Decoupage Delights..The Lady and the Lions

Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful company Decoupage delights. The first card is one from their upcoming fashion cdrom. I'm so excited about the new cds on the way. This wonderful art deco lady is decoupaged and is mounted onto some purple mirri. Then I mounted that onto the matching backing paper and then again onto some purple mirri. I have simply embellished with a peeloff and some strings of pearls. There is something about seeing this style of dress that makes me feel like swinging a string of pearls..lol. I remember that my Grandmother had a long string of pink pearls that she said reminded her of her younger days and that her and her sisters spent their money on pearls and the such like. The fashion at that time was to wear lots of pearls at the same time but she said that she had been brought up to believe that a true lady would never wear any more than three pieces of jewellery at one time. It's strange to think that when people spoke of the 20's they spoke of all the changes that happened during that time, yet something as simple as the amount of jewellery you wore could cause arguments in families. There was the previous generation trying to hold on to their Victorian ways and the bright young things trying to leave them all behind. I held those pearls this morning and wondered what my grandmother really felt when she held them. To me they are a link to the past but to her they were a hope for the future. How times change.

The card below is the free download from Decoupage Delights for this week. It will be available on Friday and well worth having in your stash. I think it would make a lovely card for a gentleman's birthday or even as an unusual Fathers Day card. On the sheet there is the whole picture, as well as the decoupage and various greetings. The matching insert will also be part of the free download. If you get the chance why not pop over and take a look at the cdroms that are available. They are a great asset to your crafting stash. Also the new cdroms that are coming out soon are so exciting..keep your eye on the page to see when they arrive.

The wind here in the mountains is raging today. All the cats are inside and there seems no hurry for them to go out. Jeffrey is sat on the wing of my chair and seems to have something to say on everything I do...lol. Nicademus is on the couch with his girlfriend Obie....they are curled up with my furry handbag. My friend Dotty brought me the bag for Christmas...it's a furry black cat and the zip is it's tail. I love it. My idea was to keep it on my bed as it just looks like a black catand thought that it would be lovely to use as a nightdress case. Well Nicademus has decided that he loves it. If I put it on the bed, he carries it by it's tail back to the parlour..lol. He is determined that it will live on the couch. So for the moment that's where it is..lol.

Well the coffee is calling and a caffeine hit is just what I need. Some days the cats make me feel as if I'm a special roundabout. They all run up me and round my neck, look out of the window and then come down the other side. It's fine for a couple of cats but when they're all at it...it can drive me crazy. And it looks as if it's going to be one of those days..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

The Vixen and the pine cone

Todays card is from the Giordano Christmas cdrom brought to us by Joanna Sheen. It has been a number of years since Joanna released this cd and it's one I get out every christmas. There are so many different types of images ..it's hard to know where to start. I of course had to do the vixen..it's half of the name of my business. Henry and I decided that we would call the business Vixenvarg to represent the both of us. Vixen for me because I love foxes and everything country and varg for Henry. Varg is an old name for a wolf and Henry loved wolves and old legends. The wolf also features on our family crest. On the crest it is actually what they call a collared wolf..which fits so well because as a family we have always been surrounded by animals. And so Vixenvarg came into being. Now of course there is only me but I hope to keep the business going to honour Henrys memory. On the card above I just used the large image and some die cuts. The die cuts of the ivy leaves are from the signature die range from Joanna Sheen. The pine cone dies are from the Tattered Lace range. They are my favourite dies of a pine cone because of the amount of detail. As always I try to recommend dies that cut well every time and offer great value for money. I have in the past bought some really expensive die ranges and they have been nothing but trouble. If, when reading my blog see a die that yu like and I haven't mentioned from which range it comes from..just message me and I'll tell you. There are so many craft companies out there all competing for our money...and as a crafter always want the best value..and with dies we need to know that they are going to cut cleanly everytime. One thing that I have planned for next year is that once a week on the blog I'm going to feature a product or range that I love to use. Now I won't be getting anything from any company to do this..so you can rely on getting the truth. There are, as I've already said, so many companies competing for our money  so I thought why not share what I've found out over all my years of crafting. I think that it will be a fun thing to do and if it helps in any way then all the better.

It's certainly a cold one here in the mountains today. Two of my outside cats came in last night..so that proved it to me how the temperature had dropped. Nicademus and Oberon are my two tabbies and are a bit like Laurel and Hardy. They will not be separated. If they're out..they're together and if one comes in then the other is not far behind. Nicademus seems to have made himself comfy on top of the fridge freezer and had plenty to say while I was cooking dinner. He is half Bengal and is a big boy but very stubborn.He loves being an outside cat but come the first hard frosts..he knows it's better at home.And then there's Obie..she is the prima donna of the house. You will only get a fuss if she decides..otherwise she will spend most of the day looking down her nose at you..lol.

Well the coffee is calling and I've decided that I'm going to be using my watercolour pencils. I haven't used them for a while..I use my paints but the pencils have sat there for a while..so I thought..it's about time they had an airing.So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

A Hedgehog Moment

Todays card is from the fabulous cdrom Halcyan Days from Crafters Companion. This is one of the design team cards that I have made for the wonderful jb-crafting supplies. I just loved this image of the hedgehog and I wanted to make a patchwork background for it. The embellishments of the butterfly and the little bee are also on the cd. I know that I have had a thing for the patchwork backgrounds but I love doing them. I think that it is because I get to use papers that would otherwise be thrown in the waste bin. I have a couple more cards to share this week that feature the patchwork and then I've made a deal with myself not to make any more for a while..lol..we'll see how long that lasts.I haven't put a greeting on this card because I thought it would be nice to use as a general notecard..just to say hello. I used a fine liner pen to do the faux stitching and was so pleased because I had these pens in my stash for an absolute age and had found nothing to use then on. Now I will just put them by for doing similar projects.

Well I took Reg for a wheel today and honestly don't think that wheeling came into it. It was raining hard and the wind was blowing heavens hard. We would go about 3 foot and then would have to brace ourselves against the almighty gusts. So what on a normal day takes us 20 minutes (without chatting..lol) took us 45 minutes. Being of the larger frame..I never imagined that the wind would be able to push me back quite so far...but it did. It was a case of three steps forward..two steps back with every gust. So in the end we planted ourselves at every gust..brake on..dog under chair..waited for it to end and then a sprint forward. I can tell you..I was exhausted by the time I got home

I have been reading online about the summer crafting event at Doncaster. It looked so fabulous. My friend was going and I can't wait to hear all about it.I don't know who was the most excited..and I wasn't even going..lol. She phoned me from the event and all I could gather was how busy it was. Back in the day I can remember going to a crafting event at Port Sunlight and that was so packed..I had to keep going out for some fresh air. But the joy of the crafter when buying new stash has to be seen to be believed. One day I may save up and go to another event..but not this year. It may be a plan for next year though...I find that I need a plan..so that may be my quest for next year.

Well the coffee is calling but there is none in the house. The shopping is due on Wednesday so until then I will be a tea drinker..lol. They do say that a change is as good as a rest but it doesn't help when you're a caffeine addict. But I shall remain calm...at the moment...there's no saying what I'll be like by Wednesday.Either way..I hope you have a great day..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

All Together Now

Todays card is another from the wonderful Pollyanna Pickerings British Wildlife cdrombrought to us by the team at Creative Crafting World. The detail in the image is truly amazing. So many of my customers love cards with wildlife on and the good thing is that men seem to likethe natural world too. I get so sick of the lack of imagination on mens cards...if they're not into football, beer or boats then there is not a lot of choice. I may have to have a moment and make a selection of mens cards with a difference. Perhaps a project for next week.

The weather here was lovely today when Reg and me went for a wheel. We had two cats today..Jeff and Tank. But now the sky is looking very grey. It was so hot when I went out ..it hit me like a slap in the face.On the walk we were met by our friend Bailey..a neighbours dog...instead of going into his house like he was supposed to..he ran down the road to join our group...Reg was so excited he managed to get himself wrapped around the wheelchair so badly that we had to unclip him..lol That's friends for you.

And speaking of friends...I have had some really lovely messages in the last couple of days with people checking that I'm ok..it means so much. Somedays I think that I just keep going automatically..get done what needs..it's as if I almost blank out my feelings..I have to or I just end up getting overwhelmed by the pain. No-one expects to lose their child and sometimes the pain is so bad I just feel like screaming. But thats when my animals and my good friends form a pathway for me to follow. Somedays it helps to talk about Henry and somedays I cannot even bear to look at a photo of him. I'm still on the journey of my grief and I decided to let it come however it wants to. Crafting has given me a distraction that I need...I concentrate one card at a time and get through the day. The kindness of strangers has been amazing. People that I didn't know very well at all have been bricks. I've had messages from all over the world from people that Henry knew through his art and that has helped. One day at a time is the only way I can take things at the moment ..but I'll get there.

Well today I spoke to the doctor and it seems that I'm also lacking in Folic acid as well as my B12..so I get to take even more tablets..at least I don't have to have any more B12 injections for a couple of months. I'm still waiting to feel like a new woman...lol..that's what all the nurses said would happen but I've only felt worse. At the moment every joint hurts...so where I was always slow..I'm even slower..lol But onwards and upwards.I'm still counting my blessings and will continue to do so.

The coffee is calling and there are cards to be made..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Deer through the trees

Todays card is from the Squeezee Cards...Christmas Furry friends. I have used the single image, glittered it and added a backing paper from my stash. This is a great cd for people who love animals and wildlife..there is not a single image on this disc that I haven't used before and will no doubt be using again.
The weather today doesn't know what to do with itself...it's rained, snowed and hailed. The wind is roaring round the valley and leaves are flying past the window. The path is littered with leaves of gold, orange and every other colour of autumn. The cats are in and out of the biggest cat flap, determined to drive me insane whilst I try to write this. You can tell how cold it is getting here by the number of animals trying to sleep on my bed. I sometimes wake in the night thinking I must be ill only to discover that I have three cats lay on me. People say to me oh well they must really love you but I know better..yes they may love me but they are trying to find the warmest spot....and at night that's on me.
So are you ready for christmas? I'm not. I'm surrounded by lists of possible presents and lists of food that will be needed. I have friends coming all over the festive season and I do like to welcome them with a meal or at least something to nibble. As I've said before the mince pie tin needs to be bottomless and the sausage roll count can be enormous. I have to admit to loving preparation and cooking but have found it so hard not being able to stand for but a minute and motion being past me. So everything than be achieved has be done from a chair. My son bless him does all the lifting and we have worked out a good routine. I have always said that I could conquer the world if it was possible from a comfy chair...lol.
Well lots of work to do today and I'm looking forward to playing with some new ideas that have been floating round my head. Yes..I admit to being an odd crafter..I go to sleep at night thinking of new card ideas..but it makes me happy...lol. The coffee is calling...by the pint I think...so until tomorrow ( and yes every time I write that word.I'm still spelling it wrong!)..take care and happy crafting.

Rabbits in the snow

Todays card is from Squeezee Cards cdrom...Christmas Furry friends. I love this image and this cd contains some wonderful wildlife images. I of course had to add some glitter...I do so love a twinkle. The backing paper is from my stash.
Well today is definately a good day. The coffee arrived first thing and a mug sits by my side as I speak. And I can tell you..it's needed. The weather here has turned really cold. So cold in fact that I may have to close the biggest cat flap in the world. As my chair sits by the window (cat flap), I get the full benefit of the cold snap. I wonder what the council knows that we don't because early this morning they were round topping up the grit bins. But I also don't know how much sense they have as there are holes in the lid of the bin and the rain gets in...so when we have a bad freeze and need the grit..it is frozen solid!! Only in Snowdonia!
The cats are in and out today. They of course arrived back at the house the minute that the shopping arrived. They obviously needed to check that the cat food had arrived. As you know most of my cats are rescued and have many problems associated with this...all except Jeff. He was a normal tiny kitten brought to me on my birthday. He just needed a good home. It has been so strange watching him develop just because he had no problems. I think he is determined to be a panther..lol. He is only 6 months old and is now as large as my grown cats. He is already going through a whole tin of cat food per day plus biscuits and treats. He does have a funny way though..he thinks that he is superman...he can only jump with his front legs straight out front and his mouth wide open. It is so funny..I will have to take a photo and post it on here. As I'm trying to write this one of my black cats is determined to sit on the computer..they always want the attention.
So what for today..first finish some challenge cards and then more christmas cards. I like to get all my orders out by the middle of November. Usually because as soon as my customers receive them, they always remember another couple they need..lol. The thought of christmas is making me a bit nervous at the moment. All the prices are up and my money will only stretch so far..so I'll have to make a list and make a plan and see where we get. I hope that you are having a good day....so until tommorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Woodland Fox

Todays card is from the Squeezee Cards cdrom Christmas Furry Friends. It is a great cdrom that makes accordian type cards with either 4 or 8 levels that all squeeze flat for posting. For this card I have just used the image without the layers. The images are so beautiful that they make a great focal point on a card. Because of the nature of this cd (that they're meant to be layered), there are no matching backing papers, so I used one from my stash. I mounted the image and backing paper onto some holographic card. Down the side of the image I added some diecut ivy leaves, which I added snow and sparkle to. Acrylic white paint and glitter. To obtain the single image it should be noted that I used the snapshot tool in the program. This is a lovely size image to use on a large card. With this cd I have used either a 8x8 or a A5 size card.
This image always reminds me of when I first moved to Snowdonia. It was back in the day when I could still walk and I had taken my dog J.J. for a walk. We walked up to the disused quarry and as we walked around the corner we came face to face with the biggest fox I had ever seen. I don't know who was the most shocked..me, J.J. or the fox. For what seemed ages we all stood still looking at each other. Nobody made a sound. Then all of a sudden the fox ran off. I shall always remember this moment in time. To be that close to the fox and to see the sun shine on it's coat is something that will always stay with me.
Well coffee time calls and so does the glitter. I hope that wherever you are the weather is being kind to you, here in the mountains the rain is pouring and the wind is roaring round the valley. So keep warm and cosy..take care and happy crafting.