Bunny cuddles

Todays card is yet another using this fabulous paperpad from Joanna Sheen. Featuring the art woek of Margaret Tarrant is one of my all time favourite things from Joanna. Magical and cute ...cute without being sickly..what more could a woman want. As I'm sure you know by now I seem to have developed a love for rabbits...lol. The backing paper that I've used is from the Docrafts Christmas Past triple cdrom. I think that this may become a favourite as well. I love the muted colours that seem to go so well with vintage images. I have mounted the image and the backing paper onto some old gold card. I have embellished with gold mirri swirls,holly leaves and mistletoe die cuts. If you ever want to know the maker of a particular die..just get in touch and I'll be more than happy to tell you. I can remember when I bought my first ever die..and now I have quite a collection. There are so many different ones out there..sometimes I have to take a step back and think how many times I would actually use it. I now know what would fit in with the sort of cards I make. My biggest problem is always money..so I want to ensure that every craft item I buy will actually work hard for me. I know that I don't do really modern cards so I don't go down that route. But really there are so many different types of die out there..just follow your heart.

Last night was just unbelievable. We had just had dinner..thank goodness..and all the power went off. And I can tell you that here in the mountains when there is no electric it is black. We sat for a while hoping that it would come back but to no avail. We lit a candle lantern. In this house it's always better to have the candle behind glass so there are no singed tails..lol. My cats really can't resist smelling lit candles and when they do there's always a smell of burning fur. The candle that we lit was nothing in comparison with the flashes of lightening that kept coming. They lit the whole sky, one after another. And the thunder seemed to roll round the valley walls. I'm lucky that none of it bothers my animals..probably because nothing is as loud as mother..lol. So I ended up being in bed by 9.30. But I am lucky that I have a battery light..so I was able to read my book. And of course I had lots of company as the cats just followed the light. So we were all very cosy listening to the rain hammering and the thunder and lightening going on for hours. Thankfully this morning..the electric supply had been restored.

Well the coffee is calling and I've got to catch up on all the work I couldn't do in the dark..lol. I've a lot of colouring to do. I hope the weather has been kind to you all.So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.`

Bunny kisses

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at JB-Crafting Supplies. It features the new paper pad from Joanna Sheen. It uses the wonderful artwork of Margaret Tarrant. There is something really evocative and magical about these images. I have loved them for as long as I can remember.The backing paper is from the Docrafts Christmas Past cdrom. Equally you could use any christmas paper that you like...I have all Joanna Sheens cds and there are some fabulous christmas papers on them. I have mounted the image and the backing paper onto some dark green card. I used my dies to create the hanging mistletoe and the bunny border at the bottom. On the border I have added some tiny red jewels. I have used pearls to make the mistletoe berries and have added red jewels on the image corners, as well as a red bow. The image itself is decoupaged.

I'm sorry that I didn't blog yesterday but things just overwhelmed me and I needed to get my head together. Last night I crafted until late and that helped alot. There is something so relaxing about crafting..you can lose yourself in the product and just concentrate on that. Since Henrys death I have good days and bad days...even though it has been months, I still feel sometimes that it's all a bad dream and that I'll wake up..and other times it hits me hard and I still can't believe it. I think it must be the same for everyone who has suffered a loss. But as always I will have to count my blessings and be grateful for all that I have.

The weather here is on and off...rain..no rain..rain and wind..sunshine. It's not the day to put your washing out..you'd be running in and out all the time. As it is, it's the cats that are in and out like yoyos. Raven is still determined to become a handbag and is glued to my side. I can't even go to the loo without her coming too..lol

Well the coffee is calling and I really need one at the moment. I have decided to give up sugar in my brews and I can say that it's hard going. I have cut it down to 1 spoonful and I'm trying to get used to it..and then I'll give up altogether. I do like a challenge and this about as much of a challenge that I can handle at the moment..lol. So until tomorrow, take care and happy crafting

Blossom repeated

Does it look familiar? It should do...it's the same stamp as yesterday but I've used the same embellishments and a different backing paper. I made both cards for the fab team over at JB-Crafting Supplies. Even though lots of the same things have been used..it's a different card. This is something I love to do..stamp and colour an image and then make 2 different cards. When making cards I love to try lots of different backing papers and see what different effects they give. For all the details of the image please have a look at yesterdays blog and have a look at the slight differences in the card. They both have the same image, mounted in the same way. The same lace,flowers and backing card.

And this card is one that I made using all the scraps of left over paper.I laid them in stripes onto another card and edged with peeloffs. I had decoupaged this figure of Boofle and thought it would be ideal. I'm going to add a greeting..I had thought that a 'Sorry I forgot your birthday' would be funny.So out of 2 pices of backing paper and 2 sheets of backing card and I've got 3 cards.

 Well it's a little cloudy in the mountains today. Yesterday was spent sorting my crafting boxes out. Two reasons really to why I entered into the fray..one was getting some boxes free in readiness for christmas crafting and the main reason was Jeffrey. The last week or so he has been an absolute pain..lol..he has kept pushing my boxes over and then he looks at me as much to say..what are you going to do mother. He has driven me to distraction..so I decided to stop his fun. Mean woman that I am.

The coffee is calling..but first I'm going to have to take Reg for a wheel. I wonder how many cats will come today. I'm hoping that I can make it while it's still dry. So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting.

Cricket

Todays card features the great game of cricket. I have attended many cricket matches over the years..usually supplying cake I have to add. To me there is something so British about the whole thing. The sound of the ball hitting the bat, the whites that the team wear and memories of slow summer days.To me it is something so timeless about it all...life may change so quickly but many a summer afternoon remains the same.

The decoupage is from the Anitas range brought to us crafters by Docrafts. I have mounted the image onto a strip of card which I had coloured using the greens from my Cosmic shimmer mists. This I mounted onto some dark green card. I then added two of the three borders that are also on the decoupage sheet.Finally I edged the whole thing with peeloffs.

It is trying again to rain today but so far it is not managing. When I took Reg out I thought that we would end up getting soaked but we were lucky..just a few drops. We had 3 cats today..Pinky, Rave and Jeff. We managed to entertain 3 workmen that were sitting in the cab of their lorry. Goodness only knows what they thought of a wheelchair, a woman with pink hair, a dog and 3 black cats..lol Yes my hair at the moment is pink with purple and orange bits. I have to admit it does actually look better than it sounds. I always promised Henry that I would grow old disgracefully and this is my contribution to the cause. I am going to dye it purple any day now. I always laugh that drivers on the road will never miss me..I don't need any warning lights with my head this colour..lol. It never shocks my friends any more...I started dying my hair when I was a punk back in the day and I still love the reaction that I have off some people. But I always think that if they're talking about me then they're leaving someone else alone.

Well the coffee is calling..thanks to everyone that messages me..I love sharing my craft ideas and I love seeing all your creations. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Rugby and Football

Todays cards are aimed at the men in your life that have a passion for football or rugby. I don't normally make this type of card but thought that it would be good to have a go. Most of the men in my life don't like sport in general...they will put up with my love for athletics but their interests are generally more off the wall. But in my cardmaking I do try to cover whatever people like. The two cards feature decoupage from sheets for the Anitas range brought to crafters by Docrafts. They have the wonderful borders included on the decoupage sheets. I added some corner flag peeloffs on the football card and some peeloff rugby balls on the rugby card. I asked a football fan what sort of embellishment he would like to see on a card and he came up with the idea of the corner flags.

It is a lovely day here in the mountains. I took Reg for a wheel and today we had a grand walk accompanied by Rave,Jeff and Pinky. It was so good to have Pinky back with our group and in her own special way she complained the whole way...lol. We always hold up the traffic and today we only stopped two cars. At the moment all the cats are lay on the studio roof...all sunning themselves. It is not as hot as it was...thank goodness..there is a lovely breeze. I really am a cold weather woman...give me wind, rain and snow and I'm at a perfect temperature.

My plan for the next couple of days include working with a cdrom by Polka Doodles as part of my design team work for JB-crafting supplies. Also I need to make my design team cards for over at the Gruffies and Guests challenge blog. I also have an order to do for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. So it looks as if I have a busy week ahead of me. I love it when I have lots to do. It is one of the things that keep me going..a head full of card design ideas will help keep me sane. Well as sane as I can manage..lol.

Well the coffee is calling..and thank goodness I have a good supply. So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting. 

Boofle with blankie

Todays card is my final Boofle for a while. I have to stop myself sometimes..when I'm enjoying making cards with a certain type of image I can get carried away..lol I adore this image of Boofle with his blankie. What a great card to send to someone who is feeling unwell or having a bad time. It's like sending a hug.The only decoration that I've added is some flowers which have the feeling of hessian.

The weather today doesn't know what to do with itself...when I took Reg for a wheel it kept trying to rain but has now decided to stop. The sky is looking rather grey so I don't know what will happen. I watched on the news the flash flooding, hail and lightening that has affected the lower half of the country...we have been so lucky here for once. I've been looking at the rowan tree in my garden and it is laden down with all the berries. Does that mean that we are in for a bad winter? The ducks that live in the village will be in my garden as soon as the berries drop...they love them. I have a soft spot for the ducks as Henry often had dealings with them and I used to tell him when they went past the house..Duck boy go and deal..we laughed as he rounded them up and got them toreturn to their field. Small memories can sometimes bring the greatest joy. We laughed so many times at really stupid things and that is one of the things that I miss the most.I miss his laughter and his wit. He would have loved this card featuring Boofle...he would have laughed over the blankie...Henry had his own blankie...it was a fleece with sheep on..he'd had it for years and even now it is in his corner of the couch..I haven't the heart to move it.

Well the coffee is calling...I can feel the need for an egg custard..lol. So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

Boofle and Daisies

Todays card is another from the wonderful cdrom by DoCrafts Digital Designer.I used the large Boofle design as the main feature of the card and added a border of hessian and daisies. The hessian is proof that crafters never throw anything away that could come in handy on a card in the future..I've had that piece of hessian for at least 6 years..lol..I knew that I would need it some day. The backing paper is also from my stash and has probably sat in a box for a couple of years. I will now share the tale of the furry paper..lol.I have a piece of furry paper in a leopard print design...I must have had this piece of paper for at least 12 years..every so often I get it out and stroke it..and then put it away again. I just love it so much I can't bear to cut it up...how sad is that. But I know that one day it will be just what I need for a special card.

I don't know what happened yesterday..I was so busy and had so many visitors that I totally forgot to blog. All morning I was dealing with problems in sick bay. Tank is quite poorly but I think that we may have turned the corner..keep your fingers crossed. Yesterday Milky was declared fit to leave the sick bay and is happily walking round surveying her domain.But the biggest surprise happened on Saturday night. Pinky had been missing for about 6 weeks and I was so worried about her. I was beginning to think that something awful had happened. Well on Saturday night I was wheeling Reg on an evening stroll, when my friend that was with us said that there was a black cat across the field. Looking as hard as I could...I couldn't see anything. My friend said that it was running full pelt towards us. I didn't dare hope..but then with a huge mieow Pinky launched herself at me.She ran round the wheelchair making a fuss of Reg, Jeff and Rave and then landed on my knee. I have never been fussed quite so much..she was so talkative..obviously telling me her tale of woe. I think that either she had been shut in a holiday home or she had been taken by mistake out of the village. If she had been shut in a house..they must have just returned or if she had been taken from the village..she had just made it back. She has gone so thin that I have put her in a pen so she can be fed up and hopefully put some weight on. Saturday night though, she slept with me and had fuss most of the night. To tell the truth it nearly made me cry..it was obvious just how pleased she was to be home. I am so truly blessed with my animals. At the moment she has just finished her lunch and is now sleeping. Safe and sound and home..what more could I want.

This week from tomorrow I will be featuring cards for men..covering all the range including sports. I'm hoping that I will be able to come up with a number of different ideas. Please keep your fingers crossed.

Well the coffee is calling..so until tomorrow ( I promise..lol)..take care and happy crafting

Boofle...and Reg

Todays card is featuring one of my favourite characters..Boofle. The image is from the Docrafts digital designer. The cd is so easy to use and there is just so much on it. There are papers, decoupage and templates...just so much to play with. I loved this image of him holding the roses. I layered the image onto the dotty paper, then onto pink card and finally onto one of my patchwork backgrounds. I know I said that I wasn't going to do any more patchwork for a while but I had already made this background and then I noticed that it had the same dotty paper included in the design..so I just had to use it..lol. I was so impressed with cd though..the images were so clear and really easy to size. Some cds just confuse me...when you see the sample cards they are beautiful but when you come to do it yourself...you need to have knowledge of graphic programmes to get the best results and that's not me. I use cdroms most of the time and I love the crafting elements that I can bring to try and enhance the image. I don't want to spend all my crafting time on a computer. But as I said this cd is really easy and in fact it's a pleasure to use.

I took Reg for a wheel today and I think that he has just had enough of the heat. The last few days he hasn't known what to do with himself. He spends his day going round and round the house trying to find the coolest place. His best spot seems to be by the fridge..followed by the bathroom floor. The cats are all doing well and I hope to let Milky out tomorrow. Tank is going to take a little longer but I have to say that they have both perked up

I've been cardmaking since I got up and am loving every minute of it. I watched the team triathlon earlier and sat here making up some decoupage while it was on. I have to say it's drying really quickly...no surprise there. I'm sat in front of the fan again and the breeze is wonderful. And I'm off to do some more cardmaking this afternoon. I'm feeling very virtuous today because last night I managed to do some baking..so for tonight a quiche is waiting to go with salad and I've managed to make some raspberry coconut slices for pudding. Scones have been made as well.

Well the coffee is calling..so I may be having a scone with it. I hope you are managing to keep cool and are having a great weekend.So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting