It's back to the plain and (not so) simple for me today....

Hi Girls...

Well it's taken me all day to get these pics uploaded.... GRRRR to blogger!!  Anyway, they're here now, so I'm thinking sweet thoughts (honest), and not mumbling away like I've been doing for the last couple of hours!! hehe

Now..  I blame these cards on my good friend Lisa over at Mess2Magic!  When she came to visit me, she brought me a lovely lot of card-making mags for me to enjoy... apparently she has as much difficulty throwing things away as I do, so handed them on to me!  Sooooooo  I sat and went through them all, and pulled out articles or pics of cards I would like to have a go at....  and here's the result.   (By the way girls, I then gave the rest of the mags to the AGE UK charity shop I work in, and they sold like hot cakes - so don't throw away...)  The card above was a 'to do' project - giving the template for the flower (which for some reason, I'd thrown away!!)  So I set to and hand drew it..... looks so easy..... but is SOOO damn difficult to get the right dimensions etc....  Now if anyone wants the digi download, I can give it to you....  just email me.  (I drew it freehand and then scanned it into photoshop and played a bit). 

The card is pretty self explanatory - and I printed on the pink dotty paper for the sentiment - using CK Ali's Hand Font which I'd downloaded for free at some time or another.  Of course, I had to add a bit of glitter.......

My second card today (yes two, don't fall over in excitement - they've taken me since Sunday to complete!) - is again CASE'd from a card I tore out of the mags, but I'm not sure there were instructions for this one.  Again, I had to draw it freehand and scan it.... but I think it looks really cute..... I made it for my OH - as we really are on Cloud Nine most of the time (but shhhhhh ... am not saying it too loud as he'll get a big head!!  And if anyone wants the digi image, just contact me and I'll send it.  I just hand wrote the sentiment and did the red heart with a glue pen and glitter (yes more glitter)! 

So there you go!  Hope you like them... and if not, blame Lisa!

We've spent most of the day in the garden today - it was my OH's day off so we tend to just potter around....  At least I'm saying I've been in the garden, but that was only when I wasn't  throwing things at my monitor all the time blogger wasn't playing ball.......

Hope you're all well and not being too depressed at the damp longest day we had yesterday...
Thanks for saying hello....
Hugs
Christine x

Hi...
Anyone having problems uploading pics to blogger???????  I've been struggling all day..... it pretends it's going to do it, thinks about it, then doesn't....... !! Any thoughts on what I'm doing wrong?  Or has this happened to anyone and you know how to sort it??

H-E-L-P!!!
Big Hugs
Christine x

A little change.......

Hi Girls...

Well after my trip to Doncaster on Sunday (you remember, the one where I wasn't going to spend anything - I was just going to get ideas....) - I thought I'd better try out some of the stuff I bought!  Ooooops - I've been a naughty girl again...  but I was pretty good - well, compared to the Harrogate show I was.... and I was round and away in 2 hours... that's a record for me!  My lovely OH was so patient - even searching out items that I was interested in - and even once, he went in a queue to pay - just so I could get onto the next stand!! LOL!

So without further ado... onto my card.  I used a Woodware Chrysanth stamp from WhichCraft at Doncaster (the people that laid on the show..).  I saw a card made using this stamp and thought it was really different for me to have a go at.  Well, different for me that is who's used to colouring everything in sight....

A sideways view to see the layers

It's stamped onto pretty DP two or three times, cut out (the tedious bit) then embossed (curled) and layered... think that's easy to see.  And then, well of course I had to add some glitter.......  agreed?  The card behind is very simple, as I felt I didn't need much more.

It's been a beautiful day here today - I went out for lunch with a lovely friend and sat outside to catch some rays and top up my tan...  Yes..... the gardening can wait until tomorrow..

Now....... I have to do lines.... one hundred lines of 'I really must NOT spend any more money on craft stash........  I really must NOT spend any more money on craft stash........ etc etc.......

Big hugs for all my buddies and thanks for commenting..
Christine x
PS.......  Confession:  Yes...... I DID buy some more nestibilities.......  and YES.... I DID buy some lovely Molly Bloom stamps.... (holding my hand out for a slap..)

Deja Vu.....

Hiya fellow bloggers

Just a quickie tonight as I'm just taking a quick break from feet-up time on the settee!!  This card is deja vu as it's the same papers that I used for my last card (Girls Paperie & Bazzill), but using a different Lori Boyd Puddle Jumper - this time it's Birthday Emma - which is apt as it's my daughter Emma's birthday this month!

Anyway, I've used the embossing tool again to curve the image - I really enjoy this technique and I think it makes such a difference.  I've used a nestie for shape - then shaded with a versamagic teardrop in wheat, while the nestie is still in place.  I've used cotton for the balloon ties.  I also used an MS punch for the trim under the ribbon.  Again, I didn't think it needed more embellies...  I'm definitely getting into the 'less is more' way of thinking.

Colours: Dress: Blossom, Pink Carnation, Rose Pink, Cerise, and Copic Rose Pink
for blonde hair (not shown)... Ivory, Vanilla, Pastel Yellow, Buttercup

Hope you like it... and thanks for commenting...
Happy weekend
Christine x
ps........  OH and I didn't mention the glitter.........   x

Puddle Jumper Darla...

Hi Girls

It's been a bit gray here today, so not a day for the garden - hence me ending up in the craft room!  My OH was at work from 3 today - he'll be home at 9, so I took the opportunity to go hide away up there for a little while and see what I could get up to!

Well I've loved doing this card..... and at last I think I've mastered the embossing technique used by Debby over at Scrapjourney! I've used a Girls Paperie DP, with trusty old Bazzill behind it.  The ribbons came from Fizzy Moon, and I've used my oval nesties and dotty embossing folder behind the image.  The sentiment is from Stamping Bella.  The actual image itself is one of the very talented Lori Boyd's PuddleJumper collection - it's Darla.... and she's gorgeous!  I used my promarkers to colour her and I've shaped her (as taught by Debby), with a large headed dry embossing tool and a deep mat.  I love this effect... so will be using it many more times I'm sure.  She's obviously then put on 3D foam pads to raise her from the oval shape and allow the edges to 'shape around'...  (sorry don't know how else to describe it!).  Of course, she has a touch of glitz with some glamour dust on her bow, flower and dress!.....  Well, it just wouldn't be my card otherwise, would it?

Now for a quick funny......  someone mentioned a couple of days ago the 'other' definition of a crafter.....  apparently the CRAFT stands for 'Can't Remember A F****** Thing - er!!  Kind of describes me to a tee! Don't be offended at the language please, I use 'flippin' for the F!! hehe!  It just tickled me - and I thought I'd share it!

Hugs and hope you're all having a good week......
Christine
PS.........  I only need another TWO followers to reach a massive (in my book!) 50!!!  Will have to check out challenges for this card to try to encourage a couple more LOL!
CHALLENGES: I love PROMARKERS - Sparkle and Bling
One Stop Craft Challenge - Texture
Stamp Something - Digi Day

Hi Girls...... i'm BACK!

Hi Girls
Well,,,,,,, I'm back in the real world now.... after a fabulous holiday (photos below for those that have been asking for them!! hehe)

Now, my card uses an image that's been coloured for a couple of weeks, but has not quite made the 'onto a card' bit till this morning.  It's a Gor-juss image - Puddles of Love.....  and I tried to use the embossing technique that Debby over at A Scrap Journey uses a lot - although I've not quite succeeded this time (mainly because I put glossy accents on it I think... which have tried to straighten out my lovely embossed shape!! LOL)  Thanks Debby for giving me some help on how it's achieved! I've used promarkers to colour, then added a puddle for her to dance in!  The sentiment is handwritten by me, from a saying that I saw somewhere in one of those forwarded emails... I thought it was apt!  Anyway, for some reason although I was happy with my colouring, I didn't really know what else to put on the card.  Everything I tried looked wrong, so eventually I left it be.  I've added a few splashes with the glossy accents from the puddle, but they can't be seen in the photo... shame!  I've uses some new magnolia paper....  mmmmm! 

Right...... now onto my holiday pics...  (I've put them last so that if you start yawning, you can just switch off now!! hehe)  There's also a pic especially for Mina!!  We really loved Kefalonia.... it's a fabulous place, and I was actually really proud of myself for getting there.... as most of you know, I've had a fair few difficulties over the last year which have stopped me getting to places....  but I DID IT!  (And Lisa..  I've also driven the M62 this week so will be coming to visit shortly!! hehe)

Looking for Tom Conteh



I WENT on that boat into an underground cavern!!





Especially for MINA




Our balcony




Shirley Valentine bit........

Soooooooooooo if anyone is thinking of going to that beautiful island....... don't hesitate!  It's is FABULOUS and the people are really friendly and welcoming....  most speak really good english (I would have preferred to try to speak greek, but hey ho...... !! And of course, I just had to bring the odd greek silver item back with me..........  well, you just have to, don't you???

Hugs to all and thanks for dropping by
Christine xx
PS.... Anyone going to the Doncaster Stamp Magic show next Sunday?