Thanks .... So Much

Am loving the hot weather ....... NOT    LOL 🤣🤣

We have solar panels and while the sun is shining, at least it is covering the electricity bill so we can freely use the air conditioning, and over the last few days, we needed it!

So while it was too hot outside to do anything, I was supposed to be tidying up my craft room, but I got distracted and made up a card!

 

 

I came across some very old handmade papers that I have had since I first started cardmaking in 2003 and as I 💖 Purple, I just HAD to have a play!

 

The card came together in a matter of minutes ..... don't you just love it when that happens!

 

I had a stamped element left over from a previous play date - a flower from the SU Hand Penned Petals which had been heat embossed using white ink AND white embossing powder - and was coloured in using Distress Inks & blending brushes.

The flower element was mounted onto a gorgeous die-cut that I received in a Swap (my 'something new' for the Creative Inspiration Challenge), then that was mounted onto the purple handmade paper (my 'something old'), which had been mounted onto the white cardbase.

 

 

Sentiments 'thanks' (from Honey Bee Stamps Bitty Buzzwords) was die cut from scraps in black & white, layered & mounted with 3d foam dots to background.  'so much' (from Honey Bee Stamps Miss You Big time) was stamped in StazOn black onto white cardstock scrap pieces, then mounted onto front of card.  It pays to keep all those smaller scrap pieces!

 

I am really pleased with how quickly this card came together. 

 

This one will go in my stash for future use :)

I am linking with a few newly discovered challenges for this card, as well as one of my Fave Challenge blogs, Cut It Up :)

Birthstone Challenges BSC#1 - Anything Goes (Amethyst)

Creative Knockouts #485 Anything Goes 

Cut It Up Challenge #269 - Anything Goes (with a die cut)

Creative Inspirations - January - Something Old, Something New

Items Used

Cardstock:  White 250gsm, purple handmade paper

Inks:  Distress Inks, Memento White Versamagic, White Embossing powder, StazOn

Stamps/Dies:  SU Hand Penned Petals, HBS Miss You Big Time, HBS Bitty Buzzwords

Tools: Cuttlebug

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Good Bye & Good Riddance 2022!

2022 has ended with a thud with the news of another very dear friend passing away.

 

My friend Gary, who I have known since 1975 passed away on 16th December 2022, he was 62 years old. Far too young!

 

I really struggled to make a card for Janine (his wife and also my friend), as I wanted it to be perfect!  I also wanted to write a letter and include it in the card ..... that took a moment or two to collate my thoughts.

 

 

 

I had made up some backgrounds and hand stamped elements earlier in the year using the SU Hand Penned Petals stamps.  So I just had a play around with combining different elements and settled on this final layout.  

 

Background was made by stamping multiple times in the pink, the border section on the left was stamped multiple times using the two-step feature of the stamps. The feature element was die cut and mounted on 3D foam dots, with some gold twine circled underneath, then highlighted with Kindy Glitz.

 

 

Linking with:

Cardz for Galz #189 - choose your fave challenge from 2022.

My fave challenge from 2022 was the June 2022 - die cuts

the card I submitted for that particular challenge is HERE (the flower in the top right hand corner is the element I used for this new card)

 

Items Used

Cardstock:  White 250gsm, purple scraps

Inks:  Distress Inks, Kindy Glitz

Stamps:  SU Hand Penned

Tools: Cuttlebug, dies

 

 --00Ooo--

 

Sadly, I couldn't physically attend the Memorial Service as it was too far away, but I was so very thankful for modern technology which meant that the service could be viewed via Zoom.  It was such a lovely service too, so 'Gary' like ..... the music selection was very moving and my heart nearly burst when one of my old photos came up on the screen

there we were, back in about 1976... I can still hear us all laughing and giggling... there are so many good memories of our teenage years.  We often chatted via Messenger and I am so thankful to have been able to catch up with them in 2017 and make a few new memories.  I will treasure each and every one of them.  

 

--ooOoo--

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.

Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Sympathy for a friend

One of my dearest friends, Olga, has lost a friend to that horrid disease cancer :(

I know there is absolutely nothing I can say to ease her pain - words seem so inadequate - and being in a different State is no help either :(

All I can do is let her know I am thinking of her - now and always.

On a positive note, I got to play with a new toy ;-)



I think I must be the last person I know to get a Scor-Pal ;-)  this is my first 'test'  just using up some scrapbook papers - it worked first time!!!

My next post will include some more info on how I made it.

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

FNSI turned into FNCI & Quiz Night Results

FNSI (Friday Night Sew In) turned into FNCI (Friday Night Craft In) as I got motivated and inspired to do some cardmaking - although I did get to take up the jeans I intended for the Quiz Night [more on that later ;-) ].




I have received swap cards from Anette for the CraftMad Easel swap.

The current theme for CraftMad monthly card swap is 'butterflies' and as I was so happy with the card I had made for Margaret HERE, I made up another card using different DP.  I am very pleased with the way this card turned out.  I can post pics here, as my swap partner does not read my blog ;-)

I would like to submit this card for the Stamp Something challenge - Pretty Papers

Next card was made using 'Flutterbys' by Stampin' Up! - one of my very first SU purchases.  This set is a two step set and use of the 'The Stampers Buddy' linerupperer makes this process so easy.

A CraftMad crafting friend lost her Nan just a few days ago, so I thought I would send this card to her.  Sending hugs your way, Wendy.

This card was one of my 'stand-by' cards.  I don't have many left, and I need to make up some more.




Now onto the Quiz Night ....
We have been going to this particular quiz night for my nephew's school for the last 10 years and it is always a good night.  We got 2nd place one year, and have been 3rd and 4th on several occasions.  There are usually about 18-20 tables with approx 10 people on each table.


This year WE WON!!!!   We get our team name engraved on a trophy and we each won some wonderful prizes.


Talk about doin' a happy dance  LOL

I won the lucky seat prize -  I love olives ;-)

That's it from me for now - my labour saving device (washing machine) is beeping at me and needs my attention. 

Don't forget to check out the new UnstampaBelles Challenge Blog - see post at top.

Thank You Margaret in Wales - long post ;-)

As mentioned in a previous post, my Uncle Frank (mum's brother) passed away on 18th May 2011.

My Uncle lived in Connahs Quay, Wales.  My Aunty (mum's remaining sister) is in Southport and has been a great help in providing what little information she knows.  Being so far away is a real pain in the A#$%. 

My Aunty came out in 1982, 1985 with the whole family, and by herself again in 2004 & 2006, but I only really knew my Uncle from his stay here in Australia in 1993 and I would have loved to spend more time with him - I had been secretly hoping for a visit to UK to see him again, but that was not meant to be.

In the last 10 years or so, his health had been failing, but he had a wonderful neighbour, Margaret, who helped him with things.  If she was going down to the shops, she would pop in and see if he needed anything.  Any other errands he needed, I understand she often provided transport and other sorts of assistance.

I have never met this lady, but I felt the need to write her a short letter and thank her for all the help she gave Francis.

Whenever we spoke on the phone, he always mentioned her and what she had done for him that particular week.  I hope that Margaret knows how much Francis appreciated her assistance - it was more than he got from his own family.  It seems there has been a bit of a rift in the family but I don't know any of the details.

At least now, he is at peace and is not in pain anymore.

Here is the card I made for her.

I had actually sat down on several occasions to make a card for Margaret over the last two weeks, but nothing came to me.  Today, it just came together like a dream.  

I was actually making a card for a card swap and inspiration hit ;-)  Isn't that the way? 

Have you ever ordered flowers via Interflora online?  I hadn't done it before, so I was a little reluctant, but figured, it needs to be done.  So I got online to Interflora and had a look around.  I selected the UK option to see what was available and finally picked the following arrangement to send to my Aunty.

The following is what actually got delivered!

I know I sound surprised, but whilst I was hoping I was going to get what I selected and paid for, I was honestly expecting a slightly inferior product.

Thank you so much Interflora for restoring my faith in doing business online.

That's my rambling for now - I am off to my sewing room to get some sewing done - I need to take up some jeans ready for a Quiz Night on Saturday night.

Don't forget to check out the new UnstampaBelles Challenge Blog - see post at top.

Cards for friends

A very dear friend was in hospital for a while and I wanted to send him a get well card.

I was struggling to find a good get well card that was not too 'girly' and when sorting through some cards I had made in the past, I came across a heap of cards that had started to fall apart.

The double-sided tape I had used, had lost all of it's 'stick'.  On going through a few of my boxes of cards, I found an awful lot of cards that will need to be remade ;-(

There is a silver lining to this cloud - I got to change a few previously made cards and make them suitable for a new purpose.

It ended up being quite theraputic making up these cards again and putting some new finishing touches.

A card for his wife's birthday.

I am so pleased he will be home to help his wife celebrate her birthday.

WOYWW - 31st March 2010

It's Wednesday again!  boy that week went quickly!

I have finally put some ink on my latest SU purchase - I bought these in the beginning of the year, but haven't used them yet.  As you can see, I am playing with some paper piecing - now to sit down and colour them in!

I have a few birthdays coming up and really need to buckle down and get some cards made. 

I have also been asked to make a card for a friend's father's 80th birthday - a bit of a challenge, but I am working on a few ideas and will keep you all posted.

Must be off and get out to the shops to do a bit of grocery shopping, then when I come back I can relax and so what I love most ............... being in my craft room.

If you want to have a nosey, just pop over to Julia's blog and check out some more workdesks! 

My playdates ;-)

I have had a few playdates with some of my crafty friends just recently.  I thought I should post some pics of what I have made.

Some of my CraftMad friends got together and had a play!

This card was inspired by a card in the current Australian Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft magazine - Vol 15, No. 10

The paper is just gorgeous - it is already highlighted with kindy glitz - just perfect for me!

I also recently had a SU playdate!  We all got to make this lovely fantasy box!  When I first saw it, I thought it would be really hard, but  Linda's instructions were great.

Such beautiful paper to work with.

My folding leaves a bit to be desired ;-)

Kerrie gave us instructions for the following two cards.

I would not have thought to do this particular colour combination, but I think I like it.

Kerrie & Linda do a class each fortnight.  I can recommend the class, especially for people new to stamping - it is at a nice relaxed pace and the girls are great.  

Whiff of Joy GD - Take Two

I wanted to have another go at the sketch for the Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call  ;-)  I was actually tidying up my craft room and found myself playing with paper combinations instead of tidying up!

Wedding Carriage stamp hand coloured with combination of watercolour pencils and Stampin' Up inks highlighted with kindy glitz.

Edges of Kaisercraft DP distressed and bling added to paper flowers.

Silver peel off sentiment added to number plate.

circles, squares & fleur de lis border cut & embossed with spellbinder dies using cuttlebug. 

This one I am happier with, but I managed to muck up the number plate on the carriage at the very end ;-(

Two Birthdays and One Wedding Anniversary

I have been working on a few special cards this week - a birthday card and a Wedding Anniversary Card.

My BIL & SIL have their Wedding Anniversary on the same day as my SIL birthday, so he has no excuse to forget!  ;-)

I had made SIL, RosaLia's card ages ago.  I got some stamped images using Forever Friends stamps and just knew exactly which one was for RosaLia.

As you can determine from the card, my SIL loooves shoes!

I had lots of fun making this one - lots of lovely bright colours.

Here is card for BIL, Greg. He loves to sail.

The boat and wording was cut using the CraftROBO, utilising a freebie file from letsbescrappy.

There are some great cutting files at letsbescrappy and you can also purchase some files at thatsscrapinc - there are some really talented people there!

I am looking forward to having a play with my CraftROBO over the Christmas break - I still have a lot to learn.  I have discovered that it is best to start with a good cutting file, then the only real challenge is getting your pressure & speed correct for your particular cardstock.  I am also going to have a play with inkscape and try and design my own cutting files - will keep you all posted.

Here is the anniversary card. 

Items Used:  BlueEdge Crafts wove chocolate brown cardstock, Kaisercraft Duchess Collection, Empire DP, Kaisercraft?? Butterfly stamped with SU Always Artichoke & clear embossed.    Squares cut & embossed using spellbinders square dies & cuttelbug.  A Bronze brad was used - It is their 19th Wedding Anniversary, so I had to incorporate bronze (modern) in there somewhere.  Sketch for the card is an old mojomonday sketch, #73.

Bling was added to butterfly - it wouldn't be complete without some bling!