Friday, May 14, 2010

Bright and Pretty

We had a birthday in the office on Monday and I made this card for this special young lady. She is sassy and sweet, odd combination, but that is Candice, so I looked for something bright and pretty to use. In the pack of assorted papers I purchased from Paola - lovely selection she sent me - I chose this piece. It was double sided so I thought it a sin to cover the inside so I left it as is and wrote the message straight onto the card. Because this piece was so 'busy' I kept it simple - punched a circle out of the front, tied a ribbon through the hole and around to the front and added a bow. The flower was made out of punched flowers, folded into four and glued onto a base. Bit fiddly, but very pretty and as we all have flower punches, it was another use for them. A bit of bling in the centre as well as on the sentiment strip, which was stamped with a Heidi Swapp stamp, which I love.
I'll be away for a few days, so will catch up with you all soon! Enjoy the week-end!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Hubby's Hobby

Whilst I am busy with all my hobbies, my man is 'fishing'. He has been keeping Koi for many years and it is his passion. It has been a very expensive and painful learning curve and not something you can put down and pick up when the whim takes you. It is a daily - twice a day - hands on hobby. He has built several ponds from scratch and has his eye on the swimming pool now! Well, I have taken over a couple of rooms in the house with all my 'stuff' so I guess I cannot refuse his request. The pool is seldom used, especially since the boys left home and the upkeep and maintenance is very costly. So, if he want to use it to breed his Koi, so be it!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Black & White - again!

I am really into black & white.
I made this card for Sheilah as a return 1-4-1. I used a PSX stamp of Begonias and Versamark Black Ink onto a lovely swirly textured cardstock and mounted it onto black. I then tied the ribbon arrangement around a bigger white piecs of card and mounted it onto the main black card, placing the stamped image on top of this. A few of Paola's black pearls finished it off. Sheilah loves the card!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Teddy Stampers Challenge # 11

This challenge was set by Sharon on the DT at Teddy Stampers. The brief was to use the layout supplied and work with the colours yellow, blue, pink and brown. I stamped my very favorite bear onto cork with Stazon and then cut him out using a deckle edge scissors - this give the roughness which suits the furry edge. I had received a batch of gorgeous paper from Paola and decided to use one of the pieces since it had all the colours required in it. I mounted the square that had been distressed around the edges, onto brown shimmer cardstock and sewed it on. Now anyone who knows me, will understand how difficult it is for me not to be precise in what I do and that is why this was such a challenge, for me anyway! No straight lines here and the ribbon stitched any old how, to suit the shabby chic look I was trying to go for - rather subtle, I'm afraid. Hope you like it!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Socks!!

I have been knitting socks for at least 30 years! I worked with a charming elderly lady all those years ago who used to knit socks for the troops during the last world war and I spent many happy lunch hours with her learning to knit socks and listening to the most interesting stories about her youth, and her interests. The love of knitting socks has stayed with me and I have knitted countless pairs. The socks I enjoyed knitting the most was for my sons when they were small. To actually be able to create such a useful item and then place it on those sweet little feet - priceless. I must say that those feet are not so sweet now days!! These days I only knit for myself, or if a family member requests a pair. I know my Dad needs some, so as soon as I have finished the new pair for myself that are on the needles, I will start on a pair for him. Sock wool is not so easy to get these days, nor cheap  - I am talking good wool - but I will scour the web to find a stockist. I used to use Nomotta but have not had a supplier since the 80's, so need to start looking again. I somehow don't think what I am knitting with now will appeal to Dad!
To all the Mom's out there, a very happy Mother's day. Spare a thought for those of us who no longer have our Mom with us and Mom's who will not be able to share the day with their children because of distance. Enjoy your day and I hope you get spoilt rotten!!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Just a quick one.....

This card was made with leftovers from  a scrapping booklet I made on a course. I loved the colours and managed to use up most of the leftovers and even if I say so myself, produced a lovely, simple card.

Enjoy the week-end and a wonderful Mother's day to all you Mom's. I hope you get spoilt rotten, and if you don't, hook out Dad's credit card and make your day special!!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

ATC - Time 2

This was my second entry into the Time ATC Challenge. I used a stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms and coloured it with Radient Pearls. The clock face was stamped onto gold cardstock using black Staz-on. I fashioned the clock hands out of gold wire, stuck it on with Glossy Accent and popped a Fimo clay rose I had made on top. I did not have a stamp for the "Time" so I masked out the rest of the stamp and managed to get the placement just right in the frame. Took a chance with that as it was the last thing I did on the card and just imagine if it had not worked out??

Monday, May 3, 2010

Engagement Card

We celebrated an engagement this weekend as well as the 18th birthday party. Another piece of paper I fell in love with and decided to use it for this card. Very simple sentiment, but striking I think. I made the rose out of organza fabric - 4 different colours - added a slip of leaf ribbon I bought from the States, bling and the happy couples initials finished it off. I have only just noticed that the bling in the middle of the rose has vanished in this photograph. I was able to stick it back before passing the card on.  Pretty, I thought!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Teddy Stampers Challenge #10

This challenge is for a red and white card. I made an envelope card, which is so very versatile. You can add a gift voucher into the pocket with the message card.
I used plain red cardstock and folded it and did paper pricking onto the flap. I have not done this in years and it was great to revive an old technique. Of course now days, there are some really nice templates, but I still have strips on paper with the patterns on!
I then placed some dp onto the front of the envelope before sticking the flap down. The bear is a digital image called Shy Bears from Squigelfly. I'm just starting to use digis, and must say they are excellent value for money. I coloured the flowers with Copic's and used a Nestabilities die Labels Nine. Love this die, as you can turn it around to suit your image. One way is wider/longer than the other. I coloured the embossed edge with Copics and topped it with Spica Red. The message card is layered and the sentiment is one I use often. Unfortunately I cannot tell you more about it as I bought it so long ago it is no longer in it's packaging. I topped it with a slip of ribbon just to finish it off.
I hope you like it - have a great Sunday!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Lilac Flutterby

My niece had her 18th birthday yesterday. Where have the years gone? I found this lovely paper at the Mall and thought it would be nice to use for her card. I only realised when it was finished that I had not stamped at all! I did however, use my Cuttlebug to cut the numbers and the butterfly as well as the scalloped border with my new Nesties. The butterfly was cut out of a medium weight silver foil, embossed and then painted with a lilac acrylic paint. I left it to dry and then lightly sanded the high spots so that the silver could show through. Here is a closer shot of the butterfly......I then added sheer ribbon, a lovely bow and lots of bling!! Just to add to the girly theme, a gift card to go shopping with, was popped inside!! What more could an 18 year old ask for??