Daffodils

Hi Everyone, weather today is cold but sunshine, love it. :)

A VERY quick post as I should have done this earlier this week, however I have used my time up on a "Live" Photoshop tutorial on CREATIVElive, something I had never heard of, before reading it on someones forum and now I can't remember who suggested it, but my oh! my did I learn a few things, fascinating!  I hope to share a few things when I have deciphered my writing LOL.

Onto my card.  It is from the February Greetings Challenge by Paper Garden Products.  The template is from here the papers are from a few kits by PGP and the daffodils are a digi stamp in the SpringBlooms2 kit. HERE which also includes other Spring flowers.  No1 SpringBlooms are lovely too. The template is so easy I shall be using more of it me thinks.  I coloured the digis stamp in PS, the sentiment is also from PGP.

I nearly forgot  

Happy St Davids Day,

which is quite apt seeing as my card has the national flower of Wales.  

I am entering the following challenges

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/anything-goes-challenge-220.html  Anything Goes  - Yep!

http://digitallysweetchallenges.blogspot.ca/2014/02/dsc-77-anything-goesbroken-box-stock.html#  Anything Goes  - Yep!

http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/qkr-stampede-challenge-77-anything-but.html  Anything But a Sqaure card  - Yep!

http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/2014/02/ffc-39-florals.html   Florals - Yep!

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-46.html  Anything Goes  - Yep!

Forgotten birthday

Hi Everyone, hope the sun has shone on you today.

My card today is one that I made for a work colleague who's birthday I forgot being off work with my sciatica.  (At least it's a lot better now and I'm taking the last of my leave, ready to go back in a couple of weeks.)  I used this fun image, I've used it a few times, from Squigglefly, as I thought she looked a bit lot like me LOL. I used DP's by Pink Petticoat, buttons and flower by Papermania and ribbon from stash. The twine was sent to me by a lovely blog friend, thank you, I love them. I followed the Crafts4Eternity sketch.  I printed and layered the papers and 3D'd the image and the sentiment.

I'll enter the following challenges

http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/spring-is-nearly-here-right.html  Spring colours - Yep!

http://squigglefly.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/squigglefly-challenge-8-sfc0814-i-give.html  I give thee a recipe use some piece of pattern paper, some twine, and at least one brad/eyelet or button (your choice).   - Yep!

http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/buttons.html  you use something on your card that is at least 6 months old   - Yep! everything except the twine!!

Love Cottage

Hi Everyone, hope you have seen a little of the sunshine we have had recently.

My little offering today is a card I was asked to make for a friends father from his wife.  They live in a cottage with flowers around the door, so was asked if I could incorporate this into the card!!!!! Would have been easier with a picture to see first, but I went - a -searching and saw this little cutie on the web, it's from Etsy and is by Paper Addictions  Here  the paper is by ADB Designs from her Sweetness kit  and all the other little additions I made (flowers, paving, lawn, chairs, table, quite a few and too many to list the artists - sorry) are by different artists at Digital Scrapbooking Studio. After colouring and placing everything, adding shadows etc.  I printed it out twice and layered the one onto black card, then cut around the paving and cottage and 3D layered the second layer.  Quite a CAS card in a way.

I'm glad to say it was very well received.

I'll enter the following challenges.

http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/new-challenge-all-about-boys-sponsored.html  All about the boys - Yep!

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/love.html  Love  - Yep! heart shape "smoke" and from wife :)

http://fattastictuesday.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/fan-tastic-tuesday-challenge-25.html  Anyhting Goes _ Yep!

Coffee Bling

Hi Everyone, hope all is well with you all.

We had a bit of sunshine this morning so took  photos of our Spring flowers in the garden, I hope this is a promise of sunshine to come, the weather is supposed to be atrocious again tomorrow in this part of the country, so it was lovely to see the sun,  even if it was only for a few hours.  They are at the end of this post.

Anyhow onto to my card for today.  I used Morning Coffee a Dearie Dolls image to make this for my coffee mad SIL's birthday.  The frame is by Snickerdoodles, which I used as a mask in Photoshop and covered with DP Cinco zigzag dots by A-manda Creations, I printed it twice and layered it 3D.  The green dot background is Swiss dots and the check "ribbons" are both by Bella Gypsy. The buttons are Papermania, the bling sparkle is from stash and I followed the Digisketch challenge sketch.  I forgot to add the sentiment is from Create with TLC.

I'll enter the following challenges.

http://digisketchchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/glitter-it.html  Glitter - I hope my bling glitter rollers will be accepted!

http://pattiescreationschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-86-spots-or-dots-must-always.html  spots or dots, image - Yep!

http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-2-add-gem-or-glitter-or-candi.html  add any bling you fancy. - Yep!

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/bling-it-bling-bling.html  Bling it, bling  _ Yep!

http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper.html  Patterened paper - Yep!, I'm sure I have entered before, but can't see it as there are so many brill entries.

http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/doodle-pantry-digital-challenge-43.html  Any digi goes  _ Yep!  my second entry

 daffodils and even the primroses are beginning to appear  AND look you can see blue sky aaaahhhh!

I added an enlarged photo of the heart shape on the petal, isn't it lovely 

Amazing News.

Hi Everyone, I have the AMAZING news that I am now on the Creative Team of Paper Garden products, the most beautiful DP's and cut file templates.

I have been a follower of Cathy St Claire for years and have nearly every kit in her designs.  However they are, like most of you feel about paper, I didn't want to use them just LOOK and imagine aaaahhhh!

I did use some of her papers and her flower HERE where I posted a link to her Tutorials.

Today I had to use more, oh! it was wonderful, just as well they weren't paper LOL. I know, of course I can use them over and over!

Anyhow here is my card, it is using DP paper and a butterfly from the Nurture digi kit. HERE I fussy cut the butterfly twice, my Cricut program doesn't let me cut around pre printed images. Mmm! I seem to think I need a Silhouette or the new Brother Scan and Cut.  How far away is Christmas?

I used Stickles on the butterfly and bling around the cut file by Birdscards. I layered the paper onto the card and added the cut shape and butterfly, (after going around the edge with a marker pen) on 3D tabs.


 I used a sketch by trystampingitontuesday but turned it on it's side..

Isn't this butterfly shape and colours beautiful?

http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/digi-makeover-challenge-128-add.html  Add dimension - Yep!

http://cardmaniachallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/cmc-40-love-is-all-around.html  Love is all around - Yep! sentiment

http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-103-make-it-sparkle-with-bling.html  Yep!

Some learning

Hi Everyone, sorry to have been AWOL for a few days, but I was MOJOless!

I was looking through my files, sometimes an idea will pop into my head, I came across a file I hadn't used from Paper Garden at Digichick.

HERE is a FREE tutorial on Digiwork in Photoshop Elements, I use PSCS5, I decided to hop in and work with the template, the tutorial is so easy for anyone new to digi / hybrid work, even a layout to print when you have attached your papers. There are free downloads for the tutorials too. Go have a looky.

My card used papers from Paper Garden's Garden of Life fabric add on, such pretty flower DP.  I followed the sketch in Tutorial day 5.  I also used the digi flower in the day 3 class and coloured it in PS, I think I may have lightened  the top of the flower a bit much, but decided to use it anyway.  I also added a shadow and a stroke to the flower. (The shadow is explained in the tutorials.) It's printed not layered.

I added a pink mount for the papers and layered them straight onto the card, then cut the circle by hand, my circle dies were either too small or too large, (should have thought of that before printing.) I added some bling - voila!  The font is AnnieBTN.

I shall be entering the following challenges

http://www.lisasomerville.com/2014/02/starburst-card-bloggers-challenge-two.html   Use 2 or more patterned papers

http://craftitudechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-58-anything-goes-or.html  Anything Goes

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-45.html  Anything Goes

http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper.html  Anything Goes using patterned paper

This is what happened a few nights ago, we thought someone was throwing small stones at our window, it turned out to be large hailstones. the drive was getting white in seconds.  They are not too good, as I was trying to take the photos out of the window at night. LOL.

A Thank you card

Hi Everyone, only heavy showers today LOL.

I went to have more physio for my sciatica today and have been told to go to the back clinic, when asked where it was "you know" said the physiotherapist "the gym behind the department"  GYM ME!!!!!!!! haven't done activity like that for at least 30 years.  I went to a yoga class when I was in my 30's and tore a ligament during warm up LOL.  Oh! well I shall have to try. :(

My card for today is a thank you card, for someone who has been very generous to me.

The digi is a stamp I found when looking for something else, all I did was (can't think why) enter 8 into my search files and masses of files came up, and this was amongst them, why it came up I don't know as it's name is "1905 clover" which I got from Vintage free. I also added an overlay - scalloped curved edge by Delicious Scraps and coloured it to match the flower.

 I coloured it all in Photoshop and I am quite pleased with it, although it has not photographed well.  The first one I took photographed blue.

It's a simple card and small just 4 x 4.  I thought of the sentiment as I was "in clover" with my gift.  Hope she realises that although the card is small I was very happy.

Look what I found today, the first Spring flower in our garden

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/one-layer-week-158.html
One Layer

http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/doodle-pantry-digital-challenge-43.html  Any digi goes

http://kraftyhandschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/february-challenge-spring-flowers.html  Clover flower from April (hope that is considered to be still Spring)

Has to be Love

Hi Everyone, we had SUN today, whooppeeeeeeeee!

Onto my card straightaway!  I was asked to do a 50th wedding anniversary card, which was to include, on the front, golf and cross stitch, as I don't cross stitch, it had to be digital, well you know me LOL. I had nothing in mind, so onto the web for some inspiration, I came across this beautiful card and knew what I had to do. here

I found some golf clubs that I had in my files, I'm afraid I don't know who by, but the file is dated 2006, (if anyone recognises it and lets me know I can credit it.) I changed the colour of the golf bag to match the roses which are by numerous artists, but main gold rose is by Jessica's Sweet Nothings in her digi kit Celtic Moon.

The heart, I used a shape in PS coloured it to match the gold rose and then used a cross stitch action in PS by Atomic Cupcake.

I added ribbon, leaves, apple blossom, lots of times and the layout came together somehow :)  The background paper is Wedding Rose, again a file I have had for years and don't know who by. Printed it out and attached to an 8x8 card by Papermania.

I made some flowers with a Britannia die and Leafy Flourish Signature die from Johanna Sheen.  The shape I cut out by hand, using 2 shaped pointed squares, (again another lost file - sorry) I made in PS, one to match the gold rose colour and a lighter one to match the background. 3D'd them onto the card.  The gold flower shape is lots of layers of gold tissue paper, which I intend to line the box with. I have to do that yet.

This took me many more hours than I usually take, but I like the corner arrangement, which I suppose is more scrapbook layout than card, I did enjoy it though.

A long description post sorry.

The card - finished with some Glamour Dust.

Close up of the cross stitch and golf clubs, I 3D glossed the clubs.

I'll enter the following challenges

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-43.html  Anything Goes

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/wk-6-polkadoodles-challenge-love-is-in.html  Love is in  the air - hope this is OK

http://craftitudechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-58-anything-goes-or.html  Anything Goes

http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-112-all-you-need-is-love.html  All you need is Love

Has to be Digi!

Hi Everyone, another stormy day here in the UK, especially in the South West, which of course includes around here.  Dreadful things happening around the coast including rail lines washed away.  I hope anyone reading this is safe today.

On to my card, the digi is Aurora by Papermakeup, I won it last year and I think she is great.  I expect the sentiment isn't original, but suits her so well LOL.  The DP's are Berries and Wallpaper and Hearts for her dress and are pistachio colour by Pink Petticoat.  The green card is by Papermania and the circle is an SVG Circle Swirl Frame by Cards by Bird. I added Perla Pearls and I followed this sketch.

I'll enter the following challenges.

http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/digi-makeover-challenge-126-anything.html   Anything Goes


http://digisketchchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/use-colour-green.html  Use the colour Green

http://fattastictuesday.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/fan-tastic-tuesday-challenge-21.html  Square Anything Goes

2nd post today

Hi Everyone.
Well what do you think, it's me again, I was going through Paper Playful and found a challenge that I have not seen before for some reason and thought I have a card for that, so here we are.

I was asked by one of the girls in work to make a card for her and her husband to give to one another on their anniversary that they were spending on a cruise, she wanted it special as it would be the only one she would take.  I came up with this, thankfully, she said that her husband was thrilled and that there were a few compliments when it was on display in their cabin, which I thought was nice of her to tell me.

I made the heart and leaf shape inside the heart from default shapes in Photoshop. I added the Ruby and the 40 on the inside heart and added another heart layer slightly bigger which was embossed and cut out as a shadow to the top layer. I then did another layer slightly bigger again, which, when I added it my Fairycut program (similar to Scuts) I asked the program to add scissor curves which gave the scallop shape on the outside.

I used a heart SVG, (which I now cannot find in my files, so if anyone recognises it I would credit who's it is.  Could be Birds Cards),  for the page layout which was also embossed with Embossalicious Rose Garden, I added a chiffon ribbon and roses from Hobbycraft.

I made a simple box for it as it had to travel in a suitcase, which was lined in red tissue paper. The verses are free downloads.  I have shown the left side of the inside.

The challenge I am entering is

http://www.creativecuttingchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-27-love.html  LOVE, must use an SVG file.

Grim Reaper birthday

Hi Everyone, what a fabulous day, we had sun until 4ish, I cleaned through with help from hubby, dried 2 lots of washing on the line and it felt like Spring although a little cold, even the daffodils are on their way to flowering! What a difference a little sun makes to everything.

Onto my card for today, this has a story around it.  I probably have mentioned before that our family have a "sick" sense of humour, my eldest brother was 78 on Monday and whenever he is asked how he is, replies,"I've missed the Grim Reaper again today!"  So for his birthday card I HAD to use the Grim Reaper.  I used a freebie background paper from Bearly Mine Designs and the Grim Reaper is from JustInklined, the font is Chiller.  I 3D glossed the sentiment and the scythe blade.  His response was a good laugh and "I'm glad too" LOL.

He went to Tenerife yesterday after checking that the weather is good, he is a computer buff and has a few web sites of his own to do with his Motor home and the trials and tribulations of it.

wobbly card

Hi Everyone, Dry but dismal is all I can say about today. Dry being the operative word! The weather man told us this morning we have been in a Southwesterly LOW since the beginning of December and it looks like it's going to be the same until the end of February!  Roll on Summer LOL.  Hopefully it will correct my sciatica?

Anyhow, onto today's card, I saw this freebie from Shirley's Cards HERE, I don't make wobbly cards often or even cat cards, but when I saw this I thought of our neighbours cat, so decided this had to be a "ginger" cat. LOL.  Well near enough anyway.  I made the file slightly bigger, added paper overlay from Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrapper because I just thought it matched the quote by Create with TLC. Added some Perla Pen pearls, I also placed a bow tie for the upright cat.
and I had a card.  The sentiment is in an oval also cut from a file by Shirley.  The card is Papermania

I shall enter the following challenges
http://anyoneforanya.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/february-challenge-odd-card.html  Odd card - Yep! wobbly

http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-38-anything-goes.html  Anything Goes - Yep!

http://lacysunshinechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/lacy-sunshines-challenge-26-use.html  Use a sentiment - Yep!

http://scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-11-always-anything-goes-and.html  Anything Goes - Yep!

More Sea photos

Hi Everyone, I put the alarm on this morning as I didn't want to miss the Spring high tide at Porthcawl, the same place as I went last week, about 30 - 40 min from here.  On our journey we passed the River Neath which was in full flood, where I have inserted a circle is the usual river bank, this morning it was up to the main road an impressive sight, just glad we didn't have flooding, (as far as I know.)

When we got to Porthcawl we opened the car doors and were drenched as the sea was right in and sending the water over the car park.  Great I thought for some dramatic pictures.

We went further up the coast than last time and at one spot we were stopped with road closure signs, the sea had come in onto the road and brought with it at least one lorry load of sand and pebbles and flotsam, which was being cleared up by some really happy workmen in bright yellow :)  Anyhow here are a few of what I took.  Hope you like them and not too bored.  Will be back with a card tomorrow, hope your weekend has been good to you.

River Neath in full flood 8am 2nd Feb

As we arrived at the car park near the harbour

A family getting drenched with the wave, which looks like part of the sky

The sun had come out! this is further up the coast

A little further on again

A little further again

On the right you may be able to see the arrow, which was near to the road closed sign

Waited for a wave and nearly got soaked LOL

The sun had come out again and coloured the surf, this is Rest Bay, with the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in the distance

This is turning to the left from the previous shot

The other side of the road closure, aren't those clouds threatening?

The men had nearly finished clearing up when we got to them.

These were the houses affected in the road closure area

Looking further around with what looks like a weather warning ay?

Last few shovel fulls.