Christmas Wishes

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year...wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

I thank all of you that take the time and trouble to stop my blog and support both it and me.......without you there would be no reason to blog. I appreciate each and every one of you across the globe.

Stay safe and warm, enjoy the festivities, love one another and make lots of memories to treasure.

Crafty and seasonal hugs to you all.

Carole xx

 

Christmas en-route to Australia

 Hi Friends

I have deliberated whether to post these cards yet, but I very much doubt that my son in Australia visits my blog. He barely has time to Skype me so pretty sure he won't take a sneak peak..probably not bothered anyway.

So while Christmas is in the forefront of everyone's mind here in the UK...here they are.

First up...one for Thomas who will  be 7 next February. They are vegetarian so I thought this quite apt....hope it makes him laugh.

I am sure he will think I have spelt Happy wrong!..lol.   this is a crafters Companion image coloured with copics and the sentiment comes with it. The 'grandson' is from my stash.

Next up one for Chloe who is 4 and starts school in January having just graduated from Kindergarton...black cap and gown job as well!! They start young these days.

This is a digi image from Rachelle Ann Miller.  I so fell in love with this image (tipped off by a blogging buddy about it...thank you!). Digi is not something I do much of I have to admit. Anyway I coloured again with copics and the sentiments are from stash. Happy Christmas is uniko stamps.

Finally one for son and DIL.....

Back to crafters Companion for this one...a set with stamps, stencil and dies. I have decided I need some fine stencil brushes for this as even finger daubers proved a bit too much. The background is done with a falling snow folder I found amongst my rather large collection of varying sized embossing folders (half I have never used...maybe 3/4)

So three for the price of one today folks! Hope you like them.

I'm hoping of course that they get there in time!  I bother making them because it is basically the only thing I can do for Thomas and Chloe being so far away and sending gifts now is prohibitively expensive so rely on my son to buy them something with money I send. Not quite the same I have to say.

I am grateful for Moonpig in return! and 'A card is a card' as my son says!

I still have s few cards to make and I know I am fast running out of time, add to that the postal strikes here in the UK (who isn't going on strike) and I need to get my skates on.

So it's Ta Ra folks for now, best get stuck in.

Thanks for stopping by when time is of the essence.

Take care, keep warm and well.

Crafty hugs

Carole x

Birthday time...again!

 Hi Friends

This past week has been a week for birthdays. Mine and my future DIL who's is two days before mine.

She has two horses ad teaches riding so it is difficult to organise celebrating, Anyway here is her card featuring a horse, the box for it and a tiny exploding box I made to match for her present.

A better look at the card...a Crafters Companion signature collection image coloured with copics....

So there we have it! 

Now I can concentrate on Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by, I know we are all very busy, but your thoughts and comments are very much appreciated.

Wishing you all a good weekend.

Crafty hugs and take care

Carole x

More embossing

 Hi friends!

 I hope this finds you well and in Christmas mode? I have to admit to struggling a bit in that sense. I have got my cards of to Australia and I think I packed my mojo and inspiration with them!

Anyway  one of my friends and her hubby celebrated their Anniversary. the card too over a week to get there and sadly missed the day...if only I had posted it earlier as it sat on the shelf looking at me for over a week!

Here it is.....

This is another new embossing folder that I bought at Stamparama. It is again a Lisa Horton and comes with a die to cut the image out.

I stencilled a memory box background on my card and coloured and cut the embossed peony, placing it on top  of the trellis. A die cut sentiment finished it off.

Having since watched Lisa with her embossing folders I think I did it the wrong way round...I embossed, coloured and then cut and in doing so of course flattened the embossing a bit...lesson learnt for next time, cut colour ad emboss last...but not sure how good the colouring would be on an unembossed image! perhaps if you have done it you could let me know. There are no stencils to this set.

Thank you so much for stopping by...I know it is a busy time for all right now. but your visits are so much appreciated. 

Back soon with the Oz Christmas makes!

Till then take care everyone

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Wallpaper? and 70!

 Hi friends

Just popping in with a birthday card made for a friend using Lisa Horton 3D peony embossing folder. The embossing on these folders is stunning. 

I coloured the flowers with Distress Oxides and a finger dauber. I kept it subtle as you can see.

Here is another one done with the letter press technique...

It reminds me of anaglypta wallpaper!

I put a bit of clear sparkle in the flower centres which does not show on the photos.

I hope you are all well and ready for the weather turning colder here in the UK. The darker nights are certainly not to my liking I have to say. Time to shut the messy world out!

Thank you for stopping by, your comments are always so much appreciated.

Take care wherever you are and I will catch you again soon.

Time to crack on with those Christmas cards!

Crafty hugs to you all.

Carole x

Happy 40th!

 Hello Friends!

I hope you are all keeping well and warm wherever you are.

Today is my youngest son's 40th...and I feel ancient as a result...lol . I posted his card three weeks ago (to Australia) and yeah it arrived this week...so glad.

Racking my brain now to remember what I did...note to self....must write it down in future!

For the front of the card inked a newly bought (just for the job really) stencil from Honey Doo Crafts randomly with distress oxide and then layered with the same card as the base card and a sentiment stamped and layered on that, (Crafters Companion but the 'son' stamp was from stash).

Inside stamping this time for the background, same oxide but a confetti stamp from Uniko. Then I stamped bunting, champagne glasses and a parcel (C Comp)cut them out with the corresponding dies, and a place to write my greeting..The pop out 40 is ...you guessed it C Comp. These dies have proved very useful this past couple of years! The 40 is on non shed glitter card in silver and really sparkles though the photo does not show it well.

I hope he likes it! and doesn't think it's too girly..lol Men are so hard to make for aren't they! 

I am hoping we will get to Skype at some point, virtual hugs and everything really, though I think his celebrations have started early!

Have a good weekend everyone and cheers to you if you are celebrating something too.

Thank you for stopping by, 

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Another Anniversary!

 Hi friends!

Here at last...... Sorry that I haven't blogged for a while, I wish I could say it was because I have been sunning myself on a beach somewhere, but that's not true. Just life, its jobs and appointments and of course the sad passing of  HRH Queen Elizabeth 11 that have brought creativity to a halt here.

Anyway a friend and her husband celebrated an anniversary earlier this month and here is the card I made for them.

I decided to favour a slimline card for a change and pulled the heart die from my bit box. The flowers are Crafters Companion which I inked and added a bit of sparkle to the centres...sorry you cannot see on the photo.

A few added glossies and a vertical sentiment from Julie Hickey..job done. it took me much longer to make than I thought it would because I faff!..lol

Well how long can we go before we put the heating on in the UK? It's beginning to feel autumnal now but I am resisting as long as possible with the ever increasing prices of gas and electric.  Are you the same? 

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you choose to leave me...I love to know you have been, and so enjoy reading them...criticism good or bad always appreciated.

I hope you are all well, stay that way please, and I will see you again soon. 

If you are under the weather, then I hope things get better for you soon.

Till next time

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Pearl Anniversary

 Hi Friends...good to see you again! Today is the Pearl Anniversary of a couple of friends who got married six weeks after Alan and I. ...30 years ago! Ironically they got engaged six weeks after us and unknown to each other we chose the same dinner service on our wedding lists. Thereby lies a tale..see end of post if you are interested.

Not the best of photos, sorry!

The base card is a pearl embossed card from my stash with a plain pearl layer on the top with the die cut revealing the base card pattern underneath.  The rest is self explanatory. I tool my idea from Pinterest and adapted to suit. The tiny hearts are on their first outing so I may pop across to the NBUS challenge if I can manage the linking.

I hope the card has arrived safely as they celebrate today!

Ok ..the tale. Alan and I had ordered some extra mugs in our chosen dinner service design (remember this is 30 years ago now) and were contacted by the store to collect them. So we went along and they couldn't find our order...but they had an order for someone else who didn't seem to be collecting theirs , so gave us those and said they would sort it out. It turned out the order we got was for our friends, so I am assuming they got ours..!...lol  Whenever we got together  and had  a coffee it was always a standing joke to count the mugs before anyone left..lol!.

Still with me?

Thank you, my loyal followers for all your lovely comments recently, so greatly appreciated. It helps to make one feel connected to people doesn't it. If you just passed through for a peek that's fine too...Thank you for that. I know hoe precious time is, it goes so quickly.

Have a good end to the week everyone, and a super weekend when it arrives.

 It's looking pretty much like rain here right now..we need it!

Off to weald the vacuum now......yes the ironing did get done eventually! 

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Challenge entered :-

NBUS - August .....tiny hearts first time out

Put the flags out folks...I think I have managed it! Where would I be without Darnells instructions..Thanks Darnell!

Just to say!

 Isn't it hot here in the UK! Just like being on holiday in Greece but without the pool and waiter !

This card wasn't made to say that of course. It was for a friend going through a tough time.

The sentiment is Crafters Companion and the 'Just' comes with the die to cut it out and the 'To say' is just a little addition stamp also included but I cut it out as the background paper is quite busy.

 I really like this card.......yes for once I am pleased with a creation, which in all fairness was easy and quick to do. The tiny flowers are left over from another CC die.(no I don't have any affiliation to CC )

.Hosepipe ban is due here 26th August (Yorkshire water)..... I can't wait for some rain...so

 a) It waters the plants and grass 

 b) I might get back in the craft room

The washing is drying quickly of course which is good..but the ironing is still waiting as it it too hot to iron! ...my excuse anyway. 

Ok everyone. Thank you so much for popping in and especially to those who left me lovely comments on my last post....so grateful for them.

Take care, keep cool wherever you are and have a good week...see you again soon.

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Wedding Day

 Hi again! I know..no posts for ages and then two in short succession..bit like the buses here in the UK!..lol. 

This time it is a wedding card for someone tying the knot today! 

The base card is pearlised card as is the heart though difficult to see on my poor photo. I cut another butterfly to layer for dimension and added a few pearls. The sentiment (LOTV I think) stamped on an age old die banner from Spellbinders, again on pearlescent card so I held  my breath!

I hope the weather is kind to them today and they have a lovely wedding.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you leave me a comment to let me know you have been, I shall return the favour as I know how much they are appreciated. Blogland does seem really quiet just now.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer...or if you are at the otherside of the world, your winter. Have a good weekend whatever you are doing.

Love and crafty hugs

Carole x

Male Mini !

 Hi there, thanks for popping by. I know it's been a while since I blogged,but I have been popping in to peak at yours and leave some love.

I have a couple of cards that I can't share yet...yes I have been in the craft room all be it sporadically.

Here is one that I can share and apologies in advance for the poor photo taken when it has been so dark and dismal..

Remember the Haynes car manuals?

Well a friends husband really likes minis and as I was struggling with male ideas,(as you do) I came across these toppers from way back, in my stash.

The rest of the card speaks for itself really but it was a lot brighter in real life and was well received. Gold mirri for the sentiment to brighten it even more, and the gold strip was matt gold to match with the topper. The backing paper from stash is ombre and looks textured but it is just printed. Clever!

I think the days of dismantling and tinkering with a car is long gone...seems now all you do is plug it in..along with your phone...your watch...your kindle need I go on? It's still petrol for me and a local garage for a service...the car not me" Though having said that I could probably do with one..lol!

I do appreciate your visits, so thank you and hopefully I will see you again soon.

Take care now

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

'Special friends'

 Well how did it get to July? No Christmas cards done here either! Instead its'Special friend time. Now I don't have a lot of friends...I know!, but those I do have are all very special to me. Here are two cards made with the same stamp and die set from Julie Hickey.

The first one is paper pieced and coloured with copic markers....

and the second one I cut a stencil of the flower from card, inked through it with oxides and then lay the stamped die cut over the inking....so cutting the die served two purposes so to speak.

Thank you for stopping by and to those of you who take the time to leave me a comment...a special Thank You to you. They are so much appreciated.

Time and life seem to be flying past  and I am sure you are finding the same. I don't seem to get much time or enthusiasm for crafting as life and its jobs/commitments get in the way. 

I hope you are all keeping well and still staying safe...Unfortunately I am hearing of more people catching Covid here in the UK and being quite poorly with it. If you are under the weather I hope you feel better soon.

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Big Birthdays

 Hello friends...remember me?

I am sorry I have been a very bad blogger but I have really lost my mojo as my time is taken up keeping on top of the garden and other mundane things that seem to be going wrong. Nice to make the most of the sunshine though!

So here I am with three cards for people with 'Big Birthdays' The last one should have been received by today so I can now share. Happy Birthday to them all!

All the same apart from the colour(which do you prefer) and the number of course. I used a  NBUS die from Crafters Companion which I am sure will have different ways of using it when I get time (or feel like) trying them. The number dies are old ones from stash but 'go to' favourites.

I hope you are all keeping safe and well, enjoying the sunshine in the UK but wishing for a bit of rain for the garden. We are never satisfied are we? However wherever you are in the world I hope something makes you smile today.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I have peeked at your blogs to see the wonderful creations that you all seem to make. I think it is a privilege to know such talented people.. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could have one BIG crafty party together...lol

I hope it won't be as long till next time I put in an appearance. Thanks for sticking with me. Crafty hugs to each one of you.

Carole xx

Bonsai Birthday

 Hi there!

Yesterday was my eldest son's birthday and he has taken an interest in growing bonsai. No guesses for what his present from me was! and my card was made on that theme too. It was  difficult to design so in the end I incorporated a reveal wheel with sentiments from Crafters Companion.

It seemed to go down well anyway!

I can't believe we are into May...this year is zipping by and the news is still as depressing as it has been for the last two years. Here in the UK there doesn't seem any conversation other than War, Covid and the price of things!...best not forget the weather either, we love to moan about that!..lol 

On a positive note the days are longer and the sun shines on occasion which makes one feel better. Yeah to be able to dry the washing outside! and hear the birds singing. 

I hope things are good wherever you are and you are finding some positivity .

Thank you for popping by and the lovely comments you leave me which make my day.

Take care and stay safe and well.

Crafty hugs and a smile to make your day. :) 

Carole xx

Chloe is 4!

 Hi there everyone.

Well today (in Australia) is my Granddaughter's 4th birthday. They do seem to grow up quickly but then we have only met in the flesh once when she was 18 months old  and I doubt she remembers that!. I see her on Skype of course but she is usually distracted but surprise video phone call last Friday night revealed she was very excited about her party the following day....naturally so

At 4 years old  she is into mermaids and Frozen...so I went with the mermaid theme for her card. I hope her tastes haven't changed too much since I made it......

I didn't have any mermaid images so I bought a digi from LOTV and coloured it with copics. An old Sue Wilson embossing folder for the background ad dies from my stash for the rest.

After all the agonising over what to do I quite like how it turned out and it arrived down under in record time.

I hope you are all well. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and the comments you leave me. I love and appreciate them all. blogging friends are the best. 

Take care and have a good week.

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Black and White 70

 ......and a serving of glitter!  

HELLO FRIENDS!

This is a card I made for a friend of my late husbands who celebrated 70 this weekend. I.m not fan of doing male cards as one soon seems to have covered all bases applicable to that person over the years...sports, hobbies ets...so this was done with Uniko Explosions and Explosion Additions and the sentiments are also Uniko.The numbers a 'go to' from stash (not sure of make) cut twice for a bit of depth. I kept the rest flat for posting. Plenty of glitter to bring it to life.

So I hope this finds you well, so many people I hear of now eventually succumbing to the virus, but thankfully not too ill with it. if you are under the weather I hope you soon feel better.

Did you all eat lots of chocolate this weekend?..and have a nice Easter break. ....here in the UK the weather has been really good for a bank holiday weekend.Nice to have some warm sunshine, it makes one feel so much better. I got my Vit D fix sitting in the garden for a bit. 

Blogger seems to be juggling my feeds around these days and posts I have already seen appear at the top of my list again. ...so sometimes I miss new ones that are further down! Does anyone else have that happening.?

Thank you for popping by and I will see you again soon I hope.

Take care

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Plain Sailing

 Hello friends!

How I wish life was plain sailing, don't you? 

A card for a male, though I guess if a female were into sailing it would serve equally well on the female front.

A quick card.... self explanatory...... the image is from an ages old Making Cards magazine for men...I knew it would come in useful someday!

The sentiment is again ages old and from craftwork cards. It just says Happy Birthday though it doesn't show well on the photograph.

Chloes birthday card has arrived in good time at the other side of the world so I will share that with you a little nearer the time. Pleased the postal system seems to be getting better.

I hope you are all keeping well and if you are under the weather I hope you feel better soon. Have a good Easter next weekend everyone...chocolate!!...yumm. Fingers crossed that Asda deliver my Easter egg (yes just the one) tomorrow and it is not out of stock!

Take care everyone and Thank You for stopping by.

Love Carole xx

Uniko is 10!

 Hi Friends..

I hope you are all safe and well and if you are here in the UK Ihope you have survived the recent storms without too much damage...what a nightmare it has been! 

Whizzing in with a card for the celebration link up part thingy that Uniko are having to celebrate their 10th Birthday.....I would inset a link here for you to hop over but as I am not very good at links...please visit Uniko's blog for all the quests...10 of them! Some lovely prizes to be won and some fun along the way.

Here is my card for Quest 1...a Birthday card using Uniko products.......

Not the best image due to the rubbish light here at present.

I used Background Blocks Mid Century Modern and stamped with three colours of Oxides. The sentiment was stamped using Sentiment Outlined clear stamp set and coloured using Copics as close the oxide colours as possible. 

The mats were cut with a pierced edge die and I drew faux stitching between the holes with a grey fine liner...cheating I know.

So now for the hard bit...linking my card to the challenge..wish me luck!

Thank you for all your lovely comments and good wishes...my back is much improved Thank You. So good of you to take the time to pop by.

See you again soon!

Crafty hugs

Carole xx

Reveal wheel - Space

 Hi friends.....late to the party again! Life in the way of a bad back has intervened this time.

Anyway here is the card I made for Thomas who was 6 today!...well yesterday in Oz!

I invested In Sam Calcotts reveal Wheel die set and the Space themed stamps, embossing folder and dies that accompanied it...

I used the embossing folder on a piece of silver mirri card and then got out the alcohol inks to make it a bit dark and space looking. The stamps were fun to use and colour and easy to cut with the dies and I personalised it as you can see.

More images show as you turn the wheel on the right. It was straight forward to do and I enjoyed doing it but I kept it as flat as possible for posting. This time it arrived in good time (17 days...better than 4 months) but as yet no feed back on how it has gone down with the birthday boy.

Plenty of snippets used here and NBUS stuff again but as I have been sitting in front of the computer long enough...trying to link to challenges will have to wait. I got myself in a right tuck last time and it was thanks to Di in the playground for sorting me out.

I hope Sam brings out some more different themed stamp sets that can be used. Of course the window can be made larger...and I am sure I will maybe find some images in my stash that may do too. I remember buying cards like this years ago with different ages on when you spun it round and you taped it still at the age you wanted.....and now I am showing mine!!..feel it too right now!..lol

Thank you all so very much for the lovely comments that you left me on my last post...you gave me a much needed boost and every comment is so much appreciated because you have taken the time to stop by and type it. 

I hope you are all well and safe wherever you are in the world.

Big crafty hugs and love to you all...see you soon. Take care now!

Carole xx

Playing at:-

Snippets Playground # 421.....................apart from the base card, all snippets used for the wheel, background and small images

NBUS...........# 35

Birthday stars

 Hi friends...welcome to February!! A very windy one here...but what happened to January? I blinked and missed it but it is good here in the UK that we are heading to spring and the days are getting a little longer thank goodness.

Here is a recent birthday card for a friends husband using a NBUS die and all made from snippets...so two places to go and join in with this one. It has been received but the birthday is not till the weekend, but as they do not look at my blog I am safe to post. 

For me this came together fairly quickly and I for once am pleased with the result and intend to do some for 'the box' in different colourways.

So, as I said all snippets from the box of LARGE snippets...yes I have three boxes, you guessed it, large, medium and tiny!!

The inking was done on paper with three shades of oxides blended with my brushes that I love so much and the top layer (the die) was cut into a piece of linen textured card, raised over the top with foam pads and the addition of a few glossies and a sentiment. (Uniko). The die is from Crafters Companion in the sale (turned out a good buy)and has two outer edges so it can be use three ways.

I did wonder afterwards if the colours were suitably male.

I hope you are all well and thank you for stopping by. Blog land is diminishing before our eyes, but I still feel it is the friendliest and safest of the social platforms, so every visit by you is so very much appreciated.

I will be back hopefully next week when i can share Thomas's 6th birthday card that I am pleased to say has already arrived in Oz :)

 I am ..hopefully...I say that as I always have trouble linking up..to join in the following challenges.

Snippets Playground #420...............all snippets as in post

NBUS #35 ......................................Crafters Companion die

Thank You!

 Hi friends........... and a Happy New year to you all, if it is not too late that is. January seems to be hurtling through already at a pace I can't keep up with.............. Does anyone know what day it is?...lol

Lets hope things do improve this year for us all and in every way possible.

A card to say Thank You. Yes we still have things to be thankful for, and when I am feeling positive I try to remind myself of that. I THANK each and everyone of you that has supported my blog this past year. It gives me pleasure to call you all my friends and you are my reason I am still bogging. Yes I may have said this all before, but it doesn't hurt to remind you how kind you all are and how are appreciated too.

OK ...card is using Uniko stamps and coloured with Phil Martin's pens. .Not quite as successful in the blending as hoped though....not sure of the sentiment origin.

Right that is me for now.

I have made a birthday card that is on route to Australia for my Grandson's birthday at the beginning of February so wraps on that for a little while yet.

Take care, stay safe, don't forget the mask...it ain't over yet (Covid)....have you heard the fat lady sing yet?...lol

I hope you understand my sense of humour, sorry if you don't. Actually I wonder where that saying originated.?.answers on a postcard please...no just leave a comment...lol

Hope I have made you smile.

Crafty hugs

Carole xx