A card at last

Progress indeed, a completed card ! I really don't like to combine more than a couple of challenges into one project, but to utilise my crafting time while I feel semi human I confess to four in one here.

I have followed another of Dawn B's great sketches for this weeks ICS challenge and combined it with this weeks Passion for Promarkers which asks us to use "Apricot and Cool Aqua plus Flowers", Creative Card Crew which requires "All that Glitters" and ABC which this week is "E" for "Embossing".

So what did I do.......this is where it gets difficult, remembering through the fog.......only two more days of pills then hopefully normality will return. The main image is Penny Black 3979H - Simplicity, stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear then coloured with the two Promarker colours, going over some leaves several times to gain depth of colour. The sentiment if from one of my new Verve stamp sets which I won from Friday Sketchers challenge earlier this month.

DP's are My Minds Eye and the piece of Bazzil across the card was run through the Bug using my new daisy folder, then flowers, leaves and buds cut on Cricut Storybook which I coloured lightly with Tim Holtz inks soft pool and peach and glittered. Finally I added Diamond Glaze to the vase.

I also want to say thank you for Kari for kindly sending an award my way. Kari makes some beautiful cards so do go pay her a visit.

Spoonful of Sugar

At the risk of sounding monotonous, "here's one I made earlier" for this weeks Spoonful of Sugar challenge which is 'Christmas'. Thank goodness I got all my work done early for this Thursdays launch of By the Short and Girly. The DT have come up with some fantastic inspirational work - and not just cards either, a whole range of talents and crafts. And loads of prizes on offer from some of our best loved crafty outlets. So mark it in your diary - Thursday 1st October.

Mr Mojo is back I think, well at least the ideas are there but I feel just too spaced to concentrate or sit for long. Hopefully when all these medications are finished normality might return........one can only hope. So am keeping it short. The angel image is from Penny Black 30-036 and coloured with Promarkers. The swirl and greeting are also PB 3892K and 3995F. DP's are My Minds Eye and the border punched with Martha Stewart Embossed Scallop.

We've all heard the one about needing a good vet, well that's the only way things can go here at the moment. The face is on the mend, but now I have a 'girly' problem, so more doctors and pills.......can you all hear the rattle ?

Needless to say Mr Mojo is nowhere to be found even if I felt like crafting which if I am honest I don't, so to keep things a bit alive, here is a fairly quick and simple one I did for Stampalot a week or two back using one of the new Christmas sets from Inkadinkado 98396. All of the stamping was done with versamark and embossed with Sticky Stuff, then brushed over with gold and green Perfect Pearls and some cerise crafting foil pressed on here and there. The border is Martha Stewart embossed zigzag.

Rosie Dees challenge

Another scheduled post, this time for Sunday afternoon and a new challenge theme at Rosie Dees with a fab prize on offer from The Cutting Cafe, so do go check it out. Also the reveal of my card from this week.........and apologies to everyone and especially my teamies at Rosie Dees for their understanding as I have been unable to create anything for this weeks challenge due to ill health. But I am on the mend and will be back next week !

The theme for this card was Stars and Stripes. My stripes are in the form of DP from Daisy Bucket, two Christmas trees simply cut from brown cardstock and a pale blue pearlescent and run through the Bug using a swirly folder. A border punched with Martha Steward Embossed Zigzag, some velvet ribbon, a pearl ribbon slide and some star gems on the trees. Two stars atop the trees are from a punch and glittered with Stickles. The greeting is Penny Black 3995F.

Allsorts challenge

Saturday morning can only mean one thing........a new Allosorts challenge. And this week Lisa is hosting the challenge and has chosen Autumn Days as her theme. Such a beautiful time of the year and a chance to use all those glorious rich colours on our cards.

I have made a card with a matching gift box which my hubby came home with a few days ago........he got them from the pound shop and thought they "looked like me".......OK then, three plain cardboard boxes. When I questioned his comment he tried to redeem himself by saying what he mean was he knew I would make them into something pretty.

So here is what I did. First I made my own DP by stamping a sheet of heavyweight cream paper repeatedly with one of the leaf collage stamps from Inkadinkado 97513 using Brilliance copper, crimson, thyme and chocolate. I used this to cover the box and the card, distressing the edges of the piece on the card.

The tree is from the same stamp set and stamped with the same inks and the ovals cut on the Bug with Nesties.

The leaves on the box lid and panel on the card were stamped with the single leaf from that set onto shrink plastic, again with the Brilliance inks. The scallop border is punched with Fiskars threading water and the panel stitched using my vastly expensive new buy from Dunelm........all £12.99 of it - remember I gave my 'proper' sewing machine away. I edged the box with lace and aded a piece to the card to carry the theme and some pearls and swarovski gems.

Beautiful Orchids

Good evening everyone. Looking at my blog things look in a sorry state this week, dogs, flowers lots of negative medical stuff (sorry for that) and a distinct lack of anything crafty. But I felt I at least owed you all an update on things, as despite me not visiting any of you for days, you still come here and leave me lovely kind messages of support which really have meant such a lot with everything that has been going on this week. It's more than I deserve for being such a bad blogger, so thank you all.

Things went reasonably well yesterday, now it's a matter of waiting to see if it has worked and getting the stitches out. I am in some pain still, pretty phased with medications, eating what constitutes baby food and can talk very little.......the family have never had such an easy run of it and all seem in good spirits, can't imagine why.

I just have to share a picture of the beautiful orchids that were delivered to me this afternoon from a friend and her husband, thank you so so much both of you, what great mates you are. They are absolutely glorious and I have never seen so many blooms on one plant, they will provide weeks of enjoyment.

At the moment I really don't feel like crafting, or anything come to that, but as Scarlett said "after all tomorrow is another day", so lets take it a day at a time and I might surprise myself. My Allsorts and Rosie Deeds DT work is scheduled so will be popping up over the weekend. And next Thursday - that's 1st October, By the Short and Girly new challenge kicks off, cardmaking, scrapbooking and any craft that takes your fancy really, with some fabulous sponsors with prizes every challenge, so go to my sidebar and click on the link. I expect to see you all popping up there with your creations.

And finally I am pleased to say Bernie is doing really well, eating again and the vet is happy with him. Animals are so resilient, we really should take a leaf out of their book.

What do you do when you are nervy and jittery ? You make a card of course. Been making this since dawn, but here it is and a really quick explanation , Hero and Penny Black stamps, Brilliance ink, Martha Steward Doily Lace and Cricut Storybook.

Now away to do what has to be done...............

Blog candy winner and bits of news

Hello all, some updates, news and my candy winner, a few hours early but as some of you know things are not going quite to plan this week to say the least and my activities tomorrow when I should have done the draw, have been 're-organised' for me.

So the first bit of news. Feeling a bit down what with Bernie being so ill and my own health issues it really cheered me up today to find out that I was in this week Passion for Pormarkers Top 5 with this, so thank you to everyone over there.

I need to remind you that By the Short and Girly .......don't you just love the name........challenge starts on 1st October. There are some absolutely fantastic sponsors lined up with several prizes on offer every challenge and not just card making either. So if you haven't already been over and added your name for the welcome candy on offer what are you waiting for ?

Moving to Bernie, he came home this afternoon, he is very poorly and apart from the aftermath of the operation itself has developed an irregular heartbeat. He does not feel much like eating still - even the prescribed diet of puree chicken, so it's very much a day at a time. But at least he should feel happier in his own surroundings and he won't be short of love and attention.

On to my candy........I was thrilled so many of you took part and have really enjoyed reading your wonderful comments from all around the world........blogging really does make the world seem a much smaller and very friendly place. I am pleased to announce that random org., had chosen Tracey, so please mail me Tracey with your snail mail address and I will get your candy off to you and you should be well on your way with your Christmas cards.

And a picture to share, this lady is Buffy my daily crafting companion, well they are all companions, but Buffy seems to show the most interest in crafting........or should I be perfectly honest and say the sweets in my drawer........non of the others seem to have cottoned on to where they actually come from.

Poor Bernie

Good afternoon everyone and sorry folks no card, just a very quick post to let you know things might be a bit quiet here for a day or two as Bernie and I are both a bit under the weather.

For those of you who remember my jaw problems a couple of months ago, well it's all flared up again, I have a raging infection that antibiotics aren't touching (benefits of MS and diabetes) so the delayed surgery is happening on Thursday. I might get a surprise and feel up to crafting quicker than I think in which case I will be up and blogging a.s.a.p.

And poor Bernie had to have emergency surgery last evening for bloat/twisted gut something St Bernard's are prone to. Although the surgery went OK, he then got a heart problem which was probably associated with the anesthetic and had to be transferred to a specialist vet. At the moment he is holding his own, so we have everything crossed for him. I will post any updates as available.

Penny Black challenge and a candy win

Well, where do I start. I guess first it has to be to tell you all that I have been oh so lucky to win Claire's blog candy. Claire is a fantastic artist and has just opened her own shop which you will find here selling the most yummy and detailed digi stamps. The prize Claire offered was "You give me a theme and I will create you a digi image and also send you the coloured original - so it's all yours!" So no prises for guessing that I have asked if I could have something with 'wings'. I am so looking forward to working with it and sharing my cards with you.

Moving on to this weeks Penny Black challenge which is "Lace and Pearls". The other day when visiting Sally and looking at one of her beautiful creations, she said she was inspired by a very talented lady called Michelle Zindorf . The name rang a bell and when I visited the blog realised it was one I used to visit but blogging being what it is you drift off in other directions, so I was pleased for the reminder and this card is my take on one of Michelle's tutorials.

I brayered onto glossy cardstock using Tim Holtz inks, first mustard seed to the top half of a piece of white gloss cardstock (rolling off on scrap paper to reduce the intensity of the ink on the roller), then spiced marmalade, again rolling off the excess followed by fired brick across the top. On the bottom half I brayered shabby shutters first, then peeled paint. To achieve the grass effect I ran the edge of the brayer randomly (sort of like doing a wheelie).

The tree is Partridge in a Pear Tree from Penny Black 30-305 which I stamped with verafine black and embossed with detail clear. The fence was created by drawing three lines freehand.........this is as near to drawing as I can achieve.......then adding fence posts with a ruler using a black permeneant marker pen. I stamped the little birdies twice more and placed one on the fence and one on the greeting which is Art Impression E3145. The fence and tree has been highlighted with a white Inkssentials pen, and I stamped across the top with the edge of Hero Arts H3317 Delicate Weave to add a bit more interest and distressed the edges with TH peeled pain.

Pearls have been added to the tree to represent the pears and a border punched from Martha Steward embossed zigzag, some black lace and a few more pearls.

Rosie Dees challenge

It's Sunday which means a new Rosie Dees challenge and sneak peek and the reveal of last weeks project.

I decided to think outside the box........sorry folks, bit of a pun here, but the theme was 'two squares and a rectangle' so I decided on a gift box, a thank you card and gift tag. The box was cut from Cricut Wild Card, acetate placed in the aperture and the box stamped randomly with Inkadinkado 98702 DC, a new one from them which is so very delicate and fine. The panel on the card was cut on Cricut Storybook to match the box aperture and matted using some Doodlebug DP, which I also used to punch the little daisies. I added some lace to the top of the box and pearls to embellish.

Allsorts challenge 19

This weeks Allsorts challenge chosen by Kirsten really reminds us that perhaps we should be thinking about making those Christmas cards as her theme is Snowflakes in September. Endless possibilities here to get your creative juises flowing.

For my DT card I have used a new set of clear stamps Penny Black 30-035 In a Pear Tree, together with some new double sided DP's from S.E.I. called Winter Song which really have to be stroked to appreciate the flocking and foiling. I stamped the little birdie twice.......I figure he is actually the partridge from the pear tree......with brilliance red onto Bazzil cardstock, decoupaged him added diamong glaze and Swarovski crystals for his eye and tail feathers. The snowflakes have been cut on Cricut Christmans Cheer and Accent Essentials from the same colour bazzil and acetate then crystal glitter added to the acetate ones. The sentiment is from the same PB set. The border is punched from Martha Stewart Embossed Snowflakes.

A little gift

Goodness me, I don't know where the last two days have gone, sort of always been busy but not much to show, especially craft wise.

So I am going to share something I made a couple of weeks ago as a little gift for my DIL. I would take forever to give instructions how I made the folder if I could even make it understandable which I doubt, so all I shall say is I used my scoreboard and made lots of folds ! If somebody really wants some guidelines, please PM me and I will see what I can explain.

The DP is my minds eye, the tree stamp on the front is from Inkadinkado 97513 and the one on the notelets is also Inkadinkado 98702-DC........in case it's not been obvious the last couple of weeks, I really love the new Autumn releses from this company. I added a small punched flower to each notelet and coloured the leaves with Promarkerts to match. I also ran each notelet though the Cuttlebug using different folders so each is individual.

Passion for Promarkers and another Gray

Don't shout too loud, but the sun's shining this morning, first time since Saturday in these parts, mind you the wind is oh so cold. The horses are non to impressed either and think it's time to move indoors full time for another winter of pampering. Do you know, if us humans spent a whole season doing little more than eating and drinking apart from the odd hack out, we would take on the appearance of sumo wrestlers.......so what's so special about a horses metabolism that they don't have the same problem ?

After all the activity of the weekend, buckling down to crafting is tough.......think Jules and I talked so much that out energy levels needed to replenish, but it was a fabulous day.......and a little secret, we have another one planned for the NEC. I have never been there before, so going on a strict regime of no spending until then - as if.

On to my card, Passions for Promarkers this week wants to see 'Polka Dots with an open colour combo'.......gives those of us lucky enough to have the new colours the chance to try them out.......one major nightmare here though, guess what I discovered...... there is another gray - gray green. I am also combining this card with the recipe from the Creative Card Crew which is '2 DP's, 3 flowers, 2 brads, 1 button and 1 ribbon'.

My image is from Stampevia WDS410, coloured with a mixture of Promarkers including Tulip Yellow, Pear Green, Salmon Pink, Antique Pink and Gray Green - all new colours, along with a few of the originals. I stamped and coloured the flower three more times and glittered the centre. The DP's are My Mids Eye, the border punched with Martha Stewart Doily Lace and the leaves are also punched. I cut down one of the flowers and reassembled in the top corner as I felt it was too large. The circle greeting is Hero Arts A4981 and finally a button , ribbon and two brads - centres of two of the small flowers on my image. Considering I don't do cute too often I actually quite like this one.

Create and Craft this Friday

Oooooooops, I can't blame Mr Blogger for this one, card is there now.

There is a brand new show from Stamp Addicts being screened on Create and Craft/Ideal World/Freeview 36 this Friday 18th September at 11am. As well as featuring two of the stamps from the last Christmas show in July, there will be some brand new products including a very special stamp from JukiKins which I know Sarah and Vicki are really excited about.

Back in July I shared several of my DT cards with you which I created for the show and was going to show you some more.......but my photo editor is just not playing ball and won't let me access the file........who said technology was good ? So having spent a couple of hours or more faffing about I decided it was quicker to just make some more. So here is the oh so jolly snowman JudiKins 2084H.

He is stamped with black memento ink and coloured with Promarkers and glittered with crystal fine glitter. The tree stamped with Tim Holtz Peeled Pain is Magenta swirl gran, the DP My Minds Eye and the snowflakes cut on Cricut Accent Essentials. I printed the greeting on the computer and added buttons and string to finish.

A real mixture

Oh goodness me, I completed this card for Inspiration Card Sketches, a great sketch as ever from Dawn B and realised that quite by chance it fits in with three others........I sometimes manage to combine two but even when I try can't stretch it beyond that. I really don't like doing this but my time is such this week I hope I will be forgiven in combining it with A Spoonful of Sugar which is looking for 'Autumn/Fall' projects, Everybody Art Challenges which has the theme 'Shabby' and the final one I realised fitted was Cupcake challenges theme of 'Pearls and Swirls'.

Afraid the picture is pretty poor folks, I have taken it so many times now but the light is so dreadful today.......and it's raining as well this afternoon and I think this is the best I am going to achieve.

The image is a stamp I have had forever by American Artstamps called Pear. I stamped with versafine and embossed with detail copper then shaded and distressed with Tim Holt Peeled Paint, Antique Linen and Fired Brick and used the same inks to colour the fruits. I roughed up the edges, ran a versamark pad round them, dipped into detail copper and heated to give a nice aged feel. The edge of the card itself has been stamped with Magenta Crackled Background 32090M again with versamark and detail copper embossing powder. The swirls were cut on Cricut Storybook and stippled with Adirondack Acrylic Dabbers sunset, gold and copper. Lace, pins and pearls added to embellish.

ICS DT call

I thought long and hard about this one - Inspirational Card Sketches DT call and really could not make up my mind. But I always try and enter this challenge as I love Dawn Baty's sketches, they really are as the challenge name suggests "Inspirational", so I am throwing my hat in the ring, mind you the competition is good and there are some stunning entries already.

I should of course have known better when I made this card as we all know only too well that acetate does not lend itself to photographs, so I can but apologies for the quality here. The image is Hero Arts CO115, one of the new cling stamps which has a 'thank you' sentiment in the middle of the frame but I masked that out so that I could add my own sentiment behind the acetate. I stamped onto the acetate using versamark and embossed with detail copper. The card itself has been stamped round the edge with swirls from Inkadinkado 97513 using Tim Holtz Antique Linen which I also used to distress the edges of the card and DP's which are My Minds Eye. The small section has been stamped with Hero 2635 Old French Writing.The flowers have been stamped several times more on to acetate and heat embossed in the same way and decoupaged along with a couple of daisies punched from the same DP and held in place with gem brads. Two lace panels laid down the card, a sentiment added which is Penny Black (sorry no code) and ribbon down the side to hold the acetate in place.

Crafty surprises and Promarkers

Good morning everyone, I don't know where to start........not like me I know, but one of those occasions when I don't know which bit to tell you first, so better work through the weekend as it unfolded.

The Glimmer Mist journaling classes at Sir Stampalot went really well and all the girls had a great time creating really varied and different finished results. Totally unlike the normal classes as we literally took over the entire classroom - by that I mean floor and all where one lady spent the entire morning in a lovely messy array of glimmer mists and inks - she told me she was going for the "ultimate grunge look". And it was lovely to have Janice join in and create a stunning journal of a very special recent weekend for her and Andy........I can tell you no more ! But thank you both for another great time.

Moving on to Sunday.......goodness, so much to tell. Weeks ago Jules a blogging buddy who has become a real friend over the weeks and months told me all about her plans for a Festival weekend in Derbyshire where she was having a stall in one of the local shops to sell her cards. Fortunately she told me enough in snippets here and there to enable me to research the Festival which is basically a weekend where the village opens it's doors (literally in the case of many houses) to visiting artists and musicians.

So the seed was planted that we would travel to Derbyshire, visit the Festival and track down an unsuspecting Jules.......planned I might add right down to how I would "introduce" myself courtesy of grey Promarkers. I could relay what happened when we found her, but Jules has written such a wonderful account on her blog I would love you to visit her and read it first hand here as I don't think I could better her account of it all.

As Jules explained, we had an brilliant day and I want to say thank you so much to you and your family for your warm welcome to both myself and husband. Sad as it may seem, we don't go out a great deal other than family events, a meal here and there etc., one of the down sides of lots of animals plus working from home in that you always feel tied to the phone lines. And as a person who doesn't do 'relax' too well, to spend a day like yesterday made such a wonderful change and one we both thoroughly enjoyed.

The Festival was lovely, my husband bought me a beautiful monochrome piece of artwork from one of the visiting artists.......although yet to find a home for it to give it justice.......sounds like an excuse for a bit of decorating to me. Now it's roll on the NEC where Jules and I had already planned to meet up......at least we will recognise each other now so can dispense with the need to wear a Penny Black stamp in our buttonholes !

And finally, guess what the Post Office delivered this morning.......yes, the new Promarkers, all 56 of them and not a grey in sight. Need to get seriously crafty now.

Rosdie Dees sneak peek

It's Sunday folks and that means time for a new Challenge at Rosie Dees. Here's a sneak peek at my project - you can see the full reveal over on the challenge blog at 6pm today along with all the other DT work to inspire you.


And I can also share my card for the current challenge which askes us to use ovals or circles on our project. I used this absolutely yummy DP from Black Market Paper Company and found some bazzil which matched perfectly. The ovals are cut with Nesties through the Bug and the image is Inkadinkado 98396 Winter Birds and the swirls 97513 all stamped simply with versafine black and embossed with detail clear. As you might have noticed I have used these sets rather a lot lately.......no apologies though as they really are so versatile. I finished with some gems, button and string.

Stamping for the Weekend

This post comes to you magic of Mr Blogger......I hope ! I am away today paying a surprise visit to a blogging friend.......I can't tell you who yet, otherwise there won't be any surprise if they read this will there. But I will let you in on the secret tomorrow.

I also need to tell you all that there is a brand new Stamp Addicts Christmas programme coming up on Friday 18th at 11am. I shall share some sample cards with you later in the week and tell you more, but this card does use one of the stamps I used to create samples for the show.

My card is for this weeks Stamping for the Weekend challenge and boy did I struggle with it, don't get me wrong, it's a great sketch...... I just can't do busy and with all those layers I panicked I can tell you. But I have a finished card and I sort of like it, perhaps it will grow on me.

My main image is Judikins 2084H stamped with black memento ink and coloured with Promarkers and cut out on the Bug using Nesties. DP is My Minds Eye and the swirl was cut on Cricut Storybook, inked with brilliance lime and embossed with detail clear. The border is punched with Martha Stewart embossed snowflake and the tiny snowflakes are punched. The greeting is a Hero clear set for which I have lost the code.

Allsorts chalellenge

It's Saturday morning folks which means it time for this weeks Allsorts challenge and it's Emma's turn to set the theme which is sketch with a two colour combination of your choice.

My two chosen colours are blue and brown and the main image Hero CG105 stamped with Hero shadow ink soft pool and the sentiment Art Impression......but and a confession, I must have 'filed' it in the wrong drawer because I seem to have lost it and can't tell you the code. The circles are cut on Nesties through the Bug as is the sentiment using Nesites ribbon slides. The swirl stamped over the edge is Hero F5042. The DP is from Fancy Pants and seems to have been made to match that Hero shadow ink as it's virtually the same shade of blue. Finally, some flowers, ribbon and gems to embellish.

News........By the Cute and Girly

Well, what exciting news I have, been itching to tell you all but wanted to check first that I can share my excitement. Yesterday I was asked by the lovely Jane to join her DT........she has been working very hard preparing her new challenge By the Cute and Girly - what a great name. And she has some great candy on offer as well, so you really should go over and check it out.

Jane has some great ideas and really has been doing her homework and I think this one is going to offer the opportunity for all types of crafters to join in. She has invited a wonderful talented team to join her and I feel very privileged to have been asked to work alongside the other girls. More information will be posted very soon so do keep an eye open for details as they unfold.

No card this morning yet, too excited still, so instead a picture of one of the beautiful dahlias in the garden. My husband informs me this variety is called Kelvin Floodlight and I have to say I think these are the largest dahlia blooms I have ever seen, each one is much larger than an outstretched hand - must be all the rain this year because they have grown like triffids.

Journal gimmer mist fun

As promised, an advance peek at what I will be up to over the weekend at Sir Stampalot. This class is a bit different to my usual in that we will be creating a journal using Tattered Angel products.......the kit is designed for class use and comes complete with everything included, glimmer mists, stencil screens, framed fonts, glimmer chips and of course the journal itself.

I had a play with the kit last week and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. As a cardmaker primarily this was a bit different for me and no way to I profess to be a scrapbooker, but this kit uses all the lovely messy Glimmer Mist techniques I so enjoy in my cardmaking. The glimmer chips and framed fonts were new to me, but again I love they way they add dimension to the journal. I did manage to incorporate some stamping as well and used a stamp I have had for ages, Stamps Happen 90913........one of those impulse buys that looked nice sitting on Stamplaots shelves, but which I have never found a use for - unill now, so it will get a good airing in class this weekend. Having just looked at the stamp again it is called "Baroque background" how apt when you take into account much of the Venetian architecture and especially the wondeful Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute which domiates the Grand Canal.

Even before I made up my journal, I decided I would base it on our trip to Italy this year and have included pictures of Veneto and Roma, I somehow felt the aged feel of the journal lends itself to the history of these magnificent cities. As you can see from some the the pages pictured I have followed my Italian theme with the wording with the exception of the gondolier, Luigi and I think the only words I can add there are "il piacere" (translated - enjoyment, delectation- there is no Italian translation for Hunk !) so I shall be adding that finishing touch shortly.

The Glimmer Mists included in this kit are Cherub Pink, Starfish, Rum Raisin and Creme de Cocoa. I used copper embossing powder for all my stamping as I felt it was less stark than gold and a variety of Tim Holtz distress inkpads for shading.

I will hopefully get the opportunity to take some photos in class and post them next week so you can see what the girls create.

Something very special

Ciao my crafty friends. No change in the weather in the Fens again and a heavy dew this morning, real September, but one of my sons assures me that the promised Indian Summer is on it's way and will last a couple of weeks........bring it on is all I can say because last night was freezing and I was temped to flick the central heating switch.

Now awards, you all know I am a bad blogger when it comes to these and whilst it is lovely to be awarded them, I let you all down when it comes to passing them on as I explain here.

But yesterday my blogging buddy Sarah sent me an award........thank you so much Sarah......it is one I had never received before and we got 'talking' about my bad habits on that front and I felt rather guilty and sent her the link above. She said it was a shame she could not lift Bernie as he looks adorable.......this set me thinking and inspired by Sarah and especially for her is.........................drum roll.......................The Bernie Crafters Award.

I do hope you like it Sarah and will accept it and also not mind if I offer it to any fellow dog and animal loving crafters who want to pinch it for their blogs as well, as Bernie has caused a bit of a stir.

I need to go take some pictures and as the sun is shining now hopefully that will be in the garden then will return later with some crafty shares of what I will be up to over the weekend.

Inspirational Card Sketches and Passion for Promarkers

Apple time in the fens...................

Good morning one and all, what's the weather like your way ? Here in the Fens we have our normal serving up of rain and cloud, even the dogs are non too impressed today and their early morning apple hunt didn't last too long.......they love this time of year with all the windfalls........Buffy, George and Abbey are cute cookies and roll their finds to push off the wasps, poor Bernie on the other hand learnt the hard way !! Here's some pictures of the gang this morning, although not Abbey, she's feeling her age with arthritis bless her and made a quick return indoors - with her apple of course.

And not forgetting the horses who enjoy the odd apple of four, checking here to make sure ones got the same as the other...... Big Ben (on the left) is a bit of a bully when it comes to food so baby (well 15.3hh) Heskey has to bide his time and grab them when he can.

On to my card for this weeks Inspirational Card Sketches which is another of Dawn B's fantastic sketches and Passion for Promarkers which has a colour combo of Sandstone and Blue Pearl.

My image is Sarah Kay Time for Apple Pie.......how apt is that I thought......and the tree Magnolia Swirl Gran. Both stamped with Memento black and coloured with the two requisite Promarkers. The sentiment is a skinny stamp SK-LG-207 from Stamps by Judith, DP's from stash, punched edge using Martha Steward Embossed Scallop and run through the Bug using Swiss Dots folder, then lace and pearls added to embellish. Edges were shaded with Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy.

Creative Card Crew

A late posting today, busy in the office and crafting having to take a back seat, inconvenient or what. But at least the sun shone for a while this afternoon, even if I did only see it through the windows.

So this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge - this was made for me - "Have a Fairy Nice Day", everyone knows I love fairies and relish the opportunity to go fantasy.......well with so many living at the end of the garden.......now don't anyone dare tell me there are non at the end of theirs and it's all a figment of my imagination......cummon now, humour me.

Here I have combined Lavinia Flower Fairy stamp with the swirls from Inkadinkado 97513.......I am still so in love with this set.......it might just be a tincy winsy bit obvious from what I have created the last week or two.

I created the background by brayering Big and Juicy Waterfall ink but just using the lighter half as I did not want the dark blue, rolling off the excess before applying to my cardstock then rotating the card and repeating the same on the other side so I got the graduation equal. I then brayered the centre with Tim Holt worn lipstick, but rolling off most of the colour before adding it to the centre of my cardstock so I got a very very subtle pink hue.

All stamping was done with versafine black and embossed with detail clear and finally some little Lavinia toadstools and art impression leaves round the edges. I highlighted the fair wings and leaves with stickles and some gems.

I cut a double frame from a dark purple and lilac cardstock and repeat stamped the top layers with the leaf from the above Inkadinako set using Hero shadow ink pool, green and blossom. The frame does actually stand away from the stamped piece, but it does not really show up on my picture. I stamped further leaves with the same ink and embossed with detail clear and decoupaged across the bottom of the frame.

Penny Black Challenge

I am Scheduling ahead here, just in case you think I am posting at 6am having just made this card.......I might be an early bird, but until those Espressos kick in not to much creative activity takes place beyond some blog hopping.......sort of wakes me up slowly.

The theme at Penny Black this week is "Hearts Desire - you can interpret this weeks challenge as you please...heart ~ papers, embellishments, text..or just a card for the one you love...its entirely up to you. Unlike my Allsorts teamie Jules where the whole heart thing comes naturally (apart from the odd slip up ah Jules !) I had to think hard about this one, then inspiration arrived in the form of one of my very favourites, Penny Black 2695J, Dance, Sing, Love.......I am hoping that last work is adequate to fit the theme this week.

I cut the card from cricut Wild Card and stamped the sentiment with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear. The swirls are from Inkadinkado 97513 stamped in exactly the same way, then I shaded the edges of the inner circle with Hero shadow ink soft pool, added flowers, leaves cut with L-Em punch, punched out butterflies, ribbon and pearls to embellish.

Stamping for the Weekend

Sunday morning and it looks and feels distinctly like Autumn, so guess no Indian summer for us this year........despite Nasser bigging it up on behalf of the BBC weather men when he was talking about the ODI's over the next couple of weeks - sorry folks, I am talking cricket here. And to think we lost out by just four runs Friday, that old saying should try harder comes to mind.......but lets not forget we won the Ashes, so figure we need to let the Aussies have a little something to ease their wounds.

On to crafty things and my card for this weeks Stamping for the Weekend, with Mr Mojo on go slow the last few days I confess I found this one tough and this is in fact my third attempt, no idea what my problem was as it's a gorgeous colour combo - "Orange, Teal and Pink".

Eventually I settled on this one using a piece of My Minds Eye DP which carries all three colours as the base onto an orange card. The next layer is a piece of my favourite linen cardstock stamped all over with Hero Arts CL2365 French Writing using Tim Holtz scattered straw, which I also used to distress the edges after I had given them a good 'duffing up' (that's one our Fen sayings). The leaves are stamped in versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear are from Hero CL338, as is the sentiment in the corner.

The three flowers and acetate overlays were cut on Cricut Home Decor from Bazzil cardstock, shaded round the edges and then I stamped the three acetate flowers with Hero H3317 Delicate Weave using Stayzon timber brown. To finish I added buttons and raffia and some 'curly bits' with the offcuts from the main card.

Rosie Dees challenge

Time for the reveal of my card for Rosie Dees challenge and a sneak peek of my project for the new challenge which goes live this evening - don't forget too check it out and do have a go, the Design Team really enjoy popping over to your blogs to have a look and leave you a few words.

For my card, which I confess is a rather quick one this week, following the colour theme of pink, brown and yellow I have used Stampendous N152 stamped onto brown cardstock with versamark and embossed with pink embossing powder. The striped DP is one of the new ones in the Magenta Tilda range which had some really pretty pastel designs as well as some lovely blues and browns. The borders are cut with Martha Steward doily lace punch and flowers, ribbon and gems added to embellish.

Friday Sketchers

I'm so thrilled as I won the candy at Friday Sketchers, $30 of stamps - my choose - from Verve stamps, so a big thank you to all. And this week Heidi has given us another super sketch to follow.

The finished article is a bit busy compared with my norm, but I think it has a sort of Victoriana feel to it and it's growing on me. I used a stamp I have had for ages but rarely used, it is Great Impression H133 which I stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear, then coloured the butterflies with Promarkers. The DP is from Kaiser and the butterflies made using my Xcut punch using some scraps of checked vellum which seem to be made for this DP as the colours match so well. I added some lace, made wire antenna for the butterflies, layered them and added Distress Stickles for the thorax. The greeting is from a clear Hero set, but afraid I don't have the code.

Allsorts challenge

Wow don't the weeks fly by, it's week 17 already at Allsorts and the theme this week has been set my my teamie Debs who is looking for "Something for the Boys". Now all us crafters always complain that cards for men are difficult, so we are really looking forward to seeing what your creative juices produce.

My DT card uses this cute little owl from Hero Arts A4942 stamped three times and the branch H4946 all stamped with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear over a moon created by sponging through a circle cut into in a piece of copier paper. The leaves and swirls in the corner are from Inkadinkado 98396 and the leaf is from the same set, stamped onto shrink plastic with Brilliance inks. Border and corner are Martha Stewart embossed zigzag and DP's My Minds Eye.......just for a change - I know it's becoming repetitive, but they do have such yummy designs and the quality is superb ! Sentiment is Art Impression G3130 and I added tiny gems for the owls eyes.

Hero monochrome

A really quick share today as my mjosos gone walkabouts, probably because I've got a bit of a bad back, but dare not let the day pass with nothing, so another of those I made for Sir Stampalot.

This is one of he new cling stamps from Hero Arts CO105 stamped twice, once onto black cardstock using versamark and detail white embossing powder and once onto white cardstock using versafine back and detail clear. I cut each piece into three and matched tree pieces together following the pattern of the stamp. Matted simply onto silver mirri and black card then mounted on a shadow card, added gems and a butterfly punched from vellum, lightly shaded round the edges with Hero blossom shadow ink.