WOW, another award, this time from

Diane

Thanks Diane, I'm thrilled.

The rules of this award are slightly different from the usual.....
1. Only 5 people are to be nominated.
2. 4 out of the 5 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. 1 has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.
I nominate:

De

Erica

Jane

Jo B

Mira

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Things that grow

When I first saw this challenge I immediately thought of a friend, who although pregnant, didn't look it for months. Then all of a sudden - there it was - the 'Bump'. We (friends) all shouted simultaneously "Oh she's growing!!!". (Sam's scan had showed she was having a girl) - hence this card

Basic Cardstock: Brown leather look - The Papermill

Paper: Digital Scrapbook Art download - Nature Walk by Verena Karolyi
Image: Pink Petticoat, coloured with watercolours and paper pieced with above papers
Sentiment: Computer generated
Brads and ribbons from stash.

I received an award!!!

OOOH!! Look what I found when I opened up my blog this morning before work - a reward from

Tiffany I was thrilled to bits and have walked round with a silly

grin on my face all day.

The rules of this award are slightly different from the usual.....
1. Only 5 people are to be nominated.
2. 4 out of the 5 have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. 1 has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.
I nominate:

Barbara

Mare

Sandra

Trinka
Sam

I've decided to set my self the challenge of making two cards per week 'Using-up'. Somethings I've bought and never used, others I've had given. My problem is I tend to buy too much at once and overwhelm myself. It would seem I'm having a Black and White phase this week.

Both cards have silver mirri card on them and consequently have not photographed very well.

I can't remeber where the card stock is from, but the mask stencil is by Joy

Ribbon Storage

As a request from Sam, I'm displaying my ribbon storage. I have tried many time to find the perfect storage for ribbon - one that is easy to use and takes up little space. This is the nearest I have got so far. The problems so far - the file isn't big enough, I haven't got all my ribbon in there yet, and I need stronger card to wrap the ribbon around (possibly with 'notches' in it) - both solvable problems. The ribbons are each fastened with that 'low tack selotape stuff - but there must be something better than this. Any suggestions or alternative ways of storing ribbon - PLEASE, PLEASE let us know.

I really enjoyed making this card. I love working with browns and pastels. I didn't know what to sit Edwin on until I found this wall paper (no pun intended) in my stash. I think it works quite well, but am not happy with the flowers.

Cs: Wall paper - Kanban, not sure about the rest.
Stamp: Magnolia - Edwin in Jeans coloured with watercolours.
Sentiment - computer generated
Ribbon and sliders from stash

Rush Job

A friend asked me could I make her a Wedding card - NOW!!! So it was out with the trusty Cuttlebug and away we go. It took about 30 minutes - the majority of that in getting those 'pesky' flowers to behave. I must admit it turned out better than I thought it would. Perhaps I should work under pressure more often.

Plain white cs
I cuttlebugged the bottom with Stylized flowers and debossed the top with Swiss dots.
Stamp: Hero Arts - Bold Heart
Ribbon, flowers and sentiment from stash

Penny Black Challenge

Another fun challenge, but I'm not entirely happy with this one.

Base & matting cs bought in Germany
Papers: Paper Adventure & Basic Grey - Two scoops
Sentiment stamp - Aud designs, flowers & brads from stash

Tilda & Co Challenge 28

I really had fun doing this challenge - perhaps this is my 'forte' distressing things.

Peach bazzill cs
Papers: unknown (gift from s-i-l) Text paper ripped and torn, inked (I used Ancient Age petal points) and wet and curled the edges
Sentiment: computer generated on parchment and distressed edged
Tilda: Paper pieced - first layer - HOTP (Cardmaker classic), and dress - top layer -'holey' mulberry again curtesy of s-i-l.
The gold ribbon I distressed and frayed the ends
The brads, flower and gem all from stash

This is one of my favourite Tilda images. I do like Tilda in petticoats, but can't get hold of her at the moment. If anyone knows of one up for adoption would they please let me know.

Papers: Basic Grey - Lilykate
Image coloured with watercolours
Brads and flowers from stash
Faux stitching: whispers

Here he is (Osbert) my first owl. I really enjoyed doing this. It hasn't scanned very well, but my camera won't upload at the moment. Oh! I do wish I was more technically inclined, I usually get where I want to go, but it can be at some cost timewiseGreen pearlized cs (7x5)
Papers: Downloaded, but forgive me, I can't remember where from
Stamp: Side show stamps, coloured with watercolours.
Sentiment: Aud design stamps
Ribbons: Anitas

Look What I got...... My owls, all the way from Canada in just 6 days - WOW - thats some speedy flying!!!
Check out the website - sideshowstamps.com - they have some cute and 'whacky' stamps at real good prices.
Guess what my next post will be.

Where has the last fortnight gone? Having been a crafter of one sort or another for many years I decided it was time to become more interactive with other crafters, hence this blog. Why I had to start at the busiest time at work (the holiday period) heaven only knows. That, plus the fact my house has decided to fall down around my ears (well that is a slight exaggeration) but my washing machine 'packed in', two fires 'died' on me, my drain blocked up and when I went to open a drawer, the front fell off and everything tumbled out. The drawer happened to be one where I keep my stamps, inks and other crafting gear, so you can imagine the mess. It probably fell apart from overuse. I have a whole one and a half days of work this weekend so hopefully I can post some more cards and do a little more work on my blog.