AND IT IS FRIDAY .. .. .. AGAIN!

Hi Everyone

Yes, in the blink of an eye we are back round to Friday again and another weekend will soon be with us!

They seem to come around so very quickly, but to be fair I have crammed a lot into this week, so I can't really complain.  As we all know only too well, the more we do the quicker time disappears.  

My creation today is for sharing with two challenges:

The "As You Like It Challenge" where they would like to know what your favourite colouring medium is.

This is super easy because it has to be my ProMarkers (not that I have ever tried any other kind of permanent marker).  I love the variety of colours, the way they blend and the fact that they have a fat and a thin end to them.   I do have some very fine nibs to attach to them too but for some reason they don't fit every pen, which I find a bit strange.  I wonder if the casing has altered over the years.

and also

The "Penny Black Saturday Challenge" where the theme is "things with wings" or "anything goes" provided your creation showcases Penny Black Goodies.   No wings on my creation so it is "anything goes for me this time".

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "Rosy!" 3344J
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "Gratitude" 30-105"
ProMarkers
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat (no longer trading)
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today .. .. quite an early post for me.

Have a good one everyone.  I feels a little bit cooler here today .. .. fingers crossed it stays that way.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Hope your day is going well.

Just whizzing along with a teeny tiny creation I made this morning.   

For anyone new to my blog my teeny tiny creations measure a whole 9cm square.

I am now a few weeks into my "no buying any new design pads", and I haven't fallen off the wagon "yet" .. .. .. despite having seen quite a few I would have loved to have added to my collection .. .. ..  so I am not doing too badly.

But I have made a digital design paper purchase (which is allowed).

I was asked for an Art Deco style card by a customer and there was nothing paper wise in my collection that was going to fit the bill .. .. .. but I did find the most gorgeous digital papers on line and I have totally fallen in love with them.  They print so beautifully and the colours are super scrummy.

This used:

Digital design paper collection from "Digiform Studios" via Etsy called 3D Art Deco 
The background was simply a black polkadot download from Pink Petticoat printed onto thin turquoise card (sadly Pink Petticoat is no longer trading)
Memory Box Dies: "98261" Kaleidoscope Butterfly and "98262" Moonlight Butterfly
Ribbon
Glitter Card
Flat Backed Pearls
My Trusty Sewing Machine
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Score Board
Embossing Folder (which I think was a magazine freebie many, many years ago).

I am sharing this with the "Little Red Wagon Challenge" where the theme this week has been to include an envelope either alongside a card or as part of a card.  Still a few hours left if you fancy playing along.

This obviously isn't the card I made for my customer, I am simply using up some of the snippets I was left with. 

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend.  

Still no rain here to report . . . . but we really do need some.

My creation today started out as just a quick play to see if an idea would work for me and by the time I had finished I was quite pleased with the finished result.  

Perhaps a little tweaking needed but nearly there.

I used an idea I had played with on a previous post here and finished up with this:

This used:

Just bits bits of paper and card that were still sitting on my desk from my previous post  
Unbranded triangle and star die 
Ribbons from "the ribbon offcut box" 
Sentiment:  Kaisercraft "North Pole"
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am going to take this over to the snippets playground as everything on this card is a snippet of one kind or another but sadly no "before" picture as I wasn't expecting to end up with a finished project.

Enjoy your sparkly new week.

CUPCAKES FOR CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

Hope your day has been a good one.

Mine has been a rare one at home so I have been getting on top of the dreaded household chores and have also been trying to make more headway with Christmas designs for this year, and today this was my favourite .. .. .. . 

This used:

Image:  Another gorgeous download from NesaDesignCo - Christmas Cupcake (the only difficult part was deciding which of the 12 cupcake images I wanted to use as I love them  all !!!!
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat - sadly no longer trading
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
Glossy Accents and Crystal Glamour Dust .. .. which as usual the camera never picks up
My Trusty Sewing

and that is me for today.

Still a few more chores to do but hopefully I will get chance for a bit of blog hopping later to see what everyone has been up to.

ONE THING!

Hi Everyone

Lots cracking off as usual here in the home of hearts but today I got chance for a little crafty play for taking to The Little Red Wagon Challenge where they would like to see “one thing”.

My share has lots of ‘ones’ really, but I am happy to just focus on ‘one heart’ as per usual. .. which I am sure everyone will find very easily 😊

This used:

Lots of snippets that I created when playing in the Snippets Playground Challenge .. .. .. so yes, for those of you who wondered .. .. .. .. I was sad enough to keep the leftover snippets LOL!  and also created a few more in the process too so more to use on another little make

Papers:  KaiserCraft Frosted Design Papers - plus other random snippets
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Sizzix Thinlits Die "Moroccan Card Front"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
KaiserCraft Embossing Folder:  Stained Glass

Hopefully catch you again soon.

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Hope your weekend is going well.

Here with my homework for taking over to the Snippets Playground where we are encouraged to use up some of those mountains of snippets we all squirrel away.

Following on from my last post .. .. the design pad I am currently emptying has had another hammering, and this time I used up the "part used" pages that were stored in the back.  In fact there are probably only a couple of full pages left now.

So I used a Sizzix die to cut the background from a scrap of white card and then lots of the infill shapes from various scraps in the pad, along with a toning metallic snippet.

I ended up with this:

This used:

Image and die Set:  MFT Polar Bear Pals
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set 30-316 - Season's Gifts
KaiserCraft Frosted Design Papers
ProMarkers
Sizzix Thinlits Die "Moroccan Card Front"
My Trusty Sewing Machine

But now look what I am left with .. .. ..  yet another box of useful bits for future cards LOL!!

Enjoy your Sunday!  Hope you manage a bit of crafty time.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Hi Everyone

Many thanks for your comments on my previous post.  Very much appreciated.

Today I am playing along with the Little Red Wagon Challenge who want to see Christmas in July .. .. and as the more Christmas makes I can get under my belt the better .. .. .. .. I came up with this:

This used:

Image:  Winter Teddy Bear Clipart Bundle from NesaDesignCo .. via Etsy (just one of 23 cute images in the set so plenty of Christmas options to play with there)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine 
and the next Design Pad I am going to completely empty after it lurking in my Christmas Paper Pad collection for a very long time   .. .. .. 

Although the collection is called "Frosted" not all of the pages and bits and pieces I have left are necessarily Christmas /Winter related so I am not totally limited as to what I can do with it.

Catch you again soon .. .. hopefully.

SEASON'S TWEETINGS

Hi Everyone

Apologies for the absence (again) .. .. .. it has been a manic time here in the home of hearts.  All centred around Mum which has involved days of paperwork alongside visits to see if she is hopefully awake and will eat or drink for us (the biggest treat of all being if she will chat, which just occasionally happens - not that she always knows who I am).  She once asked me what country I am from, and I said I have always lived here in England.  She expressed surprise that I hadn't been evacuated  to which I said "I was lucky, I was just old enough to be allowed to stay".  She was pleased for me 😊  

I could write a book on the things she has said over the years.  But we agreed when all this began that we as a family live in Mum's world, we don't ever let her think she is wrong with the things she says.

 

Anything involving paperwork is always a real challenge because Mum has been for many, many years a serial shredder .. .. .. despite us setting up files for her to put them in and telling her we will need the information later.  We eventually deliberately blocked the shredder so she couldn't use it any more and I slowly started to bring any paperwork I could get my hands on home with me .. .. .. but of course that didn't stop her ripping things up. 

Then to add to the fun the latest Windows Up-date has caused problem with my computer .. .. .. .. sometimes it opens in "bios mode" and other times it behaves itself.

Why can't life just be straightforward?  All I want to do is go to visit Mum and then come home and sit and make cards!!!  Surely that isn't too much to ask is it?

Anyway today the computer wants to play so I am making hay while the sun shines and sharing a Teeny Tiny Christmas card which measures a whole 9cm square.

This used:

Image:  Just Rite Clear Stamp Set "CR-05030" Doodled Birds  (love this set - it is years old)
Trees:  Cardio "Mini Tall Trees"
Sentiments:  Clearly Besotted "Rockin' Robin"
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat (sadly no longer trading) and snippets for the paper piecing
Dovecraft snowflake embossing folder.

WeRMemory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

My Trusty Sewing Machine
and a couple of ProMarkers

Hope your days have been calmer than mine.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Hi Playmates

Hope you are all enjoying your day.

I have had a bit of playtime in the craft pod today, alongside numerous trips to and from the washing line!  My craft time being more enjoyable because I have ended up with a finished card .. .. whereas my trips to the washing line have now culminated in a pile of ironing (which won't be done today!).

So this is my finished card .. .. 

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1657K" Ode to Joy

Sentiment:  Clearly Besotted "CBSM1012" Mini Calligraphy

Backing Paper:  Nitwits "Melodious"

ProMarkers

Ribbon

Corner Rounding Punch

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am taking this to two challenges:

The Little Red Wagon Challenge where the theme is "Piano Man" (anything music related)

and

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is "Moving" (transport) or anything goes as long as it uses Penny Black Goodies.  I am covered with the "anything goes" option.

My post title was "Time to Celebrate" .. ..  I wonder if we will be celebrating after the football tonight?

MAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS

Hi Playmates

Happy Friday everyone.

I hope your week has been a good one .. .. .. and you are all looking forward to that weekend which is just peeping around the corner.

Sharing a card today using a digital image from an Etsy store that is fast becoming a firm favourite here in the house of hearts.. .. .. so many gorgeous images and this is just one of quite a few that I have fallen in love with .. .. .. and an image that would work for lots of different types of cards, not just birthdays:

This used:
Image -Pastel Floral Vase Clipart - Whimsical Flower Bouquet Bundle (Digital Download) - NesaDesignCo

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

Backing Paper:  From snippet mountain.  I know it was from a download a long while ago and now I need to find out where .. .. ..  because I want to use it again!
Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon

Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

According to Copilot the title of my post today means : 

"slow down, pause, and intentionally enjoy the small, beautiful moments in life — rather than rushing through them in pursuit of goals or tasks"

Something we should all do .. .. .. but definitely me!!!  I am far too hyper for my own good!

WALL TO WALL SUNSHINE

Hi Everyone

I hope you are having a good week and haven't melted in the heat!

Whenever the sun shines my brain always goes into yellow mode which is a colour I don't really use very often as a dominant colour.

This used:

Image:  LOTV Digital "You are My Sunshine" via Etsy
Sentiment:  LOTV Digital "Everythings Better Sentiments" via Etsy
ProMarkers
Design Papers from the Snippet Box
Floral Cotton Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Will hopefully catch you again soon .. .. keep slapping on that suncream!

TEENY, TINY TUESDAY FOR THE SNIPPETS PLAYGROUND

Hi Everyone

I hope your week is going well.

Today I have a teeny tiny creation for taking over to The Snippet Playground Challenge which is where we are encouraged to use up our leftovers from previous projects .. .. .. and if you are anything like me you have masses of these squirrelled away in various forms .. .. .. design papers, various types of card, acetate, vellum, ribbon, fabric, lace, twine  .. .. ..   oh the list is endless .. .. .. culminating in soooo many snippets LOL!!! 

Anyway, this little creation uses up just a few of my many snippets  .. .. ..

This used:

Design paper for the card and envelope:  Pink Petticoat
Snippet of Glitter Card
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamps "Sentiment Collection" 30-350
Teeny Tiny Butterfly:Flutters 2 Inkylicious 4110
ProMarkers
A solitary little gem for the butterfly's body
Die Cut Frame: Unbranded
WeRMemory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
Embossing Folder for the envelope flap
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and these were my snippets

Unfortunately Miss Di is out of commission in the playground at the moment, so Sarn and Dudley are in charge.  Hope you recover nice and quickly Di.  I am sure we will all "try" and behave ourselves in your absence.

HEART OF HEARTS

Hi Everyone

Just nipping in quickly with an anniversary card to share .. .. one which uses what has probably been the most used die in my collection.  Surprise, surprise!

It is useful and loved for so many reasons.  Once I thought I had lost it and it felt like the end of the world LOL!!  Luckily I only had about 20 minutes of torture before I found it again and now it has its own special place to live (inside a tin with a mass of die cut and punched hearts) .. .. .. I dread to think what a huge mess it would make if I was ever to drop it!!! 

This is what I love doing best with it . . . . . a bit like a fun jig-saw and it uses up lots of snippets in the process.

This used:

Heart of Heart Die - Impression Obsessions
Julie Hickey - Layers, Frames & Banner Rectangle Die Set
Sentiment - MamaElephant "Bountiful Blessings"
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Lots of snippets .. .. .. some of which are lovely black flocked ones

So that is me for today.

Enjoy your weekend everyone - I hope you manage to find a bit of crafty time to enjoy.

LUCKY DIP

Hi Playmates

It was lucky dip into the design pads today and out came a very, very old purchase from quite a few years ago.

I used it to make the following, but I am not sure now whether it is a card or something I would like to put into a box frame .. .. .. hence there being no sentiment on view

This used:

Papers:  Papermania Capsule Collection (Midnight Blush)

Heart Die:  BlueLans Cutting Die via Amazon

Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies

Memory Box Dies:  "98261" Kaleidoscope Butterfly and "98262" Moonlight Butterfly 
Ribbon
Hot Fix Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and  .. .. .. ..

Sketch No.3 from my square sketch library which you will find at the top of my blog.  (Feel free to use any of them if you would like to).

I have a feeling that I may have the same design pad in different colours .. .. might be good to mix and match them .. .. we will see.

Hope everyone has had a good day  -  it has been a bit cooler here today.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my previous post - pleased I was able to help 😊.

I have now managed to totally finish my second paper pad, which to be honest didn't have too many papers left anyway.  It is another one with leftovers from a magazine commission, with lovely bright colours.

There was the pad cover and backing and just partial pages left so I am surprised the remains hadn't made their way into the snippet box years ago.  I keep my smaller pads in zippy freezer bags to keep everything together - I wonder how many more are just going to be bags of snippets!!  LOL!!!

So yesterday I began by making a trio of one of my favourite cards for using up small bits.

and all the remaining bits were cut into strips and added to my strip tin.  I use both my strip dies to cut them, and my guillotine if I want a few thicker strips.

Then this morning a selection of the strips were then used to create today's teeny tiny creation which is 9cm square.

All cards in this post were made using:

Design Paper Pad:  KaiserCraft - Butterfly Kisses
Sentiments:  LOTV Digital Block Sentiment Set and Hobby Art Ltd CS013D Floral Greeting
Spellbinder Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies
Creative Expressions "UMS633" Shaded Peony and corresponding die set "CED1432"
Small flower punch
ProMarkers
WeRMemory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
Crystal Glamour Dust and a little gem for the centre of the small distressed punched flower
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am definitely not going to be able to use up every single paper pad I own on it's first outing to my craft desk, but it would be nice to come across more that just have a few dribs and drabs left to use.

A little cooler here today so a bit more pleasant and fresh.

Enjoy your day!