My lovely Secret Santa

I took part in a Secret Santa, and this is what he sent me, the most gorgeous wooden box, beautifully decorated, and filled to the brim with wonderful die cuts and embossed papers for me to play with to my hearts desire. What a lucky girl.
Haven't done much crafting what with Christmas and sore hands, but hope to get back in my little room soon.
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and wish you all a happy and healthy new year.

Christmas card.

This is one of the designs I made for Christmas this year. This particular one is on an A4 folded in half as I needed a large card.

I quite like it that I've managed to keep it simple as I tend to 'overdo' things sometimes.

I'll be glad to have more time to get back to 'proper' crafting once 'the season' is over.

Matching card and tag

He he, I actually managed to get to craft today, washing was done, shopping done, meal cooked so having spent a week away on a Music holiday (Neil's hobby, but I do enjoy it) I thought it was way passed the time I did some of MY Hobby!!!!!!!!!

These were made with Claudine (what'shername....sorry claudine I can't remember and I'm not running upstairs to look right now!!!)stamps and a big and juicy inkpad....not too sure if there is more ink on the finished items or my hands, but at least I feel back to normal with different coloured fingers......aaahhhh bliss.

Happy Halloween

We have just come back from a week's holiday in Paignton Devon, and celebrated Halloween at the hotel....Oh boy what fun it was......so meet 'Devil Woman' and her 'mysterious friend' HA HA

Hope I can get down to some crafting again now.

Last month's challenge

I don't think I've blogged this challenge, the idea was to make a box and put a 'little treat' inside.....I popped a couple of small kitkats inside each one.

I've not been good at blogging, or even doing much craft recently, my hands (and the rest of my poor body) have been really suffering since coming off my medication....I'm hoping to get back on something very soon, and (trying) to keep my fingers crossed that the doc will give me a steroid jab tomorrow which might improve things a little. Then perhaps I can get back to some serious crafting again soon.

Tea Bag Folder

Well it was time for another challenge and this month was to make a 'tea bag folder' in creams and browns....these little challenges are really good as they take you away from 'your comfort zone'

I thought the stamp of the daft dog sleeping was quite good for this challenge and the words relax, as hopefully when you stop for a cuppa you are able to have a little time to relax with it, well that's normally the intention, but it doesn't always happen!!!!!

Faux book card

I've got a special birthday for a friend coming up soon, and a lady in hospital who is very poorly, so I have been attempting to make these cards from Craft Stamper the other month. Although they are quite time consuming I am reasonably happy with the way they have turned out,

My 'Babies' (the hairy kind)

I've finally uploaded my pictures from my camera onto the computer and had forgotten I'd taken some of the dogs in the garden (well I was really taking pictures of all the pretty pots on the patio and thought the dogs would make some of them more interesting) I don't always manage to get both of them to sit still together long enough, AND looking at the camera at the same time!

Friend's 60th Birthday

I've made this card for my good friend's 60th Birthday which is next week.

I'd seen some foam stamps by LeBlanche(?) with a 'similar' image, ie text behind a flower image, and remembering I'd got both types of stamps decided to try to do my own, so I stamped the flower, masked it and overstamped with the text. Added some colour to the flower, matt and layered on pink and silver card, permanent ink pen on the 60 peel off and added a peel off Happy birthday (wished I'd stamped that now, but too late to change). On the insert I've stamped both images again but in a soft grey and not coloured, just to carry the theme going. All in all I'm quite happy with the finished result and think it's something my friend will appreciate more than messy and grungy ha ha ha.

Mucky dog

I treated myself to a new set of stamps a little while ago, they are sooo funny, all with dogs, of course.

Don't you just love our furry friends when they come indoors and do JUST THIS......................................................................................

Must be on a roll now!

No not really, more a matter of need to get some cards made, I can't believe I am sooooo behind with things at the moment, and when crafting is like this it's not the fun it should be is it?

Anyway I needed to have several ladies cards made, and having watched the Ranger hour on QVC which I recorded yesterday and watched at about 4am today !!!!!!!! I was inspired by the Claudine stamps which are foam with a clear stamp outline to put over the top. I haven't got them, but remembered some other stamps with a similar theme, although just a little bit more fancy, I'm reasonably pleased with the results, and quite liked the idea of printing several along the bottom of the card for a change from the usual single image and matting and layering. I then had to make matching tags to go with them.

Sorry I've been AWOL

Goodness I seem to have been missing from here for ages, and without going back to see when I last posted I just can't remember when it was, shame on me.

I haven't been too well recently what with 'one thing and another' as life goes for most of us I guess, and I don't seem to have settled down to much crafting. Then we have been away for just over a week to a music festival up on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders. Probably not the sort of music festival that springs to most minds, it is something we go to each year and is keyboard and organ music mostly as that is Neil's hobby. Still it's great just to get away from the general routine of home, no cooking, cleaning etc so it must do you good!!!!!!!!!

Anyway enough ramblings, I suddenly seemed to catch up with the date, and although I have given my son his birthday present, I haven't made a card, and it's his birthday TOMORROW (shock horror) so I had to BUY a card as I just didn't have time this morning to make something and get it posted first class (will RM help me out on this one I wonder?????) Then of course I have lots more cards to make for anniversaries and birthdays this month, so managed to find time this afternoon to throw one or two together.

Golden Wedding

Celebrations will be taking place a couple of doors away from me on Friday as my neighbours will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary, I only learnt this from a 'little bird' last week, so of course you have to set too and make them a card don't you, what a milestone to reach.

I didn't want to make it too fancy, so found my good old faithful rose stamp and embossed it with gold powder, then used several matts in layers in different golds and white in the middle, a gold bow and a 50 in peeloffs (not a favourite of mine, but useful for adding a nice tidy number to a card.)

I'm quite happy with the result, hope they like it too.

Tilda for a poorly friend.

We heard yesterday that one of our friends isn't feeling too well, and was unable to come out with a group of us to a concert, so as I know she loves these Tilda images I thought I'd send her a little card with lots of love inside.

I used my promarkers to colour, duck egg and cornflour blue, and I made the background paper to match (I must get some gingham papers sometime as I do like them for backgrounds) and used a sparkly pen to highlight all the stripes on the background, on the flower and on tilda herself.

Perhaps I should have put 'with love' on the front too as it's looking a bit plain in the middle....maybe I'll nip and do that before I put it in the envelope.

***** I did actually pop 'Just for you With Love' above Tilda and below the flower and it looked much better.....there seemed to be a big blank space in the middle of the card ha ha ha**********

Christmas Card Swap

I can't believe I am doing this on a hot day in August, but I am taking part in a Christmas Card Swap.

How cute is this little Housemouse, I was going to add some extra bits and bobs to the front of the card, but thought they would detract from the picture, so have left it plain and added a Christmas greeting inside.

I used my promarkers to colour it in.

I'm not sure I want to give him away now. Ha Ha.

Tilda with Diary challenge

Well it's Tilda time again, and isn't this one just a sweet image. It has made me finally come and put something on my blog, it seems a while since I posted here. I have been busy crafting, but making some 'basic' cards for a charity event later in the year. They are nothing fancy, but the type of card people would buy for a small cost, well I hope so anyway otherwise I have been wasting my valuable time ha ha. So I haven't put pictures of them on my blog.

I hope everyone has been able to enjoy this lovely bit of good weather we've had the last few days, doesn't it just brighten your spirits.

I'm a bit housebound today as Virgin are meant to be coming to fit something, and so far I have waiting in ALL DAY, didn't have to go out but isn't it just irritating waiting for the knock on the door!!!!!

Fairy

I have a young niece with a birthday next week, thought she might like this pretty fairy on her card.

I've mainly coloured with promarkers, but having caught a little bit of a show with Sheena Douglas the other day I got my Whispers pens out and used the thin end to do the grass. Haven't used them since I started with my promarkers, and she inspired me to get them out again....I've never found the fine end very useful until I saw her demo when she did some cross hatching with them.

I've added some star gems on the Magical Day saying to finish it off.

I've been busy making cards for a Charity event to raise money for MS later this year, so although I haven't blogged much recently I've made about 30 cards so far for the sale. Too many to blog, and all fairly basic cards in the hope people will want to buy them!!!!!!!!!!!

Notebook Challenge

Another monthly challenge and this time to make a notebook using yellow and orange.
In the end I made two, one can be a RAK.
They are both made from just double thickness card and coloured with Tim's distress inks and blending tool (what else would I use) and then inked all over with various stamps.
The 'swirly' cover also has some gilding on some of the flourishes and the squiggly square stamp but it doesn't show up on here.
The Tulip uses different stamps plus the tulip one which I've had for years and it comes out from time to time. I've decoupaged the flower head to add a bit more detail to it.
I've just realised since scanning them I need to add some sort of 'clever' appropriate wording on the front of them.
I'm surprised I've actually remembered to blog them before I send them off for the swap.

Hugs and kisses Tilda

Goodness me, where do the days and weeks keep going to?

It's been a dark and wet day here, and this is meant to be summer, so what better excuse to craft!

I've finally managed to catch up with my Tilda Challenge, I seem to be forever running late with these.

I hope you have managed to find something nice to do on a miserable Saturday

Tilda Time again

Today, having been to see the vampire nurse (lovely) and getting some shopping in I decided I MUST give myself some serious time in my little crafting haven!!!!! As I am just SOOO behind with crafting bits and bobs it was as good an excuse I could think of....do I really need an excuse?

Anyway enough waffle....This last Tilda Challenge was to use the lady herself with a wooden spoon. My youngest grand daughter is enjoying doing some cooking now, so thought she could have this as her very own recipe book.

It's been a while

It's been a little while since I blogged anything....we were away for a few days in glorious Devon and since I got home nothing seems to be going to plan craft wise, must have left my mojo in Devon!!!!!! Still needs must and cards have to be made and posted.

I've made a matching card and tag here, obviously used good old Tim's distress inks to colour both, and I have used a stamp I've had forever for the face and some good old faithful flourish stamps to add the 'hair', some glitter on the dots etc just finishes it off.

Father's Day card

I needed a bit of quiet time, and rest my poor sore feet this afternoon after being out and about this morning, and seemingly getting soaked every time I went out (is this Flaming June? Flaming wet June more like!!!!!!!)

Anyway I had forgotten I had bought this scooter template (From Anna Marie) when I was at the Make it Show in February (or was it January...I can't remember) and as Neil rides a BIG black scooter to work I knew it would be just right. I'll give it to him from the Doggies (of course). I've made a box for it, as the scooter is raised up and the wheels and extra bits are decoupaged, but just to fool him I've done something totally different on the box so I hope it will be a nice surprise for him.

A friend's birthday

A dear friend's birthday is at the end of the month, and I have been struggling to make an appropriate card, then I remembered I had these stamps (which to be honest, are really a bit fiddly to colour in) She is an avid shopper so think it might be appropriate. I tried to come up with some sort of background but failed miserably, so decided to keep it very plain and simple.

Charity Cards

I've made these two cards to send off with my challenge as the forum sends cards off to a chosen charity every month. They look so much better when put in a cello bag ha ha ha.

I've left them blank for someone to write their own message in as they could be used for any occasion.

Tissue box holder

Another challenge, and this is to make a tissue packet holder, for those handbag size packets of tissues.

I've enjoyed making this and as our Music club will be holding a Charity night to raise money for MS I might make a few to sell on the night.

Tilda Challenge

Here is my latest Tilda Challenge, using the format suggested in the challenge.

Having watched Nicky on IW the other day using her promarkers (how clever is she) I decided to do this one just in browns. All the papers, backgrounds and flowers are made by me.

Brown butterflies.

Yes it's those Tim Holtz butterflies again, using an idea from Craft Stamper. I have lots of birthdays and anniversaries this month and made several of these as men's cards, although my OH doesn't think they are really 'mens' cards, I can't see why not having used the colours I have. Too bad...I've sent them off in the post now ha ha ha.

Same card, different colours.

Was able to have a play over the weekend, after a busy time last week.

I used Tim's distress ink pads to blend the backgrounds and Hobby Art clear stamps to build up the images. I'm not sure which colour way I prefer.

One colour card.

Someone on one of the forums I go on is making 'one colour cards' using just one ink pad, so I thought I MUST try this.
I used a fairly simple stamp and inked it with Tim Holtz Faded Jeans (or Denim, can't remember the name of it and it's upstairs at the moment!!!) I then put some of the ink on a tile and used water and a paint brush to water down the ink and to build up the colour where necessary. I used the paintbrush and ink to go around the edge of the die cut shape, and of course the same inkpad and a stamp to make the background sheet.
Quite nice to try something different.

Here comes Tilda...again

Well it is time for another Tilda Challenge, and unfortunately my mojo seems to have gone walkabout so this has spurred me on to get cracking again. Things just haven't gone right recently, totally uninspired and things have gone into the bin. Ha ha ha. This challenge had to be made in this layout and able to fold up, having worked out how to make it from an A4 sheet of plain card it seemed to go reasonably smoothly.

It's those TH butterflies again

My friend's daughter had a lovely surprise whilst they were all on holiday in Norfolk recently, her boyfriend, out of the blue, and whilst they were on Holkham beach, suddenly proposed to her....what a shock, and it was her birthday too.

Aaah, just soooo romantic.

I wanted to make them an engagement card, and of course, you like to do something different to the shop bought ones don't you, so I masked a heart shape and inked with TH inkpads in two different pinks, and yes, I think I'm hooked on this butterfly and foliage stamps so used those......again ha ha ha

Simliar but not quite the same!!

This card is a take on the one in the Craft Stamper this month, my dragon flies are larger, and less of them as I couldn't fit so many on the card!!!!!!! and the 'splodges' aren't splodges but made with a stamp... still it is near enough to the original, and I feel reasonably happy with it. Makes a change to do something different.

Remembering a dear friend.

A very dear friend died a few years ago, at a young age, leaving a 7 year old daughter. For varying reasons we don't see the husband (remarried and new wife doesn't want contact with the past etc etc etc!!!!!!!). Anyway it would be our friend's birthday on Sunday, and I always try to remember to send a card to her mother, who really has never got over the loss of her youngest daughter. I feel she might quite like this image.

House Mouse Anniversary cards

Two wedding anniversaries to send cards for this month and thought these House Mouse images were perfect for such an occasion. I had a non stop morning with various things, taking the garden rubbish to the tip, stopping off at a shop for a couple of things, filling the car with fuel (expensive or what!!), and a visit to the docs to sort out this deaf ear of mine and get prescription from chemist....home to wash feet (what do I hear you say) well I had to head off to the Podiatrist and after all the running around didn't want to go with smelly feet Ha ha ha, so put the dogs in the car, got the feet sorted, walked the dogs, and went to do my duty and vote. Soooo I thought I deserved a bit of play time and made these cards.

I hope you like them.

Easel card

I've made this card for my niece's birthday at the weekend. It's actually an easel card but as I can't photograph it you will just have to imagine it standing up ha ha ha. I've used Distress inks to 'watercolour' the image

I know it's late

Ok, I know Easter has been and gone....I've made this card for my son to give to his eldest daughter (who doesn't live with him...sadly...he will be seeing her next week) Instead of an egg I am sending some money over which at 14 I think she will appreciate more.....I believe she had rather a lot of eggs anyway.

Tilda Challenge

Here is my latest Tilda Challenge, I made another of the treat holders and will pop some money inside for my grand daugher's holday. I enjoyed making these holders, so much so that I made 7 for easter and popped some mini eggs and a chicken inside the bag and gave them to my grand children and other ladies that were together over Easter. I have to say they all loved them, in fact I think the children were happier with them than the actual Easter eggs we gave them.

What a glorious Easter break we had with the lovely weather, certainly makes a change to have a bright and sunny bank holiday.

Treat holder Challenge

This month's challenge is to make a treat holder, and the theme.....can you guess....yes, black and white.

This started off as a plain piece of white card, I stamped it with the Tim Holtz butterfly stamp and floral flourish, as well as a spotty background and a scribbled stamp too...the scribbled stamp has some foil over it but it doesn't show up on the scan. Inside you had to put a bag with some flower 'treats' inside. All I have to do is get to the post office and post it off!!!

Not today though as one of my dogs, Bennie, (the dog made up of all the bits God had left over) is in the vets having his teeth cleaned and a dew claw removed, so I am bit lost today and waiting to hear from the vets as to when I can collect my baby......Monster dog (Chester) is being very quiet, so I guess he is missing his pal too.