SOFT AND GENTLE

 Hi Everyone

I hope you are all doing OK.

An early morning craft session gave me time to hit my sketches again and enter a couple of challenges.

This is my early morning creation and I am loving the soft and gentle look .. .. which is quite rare for me, although I don't know what my camera is doing with my colours as the backing layers for my image panel are white and a lovely dusty pink .. .. .. but it has changed the pink to look more like peach on my screen .. .. .. but it still tones in OK.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3377K - Whispers"
Sentiment:  Part of a small Penny Black Clear Stamp set "30-424 - Just For You"
Backing Papers:  Papercraft House "PH005 Vintage" (another very old but well loved set of papers)
Distressed Ink Pad:  Victorian Velvet
Corner Rounding Punch
Green ProMarker
Hot Fix Nail Head
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Rectangular Sketch No. 3 from my sketch library (but I decided the card was busy enough without adding the three dots in the bottom right hand corner)  

So I am entering my creation into two challenges:

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge:  Where the theme is "Use Patterned Paper" or "anything goes" provided your creation involves Penny Black Goodies of course  -  everything used patterned paper except the two layers of backing for my image .. .. (The flowers were distressed patterned paper too)

and

The Little Red Wagon Challenge:  Where the theme is "Outdoors" .. .. and as flowers grow outdoors I felt my card fits the bill

So that is me for today .. .. and if anyone fancies using any of my sketches which you can find on the tabs at the top of my blog please feel free to do so.

Enjoy what looks like it is going to be a lovely sunny day, and many thanks for your lovely comments on the little frog I posted on Sunday (I still haven't stuck any pins in him yet!!!) .. .. .. if you google "pattern for bean bag frog" lots of patterns come up.  But as I said in my post, mine was stuffed with dried rice not dried beans or peas".

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope all is well with you all and you are enjoying your weekend.

The other day (whilst continuing to get my craft pod more organised) I came across a sewing pattern tucked inside a notebook. 

I decided to have a play with it for taking over to The Snippets Playground  and this is what I made:

and this is what I used:

Fabric snippets left over from some wedding work I did years ago (some couples liked little string drawn gift bags filled with treats and a name tag attached)  -  using two different fabrics means you can choose which pattern you want uppermost
A very old and well used pattern
Beads for the eyes
Rice for filling 
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Years ago I used to do craft fayres, and hubby and our two son's would sometimes come along too.

So the lads didn't get bored, between us we would make things for them to sell too (and they got to keep their takings).  Often it would be sweets, or cakes that I had made with their help, but one time we made loads of these little frogs and they would be sitting up or draped across little props.  

One visitor to their stall said they would be great for juggling with and he stood juggling with them for a little while .. .. .. suddenly people didn't want to buy one, they wanted to buy three .. .. .. and then before long all of the stock had gone!!!  The lads were well pleased and of course sped off to see what they could spend their takings on.  Happy days .. .. .. so very long ago now but remembered like it was yesterday.

But the frog I have made here is going to be used as a pin cushion .. .. .. if I can bring myself to stick pins in it!!  LOL!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend .. .. .. and the week ahead.

CHRISTMAS CARD NUMBER 2

Hi Everyone

Sorry about the break .. .. but I am back again now .. .. hyperactive, with itchy fingers and full of too many bright ideas I want to put to good use.  I could just do with a few more hours in my days, and days in my week .. .. .. which I guess we could all do with.  

I may not have been able to physically craft these last few days but it doesn't stop my brain planning and designing.

Anyway, Christmas card number two is now under my belt .. .. .. 

This used:

Snowflake die:  A very old and favourite Cuttlebug die.
Sentiment:  LOTV tag stamp (but also available as a download via Etsy))
Hot Fix Nail Head
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and of course lots of very small snippets (as long as I can cut a 4.2 x 6.4cm rectangle from any leftovers they go into a little box where they all stand on end like soldiers and eventually get cut in half diagonally. I really love the mix and matching of the patterns and colours and get a little sewing fix into the bargain.  

So Christmas card number two is making its way over to the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the theme is "Snow Day".

Enjoy your day everyone, and the weekend that is following close behind.

BEE HAPPY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a lovely day .. .. .. the sunshine made an appearance in my home town so it was  washing on the line today!!  Yay!!  I love the smell of outdoor dried washing.  (Yes, I am very easy to please and keep happy) LOL!! 

Many thanks for your comments and emails on my post of yesterday where I was querying if anyone else was having problems with their "reading list" when using blogger.  It seems it is a problem for everyone and not just me.  

When things go wrong I always wonder if it is something I have accidentally done to my settings somewhere .. .. .. but thankfully this time it is nothing to do with me.

Today I have a cheerful little share which uses just one image from a set of 24 which I purchased via Etsy.  So expect more bee cards going forward.  

So this is my first play:

This used:

Image:  Whimsical Bee Clipart Bundle - NesaDesignCo
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers:  Bee-lightful Collection - Nitwits 

Cotton Ribbon snippet

Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I also added a bit of Glamour Dust to the bee's wings, but it isn't showing up too well in my photograph.

So that is me for today.  I will hopefully catch you again soon.

TEENY TINY WEDNESDAY

Hi Everyone

Well I am beginning to think that Mr Blogger is suffering from heat stroke .. .. .. that or I have messed up my blog somewhere along the line .. .. .. as my reading list has gone "all to pot".  

Is it just me or is anyone else having problems?

Anyway I am posting this on Wednesday afternoon around four o'clock .. .. and have started to "follow myself" to see how long it takes to appear on my reading list.

It is just a teeny tiny make measuring a whole 9.5cm square.

This used:

Part of a square frame die that cuts the frame and the in-fill squares (unbranded) it is really bigger than you see here I cut it to be 2 by 2 squares

Flower die - also unbranded

Julie Hickey Sentiment Dies -  Sentiment Medley #6

ProMarkers
Hot Fix Nail Heads
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder:  Roses
Snippets of card and paper

My Trusty Sewing Machine
WeRMemory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

Quite a list for such a small little make.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

CREATE YOUR OWN BACKGROUND

Hi Everyone

Hope your week is off to a good start.

I am playing along with the Little Red Wagon Challenge again where the theme for this week has been "Create Your Own Background".  I have to admit that this isn't something I have done very often unlike some blog pals who "always make their own backgrounds" and never use design papers.

But I actually enjoyed it once I got started and liked my finished background so much that I didn't actually want to cover it up LOL!!!

This is my finished offering:

This used:

ScrapBerry's Stencil - Stencil Petals
Distress Oxides:  Peeled Paint, Iced Spruce, Spiced Marmalade
Permanent Fineliner Pen
Memory Box Dies:  "98261" Kaleidoscope Butterfly and "98262" Moonlight Butterfly
Julie Hickey:  JHD-CUT-1003 - Layers, Frames & Banners Rectangle Die Set
Julie Hickey:  DS-HE-1063 - Hazel's Sentiment Medley Die Set
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

So that is me for today, I will hopefully catch you again soon.

FLOATING DREAMS

Hi Everyone

I hope that you have all had a really good weekend.  

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, we reached the last day of May .. ..  so yet another month was done and dusted.

Lots and lots of cards are needed here .. .. so hopefully June (as in the month not a person) will be kind to me and be a hyperactive crafting month so I can get ahead of the game again. 

Some of my weekend was spent in my craft pod and this ranked as one of my favourite makes (just love this cute image and it is great for the pesky male cards that we all struggle with).

This used:

Image Penny Black "1645K" Floating Dreams

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

More of those snippets which just love lurking in my craft pod 

ProMarkers

Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am trying really hard to use up my snippets .. .. the only problem being I cut an existing snippet to the size I want and nine times out of ten I am still left with another snippet (sometimes two).  So the snippets are simply getting smaller in size .. .. .. .. but the quantity never seems any less!  LOL!!!

Let us hope that there is a good week ahead for all of us.

SPECIAL WISHES

Hi Everyone

Well, I am starting to get a bit excited as I seem to be getting into a nice new routine crafting wise, and my craft pod is getting more organised in the process, which can only be a good thing.  

Hopefully soon I will say "that is it" and stop re-jigging things .. .. .. and perhaps then I might give myself a half decent chance of remembering where I have actually stored everything LOL!!!

So today it was time for Rectangular Sketch Two and this is what I came up with:

This used:

Flower die coloured with ProMarkers (unbranded)
Sentiment LOTV Digital Download "Simply Cute Sentiments"
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat (sadly no longer trading)
Circle Die
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and Rectangular Sketch Two from my little sketch library which you will find at the top of my blog. 

I hope you managed to find a bit of crafting time too.

CHRISTMAS 2026 STARTS HERE

Hi Everyone

I hope you have enjoyed another bright sunny day.

Lots of hot sunshine here .. .. .. so what better than cooling down by making a Christmas card with thoughts of the cold winter weather LOL!!!

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Woodware Clear Magic "FRS119" - Little Christmas Bird
Backing Papers:  All from my Christmas Snippet Box (yes, my Christmas snippets are segregated from the standard pattern snippets which makes life much easier - but the box is much much smaller LOL!!
Gold Metallic Card
Corner Rounding Punch
ProMarkers
Ribbon
Glamour Dust:  Gold/Or
White Marker Pen
My Trusty Sewing Machine

So that is it .. .. .. my first Christmas card of the year.  I really enjoyed all the paper piecing.

Taking this over now to the Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the theme is "Christmas Tweetings".

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Love and hugs

FRIEND TO FRIEND

Hi Everyone

I hope you haven't melted in the heat today .. .. it has definitely been super hot in my neck of the woods  and has finished off with thunder and lightening and rain this evening.

Today's share is for taking over to the Little Red Wagon Challenge where the theme is "Friend of Mine"

Flying by the seat of my pants because the closing time is only a few hours away .. .. .. but after so much absence I am trying to catch up with all the challenges I have missed taking part in.

So this is my share for today

Image:  Magenta - Deco Vase "19746  (very old wooden stamp)
Sentiment:  Great Impressions "E411"  (another very old wooden stamp)
Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper .. .. Rose Garden (another old pad I am finishing off)
ProMarkers
Corner Rounding Punch
Hot Fix Nail Heads
Ribbon

Spoiler Alert .. .. hopefully tomorrow is going to be my first Christmas card for 2026.

BANK HOLIDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope everyone has had a lovely bank holiday weekend.  There has certainly been lots of sunshine in my neck of the woods .. .. not that I am someone who ever wants to sit out in it .. .. I just love that it dries my washing nice and quickly, means I don't need any heating on and I don't need to wear a coat if I do venture out! LOL!!  

I am determined to work my way through my sketches and today it is time for square sketch number two, which I must admit does rank high on my "favourites list" and is one I use quite regularly.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "3347H" Duckling
Sentiment:  Clearly Besotted Clear Stamp Set "Speaking Out"

Backing Papers:  All Pink Petticoat Snippets 
ProMarkers
Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and Square Sketch Number Two from my square sketch library which you will find at the top of my blog.  Feel free to use any of them if they tickle your fancy.

I am off now to share my creation with my pals in the Snippets Playground  where we are encouraged to make use of our offcuts/leftovers from previous creations.  

There was even talk of the paddling pool being dragged out of storage today but I might be a bit late to enjoy that now.   It is just a shame we aren't allowed to have a slide from the tree house that would whoosh us into the pool .. .. now that would be fun!  But never mind .. .. we can't have everything can we.  Rules if rules where health and safety are concerned I suppose, and anyway we wouldn't want to land on Dudley if he decides to take a "cooling off" dip too.

Hopefully catch you again soon.  

TEENY TINY FRIDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good week and you are all lined up for a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, which apparently is predicted to be a scorcher .. .. .. we will have to wait and see.

Just popping in quickly with one of my Teeny Tiny Creations which measure a whole 9cm square!

This used:

Flower Die:  First Edition Flower Dies
Sentiment Die:  Unbranded from internet
Snippets of card and paper
WeRMemory Keepers:  Envelope Punch Board
Embossing Folder "Petals-a-Plenty" (sorry I don't know the maker)
My Trusty Sewing Machine

It has been quite a while since my embossing folder box has been opened.  Must make amends there.

So there we go .. .. a teeny tiny card ahead of a lovely big long weekend (which will no doubt fly by in the blink of an eye).

Enjoy it whatever you are doing.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Hi Playmates

I hope that you are all doing well and your week has got off to a good start for you.

I am on a mission to use up my old paper packs/pads that are taking up valuable space in my craft pod .. .. .. some of which only have a few pages left.  

My share today uses just one sheet from a very old paper pack and rectangular sketch one from my sketch library:

This used:

Backing Paper:  Papermania "Capsule Collection - Parisienne Blue"
Sentiment:  Unmounted Stamp Company "BD-FR-01 Word Frame" Circadesign.co.uk (very,very old)
Memory Box Dies:  "98261" Kaleidoscope Butterfly and "98262" Moonlight Butterfly
First Edition Craft "Nesting Stamp Dies"
Sizzix Thinlets Flower Dies - Tattered Florals:  661806
Ribbon
Hot fix Nailheads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and Sketch One from my rectangular sketch library

So lots of old stash gathered together and used for this little creation and I think I have fallen in love with navy and gold as a colour combo.

ONE FOR THREE

Hi Playmates

A little bit of craft time has worked its way into my life this weekend (woo hoo!) and with so many cards needed I decided the best way to make use of my time was to simply start working my way through the sketches in my libraries.  They certainly save me making decisions as I know exactly where I am going before I even start.

So I am beginning with the very first square sketch I designed .. .. .. ..way back in July 2015, and this is how I have used it

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "Scented Garden - 4133J"
Sentiment:  Penny Black "Loads of Love - 30-146"
Backing Papers:  All snippets of various Pink Petticoat design papers (sadly no longer trading)
Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped Circle dies
ProMarkers
Woodware Heart Punch
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and Sketch Number1 from my Square Sketch Library which is on the tab at the top of my blog 

and here are the snippets I started off with

but the eagled eyed amongst you 

.. .. .. and so as not to get into trouble with the playground snippet inspection committee .. .. ..  

I will confess here and now that the blue dotted paper got substituted for a snippet of blue striped paper because my card was starting to look a bit "too dotty".

So three challenges for my little creation:

The Snippets Playground - where we are encouraged to use up any leftovers we have lying around .. .. and they don't have to be just paper/card.

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge - where you get to show off your Penny Black goodies.  

This month it is their usual "anything Penny Black" or the option of "your favourite Penny Black stamp".   

This stamp is "one of my many favourites" mainly because it is quick and fun to colour and secondly it works for males as well as females depending on the backing papers.

and last but certainly not least

The As You Like it Challenge - who would like to see your favourite sketch/layout put to good use.

This sketch isn't my favourite as in "which of my sketches I love to use the most" .. .. .. but it is my favourite in that it was the first one I ever created many, many years ago and has led me to so far create 57 square sketches and 26 rectangular ones.  I have loads more scribbled in a little notebook waiting to be transferred into a computer drawn version .. .. .. but the design programmes keep being replaced.  

I first started out using a Serif Programme and that was replaced by Affinity Designer which I was starting to get my head around, but that has now been replaced by Affinity by Canva.  My poor little brain has another new learning curve .. .. .. but hopefully I will enjoy the journey.

In the meantime enjoy the rest of your weekend and as already mentioned please feel free to use any of my sketches if you think they will help you.

SLOWLY COMING BACK

Hi Everyone

As you have probably guessed there haven't been many opportunities for me to escape into my little craft room recently .. .. .. a certain special someone has been keeping me very busy for quite a long time now .. .. .. and she still is bless her.  If I am not physically with her then it comes in the form of oodles of paperwork, combined with lots of worrying and phone calls .. .. .. and hoping I haven’t missed anything or let her down in some way.  My brain just never seems to shut off from all that is going on with her.

Mum has needed to be transferred to another nursing home which is thankfully closer to all three of us kids, so our travelling time has been greatly reduced which means we have more time to physically spend with Mum rather than driving.  It is a lovely home where nothing seems too much trouble and the staff are all super smiley and friendly .. .. .. .. despite the challenging occupants.  There must be a super special mould that is used to make amazing people like these because not just anyone could do what they do day after day, week after week.

I have certainly been missing my crafting big time though over these last few months as have my customers and stock box .. .. but hopefully now that most of the paperwork and changes of address have been done (yet again) .. .. a little crafting time is going to wheedle  its way slowly back into my life. Even if it is only the odd half hour or so here and there.  I love my little escape place where all the worries of my world get to disappear, for a little while.  

There are always a few crafty bits in my bag when visiting Mum .. .. .. so if it is one of her “hard on asleep and completely out of it” days (which most of them unfortunately are nowadays) I sit and do a bit of colouring, fussy cutting or die cutting with my tiny little Sizzix Sidekick.  But I like to think that she knows I am with her and that she has heard my voice .. .. .. even if she hasn’t responded. 

But this does mean I am building up quite a nice little collection of bits and pieces ready for turning into cards when time is being kind to me .. .. and my card today makes use of "just a few" of those little die  cuts. 

This used:

First Edition Craft "Cog Dies"  (very old now but still well loved)  -  still lots of diecuts left too
Slatted stencil and Pumice Stone Distress Ink
Sentiment:  A very old wooden Papermania favourite that doesn't have a name :-(
Corner Rounding Punch
Hot Fix Nailheads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am running over to the Snippets Playground (if I can remember the way after all of this time) as everything I have used made use of snippets, apart from the card base.  Even the backing paper started life as a huge 12 x 12 piece of design paper once upon a time.

So now I have made my comeback I will see if I can remember how to link up LOL!!!

I hope all is well with everyone and your lives are running more smoothly than mine.

Take care and have a good day.