Thank folks

People are so kind, not only have lots of you been visiting me and leaving lovely comments the last week or so whilst I've been poorly, you give me awards as well ........ even though I've been a real bad blogger and still trying to catch up and get round you all. I do think I've got to most of your now, but If I haven't then I am sorry, but I'll be there soon.
Now I know there's protocol here and I need to do certain things, the Honest Scrap award from Clare requires me to "List ten honest things about yourself" - grief, dirty washings all coming out now ........ and I need to pass it on. Then there's the pink one from Shirley, just need to pass that one along and finally this ones a lot easier from Lisa, it's just for me from her garden, my favourite flowers - lilies and wow, what beautiful colours they are. I shall be dealing with the passing on ........ and the honesty bit ........ guess number ones got to be "Spend too much on craft essentials" - yes, those promarkers should arrive from JS today ....... head down when I say very quietly all 92 of them ......... I know I've got no willpower, ah there's number two from that list.

While I remember, several people have asked how much was raised from the MS card sale at the weekend. Truth is they haven't let me know yet, but it was a big event with lots of MS branches involved so may be they have yet to tie up all the loose ends.

Stamping for the Weekend

Today's card is a combined effort for this weeks Stamping for the Weekend, where the theme is to create "A wallet card or a pocket card", Spoonful of Sugar and Everybody Art Challenges who both have the theme of "Summer", so I thought these daisies and real midsummer flowers.

I have used Hobby Art FL1910E which I masked and stamped three times to create a stepped effect which is my pocket. Each of the flowers have been stamped again and this is where it all went a bit pear shaped and the fatigue kicked it ........ The flowers were meant to be sparkly, but ended up being embossed and I covered each with a quickie glue pen but dipped them in clear embossing powder instead of glitter by mistake ! At least I found out that quickie glue acts as an embossing ink OK.

I followed the dotty lines of the image with liquid pearls and added more flowers cut from the same image and a wire embelli to the bottom corner. The tag was cut on cricut Plantin and the greeting stamped from Hero LP140. The DP is from Karen Foster ....... also filed under "Green" ........ how long can this organisation work I ask ?

So must away now to have a rest (compulsory apparently) ......... but now I've got a laptop I can use the opportunity to catch up on some more serious blogging ........ I still have so many lovely comments to follow up on and quite a few awards to deal with as well, so will probably be back later.

Dragonsdream TIO

"Eternal Goddess - think woman, earth colours, ancient Goddess figure, angelic" - that was the requirement for TIO last week ........ had this all in my mind to do when wham bang flat on my back ....... but mojos getting back into gear and I'm just in time, so here it is.

Again I've drawn inspiration from the garden, this time one of the statue type things that lurke in our beds and border. I've always loved this one and she epitomises to me the set theme this week ........ just hope she's not a bit risque with her boobs on show on my little part of the www.

My picture of her was run off onto plain white cardstock and then I messed about with some Tim Holz inks, versamark and gold embossing powder, highlighting bits of her hair and image. The tag itself was also treated to some more messing about with the same products plus lots of water, then overstamped with Stampendous N154 and Hobby Art GR13411 - Shakespeare Sonnet which I though was quite apt for my Goddess. The butterfly came on the wrapping of a birthday pressie and I just added some wire antenna ........ I got some odd looks (well odder than usual) when I took the butterfly off the wrapping and instinctively started to fondle it's wings into shape ........ doesn't everyone ?

That's all for today folks, going to try to get round a few more of your blogs and make up for lost time.

Penny Black challenge

Well, I've managed to concentrate and get one finished so progress indeed ........ very me I know, but decided to start back after the enforced drought with safety and in my comfort zone following the super sketch for this weeks Penny Black challenge.

My main image is the lovely verse - Penny Black 2695J from which I have taken a section for the sentiment (cut from a Nesite ribbon tag run through the cuttlebug) at the bottom of my card. Both stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear and shaded with Tim Holtz shabby shutters to match my DP which I think is K&Co, but not entirely sure as I only had this piece left ........ correctly filed in my new "drawers" under "green". The poppy flowers are taken from Penny Black 3949H which I stamped out several times. The leaf was cut from Cricut storybook and inked with the same TH ink and edged with Stayzon grey to add definition.

Airing my new drawers

Good evening everyone, I am doing a quick post as I so want to say thank you and how much I appreciate everyones kind messages, post and mails over the last few days, they have really been a great support when I was feeling less than human to put it mildly. I'm still not 100% and if they get their way, might not be for a bit as I might have to have surgery on my gums/front teeth ......... you can image how excited I am about that prospect ? But I do plan to try a bit of crafting tomorrow ....... I did say plan, so will see how the day works out

Meantime one of my buddies Jules asked what my "birthday drawers" were like !! Now I did tell her my hubby got me some for my birthday, but don't remember any mention of M&S or LaSensa ........ what would anyone think he bought me ? Cummon all of you, practicality here ........ DP's and Bazzil whatever else do I need drawers for ?

So to stop the rot before it sets in think I need to share some piccies of these already famous "drawers" and at the same time help fill the page with one or two more of my craft haven.

You'll notice Buffy showing what a versatile crafter she is, when the cameras at one end of the room so is she doing a spot of relaxing and keeping a close eye on the new intrusion of her floor space (which hubby had fixed nicely next to my pride and joy ribbon storage rack which goes right up to the ceiling ........ and what's left over hangs over my desk ........ OK, so I like ribbons - does it show just a tiny bit?) then the next minute she's all smiles up the other end with Torres (yes named after the Red's brilliant forward - and my mouse mat has the same theme, how sad is that ?).

And finally a question - I also had some money for my birthday and thinking about getting some Pro Markers - never used them or even looked at them, but know lots of you do. I've only ever used Marve le Plumes - if it's not a silly question, how do they compare ????

Allsorts challenge 7

My goodness, it's week seven at Allsorts already and it's Jackie's turn to select the theme which is ACETATE, to use it somewhere on your projects.

For my card I have used one of my favourite messy techniques. First step is to stamp the image onto acetate - I find it works best using a stamp that has a fair amount of solid pattern, this time I've gone for Hero S5033 stamping with Stayzon black. When it's dried turn over and apply alcohol inks (I used Tim Holtz) - it's important to add inks to the reverse as the inks and Stayzon don't mix.

Next take a page of an old book rip to fit about half the piece and cover with a dries clear glue - I find Tombo stick works well and stick the the inked side. Now take a piece of kitchen foil, crumple then flatten, add more glue to the entire piece - paper/ink side again and flatten the foil over. Now it's ready to trim and add to your card. I also like to highlight parts of the image with a white Inkssentials opaque pen to add definition.

I finished my card by adding some buttons, beads, lace and ribbons and stamped Hero F5158 down one side using versamark and detail white embossing powder.

Message from Brenda

Hello everyone, I am writing this message under strict supervision of Mum who is worried because she hasn't been able to post for a few days. At the beginning of the week she had toothache and by Wednesday her face was so swollen she could not see and the antibiotics weren't working - one of the problems being diabetic and having MS so no immune system. She's now on triple dose and the swellings very slowly going down but she is really weak and poorly so it will probably be a few days before her normal blogging service is resumed.

She says have a good weekend everyone and she hope she will feel up to cardmaking after the weekend. She has asked me to post one of her flowers so I have chosen a rose because I know she likes this one and because it's her Birthday as well as Dad's.

Inspirational Card Sketchers, ABC and Creative Card Crew challenges

Were spoilt again at ICS this week with another of Dawn's fabby sketches. I have also combined this with ABC's them of "Two Tone - just two colours" and CCC's theme of "Whatever the weather" and for my card it's definately sunny.

I haven't used this stamp for ages, it's from the Artful Stamper -881A and I have gone for one of my favourite colour combos, green and lilac. My background has been Glimmer Misted with lily pad and timeless lilac with an overspray of pearl. Image is stamped with versafine back and embossed with iridescent - this was actually by mistake - I got out the wrong box ........ I know, the moral here is that you the label before you start, in an ideal world and all that with plenty of time...... but I actually quite like the softer effect.

I coloured he image with a wash using Sakura pens and added glitter here and there and gems to decorate. The roses are from a stock pile I stamped last week ready for colouring using a little Magenta rose (Tilda range) which I painted with Brilliance lilac and thyme, covered with detail clear whilst still wet and heat embossed. The leaves and swirl were cut on Cricut storybook, inked with the same Brilliance pads and heat embossed with detail clear.

I ran the top section of the card through the Cuttlebug using Swiss dots folder, DP is My Minds Eye - absolutely yummy this one, green with hues of lilac so perfect here. Finally a stick pin, perhaps a bit OTT, but quite like the finished article.

Allsorts challenge

Afternoon everyone and yes, the sun is shining here in the Fens at long last and hope to get stuck into some challenge work later. Meanwhile ........ don't forget to check out the fabby candy on offer this week at Allsorts courtesy of Sir Stampalot, the theme is "Wings" -lots of you have already entered, but always room for more, we love to see all your designs, so what you waiting for, get creating.

Until I get back with some projects, here's a piccy of some more of my fragrant Albertine roses, they are usually all over by now but think the cooler weather has prolonged their blooming season this year.

Penny Black, Cupcake and Rosie Dees challenges

Good evening peeps, it's a bit warmer here today but no sign of the sun, I live in hopes flaming June will arrive before 1st July.

I wanted to follow my butterfly theme so had a firm idea of what I wanted to do for this weeks Penny Black challenge which is to use embossing on your project and prepared a piece last night which I ran through the Cuttlebug using old writing folder, spritzed liberally with Glimmer Mists key lime, pineapple and gold, sanded down when dry and added more gold. Then this morning I saw that Rosie Dees challenge was Pink and Lime and Cupcake's a lovely sketch, so time being at a premium, all three have all come together rather well in one project. Think I can let on that this will be my last entry for Rosie Dees as I have been asked to join their DT.

My pink and lime DP is Basic Grey and stamps Penny Black 3864F and 3868J. The butterflies have been stamped using Stayzon timber brown onto acetate and a piece of glittered pink vellum, cut out and layered adding wire antenna and liquid pearls to the thorax. The flowers have been stamped onto the same vellum, cut out and again liquid pearls added. Circles were all cut using nesties.

More candy and award

Oh my goodness, not had any blogging time today then I get a mail and just have to share the news. I won last weeks Everybody Art Challenge and the prize is some stamps ......... it's the same card that was also selected in Cupcake Top Five - this is the card.


And on top of that Linda in Hawaii has given me an award and there are also two from Lisa. Thank you so much Linda adn Lisa, I will be passing them along with the awards I received earlier this week. But behind on doing those things and been rather lax this weekend in visiting blogs, so sorry folks but working hard on samples for Stamp Addicts (think I'm allowed to tease you and say a new shows in the offing) and not even done this weeks Penny Black challenge, so lots to do later to catch up.

Allsorts Challange 6

Time for Allsorts Challenge 6 and super dupa blog candy as this weeks prize for one very lucky winner, courtesy of our sponsors Sir Stampalot - read on.It's my turn to select the theme this week and it probably won't be too much of a surprise to some of you that I have selected "Wings", any sort of wings from butterflies to planes, it's up to you just create what makes you happy.

So on to the exciting bit ........ as usual there is a prize for the winner and I will also be selecting my top five from all your entries ........ but we are all so excited about the prize on offer this week as it's definitely no ordinary candy ........ OK yes, I'll stop waffling and cut to the chase - can you believe that we have on offer a Quickutz Squeeze Tool with the Essential Tools Collection. Our sponsors Sir Stampalot have very generously donated this prize so even more reason to enter our challenge this week and also to say a huge, huge thank you from us all to Andy and Janice of Sir Stampalot. And as a little bonus, because it's my birthday this week I will be sending a 'wing' themed RAK to my selected Top 5.

Now, on to my DT card, the image is a stamp from an Australian company called Stamp-It which I am told can't be re-ordered, so I won't temp you by giving the codes. It is such a beautiful frame I felt it needed little embellishment and have very simply stamped it twice with versafine black and embossed with detail clear onto a mottled light green cardstock and mounted onto a piece of matt grey/green mirri card. I cut the center of the frame away and stamped Penny Black 3940F into the aperture with Stayzon black.

The frame and butterflies have been painted with Twinkling H2o's and the butterflies from the second frame cut out and decoupaged with wire antenna added and gems for the thorax.

Friday Sketcher & Stamping for the Weekend

Another great sketck to follow at Friday Sketchers which I have combined with this weeks Stamping for the Weekend which has a quirky theme of "Rock and Roll 60's" with a twist - three songs from that eara to depict ........ I can't even remember one, so of the other two I've gone for A White Shade of Pale by Procoal Harum. To me this conjours up thoughts of white and pastel pink so is the route I have followed.

My main image is a stamp with no name I'm afraid stamped onto pale pink vellum with versamark and detail white embossing powder and the same with the sentiment, Art Impressions E1427 which I always think fits this image so well. Both have been mounted onto white glitter paper and all mounts cut using Cricut storybook. DP is some really old K&Co, flowers are hero and I have added pearls and liquid pearls to finish.

Inspirational Card Sketchers

There is another of Dawns fab sketches to follow on ICS's challenge this week.

My main image is Magenta P0542 a stamp that lends itself to so well to decoupage. I have stamped the image four times, one onto linen cardstock and three times onto vellum all with versafine black and clear embossing powder and coloured with Twinkling H2o's to match my DP which is My Minds Eye.

Flowers on the main image have been decoupaged as have those in the corners and laid over leaves cut on Cricut Storybook which have been coloured with the same medium.

ABC challenge

Now some of you will say I've made this one before, so what's new. Truth is, it is very similar to some I've made in the past, but when I saw the theme for the ABC challenge this week which is "S for Summer", I knew exactly what I wanted to make - simplicity in pinks, greens and roses which to me epitomise an English Summer ........ well apart from the rain that is.

My main image is Penny Black 3815J stamped in versafine black and embossed with detail clear. The background has been stamped with a Hero block stamp H2545, inked only in places with Hero blossom ink, spritzed with water then stamped to achieve a patchy background. Coloured with Marvy pens and diamond glazed. The pink mat was run through the Cuttlebug using Swiss dots.

I chalked all round the edges of the card using a piece of acetate cut as a scalloped border on Cricut Plantin. Made the stick pin up with beads and accessories from Spellbound Bead (link on my sidebar), added some ribbon and dots along the scallops using Liquid Pearls.

Dragondream TIO

Simplicity and Serenity is the theme at Drogaons TIO this week. I immediately thought of this stamp as it always evokes calmness to me. It's from the Artful Stamper 1159R, I've had it years and used in for a number of different occasionas.

The tag, cut on Cricut Plantin Schoolbook has been lightly misted with Glimmer Mists - lily pad and lemon zest, then when dry spritzed here adn there with timeless lilac through a piece of mesh material to achieve a honeycomb effect. The image is stamped in versfine black and heat embossed with detail clear and I added crystal glitter to the folds of her dress and neckline. Her wings were stamped again onto vellum, spritzed with the lilac GM and decoupages. The edges of the tag are stamped with brilliance purple using Penny Black 3878F. The image had a lily in her hands and I have laid a silk one over the top and added a ribbon bow and a tiny butterfly.

I won candy and got awards - wow.

Well, don't know what I've been doing to deserve all this but I've won candy on this weeks ICS challenge then two awards from Shirley and one from Lorraine.


So again I have to pass these on and as usual I'd like to send them to all of you for visiting me and all your lovely comments. But as we know, that's not in the rules, so it be thinking about it and be back later for the passing on.

Rosie Dee's challenge

My third card today is for this weeks Rosie Dee's challenge which I have to confess I missed last week what with all that was going on, so sorry girls I know how hard you are working to get your challenge moving forward. The girls have a DT call and a wonderful theme this week of Turquoise and Chocolate which really is one of my favourite combinations and strangely enough I had done a card in those colours yesterday morning before I checked in with them.

I was itching to use my new Magenta CSEC29 set again and stamped the same image four times using Tim Holz broken china and brushed corduroy, distressing the edges with the same colours. I then inked each section with versamark and embossed with detail clear to give the squares a nice gloss finish. The diamonds down the side are Hero G3316 stamped off a couple of times to give a weathered effect, again using brushed corduroy. The little butterfly in the centre comes from a punch which I think is XCut, punched twice from vellum which I coloured very lightly with the blue ink and layered adding wire antenna. The ribbon on the side is some I've had for ages which fitted in just right.

Creatice Card Crew

Number two is for this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge where Linda has selected the theme "Black plus one other colour". So I have opted for straightforward monochrome using JudiKins klimt cube 67221, stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear. The greeting is Woodware FRCL128 and the circles cut on the cuttlebug using nesties. The border stamped with Stayzon is a really pretty one with such fine detail, but unfortunately I have absolutely no idea of the origin.

Spoonful of Sugar & Everybody Art challenge

Back to business and some cards, made yesterday but only just got round to posting them up. My first card is for this weeks A Spoonful of Sugar where there is a very nice sketch by Micelelle O and I have combined it with Everybody Art challenge where the theme is "Happy Birthday".

My image is Sarah Kay Picnic's of Daisies and the flowers Magenta 2446E stamped, embossed with detail clear and coloured with Marvy pens. DP is from Scrapbook Walls, the fancy edging using one of my new MS punches - swirl, flowers and leaves cut on Cricut storybook and home decor, inked with Brilliance and embossed with detail clear to give them a sheen. The greeting is Penny Black salutations.

MS card collection

Good morning everyone, another beautiful morning here in the fens, hope it's the same wherever you may be.

Just a very quick update on the card I have been collecting for the MS fundraising day next week. I have been overwhelmed by everyones generosity and have received in excess of 600 cards, so together we will enable the society to raise a considerable sum of money. As I need to deliver the cards to the organisers today so they can make their preparations, I am removing the flower logo from my sidebar. I have tried to contact everyone who has donated cards and/or added my flower logo to their blog, but I fear I will miss some as quite a lot of cards have arrived without contact details. So please accept this posting as a HUGE thank you to everyone and I will ask the organisers if they can let me know how much is raised so I can post it up after the event.

The white blooms are one of the Philadelphus (mock orange blossom) on bloom in the garden, this is one is a double and the fragranece wonderful.

Not exactly craft

I know it's not crafty, I did do some challenge work this afternoon honest, but as yet not typed anything up ready to post, so instead some piccies I took this evening of my baby Heskey ........ yes, he was named after Emile, he was one of my hero's when he was a red and he's still showing his worth since he broke back into the England squad.

Anyway, my Heskey has always been inquisitive and he's not improving with age, think he'll always be a big baby, big being the operative word. Today he decided he might be the next David Bailey ........ he started with a cursory glance, got closer and closer until I had to move the camera double quick. Bless him !!

Stamp Addicts live on C&C

Just a reminder that Sarah and Vicky from Stamp Addicts will be live on Create and Craft and Ideal World at 11am this Thursday - 18th June, so don't forget to tune in or set to record to see the "Best Sellers".

I hear their first retreat at the weekend went really well and everyone went home exhausted after a jam packed crafty weekend, but full of new ideas and inspiration. These are two of the cards I created for the retreat using JudiKins Four Leaves 28741 and Snowflake 2780F, the orange one is using brayering onto a gloss cardstock for the background and the second card stamped and embossed with versafine sepia and detail clear, then painted with Twinking H2o's.

I'll be back later with some challenge work ........ well that's the plan anyway, have to see how the afternoon pans out and if Mr Mojo makes an appearance.

I made the Cupcake top 5

Just a quickie - I've got an ear to ear smile this morning as I made the Cupcake top 5 again this week. The theme was set by Ida who is sending a RAK to her selected top 5, so thank you so much Ida.

I'm posting a picture of one of our herbaceous borders to celebrate.

Penny Black Celebration

The Penny Black challenge is celebrating it's first birthday and aptly the theme this week is "Celebration - Any Celebrations". There is also blog candy on offer so check out their blog to see what you have to do to be in with a chance of winning. The layout of this card is following Jeanette's lovely sketch for Friday Sketchers so is also my entry for that challenge.

I have chosen a card suitable for a new arrival using Penny Black 30- 304 from Stampalot stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear and coloured teddy with a mixture of Marvy and Sakura pens, adding glitter to the flowers and butterflies. The tree is from the same set ........ and before anyone asks why the apples aren't red, it's because they are Russet's which are golden coloured so match the colour theme ! The greeting stamped with versafine majestic blue is from Stampsmith and DP's are from October Afternoon which I found on a trip to Capture the Magic.

Stamp Something

Time to catch up on some challenges, the first of which is this weeks Stamp Something sketch designed by Emily.

My main image is made of of three stamps from my new Magenta set which accidentally fell into my basket at Stampalot yesterday along with some MS punches, and quite a few other goodies ........ honest, I don't know how this keeps happening to me ! These are a really nice set and include ten different sized stamps in all, one of which is a single butterfly plus some inchies. I stamped with Brilliance cosmic copper and embossed with detail clear, colured the butterflies and leaves with Marvy pens and gave a light colourwash to the blank areas to match the My Minds Eye DP's.

Having eventually got some MS punches I obviously had to use them, this one is arched lattice. The butterflies have been diamond glazed and some crystal glitter added whilst still wet. By the way, I should have mentioned the card itself was one the the fabulous feebies which came with me order from PDA this week. I've been ordering my cardstock, envies and packaging materials from them for a few years, their service and delivery is really quick and they offer a superb range of cardstock plus every month lots of special offers and freebies.

Thank you Mel

Just want to say a bit thank you to MEL for her help today in redesigning my blog, hope you all like the new look. I did really liked the previous picture which was taken by the fiancee of one of my sons, but I wanted to add sidebars so went for a softer look and came up with this which is very me, flowers - in this case lilies which are my absolute favourite flower and of course butterflies. Mel selected and added the lovely title font which I think matches so well.

I'll be back later with some crafty work hopefully. Meanwhile a picture of one of our Aquilegias - haven't managed to catch the bunnies yet Mel ........ we have dozens of rabbits in our top paddock and the tiny babies come down onto the back lawn to feed so Mel suggested I take some piccies of them to share, but not surprisingly they are much quicker than me, so still trying.

Spot the Difference

Yesterday was a real fun day at Stampalot with classes all day and when the girls knew I'd got into this blogging lark wanted to be part of the action so not wishing to disappoint I took some piccies to share. However, it seems there was a Chav lurking ........ ooooops, did I say Chav ........ sorry Andy Chad, yes that's right isn't it, didn't see any trackie bottoms or fake bling so must be Chad ?

In the line up: Lisa, Anne (holding up what they all created yesterday using Penny Black stamps with brill results), Linda, Carol, Terri and Helen.


Now if you look closely you will see our lurking Chad in one of the piccies ........ no prizes or candy for spotting Sir Stampalot himself I'm afraid ....... but he'd been trying to get into the classroom all day - well when Grace and Gina come to class so do their lovely home made cakes.

It was suggested I add a big "WANTED" heading to this third picture - the terrible twins and purveyors of treats ........ actually not sure if they are twins or just sisters but they are so alike and guaranteed to add a 'spark' to class ........ they are both awesome cooks and bring some real yummy goodies along, which is why our Chad is always so keen to get in on the action. Naturally I always check beforehand to see if the girls are booked into classes so I know how much lunch to take !!

Thanks Andy and Janice and all the girls for another fun day.

Allsorts Challenge 5

What a great week we have had at Allsorts this week, a huge number of entries so thanks so much to all who took part and congrats the the winner of the Pink and White challenge.

This weeks theme has been chose by Gro who would like you to use triangles on your project, a little bit different you will all agree and should get your creative juices flowing.

For my DT card I have used Magenta 29110R - Floral Background which I stamped and embossed three times using versafine black and detail clear powder. I cut out the centre sections from two of the images, cut two into quarters and two in half, giving me different sized triangles. I have used just two colours of Sakura pens and coloured alternate triangles in a single colour, lightly inked the edges to give a shadow effect, and reassembled four of the smaller pieces onto each section of the main image and placed three of larger sections down the side.

Gems have been added to the centres of the flowers and I made up a stick pin in coordinating colours and tied with ribbon.

Acetate flowers

I have created this one for Stampalot using the nesite frames Andy asked me to try out a couple of weeks ago ........ sorry Andy, been a bit slow here I know. Anyway I do really like this frame - there are two in each set and a couple of flowers as well. I must at this point, put my hands up and confess to a degree of plagiarism today ........ trouble is I've done too much blog hoping with all this resting up and now have an abundance of pent up inspiration to try out, but I do try to put the ideas into my own context and give credit where it's due.

The frame is cut on the cuttlebug using My Minds Eye DP's ........ in case you didn't realise, I do so love these papers and even have a class coming up at Stampalot next month based around them (will be sharing some of the samples just as soon as the new terms dates are published later this month).

All of the flowers are cut on the Cricut from the same DP which is double sided plus acetate. I have edged the acetate flowers with gold Krylon and each flower has one DP layer and two acetate. I have also placed a layer of acetate into the frame over the stems/leaves which are stamped from Hero CL338 and laid onto bazzil. The acetate flowers are the first of my 'borrowed' ideas which I saw on the blog of a lady called Enfys. The second 'borrowing' is from my good blog buddy Jules ........ I did ask if I could pinch this one which is her fab idea of cutting away part of the edge to give this pretty edge. Apparently, according to Jules this punch even has a name - Threaded Water, so I must remember this in future and not just call it "my new Fiskars punch" - not a lot of help if you want to track it down to buy is it ? As most things in my little world need gems, I have added some swarovski ones down the side.

Stamp Addicts Retreat

This weekend is Stamp Addicts very first retreat and I know Sarah and Vicky are really excited about it.

There are forty lucky crafters attending and judging by all the goodies that were being prepared when I went to the shop last week, everyone is in for a real fun weekend.

I was asked to create some cards for the retreat using JudiKins stamps and am sharing a few of them here.

I hope you all have a great time and look forward to hearing all about it.

Inspirational Card Sketchers 20

This week ICS have a fab sketch, don't know why but this morning I woke up thinking brown and turquoise ........ sad I know, dreaming craft, but I know for a fact that I'm not alone here, so of course this was the basis for my card.

DP's are K&Co and the image one I've had for years from Hampton Arts DF4513 - it's called 'Fan's hat' so figure this is Fanny wearing it ? The image is stamped in versamark and embossed with detail copper onto a Glimmer Misted background of ........ you've guessed, turquoise and brown - well actually creme da chocolate if we are being exact. I added a piece of lace an a flower in Fanny's hat.

Awards again

Goodness what a week it's turning out to be, yet another award this time from Lauren, thank you so much for all your support and kind words - please check out her blog for some great artwork and also to see her beautiful dogs. I can't thank all my blogging buddies enough for all their wonderful support this week, it's really helped make me feel better.

Dragonsdream TIO 7

Dragonsdream TIO challenge this week is "your interpretation of - Treasure". Now I'll be honest and say I thought what the devil can I do for this, then I stepped outside the box and it came to me ........ what do I treasure ....... well apart from the obvious, family, pets and the like for me it has to be nature.

As a child my Dad taught me that nature was something to be appreciated from the smallest wild animal to the towering oaks, a value he held all his life and right up till his death at Christmas. As a child I spent hours with him wandering the hedgerows and doing simple things like picking a bunch of cowslips. That enjoyment has never left me and I have tried to instill the same values in my children, although I have to confess modern life takes it's toll and sadly such activities are less prevalent nowadays. But to be fair, most of them garden and grow veggies and enjoy speding time in the Countryside and have animals.

I never fail to be astounded by natures abilities of regrowth and regeneration, all the things it's so easy to take for granted because they are always there. So my tag, which on reflection is probably totally OTT, encompasses just a small element of the vibrant colours, fauna and animals that are all around us if we take time to look. I have used so many stamps and materials that for once I am not going to list them, otherwise you will still be reading this post next week.