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