Wee Florist

 I am so late posting my DT card for Totally Papercrafts last week's challenge to use buttons!  My only excuse is that time ran away from me over the holiday weekend and the sun was shining for most of it!  It did poor down on Monday, but as I had to drive to Dunelm Mill in Truro to pick up Mum's soft furnishings, it didn't really matter.  Anyway, here is the card I made - the image is Wee Florist coloured with Copics and she has been sat on my desk for a while waiting to be finished off .. .. ..

And finally here is the card.  The base is a square kraft card with papers by Nitwits edged with Pumice Stone DI.  The diecut swirls and pretty mat circle are by Marianne design and I used the same circle die to add the row of embossed faux stitches to the edge of my image layer.  The buttons and butterflies are Nellies Choice, the stamped text is LOTV and to finish off I've added string and pearls.

As I've not had my pc on for days I've no idea if there's a challenge or two I could link up with - I'll have to browse around a bit.

CCT Tie it Up!

This week on Cute Card Thursday we want you to 'tie it up' and our sponsor for this challenge is the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

I had this odd shaped piece of card already in my stash, cut from Sahara Sand card by SU! with one edge shorter than the other.  I had thought about adding a border, but in the end kept it as it was with the ribbon to tie it up!  The patterned papers are by Nitwits and I embossed the edges with faux stitching before inking with Pumice Stone DI.  I had to have a play with my new Marianne dies so have cut the Anja's Vintage frame and Vintage Ornaments (2) as my decoration.  The butterflies and daisy flower are old friends, but Anja's leaves have only just joined my collection.

Here's the inside with a text stamped onto another Marianne die and the Marianne corners creating a holding spot for a gift voucher.

And the list of Marianne dies I used is:
Anja's Vintage frame LR0272
Anja's Vintage ornaments LR0270
Anja's leaves LR0226
daisy flower and fronds LR0106
butterflies LR0158
Inside frame LR0116
corners LR0143
embossed faux stitches created with LR0161

And the back is simply another of Anja's Vintage ornaments used to hold the ribbon in place.  I've inked the embossed areas on the die cuts with the same DI, although I forgot to ink the base layer on the front of the card to make the embossed dots stand out - next time!

As I've used quite a few of my Marianne dies for this creation, I can enter the Marianne's Design Divas challenge yet again .. ..

Baby card

Hello again!   I am still not able to get to my Copics and stamps to play, but I have managed to put together a little baby card with some freebie Nitwit papers that came from a magazine ages ago, and my new Marianne dies - I hope you will like it.  I started with a small C6 cream base card then cut a blue mat for the paper, edging the patterned layers with Sahara Sand Versamagic chalk ink to give a little more definition as well as to hide the white edge.  I used the same ink to highlight the embossed areas on my die cut flowers and leaves, then finished off with little pearls and a double bow blue organza ribbon.

And here's the inside, more of the same stripy paper this time turned horizontal with a polka dot star, more die cut swirls and flowers, and a text stamped onto a scrap of cream card I've edged with embossed faux stitches and the same ink.

The Marianne dies I've used for this card are:
Baby word LR0217
little flowers CR1210
leafy swirl sprays LR0271

I had a quick look down my blog listings for today and saw that the Creative Inspirations girls are playing bingo!  So, I can go with the ribbon, blue and polka dots row at the bottom, or the pearls, flowers and blue line vertically down the middle.

And the Marianne Design Divas challenge to get out your Marianne dies is still running, so I can enter again with them too.

Here at home things have been moving along steadily and Mum is now in her new room.  The furniture arrived this morning so she is busy sorting out what she wants to put where .. .. I still have to take her shopping for lampshades, curtains and a bed throw or duvet set but just at the moment I'm not so good.  I have another blood test this Friday (if they can find a vein that is) and next week I'm seeing a Dermatologist for the weird rash.  It seems that my immune system is in overdrive again and I'm suffering from hay fever, stomach problems (they think I might be gluten and/or diary intolerant if not fully fledged Coelic) and joints that stiffen up by mid afternoon - DH says if I was a horse they would shoot me!  My response was that I would be put out to grass and given a good long holiday somewhere warm and sunny - oh to be a horse!

Felt Owl

Hi there! still no cards to share with you as my stash is still out of bounds.  However, I did manage to retrieve my CB and balance it on a footstool to cut out the pieces of felt for this little owl.  I recently got the Marianne die set, COL1302, and the felt from a stand at the Stamp UK Cornwall show and convinced Jason to rummage in the loft for the bag of wadding .. .. ..

Now I am not the best stitcher in the world!  Many years ago I did quite a bit of embroidery but I seem to have lost the knack, so please don't look too closely.  I made up my little owl and gave it to DH to hang from his rear view mirror .. .. keeping an eye on him perhaps!

The Marianne Design Divas challenge is to use your Marianne dies, and I hope to join in again with a card before the challenge ends.  In addition to the Marianne Collectable Owl die set I've added a little piece of blue lace also by Marianne. Having seen the pretty bird and butterfly die sets I'm going to have to get them too .. .. maybe with practice my stitching will improve!

We are on the final push to get the painting finished in Mum's room so the carpet fitter can do his job on Monday - I have skirtings to undercoat today ready for gloss painting tomorrow .. .. not my favourite job and with the sun shining in Cornwall, I'd much rather be in the garden.

CANDY WINNER and what's up!

Many apologies for not being here to announce the winner of my candy.  There were 19 entries with Mr Linky - but as I've no idea how to get him to pick a winner I've shouted out to Jason to chose a number - and he chose #10 - that's DAISYCHAIN - congratulations! Send me an email (anniejuk@yahoo.com) with your address etc and I'll get the prize posted off to you.

And the reason for my absence - well I've had a little accident.  After a lovely day meeting up with friends in Bodmin at the Art Stamps Cornwall show (ages ago now it seems), and a beautifully sunny BH weekend, I was pottering in the garden on BH Monday and took a tumble.  My new neighbour heard my screams and dialled 999 thinking it was something serious - a lovely paramedic chap turned up and diagnosed two sprained ankles, severe bruising to my left knee which might indicate soft tissue damage .. ..? and lots of other bruises.  The following day I had to visit the Drs surgery for a routine BP check before I could get my repeat HRT prescription and I was worried as it had been high in the past and they said if it hadn't come down then I couldn't continue with my magic pills - well down it certainly has come - too low now so no wonder I've been feeling tired and dizzy a lot of the time!  And as for the rash - it's not what they thought it was, but the doctor has no idea what it is so I am having lots of blood tests and in the mean time have steroid cream .. .. ah well at least everything is free now I've reached the magical age of 60!  As soon as I'm feeling OK again I'll be back with you - I have new dies and stamps I'm longing to play with!

Under my Umbrella

or rather, the theme that Cute Card Thursday have set for the current challenge is 'can't stop the rain' and our sponsor is Saturated Canary.

And, I am late posting - 5 days late!

But better late than never .. ..?

My life has become very stressful again at the moment with taking Mum to various hospital visits, preparing her room for the plasterer who arrived this morning, and coming out in horrid large wheel like spots - everywhere!  I'm told it's probably stress - no kidding! So, this will be my last post for a while as I try to juggle my other priorities - my candy is still running and I will draw it on 7 May as planned, but any new projects from me before then will be unlikely, not least because my stuff is packed away in a cupboard behind all Mum's bedroom stuff.

So here's my card.  The image is a stamp from Papermania, coloured with my Copic pens then simply matted and mounted with red card and a plaid paper.  Finishing paper bits and pieces came with a magazine and the card is kept free of flowery embellishment as it's for a fella!

I've no idea if there are any challenges it might fit and at the moment I don't have time to look .. .. the sun is shining in Cornwall and it's time to get on with the garden and the diy outside that we didn't get done before the winter set in .. .. never a dull moment or a moment of peace just at the moment!

Enjoy! and see you all later .. ..

Lots of Die Cuts!

It's my turn to choose the theme over at Stampavie and More, so I picked one of my favourite things - die cuts!

For my card I've gone for all Marianne Design dies and the only stamping is the text that I tried to do with white embossing powder .. .. I really think it is past it's sell by date!

For the card base I've used a piece of patterned paper from Marianne Design Pretty Butterflies pad to cut the plain shaped layer then pearl peachy pink card to cut the trellis layer above it - both from LR0236.  I've embellished with flowers created from LR0111 with the stamens from LR0112 and skeleton leaves from LR0156.  The little butterfly is from LR0158.  I inked the edges of the pink flower layers with Pink Petunia Versamagic chalk ink and finished them off with white pearls created with my Wacco pearl maker pen. The text is cut out with LR0187 and finished off with a pink organza ribbon tied in a bow.

The Die Cuttin' Divas want to see some flowers this week, and the Allsorts challenge is also for flowers, while at Party Time Tuesdays they are playing Tic Tac Toe - I've gone for the bottom row of a shaped card, pearls and die cuts. The Everybody Art theme is for 2 colours so my mix of soft pink and white should fit the bill nicely!

Cake Walk

This week on Cute Card Thursday our theme is 'Cake Walk' - to show us some cake on your creation. Our sponsor for this challenge is Whimsy Stamps.

 I've inked up this cute LOTV stamp called Hello Cupcake! and coloured in with my Copic pens in soft pastel pinks to match the papers from NitWits's Thimbles Too collection.  I've used Blushing Bride card from SU! and Pink Petunia Versamagic chalk ink to edge the patterned papers and to add colour to the embossed areas on my rose bud corner and daisy flowers.

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And here is the card.  The little text came free with a magazine that DH gave me at the weekend, and to finish off I've gone slightly overboard with the pearls!  My diecuts are all by Marianne Design, here's the list:

daisy flowers LR0106
skeleton leaves LR0156
centre flower stamen LR0105
embossed rose bud  corner LR0215

The Fab 'n' Funky challenge is for 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments (mine are diecuts, ribbon and pearls). The Oldie but a Goodie challenge is for something girly plus something older than 6 months - my stamp is certainly older than that, and the Marianne Design Divas are also going girly so hopefully they will like my card too. The Creative Card Crew are looking for handmade flowers - my daisy flowers are cut, coloured with ink then layered up so hopefully will fit the theme.

Tilly With Flowers

Hello again! did you miss me over the weekend?  Well I had hoped to schedule this card for you to see but the internet was down on Friday night - perhaps something to do with the BT man with his head in a hole and bum in the air peering at something underground .. .. it seems that even this part of Cornwall should be getting super fast broadband any time soon .. .. fingers crossed and weather permitting!

Anyhow, back to my card.  I couldn't resist this cute Wild Rose Studio stamp, Tilly with Flowers, when I saw it in the  Stamp Basket sale - I love those spaniel ears!  I've coloured with my Copic pens then left things simple and gone for a CAS design.

I had the pretty scallop mat cut for ages - since a visit to my friend Wynneth and a chance to play with her vast die collection!  The red layer is a piece of linen effect thin card I found in my stash and to finish I've just added the strips of sticky back pearls that come already in a line so you just snip off how many you want - I've had them ages and have now just about run out, and can't remember where I got them in the first place.  I've kept the card blank so I can choose a sentiment to add inside as and when I need to - ie Anniversary or Valentine or Thank You etc.

Just as well I waited to post as a couple of new challenges popped up this morning that I can enter - The Cutie Pie challenge is for CAS designs this week, and at Incy Wincy Designs it's for fur or feathers. Creative Inspirations have an anything goes theme running for a few more days so I hope they like my CAS card.

Getting Krafty

Our challenge this week on the Totally Paper Crafts blog is to get krafty!  I ordered this stamp from Lili of the Valley when it was on sale a while back and stamped it with brown Momento onto kraft card.  Rather than colour with my Copics (which tend to either not show up or bleed on this card), I have used my Polychromos pencils.

For the finished card I've kept things simple, added a stamped text (old wooden Penny Black stamp), embossed faux stitching around the edge, and then fixed to a C6 dark green card base.

The challenge over at Lili's Little Fairies is for CAS projects - perfect for my card as I've not added any embellishments!  Over on the Christmas at Sweet Stampin' blog the challenge is to use kraft so perfect for them too!

Butterfly Kisses

Today I have my butterfly DT card for Cute Card Thursday to share with you.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Whiff of Joy with Katharina offering a choice of stamp for our prize winner.

Now to be honest, I already had the card made up with the diecut patterned layer and trellis and was wondering what I could add to it that wouldn't detract from the pretty embossing and cut work on the top layer.  So, I thought a butterfly with equally interesting cut out areas might work, and then just a few simple flowers and leafy sprays to finish things off - tah dah!  The Flutter By Wednesday is an open challenge this week so I can enter my card with them, and at Creative Inspirations it's anything goes!

The diecuts are all by Marianne design, the scallop base and lattice embossed layer are from LR0242 Anja's Squares and the paper I have used is from the Marianne design paper bloc called Pretty Butterflies.  The Butterfly is LR0115, the flowers are from LR0107, and the leafy sprays are from LR0192.

I am going to send the card to Jason's girlfriend, Maria, to thank her for making me a fabulous birthday cake.  I love the garden theme, and the spicy sponge inside was delicious too!  I've been trying to add a picture so you can see but it comes out sideways on and I can't seem to change it - it's ok on my pc so I'm not sure what Mr Blogger is doing .. .. but if you tilt your head you'll get the idea!

Less Is More

I am slowly getting back into crafting, but really missing my mojo!  I thought a good place to start would be the Less Is More blog challenge - to create with lime and black along with plenty of white space.  The closest I could get to lime was Gumball Green by SU! and together with the black I came up with this card.










I've stamped the classic car and heat embossed with black, but as the details are so fine the powder wasn't sticking too well .. .. maybe it's a bit old and past it!  Anyway, the car and the tire tracks are from an old rubber set I've had in my stash for years and the text is from a clear set (lost the packaging so not sure who it was that made it).  I considered adding some touches of lime green to the car but couldn't decide what and where so left well alone just finishing off with a doodled edge to the white layers.

And I stamped the text that comes with the car set, and more tire tracks on the inside - leaving enough white space for a message.

I've been working on a couple more CAS creations for my DT commitments this week - and hope to get back to colouring in very soon!

Good Luck Shannon

I am back! well not really as I'm still not up to crafting but at least I can finally post the DT card that I made for the Totally Paper Crafts challenge on 29 March!  Time has moved on and the next challenge has happened since then .. .. but here's the card anyway.  The image is a digi from Saturated Canary and I could only get her to print out small so ended up making a little 4" square card with more of the Spring Chic paper and a pretty leafy flourish that was a gift.  She's called Shannon and I've coloured her with my Copic pens, added a little gold glitter to the coins in her sack and matted with gold, plus the 3 gold brads for the challenge - to use metal.  I've no idea if she would fit any current challenges - let me know please if you can think of any.

I'm still not 100% and find concentrating at the pc tough going so will have to take a bit more of a break.  I do have a little blog candy ready to put up for my followers, just need to take a picture and figure out the Linky, so please don't leave me!

Love and Hugs

Tilly with Presents

Sorry I'm late posting my card for the latest Stampavie and More challenge, which for the next two weeks is Pretty in Pink.  For my DT card I have inked up one of the new stamps I got from the Stamp Basket Spring Sale - this is Tilly with Presents from Wild Rose Studio.  I've coloured with my Copic pens and created a tent fold C6 card from old SU! Pixie Pink card and scraps of pink paper from my stash.

My mojo is still AWOL and to top it all I've come down with a stinking sinus bunging up head cold that is completely knocking me for six and making it difficult to breath, I think I had better ring the doctor in the morning.  So, when it came to embellishments I was lacking inspiration and ended up using what was on my table, the hearts waiting to be put away after the Valentine cards from last month, the butterflies because the Nellies Choice punches are still sitting there, and of course my diecut embellishment as the dies are in a draw right next to the table.  I did have to get off my derriere to fetch the white pearl maker pen for the dots on the butterflies and flower, but the dots on the parcel in my image and the faux stitching are just an ordinary white gel pen that sits in my pen box with my specs.

The Craft Your Passion challenge is for cute this week, whilst over at Stamptacular Sunday it's for Fuzzy Friends.  I'll apologise now for not having a DT creation for the Cute Card Thursday blog challenge tomorrow - I have just been feeling too poorly to do anything for the last few days.

Isabelle and Cocoa

Wherever you are, I hope you are warm and safe - Cornwall is bright and sunny today but from the news I see that the torrential rain we had yesterday has now turned to snow as it moves across the country.

I have another Sarah Kay card to share with you, this is Isabelle playing with puppy Cocoa, I've stamped with brown Momento and of course I've coloured the image with my Copic pens.  Mr Mojo has packed his bags and left me .. .. so my card isn't as embellished as some I've been making recently - hopefully you still like it and the pretty image and papers will make up for the lack of blooms etc.

The Stamp With Fun challenge is an anything goes theme and Charisma Cardz would like to see your die cuts - I have the flowers, leaves, butterflies, ovals and the pretty lace border.

So here's the card - the papers are from the Spring Chic pack and the plain card is Baja Breeze by Stampin' Up! - my last sheet Linda so I will need some more please!  As I said, I got a bit stuck with embellishments for this one, and ended up with just a couple of flowers, a length of ribbon and lots of butterflies, plus the pearls of course.

Yesterday I had a very upsetting meeting with DH and now I am feeling very sad and depressed about the situation. Thankfully Jason will be back shortly with his girlfriend to keep me company for the rest of the weekend, and to try and finish laying Mum's en-suite shower room floor tomorrow.  He's gone and got himself a job, well he does need the money but it's not really his cup of tea, or the kind of work he's used to doing. And, it will mean that the rest of the building and DIY take a lot longer to get finished.  We have a bit more destruction to do before Mum's end is ready for the plasterer and I don't want to leave her too long in the midst of chaos, and without wardrobes!  I've also got to clear out the space and that means trying to sell a set of cabin beds with mattresses - solid pine with a wax finish, 3 large storage drawers in the base unit that slides under the top bed - £80 ono, buyer to collect.

Easter Parade

This week our theme at Cute Card Thursday is 'Easter Parade' and we are sponsored by Whimsy Stamps who are offering a prize of 5 digi images for our winner.

And with so many Easter and Spring challenges around just at the moment it shouldn't be too hard .. .. here's the list of those I'm linking my card too:

Sweet Stampin', Cutie Pie, Oldie but a Goodie all have Easter themes, Everybody Art are looking for Spring, Creative Inspirations are also with Spring, and Totally Gorjuss want to see something old - well my stamp is several years old, the ribbon is old and the button is recycled from an old blouse.

I also like to browse the Flourishes USA blog and see that they are running a Spring themed challenge and I don't need a Flourishes stamp to enter, so will do with this one!

For my card base I've taken a scallop square and turned it to open as a tent fold.  The papers are from the Spring Chic pack matted with yellow textured card.  The cute image is by Helz Cuppleditch for Stampavie and is a stamp I've had for several years but seem to always bring out for the Spring!  I've coloured the image with Copics then cut with a Nestie before fixing to the base with 3d tape.  To embellish I've diecut little blooms and leaves from Marianne CR1210 and a spray from LR0111, and butterflies from LR0158.  To finish off I added the little gold gems to the butterflies, found a length of ribbon in spring colours to loop into a bow and then added a pearl button to finish off.

I have made a hair appointment for this afternoon at a new salon not far from here .. .. no idea what I'm going to have done though!  And with it blowing a gale whatever it looks like will end up being blown to bits before I get back to the car .. .. I had hoped it would last until I could get a picture taken so I can get my new driving licence - I have had difficulty proving that I exist and have to get it posted before the weekend or I will be permanently deleted .. .. wish the Tax man would think I didn't exist!

WOYWW #198

Hello there!  no card finished to share with you today, just a picture for Julia's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday post.  You can see from my messy desk that I have been having fun colouring in images, and the postman has just dropped off my package from the Stamp Basket with a selection of stamps from the spring sale - so I'll be having even more fun! I love the colouring in part and find it relaxing, but sometimes putting the card together gets me a bit stressed, so just at the moment I'm leaving that side of things for another day .. .. at least I should have a selection of images ready for my DT commitments next week.

I got to see DH briefly yesterday - he looked ill and haggard, especially in the face.  I rang this morning and got to speak to him briefly, and I am relieved that he is going to see a doctor .. .. I can't stop worrying about him and hope that there's nothing seriously wrong, he has promised to let me know. He mentioned that he might be able to come down for a visit sometime over the weekend, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Now though, I am itching to get those stamps inky and start colouring in .. .. ..

Picnic with Dolly

A few weeks back Rebekah asked me if I would like to join the design team at Stampin' For the Weekend  .. .. and after a little thinking I said yes!  After all, I love to stamp, it's a fortnightly challenge and the ladies seem so friendly .. .. so here's my card for the children at play theme that started yesterday.

Picnic with Dolly is an Elisabeth Bell design, and my rubber version is one of the first stamps she designed for SCACD, but sadly it seems to be no longer available. Would you believe that this is the first time she has been made into anything .. .. I remember stamping up the image and not being happy with my colouring so throwing it in the bin, thankfully now I play with Copics things have improved!   I enjoyed colouring in this adorable image and as there was a red and blue colour scheme developing I dug out some old Papermania paper from last year to create the card.

It's looking darker than in real life - what happened to the sunshine?  My base is a kraft C6 and the dark blue paper is matted with SU! Night of Navy cardstock.  I've lightened things with the red and ivory layer then diecut my daisies from scraps of dark green and SU! Cherry Cobbler card.  The daisies are cut with Marianne die LR0106 with the centres from LR0111 and leaves from LR0240. To colour the pearls for my butterflies' bodies I used my Copic pen R39 so they would tie in nicely.  The card is a bit of a change from my normal pastel colours, but I like the way it has turned out.

The Papertake Weekly challenge is a 3, 2, 1 theme - I have 3 flowers, 2 patterned papers and 1 image, while the Allsorts challenge is for 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments (flowers, leaves and butterflies, or 3 floral and 3 butterflies).  And over at the One Stop Craft challenge it's an anything goes week.

Skater Boy Easel card

This week on Totally Papercrafts we want to see your easel creations.  I've gone for a simple twisted easel card for a boy's birthday, and used the Marianne stamp I recently won - the skater boy.  Our sponsors for this challenge are Stamp and Create, and Doodle Dragon Studios, please stop by the TPC blog to read about the prizes.

Apologies for the rather dark picture .. .. I've still not figured out how to lighten my images in the Paint program on my PC.

Here's the card, a smallish square cream base in real life - but so hard to photograph!  The dotty paper is from Marianne's Beautiful Butterflies pretty paper bloc matted with Early Espresso card from SU!  I've cut a fancy mat for my image with Marianne die LR0242, but as it's a card for a boy I held back on the embellishments simply adding the gross grain ribbon, diecut buttons threaded with twine, and a small daisy embellishment from Marianne dies LR0106 & LR0111.  The blue dots are waste from previous diecut pieces.

The Critter Sketch challenge is to use twine, Created with Love are after different folds, Sweet Stampin' want to see something for men or boys, whilst Stamptacular Sunday are wanting you to use Dies - you know me - always!

I've been out driving my new car this morning, not the best of days and it now needs a wash again after all the rain, especially as the farmers are out on the roads with their muck spreaders!  It's a comfy drive, easy on the gears (not one scrunch change!) and is a nippy little number .. .. I might try a longer trip tomorrow.

Spring is back!

This week it's our 5th birthday at Cute Card Thursday, and it's an anything goes theme with Katherina at Whiff of Joy sponsoring us with a prize.  I will admit to lacking inspiration when it came to creating my DT project .. .. but, this beautiful Sarah Kay image called Spring is back, has been coloured and half made up on my desk for quite a while now.  She is my most inked up Sarah Kay - this being the 10th creation I have made with her that I photographed to keep as a record!  I seem to be in a nostalgic mood at the moment and have been inking up some of my older stamps, and I've been having a bit of a clear out so look out for my sale page and blog candy coming soon.

The card layers, ribbon and patterned paper are all from Stampin' Up! I can't remember what the patterned paper pack was called, but the plain card is Soft Suede and Rose Red.  I've die cut Marianne's Petra's Large oval LR0240 for behind my image, and added the top fancy pieces from LR0141.  A pink button and a few pearly embellishments finish things off as I didn't want to cover up too much of the pretty paper or my image.

Just one challenge I've found to link up with my card: Divas by Design are putting on the Pink!  it doesn't have to be pastel, so I hope the pink in my image, on my patterned paper, little button and the rose pink of my ribbon and mats will fit the bill.

I'm late posting this evening as it's been a busy day with washing off the motorway grime from two black cars and cleaning up the old car inside and out for Jason's girlfriend to take away - job done in beautiful sunshine!  This afternoon Mum had her home visit eye test .. .. unfortunately she has the beginnings of cataracts but slightly more worrying she may also have the start of glaucoma, so the optician is writing to the GP to recommend a referral to the Eye Infirmary.  Mum has chosen a new pair of specs which are going to be light sensitive so will darken in bright light .. .. very modern for my Mum!  Apart from that, the home situation shows no sign of improvement - after a phone call on Monday DH said trying to work at our relationship was too much effort .. .. and hasn't called back once.  I don't know what to do, or what to think - all I can do is to try and enjoy the little things each day brings .. .. and search for a hairdresser that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for a hair cut!  I've chosen a style for my fine limp hair that at the moment is hanging in an overgrown bob - I'm going short and fluffy like Carol Klein (on Gardeners World) as her hair looks fine too and I think a ruff up in the mornings with a bit of gel or mouse might do the trick!  Now I wonder if I can persuade the hairdresser to make me blonde as well .. .. ..!

Easter Greetings!

The theme on the Stampavie and More challenge is for Easter creations, and for my DT card I've chosen a little stamp by Penny Black from one of the clear sets - the Easter bunny with a lovely Easter bonnet!  I've stamped with brown Momento and coloured with my Copic pens.  The patterned papers are from Nitwits Thimbles Too collection matted with the now discontinued Close to Cocoa card from SU!

I've inked the edges of my layers with Sahara Sand Versamagic chalk ink then decorated with ribbon, pearls and a mix of punched and diecut flowers and butterflies. The pretty lacy circle behind the image is cut with Marianne Craftable CR1201, the swirls and pink open flower are from LR0112, the blue flower from LR0130 and the centres from LR0105.

The Penny Black Saturday March challenge is for Spring creations, and a new challenge to me over at the Visible Image blog where the March monthly theme is also for Spring.  The Allsorts, One Stop Craft, Addicted to Stamps and The Squirrel and the Fox challenges are also for Springtime - I just wish the weather would catch on and give us Spring as well!

Thank you again for your kind words of support for me as my life changes direction .. .. yes, I will keep crafting!  I am trying to keep positive, but sensible .. .. I need to go shopping for clothes, get a hair cut, maybe try an exercise class .. .. ok, I said maybe!  I've made a start though .. .. I'm buying a new car, or rather Mum is - the old banger that Dad left me has so many niggly problems that would cost a fair bit to fix in a garage so we decided it was time to say goodbye, although it wont be going too far as Jason's girlfriend is going to see what she can do with it - after all she teaches car mechanics!  So by this evening I should have a nice new car - another black Smart Brabus but not the sporty number Jason drives, rather the more sedate 5 door hatch back version.  It's not new but I am sure once Jason has worked his magic with the polishing disks it will look amazing, and it'll make me feel good when I park up to hit those shops!

Ruffles Spring Basket

Sorry I have been absent again - I have been looking at crafty blogs but just not up to blogging myself for a bit.  The home situation is not as I would wish, and I have my bad moments.  I am so thankful to Jason and his girlfriend for keeping me company on Mother's Day, and to my son Mat for sending the big box of chocs!  I also have a little star Magnolia to plant, maybe one day it will be as big and beautiful as the one they gave me 20 years ago that I left behind when I moved here.  It should be flowering right now and will I am sure be amazing.

I managed to colour some images last Friday/Saturday and make up cards for my DT commitments this week, well most of them any way - I still have one to go.  This cute card is an extra from bits and pieces that were left on the table from previous makes and the little pup image is a Helz Cuppleditch stamp for Stampavie that I've had for several years.  I've coloured with my Copic pens but left off a sentiment so that I could used the card for any occasion .. .. just stamping 'With Best Wishes' inside.

The base is a 4" square cream card and the papers are from the Spring Chic pack matted with SU! Baja Breeze card.  I've used little leaf and flower punches to decorate along with the pink pearls, and that's about it.

Just one challenge to link up with my card, at Totally Papercrafts it's a punch it theme.

My Little Lamb #2

I am scheduling today's post for the Cute Card Thursday challenge as, hopefully, DH will be along this morning to take me out for the day .. .. ..

Our challenge this week on CCT is Spring Fever and we are sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts.  I have inked up Penny Johnson's My Little Lamb design for Stampavie - a favourite that has been in the top ten on my side bar for ever!  This is only the second card I have made with this stamp and hopefully you will like it as much as the first one.  I coloured the image with my Copic pens and have used soft patterned papers by Nitwits' Thimbles Too collection matted with Blushing Bride card by SU!

Here's my card.  I've added the soft pink organza ribbon and just a few Marianne diecuts to finish things off, along with the green gems.

Marianne dies I used are: heart LR0159, flowers LR0234, leaves LR0228 & LR0192.

The Addicted to Stamps challenge is Bring On Spring, at Creative Stamp Friends it's also Spring, and at Craft Your Passion it's for odd numbers of embellishments - I'll get around to linking up with them when I get home.

Pretty Zoe

I have another Sarah Kay card to share with you today, this little lass is Zoe and isn't she adorable!  I have stamped her with brown Momento ink then coloured with my Copics.

I've used various Nitwits papers matted with the new In Colour card Primrose Petals from SU!  Not sure why I chose it as I think a better match would have been the Rose Red - especially as I've used the pretty ribbon from SU! in that shade .. .. ah well!

I've embellished with Marianne diecuts and pearls.  For the flowers I used LR0106 and LR0111, the leaf frond is LR0151, butterflies LR0158, and the little hearts are from COL1307.

I've decorated inside with another piece of Nitwit paper from Crab Apple Lane Too, added the stamped greeting and embellished with another little daisy spray and a little pearl heart.  This will be my card to Mum on Sunday.

There are a few Mother's Day challenges I can enter with this card: Papertake Weekly, Creative Craft, One Stop Craft, and Creative Inspirations.  I'd also like to enter the Flutterby Wednesday open challenge as well.

Wee Berry

I didn't managed to complete this card for my GDT spot with Wee Stamps, but this morning I finally added the finishing touches.  This cutie is called Wee Berry, and she is available as a digi here, or as a stamp from Whimsy Stamps.  I've coloured her with my Copic pens to match the bright red and green dp by Marianne Design from the Cosy Christmas and Christmas Wishes Pretty Papers Blocs.  I've matted with Real Red card from SU! but struggled with the green for the holly boughs, luckily I still had a scrap of SU!s Green Galore left that matched the ribbon, and a piece of Glorious Green for the darker leaves. I'm sad that SU! discontinued so many green shades a couple of years back, and the new ones just aren't what I want!  The only one I haven't got is Lucky Limeade from the last lot of In Colours .. .. perhaps it might do - I'll have to see if I can order a pack .. .. ..

Here's the card. Along with the green gross grain ribbon I've added a couple of red buttons, red gems for the centre's of my die cut flowers, and red berries made with the Wacco pearl maker pen.  The Marianne diecuts I used for this card are:

holly boughs LR0244
mini poinsettias LR0142
tag from Winter Wishes set LR0187

I even decorated the inside with a piece of the pretty paper and a diecut scallop oval, although I'm not sure I left enough room for writting!  Around the edge of the oval I stamped a holly bough with a green chalk ink and in the middle a text, both stamps by Marianne.

The Christmas Card challenge is an anything goes theme this time around, the ABC Christmas challenge is up to the letter D for designer papers, while Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge is to use ribbons.  And, Creative Inspirations are looking for buttons and bows, and the Die Cuttin' Divas are playing bingo - my line is the middle vertical with buttons, 3 patterned papers and embossing (on the diecut leaves and flowers).

Sarah Kay Spring Time

I finally managed to complete a card!  The image is one of my older Sarah Kay stamps called Precious Moments, stamped in brown Momento ink and coloured with Copic pens.  The papers are bits and pieces left lying around, some from the Spring Chic pack but the background dotty piece was a magazine freebie years ago.  I've matted everything with SU! Baja Breeze and used the sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp challenge blog for the layout.

The Diva's by Design challenge is anything goes, while Totally Gorjuss are looking for anything with pink, well I have touches of pink!

I was rather afraid the card was looking a little dull, and not just because the light had almost gone when I got around to taking the picture.  So, as there was a hint of pink in the flowery paper I cut some pretty pink flowers. from scraps of plain and pink gingham paper and added the pink gems to lighten things up.  Mr Mojo has still not returned so when it came to decoration I just fiddled about with various diecuts .. .. I hope you think it's ok.

The Marianne dies I used are:
corners LR0143
swirl, flowers and large seed heads LR0111
small stamens in centre of the flowers cut from LR0105
fronds LR0107

Nothing new to say about the home situation .. .. the promised visits never materialised and phone calls have been short and hardly sweet, that's when I can get through at all.  Thankfully Jason and his girlfriend are here again this weekend to keep me company and I am trying to get on with my crafting while they tackle the DIY.