Latest Cards

The papers I won this week are so lovely that I just wanted to sit and stroke them,  but I gritted my teeth and have started to make some cards with them!

This glittery flamingo uses the papers from the Paradise Crush pack

Whilst this cute felt hedgehog has a textured leaf background paper from Wild A Heart!

Lucky Me!

I came home today to find I have won 2 packs of paper from Trimcraft!

The 12 x 12 'Wild At Heart ' scrapbook papers are especially lovely

The papers are doubled sided and include these cute bunnies

And also vintage newspapers with embossed stags, deers and hares! The competition closed at the end of July, but the prize was well worth the wait.

Christmas is Coming

I know many of you started making your Christmas cards ages ago - some even make them all the year round!

I could not get started until the weather started to cool a little, I just can't get in the mood when it is so hot!

Anyway, this weekend I finally dug out my Christmas craft box out from under the stairs and started to get a few ideas. In the end I made 11 cards, a good start, but I do need to get a crack on so that I can make enough to give some to a couple of local charities too!

Embossed ATC's

I've joined in with the technique swap at Docrafts - this months technique is Embossing.

It made me realize that it was ages since I got out my embossing powders and hot air gun.

I enjoyed making these, so perhaps I should make the effort more often!

Bumble Bee Colour Scheme

These papers, tags and embellishments came from my recent USA trip - I like the mix of patterns, textures and colours, a bit different from my usual cards!

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American Craft Goodies

I've just come back from a holiday in Florida - in between visiting all the theme parks, I squeezed in a visit to Michael's Craft Store. I had some dollars given to me for my birthday, so I treated myself to this lot of goodies

 

Some I will be using to put together a scrapbook of the holiday - but most will be used for birthday cards. Now that I have finished all the washing, I shall retreat to my craft room for a play!

Up in The Air - Creative Stamping Magazine

There are some great stamps in the latest edition of Creative Stamping Magazine. Called Up in the Air, they feature planes, balloons, rockets and kites!

These are a few ATC's that I have made to swap using some of the stamps.

One Embossing Folder - Three cards

This square  leafy border embossing folder is free with issue 153 of Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine. For the sunflower card, I inked inside the folder before putting it through my trusty Cuttlebug.

The plain kraft paper sets off the lovely Craftwork Cards orchids and hummingbird toppers and, although it is not very clear on the photo, the lilac background on the other card has a soft sheen to it.

I think I shall be using this embossing folder quite a bit in the future!

Birthday Thanks!

Thanks to all my crafty friends for their lovely birthday cards, ATC's and gifts. These were from Wendy, Mary, Laura, Tina, Evaline and Lyn and came from all around the world!

I've been sitting in the garden, enjoying the sunshine and am looking forward to a meal at a local Chinese restaurant with my family this evening!

Craft Stamper September 2016

This months Craft Stamper magazine includes a free quirky tower stamp. 

I added it to this blue background paper that I have had for years for an ATC - and I'm now waiting for a bit of inspiration to complete the rest of it! 
PS - the pineapple die and stamp set turned up when I was looking for something else!

What A Mess!!

Yes, This is my craft room - I would like to say that I was in full creative flow when this was taken, but no, this is how I walked away and left it yesterday!

After years of having to craft at the dining room table, it is so nice not to have to pack everything away each time. I am lucky to have room for 2 desks and loads of storage boxes and trays. However, I cannot remember where I have put my pineapple die and stamp set - shall I waste time sorting through everything or hope it just turns up?

ps - why did I get over 700 hits on my blog yesterday, mainly from Russia???

Gorjuss Bargain

I picked up this packet of 14 Gorguss die cut notelets to use as card toppers. They were only reduced by £1 to £1.99 - but I thought that was still a bargain.

And these are the first 2 cards I have made with them!

Funky Moped!

Anyone else remember that classic record by Jasper Carrot called 'Funky Moped' ? I never knew it was produced by Jeff Lynne of ELO fame!

Well, this funky retro moped, paper and embellishments all came from the Craftwork Cards box.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

I'm still working my way through the Craftwork Cards sale box that I bought back in April. These cards are made with the perfume bottle toppers from their Vintage Ephemera range.

Despite making these cards here  plus these ones too,  there  are still loads of bits left!

The Battle of The Somme - My Scrapbook

Last year my Mother and I went on a coach trip organised by Galloway Travel to visit the World War One battlefields and cemeteries in Flanders - and I made a scrapbook to record our visit.

Thiepval, which was on the news last night, is a stunning memorial to those with no known grave, including my great great uncle Arthur Whiting.

There are so many cemeteries scattered around the area. This is Ploegsteert memorial, where another great great uncle Charles Hollingsworth is listed. He and his brother Fred died on the same day, in the same battle - neither body was ever found. Hitler, Churchill and Monty all fought in this area in WW1.

The main reason we went on this trip was to find the grave of Charles brother Walter who died in 1916 - the only one of my relatives who has known burial spot. This was at a small site in Grevilliers

We stayed at Ypres where Menin Gate is, every evening a small ceremony is held to remember the dead - very moving. James Jolly, another distant relative,  is named on the gate.

One of my strongest memories was of Delville Woods where thousands died, but is now a tranquil wood full of bluebells but pockmarked by overgrown trenches and shell holes.

Another memorable place was Lochnagar Crater - created at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. there are small brass plaques along the walkway around the rim and we have paid for the 3 Hollingsworth brothers to have their names remembered together in the same place.

Sorry this is such a long post, but I wanted to make my own small tribute to all of those involved in the Battle of the Somme. I can highly recommend taking a guided tour of the area. We learnt so much from our knowledgeble guide Mike Peters. He really bought the battles to life for us. There is a bit more about the trip on another blog of mine here

Field Mice

The first card made with my new goodies from the papercraft fair - this is the cute field mice stamp from Imagination crafts!

Well, I knew I wouldn't come away empty handed from the papercraft fair! I've stocked up on some momento inks and perfect pearls.

Stencils seemed to the the 'in thing' this time - with lots of demonstrations showing how to use different mediums with stencils - so I gave in and bought 3 different gilding waxes, starlight gold and silver paint, red glitter paste plus some new stencils

I couldn't come away without a new stamp - Field mice by Imagination Crafts as well as some churches and country inns to colour in

Bring Out the Wellies!

What with all the torrential rain and wet weather, it seemed appropriate to make a card featuring a row of Wellington Boots! Apart from the background paper, it was made from very old stash - I think originally from a Docrafts goody bag. 

I've just had to clear out part of the craft room, as the engineer is coming to service the boiler that is in there, and yes, I did find more stash that I had forgotten about! 

I have absolutely no excuse to go to the Papercraft show in Bury St Edmunds tomorrow - I don't need anything, but I'm going to go anyway!

Lucky Me!

I was lucky enough to win this stamp and die set from Quick Cards Magazine - it is called Merci Beaucoup by Clearly Besotted stamps,

There are 2 roses with 6 different sentiments - first I had a play stamping, cutting and colouring the roses with promarkers.

Then I had to make a thank you card to the magazine for the prize (worth £25!). 

and finished off with some other cards for friends and family. Die cutting the rose, really makes it stand out and I like the effect for CAS cards. I will definitely be entering more competitions in the future!

Get on Your Bike!

Yet another card made with the Sea Breeze embossing folder - this time bright yellow with a bicycle in the middle (free stamp from Cardmaking mag).

I'm off to a free classical concert in the local park to celebrate the Queens birthday this evening, but the forecast is for scattered showers, so I will have to pack an umbrella with the picnic!

Sea Breeze Embossing Folder - 3 Colour Ways

This is the embossing folder that came with the Sea Breeze Cardmakers Collection (previous post).  It gives a lovely crisp embossed finish, so I tried it out in 3 different colour combinations today.

Although my photos don't do them justice - I am please how they have come out in real life. Plus as as added bonus, I realised that if you embossing it on black card and cut out the circular motif, it looks very much like a car tyre and can be used for cards for petrol heads!!

I do like to be beside the seaside

....... so I treated myself to the Sea Breeze edition of The Cardmakers Collection. This contains papers, dies and a set of stamps as well as lots of ideas.

I especially like the free anchor and seashell dies and have cut out several to use in future cards

I've whipped out 8 different cards already from the kit!

Another selection off to charity!

Another batch of cards bagged up and ready to go, I think there are over 50 cards in this bag. These are to raise money for the breast cancer campaign.

I have also been asked to make some cards for a local cat charity - so will be digging out all my cat stamps and dies over the weekend for a play!