Hap.hap.hap....

.... happy holidays!!!  EEeeeeeeeeeeeeee - the day has finally arrived!!  We finished up at 12.00 noon today, after several exceptionally hectic weeks. I completed my last task at 11.55 - turned off the computer and ........ aaaahhhhh ..... it's the best best feeling to look forward to 9 whole weeks off!!

My daughter got her first summer job, which we are thrilled about - she was in 7th heaven the day she got her first paycheck, raced down to the shopping centre to spend it, but came home empty-handed!  She was so overwhelmed with all the things she could afford to buy that she couldn't make up her mind!!  The indecision didn't last long, however - she went into town the very next day and blew the lot!! 

I hadn't seen the inside of the craftroom in ages until I started making a card and giftbag for my son's teacher on Wednesday afternoon - finished it yesterday.  It was to have been my entry for this week's Paperplay challenge (which is "Flags/Pennants/Banners"), but it's a day late.  Oh well, I'm on the DT, I can add it!!!  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Lili of the Valley  ("A little bit Distressed"), Simon Says Stamp and Show ("Depths of Distress"), Stampin for the Weekend ("Show us your Style"), Basic Grey Challenges ("Favourite Colour Combo" - I've used my favourite olive green colour - and I love blue/green, even if it "never should be seen"!) and Creative Inspirations ("Anything Goes").
My son's teacher is a country girl - she made a container vegetable garden with the kids this year, so this fruit/veg paper from Basic Grey "Piccadilly" was just perfect.  Here's a close-up of the cute Lili of the Valley image, followed by a dodgy shot of card and giftbag.

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Piccadilly"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Back to School Boy" - oops, wrong end of the year!!

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Needle + Thread, buttons from stash, scalloped scissors, scalloped oval Nestabilities

I've got so much planned for this summer: catching up with friends, serious cleaning and decluttering of the house, painting a chair I rescued from a skip, catching up with blogs, lots and lots of card-making I hope.  Let's see how much of that list I manage to achieve!!

Thanks for looking!

Howzat ....

.... another card done!!

This one is for my brother - the cricket-playing one.  Here's what I made:

I used a cute Lili of the Valley cricketer image, but given that my brother ain't so cute, I tried to come up with something different to add to it, and I'm very chuffed with how it worked out.  Here's a side shot of my spring-loaded cricket ball:

I used the sketch from this week's Totally Gorjuss, and I'm also entering this into the following: Papertake Weekly and Lili of the Valley ("Anything Goes"), Kaboodle Doodles and Shopping our Stash ("Masculine") and Crafty Cardmakers ("Distress It").

Here's a closer look at the image.  Doesn't the little guy look nervous as that giant cricket ball comes hurtling towards him?!!!

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oxford"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Cricket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Spring from an old notebook, needle + thread, twine

Thanks for looking!

A day of contrasts ....

.... we were over at my in-laws' house yesterday - it was my husband's grandmother's 92nd birthday.  She used to have parties on the 5 year marks, but since she turned 90 (had a BIG celebration that year!), she's insisting upon having a "do" every time - and rightly so!!  All her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there, she ate more food than she normally eats in a week, and all had a nice time.  Then we went in to a pub in town to see my husband's nephew's heavy metal band launching their first album.  Wonder what next weekend will bring!!! 

Here's the card I made for "Granny Susie":

I used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly, and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Bunny Zoes' Crafts, Party Time Tuesdays, Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge and Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes"), Crafty Cardmakers ("Distress It") and Shopping our Stash ("May Flowers").
Here's a closeer look at the cute Sugar Nellie image I used (first time inking this one!):

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Capella"

Image: "Miss Tulip" by Mary Hall for Sugar Nellie

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Die Cuts: Nestabilities Ovals and Scalloped Ovals

Other: Hairy string, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!