A card and a clear out!!

Hello again everyone...........hope you are all well.... I know its been a while since I last posted but had a really busy but very productive one..... not craftwise but sorting out wise!  We will possibly have to move house within the next few months.... its a long story but basically because of the injuries hubby suffered in the accident almost 3 years ago now he is struggling with the stairs and the shower, so we have to move into a bungalow.  We have lived here in this house for 42 years so you can imagine the stuff we have accumulated over those years!!  I have been putting it off for as long as I can..... but it needs to be done and once I got going I was like a woman possessed!!  Had to be really ruthless though, bags of stuff to take to the charity shop and the tip!  Its amazing what you keep and find, cards made by the girls when they were little, can't bring myself to throw them away so put them all in a little memory box.... they will have to go with us, wherever we go!  One place I am really dreading going into is the attic, OMG!! ...... I have no idea whats up there and what I will do with it!!  I dont like going up there, I have a terrible fear of spiders and I imagine them lurking in dark corners waiting to jump out at me............ ewwww..... I would have a heart attack I can tell you!  We had a nest of squirrels up there a few years ago and we had to get the pest control in to get rid of them, there was a nest of babies, I felt really bad that they had to be destroyed but we had no choice.

Anyhows, onto my card for tonight and its my 2nd Christmas card for this year I amd really behind with them, I usually try to get started them in July but with one thing an another just not had the time. The image, music and sentiment are Lili of the Valley, image coloured with Promarkers. The star border is a Marianne die which I have had for a while but could never manage to actually get the card out from the die once it had been through the bug. I tried everything, every time I ended up ripping the card into pieces, then I tried rubbing the die over with a tea light candle, then burnished with a soft cloth, viola!! success, it works, peels out no problem, so if you are having the same problem give the candle tip a try. 

Poinsettia is Wild Orchid Crafts and paper not sure, will have a look and repost when I find it!

I am off the the Creative Crafts and Stitch show at Eventcity tomorrow, lots of dosh will be spent I am sure but I am so excited, will be back tomorrow to show you my spoils!!

Thanks for your visit and enjoy the rest of your evening and if you are going to the show during the next 3 days, enjoy!! oh and if you see me there, say hello!

Hugs,

Easel Wedding Card

This is the matching box for the card

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and not missed me too much, its been a while since my last post...............just realised how long its been........... but I do have a good excuse (a few actually lol!) ... pull up a chair and grab a coffee......  well we had a wonderful break in Blackpool, lovely hotel, delicious food, fabulous entertainment and good company, what more could you ask for?  We needed that break for the challenges of the week ahead ........... Tuesday we travelled to Wrightington Hospital near Wigan........ Don had to have an injection into his shoulder ............ Wednesday and Thursday morning I spent at car dealerships trying to organise a new car...... doesnt half take some time with all the flippin paperwork!..... but worth it, I now have a lovely 1 year old Peugot 207!!  Thursday afternoon Don had an appointment at Manchester Royal Infiirmary, Friday I was working and Saturday Don had an appointment with a Neuropsychologist in Liverpool, we left at 9am and didnt get home until 5pm..... shattered!!!!  Walked through the door, Don needed the loo desperately and on his way up the stairs he tripped and fell!!  I ran upstairs fearing the worst, he was okay, said he hadn't hurt himself, just shaken up.  4.30am he woke me to say he didnt feel very well, he had pains in his chest and as he has had two heart attacks in the past and suffers with angina I phoned for an ambulance............ he was taken into hospital within minutes, Morphine, ECG's, X-Rays, Blood tests and then waiting for 5 hours in A&E for a bed.  Luckily all the tests came back negative, it wasn't a heart attack........ such a relief!   He was kept in for the day for observation and discharged at 8pm on Sunday evening...... they think it was bruising from the fall on the stairs.  So that was my week, where did it go?????  This week has been a little less hectic....... are you losing the will to live now.............?? ..... LOL, nearly finished!!!

Amongst all this mayhem I managed to make this card for my daughter for her friends wedding last Saturday...............I love this Marianne Die........... flowers are Wild Orchid, sentiments done on PC.

That's it from me for tonight, hopefully I will be back over the weekend with my DT card for Sunday Sketch and Stamp............... thanks for dropping by!

xxxx

Lili of the Valley Challenge 108 - Roses

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Hello everone, just a quick post to say I haven't gone AWOL..... just had a few things to catch up on and we are off to Blackpool tomorrow for a few days break.... so been trying to get stuff organised before we go.  The dog is going to our granddaughters, hope he will be okay, we have never left him before......... he is an old man now at 14......... and then theres Honey the parrot..... daughter is coming in to see to her so hope they both behave!!


Lots of you kind people have enquired about hubby and the little procedure he had last week..... he is okay... he had a colonoscopy and everything looked fine, they took some biopsies the results of which will take a few weeks but nothing to worry about.  He was very nervous of having it done but he was sedated and when I collected him he said he didnt know whey he was worried and he was thrilled to bits because they gave him toast and jam with his coffee, he's easily pleased!! lol!


Well onto my card....... the challenge at Lili of the Valley this week is 'Roses' - an easel card made with a Marianne die......... I love this die, I think its my fave one .... at the moment anyway!  The image has been coloured with Prismas........ lace is from stash, image and sentiment both Lili of the Valley.  Flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts, of course!  Apologies for the quality of my photos, I think I need a new camera, they look a bit fuzzy to me but then the light wasnt too good today, it was grey and drizzling.


Thats if from me for now, will be back after our well earned weekend break! Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend whatever you are up to.


Hugs,

Love is in the little things

Good afternoon everyone, hope you all had a good weekend and still enjoying some nice sunny weather.  Hubby is off to hospital very shortly for a little procedure to be done, so I thought I would post this before I take him as I could be there for hours (groan!!!) ....... but it has to be done and I think he will be glad to get it over with............ he will be sedated so shouldnt be too bad for him.

My card for today is intended as an anniversary card for my daughter and SIL and as soon as I saw this gorgeous new die from Marianne I just had to have it (as you do!!).

The flowers are Wild Orchid and the sentiments are both Lili of the Valley.

Well better dash as its almost time, thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day

Hugs,

Sunday Sketch and Stamp #65

Happy Sunday everyone, its a lovely day here in Cheshire..... been sat in the garden, could feel myself starting to burn so thought I better come inside...... and as promised here is my DT card for todays Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #65 which is a fab sketch by Uma. First time ever I have used bunting on a card!!  I am also entering this card into the Lili of the Valley Challenge 106 this week which is 'Fun and Games' so it fits perfectly.

The papers are Masculine by Dovecraft 

Image -  Lili of the Valley No 7 Bear coloured with Prismas

Sentiment -  Lili of the Valley

Well thats it from me for today, I will be back tomorrow with another creation!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Hugs,

Easel Drawer Card

 Hello there everyone, hope you are all well this fab sunny weekend, hope wherever you live you have had some sunshine.  Sorry about the lack of posts this week, had a couple of family problems, its been a bit difficult to concentrate and my mojo went AWOL.  Things are a little better but still not resolved but I won't bore you any longer...... onto my card today and its yet another easel drawer card, really loving this style at the moment!   For this card I used 300gsm watercolour card....... its a bit sturdier than normal card  and I quite like the effect of it.  I have used a Martha Stewart punch around the page..... sorry, forgot the name of it! ........ The edges have been distressed with Frayed Burlap DI........  The papers are Nitwits Thimbles n Threads..... Image is Lili of the Valley coloured using Distress Inks................. Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts as is the small metal corner which has been painted and embossed to give it a shabby vintage look............ sentiment is Lili of the Valley and tag is Spellbinders.... little leaves are Marianne.

I will be back tomorrow to show you my DT card for this weeks Challenge #65 over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp which is a fab sketch by Uma.

Hugs

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #63

Hello everyone, hope you are all well this lovely sunny evening, its been a glorious warm sunny day here in Cheshire today, hope it lasts, can't believe we are already into July ........you know its true what they say... the older you get the faster the time flies.............before we know it Christmas will be upon us, oops.... I mentioned the dreaded 'C' word!!!!  I keep thinking I should really be making a start on the old 'C' cards but somehow it just doesnt seem right to be looking at snowflakes and snowmen when the sun is beating down!

 This is my DT card for this weeks challenge #63 at Sunday Sketch and Stamp - a fab sketch by Marie. 

The gorgeous paper is Nitwits Thimblesnthreads

The beautiful image is from Tina46Kreativeblog

Stamping around image and edges of card - Stampelgede Grunge Collection

Flowers, metal corner, pearl button and seam binding ribbon - Wild Orchid Crafts

Film strip ribbon by Tim Holtz

Sentiment - Whimsy Stamps

Butterfly - Martha Stewart punch

Lace, pearls and charm from stash

Just noticed ... oops ... the charm is hiding behind the ribbon!  I sent this card to my granddaughter for her birthday so I can't take another photo of it..... note to self ... make sure all embellishments are visible before taking photo .... duh!! 

Thats it from me for today, thanks for dropping by and enjoy the rest of your evening.

xxxxxx

Barbara

Easel card with Drawer

Good afternoon my lovelies, hope you are all well and ready for the weekend.  I really hope this weather improves very soon, don't know about you but I am soooo fed up with all this rain.  It should have been sports day today for my grandson and it had to be cancelled as its too wet, hopefully it will take place next week when it might just be a bit better, we can live in hope eh!!

Onto my card for today, I fancied making an easel card with a difference so hence this little card with a pull out drawer.  I followed a really easy tutorial here by Missmagic 1975.  It was great fun putting this together and one I will definately be making again only next time I think I will try and make it a bit larger.  This one measures 4" x 4" excluding the punched borders.   

The papers I used are Prima - Sparkling Spring

Punch is Martha Stewart Punch around the page

Image - Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment - Film Strip Sentiments by Whimsy Stamps

Lace and crochet flowers from stash.

Well thats it from me today, thanks for dropping by

Hugs

xxx

My Sewing Bargain!

Good afternoon everyone .......... hope you are all well and enjoying some sunshine today.  Just had to share my bargain with you all.......... I was so excited when I saw this as I have been looking for ages for a small sewing machine to use exclusively for my cards ............. the ones I have seen have been around the £50 mark which I couldnt justify paying for a machine to just sew card.  I found this little beauty at our local £stretcher and it was reduced from £50 to £24.99!!  Its a really sturdy little machine, ideal for sitting on your craft bench, its got 8 stitch styles and its electric, not battery operated! 

I am away to have a play! Enjoy the rest of your day.

Katies Book Card

Good evening everyone, hope you all enjoyed the lovely hot weather today but I have to admit it was too hotfor me, just nice now its cooled down a bit.  I know some parts of the UK didnt have any nice sunshine today, the weather map showed it 32 degrees in Kent and only 11 degrees in Lerwick!  How strange and unpredictable our weather is!! 

Well onto my card for today and its a very special card I made for Katie for her 30th birthday at the weekend.   I followed a fab tutorial here by Tina and believe me its not as complicated as it looks ...... I really enjoyed this project, if you haven't already done so, please visit Tina's blog, her work is amazing.

Tilda and butterflies coloured with Distress Inks, edges all distressed with Frayed Burlap

Stempelgede Grunge Collection around image with Versamark Vintage Sepia

Prima 'Sweet Fairy' paper pack

Martha Stewart Punch

Flowers and seam binding by Wild Orchid

Lace and ribbon from stash

Vintage Alphabet by Tim Holtz

Birthday verse found on internet

Apologies for the hundreds of photos but I wanted to capture every angle of the card so you can see it from all sides.

Thats it for me for today, I am off to walk the dog before it chucks it down!!  Thanks for dropping by, enjoy the rest of your evening.

Cinderella and Captain America

Hello my lovelies, hope you are all well and had a fab weekend, the weather has been gorgeous today, so hot, hope it lasts, its about time the sun made an appearance!

Well its our youngest daughter Katie's 30th birthday today ...... OMG where did those years go!!!  She had a big celebration party last night which was fancy dress and the theme was Disney or film..... she had to be Cinderella....... naturally!! and this is the dress I made for her.  I am quite pleased with the end result, I had a few nail biting moments with it I can tell you!  I havent done any dressmaking for years, when the girls were little I made all their little dresses and fancy dress outfits for school and the last dressmaking session I had was 13 years ago when my daughter Alison was married and she had 9 bridesmaids!!  So when Katie asked me to make this one I thought it would be a doddle...... how wrong was I !!!  The dress material is satin and the sleeves and 'puffs' are a chiffon type material, well it was slipping and sliding all over the place!!  Then I had a problem with the measurements and couldn't get the bodice to sit right...... however after a few nips and tucks it was ready to attach the skirt, no probs there until I came to attach the zip and discovered I didnt have a zipper foot for my machine...... arrgh!!!  Anyway, I managed to finish it on time and Katie was very pleased with it and everyone at the party was very impressed with it, so I was happy and secretly very proud of myself!!  The photo is Katie with her hubby Gaz.... aka Captain America!!  A good time was had by all with some fab outfits, everyone made a real effort to make Katies birthday a huge success.

I have made a very special card for Katie's birthday but with all the hustle and bustle of the celebrations I didnt get chance to take any photos of it ........... duhh, bird brain I am!!  So I shall take some photos tomorrow hopefully and post as soon as I can.

       xxxxxx

A card for Nana Nell

 

Flowers close up

 

Good afternoon my lovelies, hope you are all well and enjoyed the sunny weekend.  We had a lovely day yesterday with our family for Father's Day, hubby was totally spoilt as he deserves to be after all he has been through. The weather here in Cheshire today is glorious sunshine, hope it stays awhile, it was good to get out in the garden this morning to mow the lawn and wash the patio furniture, those birdies don't half leave a mess!

Onto my card today and its a commissioned card for an 85 year old lady, when I was asked to make this card I immediately thought 'vintage' and 'shabby chic' and knew exactly how I wanted the card to look, I have to say its not far off how I envisaged it to be, in fact I am quite pleased with the end result.  Tricky bit was taking photos of it, I really struggle to take photos of easel cards, does anyone else have this problem?  I really need to invest in a decent camera too, I always think my photos look a little 'hazy' and not as clear as I would like them to be, so apologies for the poor quality.

The gorgeous image is from Tina's Kreative Blog - Tina has some of the best vintage images I have ever seen, do have a look at Tina's blog if you get the chance.  If you like Shabby Chic, loads of inspiration there.

The papers are from Raspberry Road - Shabby Chic 1 and 2

The tag is Marianne die LR0154

Flowers, pearls and Filigree corner are Wild Orchid

Martha Stewart Butterfly punch

Seam binding by The Ribbon Girl

Alphabet letters - Tim Holtz Vintage Market

Sentiment - A Day to Remember (Whiff of Joy - I think!)

Lace and net from stash

Hope Nana Nell likes her card as much as I enjoyed making it.

Thats it from me for today, I have another creation to share with you very soon!  Thanks for dropping by today and enjoy the rest of the evening.

 

It's Summer!!

What a horrible, wet and miserable day!  Who would think it was June......... and to top it all its cold as well, I have had to put my heating on today... I was frozen!  My daughters have gone to Manchester today to the 'Take That' gig!!  They will be soaked wet through, its an open air concert!!  Rather them than me, I will wait until its televised and watch it in comfort!!

My card today is my DT contribution for this weeks challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp which is a fab sketch by Lisa.  The gorgeous image is Sugar Nellie 'Summer' from Funky Kits.  She is coloured with Promarkers, I just adore these images, they are a breeze to colour.  Don't know if you can see very clearly on this photo but I followed a fab sky tutorial by Bev Rochester here using Distress Inks.  Its my first attempt with this technique and definately something I would try again.

Papers - Sparkling Spring by Prima.

Roses -Wild Orchid Crafts

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Seam Binding is Pink Tulip - The Ribbon Girl

Bakers Twine - The Ribbon Girl

Charm and Gypsophilia from stash  

I am entering this card into the Addicted to Stamping Challenge, the theme this week is 'Summertime'

Enjoy the rest of your evening and lets hope the weather improves for the coming week.  Thanks for taking the time to drop by!

Hugs,

 xxxxxx

Sugar Bowl Challenge #61

Close up of gorgeous Wild Orchid Crafts - Poppies

Good afternoon everyone, hope are all well and had an enjoyable weekend.  Its a pity the hot weather didn't stay around for very long but the gardens are in need of some drenching, in an ideal world it would rain all night and sunshine all day, but we don't live in an ideal world......... ahh well!

My card for today is one of the gorgeous Sugar Nellie digi's from Funky Kits and this cute little miss is Sybil.  Isnt she just adorable?  love those curls and the dolly shoes!!  She is coloured with Copics and Promarkers, I only have a few Copics, I would love more, I much prefer them to Promarkers but they are a bit pricier so I buy one now and again when I am feeling indulgent!

The paper is Classic K McKenna Pink Swirls, the scalloped one I have no idea, it was in my stash, but it just matched perfectly. 

The flowers are Poppies from Wild Orchid Crafts as is the seam binding, Light Beige

Sentiment is Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear Tickets

I am entering this card into the Sugar Bowl Challenge #61, a fab sketch by Kiki with the optional theme of Love/Weddings.

Well thats it for me for today, thank you so much for your visit and enjoy the rest of your day!

Hugs

Barbara

xxx

Teddy Bo Challenge # 11

Good afternoon everyone on this very fine and sunny day, although this morning it was pouring down with hailstones thrown in, but now its a beautiful day, fingers crossed it will last!

The challenge at Teddy Bo this week is 'Shaped Cards' which I am really pleased about as it gives me chance to use my latest purchase from Which Craft, these fabulous Elegant Step Cards and at £6.99 for a pack of 10 they are really good value.  They are a dream to use and so much choice of different shapes of cards, make sure you have a peek, you won't be disappointed! 

For this card I used 'Strawberry Picking' Teddy Bea,

 she is coloured using Prisma pencils.

The lush papers are a freebie from Raspberry Road - Wild Strawberries

The gorgeous flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts

The strawberry sentiment is Magnolia

'For you' sentiment and tag - Lili of the Valley

Leaves are Marianne Die LR0156

Ribbon from stash

Hope you enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,