Thursday 22 December 2016

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Hi everyone......oh so good of you to stop by...hic...that's the sherry...shall I pour you one?..lol

Last shares today...two cards on a similar vein, take a look....oh and a cake



The Santa's are from Clearly Besotted as is the sentiment. I am looking forward to Stephanie resuming her shop in the new year as I really like her stamps.

The sentiment is one that I wish to each and every one of you who reads my blog. Thank you so much to those followers and people that leave comments. I love to read them and I feel I have made so many lovely friends through my blog and the power of the internet.
I hope 2017 will see us all carrying on supporting each others wonderful and diverse creative talents.

Now for some cake..............sorry can't cut it yet......actually it's my cheats cake this year as I said before, I have bought the decoration instead of making my own this year. I decided ...no-one is that bothered,so I made smaller cake as it never seems to get cut till New year as everyone is too full after Christmas dinner, and so hubby and I are still eating it at Easter! .......and we wonder why we put on weight ! The fruit cake though has been baked since August!


Well I am all ready now bar the cooking and shouting!! This year will be a Christmas of mixed emotions for us. Happy that we have a special little Grandson Thomas to join us. He is now 10 months old and almost walking!, and I always think Christmas is so special for children although Thomas is a little too young yet to appreciate it all of course...............and Sad in the knowledge that come the end of January sees my son Iain , Nicole and Thomas head for warmer climes to start a new phase of their lives. Nicole is from Australia and wishes to bring Thomas up out there, her family is out there of course too, so our loss will be their gain. Hubby and I wish them well of course but we are going to miss them so very much........so got to make the most of spoiling Thomas this Christmas!!

I wish all my lovely followers a very Happy Christmas whatever you are doing and wherever you are in the world, and may 2017 bring to you and your families, good health and much happiness.

Now more sherry and a mince pie anyone?............oh you have to go...OK.....bye then...see you later. Travel safely.....

Crafty hugs
Love
Carole xx

P.S. Does anyone really still drink sherry these days?

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Seasons Greetings

Good morning!
Back as promised!............I know...I am a bit like a bus...all at once or nothing at all!!

Here is my card that is made from all the off-cuts left over from my other cards so I am running round to the playground with this one, determined to join in the fun and have a mince pie or two while there are some left!


That wonderful Sue Wilson background...again.....over silver mirri card and then the other dies are layered on top.....Sue's again...... the obligatory glitter and the sentiment. I could have made it more dimensional with some 3D foam but wanted it flatter for posting.

So are you all ready for the big day? I am.... apart from the vege and milk!...and...no I will not find anymore jobs to do...oh that reminds me...need to take a photo of the cake......card and cake has to live up to it's name! Have to say I have cheated this year with a bought decoration for the top...just cannot physically craft everything myself unless someone gave us a 48 hour day! and then I am sure we would STILL not have enough time.

OK ...off to find the camera...take care.....be safe if you are out and about and see you tomorrow.......I'll have the sherry ready!...lol

Carole xx

Challlenges entered :-

Pixie's snippets Playground weeks 260 & 261

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Three 'Special cards'

Hi there! Have you time for a cuppa?...no! ..........OK then....  I'll make it snappy.

Today I have a few Christmas Cards to show you now that the recipients have received them......yes I just may be back tomorrow...I know that's a first for me.....I usually only manage once a week......sorry back to today and the cards I have made for the 3 special men in my life.....two sons and hubby....

First up for eldest son and girlfriend...........


Made with love using Sue Wilson dies and Creative Expressions card, it's really twinkly navy though it looks black in the photo..................bad light. The snowflakes...well glittered... are Spellbinders and the embossing folder is Creative Expressions.........if you wish for specifics please e-mail me and I will look up the name....although you probably have it too!

 Secondly for younger son and wife and Thomas....on the same theme but with the snowman.......


this looks paler on here, the turquoise card is abit deeper in real life,

and last but of course not the least......for hubby...... a 3D card (diarama I think it's called)....


this time using stamps and dies by Sheena (Perfect partners)...oh and the background again is a Sue Wilson die with really sparkly silver glitter paper behind. The trees were stamped, coloured with a very pale green copic, fussy cut and layered on to the background and the stag was stamped after he was die cut...he is so regal don't you think?

As you can see there was liberal amounts of glitter used on all three cards...got to have sparkle at Christmas!

OK off to make some soup today...ironing you say?...no...did that yesterday.(smug grin)
Have a good day and I will hopefully see you tomorrow.
Thanks for popping in..........I know you are all busy.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Almost there!

Good morning blogging friends!
11 days to go till the 'big one' !
Are you all ready?
I must admit to still having hubbys card to make...always at the last minute with that one (haven't recovered from making the birthday one yet!) and the cake still needs its marzipan and icing! I can always find something extra to do no matter how organised I am so this year by the weekend...all that is not done will stay undone...........till next year when I do as always mean to start earlier.

OK well........... we are on to a Christmas card........... at last...hurrah I hear you all shout...it will be over (Christmas that is) before she has shown us her makes. Well I do have to wait till the recipients have them just in case they peek at my blog!

A few weeks ago i was lucky enough to have a win in the playground..........a beautiful stag die and some word stamps. here I have used the die............


and another just slightly different


Briefly the stag die is Apple Blossom and the rest of the dies are .............you guessed it.....Sue Wilson. I do like her dies, Oh the snowflake with a liberal dusting of the 'Glamour' is Spellbinders.
I put silver mirri behind the stars background and the glitter which is hard to see I know........is Glamour dust....another of my favourites. The sentiment is an old wooden stamp I have had for...donkeys years!

Enjoy the rest of your week my friends. Thank you for stopping by...I know you are all busy..........but I love it when you knock on my blog door and if you leave me a comment then I know who has called. ..............love to read them!

Take care, stay well adn see you soon.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered.............

Snippets Playground week 259.........my sentiment is stamped on a snippet and the mirri card was snippets too!

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Full Steam ahead!

Hi there friends!
Just whooshing past today with a quick share of hubby's Birthday card ! I am on with the Christmas cards...some (just a few) are done but I cannot share yet......so Birthday card it is.....



Hubby is a lover of steam trains and I have to say quite critical of some of the dies out there.... but he liked this one very much and really loved his card.....so that pleased me   :)
I can't remember the make of the train die (sorry) but I cut it twice in black and in white and slightly off set them so a tinge of white showed. The back layer had to be solid (to show through the gaps) so I embossed in grey (rather than cut) and then fussy cut out the outline so I had a solid shape. (hope you get that).
I used distress inks for the scene and the little trees are Card-io. The sentiments are a mix of dies and the background was embossed with a Sheena texture die and inked ever so lightly just to highlight a bit.

OK full steam ahead for me now...lots to do on that list..........and not a lot crossed off yet!! I do hope you are all well and having a good week. It's been pretty hectic here of late with Birthdays and hubby having holiday from work...back to normal now...normal...whats that? I feel like I am on a treadmill....but not losing the weight!

Thank you so much for stopping by at this busy time, your visit is much appreciated.
See you again soon I hope.
Take care
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered.....

Snippets Playground week 258.............a lot of various sizes used on this card.
Happy Little Stampers.....Anything goes with dies December

Monday 28 November 2016

'Happy Birthday'

Hi friends!
Whoosh...where did the last week go? hectic here with a birthday thrown in to the mix....thank you those that sent me good wishes...they are very much appreciated.

So while the subject is birthdays, here is a one layer card that I had a go at with my new Altenew Peony stamp...super for posting..


and one in another colour......


I love the effect of these layering stamps and even if you don't quite hit the mark when stamping they still look good.

Ok well I must crack on today with those C cards and more importantly hubby's Birthday card...it's a silly time of year for me with birthdays and then Christmas!

Hope you all had a good weekend and that this finds you well and raring to go with whatever you are doing.

Fingers crossed this will post OK as blogger seems to have been meddling again in what 'ain't broke' and in my book certainly I don't like the changes....I have left feedback and urge you to do the same on blogger site...if you feel the same that is!

Thank you for stopping by...I appreciate it very much, and also any comments you leave me...I know it is a busy time of year for everyone...so till next time....be good (well only if you have to)!!
Crafty hugs
Carole xx


Wednesday 23 November 2016

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi there friends.
Just popping by to wish all my lovely blogging friends over the pond...a very Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you have a wonderful time as you celebrate!


Love Carole xx

Friday 18 November 2016

Festive, small, quick and easy!

Good afternoon blogging friends. Hope this finds you all snug and warm and in good health...it's sleeting here and definitely chilly..might be time to dig out the scarf and gloves.

Welcome to my new follower 'Sandma' , we met in the Playground ...hope you pop by often and like what you see! Speaking of the Playground...I was lucky to be a'pick' this week with Mr Gingerbread as was 'Sandma' (take a look)..........and then even luckier to be chosen by 'random org' to win a die and stamps, so looking forward to the postie and an early Birthday present.....sshhhhh.... 21 again next week.........thanks to Di the Playground Supervisor/boss!

Quick card this week.....very quick in fact. I was rummaging (as one does) in a box for a card base and I found this red card blank. It is already embossed with stars round the edge and is only about 3.5 inches square. I had a sentiment die (another Sue Wilson) sitting on my desk that I wanted to try out...and bingo...a first for me...the penny dropped straight away...cut the sentiment out of the middle!


So I did , and then backed it inside with sparkly glitter card. To finish it off glamour dust was applied to a select few stars and taa--daaa job done! very sparkly  IRL . Have to make an envelope to go with it now...did I say quick card?

The sentiment is in a small rectangle as you can see from the embossed edge round it, but the words that fall out (the waste as it were) is a sentiment on its own...hope you are following this...NO I have not been at the Christmas sherry! Do people still drink sherry?...I digress....... Unfortunately I can't find anymore of these cards...just ones with hearts on! I think they were a Craftwork Cards bargain a good while back.

OK better go and get busy.........following on from the last post when the washer was washing, I figured that the dishwasher did the dishes.....OK that's obvious...then I thought hubby should maybe invest in a Roomba automatic vac...you know the sputnic that whizzes off on it own and vacs the house for you while you are crafting or whatever. ........and then I thought why doesn't someone invent a drone that dusts too.....wouldn't be much left to slave over then would there? Jamie Oliver (other chefs are available) would drop in to make dinner! What do you reckon?....lol

Enjoy your weekend folks.....whatever you plan to do, stay safe and lets hope the weather is kind to us all.

Crafty hugs
Carole xx





Thursday 10 November 2016

Gingerbread Man

Good Morning blogging friends. I hope this finds you all fit and well and avoiding those nasty bugs that are floating round.
Today it is lovely sunshine...Thank goodness....yesterday was snow! I feel so much better when the sun shines, so today the washer is on and I have a mental list of 'TO DO's'. Lets hope I achieve them!!

So before I head off to the craft room (grin).........well the washer is doing the house work today isn't it?.......I have a Christmas card to share with you. This card has taken so long to come together so that I was happy with it, and has sat on my desk in several stages until  I had a'light bulb' moment and BINGO...I made two the same while I was on a roll!!...lol    How can one get excited about bits of card??



Everything is made from Snippets of varying sizes...so I am rushing to the Playground this week before it snows again.
The Gingerbread man is a Tonic die and the greeting is LOTV. The washi tape was a find on my travels that just fitted the bill !
So a handful of C Cards down and umpteen to go!..............all the important family ones still to crack on with!

Hubby and I had a good but tiring time at the NEC visiting all the shows last week. Managed to do quite a bit of the Christmas shopping and I didn't spend too much on crafty bits for me..........so feeling pleased with myself (smug grin here)...........and just to sicken those people that keep reminding us there are only so many days/sleeps left to Christmas.......some of the presents are already wrapped! (another smug grin and a wink).

Right coffee time.....anyone for joining me?........then its on with the 'To Do's'.

Thanks for stopping by, I love it when you do, especially if you let me know you have been.

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend...shopping, crafting or relaxing (notice housework was not mentioned) or whatever you are doing and see you all again next week I hope.

Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered :-

Snippets Playground...254..................apart from base card all snippets.
HLS November...............Anything goes with dies.

Tuesday 1 November 2016

Make and Takes

Good Evening my friends.......just whizzing by (bit like time really.....can't believe it's November!) , yes just whizzing by to show you my makes from the weekend.

On Saturday I spent a nice few hours over at Samuel Taylors in Leeds where John Lockwood was demoing and the shop was running make and takes for charity.....so I had to have a play and really enjoyed myself.
What did I make?......well titivate probably. I bought some MDF blank ornaments and then set to with paints, glitter and pens.

Here they are..........




and the final one........my gingerbread men garland!



Sorry about the lousy photos but the light was fading fast and they are more of a brown in real life...not grey/blue as they appear. They had one up in the shop for us to copy so I just cased it! (as did everyone)
Not something I normally do MDF but it has perhaps made me want to finish some  baubles that have been stashed away in a drawer for a year now!! need time....aaagghhhh

The end of this week sees hubby and I heading for the NEC in Birmingham to visit the craft and cake shows. I wonder if there will be anything to tempt me there...hmmmm !!!

So enjoy your week and weekend...I have been peeking at your blogs....boy you people put me to shame there is some absolutely stunning works of art out there!!
Till next time, keep well, take care and enjoy whatever you do. Thank you so much for stopping by to read my ramble...........it is as always such a pleasure to read any comments you might leave me. See you later!

Crafty hugs.
Carole xx

Friday 28 October 2016

Mistletoe

Hello friends...
I hope this finds you all well and staying clear of these nasty bugs doing the rounds. Thank you for all your good wishes...I have 'come again like parkin' as my Grandma used to say and hoping to stay clear of any others nasties now.

Unfortunately little Thomas(8 months old now) spent last week in hospital on a drip after having a severe reaction to a virus but is on the mend now and home again, (and his mum and dad have both had it too)...the joys of parenting eh! A worrying time all the same!

OK enough waffle...onto my card...and YES!!!!!! a Christmas card...sorry only one...bit overexcited I know, but after sitting all morning deciding what to do and what paper went best...etc...etc...you know the feeling...this was the result.........


The background mistletoe paper is Craftwork Cards................Mistletoe mini paper pad.
Tag is Craftwork Cards...............Winter Botanicals and I added wink of Stella to the mistletoe for subtle sparkle..
The other matting layers were from my 'bits' box and the mistletoe die is X-cut...used a scrap of dark green for these(that took some finding I can tell you) and added the berries with Cosmic pearlescent glue..........alas they dried quite flat.
I din't add dimension in the way of foam pads as I thought about the posting aspect of this!
The sentiment is from a LOTV set.

Right that's one off the list.........strangely enough I don't feel much satisfaction at having done 'one' but hope fully now the mojo has put in appearance he will get moving better now. Just can't seem to get excited about Christmas this year :(

Whizzing off to the playground with this one this week as I used quite a few snippets and scraps...hope I see you there.

Take care everyone............. Have a good weekend and 'Thank you' for taking time out of your busy schedules to stop my blog. Your visits make my day!

OH!    and don't forget to put your clocks back in the UK this weekend..................an extra hour in bed....yippee..........but how I hate the long dark nights. I am definitely a daylight and sunshine person!
See you when the ghoulies and witches have been......
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered :-

Snippets Playground week 252
A bit more time to craft #30............Anything goes
Crafting by designs.(Oct).........................Get ready for Christmas
Crafting from the heart #133...........Anything goes

Wednesday 19 October 2016

'Cheers'

Hello friends.....here I am and thankfully feeling much better, the antibiotics did their magic on the bronchitis and all the other 'itis' from the waist up that presented themselves for fear they would be outdone..........now I am left with lazyitis I think ...lol...BUT...I have it on good authority that both mojo and energy are en route back from their break and as long as they have no delays will be home soon!.........I shall greet them with open arms!........and if by any chance any one of you is feeling under the weather I hope you soon feel much better too!

Thank you for all your lovely comments and well wishes last post, I do so appreciate them..it's so nice to have friends spread world wide...........and a big welcome to my two new followers..Liz and Brenda, thank you for joining me and I do hope you continue to like what you see!!

OK....a card you ask?...stop waffling......OK.it's.......................yes you guessed ...a Birthday card that fortunately I made before being struck down. My youngest son had a birthday last week and so here is his card.....


The bottles are from a Card-io set....'.Last Orders' and the shelves from Card-io............'On the Shelf'. the bottles were glazes with Diamond Glaze. the letters are from a set that came fee with a magazine some time ago. The squiggly lines I drew with a fine liner pen. Simple!! It seemed to go down well!

Well  Autumn is definitely here...the leaves are parting company from the trees now...but ...mu Cowslip is in flower in the garden!!!.how weird is that. It appears the plants are out of sync with the seasons.

Right I shall waffle no more, once again thanks for stopping by, and who knows you may get a ......C....card (shhhhhhh) next time. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend.

Crafty hugs to all
Carole xx







Monday 10 October 2016

It's still not a Christmas Card!!

Hi friends!....sorry I have been a bad blogger this last week but I picked up the lurgy somewhere and it really got it's teeth into me. I have some antibiotics now so hopefully when these work their magic (hmm) I will be as good as new. On the plus side for hubby I lost my voice for 3 days!!.....lol

I do hope you are all well and had a good weekend, I have popped around blogland but not commented much but ooh there is some lovely work out there...you are such a clever lot.

My card is a ...guess?.....no prizes you are all correct...a Birthday card......NO...still not a Christmas Card........might have to ask Santa if we can postpone Christmas  this year...lol!.....another 52 weeks might be good?


This was one of those cards that I was actually quite pleased with. It was created for a friend who loves jigsaws and although you cannot see it well on the photo (sorry) the central panel is a nine piece jigsaw die by X-cut.

The butterfly and flowers are from a Craftwork Cards Colour Me Tag pad and then I die cut with a plain square after colouring...then I added some sparkle...again this is not easy to see. The other square layers are Sue Wilson pierced squares. The sentiment corners are a new acquisition and are Phil Martin stamps ...I love them, so useful.

I think I will be making some more in this style...with or without the jigsaw element.

Well mojo and energy have gone on holiday again. I hope they wont be away too long...I miss them!!
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and leave me comments......I really do appreciate them and love to read them all. I will try to catch up with you all this next week and leave you some love too.

I am heading to the playground with this as the white card I used is all snippets. I hoping there may be something medicinal behind the bike sheds as it is a 250th post celebration for Miss Di.....so see you there?

Take care everyone and I hope you have a good week.

Hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered :-
Pixie's Snippets Playground #250.................snippets of white card.

Thursday 22 September 2016

3 years - 3 hearts

Hello there my friends, thanks for stopping by, it's really good of you to spend your precious time with me on my little blog and it is so much appreciated.

It'a an anniversary card again this week...this one was for my son and DIL, I can't believe it is 3 years since they tied the knot...back to that issue of time flying again!



The hearts are Memory Box....one for each year, cut from Snippets of Adorable Scorable lilac card,,,,,,,so guess where I am heading to play again this week!.... and the Anniversary is a Clearly Besotted stamp and the matching die. I cut three in total (all from snippets again) so I could glue them together for a bit of added dimension. The 'happy' is from the same stamp set. A bit of scoring and the job was done.

 I am quite happy with this one I have to say!.......which makes a change hubby says!

Nothing exciting happening in this neck of the woods..no news and I am avoiding the time, weather and ironing topics...lol
Almost the weekend again...........I so need to get on with those Christmas cards...the mind is willing but the oomph is missing...lol

Have a good one (weekend that is) whatever you are doing, and take care. I hope you will pop in again next week to peek at my humble creation. Who knows it may even be a Christmas card...or not!

TTFN
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered :-

Snippets Playground  week 247
A Bit More Time to Craft #28.........Anything goes
Addicted to Stamps and More #212......... Make your Mark...the stamping on my card.
I

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Summery flowers

Good Morning (just) friends!

Yes it's nearly mid-day, the sun is shining and while 'down South'  hit record temperatures for September yesterday, here further North in West Yorkshire it was hot , but then clouded over in the afternoon and yesterday evening the sky was black, fabulous lightening, no thunder and a slight shower! Weird weather!!

So while summer clings on I have a summery birthday card to share that I made for a special friends 80th!.....



The papers are from Sara Davies as is the border die and  the string flowers are Sue Wilson...cut with snippets of the plain pink and patterned paper. Sorry I can't remember the name of the circular die...but could look it out if anyone really wants to know, and the sentiment was computer generated.

Well we are mid-week, do hope yours is going well if not too fast as usual.
 What have you got lined up for the weekend? I do envy all of you that might be lucky enough to attend the show at Ally Pally... a bit too far from here I am afraid. Don't forget the plastic !!.....no not the raincoat type.....your flexible friend of course!!

Take care, keep well and enjoy whatever you may do.
Till next time
Crafty hugs
Carole xx


Challenges entered :-

Pixies snippets playground..................Week 246 (flowers and central circles)
Creative Inspirations  .........................Anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft..................Anything goes
Cuttlebug Mania..................................Anything goes with dies

Thursday 8 September 2016

'With Sympathy'

Good afternoon everyone! Well it's nearly the weekend so I do hope this finds you all raring to go and grab a good one!

Sadly recently,  I have had reason to make one of those cards that we don't really like making...no I don't mean the male ones though they are a challenge to a lot of people I think...........I mean Sympathy.
I took my inspiration form a'Thank You' card I came across on Pinterest and twiddled it to fit the bill so to speak.


I personally like white on white so I went with that....and you can't go wrong with a butterfly now can you!
 The aperture is cut with a a Spellbinders die, the sprays are a Marianne die and the butterfly is from my stash (sorry can't name it). I cut one butterfly and embossed another the same to layer underneath it for a bit of dimension and finished with some liquid pearls for the body.

It's been a good week for sunshine here this week...so the washing basket was emptied and dried outside...yippee.........but you guessed what is waiting now...that I always go on about...yes the ironing (groan)....It's been too warm to iron has been my excuse but I think now I had better go and press on (sorry about the pun there..) and see if there is any crafting to watch on the telly to help me along.

Thank you all for stopping by and all your wonderful comments. I wish you all a fabulous weekend whatever you do.
See you again soon.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Friday 2 September 2016

Head for heights?

Hi friends......hope you are all well.

Just whizzing by...busy week...hubby on holiday from work!...but I thought you might like to see the creation that I made with my pink prize from the other week.


Apart from the 'Thank You' stamp everything was from the 'prize'. The stamp is a Stamping Bella and I coloured her with copics. The card is winging its way to the sender of my prize..thought she might like a bit of 'Happy Mail' too! Hope it arrives safely.

As I type this my hubby is up a ladder cleaning out the gutters!!! Makes me cringe him up there! I am OK if the height is enclosed as was the glass floor in the Tower Bridge and on Tuesday we were in Liverpool and did the wheel! FABULOUS views! I can feel your fear from here judging the comments on my Tower post!........
.....for those of a nervous disposition...LOOK AWAY NOW!





So next week will be back to earth ! as it will be for lots of people with the kids back to school and the holidays past...Autumn looms, the nights are drawing in and the big C is on the horizon!!
Depressed enough yet?...well think of the cosy crafting evenings instead!

Right lunch required for the worker so best go and look busy...well I am busy talking to my friends , but I am sure you know what I mean...........so see you next week and have a good weekend everyone.
Thank you for calling in and for all the lovely comments that you leave me...I appreciate every one.

Crafty hugs
Carole xx

PS. Thought I might just squeak into Darnells NBUS 7 challenge with my card as almost everything on this card is new ...so never before used!



Wednesday 24 August 2016

Starlight Anniversary

Hi Folks!

How are we all?.....enjoying a bit of sunshine I hope! certainly here in West Yorkshire it's beaming down today.
Talking of beaming...I'm beaming today as last week was a mix of bad and good news.....the good news being that I was voted 'A Perfect Pinkie' in 'In the Pinks' 100th Birthday challenge with my Grandaughter card (last post). As a result I received a lovely surprise pink package through the letterbox last weekend...how nice was that!! THANK YOU ladies at 'In the Pink' for choosing me.

Well it may have been a couple of weeks since I posted (time flying again) but I haven't been idle on the crafting front...little and often (because of neck) in the craft room so things do seem to take a while to completion.
Anyway I got out my Starlight paints last week and had a play at painting some simple backgrounds.......boy are these paints lush......full of Mica. I then found an old wooden stamp lying forgotten in a drawer and stamped over the dried pieces and embossed in WOW platinum powder......and then went on to make this.......


and then this.....gold on cream....and a better photo


just look at that shimmer from those paints!



I used:-
Imagination Starlight paints in Menthol,Mint and Platinum
Wow embossing powders in Platinum and Gold
Sentiment is Clearly Besotted stamped in gold and silver encore
Stamp and sequins...from stash.
The card I used, apart from the base card were all snippets from my box....so yippee I have used up some of the mountain,  so I am skipping (in my mind only I hasten to add) to the playground while the sun is shining to catch up with my mates.......the ironing can wait...it's going to rain tomorrow!

Enjoy the rest of your week my friends and take care wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
Thank you for popping in. I really do appreciate you doing so and if you have left me a comment...thank you...I so love reading them all.

TTFN
Hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered:-
Snippets Playground.....week 243
A Bit more time to craft #26.. Anything goes
Stamping sensations.. Anything goes

Tuesday 9 August 2016

'Granddaughter'

Hi Friends.
Hope this finds you all fit and well and enjoying your week so far.



I made this card for a friend who's daughter has just had a little girl.... Daisy, hence the word I wrote in fine liner round the flower. The image is a 'Forever Friends' that I have had in my stash a good while, and I coloured with Copics. The obligatory Glamour dust was added to the butterfly! The paper is from an old 'Tea House' pad ...again it's been hanging around a good while!.........and that's it really.

We had a good time in London last weekend and the weather was really good too! It was lovely to see Thomas (and his mum and dad of course) and despite the heat he was so good as we walked around. We visited Tower bridge and just after we had walked over it...this happened....


certainly a Wow moment for us and the 'icing on the cake'!
We then went in the bridge and on to the glass walkways...........


Truly a weird sensation looking down and not good if you don't like heights!

Thank you for calling in on me and for all the lovely comments that you leave me.
Take care
Hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered :-
In the Pink.............. #100 Anything goes.
Tuesday Throwdown..........306 new Addition



Tuesday 2 August 2016

DIY anyone?

Good Morning friends!

How is it with you all this morning? I hope you are all well.

Here in West Yorkshire...another cloudy day...promise of a shower...maybe the sun may peek through and it's a little cooler than late (cardigan weather). I reckon that's covered all bases...lol....Do you think I could make it as a weather girl?.............mmm....maybe not!

A 'Cardio' stamp card today..........not an original....Wendy does some lovely cards with her stamps and this set is great for those male cards.....or even female. So I was having a play and basically 'cas-ing' Wendy though her card was slightly larger than mine to accommodate more rollers.


The roller is a stamp.....the paint streaks are from 1 inch pads (exactly the right width for the roller...well thought out Wendy!) and  it probably took the most time to get this right (its the angle of the pad you know)  I added  Diamond Glaze to the roller and paint streak though it doesn't show well in the photo.
The sentiment is Clearly besotted and the the squiggly line is hand drawn with fine liner.......yes I even practiced that!
So a one layer card.......probably a first for me..........nice and quick..hmm ... and easy to post!

Last week I went to Knutsford and met with the lovely Darnell from America and several other very talented bloggers from varying parts. We had a lovely time and I met some lovely people.....bloggers/crafters are so lovely and friendly. Thank you Darnell ...without your organisation we would never have been able to meet you or each other. Safe journey home to America...with wonderful memories of your trip I hope.

OK that's enough of my rambling so I will head off. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my blurb, and if you leave me a comment (I so love to read them)..thank you...I will pop over and return the compliment.

Welcome to my new followers...Sammy, Ros and Lia. I hope you will continue to like what you see.

Take care everyone and enjoy the rest of your week.
We are off to London this weekend to see Thomas who is almost 6 months old now......it's that whizzy time thing again!! ...oh and his mum and dad too of course!...mustn't leave them out...lol

See you again soon
Hugs
Carole xx

Monday 25 July 2016

In the country!

Good afternoon to all my bogging friends.
I hope you are all well and enjoyed the weekend as we hurtle full pelt into the last week in July!! Thank you all so much for your comments on my last post and for the good wishes regarding the neck which is marginally improved........but head down aggravates......so yes I know, keep your head up!!...............not easy to craft read etc with things held at eye level...lol!!  I only feel in my maybe late twenties....ok maybe thirties.... but my body sure says otherwise!!

I have a male birthday card today......for someone with a love of tractors!



I cut the card base using Spellbinders Grand Labels11(discontinued I think)..........and the layers too although the black layer is cut in half and separated to offset it at the ends.

The tractor and bird stamps are Sheena Douglas and boy a few of those attempts at the tractor went in the bin I have to say. I tried to stamp with distress inks and then pull the colour out with a water brush...would it play? NO!...don't know if it was me or the card I was using (bad workman always blame their tools they say).....so being a perfectionist, in the end I opted to stamp in Versafine and colour with copics. I wanted to keep it all monotone. The sentiment was one from stash.

So there we have it...no frills and fancies but a few 'choice words' in the making.

It's cooler and rather cloudy here today, no blue skies sadly.....but as yet no rain thankfully.

Right must away and get busy.
Enjoy your week and I will catch you again soon.
Take care now.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx


Saturday 16 July 2016

Seasons Greetings in July!!!!!!

Hello Friends...so glad you have stopped by...thank you and I hope you are all well and have had a good week, plus looking forward to a good weekend too!

I've had some injections in my neck today.....(spare me the pain in the neck jokes..lol) so not lingering too long tonight in front of the computer and anyway Coronation Street is back on in half an hour...a must watch episode tonight!!

OK....on with the show as they say and....a first for me.....a Christmas card in July!! and it all came together quite quickly too once I started. Here it is.............


It's a white base card with the edge die (Sue Wilson..new)................yes I know I couldn't resist but I have been good lately.........and then layered with scraps of red from my large bit box. I hand pierced the white layer on the top which I cut with the plain edge die in the pack so that it followed the shape and I cut a similar shape for the inside of the card... for a message.
The Seasons Greeting is a Sara Davies signature die (Crafters Companion) from last year...just love that font...cut from another scrap of the same red.............and that's all folks!!

Going back to the Sue Wilson die, there are 3 parts to the set, the third part features a poinsettia, still follows the curve and can be used whole or on the edge by using the plain curve die included. (Hope you follow that). I think I shall be using this die set a lot!

Now because the sun is at last shining again here this evening I am off to the playground to see my mates that I haven't seen in ages, and because I have used some snippets on my card too! I won't go on the roundabout...will make me dizzy, but I might see if anyone is behind the bike sheds with medicine!! that I can pour down...rub on.... my neck...............hmmm!

Enjoy your weekend folks, and if you leave me a comment you will make my week......they really are appreciated....Thank you again for stopping by. See you soon.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Challenges entered:_

Pixies Playground..............snippets of red card and small white snippets too

Simply Create Too # 113  .......Red, White or Blue

Happy Little Stampers.......... Anything Goes challenge with dies



Monday 4 July 2016

'Friend'

Good afternoon friends! and a Happy 4th July to those of you in the USA....

July!,,,,,hmmmm........half way through the year............wonder what the next 6 months has in store for all of us! At least the sun is shining today and it is a little warmer here in west Yorkshire........let's hope it keeps it up!

Ok a card today for a friend............

The base card is Kraft covered with LOTV papers (Antebellum I think but sadly discontinued).


I cut the front of diagonally to make a pocket inside the card. I put a bought heart with a lovely sentiment on it in the pocket and wrote a hidden message behind (no not telling what it said). Happy Birthday die cut on the front is from Crafters Companion....I so love that font!



Inside the stamped greeting is from Woodware............and here is a picture of the bought heart and it's full greeting.


So it winged it's way to the recipient and she was happy I am pleased to say!

Thank you for taking time to pay me a visit........... yes the washing and ironing is all done from the holidays and the summer clothes are put away!! .............but the washing never really ends does it? or the ironing for that matter!..........the chores never go away and the lawn still grows!! Hubby and I always sort of say on holiday what we are going to do differently when we return..........bit like New Year resolutions.....call them holiday resolutions.............BUT.......they never last as we always seem to fall back in to the same ways...........do any of you do that?.................you know, the ones like ...make a meal plan, or go to bed half an hour earlier of get up half an hour earlier (that's me not hubby)....that sort of thing.
Well I have a card to make so have promised myself some crafty time.....after I have pegged out more washing.........sorry but have to make the most of the dry weather..........lol

Take care everyone, nice to chat,enjoy your week.
Crafty hugs
Carole xx

Tuesday 28 June 2016

Post holiday blues!

Hi friends......
This was the view I woke up to every morning last week!


and temperatures in the high 30's!!...........This is Coral Bay in Cyprus......and how I wish I was still there! I did bring the sunshine back with me but customs confiscated it...something to do with health and safety!!...lol.............so today it has rained and rained and it's cold!!  I'll be passing my tan off as rust shortly I think!

So I have no card to share with you today, though I have been making a card, but I cannot share till later in the week when the recipient has received. I have been whizzing round blogland to see all the wonderful creations you have all made.....very impressed!, and boy have you all been busy!

Thank you all for the lovely comments you left on my post that I scheduled.......so glad it worked OK (the scheduling that is) as I know blogger has it's moments. I do love to read your thoughts and wishes.

OK folks....off to see if there is anything worth watching on the'box'......... Today I have been doing battle with the Everest of ironing..........halfway there!!........the rest I can look forward to tomorrow! I think the summer clothes will be going away now...thermals and flippers at the ready!!..lol

See you all later in the week...actually next month!! eeek July!....guess I might have to start thinking Christmas soon...groan!!
Take care, keep well and safe.
Hugs Carole xx


Thursday 23 June 2016

'Make and Takes'

Hello friends......how are we all? Well I hope.

You may remember that a few weeks back I went to the great British Craft Festival at Bolton and a friend and I did a couple of makes and takes. I promised I would show you what I had done...so here we are.......

First up.....an MDF heart.


This was my first go at covering with paper...I did enjoy this! I am sure there is scope for a lot more texture etc to be added to this in the future.I know a lot of you out there have produced some stunning MDF creations

Secondly Hunkydory liftables....... so pretty..........and not something I would normally go for....but.....
take a look.



This is the butterfly pad (they do flowers as well)....the butterflies were painted with distress inks....layered and lifted...simple...quick but stunning effect, great for when time is short but impact is required. Just need to add a sentiment in the middle when required.


I came away very satisfied......and a bit inspired I have to say........just such a shame that there is never a stand selling time!!!!..........lol...........yes I know it would be the first one to sell out !!

Thank you for stopping by today...I do hope you are having a good week...........I shall catch up with you all very soon.

Take care, and if you have left comments for me...thank you also, I love to read them.

See you all soon
Love Carole xx

Friday 17 June 2016

Summer or Autumn?

Hello Friends

.......well another week has whistled by and the weather has got colder and wetter here as the week has progressed. Lets hope that the weekend sees some improvement.

Here is a card I made for a friends Birthday last week...

 The stamp set is a Woodware set coloured with Twinkling H2O's and the obligatory Glamour dust added!

While I was at it I made a second one....

 Apart from the colours , can you spot the difference?...yes of course you can....the second one was cut, stamped and stuck on to the base card, and on the first one I raised the layer on foam pads.

I do hope you are all well and looking forward to whatever the weekend may bring to you. I am off to pack for my hols (hate that bit)....so my next post will be scheduled (if I get it right) and I will be enjoying warm sunshine (I hope).....

Thank you for stopping by today, your visits are appreciated more than you know.
Take care
Catch you later
Love and Hugs
Carole xx

Wednesday 8 June 2016

96 years young!

Hi there friends!

Thank you for popping in and staying around this last couple of weeks. Sorry but I haven't had anything to post......yes life got in the way and mojo was nil! but I have kept hopping around blogland in my odd spare moments.

Yesterday was my mums 96th Birthday.....so I had to knuckle down and make a card for her.


This has to be my favourite Honey-Doo stamp to date (recent acquisition).! It is gorgeous, the detail is exquisite and it can be used in so many ways for so many occasions (sales pitch over!!...only joking, I am not connected in anyway to honey-Doo).

I stamped and embossed the rose and then painted with the good old trusted Twinkling H2O's.......why hadn't I used my new Starlight Paints? hubby asked!...good question...maybe next time!...anyway it does have a lovely shine to it even if you can't see it on the photo.

The background is a Creative Expressions folder A4 'Bed of Roses'...another recent acquisition (must learn simpler words to spell...thank goodness for spellchecker) and the sentiment is computer generated and printed on a portion of a Sue Wilson banner die.

Mum seemed happy with it when I went for lunch yesterday...her house was like a florists shop and she was having plenty of visitors and super sunshine added to the day for her.

Last weekend we went to Bolton to the Great British Craft Festival....not the show it used to be sadly, but then a lot of them seem to have changed lately, probably due to the television craft channels taking over. I do hope shops and shows don't die out altogether as it is so much nicer to go and see in the flesh so to speak rather than buy from the telly...don't you agree?
 However we (yes hubby came too)?..why? to carry the bags of course...though not many I hasten to add this time).. met with friends that live that way and we girls did a couple of make and takes (will blog them soon) and then we went for a meal and a catch up. A lovely day all round...it is so good to catch up with people we seldom see through distance and it feels like it was only last week we were together when we see them.

OK folks enough rambling. I do hope that this post finds you all well and  enjoying the sunshine while it lasts. Holidays are looming this month for us...then maybe after that I might think Christmas!!...might!!

Thank you all for giving of your valuable time and stopping by, and for all the sweet comments you leave me. I love to read them and know I have some lovely friends out there all over the world.

Enjoy whats left of the week..
TTFN
Love Carole xx

If life and time permit I might see if I can fit in a challenge!! ...It takes me ages doing all the linking etc!...lol.......maybe the playground, I have only been peeping through the railings lately!!

Challenges entered :-



Pixie's Snippets Playground 232.......sentiment on snippets of card
Simon says Monday Challenge..........Summer garden
Creative Inspiration........Spring into Summer
Addicted to Stamps and More...............Make your Mark