Anything Goes - Challenge 68 - Anniversaries

Hi Best Blogging Buddies..

Have you missed me?

Well I'm back from my lovely hols (more about them in another post..).... just in time to get my card made for the Anything Goes Challenge - and the theme this time is Anniversaries. 

I've loved this image for ages, and been waiting for just the right occasion - and decided that this is just that occasion.  It's by Mo Manning, and is called Young Love.  Ahhhhhhhhhhh...... And as I've put on the sentiment, they do just look 'so happy together!'  I tend to think this is what my lovely OH and I will look like in a few years time (well maybe not so many years....)  Hope the bluebirds dance around us too when we take time out to have a cuddle on a bench!

The colouring with both copics and promarkers (and even prismacolour pencils for the grass) took me a long time - I'm out of practice what with the kitchen drama and then our hols - so by the time I decided on the right colours, then did the shading... I was well into a couple of hours!  And then the 'matching the paper to the colours on the image' problem....  one I always have!!  But I've used Kissing Booth (apt - yes?) from ......................   I distressed the edges of the image using Distress Ink in Old Photo, then mounted it all on toning Bazzil cardstock. 

I added a few buttons, a bit of rustic thread, and a little heart charm that I had in my stash, a computer generated sentiment (using One Starry Night font and a Mamas and Papas song thats going round in my head)...  and hey presto (nearly 3 hours later!!), it was done! 

I was very impressed when I checked through the entries we'd had for the Black and One Other Colour Challenge......even though I didn't get to comment on any because we were away...  Why don't you pop over to the Challenge Blog to see if you were a winner??  And while you're there, you can look at my lovely DT creations - they are all so fabulous - and I'm sure will give you lots of inspiration!

I'm looking forward to seeing your Anniversary entries - remember, you can use the Jubilee theme as it is the Queen's Anniversary of being on the throne too!!

Take care all and Happy Crafting..
Big Hugs
Christine x

Ahhhhhh.....

And r e l a x..... If I could figure how to upload a pic of the blue sky and sunshine... I would... But for now I'll just say bonjour...and thank you for all your support during my hellish week last week... You're all wonderful friends that i'm glad I know! Big hugs Christine x

Found these I did a while back.

Hi my good friends..

Well, in lieu of a card which I've not been able to make due to one thing and another...  I thought I'd share with you these water-colours that I unearthed while trying to put all the stuff back in my craft room.  These were paintings I did when I took a water colour course in 2004.  They've never seen the light of day since then, and were in a massive storage box with lots of other stuff.  It was actually a course with a qualification at the end of it... my lovely OH and me took it and we both passed (but then again - I didn't come across anyone who failed!)  Anyway, I've now put them up on the craft room wall, the bigger one needs a new mount as when I painted it, I had no money and couldn't afford to have a frame made, so had to make do with the cheapest I could find.  The others still have cellophane around them (and you can see where the title was too), as they were up on display for the examiner.  (The sharp eyes can see my reflection in the glass on the bigger one..)

Hmmmm somehow I don't think I'm a budding Picasso......

The saga of the kitchen goes on........  you know we had the wrong tiles delivered at the weekend?  So the tiler couldn't do his bit.....which will now have to wait till after our holiday.  Well today was the turn of the flooring man.  We went to order what we wanted last week.....  brought home all the samples books, and after much deliberation, decided on the blackest there was, as the work surfaces are black.  Today, the carpet fitter came (it's not carpet, it's cushion-floor, but hey..), I shut the kitchen door and left him to it.....  went back in to hand him the regulation cup of tea, and wouldn't you know it, the flooring was grey and NOT what I'd chosen.  I rang the company who wanted me to check the sample against what had been supplied, so off carpet fitter trotted and returned - only for me to be proved right, that the sample was a totally different shade...... definitely BLACK and not GREY.  Soooooo I have another fight on my hands.  I was so close to tears.  In fact, strike that, I WAS in tears.  Could anything else go wrong?  The kitchen fitter is now coming back after our meal tonight, to finish the plinths.....  but they'll all have to come off again when the cushionfloor manufacturer admits he used the wrong bottle of dye.

Now....  on the plus side, complete with thermal vest still, we are off to the South of France this weekend for our much needed holiday....  the downside is that we have to come back to move all the kitchen stuff out of the dining room back into the kitchen, then the rest of my craft stash back into my craft room.  So you probably won't see me around for a bit.....  but I haven't slashed my wrists over the kitchen debacle...... I'll just be sunning myself......  that is, if our accomodation hasn't been double booked or anything.....

Sorry for whining...... but thank you all for being there for me to whine to...
Big hugs to all my blogging buddies.
Christine x

A quick and easy one..

Hi BBB's

Just needed to get a simple card on here today...  still got lots of stress going on with the kitchen, finally got my hob and sink connected last night, but ended up with a leak about 9.30 pm - then again this morning.  We've got a really good plumber who was with us within 3 mins of us calling last night... he only lives around the corner and came on his bike with his grips in hand!!  He also came out again this morning, but as there is so much pipework in one cupboard, it's proving difficult to find the leak.  We have the tiler coming on Monday...  and the flooring Thursday...  and I'm really getting cheesed off...  I'm losing sight of the lovely kitchen it's going to be........  Sorry, having a bit of a pity party this morning.... Barry's at work,  hence needing to make a card!

This was a little stamp I purchased from Stamping Bella....  Balloon Circle.  I got it from across the pond, as it doesn't seem to be in this country yet.  Don't you think it looks effective?  It's coloured with copics and promarkers - then of course, a spinkling of the magic dust!!  It's punched out with a 2" punch and I've just put a 3D sticky pad to raise it.  I handwrote the sentiment which I think looks OK, not 100% happy with it tho... will have to practice!

Whatever you're doing, I do hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend..
Big Hugs
Christine x

Anything Goes Challenge - Things with Wings!

Hi BBB's

Well it's that time again........ time for another challenge over at Anything Goes...  We had some fabulous entries for the Tick Tock theme... pop over to the blog HERE to see if you were a winner!

Now the theme this time is 'Things with Wings'.....  so of course, in my mind, it has to be a fairy or a butterfly...  but thats just my way of thinking... lots of other things have wings too..

On my card I've used a Nellie Snellen image... Frog on Flower - I'd love to know what she is thinking!.  I've used a square nestie for the image, 3D'd her wings, coloured with promarkers and copics, and sprinkled with Glamour Dust.  Then I've used another nestie - Fleur de Lis Squares - for the filligree.  My flowers are made with a Cheery Lynn Miniature Rose Die, cut out of felt with a pearl gem in the centre.  I don't know the name of the DP - don't even know where it came from....  apart from it was in my stash!  Lots of these craft goodies are available from the lovely Lynne at The Craft Den - HERE.

The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat.....but I had to cut it in half to have it like I wanted.

We really look forward to seeing your entries for this fab challenge.....  and if you need inspiration - you can always check out my lovely teamies' creations on the Challenge Blog....  they've come up with some fantastic ideas which will be sure to give you inspiration!

Big Hugs
Christine x

I'm officially in love.......

Hi Best Blogging Buddies

Sorry for my enforced absence, (no one mention new kitchens please..)  Anyway, here I am back with an a card using my new very very favourite crafting accessory that I'm so in love with....  FRANTAGE!!  Apologies again, because this post is going to be picture heavy....  but you just have to see it to appreciate it!

I have tried to photograph it in different lights, so you can see how it shines!! 

Card description...  I used an LOTV fairy... 'Garden of Wishes', and I loved her dress and wings!!  Stamped with Black Memento ink - coloured with a mix of copics and promarkers... sprinkled with glamour dust....  THEN came the alchemy!!  I bought these little pots of wonder at the Harrogate show, and I can't remember who from - but it can be bought from The Stamp Man HERE!  They laid tucked away until I saw Create and Craft on Monday this week, with a lady called Fran from Stampendous demo-ing it.  LUSH I thought....  then remembered my little package!!  YESSSSSSS I thought!  You don't even have to use versamark...  although I did for the edges.  All you do is sprinkle a touch from the various pots where you want the effect to be, and heat from the underneath.  I can't describe how fabulous the effect is in real life..... I tried to capture it in the last pic - as I altered the way my OTT light was shining onto it to get some of the effect.  YOU LIKE???  Take a look on YouTube - just put in Frantage and it'll come up with lots of fab videos. 

Other materials used are Prima Marketing Fairy Flora DP, Seam Binding from Stash, Sentiment from Pink Petticoat cut with  Memory Box Die, Flowers from WOC, and of course a bit of trusty old Bazzil! 

Now....  lastly, I did another heart in a frame (yes another heart...)  This time with rolled roses which were hand cut, not from a die.  I also put a little sentiment printed from the PC on it.  This (and the button one) was inspired by the lovely Vicky at Blush Crafts......  though I think I may have found it on Pinterest via Vicky! 

Take care all....  I'm back up to my craft room in the morning to try to get some stuff back in it - wouldn't you know that the floorboards in there had to come up for the boiler man when he was replacing!  SOOOO all that stuff (Christine and Lisa know just how much..) had to go into another bedroom!  My back will never be the same again!

Bye for now
Big Big Hugs
Christine x

Challenge: My Mum's Craft Shop - Embossing

I may be missing for a couple of days...

Hi BBB's..

No card to share tonight.... just a quick post to say I'll probably be absent from my commenting for a couple of days.... Going to have no power tomorrow (the main electric fuse board is being replaced so no computer!!), no heating (boiler being replaced), no water (ditto boiler).....  and worse still, I can't go hide in my craft room as the floorboards have had to come up in there to do the pipework from boiler to hot water tank in the airing cupboard!!  SUCH fun...... (I don't think!!hehe)

Anyway, I'll be back in the near future and please don't think I'm ignoring you...

Wish me luck!! LOL
Hugs
Christine x

What is it with me and hearts???

Hi best blogging buddies...

Well, while I've been stuck in with these kitchen fitters (well OK, not fitters yet until all the remedial work is done) I decided to get out my glue gun and have a play!  And this is the result.... what do you think?

I saw something similar on a blog, (or was it pinterest) a few weeks ago, the heart was made with rolled roses and there was a different saying below.....  so I wanted to use that inspiration but do something a little different.  I bought the same frame though from Wilkinsons... really cheap!  I always love buttons and have loads in my button drawer, so it was easy to sort out some ivory ones.  A bit of mount board that fell out of a cupboard while I was emptying my craft room (more about that later...), was used for the background - and I used a definition of love from an online dictionary.... which I think suits.  I just printed it out on the pc.   I'm always a happy bunny playing with my glue gun - apart from when I burn my fingers.... ouch! 

Now - my kitchen (or lack of it!)  The plasterers were in today, doing the walls and ceiling.......  and if you look at the pic below, you'll see it was desparately needed after what the electrician did yesterday!  So I have no lights in there till next week, no washing machine, no dishwasher, and my fridge, food, and everything else is all in my dining room........  I always wanted a kitchen/diner but not in this way!  But on the plus side, I have water and heat....... !!  BUT, and this a big but........  because the boiler is being replaced, and the plumber man needs access to the floorboards above the boiler....  I have had to empty my craft room...........  OMG the stuff that's accumulated in there!  So the contents of that room are now in my daughter's bedroom (thank goodness she's in Bermuda for the time being!)  ANYWAY, I'm waffling,,, but you can possibly understand why I'm not getting too many cards made??  My promise to you all girls, is that I'm NOT going to put all the stuff back in to my craft room that came out!!  I really really will sort it out!

Right.....  I'm going to put my feet up now methinks.... a girl can get a bit worn out thinking about how nice it's going to look after it's done.....
Hugs to all.....
Christine x

Anything Goes - Challenge 65 - Tick Tock

Hi Good Blogging Friends

Well.....  it's time for another challenge at Anything Goes..... we had a spectacular number of entries for our last challenge... why don't you pop over to the challenge blog to see if you were a winner? 

Now this time the challenge theme is  'Tick-Tock' - so I scoured my brain and my craft room to try to come up with something with a clock or watch on it.....  and the only thing I could find was a very old stamp which came free with the Craft Stamper mag years ago.  The stamp is almost perished it's that old !  But I decided to have a go at using it - and it still held ink and gave a reasonable image, it was all systems GO!  (See? My hoarding instincts sometimes pay off!)  I stamped three images, cut them out, then used Tim Holtz Distress inks in Vintage Photo and Old Paper (available from The Craft Den) which I sponged on and around the edges of the images to make them look old.  I then used sticky foam pads to 3D them - and I'm afraid I can't remember the make of the paper, it's been in my stash for such a long time!  I did a quick sentiment on the PC and gave it the same DI treatment... and called it done with a bit of matting and layering.  Not my usual pink and girly glittery type of card as you all know.... but needs must for this challenge!!  Check out my lovely teamies over on the blog where I know you'll be fabulously inspired by gorgeous cards - rather than my card - I haven't decided who I'm going to send this to yet, but not sure they'll thank me for it!! hehe

That's it from me today... we're in the middle of having our kitchen ripped out and redone so pity me - I have to be here for the workmen, but won't be able to get in my kitchen.......  but ohhhhhhh, now, perhaps I should spend the day in my craft room??????  Sounds like a PLAN!!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting
Christine x

Video Tutorial - Cutting Outside of the Box

Hi Best Blogging Buddies...

I've just worked myself up to and done another video tutorial.... this time on cutting outside of the nestability... in response to one or two requests.. 
It's a bit of a grey day here today, and my OH is at work, so I decided that it was a good time to be in my craft room!! 

Hope you like and that it possibly helps someone..  I remember my good friend Christine (the other one) showing me how to do this a long time back now!  But that's what it's all about isn't it?  Sharing how to do things!

Big Hugs to all and Happy Crafting
Christine x

It went well!!

Hi all

Well I was terrified, my tummy was doing cartwheels - but it went well!  What did???  Well at last month's WI meeting (first I'd ever been to), I learned that this month's meeting was to be a crafting evening!!  Right up my street I thought, and offered to lend a hand...  whereupon I was thanked - and given a box with lots of blank cards, some wooden embellies, and a book of 12 x 12 paper - and told that there would be 3 lots of 20 women for 30 mins each on the evening! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhh I thought!!  Why didn't I keep my big mouth shut, I thought!!!  ANWAY, the night was to also have tables of Sugarcraft Cross-stitch..... so I scratched my head, and got down to coming up with some ideas of what the ladies could put together.... and although I was really terrified, I just showed them my samples......  gave them the materials.... and let them get on with it.... though I was there to answer the questions!  In at the deep end.......as they say...

And it went really well -  Everyone seemed to enjoy the table from the feedback.. and went away clutching their own artwork!  I think there is a 10 year old girl or a frustrated blue peter presenter that loves cutting and sticking in everyone!!

As you can see, I kept the samples very easy to do without insulting intelligence, but I punched the butterflies, cut the strips, did the sentiments etc to take with me.  I did the words on the PC... and cut them out with my new SU Word Window punch - it came in very useful to do 70!!

As you can see from the pics (sorry one is sideways), it's quite a youngish crowd at this brand new WI - not a sign of jam or Jerusalem.....  or even calenders for that matter (no buns large enough for me!!), so we all had a good laugh.....  and I got lots of people who gave me their names for me to do some workshops with!  So today I'm happy.....  that it's over with - LOL!!

Just wanted to share my happiness...

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting
Christine x

Anything Goes at Anything Goes!! Challenge 64

Hi lovely blogging buddies..

Well here we are again - it's challenge time over at Anything Goes...  we had a fabulous number of entries for our Easter challenge, with some amazing cards and Easter projects!!  Why not check out the main challenge blog to see if you were lucky enough to be one of the top five chosen...

Now the challenge this week is a super easy one that anyone can join in - It literally is 'Anything Goes'!!  Ooooh don't you just love challenges like that were you don't have to stick to a theme etc...  So we look forward to seeing lots of entries again.....  it's fascinating to see so many different styles and techniques..

For my card, I've chosen to use an LOTV image - she's called Maisie Two Balloons (such a cutie).  And please note girls, the only pink is on her balloons - ooooh and her bow!!

I've used Magnolia DP - which I've distressed the edges of before adding IceStickles.......  I've coloured my image with Copics....  added Glossy Accents to the balloons to give them a shine, cut the ovals with my nesties (using the out of the box technique so the balloons were cut), then I've finished off with  a Memory Box Daisy Bubble Border Die - with added gems of course!!!  Lots of my crafting goodies are available at The Craft Den - pop over and take a look!

There's lots more inspiration from my fabbie teamies over at Anything Goes - take a peek and let us know what you think! 

Now......  while I'm here, can I also say a big welcome to my new followers....  I'm really pleased you've found your way here and hope that you will stay a while.  I love to read any comments you make - it makes my day!

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting...  (Do you think I'll have to do three pink cards now to make up for this blue one??!! hehe)
Christine x

For an Engagement...

Hi Best Blogging Buddies

Just a quickie from me today, as I'm still not well with this cough etc.... not sleeping much at night so am cream crackered in the day!  Quick apologies here too as I'm not getting to do all my commenting... I've really not been up to it....  But, in the words of Arnold S....... 'I'll be back!!'

Anyway, a friend of mine rang a couple of days back to tell me that her daughter had just got engaged, so I put together a quickie card.  I chose to use an idea from a card by Mandi from Less is More - she'd used something similar in the shape of a butterfly a week or so back, for a new beginnings card.  I just tweaked the shape and used different flowers...  and I was happy with the result!  I diecut a heart shape - then used a Woodware multi-flower punch (Christmas Rose), but only used the smallest flower - bit fiddly getting the card just under the small hole, but worth it!  I used a pearlescent cardstock for the flowers.  Then I embossed them to curve them into the shape, added gems in the centre, and stuck them all over the heart!  Simples......  as my favourite little merekat would say!

Materials: MFT Heart Shaped Die (second to smallest of the set)

I printed the word in French Script font on thePC, then used my brand new Stamping Up Word Window punch.......  to give it the very CAS look.  Hope you like!

Now - a very quick look at the new stash I bought at the Harrogate show.  I know I'd promised to do this sooner, but I've also had problems uploading pics ......  so anyway, it's here now....

It was a fabulous show as always - I met up with the lovely Elaine from A Technophobe's Blog (whose hubby apparently passed this cold on to me....  gee thanks Phil...) and we had a nice natter and a catch up.  Btw, she can't really call herself a technophobe now, as she can handle an IPhone with the best!  And the above is what jumped into my shopping bag before I got back to the car!  (Well OK, the LOTV stamps I bought at the LOTV shop a couple of days previous...)  As you can see, I got lots of ribbons and gems from Mei Flower and Hobby House, some fab new Memory Box dies, a mahoosive doily die from Cheery Lyn,  some pre-scored and cut stepper type blanks from Which Craft....... and a few other goodies too......  Most still to be played with when I feel better!

Right.....I have a hairdressers appt in an hour or so, tho I really don't feel like going, I'm DESPERATE as my grey parting is getting ever wider!  So needs must!

Hugs to all and Happy Crafting
Christine x
Challenge:  MilkCoffee Challenge blog - Flowers

Bug and Roo - Marcie (no... I'm not swearing!! hehe)

Hi best blogging buddies

Well just a quickie from me tonight as I'm poorly sick, as someone (no names mentioned but she blames her hubbie), gave me a cough/cold last weekend at the Harrogate show.... and I can't shake it!  Nor can I sleep....  which wasn't helped by my OH being called out by work at 2.45 a.m. as one of the alarms had been set off!  When he arrived back, I just de-camped to the settee and watched Desperate Housewives till the sun came up...

It/s another little mini circular one from me again... I just love doing these...  and the image is from Lori Boyd Designs - she's called Bug and Roo - Marcie - and isn't she just soooo cute??

The rest of the card is self explanatory I think... apart from the dotty paper and the sentiment which are both from Pink Petticoat.  The paper is actually a more minky colour than it looks on here... nice with the pink.  The little flowers are punched with a Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch..  and I've put Pearl Makers in the centre of each.  There is a bit of daisy trimmiong from my stash... and yes....  there's glitter on this little lady.....  there just had to be or it wouldn't have been me colouring her, now would it?  Don't think it did my cough any good tho!

I thought I'd show you the back of this one too...  I normally just print this logo on all my cards, as I sell quite a few.. but I can't print on the circular ones obviously.  I just thought this was the best solution..

By the way, I still haven't unpacked my Harrogate stuff..... so will make sure I 'show and tell' on my next post as long as my other half isn't looking!!  Ok, I'm off to take some Lemsip (other cold remedies are, of course, available.....LOL!)  Uh oh, it's getting to my head now!! hehe

Big hugs to all and thank you for your lovely comments... hope you're having a lovely weekend.
Christine x