PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a really good Saturday.

The weather was deceptively bright and beautiful this morning so when hubby said he needed to nip out I asked if he would mind dropping me off so I could raid the ribbon counter at our local market.

Off we wandered and hubby decided he fancied a walk around the market too (I knew he wanted to visit the old fashioned cheese counter though - not my ribbon stall).  It didn't take long before we realised it wasn't as warm as it actually looked .. .. we could have done with some form of coat really.  Anyone would think we were going for a stroll in summer!!!  Still it made us hurry up.

So after all that I will now share a card that doesn't feature any of the lovely ribbon I bought today LOL!!!

It is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme this week is "pretty in pink".

This used:
Image:  Penny Black "1738K" Uplifting Occasion!

Backing Papers:  All from Funky Hand CD "Craft the Year Away"

Woodware Punches:  Daisy

Martha Stewart Punch:  Frond

X-Cut Punch:  Butterfly

Brads and black pearls from the Stash Box

I don't know about "pretty in pink"  the image looks like "kitty in pink" LOL!!  He looks well comfortable doesn't he?

Well rather a late one for me.  Hubby has been to football to watch his team lose again :-(  so I have been crafting away in my little craft pod not realising how time was passing.  Sorry folks.

Anyways, that is me for today.  Just a little reminder that the Penny Black at Allsorts Challenge  (Say It With Flowers) is still going strong if you fancy a play over there.

Back tomorrow with my personal battle against the scrap.

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

FRIDAY SKETCHERS

Hi Everyone

Friday is here .. .. woo hoo!!!

As I am into my sketches at the moment I thought I would use the one provided by Friday Sketchers today for one of my creations.

This is what I made:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2070K" Frequent Flyer

Sentiment:  Pink Petticoat

Backing Papers:  Papermania "Hampstead" A Warm Welcome

Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Nestabilities:  Circles Large
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

X-Cut Punch:  Flower
ProMarkers
Crystal Stickles

Buttons and Raffia from the Stash Box

This is the sketch for following if you fancy playing along:

Another lovely sketch for my sketch file. 

Next it is time for me to make amends and say thank you to the lovely people who have very kindly thought of me and bestowed awards on me.  Thank you ladies.

I will deal with them in the order I received them.  Of course they all come with conditions!!!  The first for all of them I have dealt with as I have said thank you .. .. but then I have to reveal some facts about myself oeerrr!!!!  Well here we go ...

The first one .. .. and I feel very guilty about this one .. .. is from my lovely blog buddy Lesley.  I have been sitting on this one for quite a while I'm afraid.  Sorry Lesley!!

Now I need to reveal 3 facts about myself

1.  I married my lovely hubby when I was 19 years and 3 days old!!

2.  My dentist told me not to get married because I was too young (but I didn't listen).

3.  I passed my driving test first time .. .. even though after doing my "mock test" the night before my instructor said "you do realise you aren't going to pass tomorrow don't you?".  I wonder if this was his way of stopping peoples nerves as it meant you didn't have anything to live up to?

Next I have to share a photograph I love.

It was taken at the wedding of my eldest son and shows my "big boy" .. .. my lovely daughter in law .. .. and my lovely Mother in Law who unfortunately is no longer with us (but is still in our hearts and memories). 

My next award has come from the talented Sally.  Thanks Sal.  Thankfully I haven't had this one hanging around for quite so long so don't feel so guilty about this one.

I now have to reveal another 3 facts about myself.

1.  I am a middle kid .. .. having an older brother and a younger sister.

2.  As a child we lived in a house that overlooked a field full of cows.  We used to feed the cows any stale bread and once we saw one of them give birth to a calf.  I also used to stir the cowpats up with a stick!!  (I was a lovely child).

3.  I used to be frightened of needles .. .. but this disappeared once my children arrived on the scene and now I can give blood without even thinking about it.

OK then .. ..

I am now round to my third and last one:

This award came from a lovely fellow blogger Tina.   I have only recently got to know Tina through her winning my Penny Black at Allsorts blog hop prize last month. 

Shock horror .. .. for this one I have to give you another 8 facts.   Gosh I shall have no secrets left soon.....

I will try to keep them short

1.  Ice cubes in our house are heart shaped LOL!!

2.  I have a box into which I have put every handmade card I have ever received .. .. I love looking through them!!

3.  I have two babies .. .. both boys.  One lives in London and the other about 4 miles away.

4.  I can (or could) write shorthand at 120 words per minute.

5.  I delete emails that come through onto my computer advertising craft stash without opening them. 

6.  I limit my internet time otherwise time just disappears.  So if I haven't managed to see everything I want to see then that is tough.  Time is precious. 

7.  I never read story books (unless it is to a child).

8.  I love my blog!!  But not as much as I love my hubby and my babies.

Phew .. .. there we go. 

If you get chance to pop along to the blogs of the ladies who very kindly gave me these awards then I promise you will be well pleased you did.  They are all fantastic crafters and make the most awesome creations.

As always though I never pass these awards on.   I am very naughty.   I just can't choose people  -  everyone's blog is amazing and there is inspiration to be found everywhere.

So if you would like to take one or all of them please do. 

So next it is my bath time and then my special Friday dinner will be ready as prepared by my lovely hubby. 

Have a good evening everyone.

Love

WHO IS THIS CUTE CHAPPIE?

Hi Everyone

Hope you have had a good day .. .. mine has flown by far too quickly .. .. .. a bit like this whole week really.

First things first.  How did the cake icing go last night???  Well my friend was short of one vital ingredient .. .. black food colouring .. .. so we weren't able to do the decorating.  Not sure if I will be needed or not now - we will have to wait and see.

So what did we do instead.  Well, we talked and talked and talked and we drank coffee and opened the box of Thornton's chocolates that Santa delivered  LOL!!!  What a lovely evening!!!  (The men were at a little re-union thingy so we could chat away to our hearts content without having to let them get a word in edgeways).

Now round to my share of the day ...

This used:

Image, papers and sentiment .. .. all from Funky Hand "Craft The Year Away" CD

Sizzix Die:  Stars #2

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder:  Stars

Cord from the Stash Box

This must be the quickest card I have ever made and because I felt so guilty at it being quick I gave his head an extra layer LOL!!

Everything was done off Anice's new CD - Craft The Year Away.  You just re-size everything to what you want ... write what words you want, print what you want.. .. .. and I just love this little chappie so much.   It is a little hard to explain how it all works if you didn't manage to catch Anice on Create and Craft .. .. .. but there is a little demo here that might help.

He is fantastic for male cards.  I love this striped paper too .. .. it reminds me of some PJ's I had as a child!!

So that is me for today.

I will catch you again tomorrow and hopefully will manage a bit of blog hopping later too.  Food to finish preparing first though!!

Have a good evening and thanks for calling by.

Love

I LIKE IT .. .. BUT WILL ANYONE ELSE?

Hi Everyone

I am a bit earlier tonight  .. .. .. we have visitors coming and need to be bathed, fed and watered by 7.30pm!!

So important things first .. .. up-date my blog LOL!!!

This is the card I have chosen to share today.  I really enjoyed making it but am not sure if it will be to everyone's taste.

This used:

Images:  My Paper World "Grasses and Embellishments"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers:  Memory Stor
Fiskars Punch:  Threading Water
Sizzix Die:  Tattered Florals
Cuttlebug Folder:  Script
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Distress Inks
Embossing Powder .. .. various colours blended together
Ribbon, Cord, Feathers and Button from the Stash Box

So that is my share for today.

Off to the bath next!!

I hope I get time for some blog hopping later .. .. but if not then I apologise in advance and will catch you tomorrow.

There is a slight chance I might be on cake icing duty this evening.  A 70th birthday cake needs finishing off and my friend has injured her wrist and needs to wear a splint .. .. if the splint is still on tonight then my pinny goes on!!!

Oh dear!!!  Hope I can do her design justice!!!  (Lisa where are you?  I need you!!! LOL!!!).

Have a good evening everyone.

Love

AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE

Hi Everyone

What a beautiful day .. .. gorgeous sunshine .. .. and dare I say I washed, dried and ironed today!!!  What a domestic goddess!!  Tee hee!!!

Only one card I can share today as the rest are orders .. .. but I feel it is a nice share anyway.

I am going to enter it into the Oldie But A Goodie challenge.  Quite a difficult one for me .. .. they want you to add a heart to your creation.  I struggled but managed it eventually LOL!!

Here is my make:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2073J" Baby Hammock

Sentiment:  Whispers Words by Docraft

Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat

Josy Rose:  Nail Heads

Nestabilities: Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large

ProMarkers

Glamour Dust

Ribbon and Buttons from the Stash Box

I love making baby cards though this sentiment always makes me laugh when I use it .. .. "Congratulations on your New Baby" .. .. ... have you ever known anyone to have an "old" baby?   

Mmmmmm ...  well perhaps the Mother in the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button .. .. now that is one film I have actually managed to stay awake through so it must have been good.

I have been the lucky recipient of a couple of awards too.  Thank you ladies.  I will get them posted soon .. .. when I can think of some more interesting facts about me .. ... I am beginning to think you know all there is to know about me (that is ignoring the bits I am far to embarrassed to share with anyone LOL!!).

Have a great evening everyone.

Love

MOJO MONDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a good Monday .. .. always tough starting a new week isn't it!!  Especially if you had a good weekend.

It has been very windy here.  I did try my washing outside but got fed up with needing to keep rescuing it .. .. LOL!!!

I fancied the look of the Mojo Monday sketch this week so decided to play along. 

Here is my creation:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3377K" Whispers
Sentiment:  Anitas
Backing Paper:  Aimee Asher
Josy Rose:  Acrylic Stones

Nestabilities: Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large
ProMarkers
Ribbon from the Stash Box

Here is the sketch

This is definitely one that is going to go into my sketch file.  Lovely to use .. .. thank you ladies!!

Have a good evening everyone.

Catch you again tomorrow.

Love

SUNDAY SCRAP - WEEK 5

Hi Everyone

Hope you are having a happy scrappy Sunday!!!

Mine is a very happy one because my Son has come round for the day to be fed and watered.  We told him not to visit whilst we were unwell in case we passed our germs on.  We wouldn't like to think we had made anyone else feel as rubbish as we have the last few weeks.

So today I am being a good wife and mother and doing a roast beef and yorkshire pud dinner.  It feels like a celebration day .. .. .. but then I suppose every day should be celebrated.

Although I am being super good around the kitchen I have still had my scrap stocks out again in an attempt to reduce them a little further.  I must be getting somewhere as some of my little drawers do actually close now!!  Woo hoo!!!

Quite a few of you are playing along and are either offering creations for us all to look at or are finding tututorials or ideas for us to use.  Thank you for that.

Lots of you are also wanting to play along .. .. but feel you can't because you do not have time to craft on a Sunday.

Don't worry about that!!!  Sunday is "my" scrap day but it doesn't have to be yours.  I just find that by being strict with myself and allocating an actual day I stick to my rules better.  The rest of the week I am making creations for orders or stock for craft fayres etc .. so consider Monday to Friday my "working week" .. .. but the weekends are my "make what I fancy days" (unless I am behind with my orders of course LOL!!!).

I have had quite a productive scrap day today .. .. must be because I am feel chipper again.

The first thing I wanted to try this week was the "herringbone technique" that Annmaree found on Youtube here.   Annmaree showcased the look last week and I just couldn't wait to try it.

Here is my attempt at the technique:

This used:

The compulsory scrap papers
Sentiment Stamp:  Anitas
Go Kreate Die:  Concentrics :  Frilly Square #3
Shapeabilities:  Nested Flower
Martha Stewart Punch:  Frond
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Brad and Ribbon from the Stash Box

Next I decided to do my version of the "dotty makes" that you can find here.

Not too sure about this one!!!




This used:


The compulsory scrap papers
Sentiment: Woodware "FRCL 167"
Nestabilities: Scalloped Circles
Martha Stewart Punch: Valentine Lace
Woodware Punches: Flowers and Circles
Josy Rose: Nail Heads
Buttons from the Stash Box

The next two are made by paper piecing.

This one used:

The compulsory scrap paper
Background Stamp:  Elusive "32531" Script Background
Pattern Stamp:  Stampendous "N156"  Argyle Border
Flower (embossed in gold on scrap vellum for the first layer and patterned scrap for the second) :  Anitas
Sizzix:  Dragonfly #3
Distress Inks
Brad and Eyelets from the Stash Box


and finally

This used:

The compulsory scrap papers
Image:  Forever Friends (Docrafts)
Sentiment:  Whispters Words (Docrafts) - only part of the stamp used
Woodware Punch:  Flowers
Nestabilities: Small Deckled Mega Rectangles
Martha Stewart Punch:  Valentine Lace
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Diamond Stickles
Ribbon from the Stash Box


So after all of that .. .. ..  who else attacked their scrap last week?

Well Lynne has some scraps she would like to use up and joined in by creating a beautiful card to inspire us here.  I just love the little vellum flowers and the curvy background.  This lovely creation  inspired me to get into the scrap vellum stocks too so a double thank you Lynne,  one for the inspiration and one for sharing your lovely project.

Sally has two creations to show .. .. one that she made last Sunday but was not sure whether to share .. .. and another she has created today.  I think both are gorgeous Sally and I am so pleased you decided to share them with us.  Two completely different creations which you are able to see here.

Next is Carole .. .. who is becoming as big a scrap fanatic as I am.  She has created a wonderful card this week that I fell totally in love with.  When you see it you will realise why .. .. .. you will find it here. 

Please take time to look all around the blogs of these three very talented crafters as they all have some awesome creations on show.

No links to new ideas this week .. .. but hopefully there will be some next week along with a better title for my challenge.  Sunday Scrap doesn't really feel right.

At the moment I am fancying "Sunday Snippets" and then all my scrap bits can be renamed "snippets" .. .. which makes them sound a litte more appealing.  LOL!!  But I am still open to more ideas if you have any.

Well enjoy the rest of Sunday and thanks for calling by my little blog.

Time for me to finish off our evening meal.

Catch you all soon.

Love

A SIMPLE THANK YOU

Hi Everyone

Guess what?  At long, long last I got my gold star!!! 

For the first time in over two weeks I have managed to sleep all the way through the night!!  No coughing and spluttering and being awake half of the night.  In fact I didn't wake up until 10.30am!! 

Woo hoo!!  How exciting.  I might be able to be released from Ward 2 now (the spare bedroom LOL!!) and make my way back to the big bed!!!

Anyway .. .. enough of my childish excitement and round to my share of the day.

Just a plain and simple thank you card .. .

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3817K" Tigress
Sentiment:  Elzybells (with a few extra dots added)
Backing Papers: Docraft VandA Hanoverian
Diamond Stickles
Buttons from the Stash Box

and now I am dashing off out for a meal with friends .. .. life is starting to get back to normal.  Yeah!!

I doubt I am going to get any blog visiting in tonight so will just have to say thank you for calling by and I will see you again tomorrow with my Sunday Scrap makes.   I really do need to think up a better name for this .. .. any suggestions are very gratefully received.

Have a lovely evening everyone.

Love

THREE VALENTINES !!!!

Hi Everyone

Hope you have had a good day .. .. it's Friday ... .. hurrah for Friday!!!

Not sure if you know but Anice has released a new download this week called Love, love, love that contains a collection of Valentine themed backing papers.  If you fancy a look you can find them here.

I have made a few cards using it and must admit I love the papers very much .. .. gorgeous colours and patterns .. .. some of which will be suitable for more than just valentine makes.

Here is what I made with the download:

These used:

Backing Papers:  Funky Hand Download "Love, Love, Love"
Sentiments:  Funky Hand Clear Stamps "Love N That"
Martha Stewart Punch:  Doily Lace
Cuttlebug Embossing Folders:  Roses and Script
Nestabilities: Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large
Cuttlebug Dies:  Hearts (the three nested together)
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Cricut Cartridge:  Basic Shapes for the others
Sewing Machine
Diamond Stickles
Flowers, Ribbons, Buttons, Gems, Brad

I have spent ages trying to decide which is my favourite and have gone for the last one .. .. I love the scrummy heart with its flower.  It is so hard to hide hearts on Valentine cards (but then who would want to) LOL!!!

These could be the last of my Valentine cards for this year .. .. with the exception of one very special one .. .. which will be for my lovely hubby!!  I want to make him something super special.

Have a good evening everyone and I hope your weekend is a good one.

Love

ANOTHER SPECIAL VALENTINE

Hi Everyone

Quite a windy day here today .. .. so windy in fact that I have managed to dry my towels outside today .. .. mmmmm.... they smell lovely!!  I love the smell of washing that has dried outdoors!!

Today's share is another boxed valentine card that I have been asked to make.

This used:

Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat "Just An Old Fashioned Girl"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Marianne Design Die:  LR0115 "Butterfly"
Sizzix Dies:  "656425" Box and Lid (for Big Shot Pro) - "654680" Scallop Tag
Martha Stewart Punches:   Valentine Lace and Doily Lace
Nestabilities:  Small Deckled Mega Rectangles
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder:  Roses (folder inked before putting through the machine)
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Distress Ink:  Tattered Rose
Embossing Tinsel:  Bridal
Flowers, Ribbons, Feathers, Pearls and Gem from the Stash Box.

Phew!!! What a lot of ingredients.  No wonder my work desk looks like a bomb has hit it.  I think a big clear up campaign is on the cards along with a good old blog catch up. 

I have been that busy sorting out my laptop and stuff that I am a bit behind on my visiting .. .. so hopefully I will be putting that to rights later.

Plus .... for those that couldn't find the heart last night ... it is here ...

Tee hee !!!

Don't forget that Anice is showing off the new Funky Hand CD "Crafty the Year Away" tomorrow on Create and Craft .. .. two live stints ..  the first at 10.00am and then again at 2.00pm.  I hope you get chance to watch.

Love

MORE PENNY BLACK AND MY POPPIES

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well.

It has been a sad day in the House of Hearts .. .. my lappy has been taken away to the computer doctor!!  So I am now struggling to post and comment on the old faithful stand alone in the corner (otherwise known as the donkey) .. .. but hey .. .. at least that is working!!!!

I have spent ages trying to rescue everything off my laptop before it went away .. .. hopefully I have everything I am going to need as it will have a new hard drive when it comes back.  Thankfully (and just for a change) I am still inside my warranty period with a few weeks to spare .. .. phew!!!  Not very often that happens to me.  I am normally a few days out of it LOL!!!

So hopefully everything posts as it should tonight - but it has been a struggle.  You just get used to where everything is on your own computer don't you.

Anyway, enough waffling and on to my share of the day:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1037K" Lovin' Flowers

Sentiment:  Funstamps "F-C60" Happy Birthday Circular

Backing Papers:  Docraft VandA Hanoverian

Fiskars  Punch:  Threading Water

ProMarkers

Diamond Stickles

Ribbon from the stash box

Next I thought I would share with you how I made my poppies on yesterday's Penny Black at Allsorts DT card.

Quite a few of you commented and contacted me by email asking how I had made them.  I wrongly said I had used a Woodware Punch to make them  .. .. but actually when I came to do a little tutorial on how I made them I realised I actually used a Shapeability flower die.  But the tutorial below shows that I don't really think it matters.  The result is the same.

To start with I have cut three flowers  - 
one set using the Shapeability Die
the other set using a Woodware flower punch.



I distressed all the flowers using a
Barn Door Distress Ink Pad
(and my silicone mat from the £1 shop  -  plus I got two for that!!)



Next I screwed up all of the flowers to break
down the fibres in the paper  - I then open each flower
out  and spray each one lightly with water. 

Screw them up again and then open them out carefully.
Lay them on the silicone mat - but try not to flatten them out
too much ..  then dry them with a heat gun .. .. holding
the flowers down with a pair of tweezers or something similar
to stop them flying away.

Make a hole in the centre of each flower and then
join them together using a black brad.

I think you will agree that there is hardly any difference in
the finished look.

So there you go.  That is how I made my poppies.

I hope that helps.

Have a great evening everyone.

Edited to say:  I started off this post saying it was a sad day in the House of Hearts .. .. but the world news has been on TV in the background whilst I have been writing all of this .. .. my house isn't sad at all .. .. it is a very happy and very fortunate house.  There are lots of people all across the world that would just be happy to have had their laptop taken off them - many are facing such horrible circumstances.  I need to count my blessings!! 

Love

PENNY BLACK AT ALLSORTS - FEBRUARY

Hi Everyone

February is here already!?!?!  Who stole January???

It must be something to do with the excitement of us having our lovely blog hop midway through January .. .. it made the month fly by.  I hope you were one of our lucky winners.

So, what is the theme for February?

Well this month we want you to:

"Say it with Flowers"

There are lots of prizes on offer again this month and we have the added fun of being sponsored by Letraset and as a DT we were all sent a set of the Aquamarkers to "road test".  I used them on my creation this month.

It seemed  very strange to be breaking my paintbrushes out again .. .. it is a few months since I last used them .. .. but it was very enjoyable and the pens were lovely to work with.  There is something about working with a paintbrush that makes you feel more artistic when you have finished LOL!!!.

Here is my DT creation

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4065K" Bountiful
Backing Papers:  K and Co
Letraset:  Aquamarkers
Shapeability:  Flower Die
Leone Em Pty Punch:  Ash Branch
Josy Rose:  Nail Heads
Distress Inks:  Barn Door
Diamond Stickles
Ribbons, brad and button from the stash box

Please take time to go and see what all of my lovely DT pals have created .. .. so much inspiration to be had!!  You can see all of their work here .. .. along with the full rules of the challenge itself.

I hope you get chance to join in during February and I look forward to coming and visiting you and seeing what you have created with your Penny Black goodies.

Love