Christmas Post

Hi Friends

I do hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas whatever you were doing and if it involved travelling that you managed to safe. We had a quiet one and unfortunately hubby and I have succumbed to one of the Christmas virus's doing the rounds, so not been feeling at our best.

However I have the card I made for my hubby for Christmas to share with you and another on a similar vein for my Mum. Then no more Christmas - on to birthdays and a hopeful Spring around the corner, though I do think we will have to have some snow first don't you?

So for my final post (Christmas or otherwise) for 2013 - here we are.

 

 

The paper was from LOTV, one of their 8x8 pads -Krafty Christmas. I love this pad and it goes so well with  Kraft card. The stamp is Stampendous Christmas Post which I stamped with Versamark and then embossed with detail white powder. I added frontage around the edge in white and a hint of blue and then mounted it on cream card. The snowflake  is Spellbinders Create a Flake 3, the deer from Spellbinders Frosty Forms and the label is Spellbinders Fancy Tags. A touch of glamour dust in various places and a bit of inking on the reindeer!
The wooden holly embellishment came (I think) from Hobbycraft and I edged it with a white pen though it does not show on the photograph.

The one for Mum is very similar, same techniques but I used a bit of pink frontage ( though you can't tell) instead of the blue. I offset the layering and I think the snowflake may have  a bit of Spellbinders Create a Flake 4 in it. The label this time is Spellbinders Ribbon Banners.

Right that's it folks, but I would just like to say a big Thank You to everyone who takes the time out to visit my humble little blog and make it all worthwhile. It is so much appreciated. Without you I would not continue to blog and have the chance to make friends with such nice people.

I hope you all enjoy the New Year whatever way you 'see it in' and wherever you are in the world. Keep safe and we will chat again next year! and before you ask -NO resolutions for me this time then I can't break them!!
Wishing you all a Peaceful, Happy and Healthy 2014.

Crafty love and hugs
Carole xx

Tattered Poinsettia

Hi Friends
Time for a Christmas card in traditional colours. I love all the different colours of Christmas but to me red, gold and green really spell it out to me.

I used the Tim Holtz (Sizzix) Tattered Poinsettia die an the corresponding embossing folder to emboss when I had cut it out, layered up and a nice sparkly in the middle. A stamped greeting and job done!
Are you ready yet then? I'm almost there, just finished hubbies card. I have chosen to abandon the other bits I was going to do - maybe do early for next year! - he hem !
Have a good weekend everyone and don't get flattened in the last minute Christmas rush!

Hugs Carole xx

Seasons Greetings

Hello Friends!
   A fairly quick post as I still have so much to do and so little time!  Me too I hear you cry! - so if you are reading this then many thanks for making the time to do so.

Todays card is a bit of a play with Uniko Studios -  Background Builders Round in Circles.

I decided to stamp the circle strip several times in the shape of a tree, and then bling it with stickles.
I needed to cover the top where the stamping overlapped and looked a bit cluttered, so I cut a star from glitter paper. Just the job! A simple stamped greeting just finished it off - it looked bare without.
It grew on me the more I looked at it as I am still experimenting a bit with these minimalistic looking cards, anyway I like it now. How about you?
You would make my day if you would leave me a comment to let me know, and many thanks to those that left me one on my last post. It really does make a difference.

I hope to be back again before Christmas -time willing , but Seasons Greetings in the meantime to each and everyone out there who is kind enough to read my blog. Take care and enjoy all the festivities.

I am going to enter this in Uniko Studio challenge  NO5 - Christmas or Winter Holiday

Quick 'Thank You'

Hi Friends.
Saturday again! where has the week gone?
Anyway a quick thank you card today and it was quick for me for a change. I didn't mess around for too long!

Sorry about the shadow across the picture.
I followed a sketch for 'Seize the Sketch 9' and punched a circle to the right of he card and slightly off and then stamped Beautiful Blooms from Uniko Studio (I love this stamp) onto the inside, through the aperture with rose memento ink and added a bit of glamour dust - got to have a bit of sparkle! and a touch of stardust stickles round the scallops. The greeting again from Uniko Studio -
 All Occasion Sentiment set 3 was then stamped with black Versafine  and hey presto - job done!
Very quick for me.
I shall enter this in the Seize the Sketch 9 challenge.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, we are tree trimming!

Hugs Carole

'Tree of Life'

Hi friends.
Just a quick card from me using the  'Tree of Life' stamp from Inkylicious. I bought this at the Dome so I made a couple of quick (for me anyway) cards in two different colour ways.

The card was also a pack that I bought at the Dome - a nice size. I cut a circle with a Spellbinders die and coloured the background with Pan Pastels, then I stamped the image. I used the little couple stamp that comes with the tree. There is also a little person on a swing.
Final touches were a touch of glamour dust on the tree and platinum liquid pears round the edge of the card. I left a greeting off so it could be adapted for any occasion by stamping inside the card.
Here is the other colour version.

I think I like the red one best.Which do you prefer?

That's all for now. I am celebrating a special birthday this weekend -groan - but looking forward to seeing the family - a rare occurrence these days now they are grown and leading their own lives. It makes what time you do have with them all the more precious and special though.

Hope your weekend is a good one too. Take care.

Crafty hugs
Carole

40 days!!

Hi friends - that's 40 days till Christmas and despite  my New Years Resolution for 2013 (that failed miserably in January) I still have to get really stuck into making my Christmas cards! There always seem to be something else to do! The craft room has just become a dumping ground because most unlike me nothing seems to have been put away recently( I am usually a neat freak) and I feel I have a need to get in there and have a good sort before I can make even more mess. Does anyone else know that feeling?

Anyway, here is one Christmas card I have managed.

When I saw this stamp I just couldn't resist it. I think it is called scenic Christmas Bauble and it is from Creative Expressions - -stamps to die for. I cut the co-ordinating mat fro Spellbinders Heirloom Ornaments 2011 in black . The background I embossed with a snowflake embossing folder. You cannot see it very well in the photo but there is glamour dust on the image for that snowy sparkle. I added the bows for a finishing touch. I normally would raise the image or the mat to give a bit more dimension but I realised that if it were to be posted, then flat is better both practically and cost wise. Quite a quick and effective card which I am sure would look good in other colour combinations too.

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to peek. Also thanks to those who leave such nice comments and to my new follower, it is so nice to have blogging friends and cheering to know I am not just talking to myself. It makes my day if you leave me a comment.

Hope you all have a nice weekend whatever you may be doing - maybe I will make a start in the craft room - not promising though!
Take care
Carole

"Chevrons"

Hello friends.
Hope you all had a good weekend and managed to make the best of the inclement weather, and the extra hour! It still goes all too quickly doesn't it!

Well CAS card from me today. one I made for my sons birthday a couple of weeks back-he asked if I ran out of time making it! -cheek! it actually took me a day to come up with it - I know -how you may ask, but I am well out of my comfort zone here and tried to take a bit of inspiration from blogland - they always seem to get it right out there -and they know who they are!

So here it is! sorry it looks a bit distorted in the photo.

I used Uniko studios Background Builders -  Chevrons, and the sentiment was from their All Occasion Sentiments 2 set.
I had a bit of trouble lining up the chevrons for the repeat and when it was done it all looked a bit flat so out came the quickie glue pen and the glamour dust. I was a lot happier with it then, the sparkle seemed to bring it to life

Perhaps the experts out there might like to give me some tips, they would be much appreciated as are any comments that anyone cares to leave. They make my day! Thank you..

Well time is pressing, lots to do and I want to make it a productive day today - my aim for all week - I have shed loads on my list but somehow the umph! is not as good as it should be. Know the feeling?

Take care friends and have a good week.
Hugs
Carole xx

Vines of Passion

Hi friends.

Back with an anniversary card! I wanted something fairly quick as I seem to have been so busy of late and not organised with those cards we know a year in advance we shall need! having said that it took me a whole day to get to grips with this! Why can I never make a quick card?

I used spellbinders Vines of Passion and just cut the inner heart from the pearlescent card and then backed it with white glitter card.
The banner is also Spellbinders - ribbon banners with a stamped message, and raised on foam pads for a bit of dimension.
I added a bit of glitter to add to the sparkle, and a flower.
Short and sweet.
Hope everyone is surviving all this wet. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look and a special thank you to those who have left comments on my posts, they are greatly appreciated.
Take care,
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Blackboard and Chalk

Hi Friends.

It was one of our friends 60th Birthdays a couple of weeks back. She is a teacher and has a love of pigs - remember the cake I did back in July? for her and her husbands joint celebration.
So I thought I would have a go at creating a 'blackboard' - the kids of today won't have a clue what one is I suppose.

Here's the card.

 

I created the background paper by stamping the 60 repeatedly with Versamark and embossing with WOW white fine detail powder. then I blended distress inks-Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Shaded Lilac, and Dusty Concord over the top, and then mounted the piece on black card. The whole thing was then mounted on my base card.

 I punched a hole in the top right and added a brad ready for the string from the chalk, which my hubby - bless him drilled with a fine drill so that I could thread the string through the chalk. I made a little cone from card for the chalk to sit in and a strap and it was secured on the inside of the card with tape, but covered by the insert.

The Blackboard was made by die cutting two pieces of card and gluing together for added thickness. I then gave it two coats of Blackboard paint (Hobbycraft finding) and left it to dry while I made the frame from the same die(sorry can't remember which one) but a larger size.

A die cut pig and added some glitter glue and then made -a Box!

 

 

 

The box lid was embossed with the Spellbinders A4 garden Lattice folder and then decorated with bits from Floral Ovals, Jewel Flowers and Flourishes and Create a Flake 3 (not just for Christmas).

 

Job Done!

 

Thanks for stopping by  - hope you like what you see and if you do I would love for you to leave me a comment.

Enjoy your week - I should be sat by a pool somewhere sunny(hopefully) when you read this!

Take care friends.

Carole xx



Keepsake Wedding Card

Hi friends.
Last in the wedding series today - the card! Quite a few pictures so get comfy.
It is 8inches square and a trifold created with two cards stuck together.

 



I covered the front of the card with some lovely silk shimmery paper and cut out a heart aperture with a Spellbinder Heart Die.

 

 

 

Then I cut a heart in acetate ,big enough to cover the 'hole' and stuck it to the inside of the card. I then made two heart frames to cover the edges both on the inside and outside of the card.

The wedding rings were cut with a Marianne Die from satin silver card so that they looked like Platinum and I adhered to the acetate with a little Cosmic Shimmer glue - great glue -dries clear.

 

 

I cut two of the lovely triangles from Spellbinders  Gold Elements One and glued them on the back return flap to add a bit of interest when the card was opened. These could not be seen when the card was closed thus leaving nothing showing behind the acetate. The sentiments were computer generated and matted on the same paper used on the front of the card.

 

 

 

 

 

The front of the card was embellished with die cut flowers and pearl swirls and the 'Wedding Congratulations' was a stamp that I had in my collection and I used WOW Platinum embossing powder to emboss with.

 

I them had to make a box as there was no way I was going to squash it in an envelope! so I used some patterned shimmer card for the lid, and added ribbon and two pearl hearts across the corners and

here it is displayed with one of the spare sugar flowers.

 

 

That's the end of the wedding posts, next time we are back to Birthday cards!

 

I hope that after my holiday next week I can get back into some more general card making and perhaps I should make a start on those Christmas cards that have never materialised monthly!

I also need to sort out the craft room and do a 'Stock take ' I think. I have forgotten half of what I have and I have some lovely new stamps from Uniko and Indigo Blu and LOTV that I want to play with and...................I could go on but I am sure you know what I mean.

 

Till next time  -Thanks for looking, take care and thank you to anyone who takes the time to leave me a comment.

 

Crafty hugs

Carole xx



Wedding Cake

Hi Friends.
Hope you are all well. It's a bit grey and miserable here to day and a sign that Autumn is upon us as  the trees are turning to their lovely reds and browns. Ready for a few pictures? Get comfy!

Well here is the cake that took a lot of my time -and love this summer. It travelled well to the wedding, and safely I am pleased to say. The whole of the car boot was taken over with the cake!

 

Very traditional in design , 3 tiers of fruit cake, covered in marzipan and ivory icing. The bottom tier weighed "a ton" to quote my hubby who had to do the lifting! Apart from the ribbon round the base of each cake everything was made from sugar. More pictures below to show the detail better.

 

 

I have to say that I was really pleased with the lace as it just looked like material.

 

 

I took a couple of spare flowers with me but fortunately I didn't need them.

Now for a picture of the "Happy Couple" - perhaps not the best- needs a bit of photo shop but that's not my department! I do well to get them on the blog! It seems to take forever!

and the actual place they were married

With a lovely view, and the sun shone.

    OK folks , hope you have had a little taste of what we enjoyed on the day. Please pop back soon for the wedding card.! Last in the series -!!

Hugs xx Carole

 

"CELEBRATE"

Hi Friends.

Well we are back from the wedding so now I can begin to share with you all that has kept me busy over the last few months. All went well on the "big day" I am pleased to say and the weather was kind to us. It rained the day before and the day after but the day of the wedding was dry and sunny although very windy and a tad nippy. The wedding was outside overlooking the sea in Ilfracombe - Devon. It was a beautiful setting. Hopefully some pictures of that when we get them off the cameras!
So first up the invites .
Idea and colour scheme by Iain and Nicole - executed by moi!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that came the favour boxes and place cards- my design this time, and I decided that I would incorporate the name tags on the boxes in case we sat outside and it was windy and then they wouldn't blow away!

 



 

 

I used Square bracket Edge Box die from Spellbinders and the label is a D-Lites die from Spellbinders - Ornamental Tags One. Plenty of arm exercise with the Grand Calibur! The use of wax paper helped immensely when cutting the tags and it somehow seems to 'season' the die at the same time. After filling the boxes the tags were attached with tiny foam pads.


That's the first instalment - thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop by for the next instalment.
Off to make a box for a birthday card that I have made - oh and catch up on some chores and washing. Got to make the most of this sunshine - Autumn is round the corner I fear.

Have a good weekend and take care.
Hugs
Carole x

 

Anyone who had a heart!

Hi friends!

Do you remember that song? I think it was Cilla Black back in the -mmmm- showing my age again! We won't go there.

Well one week to go till the wedding. The cake is all finished now and has kept me pretty busy of late. Just got to transport it to Ilfracombe in one piece now. (photo of that after the wedding).
Only the wedding card left to do!

So as a memento of the occasion I bought a wooden heart and jazzed it up as a keepsake! A bit of home décor.
Here it is -

 

I Had bought some Indigo Blu products to try so I first painted it with white Gee-Sso -Good - brilliant coverage, let that dry, it didn't take long and then added a touch of a pale pink acrylic paint in places.

Next out came the Flitter Glue and gilding flakes along with the Vintage Flourish stamp and I added that top and bottom. The lighthouse was stamped onto tissue and cut around and then carefully separated so that I had one ply and I attached it with Slap-it -on. - A big Thank You to Kay from Indigo Blu for those instructions. The wedding rings are a stamp from my stash - embossed in WOW Platinum and the words were all stamped in Archival black ink.

 After all that I decided to add some frantage as the rocks round the lighthouse, first applying Flitter Glu to protect the underneath layer. It worked well.

 

 

The lighthouse has significant memories for Iain and Nicole - they got engaged at one in Australia and will be married at Ilfracombe on the coast here.

 

A bit of ribbon to hang it with and all done. I added this to a keepsake box that I have bought them - more about that another day.

Hope you like my creation, I am quite pleased with my first venture into such things.
Have a good weekend, weather not too promising I fear.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx
 

 

"Piggin" Birthdays!

Last week saw me busy with a Birthday cake for friends who had a joint 60th celebration! One birthday was back in July and the other is still to come in September, a married couple so I had to be careful not to make it look like an wedding anniversary cake for 60 years!
She(Helen) likes pigs (hence the blog post title) and he(Steve) likes mini cars - so the colour scheme was born of pink and green and a two tier sponge cake. I decided on polka dots and I made a large 60 for the top of the cake, a pink sugar pig - and bought the mini- I just hadn't the time to make one! Steve used to own a racing green mini in his erm dare I say younger days! - hence the green choice.

It says Happy Birthday on the top, sorry that doesn't show on the picture, and their names on the bottom tier.
A good time was had by all at the "do" and they were very pleased with the cake - thank goodness! It tasted good too - I don't always get to try my creations!

So I have had no time for paper crafting and the wedding cake was side-lined for a few days - so back to the grind once more and up to my elbows in marzipan and icing. The kitchen smells lovely!

Will be back soon with the start of the wedding peeks so please stop by again, and if you would like to leave me a comment it would be vey much appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to drop in!
Take care friends.
Carole xx

Early baby!

Where is the time going? Into August already. My sons wedding in September is keeping me busy (will soon be able to show you what I have been up to!) and last week my best friend from Blackpool came over for a few days to take me to get my outfit for the wedding. Dress sorted but still the shoes (and I need comfortable shoes so not easy I have to say), bag etc to get now.
Anyway while my friend was here she received news that her grandchild (due end August) was on the way  -  a month early! - so - she needed a special card, and what better way than to get her involved in the making. She is not a crafter, has never stamped or crafted before so we set about and this is what she did with a little help from yours truly, matting and cutting.

All the stamping. colouring and choice of papers was down to her, also she decided where she wanted the placement of things .(we knew it was a boy and would be called Oliver by the way). So I think she did a great job for a first attempt and the best bit was that she really enjoyed it! She didn't think she could do it, and she fell in love with the Grand Calibur when she cut the circles. If she was nearer I think I could convert her to a crafter.!

Oliver was born weighing 6lb 6ozs - mother and baby doing well, and Grandma over the moon!

That took us quite a while so not a lot of time left for me to make a card so mine was a quick one courtesy of LOTV using the new sentiments that I had bought, some Spellbinder dies, a bit of inking and an embellishment from my stash.




Right well lots to do with the rest of August - cakes! so best get on with it all and will be back when I have something more that I can share with you.
Thanks for stopping by and I would love for you to leave me a comment if you have the time.
Take care
Hugs xx

Another big Birthday

Hi Friends.
Hasn't the weather been gorgeous? Hope it stays a bit longer, though the gardens could do with a drink! I have been making the most of the sunshine in between everything else on my "to do " list, but the clear blue skies forecast for today are somewhat cloudy here in West Yorkshire. It's still hot though - so time for a quick post, a few chores and then a cuppa in the garden!

It's a male Birthday card for my hubby's friend who is reaching that big 60 this week. Men's cards are always difficult unless they like the usual football, golf etc. so I am really pleased with the large everyday sentiment stamps (set 43) from LOTV as they are good for male or female.
So here we are! --again!!

 

I cut an A5 card in half across the middle to make two landscape cards with the fold to the left and die cut a circle with a Spellbinder die. I also cut the same circle from black card. I then stamped the birthday wording with Versamark and embossed with black WOW embossing powder. I have a box full of embossing powders that I have had for years but I always seem to reach for the Wow ones at present. 

 

I then closed the card and stuck the black circle on to the back through the front aperture to be sure it lined up and finished with a die cut 60 and some bakers twine.

 

I also made one in red as I wasn't sure which hubby would choose for his friend -- he went with the  black and white, so I have left the circle blank on the red one to be personalised at a later date.

 

 

Which do you prefer?

I promise to bring you something different next time!

 

Stay safe in the sun friends and enjoy your week.

Hugs

Carole xx

"Bottoms Up"

Hi Everyone
Well what a big surprise this week to win the monthly challenge on LOTV ! The big decision was which set of stamps to choose as I love them all. In the end I have plumped for a set of the large sentiments -  Statements -Congratulations. I already have the Birthday set - so useful, on trend, that little bit different and great for a quick card - unisex too. So when the postie brings - watch this space for a creation.
Thank you too, to everyone who has taken the time to stop by, leave a comment and their good wishes. it is truly appreciated.
LOTV are doing a blog hop today so do hop over and join in for some lovely inspiration from their fab design team, and prizes along the way.

 At last I have managed something new to share. It's actually a card for a friends husband in a couple of weeks but they won't peek so I think I can share it, and it uses one of those large Statement stamps I have just been talking about!

 

In my mind I knew I wanted a backing paper with beer glasses on it and was so sure that I had some amongst my papers, but of course I couldn't find any so I had to resort to a bit of computer crafting and create my own. This was then matted and layered on to a card base. The sentiment was coloured with Whisper markers and stamped,( don't forget the huffing technique) then die cut with Spellbinders Basic Rectangles and layered on the brown card. I used pads to raise it off the background and give a little dimension - sorry you can't see this in the photo.

 

 

The beer glass in the middle of the sentiment is actually floating. I cut out two from spare paper and stuck them back to back on a strip of acetate and attached at the top of the card.

Finally the insert was created from the same backing paper but a lot paler - really washed out in fact and a computer generated sentiment. I stuck another beer glass on for good measure!

 

 

I am quite pleased with the finished result. What do you think? I would love for you to leave me a comment and let me know.

 

I think I can safely say that it has taken me longer to write this post than make the card!!! The gremlins from blogger got in and no matter how hard I tried to upload that last picture it turned it through 90 degrees every time! Anyway got there in the end thank goodness. Hopefully I will enter this card in the Paper Take Weekly challenge -Anything goes - if the gremlins let me!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend -apparently it will be summer (I will wait and see on that one I think)

 

Crafty Hugs xx

 Carole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filigree Heart

Hi there friends.
Just a very quick post and nothing new to show today.
 I  had knee surgery last week so haven't as yet got back to the crafting, just watching it on the telly!! and it's Christmas on the telly but - not yet -  not here it isn't! - though to look outside you wouldn't think it was summer either.
So while I am still manoeuvring crutches just thought I would post something I did quite a bit ago before I ventured into blog land.
A simple Anniversary card using a lovely image from LOTV - Filigree heart.
I coloured it with Copics and matted and layered with Spellbinders labels 24(I think).

 

A bit closer - sorry I really must sort this photo thing.

 

 

Well hope you all have a good weekend doing nice things - mine will be spent putting my feet up! Lets hope the sun shines for us and we can sit in the garden - I don't like being under house arrest!
My hubby has been amazing this week, doing all the chores and meals and generally looking after me.--aaahhhh
Thanks for stopping by - take care
Hugs xx

Starting Anew!

Starting anew is a bit like the feeling we get at New Year I think when we all make those resolutions to stick to - and seldom do - yes I know I still have not made a Christmas card and we are  6 months in to the year! so a Birthday is the next best start - hence a birthday card again.



 

(Sorry not a very good picture - something else on the to sort list!)

 

I used some of the new LOTV stamps on this one -boy are they lush - and too many to choose from. I stamped the rose from the Flora and Fauna backgrounds stamps onto some Melissa Francis patterned paper form my stash, and heat embossed in WOW superfine platinum powder and then lightly coloured with distress inks(spun sugar and worn lipstick), and  a tiny bit of glamour dust for that added sparkle.

 The corner was from another LOTV stamp plate already in my stash (sorry can't remember the name).Tags were from another new set and they were given the same treatment as the main image and then cut out and attached to the ribbon. The sentiment was stamped again onto the patterned paper and cut out with a Spellbinder die and mounted on pale pink card and 3D foam pads for a bit of dimension.

I really am in love with all these new stamps from LOTV!

Butterfly blinged a little and added to corner. ( I think this is a Martha Stewart monarch.)

 

 

A bit of a close up to try and show it a bit better.

 

I thought I might enter this in the monthly LOTV challenge which is "Use a Sentiment" (that is if I can work out how to link it!) .

 

I hope you like and thank you for stopping by. I would really appreciate your feedback.

 Have a good week.

 

Hugs Carole xx

"It's Official"

Hi friends, hope you are enjoying the sunshine - long may it last.
A quick stop by today as I have a busy day as my Mum is celebrating her 93rd birthday, and I am expecting her for tea today! hence the card - a little bit different in the colours I usually do pink and the like for mum.

 

I decided to use some un-inked rubber - the blazing poppy from Indigo Blu and the sentiment is one of the new ones from LOTV - I just love all their new release. I used a shaped card from Craftwork Cards and die cut the mat and layers with a Spellbinder grand die that came with my Grand Calibur when I bought it. It seemed to match to the card pretty well. I stamped the image in black and then softened the white background with a pale blue and yellow pan pastel. I realised then I should have done it the other way around but quite liked the softened look on the image. The image was painted with Twinkling H2o's and the sentiment added (the right way round this time so I kept the black). The Mum bit is a rub on because I didn't have the right sized letters to stamp it - typical all that stash and still not just what I need!

I did the inside to match instead of an insert but just stamped the image in grey and no colour and Happy birthday replaced the sentiment.

 

 

 

You can just get the idea from this photo but of course silly me had written the card before taking the photo so you will have to imagine the rest! -sorry. One of these days I will get all this photo taking and blogging thingy, I am getting there slowly! Let's hope she likes it!

 

Right away to bake a Victoria sponge now (mum doesn't like icing ) so no fancy stuff!

Enjoy your day and thank you for joining me - I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and leave your comments.

Have a super weekend in the sunshine - might see you at the Dome Doncaster on Sunday!

Hugs

Carole xx

 

PS Sorry the pics are so small but if I do larger they overlap the writing in the side bar  - something else I need to sort out how to do!

A lot of white!

Hi and a very big welcome to all and especially  to my first two followers. I am so chuffed to think I am worthy of your time in stopping by and taking a look at my artistic (well sometimes) offerings. Thank you so much it is greatly appreciated and thanks too to those that have left comments. I really like to know what people think and I don't feel that I am just talking to myself all the time!

I had a lovely afternoon at LOTV on Saturday at their open day and met some really lovely people - they know who they are - a special hello. It is so nice to chat and compare notes with like minded people and make new friends.
I was also able to put faces to names of some of the design team and watch them at work - and wow all different in style but so talented.

The new release was awesome - too much choice and not enough pennies sadly. So well done and thank you to all at LOTV for wonderful stamps and a brilliant day.

Right onto a very quick card - a lot of white and well out of my comfort zone. Sadly on occasion these card are required though - Sympathy that is.

An oval cut in a spare piece of card and used to ink through with distress ink and then the flower stamped in black archival along with the sentiment. A very quick one layer card. I thought afterwards perhaps it should have been a circle and not an oval. What do you think?

It's been a nice day here today, lets hope summer is with us at last.
Take care friends
Crafty hugs xx
Carole

Here at last!

Hi ! I'm back! - No I haven't been on holiday, I think the mojo has, but hopefully coming back refreshed from wherever it has been.
I have been busy though - making favour boxes this time for - you guessed it my son's wedding later this year. I expect to be kept busy between now and then with "card and cake" in various stages. All will be revealed in September after the wedding.

So did you all have a good Bank Holiday and enjoy the sunshine? back to winter here yesterday and today no better. Pouring with rain and quite cold. I am sure fed up with this British summer.

On to a card then, a quick one made from scraps basically but nice and summery in it's feel.

 

 



The background was a plain piece of copier paper that I embossed in my Grand Calibur with the A4 Spellbinders "Garden Lattice" folder and wow how that alters such a plain piece of paper so dramatically. No need for expensive backing papers! -- so why do I have a room full? You know why!

 I gently inked with Milled Lavender Distress Ink to highlight the embossing.

 

The image is a Pink Petticoat stamp the was free with a recent magazine. I stamped in black memento and coloured with Copics. A little glitter to highlight and some faux stitching with a black fine liner. This was then layered on to some purple pearlescent card.

 

The little tags are from LOTV - so useful this set and fastened together with a dragonfly brad from my stash and then fixed to the corner of the topper. All mounted on thin foam pads for a bit more dimension.

Here is a close up of the topper.

 

 

 

I try so hard to keep things one dimensional for the post, but seldom succeed.

 

I added a verse inside and there it is all set to pop in the post box. 

 

Let me know what you think, I love and appreciate any comments you might leave and thank you for taking the time to stop by.

 

Hugs x Carole

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!

Hello Friends.

Today is the birthday of my eldest son - Happy Birthday Andrew! and here is the card that I have made for him.

I decided to try clean and simple as he likes the minimalist look, inspired by Chrissie on her "Simply One of a Kind" blog. The next problem was what to put on it - don't we always have a problem with men's cards!
I decided on a shirt stamp that I had from way back, BUT guess what - That's right I couldn't find it! perhaps I dreamt I had it. Anyway on rummaging through all my lovely wooden mounted stamps I came across this one of a sports car  - an Anita stamp I think. It has a greeting across the bottom but I masked that off and decided to go with it. ( I also found a lot of other beautiful stamps that I had forgotten about in the process and promised myself I must use them soon - some have never seen an ink pad)!!
The embossed strip is from a Spellbinders M-Bossability - Kicking rubber. These folders are fabulous. I mounted it on red to give an edge top and bottom and to match the car that I stamped in festive berries distress ink and embossed with clear powder. I then cut it close to the image and mounted on the embossed panel.
The sentiment was a mixture of two different stamps from my stash, stamped and embossed the same as the car.
An insert and greeting inside - and job done. Quick when you have the idea. It took longer to think about it all.
Hope he likes it!

Enjoy your Bank Holiday and the sunshine too if the forecast is correct.
Crafty Hugs Carole

Think Pink!

Hi Friends!
I have been busy busy but alas nothing to show - that's new anyway. I have been baking wedding cakes (fruit) for my youngest son's wedding in September - all done and wrapped and maturing now, and also been making their wedding invitations, so as I say busy but all under wraps at present till later in the year.

So -- its a card from a while back that you have not seen and that I did for someone's special birthday. This particular recipient likes shopping and pink, and always wanted a pair of pink shoes! I don't know if she ever got them.

I used some of my Craftwork Cards papers for this card along with a stamp I had in my stash. I used Copics to colour the image and a little distress ink to highlight the die, cut from a Spellbinders Oval.  The pink shoe was also something that I had collected along the way knew it would come in sometime - like we crafters do- never throw anything away! You can just see a little shoe brad at the top of the sentiment on the tag as well.

I die cut the 50 and also the flowers  and stamped the Happy Birthday and then cut it the banner shape and added a touch of Craftwork Cards candy to finish.
Could this possibly be me shopping for an outfit for the wedding? NO I'm not that thin and certainly it will not be a trip to Paris to buy one!

Thanks for stopping by. I'll try not to leave it as long next time.
Hugs
Carole