Penguin Pals

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been missing again but my pesky MS has been making my double vision worse again. It 's still not quite as good as it gets so please put up with me for a bit if I don't comment as much as I'd like. It was also a year, on the 13th November, since I lost my lovely mum and I've been feeling quite low about it.
   
I wrote some of this post before my vision got really bad and this is what I had to say then.

 I hope you're all well into making your Christmas cards now. I went to the craft show at Doncaster and, of course, came back with a few goodies......ok, a lot of goodies. I bought some stamps from Card-io to make faster and flatter cards for posting. Well I'm not actually that quick with them yet but I should have some to show you next time but for now I've got another LOTV stamped card to show you using Penguin Pals. 

 

 

 

 

Here's a close up shot.

 

 

 

I made this card before I got the snow advice from Lou but I don't think it looks too bad apart from me going a bit mad with Old Paper Distress Ink on the paper! I used a 6" square card, some Core'dination Cardstock, sanded, and two papers from LOTV Winter Wishes paper pad. I used Spellbinders Adorning Squares for the image. The Frosted Spruce Tree is from Memory Box, the Snowflake is from Joy Crafts 6002/2020. The edges of the paper was distressed with a Tim Holtz tool then the distress ink was used on the paper, die cuts and sentiments which are from LOTV Christmas Grungy Messages set 33 and Grunge Christmas Postmarks set 17. The snow was WOW Twinkle Puff Embossing powder and DecoArt Glamour Dust has been added to the tree.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-
Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes and GDT Spot
Lili of the Valley Challenge- Merry Christmas

I had some lovely news though while unable to blog and because of one of you fantastic blog friends!! It was a good job Lucy left a comment congratulating my top three win at Crafty Little Fairies as I would have missed it completely as I've tried to avoid my tablet except to check emails. I was so excited to see this on their blog as it's my first top anything win and I've so wanted someone to choose my card instead of a random draw win (not that I don't like these as well, lol!) and have a badge for my blog. So I'm a very happy bunny and my hubby says I'm easily pleased that is until he sees my Christmas list, hehe!

So that was where I had stopped writing the post. I'll be back properly when my vision settles down and I'm feeling a bit more cheerful. I think the last 12 months have just taken their toll on me with my mum, 2 operations and a relapse of my MS. Hopefully next year will bring better times.
 
Thanks for your visit and I hope you like the card. I'm sending you all a huge hug and one especially for you, Lucy!
 Debra x

 



 

Hat's Off.

Hi everyone. It great how helpful other bloggers are to one another. I've loved Lou's cards since seeing them on the Lili of the Valley blog but especially her Christmas cards as she uses puff white embossing powder which looks so lovely but when I tried it, it didn't look like hers. So I emailed her and she shared her technique with me. I've used it on today's image from LOTV called Hat's Off. It's not quite to Lou's standard but I'm pleased with my first attempt. I hope you like it.

Close up of the snowman...

 

 

...and the robin.

 

 

Another photo...

I took a few photos as the snow looked a more cream colour on some of the photos.

As well as LOTV's Hat's Off stamp I also used a Robin stamp from their Mini Christmas Icons set 79 and the sentiment was from their Christmas Grungy Messages set 33. Coloured the images with Copic Ciao pens.
I used paper from LOTV- Simple Joys paper pad.
The dies used were Memory Box- Frosted Spruce and Frosted Christmas Tree, La La Land- Picket Fence and Joy Crafts- Ice Crystal One.
WOW!- White Puff Twinkle Embossing Glitter was the product I used for the snow.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-
Craftyhazelnut's Patterened Paper October Challenge
A Gem of a Challenge- CREATE A SCENE
Little Claires Challenge- Christmas Theme
We Do Doobadoo Challenge- Christmas
Divas By Design- Texture Embossing
Deep Ocean Challenge- Christmas in October
Crafty Little Fairies Challenge- Only One Designer Paper. Top Three Winner
Crafty Calender Challenge- Bingo Embossing, Sentiment, Sparkle.
LOTV Challenge- Anything Goes


I'm really looking forward to Sunday as I'm going to the Stamp Magic craft show at Doncaster Dome and meeting up there with Chris and Lexi. Poor Chris and Stuart will mostly be bags carriers or doing the crossword whilst me and Lexi buy lots of crafty goodies, lol! It is my anniversary present from Stuart and Lexi's birthday present from us so it's only right :-). If anyone is going and sees a woman in a blue (Quickie make, yes Quickie! What can I say about the name except it was embarrassing in the shop asking for a quickie!!) power chair with crutches on the back do come and say hi.

 

Thank you for your visit and have a great weekend. Big hugs to you all.

 

Debra x

 

A Fairy on Top

Hello. I hope everyone in the UK has got their winter clothes out as it's definitely colder here. I wonder what weather my followers from other countries are experiencing. Please tell me in your comments as I'd love to know even if it makes me jealous, lol.

Today's card is a Christmas card using the LOTV image ' A Fairy on Top'. I thought this was really sweet and picked it as part of my candy win from Vicky's candy giveaway. I've used papers from LOTV's Snow Princess Solids pad as I wanted a really soft colour combination of white, turquoise and a little silver. I hope you like it.

A flat shot ...

A shot showing the Wink of Stella clear glitter on the baubles and a close up of the Poinsettias.

You wouldn't believe the trouble I had trying to get a photo showing the Wink of Stella shining!

I made this using a 6" square card and four different sheets of paper from LOTV's Snow Princess patterned and solids pads, three turquoise and one off white sheet (for the largest Poinsettia). I used Spellbinders Floral Ovals die for the image, Poppy Stamps dies- Blooming Poinsettia large and small and a Tattered Lace corner die(corner was cut from white card glittered with Glamour Dust in crystal clear). The pine branch was a Martha Stewart punch. The ribbon, from a pack of three ribbons, was from Marks and Spencer which I thought was too nice for Xmas presents. They've got something similar in store this year. The sentiment is a Cleary Besotted sweet little sentiments stamp and the Adhesive shimmer dots, in the flower centres and at the side, are from Papermania. I also used a silver metallic Promarker for the fairy and tree baubles under the Wink of Stella and a white pen for the spots on the dress.

Please tell me if you prefer the Card Recipe list instead of the above description. I haven't decided which I like or is easier yet.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-
We Do Doobadoo Challenge- Christmas
The Ribbon Girl Challenge- Glitz and Dazzle
The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog- All The Threes Three Turquoise DPs, Three Flowers, Three Leaves.
Papertake Weekly Challenge- Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge-Christmas in October
LOTV Challenge- Anything Goes




Kieran is coming home for the weekend today so I'm a happy mummy. I'm trying to get more Christmas cards done this year so hopefully I'll have more to show you soon.

That's it for today's post. I'm sending you all a big hug but the biggest to Lucy as she's just lost her lovely dog. Thank you so much for visiting I always love to read your comments.

 

                                                          Debra x

Man Tree

Hi everyone. I hope you're all feeling wonderful and have had a great day. I've got another card to show you and it's........a man's card! I find them so hard to make which is why they're so rare on my blog but I bought these stamps and made this card for my stash a while ago and I really like how the card turned out. I forgot to post it so here it is and what's more there's no glitter in sight, lol!!

and here's another shot.

The stamps from Little Claire, a great little company with some really different stamps, are Man Tree and Manphabet alphabet and number set. The sentiment stamp is from a company I just can't remember the name of and I 've put the stamps away somewhere! I used my Copic Ciao pens for the colouring. A really simple layout on an 6" square card, some kraft card and core'dination card.  

I'd like to enter the following challenge:-

Little Claire Challenge- A Birthday Card


Stuart and me had great time yesterday with my youngest son, Kieran, and his lovely girlfriend, Zoe, in Newcastle. It's wonderful to see them settled in their new home and jobs but I still miss my son not being at home more, empty nest syndrome or what?! 

So that's it for me. Thank you so much for your visit. I love reading your comments and really look forward to getting them. Have a good evening and a great crafty week.

        Sending you all a big hug,

 

Debra x

Time for a cupcake.

Hi everyone. I hope you're all had a great weekend. Sorry I've been a bad blogger but other things have just got in the way.

Anyway, today's card is an image from Lily of the Valley art pad no. 19 Cute Cottage Garden. I made it for my friend's birthday which of course I had left to the last minute so the art pads are perfect for this. I hope you like it. 

and another shot of it

I've used papers from LOTV's Pastel Dreams pad. The dies used are Cheery Lynn Designs English Tea Party, La la land Flag Banner and docrafts Papermania cupcake die. The buttons and bow are from my stash. I've also added DecoArt Glamour Dust in crystal, of course!

I'd like to enter the following Challenge:-

LOTV Challenge - Pretty Papers

Just a short post today so I can enter the challenge and so you don't have an epic novel to read, lol. I'm also trying to get more Christmas cards made. So I'll be back soon.

                                                             Sending you a big hug,

                                                                   Debra x

First Christmas Card!

Hi everyone. I hope you're all well and having crafty fun. A big welcome to my new follower Sue, I hope you can visit often and that you enjoy my posts.

I forgot to mention on my last post that I had a wonderful candy giveaway win from Vicky's blog-http://stickywithicky.blogspot.co.uk/ . Vicky did a 10km run to raise money for Cancer Research and has a link there where you can donate as well. We all know someone who has been affected by cancer so why not visit her fabulous blog and make a donation whilst you're there.

My MS is misbehaving again at the moment as is Blogger on my tablet so I haven't been crafting as much or commenting on your blogs. Blogger will work for a short while and then tell me I'm not following any blogs! I will comment on your blogs if it will let me.

Anyway I've finally made my first Christmas card, Yay! Took me ages to do the layout and then as I was gluing the different layers I kept sticking things in the wrong place. So I hope you like my card although I'm on the fence about if I like it or not.

Lots of LOTV products used on this card

Image close up

and the flowers.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-

Lotv Christmas In August Challenge
Deep Ocean Challenge- Something Sweet
Live and Love Crafts Stitching- Real or Faux Challenge (faux Stitching)
A Creative Romance Challenge- A Touch of Kraft

Card Ingredients

 

 

Card blank 8"x 8" and stamping card- Craftwork Cards

Kraft card and white card punched and distressed from Stash

Pens- Copic Ciao

Papers- LOTV- Snow Princess and Snow Princess Solids

Stamps- LOTV Mistletoe Kisses, Christmas Mini Images- Foliage, set 75 Christmas Wishes and set 40 Babies Companion set ( faux stitching)

Dies- Joy crafts Ice Crystal 1, 2 and 3.

Punches- Martha Stewart pine branch, docrafts snowflake edge

Ink pads- Memento Black Tuxedo, Distress pad in Old Paper, VersaMark watermark, ColorBox Robin's Egg and Lilac.

Lace- Candy win from Live and Love Crafts  

Frosted berries and Chrysanthemums from Live and Love Crafts

Purple flowers from Carole's candy win and cream flowers from stash.

Other stuff used- DecoArt Glamour Dust in crystal, Stickles in Star dust, WOW white puff twinkle embossing powder (on heart), Wooden Heart and doily from stash.

Gosh that was a long list! Well, that's all from me for now. Thank you so much for visiting me, I always appreciate the comments you've taken the time to leave. Enjoy tomorrow and have a great week.

                                            Debra x 

 

 



Blog Anniversary Candy Winner!

Hello everyone. Before I announce the candy winner I want to say a big thank you to you all for taking part and a big welcome to my new blog friends, many from different countries! So hello to Marianne, Kelly, Leila, Nikki, Vinita, Lucy, Regina, Lora, scrAPpamondo and Dr Sonia. I haven't had chance to comment on all your blogs yet but will visit you all soon.

Ok, so to the winner of my first blog candy, using Random. Org sequence generator. The winner is ...................

                              No. 7  Rebecca Bradshaw!!!!!

Well done Rebecca.

As Rebecca was already a follower before I started the giveaway I thought it would be nice that a new follower received a small gift also.
 The second number in the sequence generator was a new follower and that person was............. 

                                           No. 5   Leila Bianca!!!!

So if you could both send me an email with your addresses I'll send you your prizes. My email address is:-

 craftedbydebra@gmail.com

Thank you again for entering and I hope you pop in to visit me often.

                                  Debra x

1st Blog Anniversary!

The Graduation Cards

Hi there. Hope you're all fit and well today. I've got quite a few new lovely blog friends following my blog which is wonderful. I'll say a proper hello to you all when the Candy giveaway finishes.

I just thought I'd get the Graduation cards posted today. The design for these cards is not mine. The designer of the original card is a lovely lady called Janet Nagel. I saw her card on Pinterest and thought that's what I want to make. This is her blog if you'd like to see her superior version of the card- http://janetscoloringmyworld.blogspot.co.uk/. Janet very kindly allowed me to show my version of her design but I must stress the copyright belongs to her.

So here are mine, it's a bit picture heavy!

This is Zoe's card (Kieran's girlfriend) with spotty paper.

Side view

Kieran's card had script as his paper, I thought it suited him as he'd done a history degree.

Finally Chris' card.

They're all in the colours of their Graduation hoods, nearly! Chris told me his was black and red with white fur trim. Well he was wrong as it also had dark green on it. I could also kick myself as I didn't take a photo of Lexi's card which had black and white flower paper on it.

I cheated with my cards as I bought the box cards from Craftwork Cards whereas Janet made them from scratch. It was a good job as it took me about 8hrs to make the first one. It took ages to cut the shapes out on my machine and my cutter was playing up and not cutting in straight lines. I'm not going to do a recipe for them but if anyone wants to know what I used, give me a shout.

Anyway I hope you like them, my son's and their girlfriends did which made me really happy. Thank you again to Janet!!

Exciting time!

Hi there. Firstly a big welcome to my new followers Heidi and Annie. I hope you enjoy my blog as much as I enjoy yours.

 Sorry I've been missing for a while but lovely things have been happening for me and hubby. My sons have both passed their exams and just graduated from University. Chris, my eldest is now a Doctor with a medical degree and a 'first' in a medical science degree as well. Kieran also got a 'first' in History and a fabulous mark for his dissertation. They graduated within 6 days of one another so I had cards to make not just for them but also for their girlfriends who graduated at the same time as them. I made box cards for the first time which took me ages to make, I'll show you those on another post as I got the design on Pinterest and want to ask permission from the original maker first.

Anyway here's a card I made for a commission. I hope you like it.



 

 

 

It's a LOTV image from one of their art pads.

 

 

 

 

Here's a close up shot.

 

 

Card Recipe

 

8" x 8" card blank- Craftwork Cards

Card- White card from stash and pink from Papermania Solid Cardstock used for heart banner and little hearts  

Ink pads- Memento Toffee Crunch, ColorBox Rosebud

Papers- LOTV Always and Forever paper pads, patterned and solid 

Topper- LOTV Art pad 22 Little ones 

Stamp- LOTV sentiment set 26 Simply Sophisticated   

Dies- Spellbinders Labels Eight, Cheery Lynn Designs Sophia's Heart (cut up), Memory Box Precious Hearts, La, La Land Heart Banner

Punch-  docrafts Xcut border edge Heart

Glitter- DecoArt Glamour Dust in crystal

 

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

 

Lili of the Valley Challenge- Take Two. I've used LOTV papers, art pad and sentiment

 

Deep Ocean Challenge - Lots of Layers

 

We Do Dobadoo Challenge- Celebrations

 

 

We're so proud and happy for our sons but I'm a little bit sad as they have now moved or about to move into new homes with their girlfriends so have officially left home, sob, sob. Ah well, I'll just have to make do with my hubby and three cats!

 

Hope you're all having a great weekend and enjoying today's sunshine. I've actually got some more cards made to show you.... yes I know it's a bit of a miracle..... so I hope to be back soon.

 

                        

                            sending you all a big hug,

 

                                        Debra x 



Sorry I'm awol!

Quick hello to you all. Sorry I'm missing but I have a lot going on at the moment and haven't had a chance to post any cards. I should be back at it in about a week. I hope you're all well and happy.

                          Sending you all a big hug,

                                       Debra x  

I'm Back!!

Hi there. I want to say a huge Thank You for all your get well wishes, you've all been so lovely and I really appreciated it :)
 
I'm still recovering from my ops which could take up to six months but I also have Multiple Sclerosis which has complicated things further. So I'll try to post as often as I'm able.

At long last I've managed to make a card. It only took me three weeks and I'd coloured the image before I went into hospital! I was going mad not being able to craft but while not being able to make cards, I was able to order craft stuff online and I think my hubby was worried I'd never use it all (and end up on a hoarding TV programme) so vigorously encouraged me to craft if only for ten minutes at a time. Lol. So here's my card which has a Saturated Canary image for a change.

Sorry it looks like I was drunk when I took the photo.

 A close up shot.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:-
 Stampin for the Weekend- Anything Goes
 We Do Doobadoo Challenge- Ribbons
 Crafty Little Fairies Challenge- Spots and Stripes (paper, image and butterfly have spots, other butterflies and the paper inside card have stripes)


Card Recipe

8"x 8" Card Blank- Craft UK from the Range.
Stamp- Saturated Canary Tilly.
Ink pad- Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aquatic Splash on butterflies and tag.
Pens-Copic Ciao
Papers- Lotv Promises paper pad, Maja Design Summer Basics
Lilac Spider web from Carole's Blog Birthday Candy win.
Dies-Spellbinders Labels Eight, Memory Box Corner Bow, Joy crafts 6002/0251 and 6002/0027
Sentiment- Lotv Sentiment Tags 24
Flowers- WOC Cosmos Daisy and Tulips from Live and Love Crafts, WOC Cherry Blossom and Sweetheart Blossoms from Lotv.
Leaves- Martha Stewart pine branch punch.
Ribbon from local shop.
Lace- from Live and Love Crafts.
Pearl Gems- from Andy's crafts
Other stuff- Glamour Dust, Stickles, Stampendous Chunky White embossing powder.


Sorry for the different sized photos but when I came to putting my watermark on the photos and realised I couldn't remember how to do it. Stuart, my hubby, had really kindly sorted all my craft stash into labelled boxes which he would get for me so I didn't need to bend. He did this under my supervision and we threw a few things away unfortunately this included the idiot's blog guide my eldest son had written for me. So my youngest, who came home for a couple of days, wrote me a new one which is a quite different and the photos didn't turn out as usual. I'm so grateful Kieran could help me with it or it would have been July before Chris came home to help me!

Anyway thanks for waiting for me and for checking in on me during all these weeks!!!

    Sending you all the biggest hug,

 

Debra x

Not as planned

Hi there. Just a short post to tell you that I'll be out of action for a bit. My operation on the 25th March went okay but then I developed a rare complication with meant I needed emergency surgery on the 26th and a 6 day stay in ICU. What should have been a 4 day stay instead was a 11 day stay. I am so, so glad to be home!!! My recovery period is going to be much longer than anticipated so I won't be making cards for a while :o( . I've just started to have a quick look at what's going on in blog land so will comment when I feel up to it but I'll try to look at what you're all up to.

Thank you for your lovely good luck wishes for my operation. Okay, it didn't go as planned but hey ho it could have been worse.

Hope you're all well and have lots of crafty mojo as I'm looking forward to seeing all your creations.

                                        Debra x

Ruby Wedding

Hi there. A big hello to my new follower Vicky and welcome to my little blog family, I hope you enjoy visiting.

I need to apologize for not commenting on some of your posts only I've had a rotten headache which has been affecting my vision so computing was a bit of a no no. I blame the very restrictive diet I'm on to prepare for an operation next Wednesday so I'll be awol for a few days next week too.

My card today was a quick one made purely with dies as I wasn't up to much else and needed it for my neighbours that day. Hope you like it. 

The colours didn't come out as well as I would've liked in the photo.

This photo shows the little hearts sparkling.

Card Recipe

6x6 Card Blank- Craftwork Cards
White linen Cardstock from stash
Ruby card- Papermania Solid Cardstock
Dies- Tonic Gothic Border Squares, Spellbinders Classic Hearts and Classic Scalloped Hearts, Cheery Lynn Designs B226 Happy and B243 Anniversary, Cuttlebug Olivia Alphabet & Numbers
Little gem hearts from stash

We had a lovely weekend away in Sheffield. The hotel was fab, the weather was really good, we went to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster with Chris and Lexi, had a shop in Meadow Hall and finally on the way home went to Icon UK, which sells lots of dies for really good prices. Good job we went as I bought the happy anniversary dies there which was lucky. So thanks to everyone who wished me a good weekend, the wishes came true!

I'm wishing you all have a great weekend and inspired card making. Thank you visiting me,
                                                   Debra x

Quick card....or not so quick.

Hi there. I hope everything is going well for you all. A big welcome to my new follower Rebecca! Thank you for your company and I hope you enjoy visiting. :)
 
I was going to my craft group (I say craft but most of the people there are artists and only me and another lady do something different) and I hadn't got a card sorted out to make. I got my Lotv art pad, die cut an image and grabbed a few other bits to take with me. I made most of the card quite quickly and then decided to pleat some ribbon on it. Well the ribbon pleating looked ok for the first time trying it but it didn't suit the card one bit. I'd stuck it on with that red sticky tape so when I took it off the paper it ripped it! Not wanting to bin it I've stuck some punched paper over it. So here is my not very quick to make card, I hope you think I saved it ok.

 



And a different shot ....

 

I don't think it turned too bad but it's definitely better without the ribbon.

I'm away for a few days to 'take part in Sheffield activities with my second favourite son and his delightful accomplice'. My eldest son, Chris, and his girlfriend Lexi got me a voucher for a 2 night stay near Sheffield for my birthday in January, so I'm taking Stuart if he's good, lol. Oh and Chris called himself my second favourite son as his brother Kieran always signs my cards 'from your favourite son'. Chris said, with a smile, that he knew his place.

I'd like to enter the follow challenges:

The Ribbon Girl Challenge: Birthdays
The Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes


Card Recipe

6x6 card- Craftwork Cards
Cardstock- Papermania
Paper- Lotv Always and Forever paper pad
           Forever Friends Kraft Notes paper    
Image- Lotv art pad Set 19 Cute Cottage Garden
Stamp- Lotv sentiment Set 26 Simply Sophisticated
Dies- Spellbinders Labels Eight
          Cheery Lynn Designs DL101 English Tea Party- cut up.
Punch- eksucess  Arch Scallop
Ink pad- Adirondack Pink Sherbet for paper and flowers ( not quite the right colour flowers)
Flowers- Dovecraft paper blossoms in light pink
Other stuff- Glamour Dust in Crystal, flat back pearls from Anita's

 Chris mentioned the other day that I was getting more comments which is nice that he's checking my blog out. So a big Thank You for visiting, leaving me such lovely comments and being great blog friends.
                                  
                                               Lots of hugs, Debra x

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Kitten Cuddles

Hi there.  Today's card is a little different for me but I thought I'd have a go at a more dimensional style of card. I'm always conscious of postal charges so keep my cards reasonably flat but a lot of cards that win in the challenges have flowers etc. so I thought why not try it. The stamp is from Lotv called Kitten Cuddles. I do have stamps from other companies, I promise, but have a lot of Lotv stamps I haven't used yet ( don't tell my hubby that though or he'll never let me buy anymore stamps!) So here's my card I hope you like it.

 

 

 

and a close up shot

 

The little rose on the butterfly was one of the die cuts that came free with my order from Craft Mojo . It's such a good idea to send them as once I rolled it up it looked so pretty I just had to buy the die. So expect more roses! Also Sally, from the site, was so lovely on the phone when I rang to ask which die had been used for it.
I'd like to enter the following Challenges:

Live and Love Crafts Challenge- Love N' Lace

Divas by Design- Rubber Stamps Only

Papertake Weekly Challenge- Lovely Layers

Craft-room Challenge- Color Challenge


Card Recipe

6"x 6" Card blank and stamping card- Craftwork Cards
Papers- Lotv Always and Forever paper pad
Paper for banner and rolled flowers with pearls- lovely present from Lexi!
Stamp- Lotv Kitten Cuddles
Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black, white ink on little rose ColorBox Frost white and Rosebud on doily and round the image
Pens- Copic Ciao
Heart Doily- Dovecraft
Die- Spellbinders Floral Ovals, Bitty Blossoms
        La La Land Heart Banner
Ribbon Organza Trim, Lace, Carnation and Flat Back Pearls- Ribbon Girl
Butterfly- from stash
Other stuff- Stampendous Fran-tag in Shabby Pink. Distressed with Tim Holtz distressing tool

I'm still sorting through my mums craft stuff! She was a prolific crafter to say the least. So far the list is: knitting, crochet, quilted cushions, fur toys, pyrography, china painting, cross stitch, watercolour and acrylic painting, glass painting, patchwork and card-making. I'm making sure I find good homes for everything with charity groups and friends who donate to my mum's charity but we're still surrounded by lots of bags!!
So I'd better go do something or the Secret Hoarder gang will come round, lol.

Thank you for your visit, your kind comments make me very happy. Sending you all a hug

 

Debra x 

James- Big Heart

Hello. I know what you're thinking, I don't post twice in one week or month even, but there were a few challenges on a love theme and one of them ends on Saturday so I thought I'll break my trend and just do it! Brave or what? Lol. I managed to make Stuart a Valentine card which I normally buy ( I know I shouldn't, but I like cards with nice words) but the only decent card shop we had shut down so I had no choice. I'm quite happy with how it came out, I hope you like it too.

And a close-up shot...

No Glamour Dust in sight but I had to add the little hearts to it as a little bit of sparkle!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Lotv- Name That Tune -'A Good Heart' by Feargal Sharkey

Crafty Little Fairies- Teddies

Deep Ocean Challenge- Love Is All Around

Ribbon Girl Challenge- 'Lovely Lili' Lotv Challenge

Card Recipe

5"x7" Card Blank- Papermania
Stamping card- Craftwork Cards
Cardstock- Papermania Solid Cardstock
Patterned card- Kanban Harlequin
Stamps- Lotv James Big Heart, Lindsey Mason Designs Everyday Words Sentiments from Hobbycraft
Pens- Copic Ciao
Die- Spellbinders Circle die for red circle
White circle- eksucess circle cutter
Other bits- White Craftwork Cards candy coloured with red Copic pen,  Flat back heart shaped gemstones.    


Just waiting in today for a guy to fix the roof which is fun :( but I should be able to get cracking on another card. I've had a word with myself about trying to do some card-making everyday but you know how other things just get in the way so I couldn't promise myself.
Anyway have a great Valentine's day and equally splendiferous weekend, hopefully with less wild weather!

Thank you for your visit and comments,

Debra x

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit....

Hi there. I hope you're all safe and well in this awful weather. We lost 6 ridge tiles and 2 fence panels last night in the strong winds! Thanks for the lovely comments for Lexi's card, they made her a happy bunny. Talking of which... today's card is an Easter card. A bit early I hear you shout and you're right as I haven't even made Stuart a Valentine card yet but I needed to take something to do at my craft class and I'd just bought some stamps in the sale at Lotv and this is one of them- Hoppy Easter

and a close-up..

The bottom layer of the butterfly is glitter card but it doesn't look it in the photo.
As I wanted to enter the Lotv challenge,  Name that Tune, I needed a song that fit the card and Stuart came up with 'Rabbit' by Chas and Dave. He said the bit where they sing 'rabbit, rabbit, rabbit, rabbit'.... I think you get the idea! I know it's not actually about rabbits so I'll have to put an alternative song but it did make me smile.

I'd to enter the following Challenge-

Lotv Challenge -Name That Tune- Song 'Rabbit' by Chas and Dave or 'Bright eyes' by Simon and Garfunkel.

Card Recipe

6"x6" Card and stamping card - Craftwork Cards
Background card- Papermania Solid Cardstock.
Glitter card- from stash
Papers- Me to You Spring Chic, Forever Friends Kraft Notes.
Stamps- Lotv Hoppy Easter and Simply Sophisticated sentiments set 22
Ink pad- Memento Black Tuxedo
Pens-Copic Ciao
Dies- Tonic Layering Butterflies.
Other stuff- Ribbon from local shop, Glamour Dust in Crystal, flats back pearls from Anita's pearl wheel and a fine black pen.


I hope you like the card.

I want to say a big Thank You to Lisa from Wishcraft who helped me out with a blog problem. Go visit her blog as it's full of Fabulous cards!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a great week.
                                                    Debra x

Lexi's card.

Hi there. Hope the weather isn't bad near you and that you're all healthy.
Today's card hasn't been made by me but by Lexi, my eldest son's lovely girlfriend. Having had two sons who have shown no desire to do any kind of crafts, despite my numerous attempts to interest them in knitting, cross stitch, glass painting, card-making etc. etc. I thought I'd not have anyone to talk about crafts to until Lexi. Much to my son's dismay Lexi started card-making after trying it out at our house and has been making fab cards for a little while now, when her Med School work allows.
This is the card Lexi made for my birthday-

I'm sure you'll all agree that it's a beautiful card. I'm glad Lexi let me share it with you.
I can't give you the card recipe as I don't know what was used but I think the paper is from Lotv and the large stamp is from Inkylicious- Vintage French Rose. With a very small stash of craft goodies Lexi combines them in ways I wouldn't have thought of. Also her truffles and shortbread are to die for, a woman of many talents!
Anyway I better go and do something, not sure what but I need to at least look busy. Thanks for looking in, it always makes me smile to see your comments.

                                                            Debra x

Butterfly and Dragonfly.

Hi there. I thought it was time I got back into the swing of things and start making cards and blogging again. It's been great to keep up with all your blogs and follow what you've all been up to, crafty wise and just generally.
2014 is being kinder to our family so far. Chris, my eldest at Medical School in Sheffield, had big written exams on the 3rd of January which he passed to our and his relief. Kieran, who had an essay to write the day after his Grandma died, got a high mark in it and another he wrote at Christmas did even better. He's studying History in Newcastle.  They both graduate this year so we're really happy that despite their loss they managed to keep going.

Right back to the card. This is the card I made for my mum-in-law's birthday on the 26th January, the same date as my birthday too!

 

 

 

I'm not quite happy with the placement of the butterfly and the dragonfly but she loved it which is the main thing.

 

I'd like to enter this card in the challenge

 The Ribbon Girl-  Anything Goes

 

 

Card Recipe

 

 6"x6" card- Craftwork Cards

Paper- LOTV Antebellum paper pad, distressed

Purple Card- Core'dinations , sanded and distressed

Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps- Dawn Bobby Designs-Delicate Scroll

              Inkylicious- Wings and things

              LOTV- For Her sentiments set 20 

Copic Ciao pens for butterfly and dragonfly

Die- Tattered Lace corner

Embossing powder- Wow in Vintage Jade for scroll from Stamps by Chloe

Other stuff- Glamour Dust in crystal

                    Two sizes of flat back pearls from Andy's crafts

 

 

I hope I'll be able to make more cards to blog but we're still sorting out mum's house so we can sell it.

Anyway I hope you're all having a good 2014 so far.

 

                                                    Debra x