The Steam Train

Todays card is one that I made for a steam train fan. The image and the backing paper are from a Joanna Sheen cdrom called Times Gone By. It features the artwork of Kevin Walsh. There are masses of different images on the cd all recalling times long since gone. Every time I look at pictures of steam trains, I remember living next door to a railway line. My Grandmother bought an old station house..which still had a platform..and had it remodelled. The platform area became the pantry with the bathroom above. When I was little, I always waved to the engine drivers..a bit like the railway children of another generation. The funniest thing about this time that I remember was that we had an outside toilet..and everyone knew never to go to the toilet at 11a.m....that was when the goods train came along...and if you happened to be sat on the loo at that time..the whole place shook. It was if your teeth were being rattled out..lol..Still to this day I never go to the loo at 11a.m. It was at the time in the early 70's when British Rail were shutting lines and selling off housing stock. I know that my Grandmother purchased a lot of the properties and had them remodelled and used them to house all the elderly family retainers.I still have pictures of all the houses and they were lovely.They were the old railway workers cottages. I shall have to try to find the photos and then I'll share them with you. By now they're all probably unrecognisable..having been done up so much over the years..it would be interesting to see.

It's still very cold here and all the snow has virtually all gone.The weatherman says that it's going to be even colder at the weekend. Thank goodness that I don't have to go out. I'm bad enough on my feet at the best of times but if there is the slightest chance of ice..it's a no go for me. The last time I had a bad fall it took nearly 6 years to heal my leg..so I'm taking no risks.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just heard the call. He has just made a brew so I think that I'll treat us to a shortbread (the remains of the christmas treats). So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...The Lamb and the Lilies

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful company of Decoupage Delights. And the exciting news is that this image is a free download on their facebook page. So why not pop over  and have a look. I love their cdroms and find that I can use the images in lots of different ways. With this download, you get the quick card sheet and the insert to match. When I first saw this image, I thought to myself what a lovely Easter card it would make. The lilies are all decoupaged. On looking at the matching insert sheet I thought straight away just how useful the lily image would be. So many times I'm looking for the perfect lilies to put on a wedding or anniversary card...and these would be perfect. Also..even though we don't like to talk about it..there are times when we need a sympathy card..and again you could use the lilies. The card below has been made just using the insert sheet which I printed twice and used the second sheet to make up another set of decoupage. The plain half (blue patterned) of the insert sheet, I have kept to use on another card. All I have added to the lower card is a peeloff around the edge. I have yet to decide what to do...I may just add a greeting or find a stamped greeting to put inside the rectangle. It is always handy to have a similar card in your stash ready to go. The lamb and the lilies picture above is one that I will definitely be using for an Easter card.

The card below is another framed decoupage..to which I've added my own picture. This decoupage frame with the pansies is from Decoupage Delights..Fancy Floral cdrom. I do have a bit of a thing for pansies..it comes from my childhood...they always make me remember my Grandmother. I seem to remember a story book that I had in which the pansies all had little faces and chatted to all the other flowers in the garden.

The snow here has almost gone but it's still really cold. I have my thick cardigan on today and I'm lovely and cosy whilst crafting. Last night there was the trauma to end all traumas here. I was downstairs making my dinner and suddenly a first glass fight broke out in the parlour. I had to dash upstairs...a trauma in itself..I only have one speed and that's not very fast..lol..only to find all three of the boys..Jeff, Sprout and Nicademus were having a fight. As I came into the parlour there was a ball of fur bodies, determined to get the better of the other. Fur was flying and so was the glitter. I had a vase with a candle in, which I had put glitter in the bottom of..well that had been caught up in the melee. I know better than to put my hands or legs into the middle of the fight so I put my grabby stick into the ball to split it up and they managed to break it. Then they all sat there looking at me as if nothing had happened. But the parlour was now covered in cat fur and glitter..lol. They spent the night all curled up together as if I had imagined the whole thing. At breakfast this morning everyone was as friendly as they have ever been and all were convinced that they were starving..lol

Well the coffee is calling and as always,I have lots to do. According to the weatherman, we have more cold weather coming..I wonder if we will have more snow..I can't say that we've had it half as bad as they predicted. But then knowing how they work..we'll probably end up with it in May..lol. So unti tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.