TEENY, TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

Happy Tuesday

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start .. .. .. and your cars have adequate supplies of fuel.  

Our weekend was brilliant with all the family home.  My little nest was full again .. .. just for a little while.

I was very good and shared the fun by calling round to my Sister (she was as excited as I was to see everyone) and we sat out in the sunshine with a cuppa, catching up on everyone's news.  We also visited Mum .. .. .. so I wasn't greedy!  I shared all the happy vibes that everyone was giving off. 

We fitted so much in that I can't believe it really.

So now all of us are back in our own homes, but with extra memories crammed into our hearts and brains.  

I promised myself that I wasn't going to sulk once it was all over, but was going to simply be super grateful that the London Kids were happy to travel all that way so we could all be together.

Back into the old routine now though and I have lots of cards and projects to work on. Never a dull moment here.

My day started with a little batch of teeny tiny thank you cards .. .. .. which for anyone new to my blog measure a whole 3.5 inches square:

These used:

Image and Backing Paper:  Whimsy Dreams Clipart "Blue Fairy Meadow"
Sentiment:  LOTV "Spring Mix "
Glitter Paper
My Trusty Sewing Machine

That just leaves me to make four teeny, tiny envelopes now.

So back to it now and hopefully this evening will see me start to catch up with my blog commenting again. 

THINKING OF YOU

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has been a good one.

We are all ready for the London Kids landing here tomorrow.  I can't wait.  My family all together for the first time since 2019 .. .. .. before all this mayhem of the last two years began.

Hope I can sleep tonight with all the excitement churning up inside!  I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve! LOL!!

I have added a new sketch to my Rectangular Sketch Library which you can find at the top of my blog .. .. and it looks like this.  Yesterday I actually learnt how to round the corners of my rectangles .. .. so that had to feature in my latest sketch:

and put to good use it "could" look like this .. .. but of course there are lots of options.

This used:

Image:  Woodware "JGS300" Going to Seed (love this stamp so much).
Sentiment:  Digistmp Boutique Clear Stamp Set - Sadly no longer trading
Backing Papers:  Simply Creative "Sweet Dreams"
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon

Diamond Stickles

Promarkers for just a bit of subtle colouring

One solitary Nail Head

My Trusty Sewing Machine

So that is me for today.  

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend as much as I know I am going to.

Just hope the London Kids have a full tank of petrol to get them to me .. .. .. but I won't worry about whether they have enough to get them home again LOL!!!   Hopefully they won't have enough to get them to the end of the drive because I am happy to keep them in my little nest for as long as I possibly can.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope your Tuesday is going to be a good one.

Just a scheduled post today (if it works).  I don't think I have scheduled one since Mr Blogger made all the changes .. .. so we will have to wait and see if I managed it OK.

Lots of work on at this end so plenty to keep me out of mischief .. .. .. but Christmas is still needing to be looked at seriously now, and Christmas wouldn't be Christmas here unless this beauty of a die comes out to play.  I use it every year and it is just perfect on my teeny tiny cards (3.5 inches square for anyone new to my blog).

This used:

Memory Box Die "Pine Border Outline"
Backing Paper - Make and Create "Marble Dreams"  (I was quite lucky that there were two papers that had the same pattern but were different colours .. .. .. I thought they both look like falling snow).

Sentiment:  Cut & Make "Mini Christmas Die"

Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is it!  A tiny post for a tiny card.

I hope all is well with everyone.  All systems go at this end and hopefully a visit from the London kids at the weekend.  We haven't seen them (other than via Facetime) since 2019 .. .. .. so I can't wait.  Just hoping nothing happens to spoil it.

Have a good day!

MORE GREY HARES

Hi Everyone

I hope your weekend is turning out to be a nice enjoyable one.

We have had some lovely sunshine today .. .. but I don't think it will be the same tomorrow.   I think rain is on the way!  But never mind.  We have to just make the most of what life throws at us don't we.

I haven't had chance to play along with some of the challenges I enjoy recently .. .. .. but when I had a peep at what the current As You See It Challenge was, I couldn't resist playing because I really enjoy this theme.  

It is their "speed challenge" .. .. .. with the theme of "humour".  It is just a fun challenge where you see what you can produce in under 10 minutes.  They aren't expecting any great works of art .. .. which is a good thing!  It sounds stupid but as I look at the stopwatch on my phone if I have already gone over five minutes my heart rate increases LOL!!!

This is what I came up with, and it took me 9 minutes and 13 seconds .. .. .. with the most time being spent on typing and printing the sentiment.

This used:

Image:  Woodware Clear Stamp Set "JGS699" Hare in the Middle
Sentiment:  Computer generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular
Memento Ink Pad:  London Fog
My Trusty Sewing Machine

of course you would have to choose carefully who you send such a card to .. .. but it made me smile and Mr Heart too.

I'll catch you again soon folks.

Enjoy the rest of this evening.

THANK YOU KATH

Hi Everyone

A special card and post today in honour of a lovely lady who sadly passed away recently .. .. Kath .. .. who was part of quite a few design teams and had a lovely blog called "Plain & Simple".  Although Kath and her lovely creations were far from that!

Kath was a great blog friend who I never physically met.  We only spoke to one another through our blogs and the emails we shared .. .. .. and yet we knew each other so well.  I have lots of lovely memories of Kath and I hope she knew just how much I appreciated the years of friendship we shared.

As a very popular member of the Allsorts Challenge Blog design team, this week in Kath's memory, there is a special challenge. The theme is "Favourite Stamps" and was chosen by Kath months ago .. .. .. .. and there is also the option of "paper pieced flowers" which I know only too well was a technique that Kath really loved.

So here is my card .. .. .. especially for you Kath.  Hope you approve of me going overboard with my paper-piecing.  I fitted in as much as I could for you.

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Julie Hickey Designs "SKU JH1001" Friendship Blooms
Design Paper:  Kaisercraft "Cherry Blossom" and First Edition Paper "Rose Garden"
Pearls and a Button
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is it Kath.  Especially for you.  

Thank you for our friendship, I miss you!

MERRY & BRIGHT

Hi Everyone

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

We have lovely intermittent sunshine today, which is a welcome change to the dull showery day we had yesterday.

This is a Christmas card I worked on yesterday, busy putting inserts in now 

This used:

Image:  NoLimitsSpiritWear "Swirly String of Christmas Lights"

Sentiment:  Computer Generated
ProMarkers
Pearlised Chalks

Glitter
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Quite pleased with how this card turned out, so I made a nice little pile of them.

I also made a teeny tiny card that I was supposed to have posted last night but time just ran away with me as always .. .. .. so I have scheduled that for next week.  I should do more of that really. 

Thank you so much for your lovely comments and emails on my last post.  They are very much appreciated.

Enjoy the rest of today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope your Saturday has been a happy and productive one.

I mentioned previously that September is a busy month here for birthdays, and today it is our youngest Son's birthday .. .. .. the one who is seriously into music .. .. .. so I like to try and bring a bit of that lovely theme into the cards I make for him.  He plays several instruments, but this year I focused on the guitar.

As well as working as a solo artist with his keyboard compositions he also plays guitar with a local band and today they were playing at a Sausage and Cider Festival at Catton Hall in Derbyshire.  Apparently during their set the band started playing and singing happy birthday to him and got the crowd to join in too.  I bet he was dead embarrassed!

Anyway, this is the card I made for us to deliver to him this morning along with his birthday goodies, before he headed off:

This used:

Image:  CutLeafSVG  "Guitar"
Backing Papers:  The Digi Rainbow "Vintage Music Sheets"
Card Base:  Creative Craft Products, Side Stepper Card Die Set
Crafters Companion Metal Dies:  Balloon Trio
Stamp Set:  MFT "Stars Above"
Music Stave:  Unbranded from Amazon
ProMarkers

Silver Gilding Wax

Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Two of the music staves were cut from black card.  Once glued together I added silver gilding wax.  Really pleased with how that turned out .. .. in fact that might be my favourite part of the card.

I reduced three different colours of the music sheet down and used those to cut out the three balloons.

So that is me for today.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.  

FOR MY OLDEST FRIEND

Hi Everyone

Happy Wednesday.  I hope it has been a good day for you.  I actually managed a couple of hours colouring outside, in the sunshine, under the umbrella .. .. .. yay!!!!

This week is a very busy week for birthdays .. .. and yesterday was the birthday of my "oldest" friend.

Not oldest in terms of her age .. .. .. but oldest in terms of us being friends the longest.  

We formed a friendship in the first class of infants school and have been friends ever since .. .. .. so she has been my friend for nearly the whole of my life.  Which means lots of memories made and secrets shared!

Here is the card I made:

This used:

Image: Whimsy Dreams Clipart "Floral Numbers" (you get all numbers in the download so can make a card with any age on you like!).
Backing Paper:  The Lovely Studio (who I cannot access at the moment.  I hope they haven't closed).

Sentiment:  Computer Generated
ProMarkers

My Trusty Sewing Machine

A bit of a joke card really to help my friend remember her age .. .. .. .. which she accidentally got wrong earlier this year when she took a year off both of our ages.  I am half a year younger, and make sure I keep reminding her LOL!!

Hence the insert I added inside:

and that is me for today.

It is looking like thundery showers for us tomorrow .. .. boo hoo!   

TEENY, TINY CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had your day filled with the lovely sunshine that we enjoyed today!

I think we are going to have just one more day of it .. .. .. then rain .. .. .. so I am hoping to fill the washing line and then sit colouring under the sun umbrella in the garden. Perhaps for the last time this year .. .. .. .. boo hoo!  I am not ready for Autumn yet!

Tonight I am sharing a Teeny, Tiny Christmas Card, which for anyone new to my blog measures a whole 3.5 inches square.

This used:

Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-259" Wonderful & Jolly
Backing Paper:  Papermania "A Silent Night!
Dovecraft Holly Punch
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
Red Pearls

White Gel Pen

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I do believe this is the very last piece of that gorgeous holly paper that I own.  I loved it so much that I bought a couple of packs of the mixed papers many, many years ago.  This strip was actually cut off the packaging!

Before I go I would like to thank you all very much for the lovely comments and wishes for Mum on her birthday yesterday.  She will have had an equally enjoyable time today, especially as she will have seen her great Granddaughter .. .. .. who at just over three years of age amuses us all greatly!

Catch you again soon.

A DAY TO CHERISH

Hi Everyone

I hope that you had a good weekend .. .. .. our weather seems to have taken a turn for the better over the last couple of days, so I have my fingers crossed that it is going to last for a few days more.

Today has been a lovely and special day and one to cherish .. .. .. it has been my Mum's 91st birthday!  

As a family we still don't feel comfortable about taking her out to crowded eating places.  We are still protecting her (probably too much if that is possible) but she is special, and we want to keep her as well as we can.

I have spent the afternoon and evening with Mum and during this time lots of her family were either telephoning, facetiming or calling by to see her.  It has been such a lovely day to share with her.  But bless her by the time I was leaving tonight she was well and truly wacked .. .. .. it has been a big day for her.

Food had been cooked and some of us shared a meal with her .. .. and she still has lots of birthday cake left to share with tomorrow's callers.

This is the card I made for her.  Sadly only one picture.  I just took a quick picture using my tablet as I couldn't find the memory card for my camera.  Typically as I was leaving the house I found it .. .. but never mind.  One picture is better than none.

This used:

Image:  Tattered Lace "A Little Bit of Peace"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Paper:  Make & Create "Fresh Feelings"
Spellbinder Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies
Ribbon & Twine

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I chose this lovely die simply because Mum loves it when we facetime and I show her the flowers that we have growing in the garden.  I can't say that I have done my fair share of the watering though this year!

So that is me for today .. .. all ready for teeny, tiny Tuesday tomorrow!

CHRISTMAS TREES

Hi Everyone

I hope this week has been a good one for you.  We actually saw some lovely sunshine here yesterday afternoon .. .. .. but today we are back to rain again.

Yet another Christmas card from me today (apologies to anyone who thinks September is too early but I really do want to have them all finished with by the time December gets here .. .. .. which would be a world first for me!).

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  A very old Woodware Clear Stamp Set "FRS292" Christmas Trees 
Tree colouring was paper-pieced using Wow! "Stamp Set 65" Scrunch

Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron and Shabby Shutters
White Embossing Powder

Red Marker
Christmas Red Stickles

.. .. .. and nothing seems complete anymore without a bit of stitching .. .. .. even if it is only eight stiches!

So another Christmas card into the box, and a nice pile prepped ready for just putting together.

CHRISTMAS CHEERS

Hi Everyone

I hope you have had a good Wednesday.

Still a bit nippy here weather-wise but at least it has been dry.

A quick Christmas card from me today:

This used:

Image:  Serendipity and Art "Christmas Wine Glasses"

Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Papers from snippet mountain
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
Glamour Dust

Glossy Accents

Anther Christmas card into the box!  Yay!!

Hopefully September is going to see lots of more Christmas cards being made.