It’s Friday ………..So it’s Dare Day!

It’s Jo’s turn to set the dare over at the Daring Cardmakers, this week and the thought of it send me into a panic. Come to think of it, every week just lately one of the team has done the self same thing, send me into panic mode I mean, but I guess that’s what dares are all about, stretching your imagination.

This weeks dare is 'Tartan It Up'.

I would like you to use some sort of tartan on your cards, fabric, ribbon, paper etc.

Having had a search through my stash all I could find was the tiniest piece of Tartan ribbon that’s way too small to use on anything...no idea why I kept it really…..and also a sheet of Tartan paper in a Paper Pizazz 12 x 12 book that I had forgotten about.

So armed with my one sheet of paper I took the easy option and made a Christmas card because Tartan just shouts Christmas, right!

I’ve used the Holly Embossing folder and coloured it with Distress Inks. I then distressed and inked all the edges of the mats and mounted them onto the card with a couple of Red brads, two Green buttons and then finished it off with a touch of sparkle in the way of some glitter glue.

A5 Card Blank – Craft Creations Embossed Hemp
Patterned Papers – Hot Off The Press (Paper Pizazz 12 x 12 Heritage Papers)
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Holly)
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Tattered Rose, Dried Marigold & Peeled Paint)
Buttons – Basic Grey

Other StuffVelvet Ribbon
Brads
Gold Peel-Offs

One good thing that’s come from Jo’s dare is that while I was looking for the Tartan paper it got me thinking about the my Heritage Album that I started ages ago and just don’t seem to get around to doing anything to. I’ve now decided it’s about time I did some more to it so I’ve started uploading the pages that I’ve already done onto my other blog Family Footprints in the Sands of Time and then I’m going to make a concerted effort to do some new pages.

So thanks Jo for giving me a kick in the right direction and making me want to start working on it again.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday?

Once again Julie is asking ‘what’s on our work desk’ and because I’ve not joined in for the last couple of weeks I thought I would make the effort and join in.
It’s more a case that I actually remembered to do it today because I have a mind like a sieve just lately and keep forgetting things.

Anyway, on my work desk today is the remains of a Basic Grey card kit that I had brought for me as a birthday pressie.

I think the cards are lovely, and the kits are perfect for someone just starting out card making but if I’m honest, I have found it a little restricting. Only because all the mats are already cut and all you have to do is push them out and stick them onto the cards but I’ve added a few extras to my cards in the way of bling, brads and ribbons to make them a little more my own.

Next week there could be my purchases from IKIA on my work desk if I’m back in time, but if not I’ll see you the week after………..if I remember. Lol!

DMC’S – Shabby Chic

Only a short post from me this morning.
I have to take my brother Keith to the hospital later to have a check up on his eye but couldn’t leave without posting my card for the Daring Cardmakers, dare this morning.

They’ve gone all ‘Shabby Chic’ this week and there are some fantastic cards on the blog to give you inspiration, so pop over and have a peek, yI'm sure you won’t be disappointed.

Inspiration was something I definitely needed because Shabby Chic is not a style that I’m comfortable with if I’m totally honest, still I’ve given it a go and this what I came up with.



A6 Card Blank – Craft Creations Embossed Hammer
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey (Sugared & Lilly Kate)
Paper Punches – EK Success (Retro Flower) XCut (Large and Small Flower)
Rubber Stamp – Papermania (Sentiments)
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Tattered Rose) ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Pink)
Pens – Marvy Le Plume (Brown)
Embossing Powder – Stamp ‘n’ Stuff (Clear)
Gems – Anita’s Tiny Gems (Two Sizes)


Other StuffRibbon
Large Gems

Follow That Dream

I was at a family BBQ for my big Big Brother’s 60th birthday at the weekend and although it’s not actually his birthday until the end of the month he had his cards and pressies at the party, which is why I’m able to show you them now.

The reason the party was so early is because he’ll be away when it comes around and on his actual birthday he’ll be ‘Following His Own Dream’ and will be in Memphis visiting Graceland’s for the second time, which goes some way to explaining what’s about to follow.

Firstly he loves Country and Western music and Line Dancing, not that he dances himself mind you, so that was the theme for the first card I made for him from his even bigger Brother.

I’ve used papers from the Memory Stor Costco Kit and some Tanda Stamps. The ‘Happy’ Birthday’ is a Sizzlets die cut.

The next card I made was from Dad and the inspiration for this one came from the Duke Box that he has in his lounge.

For this one I coloured, cut and decoupaged an image that I found on the web. Decorated the rest of the card with circles cut from Basic Grey Lime Ricky paper and made the ‘0’ of the 60 look like an old 45 record. The greeting on this one was a Rub-On.

The Duke Box he has is not a ‘Bubble’ like the one on the card but it is a working Duke Box and I would say that the records that it holds are 90% Elvis, which leads me nicely on to the card I made him from me , using a fabby ‘George’ download from Charmed Cards.

The papers are again from the Memory Stor Costco Kit and the outside greeting was printed on my computer. I added the layered star and fibres to give it a bit of a lift.

As you open the card George, the Elvis impersonator pops out on a stage with a backdrop that say’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’ in chipboard letters, painted Black and glitzed up with gems.

I also stitched two pictures for him as a gift, the first of Elvis and the second one of Marilyn Monroe.
I saw the two charts in ‘Cross Stitcher’ magazine some time ago and kept them because I knew as soon as I saw them both that I would have to stitch them for him one day.
What better time than his 60th Birthday.

Happy Birthday for the 29th Michael!

DMC’S – Down by the Sea

I’ve been a naughty blogger, not posting for over a week but at the moment I could do with being ‘Down by the Sea’ because last week was a little stressful to say the least.

It started off on Monday with a trip to the hospital with my brother.
It was just to check up on his eye that was operated on last Friday. Everything was fine I’m pleased to say but the one and a half hours we had to wait past his appointment time wasn’t. I don’t know how they manage to get so far behind and I’m sure that I could have organised things much better, but hay ho!

Wednesday was my birthday (I was 53 but don’t tell anybody will you) and I had planned to go to a local garden for some lunch with my Dad and big Brother. The aim was also to get a pot plant while we were there because on the 12th it was 20 years since we lost mum and we wanted to take something special to the cemetery. I find it hard to believe it was that long ago because I can remember every little event on that day even down to the thunder storm we had.
I love you mum and I so miss you!

In the end we didn’t go out after all because my dad was taken ill and we had to get the doctor out to him. Turns out he’s got a chest and ear infection so he’s on the antibiotics now and they seem to be doing the trick because he’s much better today.

My birthday wasn’t a complete flop thought because the door bell rang and there on the doorstep clutching two bunches of flowers and a birthday card was our lovely Lythan.........….she really brightened my day I can tell you.

Anyway, on with this weeks Daring Cardmakers team dare, all be it a little bit late on my part.

Down by the Sea

Over on this side of the world we're coming to the end of the Summer, and on Keryn's side they'll soon be dusting off their buckets, spades and sun-hats.

Of course we don't just enjoy being by the sea in the Summer, it doesn't matter what the season is, the seaside is a great place to be, so this week we'd love you to make cards with any sort of seaside theme.

Let your creativity go wild and have some fun by the sea with us.

My first reaction to this was panic as I didn’t really have anything that I considered would fit the dare but once I’d gathered my thoughts I remembered the set of Fishing stamps from Tanda that I have.

I’ve tried to do my card in the style of Michelle Zindorf because I just love her work, mind you my card is not a patch on hers.

With hind sight, an investment into a bigger brayer might have been a good idea instead of using the silly little one that I have at the moment. ……..It’s now on my shopping list for Alexandra Palace on the 26th!

The image was stamped, coloured and embossed and then some of it was masked while I sponged and embossed the Sun and then the sky was breyered over the top of the whole thing.

Square Card Blank – Papermania
Plain Card - DCWV(Pastels Stack)
Rubber Stamp – Tanda –Fishing Set 1
Inks – Tsukineko Pigment Ink, Whispers Dye Based Ink, Ranger Distress Ink
Pens – Marvy Le Plume
Embossing Powder – Stamp ‘n’ Stuff (Clear)
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities (Labels 1)
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Swirls)
Glitter Glue – Craft Planet (Iridescent Sparkle)
Clip – Making Memories (Cheeky Flat Clips)

Other Stuff
Ribbon
Large Brads

Navy Blue Card

Sunflowers

It’s a good job it’s not What's On Your Work Dest Wednesday today because for some reason unknown to me I suddenly decided it would be a good idea to rearrange all my card making paraphernalia and where I’ve just pulled everything out of my cupboard you can barely see my craft table.

Definitely a bit different from Wednesday!!

I’m expecting to take me a couple of days to get it straight again as I have to take my brother into hospital later this morning to have his other cataract sorted, so there’ll not be much progress today.

But I have the whole day tomorrow free, so I shall set to with a vengeance!

But that aside, what to day actually is, is the Daring Cardmakersdare day and its Rein’s turn to challenge us.

Rein would like to see lots of bright and cheerful Sunflowers on our card and right now poor Rein need a bit of cheering up. The poor love has had a bit of an accident and has badly bruised her face………hope you’re feeling better soon hun. (((hug)))

I’ve gone with a simple DL card turned on it’s side and then added the mounted image, which incidentally is from Rubber Stampede, so that it protrudes over the top edge.
I then added some tiny Brown seed beads to the centres of the Sunflowers and some sticky backed pearls to the paper to add some texture.


DL Card Blank – Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey (Perhaps)
Plain Card - DCWV (Pastels Stack)
Rubber Stamp – Rubber Stampede (Sunflower)
Inks – Tsukineko Staz-On (Brown)
Pencils – Prisma Color
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities (Large Scalloped Square)
Border Punch – Fiskars (Lace)
Chalks – Readicut Decorating Chalks
Pearls – Crystal Stickers
Greeting – Oh My Word (Birthday Wishes)

Other StuffRibbons
Brown Seed Beads
Paper Flowers

2S4Y # 34

After the shock of making my first Christmas card with last weeks sketch I’ve reverted back to making ‘normal’ cards. Mind you, I didn’t stop at just one Christmas card; I made Eight in all so I don’t feel quite so bad about leaving the rest for a week or two.

For this weeks sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You I decided to make an Anniversary card.

I must apologise for the poor quality of the photo but now the evenings are drawing in I’ve had to take this using the flash.

I've used a fab Digi Stamp from Lily Boo’s Boutique, which I’ve printed out four times and layered with 3D foam after colouring.

I then added some punched leaves to give it a bit more texture.

Plain Card - Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Patterned Paper – Daisy Bucket (Perfect Harmony)
Digi Stamp – Lily Boo’s Boutique (Bird House on Tree)
Paper Punch – Martha Stewart Fond)
Ink –Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Pencils- Prisma Color Pencils
Embossing Folders – Cuttlebug (Heart Blocks)
Gems – Papermania (Adhesive Stones)

Other BitsGreeting – Created in Photo Shop7

What’s On Your Work Desk Wednesday?

I hope you’re sitting down because I’ve actually remembered to take a photo for Julie's What’s On Your Work Desk Challenge today.

And it’s buy one get one free because I’ve taken two……..neither of which are very interesting, I might add but there’s two never the less.

As you can see my table is completely clear this morning except for the cloth that I hang up to take photos of my cards. I just catch the edges under my Tag ‘a’ Long tote on one side and the storage boxes on the other and drape it over three of my ribbon boxes to make a little platform and there you have it, an instant photograph studio! It works fine as long as the sun isn’t shining too brightly because when it is, I get nice lacy shadows from my net curtains.
Unfortunately I can show you the photos of the cards I was photographing because one is my card for the Daring Cardmakers Dare this coming Friday and the other three are for my brothers 60th birthday that’s coming up at the end of the month. He checks out my blog sometimes so I don’t want to chance putting then on here just in case he sees them.

The second photo was taken a few minutes after I’d finished taking the photos of the cards and this little monster was trying to let me know that I hadn’t been paying him enough attention this morning.


BoJangles is a Very High Maintenance cat and need to be made a fuss of at least three times an hour and be fed the same number of times if he had his way. Lol!

Bye for now and I’ll see you next Wednesday when I hope to have my birthday cake and cards on my work desk!