placed a scarlet satin ribbon across the card, and tied a small piece of matching ribbon in between each image. The outside images are stuck flat onto the card and the centre one was put onto an extra piece of silver card using 2mm sticky pads and then attached to the card using another set of 2 mm pads to raise it up and give the whole card more 'interest'.

Last but not least is this little penguin. I've covered the card with snowflake design paper, a strip of pearlised blue paper and punched the edges, and the edge of the actual card with my Martha Stewart punch. The penguin's hat was coloured with Pro-markers, and the spots, trim and bobble highlighted with Stickles 'Frosted Lace'. I matted and layered the image using nestabilites dies, raised on 2 mm sticky pads, & then I decoupaged the actual penguin.

The black colour was added by cutting out a shape from the new Anita's outline stickers adhesive sheets , they give a slightly frosted sheen to his feathers, which I liked a lot.

To finish off I added some white plastic confetti snowflakes which I dipped in Aleenes Tacky glue and frosted with holographic glitter, (they sparkle very prettily in the light), and very last of all I added a blue ribbon tied in a bow down the edge. Quite a longish post today, but I hoped you enjoyed it!! Whatever is left of your Sunday, I hope you are having a great day.

Wishcraft's Anniversary Blog Candy.

2010-08-13T16:07:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post, Wishcraft have a blog candy on offer for followers of her blog. It ends on 31st August if anyone is interested in entering, the link is in my side bar. I have to admit, I read her blog regularly as it's in my favourites list, but I hadn't registered as a follower til now. ( Still learning this blogging lark you see!). However, with the benefits of finding the follower link having been pointed out to me, I duly registered! If you decide to join me, may I wish you good luck!!..............just not TOO much as I'd really love that Glamour Dust! hee hee.

Baby Girl Birth Congratulations

2010-08-12T15:34:00.006+01:00

I have almost finished making a card for a new baby, (just awaiting confirmation of the wording required on it), but I couldn't resist showing it off cos I so enjoyed making this one.
Thanks to someone for the idea of shading the image parts in grey, I saw the idea somewhere and was going to post a link, but the name has vanished from my brain without a trace...........hang on..........wait a bit...........GOTTIT!! ......... it was Spyder in her tutorial about paper peicing. Thanks Spyder, a simple idea, but I wouldn't have thought of it on my own.
Anyway.............the front of this card is done in acetate. The Messy Rabbit image & the ribbon by Joanna Sheen, The Ribbon slider/buckle and flowers by Wild Orchid and the butterflies are holographic peeloffs stuck onto acetate and glued on with silicon so they 'fly' off the page. The gingham paper was a download I've had 'forever', and the box was a purchased one.
The box started off plain white, but I stuck the window panel on the wrong side of the box,....(DUH!)... and as it was my last one I had to improvise. So I covered the box with matching gingham paper, and added a silver butterfly from the papermania Gemstone stickers range. Sneaky huh?
I hope the pictures show it up ok, one day I'll have a really decent camera!

More about Lady Raven

2010-08-07T10:37:00.002+01:00

Finally!............I never did get back to tell more about the stamp I used yesterday. Family life really takes too much time from my crafting!!

Seriously tho', I have fallen for the Gothik Angelz stamps from Kenny K's. They are digital downloads, and so far I've bought two, but I see about 4 more I would lurve to own. I treated myself to Lady Raven first, which you saw yesterday, and I also bought "Star" who isn't actually in the new Gothik Angelz range, but is so similar in design, she fits in just fine.
I printed them off a little too large at first, but I can make them smaller next time I want to use them. I coloured them with Promarkers, however I really need a larger range of greys to do justice to them. I may try colouring them next time with twinkling H2O's.
I've not made a card yet with Star, but I've coloured the image..............

I did the bangles and metal parts of the guitar with gold pen, highlighted her hair with sakura stardust dark blue pen, and the red parts with 'xmas red' stickles. Her eyes are glittered with stickles 'stardust' eyeshadow...........very Rock Chick! I really love that little eye peeping out at you, I can see myself using this a lot for teenagers birthday cards. I'd tell you more about the colours I used, but I always forget to take notes and can never recall afterwards all the colours I've used! ( I know, annoying aren't I, but I put it down to my age) Busy, busy day today so this is just a short one! Bye now.

Goth girl - Lady Raven

2010-08-06T16:58:00.000+01:00

Only a quick post as I have to dash out in about 3 minutes..........My latest digital stamp........will edit later, I just wanted to get it online.

More Wedding cards

2010-08-05T13:03:00.000+01:00

I have so fallen in love with this stamp from Lili of the Valley, I keep making wedding cards, even tho' I don't know anyone who is getting married!
I tell myself they can go up for sale on ebay or my website, but I know in my heart I won't get anything back for them. That still doesn't diminish my pleasure in doing them!
I've been experimenting with different colour schemes, instead of the traditional white or ivory. I just wanted to see how they looked. I love the pink and brown card, which all stemmed from wanting to do the Grooms suit in an alternative colour to the traditional black or grey.
I struggled at first with promarkers, but I'm gaining more confidence in them all the time. I do need more colours tho.............ha ha! Who DOESN'T?????
The flowers as always are by Wild Orchid, except for the large blossom on the green and lilac card which was from my stash.

The brown card has had the flowers liberally covered in Stickles 'stardust', and the brides dress has tiny diamante stars stuck on it.

On a separate note, Lili of the Valley have got the Xmas stamp I wanted back in stock, so I ordered that today, along with another cute one I don't really need but I just couldn't resist. What can I say?.....except.....just watch this space.

It's Lunchtime here, so I'm off to get something to eat. Hope you enjoy looking at the cards!

Another Wedding Card

2010-07-31T23:05:00.000+01:00

This is just a quick post before bedtime.

I made another wedding card with that wonderful image from LOTV. A square, easel card this time. I painted the image with Twinkling H2O's, so the brides dress is done in the colour "Icicles", and some spots of glitter were added on the back. The Groom's clothes and shoes were painted in Hunter Grey.The flowers were by Wild Orchid (of course), and the sentiment is a peel off that I'm almost sure is a Papermania product, but I've had it so long I'm not 100% sure!

The leaves were die cut using left over scraps of the paper I used as backing papers. The plain lilac is from my stash, and the patterned paper is from P.M Amethyst Infusion pad.

Working hard......at last!

2010-07-31T12:55:00.000+01:00

I've been working hard the last couple of days,.......... but on boring housework......... BAH!

I'd had a busy week and let everything go while I dashed here, there and everywhere. The dog hasn't been too well either which means more cleaning.
Any spare time that I had, I spent playing with my cards, I'd much rather do that than washing, and cleaning and dusting, but there comes a point when you can't turn a blind eye any longer!!......
Despite that, I have managed to make a couple of cards this week.
I had an order come through for a first birthday card for a little boy. Apparently he likes Thomas the tank engine, so I did an internet search and found a free digi image to print and colour myself.

Like many people I find men's cards particularly difficult to make, and in my case it extends to 'little' men too! Anyway, I made a card which the grandparents were happy with, and as the child is only 1yr old, as long as he likes the picture he'll be happy too, I'm sure.

Sorry everyone, but I'm still stuck with that awful camera that bends the shots and gives an awful grainy blotchy colour finish. I desperately need a new camera, but goodness knows when I can afford one. I hope you can bear with me on this one. One day you'll come on here, and be greeted by wonderfully clear pictures......................"oh look!..........there goes another flying pig!" But there's no harm in hoping and wishing is there?

The second card I've made in the last few days, started out as a wedding card. I received a couple more stamps from Lili of the Valley and the wedding one is soooooooooo sweet. Anyway, I began to colour it in and by the time I'd finished, I could see it was going to have to be a Golden Wedding card. Do your cards take on a life of their own and decide on their own format? Mine do...........ALL the time!

Here's the finished result.

I coloured with promarkers, dabbed a few stickles on her dress( the wrong colour really, but it doesn't matter). Then I decorated the edge of some heart embossed paper with a Martha Stewart punch. Some gold ribbon & bow attached, and Wild Orchid paper flowers used to decorate. I love their flowers so much, that just lately everything I make seems to have them stuck on somewhere. The wording I made on the computer using my Decadry Express Xmas programme. I honestly don't think I could make cards without the help of this piece of software. For planning layouts, and making sentiments, inserts, and resizing images I've never found it's equal. Plus it's "idiot proof", and as I get older I find that's a definite advantage!

Its been suggested by my Housing Association that I might like to show/sell some of my cards at a table sale in September. I've jumped at the chance, should it go ahead, but it's not definitely decided yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of offering some of my more elaborate cards on E-bay. Just to see how they go. I had some on Misi, but I had no sales from them, and I don't really like the new format. So I'll try something new, you never know do you? Wish me luck!!

...............Later!.......Christmas in July........

2010-07-19T12:57:00.003+01:00

ok........so here we go!
Lili of the Valley have some wonderful stamps out at the moment. I bought a Christmas A5 sheet with several images on it, and although I like them all, I have gone slightly Ga-Ga over this little teddy bear with pressies. He is definitely my favourite stamp for 2010 so far! You really should check out what they have on offer over there.
I decided he was so sweet I'm making him in various colours and offering him as a set of 5 and 10 cards, as well as individually, on the website in my Christmas range.
I've also used him on an easel card, along with another one of Henry Mouse from Whiff of Joy. Hope you like Ted as much as I do.

All the images were coloured with Promarkers, & the steam rising off the hot chocolate was highlighted with 'frosted lace' stickle glue, which looks quite interesting once it dries! The backing paper on the Henry Mouse card was a free download from wayyyyyyyyyyy back, but unfortunately I can't recall where from now, sorry.

Gothic Cards

2010-07-19T12:31:00.002+01:00

Trying to get into the mood to make Gothic cards for the website this weekend, I found some wonderful sillouettes on stitchy bear stamps, available as a download, so I gave them a tryout as "romantic" goth cards.

I expect I'll get them a little more detailed, as I experiment more with the images, but these are certainly ok so far.The range is called "A Touch of Class" and I love them!

These were made very simply by laying the matted images onto black cardstock overlaid with primary coloured card punched with a Martha Stewart lace punch. Alittle 'bling' was added from my stash, and the last one I decided to use some bright Cerise ribbon I got from Joanna Sheen a while back. I sorta wish I'd laid some silver punched card under it to make it stand out a little more, but never mind! I also added some gems to this too. Two tones of pink, just along the bottom edge of the matting, and on the ribbon stripe at the top.

I also worked hard and made a few Christmas cards this weekend too. I'll post them later.

Just a quick blog!

2010-07-17T15:47:00.001+01:00

I just wanted to add a picture of my latest card for the website. Its been a long time since I've done a gothic card, and to be honest I'm not quite into it yet...........gotta get the brain functioning on dark and devious things.

Its been a noisy morning which hasn't helped my concentration, we've suffered loud, thumping music for over 4 hours, from my upstairs neighbour!

On the other hand, towards the end, thoughts of blood and sharp things were certainly floating around my head, and you don't get much darker than that............ Hee Hee!!

So here's my latest, and I think I'll enter it for the L for Lace challenge on the Alphabet Challenge Blog. After all it has got lace!!

It's just a small A6 size on black cardstock, layered with silver mirri. The picture I printed off my computer, matted onto purple pearlescent card, edged with purple stickles the I added
black lace to the back of the image stack and stuck at an angle on the card. Stardust stickles added to the head jewellery with a bright pink star gem in the centre, plus a diamante as the centre of her pendant. The age label was made with silver peel off figures. I'm not totally happy with it, but I can't pinpoint why........so in it goes "as it is"

My first challenge entry

2010-07-13T16:58:00.004+01:00

Right............so I've 'bitten the bullet' as they say and made my first challenge card. This hasn't come easily to me 'cos of my lack of self confidence in my card making abilities, but the prize is just TOO good to miss!
The challenge is over at Wild Orchid and the theme is "Say it with Flowers". This is the first challenge they've run, so we are starting together.........ha ha ha.

Anyhow, I've done my best and I can't do more than that can I? The image is one I've had coloured for a while and never used. In fact it dates back to pre-promarkers, and was painted with a set of children's water colours.
The leaves are die cuts from Little Claire, and the ribbon & bow were made from satin ribbon from a 'cheap' shop and were cream until I coloured them with the "soft green" promarker. Most of the flowers were from Wild Orchid themselves,plus just an odd couple that came from my stash. The pink bazzil card was from Little Claire too, and punched using a Martha Stewart border punch. I'm posting two pictures here 'cos neither one is very good, but show slightly different views and lighting.

Anyway, here's to posting them, and wish me luck!

Shhhhhhhhhh.........I'm thinking Christmas!

2010-07-11T14:01:00.006+01:00

I set to and made my first two Christmas cards of 2010. I don't usually start quite this early, but I'm determined not to get a last minute rush, and anyway someone on one of the Forums has been making since Easter, and I was starting to feel Guilty.........yes, and that is with a capital 'G'
So here are two very simple easel cards, which have struggled their way out of my brain, but as the Muse hopefully arrives and I get inspired, I hope to make some I feel MUCH happier about later on.

The first one on the left uses some Daisy & Dandelion papers from last year, and the stamp, of course, is Whiff of Joy's Henry Mouse who I absolutely adore! The second one was made using Lili of the Valley down loadable papers which are extremely reasonable. Both of these designs are on the same pdf file for only 50p; a bargain as far as I'm concerned!! The images are from Penny Black and are in the clear stamp set called Holly Day Critters.

I also went back to decorating a card with Quilling yesterday, after a break of over a year. I never got very far with it when I first tried it, but the stuff was sitting in a nice box, feeling neglected, so I thought I'd better try again. It started out as a practice run, but then someone said they liked my cards and would love one made for her...."just to say hello".So as a surprise, this will be arriving with her this afternoon.

A lot of the flowers have had beads inserted into the centres, and the leaves have been die cut from some card which had gold accents through it. The sentiment panel has been cut with deckle edge scissors, and outlined with a gold Calligraphy pen. The glorious chiffon ribbon is courtesy of Joanna Sheen.

I sort of half had it in mind to do some quilled cards for Xmas, but I'll see how I feel about that later, as they are VERY time consuming.

Finally............ I made a card!

2010-07-10T11:03:00.002+01:00

I made another card yesterday for my ex husband who has just had a replacement knee operation done. I know he was dreading the op, cos he's always hated hospitals, even to visit others! But there comes a point where the pain outweighs the dread, and at least he's home again quickly. The card will be delivered later this morning, so there's no problem posting it on here!

I used Laura Ashley background papers, along with some pretty blue bazzil card.
The image I had stored as a line drawing on my computer, and as he likes Betty Boop, I printed it off and coloured it with promarkers.
I also coloured the medicine green, and then had to use the same promarker to colour the ribbon to match. I added glossy accents to the medicine and Betty's eyes to give some dimension, especially to the medicine that was dripping off the spoon.

The sentiment was printed on the computer and then cut out using my nestabilities. The edging to the card was done with a Martha Stewart punch. (I really love those and I must get some more soon!) Anyway, this is it!

Let me know if you like the new font, I think it's a bit clearer, but input from readers is always good!!

Day 7 - Last Day!! - Last Chance!!

2010-07-09T10:13:00.002+01:00

Good morning..........the last day of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy. another stamp on offer today, and one well worth having. Head on ever and join in ASAP. Still having horrendous trouble getting the link to attach to the WOJ logo.............so click HERE please.

It's Day 6 Already

2010-07-08T13:34:00.003+01:00

It's day 6 of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy giveaway. Every day since July 3rd Katherina has been giving away one of her new stamps. Head on over there and join in, it's simple to do, and a terrific prize if you are lucky enough to win!

Just click HERE

Day Five.....................

2010-07-07T14:25:00.000+01:00

We are now onto day five of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy. See the Link below to go and join in, there is a different stamp to be won every day for a week.
Good Luck with it, sorry it's a quick post but I'm over run with JObs and people ringing and visiting today. Ever wished you lived on an desert Island??

Day 3 of 7.........another chance to win

2010-07-05T15:02:00.000+01:00

Day 3 of the Whiff of Joy blog candy. Still got my fingers crossed, but I never win things like this. My participation is a definite case of hope over experience.

Still just follow the link to join in, and have fun!

Another bit of fun is to be seen on the MAC website. They have started to sell t-shirts & hoodies with text on saying things like "I'm a crafty one". Anyway, they got some of the staff to model the clothing and my ex-husband is on there looking REALLY weird. He actually looks much better in real life, but his excuse for the funny face and pose is that they said they had to behave like models!!
Anyway, here's the link if you fancy the clothing
http://www.madaboutcards.com/section.php/2012/1

but if not, just have a giggle at the picture.

Day 2 ............

2010-07-04T14:27:00.003+01:00

.............of the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy give away. Another great stamp to win today, Just follow the link HERE

A MONTH?????????????????

2010-07-03T13:52:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it's been a month since I blogged!......Where has the time gone? I think the main problem is not having enough hours in the day, and sharing my computer with a teenager who's internet link has gone walkabout!I have to fight to use my own 'compi' these days.
I have made some cards tho, honest! I did a couple as "thank you" cards for teachers, as it's coming up to the end of the school year.
I used my new Martha Stewart punch on both of them, (hmmmm................I need many more of these, I'm thinking!)
For the first card I used the Hoot the Owl 'Who Passed' stamp from Joanna Sheen, and cut out and set the image onto pads on a base of green bazzil card from Little Claire.
For the second one I used a stamp from Sugar Nellie , called 'Demure'..........at least I think it was Sugar Nellie, If I'm wrong please let me know!

I also made my first La Pashe "flippin' women" card for a friends birthday. I hope she liked it as I haven't spoken to her since I sent it.

I set the image onto acetate after cutting out a section on the card.

Down the right side and the bottom, I set to with my tweezers, tacky glue, lilac seed beads, tiny pink pearls and some larger beads to make a swirly design.
I also added some cream pearls to some of the bubbles in the bath.
The sentiment I stuck onto some card, cut around it and then added a border of the same lilac seed beads, then I attached it at an angle on 2mm foam pads. I then added a hot pink ribbon bow. Onto the knot I stuck two pearl hearts - one with a lilac heart gem set in the centre, the other with a lilac heart sequin backing it. Both were stuck on with pinflair glue gel. Then I added another of the beads.
The Flippin women/men decoupages are fun, but I don't feel its my own work. Adding the beads, although time consuming, did give me more of a sense of satisfaction with the finished result.

Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy!

2010-07-03T11:27:00.001+01:00

Just a quick post to promote the Whiff of Joy 7 day blog candy giveaway.

Over the next 7 days (starting today), Katherina will give away 1 stamp per day, of the new City Girl II collection. Also included is a package 2 spritzers and 2 daubers by LuminArte.

This is a brilliant opportunity to grab some fantastic stamps, so why not head over there by clicking the link above. I won't wish you good luck................hee hee.....cos I want 'em!

New Stamp From Little Claire

2010-06-07T13:53:00.033+01:00

I received my latest stamps set from Little Claire this morning, couldn't wait to make the card up!! They've started a new blog, but unfortunately I couldn't get it to open this morning, Obviously theres some teething problems going on somewhere, unless I've misunderstood and it's not running yet! That's always possible with my senior moments kicking in at odd times
Also they've put out a call for design team members, I'm so tempted to try it, but I have so little self confidence I doubt that I'm good enough. I just love making cards.
Despite not posting here recently I have made several cards, but as my daughter has problems with her computer and needs one for her work, mine has been unavailable to me a lot of the time. I find it really frustrating!

Anyway...........here's the Little Claire Stamp card set made up

Here's another card I made for a friend in Holland. It was her birthday on June 4th, and I was going through one of those episodes when you can't think of anything original!!
Anyway, I remembered I had a couple of digital stamps downloaded, so I just made a simple card for her, and hoped she liked it.
I coloured the figures with Pro-markers, The lettering was printed straight onto the card, and then enhanced with a sakura stardust pen 'copper star'. I added 3 mulberry paper flowers, enhanced with stickles glitter, and with centres of buttons, gems, and brads from my stash. the figures were cut out and raised on pads. The buttons on the boys shirt were made with liquid pearls in 'pewter' and the edge of the girls hat were made with liquid pearls in'petal pink'. The border was done by hand.

WOJ Inspiration

2010-05-14T11:10:00.006+01:00

I read the WOJ Inspirational & Tutorial blog the other day and found there was a sketch challenge posted, so I decided to have a try at it. I've done a few sketches for fun in the past, ( about 6 actually), but never to show, especially in a group with this degree of talent. I have to say, I didn't find it easy, and I've had to come back to it 3 or 4 times over the last few days. I loved the colours when I first thought of them, but have come to really DISLIKE them now. It's far too late to change it, and anyway, the image is so cute it helps enormously!
The striped paper is by Laura Ashley, and the flowered paper is Papermania. The ribbon is from Joanna Sheen, as are the green diamantes. The image was coloured using pro-markers and is from..........errrrr???....ummmmmm.........Ah yes! I remember!....Whiff of Joy,
Anything else used was just hanging about in my stash.
.

Hope you like it. BTW...........Here's the LINK to the sketch if you would like to join in .

I've noticed lots of minor formatting errors on my website, so I want to go and sort them out now. I uploaded some new cards to the site, and looking over with a fresh eye, they sort of jump out at you. I also have to extend my range of Wiccan Cards, as that part of the website is looking decidedly bare at the moment. Hopefully I'll get back to post some more later.

Whiff of Joy Candy

2010-05-09T09:42:00.003+01:00

Discovered an offer of Whiff of Joy Candy -Katherina has a complete collection of her new stamps on offer, I almost hate to tell anyone else about this.....*sigh*.........it is a great offer tho, so head over there and add your name!
Bev's blogspot also has some candy on offer......It is Magnolia Fishing Edwin stamp.

Another Birthday Card

2010-05-08T16:25:00.003+01:00

Just a quick post here today. Busy, busy in this household! I just wanted to post a card I made for one of the forum members, using a stamped image donated in the monthly swap, by someone else off the same forum.

Confused yet?

I carefully made a note of the name of the stamp, because I absolutely love it, and promptly lost it!! If anyone knows what it is called, I'd love you to tell me.

I turned the image into an easel card, used pale mint green paper as a background, and pale pink as a contrast and also some silver mirri. The diamantes are also pale green. The greeting was printed in pink from the computer, and then die cut out using my nestabilities. I then added a silk flower, topped with 2 stamped daisy centres in toning card all held together with a pearl brad

Long time, no type!

2010-05-02T18:44:00.010+01:00

It's been ages since I've been on here. There has been so much going on at home...health issues (both feline & human)...job interviews.....family probs etc, etc. April has been a really mixed month, slipping from highs to lows and back again without stopping, thank goodness May has arrived!
I have managed to make a few cards during this period, most of which I hope to upload over the next few days.

So...............to the cards! I've had several birthday cards to make over the last couple of weeks, most of them for friends of my daughter. So many of them seem to have been born at the end of April/beginning of May.

Anyway, the first one I made was for someone who loves fairies, and I got an image off the internet for this one.

I used my new nestabilities for the label, the rest of the card is done with layering and matting techniques. The background paper was some I got from Mad About Cards, last year sometime.

They are actually 12"x12" embossed papers with a Rose design, and in a lovely range of colours too.

I layered with silver mirri card, added thin Royal blue, medium width white ribbon and some wide satin edged chiffon ribbon around the centre. Then I added the image layered onto silver mirri and some pale blue gems as "bling".

I got some stamps through from Little Claire (as I do every month now), and had a bit of fun making a card with the instructions they send with it.

Along with the stamps they supply the card, papers, sentiment, and instructions for the card, and also some other design suggestions. I followed these exactly, apart from adding some plastic 'googly eyes' to the larger owls. They're cute little images, and I enjoyed using them
Finally, I have to show a card made for a little boy in the USA, who absolutely adores bugs, beetles, butterflys and anything creepy/crawly. Apparently he tells his Daddy off if he accidentally steps on an ant in the garden!!

The image is from the Daisy & Dandelion Range, and was stamped with Memento Black ink and coloured with Promarkers. The shapes were cut from my one and only nestability set, and was done on white card layered onto blue mirri card. The name was printed on the computer and the shape cut around it, and the age was made using a silver peel off. Some of the bugs are Papermania 3d stickers and some are stamped, coloured and set into Pinflair Glue gel. The flower stamp is from Little Claire and is three identical stamps cut and layered onto each other to make a corner frame and stuck on using foam dots. I hope he likes it!
Thanks to Andria for leaving a comment on my last post...........and you are absolutely right........I already feel the need for more nestabilities ( at least 3 of them ). I am awaiting some payments for cards now, and as soon as I receive them , guess where it's going to be spent.

At last - A Cuttlebug!

2010-03-28T13:42:00.010+01:00

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

2010-03-21T14:12:00.008Z

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

2010-03-19T14:03:00.005Z

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.

2010-03-19T12:57:00.005Z

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

2010-03-09T15:14:00.005Z

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.

Update - Half way there!

2010-02-26T21:34:00.002Z

Well, my son and I worked hard today to move my craft room into the lounge, and its still not done. The main furniture has been moved but none of the stash yet. It's going to be harder than I thought fitting everything in! I suspect this is going to be an ongoing 'work in progress' as I really need to get cards made before next weekend's craft show. No pictures tonight as I can't unearth the camera at the present moment.

Busy Day ahead

2010-02-26T10:20:00.004Z

Today is the day I bring my craft room into my living area. This was something I was trying not to do! I'm just waiting for my son to arrive and help me with the furniture.

I've had everything set up in a corner of my bedroom since I moved into my flat last April, but having spent my first winter here, I'm going to have to put up with the mess on view.

I don't get that many visitors anyway!!

My bedroom faces North so was always a bit dingy, but this winter has been awful. I know we've all had bad weather, but this flat is horrendous to heat, and when your hands get so cold you can't hold a pen, then I call that TOO COLD! The lounge faces south and although that hasn't got very warm either, it feels so much brighter with the little sun we get flooding through the windows.

The old crafting area

Hopefully once I get my new area sorted out, inspiration will start flowing again and I can make some really good cards. I'll update on progress later on.

Cards for Craft Table

2010-02-25T21:10:00.000Z

I suddenly realised today that its only about 10 days until International Women's Day, and I have to put up a table at South East Essex college for their craft fair!
It's taking place on the 6th March about a week before Mothers Day, so I need to be able to make a good showing of cards for the event.

I have a stock of Dufex die cut decoupage flowers that have been in one of my boxes for nearly 2 years. Also I found some create & craft card blanks with laser cut out designs. Unfortunately I found with age the laser cut filigree has gone brown, as though scorched by the laser.
I hate to waste anything, so I decided to use the glitter inserts (that were made to show through the filigree) and back some A6 Papermania round aperture cards, and place the Dufex flowers on top. It seemed a shame to waste the filigree pieces so I cut them out of the main card and coloured them with chalks, and used some of those to backfill the apertures too.

I made some sentiments to go on them on the computer, and added some little bows. If they don't sell, I can always put different sentiments on them and use them as Birthday cards.