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