Dream Holiday Card

Todays card is for a cardswop that I'm involved in. The theme was dream holiday. I had a hard time thinking what my dream holiday would be...after all I live in a place where most people would choose to go for their holiday. Then I found this image from the Tom Mielko workbook from Joanna Sheen. It seems to me to be a very restful place and I loved the colours of the light. I created a by the sea border using my seaside themed diecuts, picking up the colours in the image. There is quite a collection of the workbooks in the series by different artists..Josephine Wall, Ellen Jareckie and Thomas Kinkade to name a few. Each workbook has a cdrom of images and backing papers, alonside the book itself which contains card images. They are a great source of inspiration for those days when you don't know what to do...we all have those days..when we want to make a card but don't know where to start. That's when these workbooks come into their own...even if you don't want to make the card suggested, they can often give you an idea that gets you going.
Today in the mountains, the rain keeps coming in swathes, keeping the cats running in and out like yoyos. One of my cats..Milky loves nothing better that running around in the long grass of the fields and more often than not comes back in looking as if she has been dumped in a bucket of water. She arrives back in through the biggest cat flap in the world and enjoys nothing more than sharing her water with everyone. She will walk around the parlour making sure to shake herself on everyone. When she is perfectly dry..out she runs for another forage through the tall grass..and when she's thoroughly wet again..in she comes..lol. And I try my hardest to make a card during the dry patches.
Well the coffee calls..and I'm so glad to say the urge to make cards is back. A lot of new dies have arrived which hopefully I will share with you all very soon. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Non Traditional Colours - Christmas Fun Challenge

Todays card is another for the fantastic Christmas Fun Challenge Blog on which I'm lucky enough to be on the design team. The theme for the challenge is Non Traditional Colours. It is always fun to try something different and I really enjoyed designing this card. I decided to choose to make this card using shades of pink...colours that I wouldn't normally pick but I thought that they went well with the little house mouse image. The little mice are holding a pink candle which I used as my inspiration. I formed a wreath around the image using ivy leaves and poinsettia. The ivy leaves were cut in white and coloured with alcohol inks. The poinsettia were made using pink mirror board. I die cut the greeting using the same mirror board. I finally added a silver bow just to add that essential bit of christmas glitter.
The Christmas Fun Challenge is a great blog and I hope that you will pop along and join in the fun. There are some very talented ladies on the design team who provide a wealth of inspiration. The really great thing is that you are beginning to make christmas cards for your stash without even thinking about it. And you are making cards using themes that you wouldn't necessarily think about but end up with some really different cards.I'm just so excited about the whole idea.
As you've probably noticed..I haven't blogged for a while. I like to blog every day but have been so ill..I have ended up going into virtual hibernation. It has been confirmed that I have a virus that will only give in to lots of rest. The truth of the matter is that I couldn't have done anything if you had paid me. I have never hurt so much from a blessed virus. I'm really hoping that I'm now coming out of it. What a start to the new year!..if there was any weight put on during the christmas season..it has definately gone now...I have never felt so less like eating in my life. So please keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully I'll be getting back to normal soon. Thankyou all for your get well messages. I knew that I was really ill because I didn't feel as if I could make a card...lol..but the urge is definately returning...I'm beginning to plan designs..so the light may well be at the end of the tunnel.
Well the coffee is calling...so until tomorrow (I hope)...take care and happy crafting.

Steam Cogs

Todays card is an order for a 32nd. Wedding Anniversary. What I learnt making this card is that the 32nd. anniversary theme is conveyances. Cars.lorries, bikes, carts, trains, planes...anything like that. The gentleman whose anniversary it is likes steam trains..so it seemed ideal to use one for this card. The topper is from a Kanban sheet, as is the cog backing card. I added some cogs to the front of the card..they were die cut using a die from Robert Addams All Occasion range.
It is so cold here in the mountains..I have a blanket on my knees and my cardigan on. I laughed to myself this morning as I put my cardigan on. Oh what a follower of fashion I am..lol I never have been..I've always followed my own little road. Perhaps it was why I was a punk many years ago. I loved to wear outrageous clothes that no one else did. Now I'm not outrageous anymore..in my head maybe I still am but on the surface I'm pretty boring..I would much rather be warm. But back to the cardigan...as I put it on I remembered that I've always been a bit of a cardigan girl. I always liked longer ones and had them in many colours. My favourite when I was little was bright red and I also had a pair of red shoes. I thought I was the bees knees. I can also remember that my Gran was always threatening to sew up the pockets of my cardigan..everything ended up in my pockets and still does. If I don't have a pocket..I have been known to go round with a vacant look on my face because I don't know where to put anything. Son is the same...don't get me wrong..he would leave home if I tried to get him in a cardigan..he was 3 the last time I managed it...lol. But his pockets are always full...as a young boy, I drilled him into his head to hold on to his rubbish until he found a bin...it seems that he has never quite managed to find a bin.
Well the coffee is calling...I hope that you have a great weekend....so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Kitten with Roses

Todays card is another from the delightful Cute as a kitten topper set from Kanban. This topper sheet is available from Julie over at jb crafting supplies. On this card, I love the little rosebuds which are an added embellishment on this sheet. I have used them to make a little border. What you can't see clearly in the photo is the little rosebuds have gold flittering on them and they really catch the light. These toppers do make lovely little cards and I would send this card as just a thinking of you card. Sometimes it's just so nice to receive a card for no other reason than a friend was thinking of you. The way in which we use the post has changed so much, even in my lifetime. I know that it's to do with the way that technology has progressed but I do think sometimes we miss the excitement that was the daily visit of the postman. I came from a long line of letter writers. My Grandmother and her friends were always writing to each other, planning their next visits and what they would do when they were together. They discussed what they were sewing and swopped patterns and recipes all the time. When an Aunt was making a visit..it was a week of special somethings. All the other family members and close friends would descend on the house, the ladies dressed in their best, smelling like hot house flowers and all the men outside often gathered around the animal pens discussing the various merits of different bloodlines. And all this excitement and gaiety began with an idea in a letter. The conversations that took place were just continuations of the letters. The other thing that I remember about the letters was the paper itself. They all seemed to search out the most beautiful writing papers, decorated with flowers of all types. I remember one of the Great Aunts had a thing for pansies, another for roses and they always managed to source the most beautiful writing papers. Just talking about it now..it seems to recall a different world and it was in a way... but it is a world that we can bring back just a little ..just by sending a card to a friend for no other reason than to say hello .
Well the coffee is calling, the wind is back blowing round the valley and the rain and mist are hiding the mountains from view. So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting.

Cute as a Kitten

Todays card is using one tiny little topper from a kanban topper sheet. The sheet it self  has 11 little cat toppers, 3 sentiments and many little embellishments. A great sheet to have in your stash in case you need to have a card in a hurry. The little cats are just so cute and they would be suitable for many different types of cards. There is a wedding topper and a get well card topper which I'm dying to have a play with. I have used some backing paper from my stash and a small diecut backer with the topper on this card. The sheet itself is called Cute as a Kitten..Family Occasions.
I was hit by a shock this morning...the sun was shining...yes you heard it here first. The sun was shining in Snowdonia. For the first time since new year there was no howling wind or lashing rain. At the moment there is a slight drizzle but in the great scheme of things..what's there to worry about. I may even make a card today..or at least begin..lol. I have never been so long in getting rid of a bug..whatever type of bug this is..it has dragged my creativity out of me and discarded it by the roadside. I admit to being one of these sad people that has to make at least one card every day..more often though..I have about 16 on the go at one time and dip in and out with plans for more whizzing round my head...but that's not been the case this week. Someone needs to put me in a bag and give me a good shake..I need to get back on form. Well at times like this I think back to what my Gran would have said...and what would she have said..she would have told me to suck it in, put  my big girl pants on and get on with..so I will..lol
So lets get the coffee on  and let the new year crafting begin in earnest...so until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

Have a Great Bebunni Day

Todays card is another from the fabulous Bebunni cdrom brought to us by Crafters Companion. This cd is full of possibilities which I hope to have a play with shortly. The images on here are just so pretty and such a nice change for the new year. I have double mounted the image onto some gold holographic and then onto some pink. The backing paper is from the design sets. All I have added is some flourishes and some tiny little flowers.
In the house here in the mountains we are all feeling so sorry for ourselves. We had thought that we were getting the better of the dreaded lergie but that's not the case. The sign is still on the door...do not enter..or you may catch whatever this is. It's a real strange bug..no cold..just the cough that makes everything hurt, joint pain and a fuzzy head. In fact my head feels so strange, I am surprised that it hasn't fell off my shoulders..lol. I keep having little flashes where I feel ok and think to myself..oh I'll make a card..and by the time I've got everything ready to go.I'm worn out. I really am pathetic...you have to laugh. My best friend and Son also are sharing in the joy that is the dreaded lergie..and I have to say we all look a treat. My other friend has been on chemist duty but she is not allowed in..in case she catches it. She is such a busy lady..I'm sure that sometimes she has more hours in her day then everyone else. I can feel tired just listening to her plans..lol
Well the coffee is calling...the caffeine is definately needed today..so wherever you are have a good day and until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

Bebunni Birthday Wishes

Todays card is from the featured cd of my design team over at JB Crafting -supplies. I have been lucky to be given this cd to work with and am loving every minute of it. The cd is a double disc..Bebunni Birthday Papercrafting. I just cannot believe just how much Crafters Companion have managed to cram into these 2 cds. This card is made using a tiny part of one of the mini kits...I think that I have made 8 cards using this mini kit. And on the cd there is a maxi kit so goodness only knows what you could make out of that. Perhaps I will have to see. The second disc in this set is dedicated to your party needs. Invitations, placemats, party bags and lots more.
The weather here in the mountains is still horrible..we have horrendous winds, rain and hail. But we are lucky here compared to the people on the coast. We are still all struck with the dreaded lergie but thankfully I feel as if I'm coming out of the other side of it. I went to bed last night at 7p.m...something I can never remember doing before. All my furbabies decided that I needed cuddles and all curled up with me. Everytime I opened my eyes there was another pair looking at me. Bless them. I have always said that my animals know exactly how I'm feeling and have always been there for me when the pain has seemed too much. As I'm writing this ..I have a little black cat called Raven on my legs..acting as a little hot water bottle.
Well the coffee is definately calling and the urge to craft is coming back...that's always a good sign. So wherever you are I hope that you have a good day...so until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Bebunni for Someone special

Todays card is from the wonderful Bebunni double cdrom brought to us by Crafters Companion. This cdrom is my featured cd for the design team over at jb-crafting supplies. This next week.I shall be having a play with this cd and share my creations with you shortly.
Todays blog will be a short one as the whole house has been hit by a dreaded lergie. Yesterday saw the beginning of it and now my best friend, Son and myself have been hit by this horrible affliction. We are coughing and moaning...I don't know where it has arrived from..and I just wish it would go away..lol.
So please excuse me for today..I'm finding it very hard to focus..and I'm now off for a lie down with all the furbabies. I hope that you are having a good day and I'm hoping that I will back on track tomorrow...so until then...take care and happy crafting.

Kanban Swing Rope

Todays card features a card from Kanban..a great card to make for a younger male. The pack features 2 toppers withn decoupage and a sheet of backing card. What doesn't show so well in the photo is the areas that are highlighted with small amounts of gold flashing. The really good thing about this card is that it allows you to make a card for boys of that difficult age. I know from personal experience that at a certain age boys love nothing better than climbing and swinging from ropes. There is a center around here that specializes in rope bridges, zip wires and everything that would scare me to death. But the boys (and many girls) love it. I have come to the conclusion that they are fearless. Even as a little girl, I didn't like heights...I can remember going to visit a local castle and you climbed higher and higher, ending up on a lege looking out...I don't know how they got me down..lol
It's still raining here, although I have to say the wind seems to have calmed down. There is a cold snap to the air and I wonder if we are going to have a cold spell. Sons birthday is the first of February and I can remember when I had him..it was snowing outside. I wasn't allowed home for a week due to the bad weather. I always laugh that he was a snow baby. I do so love the snow and one of my cats called Raven loves it as well. She runs about in it like a puppy..even rolling about in it. A lot of my cats take it personally and will do nothing else but sit on the windowsill complaining. But Raven has always been a little different...barking at birds (well the cat equivalent), purtles instead of purring and loves to play with straws. If you have a straw in your drink at the beginning you won't have it by the end...Raven will have headed off with it.
Well the coffee calls...wherever you are I hope you have a good day..so until tomorrow ..take care and happy crafting

Happy New Year from the Gruffies

How excited am I? I have been twitching for a while now...waiting to bring you a card for my next new design team..Gruffies and friends. As most of you know by now I am a great fan of the artwork of Ellen Jareckie (House Mouse) and also love anything brought to us by Joanna Sheen. So to be a part of this design team really is a dream come true. This is my first card for the 'Anything Goes' challenge. One of my other loves is rabbits so I had to choose one of the happy hoppers for the card. It is from the wonderful Gruffies and friends cdrom by Joanna Sheen. On the cd there are some wonderful images and as with all Joanna cds, there are fabulous backing papers that you could use with any of your other cardmaking. I decided to turn the card into a new year card and had great fun planning how I would do it. The challenge blog has a different theme every month and gives you a great chance to play with all your gruffies and house mouse images, alongside of course the happy hoppers. I do hope that you will come and have a go. And for an added bonus there is a prize from our wonderful sponsers over at Crafty Ribbons.



Today here in the mountains, the rain is hammering down again..giving me the perfect excuse to craft away. I don't mind the rain as I don't go out but the damp can play havoc with the old bones..lol. I feel today as if I can only sit on one side ..I have a really big pain in one hip and so I feel as if I should sit on a slant..which would not help...but hey ho..these things are sent to try us. When I first became ill it was crafting that saved my sanity..I could lose myself in creating a card and for a small time at least..focus on that and not the pain. So crafting has become one of my blessings to count.
Well the coffee is calling and I have a set of orders to complete...so I had better get my working head on. I do hope that you will consider popping over to the Gruffies and friends challenge blog and have a go. There is a link on the right hand side that will take you there. Come over and see the work of the other ladies on the design team. They are all very talented crafters and are a wonderful source of inspiration. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Bebunni Birthday Wishes

Todays card is from the fabulous Bebunni Birthday Papercrafting cdrom brought to us by Crafters Companion. It is a double cdrom and is packed with lovely images. I shall be sharing lots of information and lots of cards on the jb-crafting supplies blog as it my featured cdrom for the next few weeks. This card is one from the mini kits on the cd. I have added one of the borders and some die cut bunting. I'm afraid that you will be seeing the bunting quite a bit as it is my favourite at the moment. It is from Joanna Sheens Signature die range and I adore the way that it cuts so beautifully. The backing paper is from the design sets on the cd.
Today in the mountains, it is a case of battening down the hatches.The wind is roaring and the cats are dodging the hail. Every so often I look out of the window and the whole world has gone white. And then 3 minutes later it's all disappeared. To add to the fury we have also had great thunder and lightening. It must be something about the area but my friends keep getting struck by lightening. One of them was mopping her kichen floor by an open back door and she got struck on the arm. It just goes to show how little we are as human beings against Natures fury. And as I speak more hail has arrived. A good day to stay in and craft I think.
I was so happy when the postman arrived today as I had run out of glue. Now to a normal person it wouldn't have been such a problem but to me as a crafting addict it was a calamity. I found myself almost twitching  and of course you have so many ideas when you can't do them. But today the happiness has arrived..lots of new glue and new ink for the printer. Isn't it strange what small things make us happy. Every day I see people that want so much and I must seem very boring compared to them. As long as the bills are paid,there is food in the cupboard and the animals are all well..then I'm happy. Oh and as long as I have glue..so I can create..what more could I want or need. I was always told to count my blessings and I do. I am truly blessed with Son,all my animals and close friends and I live in a beautiful place...so the counting is always easy.
Well the coffee calls as always and there is new glue to be opened..lol. So the afternoon will be filled with crafting delights..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Christmas Fun Challenge Blog..First Card

Todays card is my first card for the Christmas Fun Challenge Blog. This is the beginning of a brand new challenge blog and I hope that you will pop along and join in the fun. I made that many christmas cards in 2013, that this is a dream challenge for me..it gives me chance to get ahead for the first time. The theme for the first challenge is anything goes. It is 2 weekly challenge with a different theme every time but always christmas.
My card is featuring the wonderful House Mouse. The image and the backing paper are from the Triple House Mouse cdrom by Joanna Sheen. I of course had to glitter the image..lol. I have mounted the image onto some dark blue mirror card and have made a border out of the same. I have also just added a red ribbon and some blue pearls. As with all the artwork from Ellen Jareckie, the little animals are so cute but the images always give you a giggle. It is little wonder that they are so loved.
The weather here in the mountains is wet and windy. We have been so lucky here compared to others in the UK. I have lots of phonecalls making sure that we are ok because it was reported on the television that we had been badly hit. But as I've said it was the people on the coast that had it the worst. Areas that I have never known to be flooded were affected and my heart goes out to them. Here in the mountains, the winds were terrible...even the cats didn't want to venture out. At the moment if you need to go out wellies are recommened.
So I really hope that you will pop over to the challenge blog and join in the fun. There is a link to the site on the right hand side of this blog. On the design team there are some wonderfully talented ladies..who are a great source of inspiration.
Well the coffee calls..I'm off to have a play with some new ideas for cards that are going round my head. I hope that you have a really good day..so until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Happy New Year

Hello everyone...after a wonderful christmas I'm back. And I have to say that I've been twitching to come back. I tried to have a little break from card making but I have to admit that it didn't work. By boxing day I was twitching, with a need to make some of the cards that I have been thinking about..lol. I am so excited to be on three design teams for this coming year...there are some fabulous crafters on the teams and I'm really excited to be working with them. I hope that you all had a great christmas and that 2014 will bring you all health, happiness and good times. It was really strange not to be blogging..even though I only began last year, it seems that it has always been part of my life now. Thankyou all so much for all the messages..your support and encouragement has been a joy. There are still things that I am hoping to learn..so my adventure will continue. Twice a month I will be featuring christmas cards as part of my work for the christmas fun challenge blog...so I will get to play with snowflakes all year round. With the gruffies and friends, I intend to try as many happy hopper cards as I can...along with the house mouse and the gruffies of course. And finally with jb-crafting supplies you will be sharing a varied collection of cards...they will be different every month. I'm just so excited.
For todays card I decided to share a card kit from Kanban. The pack had 2 separate toppers and a backing sheet. This card features a strip decoupage. I have aded nothing but 3 card candies..so this is a great quick card to have in your stash. This was made on my favourite size card..8x8. I don't often use card kits myself but thought that I would share some that I thought were great quality and handy to have.
Well as always the coffee is calling. Thankyou for all your support during the last year..I hope you will continue to share my journey and we'll see what fun we can have along the way.So until tomorrow take care and happy crafting.