29 April 2020

Sentiment in focus

Hi Everyone, my DT card today is for 
https://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

It was hubbies birthday on the 20th and I had already made a card with a sentiment focus, which inspired this one. However I had had a few new stamps, encouraged by a win. Well you have to don't you? I had the stamp and really wanted to use it, I also wanted to use it on hubby's card as he is a star. AW! 

I stamped it and added silver embossing powder, then it was how to use it, goodness knows how my mind works, but this is what happened after would you believe it a quite a number of hours! I made up the sentiments using a star font in Photoshop, edged the sentiment and cut it out, layered the paper and cut 3 stars with punches, I had forgotten I even had them! Something different for him this year, is it to do with lockdown? 
star - Stamp Addicts
punches - unknown
sentiment - my own for my lovely hubby.
star font - Sparkly - fontdiner
star paper - Pink Petticoat now The Lovely Studio
sparkle pen - Spectrum Noir


here is the star on it's side to show the silver embossing

I really hope you will join us at The Male Room, especially if you have difficulty making male cards, the inspiration is just wonderful by our DT and the challenge entrants.


27 April 2020

Found envelopes!

Hi Everyone I was looking for some paper and came across some envelopes, not just plain ones, but with such a pretty pink and a pearl effect, 12 of them that I had had with some card. I'd used the card and left the envelopes. What a find. My Sil is unable to go out normally without it being lockdown too, so I thought I would use the envelopes and make cards to match. Cheer her up a little too.

I was lucky I went into my ribbon draw and found ribbon that matched, although it doesn't look like it in the photo. I went into my Silhouette files and found this pretty print and cut floral arrangement, so I printed and cut 6, then to layer them all I added pearl navy paper that I dry embossed. and gave them to SiL by leaving them on her doorstep and ringing her bell. She only lives down the road, so not going out technically! I'm glad to say she liked them and had a big smile on her face. Cheered up as I wanted.
envelope, pearl paper, gems - stash
floral arrangement -  Silhouette Design Store
ribbon - Anita's
embossing folder - WRMK polka dot
sentiment stamp and label die - Magazine freebies
 Layered Peonies  Simply cards and Papercraft issue 203


GARDEN piccies AGAIN!
I have such joy seeing things come into flower
I hope you enjoy them

Aquilegia or Columbine or Grannies Bonnets

more Aquilegia

 Saxifraga and carpet Phlox

Solomon's Seal, Saxifraga and a large foxglove on it's way to blossoming

A beautiful Azalea making it's mark in the garden

We had a huge clump of these tulips, but hubby with his "don't know what this is must be weed syndrome" left this beautiful tulip in a different place. I wonder how long before it gets to the size of clump it used to be.

Our Choisya is covered with blossom and giving out its lovely perfume.

The Rhododendron hasn't lasted as long as usual, the unusual higher temperatures has put it over too soon.

https://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/2020/04/crafting-happiness-ch-46-anything-goes.html

24 April 2020

QKR Stampede challenge

Hi Everyone, it's a Friday and it's my DT card at 
http://qkrstampede.blogspot.com/

I have had a few spin offs on this theme recently and have more in mind, but the one that started it all off is this one. I had the quote and thought I had something to go with it, then realised I didn't, so had to start from scratch. I searched my files for film and the film background paper and the negative strip came up, for some reason I thought newspaper and searched for that and up this one popped up. All I had to do is put them together.

I have to admit to feeling like I haven't any film sometimes LOL. I hope you are all well and have some film of your isolation period left for your memories!

Central quote - QKR digistamps
I added a chalked border in Photoshop
newspaper - Digidewi
film strip - Carin Grobe
this was placed into Silhouette and traced and cut twice


to brighten the wishes this is the insert
done with Photoshop


An apology


I added a poem on THIS post and the author Jan Beaumont Auckland, NZ  has contacted me asking if I would acknowledge her writing of it. I am only to happy to acknowledge Jan Beaumont being the author, I think we can all thank her for the enjoyment she brought to us. Wonderful writing and putting into words so many of us felt.

I also have to add, it was sent to me by email with no mention of the author so this was by no means a deliberate omission on my part. I enjoyed it so much I felt I had to share it, so my apologies are meant from the heart.

I have added an acknowledgement on the actual post, but many of you probably wouldn't revisit, so I felt I had to post it on my next post here.

21 April 2020

Unicorn love

Hi Everyone, looking through my stash for inspiration, I found this little Unicorn set. I had already done a background for something that didn't work out, so thought I would use it as a sky instead of water? I think it may have worked. 

stamp and die set - Mama Elephant Magazine freebies
sentiment stamp - Magazine freebie
both from Simply cards and Papercraft 
background - Distress inks
dies - Sue Wilson Noble set
Sparkle pen - Spectrum Noir
confetti - stash


As the weather has been beautiful of late, apart from a shower overnight, I have been out taking piccies again. OH! NO! not again I hear you cry LOL

This Pieris was taken in the evening sun, it just looked like it was on fire.

The Amanogawa Cherry tree
 
The beautiful blossom

had to take some more
  
a few just opening

Keep your spirits up and craft!

19 April 2020

18th Birthday with foil


Hi Everyone, I hope your coping with lockdown especially with the news we have to go on for a few weeks more! Thankfully, I am busy, as I expect you are too, cleaning and clearing and crafting. Although I have also succumbed to adding a few more craftiness to my hoad! I hope I will use them soon, not for them to go into my NBUS, as Darnell says. LOL.

One of my GNieces was 18 recently and this is the card I made her, I found this image in my stash and as it looks a little like her, I added it to the flower frame and borders I also have and love. I designed it in Photoshop, transferred it to the Cameo added lines for the foil quill to make foiling lines on some of the flowers and the frame, then cut out each section. 

I dry embossed a piece of card, then added the pieces to the card, and placed it all 3D'd onto an A4 card. I'm was happy to hear she loved it.  
Image - Design Bundles
flowers - Creativefabrica
foiling - WRMK foil pen
Silhouette Cameo 2
EF - Craftwell Modern Stripe

you can see some of the foiling here,
 it is also on her earings, rings and bag!


17 April 2020

Cat out of the bag!

Hi Everyone, it's Friday and it's my DT card at 

When I saw this wonderful image I just had to have it, for some reason, my ink isn't bleeding after I print the image out as it used to, so I used Distress inks again, on the image and the sentiment banner. I tried a tartan and think it may have worked, hope you think so?
image and sentiment - QKR Stampede
print image and cut with Cameo
coloured with Distress inks
background papers - Pixelscrapper
eyes and nose - Nuvo Crystal Glaze

 I hope to see you at the QKR Challenge

15 April 2020

Music

Hi everyone my DT card today is for

I had so many ideas for this challenge, I contemplated more than one card but I had others I had to do, so decided on this one. I had this image sent to me as a follower, I thought it so clever and fun, so I went with it. I can imagine him in magical colours for a little one.

image Unicorn Violin?- Elizabeth Dulemba
paper - We Are 3
notes - Shirley Young svg file
embossing folder - Embossalicious 
pin dot square dies - Sue Wilson Noble dies
sentiment - computer generated 



13 April 2020

Thinking of you

Hi Everyone, I hope Easter has been a good one even under these trying times. Thankfully the weather was wonderful, as we would have wanted for a drive out or a visit to the sea, instead why was more cleaning and washing on the agenda?

I didn't even work on a card. BUT, I also did some reading that filled my time outside in the sun, we are so lucky, I think of people in a flat /apartment with no outside space, my heart goes out to them one and all. Hubby decided to clean the fascias of our bungalow, I was so sorry I couldn't help, my Kindle was too heavy to put down. Bless him.

My card today is one I just tried out as a quick time waster and I'm happy enough with it to share with you.
stamps - magazine freebies - Simply Cards & Papercraft
stamped with Distress inks, the ink spread around a little
sequins - stash


I have a joke for you today, that was sent to me, it's anonymous, so can't give credit I'm sorry, but I thought it too good not to show you.

EDIT

I have had a comment added where the author has read my blog and has asked for her poem to be acknowledged, I am VERY happy to announce that the poem  is by Jaybee. Jan Beaumont Auckland, NZ. I have no link apart from this one. However I can thank her for the wonderful poem that I have posted below. Wonderful writing and putting into words so many of us have felt. 
Thank you Jaybee
I'm normally a social girl
I love to meet my mates
But lately with the virus here
We can't go out the gates.

You see, we are the 'oldies' now
We need to stay inside
If they haven't seen us for a while
They'll think we've upped and died 

They'll never know the things we did
Before we got this old
There wasn't any Facebook
So not everything was told.

We may seem, sweet old ladies,
Who would never be uncouth
But we grew up in the 60s -
If you only knew the truth!

There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll
The pill and miniskirts
We smoked, we drank, we partied
And were quite outrageous flirts.

Then we settled down, got married
And turned into someone's mum,
Somebody's wife, then nana,
Who on earth did we become?

We didn't mind the change of pace
Because our lives were full
But to bury us before we're dead
Is like a red rag to a bull!

So here you find me stuck inside
For 4 weeks, maybe more
I finally found myself again
Then I had to close the door!

It didn't really bother me
I'd while away the hour
I'd bake for all the family
But I've got no bloody flour!

Now Netflix is just wonderful
I like a gutsy thriller
I'm swooning over Idris
Or some random sexy killer.

At least I've got a stash of booze
For when I'm being idle
There's wine and whiskey, even gin
If I'm feeling suicidal!

So let's all drink to lockdown
To recovery and health
And hope this bloody virus
Doesn't decimate our wealth.

We'll all get through the crisis
And be back to join our mates
Just hoping I'm not far too wide
To fit through the flaming gates!

Anon

10 April 2020

Queen Bee

Hi Everyone, it's a Friday and it's my DT card at 

This Queen is enjoying her lay in fresh grass, scented flowers and just thinking, as the sentiment says. I'm not sure who it will go to yet, but I'm sure with a family my size I will soon. All I know is she makes me happy and each time I see the large lone bumble bee in the garden, I will think of it like this. 

Queen Bee - QKR
coloured in Distress Inks
Scattered Straw, Fossilised Amber,
 Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, Shaded Lilac
Dusty Concord, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint
sentiment - Been Thinkin' QKR
background paper - Kayl Turesson
butterfly dies - Tattered Lace
lilac card - The Works
embossing folder - Cuttlebug Flower Fantasy
sparkle pen - Spectrum Noir
gold glitter -Tonic Pure Sheen

I hope you can see the sparkle and the gold glitter on her wings and the butterflies?

08 April 2020

Easter Chicks

Hi Everyone, I really don't know where my time is going, I was going to make a lot of Easter cards, I had so many ideas, then I looked around and there wouldn't have been time to post them. SO - it's this card at least 3 of them, the only kind I made. I'm ashamed to say this went to my brothers and wives. The greetings inside were slightly different and I had to rush them to the post.

Anyway, I've been using my digital stash, the paper is from years ago, I copied it to my new computer in 2015, but I've had it years before then. I thought it may give them a smile with the cute chicks.
paper - BDR Hugware
Easter chicks - The Hungry jpeg - 3D'd
print and cut on the Cameo
sentiment - computer generated 3D'd
Nuvo Crystal Glaze
Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen
die - Tonic rectangle 

Now to bore you with a few more photos of the garden
I came home after posting the cards and saw in the front garden in the bright sunshine, what I thought were lilies, then realised they were tulips open wide, what do you think?



I was also surprised to see the Rhododendron bursting out.

The weeping Birch is also springing open

The Berbaris is flowering

 The white Heather and the Spirea 
competing to see who can flower the most.

The Euphorbia putting on it's lime green show 

You'll be glad to know that that's the last of the garden for a little! while.

Keep and safe and well Everyone, I hope you are keeping busy,
 all I can say, I'm sure I wasn't this busy before lockdown!

Happy Easter


07 April 2020

Die cut

Hi everyone, my card today is something I have had on my desk for ages, I just didn't know what to do with the die cut out of patterned paper, I cut it to see how the cut looked. It has sat for a few months, then clearing up a little I was going to throw it, then thought c'mon, do something, so I sat and pondered and in the end came up with this, so simple, but couldn't think of anything else to do! I used plain card to cut another, cut it apart and placed it in each corner. I'm not sure of it, but it will come in handy I'm sure.
die -
blue paper - Craft Sensations
plain card - Crafters Companion
stamp sentiment - Simply Cards and Papercraft freebie


I have a photo to share with you, a newspaper cutting I found not long ago. I was 9 years old and played the part of a "Sunbeam". I had one line to say - 
"Hark I hear the bells ringing!" 
I forgot it! and had to be prompted, meaning the embarrassment called a halt to all future drama productions! Who knows what could have been if I had remembered LOL. I am ringed in the centre, with my younger brother playing a ladybird (ladybug) in the bottom left circle. My mother made out costumes as every mother did / does :)

05 April 2020

hula hoop

On Thursday my neighbours, well all 5 of them, looked at me and thought me mad I'm sure, there was me banging my saucepan for all to see and hear, wish more had come out. AND where were the men? I'm so glad it was for ALL Workers during this awful time, without whom we could not survive. Please God keep them safe.

Anyhow, here's my card to give you a smile. I had the image in my inbox as a follower, and had a smile straight away. Looking at it, my thoughts were - everyone? is now trying to exercise in some way and I could imagine a lot of people doing this with their masks on, and achieving something they couldn't do before. I know I have a strange imagination!
image - Elizabeth Dulemba
coloured in PS and cut with Cameo
scene paper, tree and rabbit - Hugware
background paper - Pixelscrapper
sparkle pen - Spectrum Noir clear


some more photos of our tulips in the fabulous weather we have been having lately
this with the pieris in bloom,

These with a mini azealia and the clematis shooting up

 we are so lucky, this is the view from my kitchen sink

Stay in and keep safe

03 April 2020

She wolf?

Hi Everyone, it's a Friday and from now on it will be my day for my DT card at 

I looked online to see what colour wolves were and couldn't believe how many colours there were, in the end I decided to try and colour a "blonde! My sentiment? is because, she, Yep! she's a she! does look like she is in sorrow and thinking, so my card is a sympathy card.

Wolf - Distress inks
pine tree background - Creative Market
plaid background - M Turnidge
die - Tonic 
sentiment - computer generated
tree die and stamp - Magazine freebie Simply Cards & Papercraft


Hoping you are all safe and well and keeping yourselves amused?
Here's something to make you smile - I hope

"I regret rubbing ketchup in my eyes, but that’s Heinz sight.

01 April 2020

Make me laugh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My DT card today is for

I think we all need a laugh at the moment, so I think this challenge is a perfect time to get going on the jokes and images. I hope you will join in and get us all laughing.

I came across this dog in my files and decided he looked a little fed up? Then after searching in my files I came across lots of other dog and related images, so I put them all together in Photoshop, transferred them to my Cameo hence this card. All images are at least 2 layers, the dog is 4 and 3D'd.
stitched border & grass - Gina Cabrera
ready coloured dog - Creativefabrica
dog house - Hugware images (no longer available)
dog food - Melissa Riddle
sentiment - Marlene (no longer available)