I'm taking a break

I just want to say a huge thank you for visiting my little blog. Although I haven't been blogging for very long I am finding it difficult to keep up - I don't know how you ladies do it. I have got to the point where I feel that I am not "creating" but are being inspired by/copying other people's work (if you see what I mean) and sort of make similar cards to theirs.I really struggle to come up with new ideas.
I have so many long term projects that I would like to do, for example, I still haven't sorted through my late mother's things and want to make a box frame with a favourite photo of mine and some of her jewellery. I have several photo books I'd like to do. I used to keep a photo diary of days out and want to bring that up to date.
I may be back blogging later in the year but ffor now here are a few photos of my most recent makes. I will carry on visiting as many of your blogs as time, internet and laptops permitting
Take care everyone and thank you again

Ally Pally buys! and a card inspired by something I saw at Ally Pally

Hello Everyone

I thought I'd show you my purchases from Ally Pally. I thoroughly enjoy this Craft show. I met up for lunch with some ladies that visit this blog Cotswold Crafter where we could have sat and chatted all day! We don't meet very oftn but because of our love for craft and chat on the blogs, it was like meeting old friends. There were a few bargains to be had as described below. I like to watch the demonstrators at work and to see their cards that have been shown on their blogs. Everyone is so friendly and they always have time to chat and show techniques etc They make you feel very welcome to ask questions and help you out

Two frames from Every Crafts a Pound £1 each

CE mounting cushion - one of my most expensive buys! It'll be used for very special cards. John Lockwood "sold" thisto me when he showed it on Hochanda. It is made of plastic, which means you can cut it into very narrow strips with ordinary scissors and will not gum the scissors up. If you put it down in the wrong place you can lift it off the card and replace it. It easily goes around circles etc

3x new colours of Pixie Powders £7.50

6x Tonic Nuvo drops £10

Teacup die £3

Water brushes and sprayer £5.90

Glitter jewels

Red liner tape 50p each

Sue Wilson New Addition Accessory dies £5.20

Pearls £1 each

CE Infinity Embossing folder £4.99

There may have been better bargains than this but I was happy to have paid what I paid!

The card!

There was a lovely lady demoing on the Imkylicious stand where she did a paint effect and just stamped in black on top - some she heat embossed, some she didn't. I wish I had taken photos. 

I had made a few backgrounds with Pixie Powders that were just lie-ing around. I really didn't have a clue what to use them for. I was just enjoying "playing" I found these two images on Serif and Yay! my printer accepted the water colour card. It was all done purely by chance. I will try this again and use PP on a tiny area and use images on just part of the coloured piece, eg just the rose bud. I have several images that would suit , flowers, ladies, hats, just loads thinking about it! I used one of the new colours of Nuvo drops I bought

I used Sue wilson back ground die by cutting it in one direction and and then replacing the card in to make another cut to make the a narrower piece if you see what I mean!

Happy Easter everyone!My husband will be working all of the week end and so will feel like an "ordinary" week end for me but no doubt I will be partaking in eating a little chocolate to celebrate

Off to Ally Pally!

This is a scheduled post as I will, well and truly be on my way to Ally Pally when this goes live. I enjoy ths show vry much and to see the designers work up close and personal and because it's run/sponsored by Hochanda, some of my favourite designers/companies will be there - Creative Expressions, Sue Wilson, Clarity stamps, Ali Reeve to name but a few. I'm not sure what I want to buy this time. I just love walking around and "ooh-ing and ah-ing" at all of the goodies I have a few ideas and a bit of a Wish List. I'm sure lots of things will jump into my basket!

My card today is a card I made a couple of years ago for our IT Manager. He is a similar age to me and even though he enjoys the job,  he often "wishes" the technology would "slow down"

I hope you all have a lovely week end. If you go to Ally Pally I hope you have fun (I know I will!)

Ingredients

7x7 card blank

Images etc Serif digikit

Sue Wilson Gemini die - Lyra - Perhaps I'll treat myself to some more Gemini dies I only have this one!

Craft Rocket Challenges #36

Hello Everyone
Thank you for taking the time to visit and if you're able to leave a comment, I appreciate it very much

Today sees the start of a new challenge at Craft Rocket Challenges which has changed to monthly now and this challenge's theme is Inspired by a movie or a book. At first I wasn't sure which avenue to explore - Dirty Dancing, Great Gatsby, Star Wars, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella etc etc. I decided to use the film "Rocky" as my choice. Coincidentally, I was asked to make a card for somebody that loves boxing and this is what I came up with. I printed a few pages of the Queensbury boxing rules which I tore into pieces and randomly stuck over my card as a background after shading the edges with some Vintage Photo Distress ink. I decoupaged the boxing gloves on top using a piece of twine as the laces. I hope you like it and maybe join in the challenge.

This is my last card as part of the Design team for Craft Rocket Challenges. It was a hard decision but I have decided to leave mainly because life is just so busy at the moment with work and i also got to a point that I wasn't doing craft for my own purposes (selfish I know!). I have lots of projects in my head that I just don't seem to get the time to start. For instance, I need to still sort through some of my mum's photos and jewellery and create a box frame using a favourite photograph and her jewellery. I would like to do some photo books (using serif of course) of recent holidays. I also started a "photo diary/journal" of events we have been to that needs bringing up to date. Plus I have a beautiful grandson that I love to play with. The list is endless

Take care
xx

My Oldie for Saturday

Hello Everyone

Another week end is upon us, what are you up to? Providing the weather is kind, we're all off to Paradise Wildlife Park see here. When my son was alive, he worked as a zoo keeper. He started there when he left school and as my mum said, how many of us can truly say they did a job they loved. He was head keeper of the primates. He has a special spot there. It is a place very close to my heart. Tomorrow is the launch of becoming Zoological Society of Hertfordshire and the opening of the new penguin enclosure. I'm really looking forward to it because there is quite a few of the family going including Oscar.

My card today is an old one I made for my mum, whose birthday would have been next week. I kept it flat so that I could laminate it.I still make cards and place on her grave. A bit daft I know, but she loved my cards and unbeknown to me kept every single one I made for her when she was alive

I hope you all have a great week end

Ingredients

7x5 card blank

Image from a Serif digikit

Sue Wilson Striplet - Floral Meadow

I never use embossing folders!

Hello Everyone
I hope that you are all well. How has your week been. I was off work yesterday and will be again tomorrow, only to use some leave up because the "new" year begins 1st April and needed to use some days up. Yesterday was a chance to catch up on some tele (I'm hooked on Broadchurch - never watched the previous series but boy! I'm thoroughly enjoying this series) I had recorded, I finished a crochet blanket for the Preemie and Angels group I belong to on Facebook and start a second.

Today's card was made for a fellow crafter from the blog Cotswold Crafter  here It's a lovely friendly blog that is like a cafe, we chat, swap ideas, do weeky challenges (if we want) just for fun. You'd be most welcome to join in.

As my title suggests I don't use embossing folders very often if at all.On this card i have used two!
As the blog is like a cafe I just had to use this pretty image I have on a Serif digikit

Ingredients

6x6 card blank

Pale blue card stock from stash

background and image Serif - Victoria Nelson digikit

Embossing folders - Couture Creations Large Classics and Sue Wilson Bed of Roses

Spellbinders - Marissa's Bouquet

Sue Wilson - Maidenhair fern

Another Wedding Anniversary card

Hello All

Hope everyone is well. Hasn't the weather turned cold. We had a lovely couple of days with really warm sunshine and now it's bitterly cold again. Hopefully it will warm up soon and now the clocks are going forward, the evenings will be lighter and hopefully it will get warmer. My bones certainly need it
Today's card is a bit of an oldie. It will be our wedding anniversary soon and I made this one a couple of years ago. I think I saw something similar on Pinterest at the time and used it as inspiration. I found an old map of St. Albans where we married and went from there. Something similar would work for a New Home card too

Ingredients

7x7" card blank

Serif background

That Special Touch mask

Distress Ink -Vintage Photo

Spellbinder Vines of Passion D-Lites die