Monday morning again!!

Good morning,

Where did last week go? It flew by for me. I've completed my 60 thank you cards that my daughter can send out to thank all her/our  family and friends for their generosity when my grandson Seth celebrated his 1st birthday. I wasn't happy with my previous example so went with something a bit simpler. His bedroom is decorated with Elmer the elephant so I used that as a basis.

I then backed it with some lemon paper using a woodware punch and stamped the sentiment. It's not too big either so that my daughter doesn't have to write an 'essay' in each one. I'm happy with this design as it was so easy to replicate and I managed to make them all within a day which was including making the 60 envelopes as well. I'm just glad I don't have to write them!!!!

I'm hoping to just craft this week just for the fun of it. It's the first time for a while I don't have any orders or wedding stationery to do. You never know, I might just have the time to have a tidy in my craft room.

Thanks for looking x

New X cut dies

Morning

I've been playing with my new dies that Father Christmas and the birthday fairy brought me!!!!

My birthday is close to Christmas so I'm lucky to have some new crafty stash to play with. This year I've had the new x-cut dies that will help you make 'scenes' on your card. I'm not going to use the design I posted for the 'thank you' cards but I did use one of the dies.

Here is a card just using the village dies and layering them up.

This card could be used for birthdays and even wedding/anniversaries as long as you make the church predominant. I've only just started playing but I might try adding Pink Petticoats 'cloud' papers behind it and see how that looks.

Thanks for looking xx

Wednesday 29th January 2014

Afternoon

I've been trying to come up with a 'thank you' card for my daughter to send out to thank people for my grandson's 1st birthday presents. It's a tricky one. Do I go very childish or appeal to the parents as they are the ones who will be reading them?

 I think this is too old but I'm quite pleased with the design. I've had some x-cut dies for my birthday so I've been playing with them. They are really nice and cut well. I thing the 'village' would look better if I used the same purple card that I used for the plane. The clouds are a paper from Pink Petticoat. I'll try and make a childish one and see how I go with that.

Thanks for looking x

No voice...but never mind.

Good morning

I've got no voice this morning which is really strange. My throat has been a little sore but nothing to complain over but I can't talk at all today. At least I'm giving the family a break!!

I thought I'd share the card I made for my grandson Seth's 1st Christmas. I wanted something big so it would catch his eye. I added some jingle bells after I photographed this as he loves the sound of something jingling. I used a Polka Doodles CD and printed it off my computer in an A4 size so it had impact. I sprayed the hat with Crafters Companion sparkle and decoupaged it together. He loved it so I was pleased with that.

Thanks for looking x

Wednesday 22nd January

Good morning

I'm posting a photograph of a 'thank you' card I've just recently made for friends who invited us to their house for supper.

I used the tonic 'corner' dies and a label punch from woodware. My stamp I've had for ages so I'm not sure where that one is from. I just used a Tim Holtz tattered rose ink pad all over the card to give it a shabby look.

I'm still trying to work with my new Tonic dies that I had for Christmas. I need to put a lot more colour into my cards but I'm always thinking "Less is more" and then when I look back I think "Really?" I wish I'd put more colour on this one but my friends loved it which is all that counts. They may have just been polite mind you !!!

Thanks for looking x

Simon and Rebecca's Wedding Stationery

Afternoon

Today I'm going to put on some photographs of Simon and Rebecca's Wedding invitations. They got married in November and wanted a box with all information cards inside. I embossed a tree on the top of the box and then followed that through to all the inserts. The colour was white and deep (Cadbury) purple. I then made a wrap using Martha Stewart ornate punch and sealed it all with a spray of autumnal die cuts. Acorns, leaves, pine cones. They are from Stephanie Weighman's tattered lace dies. It was quite time consuming but so worth it. We had a wishing tree at the wedding so we carried the tree and autumn theme right through the ceremony. Rebecca had candles and pine cones dotted around so it all worked nicely together.

The box was kept very plain, just an embossed tree on top and layered with purple.

The wrap was wrapped around the inserts and sealed with a group of dies put together to make an autumn spray. This one pictured is an 'undone' wrap. When it was sealed the sides came together exactly.

 



The inserts were about eight. The first one was plain with the guests name on it. Then the invite details, RSVP, map and directions, guest list information etc. I embossed each one after I printed them from the computer.


The guests seemed to like this one and it was easy to match everything up for the order of service, table plan, name plates etc.

I'm going to try and make some birthday cards now as we have so many birthdays in January.

Thanks for looking, Lynne

What happened to 2013?

Good morning

I can't believe that I have not posted on here for over a year!!! It's as though 2013 didn't exist for me. Well...it did. It was a very good year with our darling 1st grandson being born in January and then my son married in November.

I'm going to try (once again) to keep this up to date and try to blog at least once a week.

My first photographs are of a wedding I did this year. The bride wanted navy blue with a bit of sparkle. They turned out well and the couple were very pleased with them.

 I embossed the outer card using my ebosser once I had hand-cut all the wallets. I used my spellbinder dies to make the inserts and added RSVP, maps and gift list to the inside. A lovely bit of sparkle was added to the closure.

 The order of service, name plates, table plan etc. all followed on the same theme so everything matched. It had positive comments from the guests which is very rewarding once everything was finished.

I have no other wedding stationery to do but I'm just finishing off one that just had to have boxes made and pop corn take out boxes also.

 

 The couple did all the designing themselves and just gave me the finished card to put together. That was a much different way of working compared to what I'm usually used to but it was a very quick job at least.

 

 

I'm going to make some cards this afternoon using my new Tonic dies that I had for Christmas. Have a good one whatever you're doing :)





Wednesday 24th October 2012

Afternoon

I have no idea where the time is going. I've been busy trying to design wedding stationery for my son and his fiancee. They're getting married next year which is very exciting. My first grandchild is due in January by my daughter and son-in-law and my son is getting married also. 2013 is going to be a memorable year for us as a family.

I've made another word book for a friend whose just had a baby girl and thought I'd enter it in Jellypark's challenge this month which is anything but a card using pink.

I've used a Funky Hand CD for the papers and digital images and framed the word book adding a few butterflies and buttons. Instead of putting ribbon through the book spine I used heart and flower brads instead.


I'm really enjoying making these and loving the response I'm getting also. That's the best part of making handmade gifts. The reaction really gives you a boost.

Thanks for looking and I'll let you know how the wedding design is going

3rd October 2012

Morning

Today I have a few cards to share. Moving house, new baby boy, girl and a card suitable for men.

This one was using my sizzix dies with a simple sentiment. It's really useful for men especially when you don't know them very well. I love my flourish dies.

This one is me trying to use up some of the embellishments I have in my stash!!! I'm not very good  at using 'bought' embellies...I only ever seem to make my own. I've got so much stash I have to start using it. I need more room for my Christmas prezzies :)

I love this card (even if I say so myself) It's black and white and stamped using Banana Frog stamps. I was gutted when they closed....I loved their stamps and ordered from them often. My rubber stamps and my Big Shot are my two 'desert island' items. I couldn't craft without my stamps that's for sure.

Last one is an order for a 'baby boy' card using some more of the embellies. The papers are from Funly Hand of course.

Thanks for looking. It's pouring with rain here again so I'm hoping to have a look at designing my Christmas card for this year. Have a good one x

1st october (pm)

Wow, first time I've posted twice in one day. It's usually more like twice in a month!! I seem to have my crafting mojo back. I've started making word books for new born babies in the family (or friends of the family), frame them and then they put them in their nursery rooms. It's become very popular and each one I've done has been appreciated which is lovely.

I've made this one using Wishes and Kisses 'Hey Baby Boy' papers and using the digi stamps from Craft the Year Away. I then punch a few butterflies from the paper colour I use for the patches on the teddy. Once it's framed it looks really nice either on the wall or a shelf.

This one is for a colleague of my husbands. I made one at the beginning of the year and I dare not miss anyone out now!!

1st October 2012

Hi

Had a really busy morning making birthday and thank you cards using Material Girl from Pink Petticoat. I love their designs and also Funky Hand. If I'm in the mood I can make cards all week using PP downloads. I've coloured in the image with promarkers and then used the same promarker to colour some paper and make a border with a Martha Stewart punch. Just added a button and job done. I've added my own sentiment to the top card but not the bottom one.

So (sew) easy (excuse the pun) but I love that I can make enough to cover a few 'birthday's and 'thank yous' in such a small amount of time.
I've got a word book to make and put in a frame for a new born so I may post that later.

Monday 6th August 2012

Good morning

I've had a busy few days and wanted to put another card into Funky Hand challenge. I didn't read it properly and put an 'image' on the previous one. Sorry about that!

This one is similar but different (if you know what I mean) I've used the Wishes & Kisses CD and the 'Hey Baby Boy' set of papers. I've made a border with two of the papers (using a Martha Stewart border) and punched a few butterflies out of a darker paper. I like to think any babies born this year will feel special as 2012 has been so memorable. I've cut two hearts using my big shot and two dies.

I don't have any weddings to do at the moment so hopefully I'll try my hand at a few challenge.

Thanks for looking x

Saturday 28th July 2012

Afternoon

Sorry, Funky Hand Challenge I used an image on my card on the border and only just realised that wasn't allowed. I'll have a go at another one during next week.

Fantastic opening ceremony last night, thoroughly enjoyed it :)

Friday 27th July 2012

Good morning all

Olympics day at last. Really looking forward to the opening ceremony tonight. I'm sure it's going to be fab and make us all really proud.

Thought I'd enter todays card into the Funky Hand challenge as I've made a card for a new baby girl and as it's such a special year I chose 2012 to show prominently on the card.

I used Happy, Happy Birthday CD and the 'Birthday Gal' set of papers for the background, Craft the Year Away for the digi image and Wishes and Kisses for the flower template. I punched two butterflies using a Lakeland punch from way back when and just a bit of faux stitches. This could easily be made for a boy or  could be personalised to make it a little bit more special.

On my quest to try and gain some fitness using a pedometer...the second one is as poor as the first. If anyone knows of a decent pedometer I can buy please let me know. All I want is to count my steps every day and then try and increase them but finding a pedometer that works is not easy. After a 30 minute walk (slow) and all day back and for up and down stairs and just general stuff I'd done 427 steps!!!! Surely that can't be right? If it is, no wonder I'm having difficulty.

This time tomorrow I hope I can report a fab opening ceremony. Thanks for looking x

Wednesday 25th July 2012

Good morning

So much for me posting every day! Perhaps I'll say "I'll post a few times a week" instead.

Anyway, my post today is another two cards I made recently (ish). The first one is my Mum's birthday card. I love teal and white and was really happy with how this card turned out. I had the Sizzix (Tim Holtz) birdcage and rosette for Christmas and the rest of the dies I've been buying in the sizzix sale every month. I can't resist. I love my Big Shot and use it all the time. My mum loved the card by the way, she keeps all my handmade cards and some of them are really poor! When I first started my efforts were very basic but it's funny to look back.

The second one was made using my funky hand Cd's for the background and I used a Fiskars scalloped lace punch to make the borders. I can't remember where I got the 'girl' from but I think it was a Polkadoodles CD. I just coloured her in using Promarkers.

On a personal note I've bought two pedometers in the last week. The first one lasted 2 days, granted it was only £5 in Asda's sale but even changing the battery didn't bring it back to life. My second one is working intermittently. Just what you need when you're trying to make an accurate recording of your progress. I did a 10 minute walk on my treadmill, spent all day doing washing, ironing etc and by the end of the day....wait for it!!!! I'd done 169 steps altogether. I could have chucked it out of the window. I've cleared all the different settings now and trying again today so hopefully I'll have better results to report tomorrow.

Monday 23 July 012

Good morning, I've not blogged for a long time as you can probably see. I'm going to try again to keep up to date in 'blogland' and see how I get on.

I'll post the card I made my daughter for her birthday. She loved it and I've used this template from Funky Hand a few times. The top one is for my daughter and then I made a similar one for a friend.

I'm going to use this blog to record my personal journey of trying to increase my mobility so bear with me. My first day (and a half) is 4746 steps. I'm going to try and post every day and see if by posting it every day it will have two results. One being I'll keep my blog up to date with my card making and two, allow me to look back at how my walking is going. I have to increase my mobility to get back some freedom in my day to day life.

See you tomorrow :)

Funky Hand Recipe Challenge

I've just had a lovely meal cooked for me by friends and wanted to send a thank you so I thought I would combine it with the Funky Hand Challenge this month.
I printed off three papers from The Papercraft Factory. I used Colour Me Happy and the Delighted Laughter group of papers. I cut out six labels using my big shot and put them together sandwiching two lengths of ribbon. I then cut out five flowers from one of the papers, added some gems and put a couple of buttons on the centre label. I printed out a thank you and popped it in the middle. I'm quite pleased with it as it's a little bit different from a card and will stand up easily. I wrote my message at the back so I hope they like it. They spoilt us rotten with a fabulous meal so I wanted to make sure I made a nice thank you card.
Thanks for looking x

Absolutely Gutted!

Gutted at Cardiff City's game on Monday...........after feeling so positive they threw it away. I've got to try and lift my sprits and get on with making three cards I've got on order. Plus I've just had an enquiry for wedding stationery. I've not had one for a few months so it will be enjoyable if this one comes off.
I hate the highs and lows of being passionate about football!

Funky Hand Challenge April 2011

Just spent a lovely afternoon making a few boxes and a bag for my neighbour's daughter. I've managed to get her three children interested in crafting and it's one of her daughters birthday at the end of the month. I've bought her some bits and bobs and thought some hand made boxes would finish them off really well. If you like the cylinder box I got the idea from Splitcoast Stampers. They have a brilliant web site which gives you all sorts of resources to craft with. Their templates and instructions are fab.
Anyway, I used Funky Daze (Saturday Shopping) for the stripes. It's one of my favourite CD's. I then used Polka Dots Pink and Light Brown from my free download (when I won last months challenge........ whoopee doo !!!)
Hope you like them as I'm putting them in for this month's Funky Hand challenge.
Thanks for looking xx

Easel Cards

Good morning. What fantastic weather we're having. Hope this isn't our summer!
Had a go at making an Easel Card from a download from cardmaking world and I'm quite pleased on how it's turned out. I quite like cutting out but these are not too complicated. I bought a set of eight designs and can print them off as often as I like. Brilliant for youngsters which I always struggle with. Now I've got the template I'll have a play and see if I can come up with my own designs. Thanks for looking x