Happy New Year

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Wishing you All the Very Best for 2014

I had 111 cards this Christmas - sadly 90 of them were sympathy cards!!
I didn't make any Christmas cards or even send any this year but I hope I'll feel like crafting and get back to blogging again soon

Take care my friends


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Elegant Lady in Black and Blue

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Oh dear! a bad few weeks and not much time for blogging!!!
Hubby is very poorly, Granddaughter has been in hospital and my lovely, kindhearted daughter's precious Pandora bracelet was stolen by the 'friend' who she  paid to help her with her house cleaning. This was a favour for this person as DD didn't really need her and she did a real crap job anyway. DD even picked her up and took her home twice a week.
The bracelet, or most of it, has been recovered but the 'friend'  and her friend who went with her to the jewellers to sell it got away scotfree, the police gave them a caution! There is more to this story but I won't bore you with any more of it. 
An awful betrayal of trust and very upsetting!!!!!

On to my card.....for my neice

I can't remember which CD the image is from. I have trouble opening CD's on my ancient PC so when I can I have been saving images in a folder.
The ribbon is navy blue but looks rather more like black in the pic.
The flower is made from some soft pliable metallic sheet - should have gone under the worktop over my appliances in my new kitchen - and is coloured with alcohol ink.
I scored the black strip at the bottom to match the blue stripey paper - I wish this showed in the pic :(
Doily painted with iridescent medium, a black feather and some pearls....and fini.
It really does look quite nice IRL

I'd like to enter
Tuesday Morning Sketches #225 - sketch
4 Crafty Chicks #169 - anything goes
Crafting by Designs - anything goes
Creative card Crew #49 - pearls
Pan Pastels - mixing it up

Thank you for stopping by today
Cheers me dears :)


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Black and White

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A quick First Anniversary card for my neice and hubby.
This is what I should have been making instead of 'playing' yesterday, lol.

Some lovely lacey B&W paper - freebie from craft mag back in January.
Vines of Passion die cuts on pearly paper.
Commputer generated sentiment and a couple of gems...simples :)

I'd like to enter......
Cuttlebug Mania - black and white
Rhedd & Rosie #18 - anything goes




Thank you for stopping by today
Cheers me dears


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Autumn Leaves

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I've neglected the cards I have to make in favour of a little playtime.

I stamped leaves onto a coloured magazine page following TTT technique and embossed with gold EP, cut 'em out and painted on a bit of crackle accents. I did only one maple leaf because it was too much of a fiddle to remove the centre as it is nearly a solid stamp.
I printed and tore around the quote and used loads of vintage photo on it.

I started off with this (below) for the topper - after seeing Claire's gorgeous canvas!
I don't have any Pan Pastels....yet....no modelling paste or any decent leaf stamps so I had to improvise
I used a very thick layer of cheap white acrylic paint and squished it about - added various embossing powders, a piece of net, metallic gilding wax  and a dab of a music stamp here and there.

Challenges
Pan Pastels #42 - autumn colours
Crafts 4 Eternity #146 - autumn leaves
Technique Time Tues - faux cloisonne



Thank you for stopping by today and the much appreciated comments on previous posts
Cheers me dears :)


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First Anniversary

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A beef.....I have been feeling mardy and put off card making and all because I have fallen out with M&S. I went to use a credit voucher and was told it had expired!!!  I was not aware that they impose a time limit and have lost the best part of £60. Grrr - I think it absolutely wrong that this is the case - a credit voucher should last forever!
Sooo, I've told M&S to stick it, my custom has been transferred elsewhere.
Am I on my own with this thinking......or maybe it best you don't tell me, you might shoot down in flames, lol

A result...I am happy though that I have, at last, after 3 months managed to get my 82 yr old neighbour a  Visa to visit Australia.  The new rules decree that everyone over 75 have a health certificate at a cost of £350!!!!  Thanks to her sister in Oz, after talks with immigration, (the site is so confusing)  it is found she needed a different numbered visa for her trip of under 3 months. What a relief we haven't got to make the trek to Birmingham....yippppeee.

A card....for niece and hubby from her Mum & Dad.
Spellbinders Floral Ovals die - the largest is flat, the other two matted with foam tape.
I printed the sentiment and cut with middle size die then cut around it to fit as another layer.
Memory Box butterfly and Marianne Creatables for the flowers. This is a nice soft gold paper that was left over from the wedding invitations that  I made for the couple last year. The wedding colours were green and gold. Must get myself in gear, gotta make two more.

I rubbed metallic gilding wax on the edges of the die cuts - funny stuff this - using fingers is the only way for me.  I couldn't get a satisfactory result using a cloth as in the instructions cos it was going all bitty.
Nice effect in the end.

I'd like to enter
Fussy & Fancy #100 - celebration
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes...with ribbon
The Paper Shelter #133 - use only 2 colours


Thank you for stopping by today and for a comments if you feel like it and have the time
Cheers me dears :)


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Birthday

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I'm showing off my lovely new Memory Box dies. When I first saw them I was surprised and a little concerned  to see how thin they are. As it turns out I am well impressed, they cut like a dream....methinks I'll have to save up for more, lol.

The fern and butterflies have been cut from pearlescent card.
The two DP's are from the Bearly-Mine vintage collection and the flower a BM freebie from years back.
The stamped sentiment, from a set I won recently, is embossed with gold detail EP but "AMY" is peel-off letters which were silver (all I had) and coloured with gold dabber.

Oh, and my other new item is the Kaisercraft 'sparklet' on the bow

Challenges I'd like to enter
Bearly-Mine #107 - ribbon/string/twine
Card Mania #31 - pastel colours
Crafty Ribbons #65 - butterflies



Thank you for stopping by today
Cheers me dears


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New Baby Card ....again!

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Made for the new mummy's twin sister who flew up from Devon to meet her new niece.

I framed the photo with  Crafty Ann's pretty metallic frame from her very last collection prior to closing her digi shop - layered it with small foam squares.
The pink paper is a freebie from craft mag and the other from a very old digi collection.
The swirly corner I found in my bits box
Handcut heart

The heart is glittered around the edges

Challenges
That Craft Place - baby
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
4 Krafty Girlz #3 anything goes
Crafting by Designs - anything goes




Thank you for stopping by today :)
Cheers me dears


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Our Little Sweetheart

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She is so tiny...weighed 5lb at birth, which is not bad considering she was over 3 weeks early.

 For those of you who haven't read my previous post.......NO! she is not mine, lol.

This is from DD and SIL, the proud Grandparents, using the favourite photo of the moment. 

8" square

I made the frame from some embossed card (CB textile folder) it is layered on the photo with foam tape and has a tiny bit of sparkle on some of the raised parts.

The pretty rose BG paper is , once again, from Far Far Hill. I'm  using lots of roses for the baby cards as their surname is Rose :)

The corner triangle sentiment and greeting were computer generated, matted on to pearlescent card with more sparkle on the edges and fixed with foam tape. The Vines of Passion heart is cut from same card. The tattered muslin was dyed with Spun Sugar DI.

I have noticed the triangle, bottom right, looks skewy although no-one noticed it IRL. Serves me right for taking a wonky pic

 

ONE handmade rose and the other roses also dyed with the same DI.
A seam binding bow and bling and that is it.

 The inside is similar to that of my previous card using the same paper as the front. It was presented in a simply decorated box.


Challenges
Crafty Ribbons #64 - anything with ribbon
Pan Pastels #39 - anything goes - Whooopppeee - one of the top 3 picks!
That Craft Place - baby


Thank you for stopping by today :)
Cheers me dears


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A New Baby.....

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..............and a very special one too.

Our Great Granddaughter was born 3 weeks early on 29 September and this is the card I made from me and GGD to welcome the little lady to the world  :)

This sooo sweet LOTV image is just right isn't it! The delicious lace is from Funkie Junkie Linda's boutique.
and I was lucky enough to find the white organza ribbon languishing in my ribbon drawer along with the ribbon that links the two panels.
The flowery BG paper is from Far Far Hill.

One handmade flower, the rest from WOC, all painted with iridescent medium for a lovely shine and my trusty leaf punch to compliment the leaves on the image - not much like them though are they. lol.

The inside....

8" square and presented in a simply decorated box.


Challenges
LOTV - anything goes
That Craft Place - baby
Cards Galore - October challenge - flowers
Oldie but a Goodie - bingo -  3 lines!! - 1 diagonal, 2 across, 3 down - old punch and organza ribbon
Lexi's #100 - pink
Pan Pastels - anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #64 - anything goes with ribbon



Thank you for stopping by
Cheers me dears :)


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18th Birthday

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This young lady is a dedicated and quite talented dancer and has ambitions to be a dance teacher.

Ballet shoes image - forget where this is from
Hand cut #18 sparkled up with glitter and popped up with foam pads.
Stick pin
Tulle
Muslin
Gorgeous silky ribbon bow
Handmade flower
BP free from craft mag

I'd like to enter
Polkadoodles #38 - candy colours
Crafty Ribbons #62 - anything with ribbon
4 Krafty Girlz #2 - anything goes
The Ribbon Reel #62 - pretty in pink
Cards Galore  - Sept Challenge - colour combo
RRR #80 - shabby chic with ribbon




Thank you for stopping by today
Cheers me dears :)



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New Baby Boy

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Hello peeps, it's so good to be back.
Once again - not so much MIA but OOA, but feeling more my 'old' self at last, LOL.

How about this little cutie - isn't he a sweetheart.  He has been 'in the world' a while and this is rather late for his Mummy and Daddy to be receiving congratulations. As they say....better late than never.
My DIL has been so patient wating for me to get this done for her friends.

.....don't you just LOVE that 'smile'.

I'd like to enter
Totally PaperCrafts # 185 - 'happy birthday baby' or new  baby
Crafty Ribbons #62 - anything with ribbon
Diva's - anything goes





Thank you for stopping by today
Cheers me dears


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Sympathy

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Hello all,
 How  pleased I am to be back in blogland.
I am fortunate to hardly ever be ill but my word...I was  laid low for five days with a nasty dose of gastroenteritis.
Fortunately I recovered well enough to attend the funeral of our friend on Tuesday.  Marion, her husband and family too,  suffered the cruel effects of Alzheimers for the past four years.
Our two families share many happy memories over 30+ years with our jaunts in our touring caravans and other holidays.


As this was a male sympathy card I didn't want it to look tooo girly and kept it simple.

A closer look

I'd like to enter this for
Bloggers - to die for
4 Crafty Girlz #1 - anything goes
Bearly Mine #102 - anything goes
Country View Crafts #7 - layers



Thank you for stopping by
Cheers me dears


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Diamond Anniversary

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Commission for niece's  in law's parents.

Dies - vines of passion painted with iridescent medium
        - radiant rectangles plain oval
Seam binding ribbon
Woc rose
Handmade flowers
Handmade monogram
Muslin
Crystal gems

The BG paper is the same as used on the Wedding Card posted  two weeks ago with the lovely 'photo invisible' pattern..

A WOC rose and two handmade - seam binding bow and glitzy heart button

I made these little flowers on the RHS to represent the flowers in the bride's hair which I think are stephanotis. I used a star punch on some plain paper painted with iridescent medium.

I'd like to enter these challenges
Polkadoodles #33 - have a heart
It's all About the Vintage #50 - summer flowers
DoCrafts - congratulations
Papertake - occasion-ally
Crafty Ribbons #57 - use 3 - die cuts, flowers, gems
Pennys - lace or ribbon or both


Thank you for stopping by today and the much appreciated comments on previous posts
Cheers me dears :)


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Happy Birthday dear Son-in-Law

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This is the first of four cards for SIL's birthday. I only just managed to get them finished in time.  My main printer ran out of all four ink carts and the standby is giving me gaps and streaks


This follows a design in my craft mag and looks simple enough but I did have a  challenge getting the banners straight.
The main BP was a bit left over from one of the other cards and the green and orange freebies from craft mag.
The CB embossing folder, I think, is called textile - anyway it is one of my favourites and most used.
I didn't want to use ribbon so I've some stringy twine as a simple embellishment.

Computer generated sentiment fixed with foam pads on a die cut label also fixed with foam pads

I'd like to enter the following challenges
Cuttlebug Mania - embossing
Top Tip Tuesday #107 - embossing
TTCRD - anything goes
CYP #175 - don't get your twine in a tangle



Thank you for stopping by today and the much appreciated comments on previous posts
Cheers me dears :)


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90th Birthday

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What a special birthday and this lady is a marvel........she was a devoted fan of the local football team (Rushden and Diamonds) from their humble start to when they went into liquidation.  She was interviewed on TV one time and pulled no punches giving her opinion.
She still helps to serve dinners to the 'old folk' at the community centre...the majority of them much younger than she is, lol. She walks to the local club every evening for a drink...really only one....and then walks back home!!
She is sharp as a tack and bright as a button.....a real legend :)

Torn corrugated card painted with iridescent medium
TH die cut #90
Sentiment computer generated and die cut with plain ovel from Radiant Rectangles
Flowers and leaf branch - Marianne Creatables

Finished off with organza bow, pearl button and flatback pearls in the corners

Challenges
Cuttlebug Mania - anything goes - girlie theme
Crafty Ribbons #56- anything goes + ribbon
My Craft Creations - ribbon and bows
Pan Pastel - floral - flower
The Ribbon Girl - august challenge
Crafty Calendar - anything goes


Thank you for stopping by today and all the lovely and much appreciated comments on previous posts
Cheers me dears


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Wedding

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The happy couple were married in Cyprus and are having another celebration this weekend for friends and family who were not able to attend the actual ceremony.

I have used two of my recent purchases....the first is the lovely Spellbinders Vines of Passion die which  I found difficult to cut from card even with a wax paper layer. The base layer is gold mirri card.
The second die is the plain oval from Radiant Rectangles and the sentiment is computer generated.

The BG paper has a subtle floral pattern on it........so subtle that you can't see it here!!

The gorgeous silky ribbon bow is topped with a glitzy glass button with a pearl to disguise the holes.  Some beautiful lace and extra bling in the top corners and that is it.....elegantly CAS don't you think :)

Challenges
Crafts 4 Eternity #135 - here comes the bride
4 Crafty Chicks #153 - bling
Cuttlebug Mania - clean and simple
Crafts and Me #139 - anything goes
Cardabilities #80 - sketch
PCJ - punches and/or die cuts
Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes with a handmade bow
Natalie and Amy - celebrate something



Thank you for stopping by today
Cheers me dears


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Thank You Teacher

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Paper - free with craft mag
Dies -
   SB Floral oval
   TH tattered flower garland
   Marianne leafy branch
Brads
Gold cord

Apologies for the blurry pic - I didn't notice until I uploaded!!

I'd like to enter 
MTTC #229 - colour combo - brown and turqouise
Make it Monday #150 - linky party
My Craft Creations - die cut shapes



Thank you for stopping by
Cheers me dears :)


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B&W Birthday

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One of the cards made for hubby's birthday

I made simple B&W stripes (and W&B' lol)  for the background - hand cut the letters - added a greeting - twas a bit of a fiddle getting the stripes lined up , but otherwise...simples!!

"DAD" and greeting are popped up with foam tape & pads.

I'd like to enter
Seize the Birthday - anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks  #151 - let's hear it for the boys
Southern Girls #73 - no spoolin
Crafts and Me #138 - anything goes
Rhedd and Rosie #11 -anything goes
Here Come the Boys #56 - anything goes
Anything Goes #97  - anything goes



Thank you for stopping by today and the much appreciated comments on previous posts
Cheers me dears :)


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Happy Memories

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Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary to my dear daughter and son in law

I used the lovely sketch from Cardabilities.  I think it is just right for this as it is not too fussy for a man's card.

I started with matt gold paper and stamped the floral branch, from an oriental set from Joanna Sheen and embossed with PM  Seafoam white EP to create the BG.
The white heart is painted with irridescent medium
- the banners handcut
- hessian/burlap ribbon from Linda's Funkie Junie Boutique
- gold cord bow.

Challenges
Cardabilities #78 - sketch
Docrafts- anything goes
Joanna Sheen - don't be square (rectangle :)
The Ribbon Girls - add a bow
LOC #9 - Sentiment on the front
Polkadoodles #27 - make your own background


Thank you for stopping by today and your lovely, much appreciated comments on previous posts

Cheers me dears :)


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Birthday Tag

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For a friend.

The BP is a digital mix from Fathers and Fedoras by Summer Driggs.

I started off with a plain manila tag,  I painted a base coat of cheapo gold paint .....stamped the Penny Black music with Vintage Photo on to a strip of micropore tape, stuck it down one side.....the greeting on the other side was printed on to Safmat.....very handy when you want to personalise or don't have an appropriate stamp.
 I used Vintage Photo DI around the edges and then decided to top this with some Crackle Accents...hmmm....this didn't really work....after drying overnight the bottom corner was peeling off but saved it by sticking it back down with glossy accents. My guess is that it was rejected by the gold paint.
The monogram, from a very old set bought years ago is stamped with pigment ink and heat embossed with clear EP...it's got a nice shine IRL.
I can't remember where the little calendar came from :( it is fixed with foam tape

Tag fixed with a double layer of foam pads at the top and glossy accents (love this stuff) at the bottom

I'd like to enter....
A.R.T. #3 - anything goes
Card Crafters Circle #81 - birthdays
Crafts and Me #138 - anything goes
Let's Craft and Create #73 - tags
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes


Thank you for stopping by :)
Cheers me dears


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Wedding Anniversary

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This is the first play with my lovely new Radiant Rectangles nestie dies from Country View Crafts. I can see I'm going to get plenty of mileage out of this set :)

The pretty rose BP is a freebie from Far Far Hill.  I love this, it is such a delicate pattern.
Apart from the bottom one, all layers are affixed with foam tape/pads, creating excellent dimension.
Pearls from stash

There is rather a lot of depth so I've made a box - well, it is for a special anniversary after all.

Pretty homemade flowers, coloured with diluted DI's  - I am so proud of these...and the leaves have a coating of Crackle Accents.

A parchment butterfly quickly made this morning as my b/fly punch was too small and die too big .

A closer look at the focal die cuts

Challenges
Country View Crafts #4 - die cuts
4 Crafty Chicks #147 - sentiment only........* chosen as one of top 3 :)
Bearly-Mine #91 - flowers galore
Crafty Ribbons #49 - flowers galore
Pan Pastels #25 - lots of layers
That Craft Place - flowers



Thank you for stopping by :)
Cheers me dears


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Bloglovin

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 Well I guess I'd better join the Bloglovin revolution.......so here goes, fingers crossed :)

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Wedding 2

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Hello lovely people :)

Many of my DD's customers have become friends over the years and she likes to send them cards for the special moments in their lives. Jon....lovely man......is one.

He got married to his long-time girlfriend Sandy at the hospice he has been in for the past few weeks.

As you can see,  I kept it simple and all white.
Both die cuts are fixed with foam tape/pads and once again the Stickled heart on the organza ribbon appears to be pink

Challenges
Crafty Ribbons #48 - anything goes with ribbon
Challenges 4 Everybody #22 - anything goes
Country View Crafts #4 - die cuts
Everybody Art Challenge #241 - wedding
HIMCR #102 - die cuts - 2nd entry





Thank you for stopping by :)
Cheers me dears


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Wedding

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Hello lovely friends :)
 
These must be the worst photo's I've ever taken of a card and unfortunately I can't try again as it was collected on Friday for the wedding on Saturday.
This must also be a record  for the time it has taken to do this blog  post.....this computer is ancient and is driving be bonkers !!

The brief for this card was cream, silver, a touch of purple with a birdcage theme so out came this super die cut from the lovely Sarah at Craft all Day.   I used a silver dabber on it which gave it a nice rustic look.

The main BP has a pretty flowery, slightly embossed design on it.  I made the flowers from this too.
The torn panel is embossed with an M-Bossabilities folder.
The bird and cage, topped with a cream seam binding double bow and heart shaped button are layered  on to muslin

It took three goes to make the envelope, lol.  
I didn't want more ribbon as a pull for the message so I 'sparkled up' a heart and added a small gem instead. I used stickles Diamond  and it shows pink here :/

The flower 'arrangements' are a mix of Marianne Creatables dies and flowers from stash

Challenges I'd like to enter.....
Delightful Challenge - wedding and anniversary
Heck of a Challenge - bingo - ribbon. die cut, bird
HIMCR #102 - die cuts
Country View Crafts #9 - die cuts



Thank you for stopping by :)
Cheers me dears


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A 70th Birthday Card....

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....for a friend.

Hello friends - long time no see, lol, and after my sojourn I am finding it hard to get back in card making mode - happens every time!!

I got back from my hols last Sunday and what lovely weather to come back to.
I got two loads of washing out on the line AND dried by teatime, good one  - it is all still waiting to be ironed, not so good :(

Main BP from Far Far Hill
Spotty paper made by ME!!
Lace from local market
Flower made up from bits and bobs with diecut flower in the centre
Handcut greeting and sentiment

I'd like to enter this into following challenges
Aud Sentiments - anything goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty #130 - birthdays
Papertake - anything goes
TTCRD - anything goes
The ABC Challenge - O is for Open



Thank you for stopping by :)
Cheers me dears


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A Flying Visit.

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Oh, my!! it's been a long time since my last post and this is a one-off for now 'cos I will be off on holiday on Saturday morning so will be busy getting ready for the off :)

The kitchen is in working order, phew, about time too, just a cupboard to make to fit over the eyesore of a boiler.

This is the first card I've made since the end of March and I'd like to enter.........

4 Crafty Chicks #142 - birthday
Crafting for all Seasons #52 - think pink
Delightful Challenges - bingo - patterned paper, die cuts, flowers
Crafty Bloggers Network #11 - O's and X's - die cut, flowers, ribbon
Challenges 4 Everyone #20 - anything goes

Thank you for stopping by
Cheers me dears


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Friends Anniversary

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We have encountered some problems fitting the new kitchen and are still in a BIG mess and I am VERY fed up!

I struggled to make this card (6"sq) for our friends anniversary tomorrow, because the fridge is taking up most of the space in my work area and my PC has a dodgy connection and the screen keeps going off, boo hoo.

It is our Golden Wedding Anniversary on Saturday (tomorrow, same as our friends) and I haven't even made a card for hubby.......how bad is that :(


More flowers made with my new die.........I think I am getting better at these.
The stick pin is from WOC - papers from Far Far Hill - ribbon from Linda's, Funkie Junkie Boutique  - lace and button from stash

Challenge
HIMCR #90 - happy anniversary


Thank you for stopping by and the much appreciated comments on previous posts
Cheers me dears :)


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