Agony.....eeeeeeee!

I have been watching Maureen Lipman at the Hay Festival on TV this morning.  Man, is she so intelligent and funny.  But whatsmore, and what I envy her for, she is observant.  I am not, I miss all the little subtleties that go on, don't pick up the non verbals and generally allow the world to pass by unnoticed unless it's "in your face" type of event.  Can any of you remember her sitcom "Agony"...I'm 16 and I'm feeling kinda on the shelf, sometimes I get a funny pain....
So as it's my birthday tomorrow, I have just ordered her latest book from Amazon, it'll be fabulous, I know it and it's bitesize peices of wit and wonder.  Can't wait.
This card is for Polka Doodles secret.  It's not wildly imaginative I admit, but the secret is in on of the tiny envelopes and it's a promise tot the person receiving the card.

She's Gorjuss, carrying a letter and I've used a Papermania pad to make tonal paper envelopes, with a papermania template.  Decorated them with peel offs, added a green brad and coloured Gorjuss with Promarkers.  The band across the middle is Martha Stewart leaf punch and I've saved the leaves and added them to the envelopes.  It's all distressed with Black soot ink.

I don't know what to have with birthday money but I am desperately trying to avoid crafting goodies as I have too much.   But it's going to be difficult to resist.
Catcha later.

Monochrome

Just a quickie post.  Entry for Less is More challenge this week, which is monochrome.  So I have opted for Lilac and fulfilled my objective of doing some stamped cards this week.  Have a couple of days off for the old birthday so might get a bit of craft time.  Yay!

It's a Gorjuss girl in the rain, purple papers and confetti and a Sue Dreamer rub on, all on card punched with a Martha Stewart.
Hubby's back from Las Vegas.  I didn't get a pressie, girls!
Catcha later

Dogs and bones

Have managed to do a card for this week's Polka Doodles, whose theme is Male only card.  For me, like many other crafters, I find it difficult being inspired by male themed cards.  However, yesterday, I took niece number 2 to Hartlepool Museum and maritime experience where I picked up a few postcards, reflecting wartime advertising and slogans.  One of which was about growing food in your garden or getting an allotment.
Now allotments are popular in our village as it was a mining village with terraced houses, many without gardens.  So allotments have always been sought after.  My OH and his brother were offered one after the owner died, and we were filled with Tom and Barbara Goode type thoughts, lovely fresh veggies and flowers. But when the lads came to turn over the soil, they found the remains of many a dead whippet and greyhound. The previous owner had been a dog lover and his dearly departed friends got buried in the allotment.  As you can imagine, the dream soon faded and the land was offered to someone who would be less phased by the dead dogs and their bones.  So to the card:

It's Basic grey paper, sewn roughly (still getting familiar with the old machine), half of the dig your allotment postcard, mounted with the edges distressed with Tim Holtz's distressing thingy: a Polka Doodles paper ribbon, a 7 gypsies flower label, a Tim Holtz ticket and a leaf shaped button.  The circle is a reflection of the digger. It's very forties, but would suit the chaps round here of a certain age.
Catcha later

Struggling

I am so struggling to get any motivation due to this job situation.  I am trying to remain realistic, not too hopeful that I might be redeployed and pragmatic about the future.  Is it the worst thing that can happen---probably not.  But it's the not knowing and this colours everything at the moment.  So I have missed some of my favourite challenges lately, and I need to have some discipline because ultimately it's the crafting that makes me feel better and allows some stress free time.  So I gave myself a good talking to today, watched the launch of Dawn Bibby on Create and Craft (some great new products) and set about making a couple of cards.  This one is for Less is More (I am after all a Limette), whose theme this week is "square". 
I kept this one really simple:

It's a little smirk shaker topper, with a lurve theme.  My OH is in Las Vegas and this softie is missing him. And I've just added lots of basic layers, the last 2 of which are distressed with a Tim Holtz thingy.
So it is very simple but the topper was so sweet and the theme just begged for basic, for this Limette anyway.  I have set myself the objective of doing at least 2 stamped cards this week too as I am seriously neglecting my stamps.  Am going to order the Kaisercraft rub ons on C and C tas I can't yet get the hang of the computer text I see such fab examples of on the LIM site, but I am going to do some practice sheets and have bought some SAFMAT so I can save any good examples and print it off to use again.  Yeah right!
Catcha later, off to check out your blogs.

Tracey Emin makes jam

And enjoys sewing!  I was watching an interview with her this morning.  She has such interesting opinions on art and learning more about her creativtiy was fascinating.  But what was even better is that she makes jam and loves sewing.  I think this is just great, as although it's not art, it's about creating something, and that makes you feel something: good hopefully.  So does papercrafts, and many of us are involved in this hobby because we are not painters, artists, designers, but we can have a go at design and still create something unique, which gives pleasure to ourselves and others.  It gave me a bit motivation which has been lacking this week.  Without going into details, job's not safe, but need to hang in for a transfer somewhere else and hope the dreaded redundancy doesn't come along.  It's not happening imminently but probably next year.  So, not felt too good, but after listening to Tracey this morning, it gave me a bit of creative bounce back.  I tried out my new sewing machine on my card and have started a little stuffed heart; will post when finished.  I had bought a little hand held, which served it's purpose but made me want a proper machine.  Got me a basic Singer and am up and running.
So this is the creation, it will not be appearing in the Tate.

Free paper from a recent mag, matted, layered and sewn, some Forever Friends paper, Gorjuss topper, foam flowers with stick on crystals and a crocheted flower with pins.  I've got a day off today so am going to catch up on some blogs and forums.
Catcha later

All white on the night

The LIM challenge this week is white on white. That certainly leaves a lot of options open.  It took me ages of thinking and rethinking. Limited stamping, not a great deal of layering.  OK, so this leaves, texture, and plently of it.  I didn't want to do any embossing as it was my first idea and I wanted to try and come up with something different, but I couldn't.  So here's the obvious, die cuts and glitter.  Man have I got a creative imagination. Not!

OK, so die cut Sissix flourishes, die cut frames from Klever cutz, die cut butterfly by thingy, die cut quilled flowers by Papermania, die cut letters by Sissix, pearly things for the butterflies body, and some spray and sparkle on the letters and flourishes.
Exciting huh!  Can you tell I'm not in a good mood? And the damned card's probably the wrong shape.
Catcha later, folks.

Pull yourself together, woman.

I am sitting blogging and watching a recording of the Hotel Inspector instead of getting ready for work, so this is a short one. Back to Polka Doodles again, I took a break and now inspired by Nicky's appearances over the weekend, I am back in the zone.  So this is for the aqua, blue and lilac challenge.

All papers are from the Wonderland CD in appropriate colours and I have woven 2 of them for the second mat.  The image on the nesties is Violet from the Octopode factory.  Added paper flowers and ribbon flowers from Mei, a distressed tag from Tim Holtz and ribbon.  I overstamped the papers with a stamp from the Polka Doodles Alice set.
Catcha later.

Having some peace

It's a quiet day, no visitors, OH is golfing and I have time to craft and watch some TV.  Been leap blogging, some great blogs and talent..  Loving seeing some of the variety and ideas out there, it's amazing what people come up with.  Also doing some LIM comments, although there are so many entries, I feel a bit inadequate.  I try to do at least 20 comment from throughout the list, and I would love to do more but there are so many wonderful ones to choose from.  This week it's a bit of a free choice but with a congrats of thank you theme.  I've done 2:

This is my "reader "stamp.  In red stazon, and I wanted her to be in a garden, but that defeats the LIM/CAS approach, so I went for an abstract trellis from My Mind's eye Wild asparagus stamps. I put the congrats on a curve and paper pricked the border.  Thought it would suit a graduate.

 This is embossed with a GG board and the stamp is MME Wild asparagus again.  I added some white peel offs tot the bottom and round the frame.
Off to do more comments.
Catcha later

Howay the lads

We had a barbecue yesterday, it was a bit chilly but good fun. I thought I'd let you meet the lads:  Lad number one, my fly catching OH, Bobby.  He says he wasn't asleep.

And these are my adopted lads (belong to my sister, but she always had to share!)

Blitz and Combat. little Shih Tzu's. Sausage scroungers and burger nappers.

And considering this is a crafting blog, a card.  Polka doodles card and sweet stickers.

Catcha later.  Time for leap blogging.

And did those feet....

I was only intending to watch the frock and then do some housework and crafting, but I didn't.  Sat glued until the end of the ceremony.  It was sweet, happy and uplifting and ceremoniusly english.  Where else? Got to admit, it was something to be proud of in a land that's got some worrying social probs.  But it wasn't the day for that.
I did get some crafting done though, fancied a challenge with a difference, so opted for a recycling (For Fun Challenge)and a something not normally used for crafting (Paper Play challenge) and Daring Cardmakers Royal theme. This was in the well of my car, which is in desperate need of a clean out (plan for Monday).  It's air freshener wrapping,

And I turned it into this, although I must admit I am not a fan of rodents, even those sporting the Union flag.

So, recycled air freshener wrapper, not normally used for crafting, plus accessorize stickers, paper pieced mouse from the Tatty Button range.  He's called Pip.  Some tricolour ribbon, red white and blue, not french and a bubble sticker. I am sure I'll get out of this Britannia phase soon, probably when I play Polkadoodles on Sunday
Barbecue day tomorrow, I've got a Key Lime Pie and trifle to make.
Catcha later.

The sun has gone

This is a sweet romantic one, using Forever Friends paper and Lili of the Valley image.  For Little Claire's animals challenge and Sketch and Stash (Sketch 7) free choice.

And card 2 is for Less is more Off centre, using Accessorize paper and stickers.

Where does the day go?

I thought I would have loads of time to craft today, but I honestly don't know where the days gone.  Well I do, shopping, cleaning, washing etc.  But it's now tea time and I have to cook, have a bath and wash hair, unpack, and the list goes on.  I finished a couple of cards off though and did manage to do a bit of leap blogging, which I enjoy.  Some talent out there.
So I made this with some Faye Whittaker decoupage I won in a comp.  I had to cut it out, and really enjoyed getting back to some basic decoupage again.  It's for the Allsorts challenge and The Crafty calendar challenge, which is April showers.  It reminded me of being on the beach after a rain shower and feeling that sense of refreshment after the heat, and the image isn't over summery.  For me it's about getting to the beach as quickly as possible because the sun is out and tolerating the odd shower, which is what we have to do in the North East.  However, the image is also more Deauville than Seaton Carew, so I added the ribbon francais.

It's Craftwork cards paper, little clouds and stripes, with an embossed dotty border.  French ribbon and a sentiment which says especially for you.  I've gossy accented the ribbons and added flower soft to the hat band.  It's back to basics but very clean and crisp.
Catcha later

God for Harry,England and Saint George

I made these cards as there's such a range of Cool Britannia stuff around at the mo.  I must admit, I love national culture, it's something to take pride in.  I love going to other countires and seeing their art, their style and the quirks that give them a national identity.  And I feel the same about England: OH and me spent the evening in Hexham, had dinner with friends and wandered round the park.  It had a bowling green and bandstand and an ice cream seller.  There are antique shops, an independent bookseller and beautiful florists. Oooh and bumped into Tim Healey (Benidorm and Auf Wiedersehen Pet). We travelled home over the north pennines and onto the Durham moors, so little traffic, sun and sheep and peace and quiet.  A lovely St Georges day, great englishness and just a pleasant day.
Anyway, I made these cards and put them on the Do Crafts gallery, and they didn't get any comments.  I think the cute cards definitely attract the attention , but sometimes I fancy a bit of a change.  But I like them and so they are going onto the old blog too as an antidote to popular taste in cards at the mo.
They were made using some great stickers from Accessorize, some papers chains from the same and some Craftwork Cards papers.  I'm going to send them as belated Easter cards, just in time for the Royal wedding.

Catcha later.

That'll be the day

That I admit that I like musicals.  I was brought up on them, my Mam and Dad loved them: I was named after Kathy in the Student Prince.  You name it, I was encouraged to love it: My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sound of Music.  And rock and roll... my parents era,.  Would I truly admit to really enjoying them.  Nope: so when my OH suggested we go to London to see a couple of musicals, particularly as Samantha would like them I was more focused on how I would fit in Harrods, museums, Westminster Abbey etc.  But we saw Mamma Mia and Wicked and I loved them.
So last night when our neighbour offer us tickets to Buddy, I was quite enthusiastic but not so up for the rock and roll.

But, who was up dancing and jiving at the finale and got totally taken up in the atmosphere.  Yes, my friends you guessed it: so not cool but very happy.  Great songs and production.  I loved it.
My sis has asked me to make a new baby card, so this is dedicated to Peggy Sue (if you knew), although she is actually called Mia

So this is made from Nitwit papers, with Nitwit lamb decoupage, a bit satin bow, button and Paula Pascual stamps. I like the fact it's not overly pink (can't do everything sis asks, so I combined it with an olivey green card to layer onto). It's sweet but not too sickly.  I enjoyed making it, I've been too focused on challenges lately and I need to do these but fit in making cards I want to make too.  So this fits the bill.
Off to Hexham tomorrow so might take a Jar!
I am going to have a cuppa and watch Ms Bibby
Catcha later.

Children of the night....

Be quiet!  This is a quote from my favourite Vampire film: Love at first bite.  I liked it because the vampires weren't scary.  But there's always been something strangely attractive about vampires I think......oooh anyway, the reason for the vampires is that I went to Whitby yesterday.  It's only 1 hour 15 mins from us and just a nice distance for a day out.  But like a vampire can sniff out blood, I can sniff out a craft shop at 500yards.  I am talking about Daisy crafts, which is wall to wall goodies.  You need to call in if you are in Whitby.  I got some bargains, totted it up and it was £36 worth for £11.75.  I got Wild Asparagus paper and the stamp set, 2 lots of Laura Ashley paper packs (including velvet paper) and some Smirk paper to go with stamps I bought and haven't really used. I also bought a few little ornamental goodies.

I got a new Russian doll to add to the girls on my mantle piece(for another post), a hand made heart and some letter blocks which are distressed and have some fine script stamped on them too.  I put them on my little table only to keep finding them changed.  OH thinks it's so funny! NOT

It is now my quest to find some blocks which spell PRAT.
As an aside, have any of you seen the blog called It's al a fiddle fart?Please take a look at it, it has some amazing ideas for crafters who want to do a few things other than cards.  The lady who makes these is so talented and the blog is such a good read.  Anyway, she picked up on the American blog whose owner has started this project where she fills a jar and decorates it and leaves it somewhere for someone to find.  It's like a RAK really. I think it's such a lovely idea, so I had a go yesterday.  On Fri evening I filled my jar with a Yankee candle tea light, a hand creme sample, a butterfly badge, a smal flower soap, a poem by PB Shelley and some butterfly confetti.  I added a bow and ribbon and a gift tag and left it on a wall in Whitby, yesterday.  I hope it makes someone smile.
Looking forward to the Easter break, nice short week next week, so time for crafting, friends and fresh air.
Catcha later.

Sew what

I don't have a sewing machine and it really peeves me that I can't get that great look on my cards.  I do have a WR MK sewing thingy and it works well but is time consuming to hand sew.  I bought this weeks ago in the Works and was sceptical about its usefulness, but at £4.99, what the hell!

Anyway, added some batteries last night and gave it a go.  And it works.  Just did a basic square card but I am really chuffed.

This is made from Papermania element toppers and Honey and Hugs paper, finished with Craftwork Cards sentiment circle.

Off to do some leapblogging now courtesy of Redrottie on Do crafts.
Have a good Saturday evening folks.  Catcha later

The Kraft

A bit late this week for Polka Doodles, 2 reasons: very busy and it's a difficult sketch about mixing up the  layers. I had to study it and number it.  I bought a few goodies at the weekend from Paperchase and Accessorize including some Kraft wrapping paper, gorgeous ribbon and some Britannia ribbons to make paper chains.  Nikky was also promoting Double sprinkle of Kraft on TV, which got me in the frame of mind to combine the two.
So I have used the wrapping paper, a Papermania flower topper and some of the lovely teal ribbon.  I also used my new Tonic flower punches (if Kirsty Wiseman recommends, then I have to have) to do the final layer.  No Polka Doddles products but Polka Doodles inspired.

Have a good day.  Catcha later

There but for the grace of God...

My blog clock isn't right, it's 5.35 on Monday morning and it doesn't take a genius to work out that this blogger couldn't sleep.  I can usually sleep for England but it was a strange day yesterday.  I am also a craft blogger, I don't use this as a way of purging my thoughts or feelings as such and keep personal facts very basic.  I admit I don't really understand why people find it an outlet, but today I think I do .  Yesterday was a glorious day, it was so warm and sunny, me and the OH decided to go out somewhere, wander, go for a drink etc. We mumbled on about the garden, interactions with people, normal stuff when my hub got a call from a friend to say another friend's daughter (28 yrs old and recently married) had been diagnosed with cancer and it is advanced.  She is starting the battle of all battles and all day we thought about her nad her family, these lovely people who don't deserve this.  Still we enjoyed our day in the sun and it was tinged with releif that we are OK.  I just felt how important it is to enjoy even the briefest of moments with loved ones and appreciate even the smallest things.  So this morning I was awake, because the bird who sings very loudly and has been provoking me into buying a catapult, was giving it full lungs at 4.45 and my husband was going to shut the window, but I thought I'd listen to it insead, how beautiful it is and how it heralds the end of a long night for some people and a new day, they might just relish.
Anyway, this leads me back to crafting.  The first card is for Less is more and is all about the sentiment.  It's made from Squiggly ink stamps from Paper Artsy and it does mean something, in the light of yesterday.Watercoloured instead of Promarkering as I wanted it to look naive and not too elegant.

And this one is for the Secret crafter Saturday challenge: feathered friends (very apt this morning)  It's Edwardian Lady paper and rub ons and it's a small very plain design ( very American, they don't seem to go ott but go with basic class design.  I didn't want anything too frilly or cute for this one.

Anyway, I'm going to have a cuppa.
To all of you out there who are facing a battle or are concerned about loved ones, I truly thought about you today as the sun comes up, even thought I don't know you.
I am getting soft: catcha later

Time to play

Today I decided to play, just mix it up and get out some inks and paints and experiment.  I had bought some Diane Reavely acrylics and the alcohol inks haven't seen the light of day for ages.  So this is the result:

The large peg is painted with pink and green acrylic from Art from the Heart.  I added Polka Doodles Kraft Papers from their new CD rom and then some pieces from La Paperie scrapbooking company.  I covered the clock face in Glossy Accents and wrapped some bakers twine around the peg and added a button.  I have magnetised the bag so it can go on the fridge.  I will enter this in the Allsorts challenge blog, even though it might not be acceptable.  It has not to be square, but it aint a card.(Not a good photo, it's much bolder)
The photo frame was from the pound shop, so I alcohol inked it and added a Prima pear swirl ,a metal butterfly and a vellum heart.  It'll go in the little treasures box for my Macmillan fayre in July.
It's a gorgeous day so me and niece no 2 have been to the garden centre.  It has a craft shop too, so I bought some Tonic floral punches and a few craft necessities.  We had pop and chocolate torte too.  I bought Lacey a strawberry plant so the OH can teach her to nurture things.
I am now going to have a glass of wine in the garden.
Catcha later  

Haberdashery

Another early start for me.  This ones for 3 challenges.  Little Claire's monthly Spring challenge and Stamptacular's weekly buttons, bling, blooms and Crafters Companion aqua and brown.

The colour palette is brown and aqua although I have opted for a distressed look. The papers are Polka Doodles and Basic Grey mounted onto craft card.  I have added American crafts floral rub ons and a Polka Doodles label.  Bling has been added to centres.  The stamp is a Little Claire's blossom border coloured with pro markers.  Then I have embellished with ribbon, prima flowers, misc punched flowers, buttons and a gorgeous crotcheted flower. Hope you like.
Catcha later.

Floribunda

Awake and about early, do some blogging before work.  I managed to get a few cards done over the weekend, which is a real achievement, believe me.  My heads full of ideas for some girlie cards and I've even done a boys football card.  I must've been inspired.  Still I've got the beginnings of a cold so I can imagine I'll not be in the mood to do much more this week.  This card is for Allsorts Bloomin Blossoms and PolkaDoodles, no backing papers.  This was hard as I usually start my card off with the backing paper.  I couldn't decide whether to keep it simple, make a BP or just spit my dummy out and cover the card.  It was option 3 for me this time.

Bold or what?  I wanted the stamp to not be the main feature as I wanted her (Georgia, by Little Claire, to have successfully cultivated the big blooms (from Polka Doodles new CD) and be tending to her newer shoots.  It's an easel card on a Kraft card from Papermnia and I've split the backpiece into 3 to give it more interest.  Check out Polka Doodles, I'll say no more but the papers are marvellous, distressed for you already and work brilliantly on Kraft card, not yet shown on C and C either!!!
Stuck with pink and brown and a touch of bakers twine.
It's a lovely morning so the Monday morning feeling's not so bad.
Catcha later

Inspired

Some challenges are what they say they are, they are a real challenge, and some just make you get in the stash and hunt for something you remember getting but in the dim and distant past.  That's what happened with Less is more this week.  I had the ideas but had to search for the stuff. I did 2 cards for this one (it won't happen very often) but I found what I was looking for when number 2 niece came across something else I'd bought and forgotten about. So here goes:

This is on really textured white card and is made with Penny Black stickeroos.

And Lacey found my Crafty Individuals Acetates, which I have had for ages.  She loved this red image.
These are for Less is More.
Catcha later
.
 

A breakthrough

No cards today, or even this week.  I actually had to get down to business and make some cards.  Had orders for 2 Mothers day and 3 Easter.  It was also niece number 1's birthday on Monday so I did this.

I made a horrendous mess in the kitchen but really enjoyed a bit of baking, and testing the cakes as I went along.  She was pleased with them and they went with the pink wall hanging I also made for her.  Anyway: the breakthrough: my brother's ex and niece number 3's Mam has offered to sell some of my cards in her little cafe.  She focuses on home made foods for the community and has offered to display some cards to sell on my behalf.  No profit obviously as we crafters do spend more on stash than we'll ever make by selling, but I am so pleased.  It'll fund some of my charity cards too. She also offered to display my cupcakes and take orders but I'd have to do a food hygiene certificate and I wouldn't have time to keep making them.  Still for me it's all about handmade and the importance of skills like this so I'm feeling a sense of victory for the small amateur crafters out there! I've been doing some blog hopping on Do crafts this morning.  I think I am a bit too late for my blog to be considered but I enjoyed looking at the fabulous inspirational blogs out there.
Finally: to those of you who don't  have Mum's: a happy memory filled day to you.
Catcha later

Double trouble

I managed to get 2 cards made last night.  I eventually got some time to play with my new Polka Doodles Wonderland CD and stamps.  The papers are just beautiful and I'll use them for so many projects.  But my first challenge to myself was to try and use them on a Clean and Simple project for this weeks Less is More challenge, which is a sketch.  Does the grungy look lend itself to clean and simple: I don't know, it's not my concept, but I just wanted to try and marry 2 of my passions, Less is more challenges and Polka doodles products.

I used 2 of the papers from the CD with an overall blue hue, and I gessoed the edges of the papers as I wanted them to merge together and not have sharp edges.  I then coloured them with weathered wood distress ink and a misc blue dauber.I stamped and watercoloured the white rabbit and mounted him on a disc if paper showing the words Curioser and curioser.  I stamped these words off the page and added a fancy peel off to look like the rabbit's wach chain.

Card 2 is for the folllowing challenges:
Polka Doodles: stash stamp and Spring
Sketch and stash
Stamptacular

It uses the Wonderland papers again, mounted onto white card,  I have stamped the "Queen of hearts" from the Octopode factory and coloured her with pro markers.  I added a little crotcheted heart, made by my friends mam, and 3 playing cards.  Queenie is a bit scary which is why i think it's more suitable for an adults card (would scare the little girlies) and the colours are springlike and the card celebrates Polka Doodles spring collection launch.
Hell's teeth, need some tea
Catcha later

What a week!

It's been one of those, you work hard, have plans but achieve nothing.  Don't seem to have enough time for anything at the moment and everything just seems very haphazard.  i was asked to make some Mothers day cards on Thursday, with very few opportunities to sit down and do any crafting, but have squeezed in a bit time today amongst everything else.  I shall probably be talking to those in the know, but need to vent today.  So here's my very busy effort. I decide to use some stash decoupage for this one as I fancied doing something other than stamping for a channge.
I also did this one, but different colour ranges this time.  For all those lovely Mam's, Mum's and Mom's out there, if you have one, remind her how special she is, and celebrate her presence in your life everyday..

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/

Similar, stash decoupage, paper flowers and gems with punched leaves and a gingham bow.
These are for the allsorts challenge blog: 

Catcha later.

Going against the grain

It's a lovely sunny morning, probably won't last but it helps me wake up. I sometimes need to do the blog stuff this early so I can do all the other stuff when I get in from work.  Last night I was uninspired.  I got lots of new stuff at Harrogate but have't had a lot of time to sit and stroke it.  I did browse my new CD's.  The latest Polka doodles on will be great especially when I figure out how to use the alphabets. But when it came to making a card I was thinking about all those pretty pretty ones out there, all working to a similar recipe, you know the one: sweet Tilda type image, or LOTV or Stampavie type, pretty floral paper, pretty paper flowers, a piece of lace across the middle and a doily fitted in somewhere.  No disrespect,  I love them, make them and got the stamps but they've taken off so much thanks to the talents of Bev Rochester et al., that standards are amazingly high. It's nice to work to a different recipe as such which is why I like this challenge.
So I wanted to add something different into the mix for a change:

So the new items are the stamp (Queen of hearts, from Octopus?), pink organza roses from Mei, sugar dumpling papers from Art from the heart. The sadly neglected are the rub ons from American crafts which are in my scrapbook stash, very sadly neglected these days.  The ticket is from Tim Holtz.
This is for the Sketch and Stash challenge
Time for my cereal, catcha later

Oh no, not another man card

You are absolutely right.  They are difficult to do, but to be honest I think it's because they also aren't as appreciated or valued as we might like.  I'll buy you a pint often goes down better than I've made you a unique, personalised card.  My OH knows how much I love cards.  Do I get one? Rarely! Never mind.  I did persuade him once that a handmade effort from him would be greatly appreciated and I got one, albeit opening the wrong way, but I do treasure it, for all that.
So here's the entry for this weeks Less is more.

It's some transport stamps by company forgotten, mounted on distressed nesties and over stamped with a little Prima stamp which I also used at the corners.  I have stamped the words to exit the nesties as if they were the train tracks. Opted for a cream base this time just for a change. I've been browsing through my new Polka Doodles CD's.  The new ones are out but are on C and C this Sat or Sun, so if you like a bit of in ya face stuff too, take a peek.
I'm going to link into the challenge now and have a look at some of the great entries.
Catcha later

Top of the pops

Happy Sunday everyone.  I was going to bemoan the state of my bank balance after the trip to Harrogate yesterday but ther's no good crying over spilt milk, right? I got some lovely stash mainly stamps and a few odds and ends including a chipboard skull to decorate.  Will upload the finished result at some point.  Lovely Lili stamps, and the new Polka Doodles Alice in Wonderland CD and stamps and some lush stuff from Little Claire.  Me and Joanie had a great day catching up and planning some makes for the fair in July. Joan's been making some hair slides and puppet cards and her lovely Mam has made me some crotcheted flowers to use on my cards.  They aren't cheap to buy.  Saw lots of the TV faces and showed the lovely Nikky from Polka Doodles my winning challenge entry this week.  They've got a great new resource CD out, haven't had time to browse it yet.   Great stalls, and it was packed to the rafters with great things.  But this is my top of the pops for great welcoming stalls.
Art from the Heart: super hip stuff and great people including the uber talented Diane Reavely
Little Claire's, lovely people and range of goodies
Polka Doodles: who else.  Nikky was very busy but still chatted to individuals
and finally and top of the pops was Sheena.  She had time for everyone, never stopped demonstrating and dropping in little anecdotes and truly encouraging crafters to believe in their abilities.  She demo'd some leaf painting for me and then gave me it as a souvenir.  Lovely lady.

Catcha later

My sister's keeper

Have you seen that damn film.  I watched it tonight ,and cried until I gave myself a headache and my eyes are really scary.  If you haven't seen it, do NOT watch it.  I had a good day until then.  I came first in the Polka Doodles week 9 challenge.  I''m so chuffed and will see all their new goodies at Harrogate tomorrow.
Anyway back to that film:  it's about family relationships when the eldest child gets cancer.  It's Hollywooded up but still quite sensitively done.  But it did make me think about memories and how comforting they can be and I have decided to make my glitter globes (from Home bargains) into memory globes for the fair in July (in aid of Macmillan) The glittery stuff will be fond memories of loved ones.  It might be a bit soft but then again it might just capture someones imagination. I've been doing a few bits and pieces including notebooks, post it note holders and I've bought a cheap wooden heart to try and alter: so will definitely be visiting the Art from the Heart stall tomorrow. I've done a few cards and bought some union jack wrapping paper to decorate the table, and this is still 3 months away.

I did these for the Do crafts fundraiser for Cancer research, so need to find out my local shop.  It's amazing how much they raise and it costs mnimal funds to do just a few.  So go on have a go!
I am going to find something funny to watch on TV now and see if I have some cucumber in the fridge to soothe my red eyes.

Catcha later
 

Have a laff at my gaff

Aw man, I think I need to take a break.  I was so excited about having some freetime this weekend and doing more crafting than usual, my brain has gone into meltdown  I had my idea for the Less is More challenge this week: Off the page.  Got up early and got started.  I was quite pleased with the outcome:

So can you spot the gaffe.  Poodles smelling one anothers bottoms or near enough.  Ugh! So you all have permission to have a laugh and I challenge you all to think of a time, you've made a bit of a mistake in your card making, especially embarrassing ones: go on confess!
I'm still entering this as an example of what not to do with dog stamps (from Do Crafts) , Martha Stewart stamps and Promarkers.

Cards for Mothers day

This is often a bit too poignant for me and generally I don't make them.

The theme is Mothers day for the Crafts on the net March challenge and Flowers for this months Little Claire challenge  (http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/challenge-2-flowers.html ). It doesn't get any easier even after almost 23 years for this 47 year old not having a mother to share her grown up years with.  My Mam died just as I was settling into a job and enjoying my single years.  I was just enjoying the shopping trips with her, coffee in some nice cafes and generally loving her company, when she left us.  You get on with it, don't you, but at this time of year I should be looking forward to taking her out for lunch and treating her really well. The grief fades but the regrets don't.  So to all you people who have all lost a Mum, I hope you don't find making Mothers day cards too difficult.
Saying that, Crafts on the Net has recognised this and has expanded the theme to incorporate cards for lovely ladies as well as Mum's which I think is great.  I have made this for any girl/lady to send to any other important lady in their lives to let them know how much they mean.  The Little Claire theme is flowers which opens up such a world of possibility.
This is made with Do crafts Kraft card and  have added some red polka dot backing paper.  I used a Little Claire peel off (too often a neglected craft item I think) and coloured it with pro markers and decoupaged the pots.  Framed in Mirri and texturised so the frame is not smooth.
The main flower and leaves are made with a Little Claire die, which I use such a lot and I have punched others and added a few punched leaves.  Corners are punched with my new silhouette corner punch from Do Crafts.  I'm an early bird this morning and have taped the Tudors and some Clarity stamping, so coffee time it is and stuff the ironing!
Catcha later.

Doodle Poodle

I was inundated with happy memories when I was making this card for the Polka Doodles challenge this week. (Black and white plus one other colour).  It reminded me of an evening in Caen ( I lived there as a student studying French) This evening me and some friends went into a small Creperie in the old town for some liquid refreshment and a bite to eat.  It was a tiny place and you could just squeeze through the door when you were literally confronted by a small bar.  On this bar was seated a Pink male poodle with buck teeth.  It was the funniest and campest dog I have ever seen, but it was so lovely and clearly one of the attractions in addition to the cosy ambience.  So this is my tribute to Le Poodle.

It was made with some misc black and white paper (think it's Making Memories), the border and the sentiment label are Polka Doodles.  The frame is from Deb's crafty diecuts, and I stamped the sentiment with Martha Stewart alphabet stamps.  The dog looks like such a snob. The stamp is from the latest Do Crafts pampered pets and I just love them even though I don't usually opt for pets on my cards. My hubby thinks I'm barking, well they'll just never understand the craft!
Catcha later.
For Polka Doodles: http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/