Something old, something new, something borrowed ....

Happy Bank Holiday ! Have you been up to anything nice ?

We spent a lovely afternoon at Ironbridge, strolling along the Severn and watching the coracles.

It's a lovely little place but when they built the bridge there I don't think they envisaged it becoming a World Heritage sight ! Also bought some yummy cupcakes to have after tea.

Todays card is a customer request for a wedding and the colour scheme is pale blue and gold so out came the Bashful Blue card and ink ....

Also made a box to match ......

and a wallet to put a cheque into.

Hope the Happy Couple like !!!

Off to count the cupcakes and make sure none have disappeared x

Flight of the Butterfly

Oh what a beautiful morning .... as the song goes ! Isn't it nice to see the sun shining and NO rain !

Been doing a bit of work in the garden this morning and making use of Hubby's muscles before he goes off to the footie.

Todays card is bright and cheery to match the weather and uses my favourite Butterfly punch and Flight of the Butterfly stamp set.

Used Melon Mambo and Soft Suede card and ink with some of the Bella Bleu paper and linen thread.

One tip for anyone who hasn't got a Stamp-a-jig - get one !!! I know when you are browsing the catalogue at all the yummy things this doesn't automatically jump onto your wish list but its so useful and saves a lot of time and mistakes.

Off to finish tidying the garden then might get chance to 'play' this afternoon x

Same stamp, different colour...

Hiya , is it me or has summer disappeared ? Its 8 o'clock and its getting dark and I've had to put the fire on !



Firstly I have noticed my blog counter has gone over 1ooo! I know thats a tiny amount in the big scheme of things but I'm thrilled and still can't believe people keep looking. I've also had some lovely comments , which I really appreciate so if you visit please say hello and don't be shy !


Todays card is using the same flower from Greenhouse Garden but in much softer colours.

Used some of the lovely Choc Chip designer papers and the sentiment is from Oval All, punched with the scalloped oval. Looks completely different in this colour combo doesn't it ?

Might even use a different stamp next time lol ! x

Red again !

Morning, early post for me today. Want to try and get the grass cut before it rains AGAIN !!

As promised more red midnight efforts.

Used the branch from the Bird Punch to make the stem and cut off the leaves and re attached in a different place. Bought this lovely ribbon while on holiday in Florida a few years ago and I've never used it - oops !

Can't wait for the new catalogue to come out and see the new design papers but I do quite enjoy making my own. Small red flower by greeting is from Oval All.

Made another little tissue box too- love these! Simple but striking!

Much better use of time than watching Match of the Day ?!!

Greenhouse Garden

Hiya, hope you had a good weekend ?

We went to a maize maze yesterday which was good fun and the weather was beautiful too for a change !

Todays creations are completely out of my comfort zone but I did promise I would try different colours.

On Saturday afternoon I stamped some Greenhouse Garden flowers but then we had visitors arrive so i didn't get to play. Anyway I sat cutting them out while watching X Factor ( sad I know - but I do like it !) and when it was finished I told Hubby I would just pop upstairs to try an idea out.

He was quite happy watching Match of the Day and next thing I knew it was 1.20 am !!!

Well ,what did I get up to... ? I have seen some beautiful cards made with Greenhouse Garden but they seem to have a certain 'look' do you know what I mean ? So I decided to use some more dramatic colours.........

Used Polka Dot background stamp and Oval All for the sentiment.

On this one I used En Francais for the background and created the different shades by stamping off. Look different in these colours don't they ?

Talking about En Francais I recently had a customer ask me what the writing meant and I didn't have a clue but I know a man that does !! The lovely Chris at Stampin Up told me that its from a poem called Dawn by the French poet Arthur Rimbaud and the first sentence translates to ' I have embraced the summer dawn.'

Thanks for helping me out Chris and I just thought I'd share in case anyone else had ever wondered.

Come back tomorrow and I'll show you some more of my midnight efforts !

Festive Birdhouse

Christmas is a coming ......

Well maybe not just yet but you can never be too organised. Preparations do start early in our house as we have a mad, mad fortnight in December when both my girls have their birthdays and Christmas is in between !!

Yes, I have constantly been told that was not very well planned but I must have been thinking of other things at the time lol ! There is also 3 years between them so one year they will be 18 and 21 and Christmas in the same fortnight - better start saving now !!

In fact their Christmas birthdays were one of the reasons I started card making as you can never find any nice birthday cards in December as the stock is hidden away to make room for Christmas cards. Surely just as many people are born in December ??!

Anyway as I have started buying a few things thought I would make something festive today.Decided to try the birdhouse today but make it festive using Real Red, Soft Suede and Old Olive.

Added some Flowersoft for the snow then realised I preferred it without - don't you just hate it when that happens ? Think I need an undo button lol !

Made a little card to match with the very useful Punches Three hostess set.

Are you feeling festive yet ? xx

Bella Toile

Hi all, hope you are well. Friday again ........

Today I have used Pale Plum (retiring soon) and Perfect Plum card and ink. Bella Toile is a lovely background stamp it always looks elegant and because of its size is useful for many projects.

Also made a cute little box to hold a pocket pack of tissues. Not sure who it was that shared this but whoever it was - bless you ! !! Sorry, couldn't resist lol !

Added a little box , just big enough to hold one special choccie

Hope you like - enjoy the weekend !

Cottage Wall Papers

When I first started this blog I didn't have a clue what to do and I will confess my first post took me over an hour to do !! Give me paper and scissors any time !

However I have slowly got to grips with the basics and my 8yr old has showed me how to do a hyperlink ! I still have a lot to learn - I don't know how to schedule posts yet so at least you know I am 'live' lol !

But it has all been worthwhile and I realised that last night when Becki left me a lovely comment.

She said she had admired my blog and been inspired - lil old me actually inspiring someone else, I find it difficult to believe ! I was genuinely touched so thank you Becki - you made my day !!!!

Todays cards involve 'paper piecing' with the lovely Cottage Wall papers. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this technique.

Bow tied with linen thread to add another texture. Next I used the papers again to make a more masculine card and create different wrapping paper for the parcels.

Coloured the spots in with the ink pads. Sorry for the quality of pics but by the time I took them it was almost dark.

His n Hers - which do you prefer ?

Back next time and promise to try a different colour combo - I think my fingers are becoming permanently stained with Rich Razzleberry lol !

Just a very quickie today cos Hubby is on holiday too this week and so we have been on 'days out ' with the kids all week !

Todays card is another customer request - I stamped the flowers with Versamark and embossed with gold powder.

Also thank you to eveyone who has left me a comment - isn't it so much nicer to know we are not 'talking' to ourselves lol !

Distressed this time !

Have been very impulsive today, have been growing my hair for what seems like ages and this morning I got up and decided to have it cut off !

It's been cut into an inverted bob so its not too drastic but a lot shorter than it was !

Anyway as I'm being so impulsive I decided to do a distressed version of yesterdays card. I don't use this technique for customer orders cos I know some people 'don't get it '.

I inked everything, including the lace and my fingers lol!

Like all the different textures. Well , which do you prefer distressed or not ? Please let me know x

Vintage Vogue and Bella Bleu

Hiya, what a miserable, wet day and dark too. Not exactly middle of the summer !!

Todays card is made with the very elegant Bella Bleu papers and Vintage Vogue stamps using Soft Suede ink and card

Did think of distressing it but thought the recipient might not appreciate my efforts and just think it was messy lol !

Off to watch some telly x

Been busy today as I have had a lot of requests recently for personalised cards. I always feel very flattered when people ask me to make them a card , especially when its for a special occasion !

Today's card is using the smallest flower again from the Greenhouse Garden set ( 10 stamps for only £18.36 at the moment - bargain !!!)

Colours are Rich Razzleberry ( my current fave! ) and Old Olive. Also used En Francais, Vintage Vogue and Bird punch for leaves.

Hope the Birthday Girl likes it !

Birdhouse

Hello, had the joys of uniform shopping today. Took the girls on a girly shopping day to Merry Hill. Well at least we have made a start!

I have been waiting to have a go at this adorable little birdhouse that I saw on the talented Jo Dumbleton's blog and so last night I decided to make one to go in Isabel's new room.

Isn't it sweet ? Thanks for sharing Jo!

Also used up the left overs again - I can't bear to put any bits in the bin !

Also I have been really pleased the few times I have received comments on my efforts and realised that I look at lots of blogs and don't leave comments so my pledge for this week is to leave a comment on EVERY blog I view and make everyone feel appreciated !!

Hi, hope you are well .

Have spent the last few days being creative on a larger scale - decorating Isabel's bedroom !

When it was finished she was so pleased with it she cried with happiness - sooo cute !

Made all the hard work worthwhile -yesterday I was up at 7am painting the walls again and today ironing new curtains ,duvet etc.

Love the colour combo !! Wonder how long it will stay tidy ? She has said though that she wants to go to bed early tonight to 'test' it lol !

Needless to say today's card is a quickie - made as a wedding anniversary card using the smallest stamp from the reduced Greenhouse Garden set.

Very simple but effective ?I just love stamped off Rich Razzleberry!

Off to have Sunday roast and a bottle of wine - bet I'll sleep well tonight too !

Todays card is mainly non SU as a cute little fairy was required. I did, however , use the branch from the ever so versatile bird punch to add some leaves. Image a freebie from Pollycraft - hope the little girl likes it !