Ok - where exactly ....

.... did January go?  I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged (and the same amount of time since I made anything - oh dear!).  Can't even think what I've been doing, the weeks have all blended into one.  Read a good few books, watched an inordinate amount of crap telly, and for the last week I've had a steeeeenkingly bad cold.  My card from my last post was a winner on Basic Grey Challenges, but I haven't even spent the voucher I won yet!!! 

But, since it was my DT team's week on PaperPlay, that was the kick-start I needed to make a card.  It's for my friend's daughter.  Our theme this week is "Hearts and Flowers .... but not Valentine", and here's what I made:

I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("All Heart"), Just Magnolia (Anything Goes + ribbon), Crafty Cardmakers (Hearts), The Shabby Tea Room ("Hearts") and Cute Card Thursday ("Hearts + Flowers").

I used a cute hAnglar + stAnglar girl that someone stamped for me at a crop last year, can't remember who, but if you're reading this and it was you, thank you!  I coloured her with distress inks, highlighted the hearts with silver Stickles, and cut her out leaving a teeny white border.  Here's a close-up, bit dark but you get the idea:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Marjolaine"

Image: hAnglar + stAnglar - don't know the name

Colouring Medium: Distress inks

Other: ribbon from stash, Hero Arts smooth gemstones, needle + thread

I've been given an award by both Deirdre and Sandie.  Thank you girls, hugs to you both:

"The idea behind this award is to give it to people whose talent you admire but feel they do not get the recognition which they deserve, so please do not award this to anyone with say 1,000 followers.

If you have been TAGGED and would like to take part, all you have to do is post the blog award above on your blog and link the person who gave you the award (also let them know you are accepting the award by posting on their blog ).

Then you can choose 3-5 people who you think deserve the award and post their name and blog links on your blog."

Some blogging pals who are all great girls, whose work I love and who I think deserve to be shared with the world are... 

June

Lily

Liz

Anne

There are so many others I could add, but some are too popular to qualify - celebrities really, hee hee!!!

Thanks for looking at my work today - hope it won't be so long 'till next time.

Yawn ....

.... bit tired this week, 7am feels like the middle of the night!!  All those lovely holiday morning sleep-ins are a thing of the past!!  And as I can't seem to switch back into working week bed-times, despite having to get up early, I am officially a wreck!!!

It's Thursday and my team's week for doing the DT samples on PaperPlay.  Our challenge this week was set by Vera and it's called "Cutie Patootie" - use a cute image.

Well, I hit a bit of a wall on this one.  I pulled out my Tildas and my Sugar Nellies et al, and I just wasn't feeling the cuteness!!  Hmm, hmm, what to do?!!  Scrabbled around in the back of the wooden stamp drawer, and out came one of those never inked Peanuts stamps - it's called "Snoopy Kisses".  I think that would qualify for cute, don't you?!  And then I started thinking ahead - Valentine's Day - could this become the card for my hearts 'n' flowers hatin' husband?  Here's what I made (sorry about the light - very dark day here - I will have to try and retake):

I used the sketch from this week's Shabby Tea Room, and I'm also entering this card into Basic Grey Challenges ("Dots + Spots" - I've used Jovial papers), Crafty Cardmakers ("Use red and a die-cut") and Bunny Zoes Crafts ("Love is in the Air").

Here's a close-up of the Peanuts image - Charlie Brown is so funny with his eyes rolling up to heaven!!

And here's a side-shot of the embellishments.  I made these Xs and Os from cardstock, and put glossy accents on the red Os and black enamel accents (wonderful stuff!) on the Xs.

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey Jovial

Stamp: Stampabilities "Snoopy Kisses"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Nestabilities Labels 2, Doodlebug brads, glossy accents, black enamel accents, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - I would be off for a nap now, but my mother-in-law is coming over for dinner, maybe I should tidy a bit!!

Last day of ....

.... freedom, we're back to school tomorrow, sigh.  It's been a lovely long relaxing three weeks off - now the house is clean, the laundry is done and tomorrow it'll all be a distant memory!!!

I went to a crop yesterday, had a lovely day chatting and laughing (and eating!), and making one card!!  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers.  I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Mo's Digital Challenge ("Going Retro"), Creative Cottage ("Something New") and Stamp Something ("Use a Digi").

I used papers from October Afternoon and Cosmo Cricket.  I used a gorgeous digi image from Mo Manning and coloured with distress inks yet again. Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Thrift Shop" and Cosmo Cricket "Circa 1934"

Image: Mo Manning "Angelina with Balloons"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: MS Punch, ribbon and buttons from stash, needle + thread

 
Thanks for looking!
 

Slightly belated ....

.... but I'll say it anyway, Happy New Year to one and all - hope 2011 will be a good year for you and yours!!

I've seen lots of threads on message boards about New Year's resolutions.  Typically, my resolution is not to make a resolution, I find that's an easy one to achieve!!!  But really, the most improving thing I could do is to stop procrastinating!!!

This card is a case in point, one of the teachers at school asked me to make it in mid-December.  OK, the snow was a valid excuse, then Christmas itself and all the visiting and socialising that entails.  But by last weekend, when I was still ensconced on the sofa and the house was cleaned up after the New Year's party, I had run out of excuses.  So I dragged myself up to the craftroom and, what do you know, made something!  Here's the card:

I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers.  I'm also entering this card into the following challenges: Shabby Tea Room (11 elements - mine are: 4 papers, 4 hearts, 1 image, 1 ribbon, 1 border punch), Lili of the Valley ("New Beginnings"), Paper Sundaes ("Something New" - my new is the ribbon) and Papertake ("Anything Goes").

I used Pumice Stone Distress Ink to ink the edges of the papers, I like the look against those pale pink papers, makes them stand out more.  I used the same Lili of the Valley stamp that I used on the last baby card  - it's so cute - just coloured with distress inks and highlighted with stickles.  Here's a close-up:

And here's a wee side-shot of the layers - lots of paper on this card, but I kept the dimension as flat as I could as the client is sending it through the post:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Sugared"

Stamp: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: MS Valentine Lace punch, Nestabilities Labels 4, diamond stickles, gingham ribbon, needle + thread

That's all for now- I'm going to go and make a start on taking down the Christmas decorations - such a gloomy job!

Thanks for looking!

It's all gone ....

.... the snow, that is.  It thawed astonishingly quickly.  We went from having to dig the car out of the snow on Christmas morning and only just about make it a mile or so to church and to family for dinner, to being able to drive my brother the 20 miles to his home on Boxing Day on clear roads.

And I actually made a card.  It's an extremely belated birthday card for my husband's nephew, who was 19 some time back, and with one thing and another, I only just got to make his card.  I'm sure he won't mind, since I put some extra guilt money inside!!  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers, and am also entering this into Creative Card Crew ("birthdays") and Simon Says Stamp ("Anything Goes").

I used the same Mo Manning digi stamp that I used for another 19 year old's card back in September.  Mo's images are just so clever, and great to colour.  After I had finished the card, I realised I ought to have put something else on, maybe a few metal things, brads or suchlike, but it was too late - all was stuck down.  Oh well!!  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Granola"

Image: "Simon" by Mo Manning

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Hairy String, needle + thread, bronze crackle paint (on numbers)

Thanks for looking!  Next on my list is yet another baby girl card, again a bit belated. 

It's STILL ....

snowing - oh yes, I can't believe it, it's been the most Christmassy December ever.  The earlier stuff lasted for about a week and a half, then there was a little dusting last weekend and on Monday this week, a massive snowstorm which dropped about 8 inches in a couple of hours, and to my utter delight, school holidays had to start 3 days early.  Couldn't ask for a better present!!!

I've not been doing much crafting this month, even though we've been at home so much, so I've only one project to show.  My son and I made "Christmas Cherries" from the Pioneer Woman's recipe HERE as presents for teacher, neighbours, etc.  They are very very nice - really citrussy and light.  Here's how I packaged them:

And my son wants to show you his snowman, that he made yesterday all by himself.  Here's the sculptor with his finished masterpiece:

And here he is running home 'cos his feet and hands were hurting with the cold:

Happy Christmas to one and all!!

It's still ....

.... snowing, we've got another snow day off school tomorrow, and my cup of joy is overfloweth-ing!!!!

It's Thursday, and that means time for another challenge on PaperPlay.  We're sponsored this week by Whimsy Stamps and our challenge is "Monochromatic".

I went for an all-pink card, for a teacher in school who has just had a baby girl.  Here's what I made:

Sorry about the terrible light - it's very grey here with all the snow clouds so photos are coming out very dark.

I'm used the sketch from this fortnight's Truly Scrumptious and also the "think pink" optional extra.  I'm also entering this into Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge ("a few of my favourite things" - stitching, distress inks, stickles!) and A Spoon Full of Sugar (Recipe - 3 papers, 3 flowers, 3 buttons).

It's the first card I've made with some recently acquired Lily of the Valley images.  I love this little cutie - perfect for Baby cards for either boy or girl.  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Bittersweet"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Wild Orchid flowers, mesh and buttons from stash, stickles, needle + thread

Now I'm going to clean up my messy house, and then head out for some fun in the snow.  I hope to take some pictures to contrast with those I took on Sunday, there is SO much more snow since then.

Thanks for looking!