Wednesday 30 November 2016

Magazine freebies


I'm hoping the free gifts on this magazine (which I  couldn't resist) will help me create some quick and simple cards tomorrow evening to add to my collection.

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Guide us to thy perfect light

We Three Kings, also known as The Quest of the Magi is based on a story from the Bible, telling of men who traveled a long distance (most likely from Persia), guided by a star to see the child Jesus, the promised Messiah. 

I've been making more boxes to hold tea lights in for the craft fayre on Saturday.  The boxes are smaller than the previous ones I made and only hold four tea lights (not five which my previous ones held) in but they fit more snuggly.  I'm sorry Chris but I found the tutorial by Linda Parker You Tube 

I still need to add some decoration and a sentiment to the lid.

Monday 28 November 2016

Tagging along


We were a member of staff down today so work was a little busier than usual, it was good to get home.  I've been busy making gift tags for the Christmas Fayre which is this Saturday - yikes! So much more to try and make but I am sure it will all be good in the end.

Here are three designs I've come up with using SU's Cookie Cutter stamp set and coordinating punch.


I have also borrowed the tree stamp and die set from Moya so must get lots cut out tomorrow evening so I can return it to her on Wednesday.  The tags are a great way of using up some of my scraps.


Sunday 27 November 2016

A commissioned card


I was asked to make a 65th birthday card by a colleague at work, the brief was the lady likes flowers.  I went to my trusty SU flower stamps with coordinating punches in shades of pink and purple.  The outside border and the centre dies are from a Spellbinders die set which is a NBUS so it was good to finally take it out of its packet.  I've added some gems and glossy accents which has been sprinkled with ultra fine glitter.  The foliage is Tattered Lace dies.  I just need to print out a suitable verse to go on the inside.



Saturday 26 November 2016

Highlights? of the day



Highlights? of our day - breakfast being cooked for us, buying the paint for the living room (the splash of colour will come from the wallpaper on the two recess walls),


  agreeing on the flooring we'd like to go in the front room, finding a fire and surround we both liked,  enjoying a really chilled out day, seeing our eldest son briefly,  enjoying a glass of sloe gin and receiving a couple of photos to remember some fun time with Harlee-Jay yesterday.




Friday 25 November 2016

Nothing to report


It's our youngest sons birthday today so we have been out for a lovely meal with him and his family - hard to believe 26 years have passed since he entered our lives.  He has grown into a wonderful young man and we are truly thankful to be his parents. 

Thursday 24 November 2016

Finding the good



Today was not a good day for crafting - no spare time at all.  However today was a good day as we got our book of vouchers from work to help us save some pennies over the next couple of months as a thank you for the busy time we will have over the next few weeks.

Wednesday 23 November 2016

A day of crafting


I travelled down to Scrapbook Magic today and after the scrapbooking workshop everyone was busy making Christmas cards, gift boxes or decorations.  I think Margaret must have been crafting hard as her face was covered in glitter - as Chris said it was hard to take her seriously with all that glitter on her face.

I've managed to put together some more of the chocolate gift card holders today.  I also managed to come away with some new stamps, a couple of Christmas ones and some new releases from Paper Artsy which will be great for Valentine cards, wedding cards and anniversaries .   Once Christmas is over Valentine's will be the next event to make cards for so I'm thinking ahead.



This evening I have been crafting with friends at Moya's house.  More gift boxes made.  

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Merriest wishes

Glass baubles were first made in Lauscha, Germany, by Hans Greiner (1550-1609) who produced garlands of glass beads and tin figures that could be hung on trees. The popularity of these decorations grew into the production of glass figures made by highly skilled artisans with clay molds.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Christm...

A new stamp set arrived at my house at the end of last week.  Merriest wishes is one of the stamp sets with coordinating dies that I had been looking at quite a lot in the autumn/winter SU catalogue.  I'd resisted for quite a while but after seeing so many pretty cards made with the set I finally succumbed . 



I've used a combination of Pool Party ink and Lost Lagoon cardstock for my colour combination.  Apiece of silver cord and a few gems for a little sparkle and the sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted stamp set . 


Monday 21 November 2016

Another not sure


I finally put together the card I started last Wednesday but I'm not sure about it.  Maybe it's the non traditional colours,  I like the image, patterned paper, etc on their own but put together - mmm?



Onward with the next one.

Sunday 20 November 2016

You can do it


Well done to Andy Murray for not only winning the Barclays ATP Tour Finals but also ending the year as World No.1 beating Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis players ever.  

The walls are starting to dry out nicely in the living room so all being well we can get them painted soon.  A nice walk with Max this morning to collect a parcel from the sorting office and also some time spent with three of our grandchildren.  I even got a little time to make some cards this morning before I had to succumb to an afternoon nap.


Clean and simple was all I  could manage today, my brain couldn't cope with anything else.  The reindeers had been stamped and coloured already so all I had to do was emboss a small piece of white card and add the reindeers.  I added some red glitter glue to their noses and some glossy accents to the antlers.

I'm hoping for a good night's sleep despite an afternoon nap - I am so tired 😴


Saturday 19 November 2016

One to go


A day filled with good things.  We managed to get all the grandchildrens Christmas presents,  Andy Murray beat Milos Raonic fingers crossed he can beat Djokovic tomorrow and remain number 1 and we've just got back from a fun filled and tummy filled evening at one of Vintage Brews Bistro evenings.  Totally shattered now so off to bed for me.

Friday 18 November 2016

Finally got plastered


Yay at last all the walls in the living room have been plastered all we have to do now is wait a couple of days for them to dry out.  Fingers crossed we can start painting the ceiling and walls next week.  Then it will just be replacing all the skirting boards we took off and painting them,  getting a new door, papering the two recess walls, putting down new flooring and finally getting the sofas back in the room!  Somehow I don't think we'll get it all done before Christmas but at least the refurbishment is finally moving forward.






Met up with Colette today and managed to get Christmas presents sorted for Logan, Savannah, Lincoln and Harlee-Jay and Logan's birthday present.  More progress made on Christmas shopping, fingers crossed hubby and I can get the rest done tomorrow and then we just have the wrapping up to do.  No time for crafting today 😔

Thursday 17 November 2016

Progression


I managed to use the coordinating stag dies this morning and aimed to put another set of cards together this morning before going into work.  The time seemed to whizz by though with me taking Max for a walk, chatting to Neil about the plastering and then trying to make the card.  Work was tiring today so I haven't quite finished this design yet, but I'm getting there.





Wednesday 16 November 2016

Poinsettias and stags

A busy day with an early appointment for a routine mammogram this morning - ouch!  When I got home my friend arrived shortly after to make a start on plastering our living room walls - yippee!  Next it was off to take mother food shopping, lovely to be spending time with mum but shame it wasn't something a little more exciting for both of us.


No finished cards this evening but I did get chance to cut out some poinsettias and stamp a few stags for future cards at our weekly craft get together at Moyas.  Hopefully I will get to turn these into cards over the coming days.  The embossing powders from Lindys Stamp Gang   are just wonderful,  a really great shine to them.  I fear I might just have to add to my collection at some point - tut, tut.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Rudolph CASE


I saw this card on You Tube by Susan Levasseur.  I decided to adapt it so it would fit on a 6x6 card base.  I used the papers from SUs Candy Cane Lane DSP along with the Cookie Cutter stamps and coordinating punch.  I've added some glossy accents to the candy and red glitter glue to one of the reindeer noses for some dimension and sparkle.  The main sentiment came from I believe a retired SU stamp set.


I used one of my many embossing folders for the red cardstock after I had punched out the circles.  Love this cute little reindeer.


Monday 14 November 2016

Sweet treats


I've  been working on chocolate treat boxes for the craft fayre this evening.  The instructions can be found on Angelina's blog.  They are quick and easy to put together which is just what I  need at the moment.  Just need to add a sentiment to the front of this one.  These treat boxes also have a slot for gift card to be put in so a dual purpose treat.



Sunday 13 November 2016

A day to remember



Short and sweet today.  I've been watching You Tube again I'm afraid Chris.  I saw this card and thought I'd  create my take on it. I'm not sure how I feel about the finished card but its a few more to add to the collection.  I used my lovely Lindys stamp gang embossing powder (Terra CottaRust) which has a lovely two tone effect for the sentiment.  After stamping the whole card it was covered in Versamark and then Irridescent Ice embossing powder from SU added to give lots of lovely shimmer to the card.



Good news, I found my snowflake die, somehow it had got in with another set of dies I was using. 

Saturday 12 November 2016

It's a mystery



I've been making gift boxes this evening to hold tea lights in which I  can take along to the craft fayre in December.  Hopefully I might sell some to help raise funds for Dog's Trust .   Yesterday I was able to make my first £100 donation to them through the sale of my cards.


The mystery for me this evening is where has the snowflake die gone?  I was working relatively tidily for me and yet it seems to have disappeared.  My desk has been tidied, the bin rummaged through and yet I cannot see it.  Fingers crossed it will make itself visible to me in the daylight hours tomorrow.

Friday 11 November 2016

Naughty or nice


We actually got all our children together for lunch today.  I met up with David and Vicky to open up Theo's savings account.  I had already picked up Colette and Lincoln after collecting Harlee and when Bryan and Ian had finished work they joined us.  We enjoyed one of those rare moments where we could look in pride at how our children have grown and become parents themselves.  Unfortunately it wasn't the whole family together as the other four grandchildren were at school and Tim and little Vicky were at work.


Four more cards made this evening using the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set and matching die for Santa, Greetings from Santa list stamp all from SU and a sentiment from a Clearly Besotted set.  The background paper is SU and the sentiment is cut out using some Tattered Lace dies.  


I coloured the Santa's in using Copics and added some glitter to him to give some sparkle.  The buttons I believe came free with a magazine and have been sat on my workdesk for several weeks so it was great to finally put them to good use.









Thursday 10 November 2016

Finished snowflake cards


I added some pretty silver ribbon and silver mirror card to my inked snowflake cards from yesterday.  Added a sentiment from SU Holly Berry Happiness stamp set and a few sequins and four more cards made to sell.


I plucked up the courage to ask if I could drop a day at work.  There were already 15 hours being advertised within the pharmacy but they'd had no interest.  They have advertised an additional 7 hours which would be my Tuesday hours so fingers crossed they will be able to fill the hours now which means I  will have Tuesdays free.


Wednesday 9 November 2016

New tool


I've spent some of this evening playing with the new sponge brayers that I recently purchased from SU.  Before going out this evening for our weekly craft get together I  had already stamped and embossed some cardstock with snowflake images.  I then had the chance to try out the brayers with emboss resist technique.  I've used watercolour cardstock and the ink blended nice and softly with the brayers, I used three different blues.   Tomorrow I will try ordinary cardstock and see how well they work on that.







Tuesday 8 November 2016

Ho, ho, ho


I had to open up today which meant going in earlier than normal, the plus side of this was I was able to leave at 3.15 this afternoon - yay!

I've put together four more cards this time using the detailed Santa die set from SU.  Classic red and white with just a little sparkle on Santa's hat.  The sentiments come from the Greetings from Santa stamp set also from SU.


A relaxing day off work tomorrow, meeting a couple of work colleagues for lunch and then crafting in the evening with my crafting buddies - bliss.  Shock news at work today, our manager has handed in his notice, he'll be leaving in February, we could hardly believe it.  


Monday 7 November 2016

Bedtime reading


Another busy day at work, too tired to craft this evening so I'm just going to continue reading another Agatha Raisin book.



Sunday 6 November 2016

Last year's stamps

The month of November makes me feel that life is passing more quickly. In an effort to slow it down, I try to fill the hours more meaningfully. ~Henry Rollins, "Empowerment Through Libraries," November 2013, LA Weekly



I apologise to those who may now be getting fed up with seeing my Christmas card creations but as they are the ones that are selling so well at Vintage Brew it is the only ones I am getting chance to work on at the moment.  

I've been playing with a set of stamps I bought from SU last year but hardly used apart from making a few tags with them.  I've used the Santa stamp and one of the sentiments from this stamp set along with some sweet papers that I believe came with a card making magazine.  I'm really pleased with myself as I have just five 6 x 6 papers left from the pad and have got lots of cards out of them.


I paper pieced the hat and added some glossy accents to the moustache and bobble of the hat and then covered the glossy accents with glitter to give lots of sparkle to the card.  I was able to make four of these cards.  I have also made eight other cards of a different card in two colourways which I CASE'd from You Tube.  So today I have managed to make a total of 12 cards.


Saturday 5 November 2016

Sunshine


Today was a beautiful sunny autumn day so we decided to take a walk round Saltram.  As we walked along the paths and and out of the slight chilly wind we saw some lovely additions to Saltram - its been quite a while since we have been there.

Where some of the trees had been chopped down they have built The Stack.


Further along on the walk we came across these brightly coloured fungi.


Another addition to Saltram was this which would have looked even more amazing if the tree behind had lost its leaves and the sun had been shining brightly through the glass.


A wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.