SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a lovely Sunday .. .. .. beautiful weather here again .. .. though the lawns aren't looking very happy.  

Well I dared to "press the button" and have done today's post using the new blogger up-grade.  All went OK, so it is just going to be a case of getting used to where everything is again.  Hopefully that won't take too long.

Anyway, here is my last Christmas card for May .. .. ..

This used:

Sentiment:  Computer generated and sitting waiting to be used in my Christmas snippets box

Backing Papers:  Also from my Christmas snippets box

Origami Christmas tree (tutorial link below)

Spellbinder Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies

Pearls

My Trusty Sewing Machine

So my Christmas quota has been met for May .. .. and I will be taking this little creation over to Pixie's Snippets Playground as all the card and paper, apart from the base card, came from my Christmas snippet box .

The little tree has been made from a triangle of brown paper .. .. I posted a tutorial on my blog here (over 9 years ago !!!) for anyone who would like to have a go at making one.  The thinner the paper you can use the easier you will find creating one.

So lock-down is being relaxed !!  It all feels a little rushed to me.  So many new cases each day but they still say the time is right.  All I know is I certainly won't be taking Mum out anytime soon .. .. .. even if they say I can.  

In fact all is super scary with Mum at the moment.  She lives in sheltered housing where there are about 30 residents, each with their own flat but sharing some parts of the building.  Yesterday I got a phone call from the warden to say that one of the residents has been admitted to hospital with COVID .. .. eeeekkk!!!.  So they are now in the process of a deep clean and are reminding the residents again of all the safety measures they should be following!  

Thankfully Mum isn't a very sociable bod.  She doesn't mix with the others but of course there is always the possibility of us kids picking something up and taking it into her either from the outside world or more worryingly by picking something up from the building she lives in.. .. .. so we are going to have to be "extra extra super careful".  I am just hoping all goes well with the poorly resident and that no-one else falls victim to it.

Anyway .. .. that is me for today.  I will catch you again soon and if all works and looks OK when I publish then I will be one happy bunny.

I have tried to do everything in this post so hopefully there are no more surprises anywhere. 

SMILE

Hi Everyone

More beautiful weather for us to enjoy today .. .. .. it is certainly making these days at home much more bearable don't you think.

Many thanks to all those who kindly left comments regarding the changes coming up for blogger.  I still haven't "pressed the button" yet .. .. but from what people are saying it shouldn't be too bad.  Just a case of getting used to finding the new places for all the things we are used to seeing.  

Perhaps tomorrow will be my "have look at it day" depending on how all the other jobs go.

But for now .. .. this is what today's little play session culminated in:

This used:

Image:  A magazine cover gift earlier this year (when the world was classed as "normal")

Sentiment:  LOTV Embossed Labels  (can you tell I am loving these)

Backing Papers:  First Edition Papers "Paper Flowers"

ProMarkers

Spellbinder Scalloped Circle and Circle Dies

Ribbon

Pearls

My Trust Sewing Machine

Catch you tomorrow with what will be my last Christmas card for May. 

HAS ANYONE BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH?

Hi Everyone

I hope you have enjoyed Friday.

It has been a really lovely sunny day here.

Sadly there has been no time to create anything for my blog today as it has been a day for mega printing duties and wedding work (quite a novelty after so many of the weddings on my books have been postponed until next year).

I notice that blogger is changing at the end of June and we are going to get a new default blogger interface (whatever that means LOL!!)  .. .. .. eeekkk!!!  I am never happy with change and have no idea what the changes will entail. 

Has anyone been brave enough to click on the "try new blogger" button yet?

Hopefully there will be some crafty play time for me somewhere tomorrow and who knows .. .. I might even be brave enough to press that "try new blogger button".

In the meantime have a good weekend when it arrives and now there is going to be more socialising on the lock-down front .. .. .. please continue to stay safe.  

The world seems a very scary place at the moment doesn't it?  It felt safer when we could do nothing .... .. .. but how nice to be able to meet with loved ones we have been separated from.

See you soon.

BE HAPPY

Hi Everyone

I hope you have all had a lovely Thursday.  It was beautiful and sunny here .. .. and with good news from Boris with regards the lockdown.  I am certain lots of us will definitely "be happy" at the thought of meeting up with our loved ones .. .. even if it does have to be in the open air.

Many thanks everyone for your lovely comments on my CAS card of yesterday.  You are all very kind and encouraging.  I think I will continue torturing myself a little more with this style before I "give in".  You never know, the style might become less painful as time goes on.

But today's little scrapling card in comparison has hardly any white at all .. .. LOL!!

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts "S5316" Silhouette Grass

Sentiment:  LOTV "Embossed Labels"

Memory Box Dies:  "Moonlight Butterfly and Kaleidoscope Butterfly"

Distress Inks:  Fossilized Amber, Tumbled Glass and Peeled Paint

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.  In and out quickly as it has been a pretty busy old day today.

PERFECTLY CAS

Hi Everyone

I hope have enjoyed another sunny day.

I am here today sharing a card I made for a challenge I stumbled across the other day called "Perfectly Cas".  The current challenge has a theme of "animals".

This style of card is something I admire greatly when I see other people's creations .. .. but when it comes to doing it myself I struggle "big time" to accept all the white space.

Even  my card today, now it is "supposedly" finished, isn't sitting comfortably with me .. .. .. just look at all that white space!!!  No patterned papers and no ribbon!  

But that is the idea of a challenge.  You challenge yourself to do something new and keep doing it until it becomes acceptable .. .. .. hopefully LOL!!!.  

Perhaps if I keep playing along I will work my way into the "comfort zone".

The challenge works on the rule of thirds .. .. .. but you will see that if you pop over and have a look for yourself .. .. .. and you will also see all the fabulous inspiration too.  

This used:

Image:  JMC Designs "Pippa"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Blackjack"
ProMarkers
Chalk (for those rosy cheeks)
X-Cut Palm Punch:  Small Daisy
Pearls
Glossy Accents
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today. 

I'll catch you again soon.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Well what a beautiful day of sunshine compared to the rubbish bank holiday weekend .. .. .. I hope it has been the same where you are.

Nipping in today with another "teeny tiny" card .. .. a whole 3.5 inches square for anyone new to my blog and it uses an old Stampin' Up set I bought "pre-loved".  The idea of the set is you build up your own scene using all the different elements .. .. .. giving you scope to create trees that represent any season.

As the cherry tree in the garden over the road from me is now in full bloom .. .. that is what I have gone for today.

This used:

Image:  Stampin' Up "Sheltering Tree"
Sentiment:  DigiStamp Boutique Clear Stamp (sadly no longer trading)
Memento Dew Drop Ink Pads:  Pistachio, Bamboo Leaves, Rich Cocoa, Angel Pink, Rose Bud & Lady Bug
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and that is it !!

Who would have though such a small piece of card would need such a big list of ingredients LOL!!

I have my eyes on a new challenge for tomorrow (well new to me) so hopefully I will get chance to play along with that.

RUDOLPH DAY CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good bank holiday Monday.

As it is the 25th of the month it is time for another Rudolph Day Challenge which is a great place for encouraging us to get ahead with our Christmas makes.

This is my card for May:

This used:

Image:  Forever Friends FFS 9061902 G Stamp (no cute name for a cute stamp .. .. shame!!)
Sentiment:  Crafter's Companion Stamp and Die Set "Festive Wishes"
Backing Papers:  All from the snippet collection
ProMarkers
Circle Dies
Cut and Make - Mini Christmas Dies
Dekro Mount Snowflake covered with Crystal Glamour Dust
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today - and just one more Christmas card to make to complete my five for May.

Catch you again soon.

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope your Sunday has been enjoyable.  

The day was a bit rubbish here weather wise at the start of the day, but by late afternoon the sun actually made an appearance.

Today it was time for using up more snippets.  But rather than using a mish-mash of papers I grabbed a paper pad and used the snippets that were tucked in the back .. .. then I picked one of my sketches and made this:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2178J" Hello Present

Sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique clear stamp set (sadly they are no longer trading)

Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper "Sweet Nothings"
Ribbon
ProMarkers
Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and Sketch number forty four from my sketch library .. .. but I decided not to add the ribbon bow .. .. it just didn't look right with there being a bow on the image already.

I am slowly working my way through using all of the new ones I added a few weeks ago.

If anyone would like to use any of my sketches then please feel free to do so.  You can see them all on the tab at the top of my blog.

Provided all goes to plan I'll catch you again tomorrow, but in the meantime stay safe and have a good bank holiday Monday. 

I hope you manage to find some crafty time to enjoy at some stage.

CHRISTMAS KICKSTART CHALLENGE

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all keeping well and finding things to keep you occupied whilst at home.  I certainly haven't run out of jobs and crafty goodies to keep me amused.

I would be more than happy to spend much more time like this .. .. especially if it means all this loss of life would stop.  I really can't get my head around the numbers anymore.  

Certainly the weather here will have helped with the lock-down scenario we are under at the moment here in the UK.   It has been super windy, interspersed with rain and very minimal sunny spells.  So a typical English bank holiday weekend I guess LOL!!

Anyway, after having my Christmas goodies out yesterday I decided to tackle Christmas card number 3 for May and this is my offering:

This used:

Image:  Card-io Clear Stamp Set:  Oriental Blossom (the branch in the set is repeat stamped to create a wreath)
Sentiment:  LOTV:  Digital Christmas Sentiment Tags
Backing Paper:  My Lovely Studio "Gingham"
Nail Heads
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

This is for taking over to Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge where this month's theme is "wreathed in Christmas smiles" .. .. as in show a wreath on your creation.

There is still time to play along if you are in the mood for Christmas creations.

Catch you again tomorrow .. .. if all goes to plan.

FRIDAY'S FUN

Hi Everyone

Well what a difference in the weather!

No chance of breakfast outside today that's for sure .. .. .. everything would have blown away before it was anywhere near our mouths.

Quite a productive day here with some good things crossed off the list .. .. .. but as May is disappearing at a fast rate of knots I decided I had better get a move on with my Christmas makes for this month.  I have set myself a goal of five a month and only made one so far!  Eeekkk!!

So here is May's Christmas card number 2:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1516K" Jolly Xmas Kitty

Sentiment:  Hobby Art Clear "CS144D" Christmas Frosting

Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper:  Vintage Noel

ProMarkers

Crystal Glamour Dust

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am entering this into two challenges:

Fezziwigs Festive Frolic's Challenge where this fortnight Hazel would like to see cats and/or dogs on your festive makes.

and

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is always "anything goes" but with an optional theme this month of "inspired by a song".   My song is "Cool for Cats" by Squeeze.

.... .. .. and that is me for today.  Second Christmas card for May complete .. .. three to go!!

Hopefully catch you again tomorrow.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Hi Everyone

I hope your Thursday has been a good and productive one.

My day started by opening up the greenhouse and watering all the crops that are now getting nicely established.  I then suggested to Mr Heart that we have breakfast outside .. .. .. which we did, and I enjoyed it very much.  

It was the first time I have sat in the garden this year .. .. what a waste of all the lovely sunshine we have been having.

Weddings are starting to make an appearance in the House of Hearts again with signed off proofs being returned by brides who are now wanting me to go ahead and make their stationery.  So things are hotting up on more that just the weather front!

So with my head full of weddings this is what I have created to share today:

This used:

Image:  LOTV "Bunnies Swing"

Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Ink Free"

Backing Papers:  From the snippet mountain which I am determined to reduce drastically

ProMarkers

Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon

Crystal Glamour Dust

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

Many thanks to everyone who has been leaving comments and emailing regarding the sewing I do on my cards.  You are all very kind.  Unfortunately for those who would like me to do a YouTube video .. .. I am sorry but I wouldn't have the foggiest idea how to do that.  

But I will try to do something on my blog sometime that shows the process in photographs along with instructions.  But it won't be something I can do in the very near future I'm afraid. 

TEENY TINY .. .. WEDNESDAY?

Hi Everyone

Just calling in super duper fast with a card I was supposed to have posted yesterday .. .. but time got the better of me and it just didn't happen .. .. and today hasn't been much better.  It is very "full on" here at the moment with lots and lots of juggling of jobs happening.  At least I am being kept out of mischief!

So I have taken just one quick picture and here it is .. .. .. a tiny 3.5 inches square

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2082E" Dressed Up
Sentiment:  LOTV "Male Simple Labels"
Snippets of card and paper from the ever increasing mountain
ProMarkers
Glossy Accents
Nail Heads
Circle Die
My Trusty Sewing machine

and that is me for today.

Hope you are all doing OK?

THE NEW MR & MRS

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has got off to a good start.

We have been promised some lovely weather for the next few days so I am looking forward to that.

Today I used an image that hasn't been tickled with my pens for quite a while .. .. in readiness for when those "happy couples" are once again allowed to get married.

This used:

Image:  LOTV Digital Image "Wedding Couple"

Sentiment:  Computer Generated

Backing Papers:  First Edition Paper "Bella Rose"

ProMarkers

Ribbon

Diamond Stickles

My Trusty Sewing Machine

One of my current "happy couples" should have been married  last weekend.  I was thinking about them lots.  I bet they spent the whole day saying "we should be doing such and such now".  Bless them.  But their special day will come around again .. .. next year .. .. when hopefully things will have settled down.

So that is me for today.  

Hopefully I will catch you again tomorrow.

SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have enjoyed your weekend.

Mine has been a busy crafty one but I had time to pull in a quick card using just a few of my never ending snippets.

This used:

Sizzix Die Set "Wildflower Stems 2"
Sentiment:  Lili of the Valley
A mixture of Embossing Powders
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Snippets
Sparkly Dome Stickers

This card is a bit of a strange size .. .. a bit like a short fat scrapling card.  But as I have lots of white card to use up any size is good.

The flowers are green card that was heat embossed with a variety of embossing powders, some plain, some clear, some metallic and some sparkly.  I love just sprinkling them on and seeing what the results are.

A new challenge has just started over at Pixie's Snippets Playground where we are encouraged to use up our leftovers .. .. ..  so I am skipping over there with my creation as everything was part of my snippet collection other than the sentiment and the dome stickers.

Enjoy your new week when it starts.  I wonder what changes, if any, this one will hold.

Catch you soon

.