A CARD I WAS SO HAPPY I COULD GIVE

Hi Everyone

I hope that all is well with everyone and life is being kind. 

Life has been busy here with Mum and other things this last week, but yesterday was a day I really thought I would never get to experience again.  

It was the day I got to give my Mum another birthday card.  Not that she was capable of opening it or understanding what the day was all about.  In fact I doubt she even knew I had spent time with her .. .. .. but I know I did .. .. .. and in years to come I know I would give anything just to be in her presence and hold her hand whether she was responding or not.

She is now a whole 96 but dementia has left her with a life that most would say isn't really a life.  She is bedridden now and struggles to hold her head up.  But on really rare occasions we still get a glimmer of our old Mum and that really warms your heart.

Yesterday she was definitely in no rush to celebrate her birthday and was spark out until late into the afternoon, despite all the comings and goings and the care staff singing happy birthday as they tried to rouse her.  She was washed and changed without even waking!!!

But late afternoon while my sister was with her she finally woke up and her cards were opened (by my sister) and the home had baked her a birthday cake.  Lots of staff and a couple of fellow residents came into her room.  Thankfully there weren't 96 candles to contend with .. .. .. just one.  

So this is the card I was so very happy to be able to give to my Mum:

This used:

Watercolour Floral Alphabet Clipart "TaPilipaAU" via Etsy  (this came with a bonus frame that I altered to form the two floral lines)
Backing Paper:  Pink Petticoat (sadly no longer trading)
Snippet of Gingham Ribbon
Metallic Gold Card
Tiny diamond gems
Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

These are the snippets I began with .. .. ..

                                           

The card and paper I used all started out life as A4 sheets but these were snippets I was left with following previous creations so I am taking my card over to the Snippets Playground Challenge where we are encouraged to use our leftovers (not just card and paper .. .. wool, fabric, ribbon, leftover wrapping paper, old envelopes .. .. the list is endless.

Have a good week everyone.

I seriously need to get all my Christmas supplies out and put them to good use!!! 

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.

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!

CALL ME MAD - BUT A BIG DECISION HAS BEEN MADE

Hi Everyone

Well, it has definitely been a warm week here that's for sure. 

I have worked really hard on that "to do list" I mentioned at the start of the week and am feeling quite pleased with myself .. .. .. not that "everything" has been crossed off it .. .. .. but some of the "big monkeys" that have been weighing me down on the Mum front are now crossed off. 

But I did some of the fun things on my list too so they sort of balanced out.

Not much physical crafting done that I am able to share as it would spoil surprises for certain people  but today I got chance to craft just for the sheer pleasure of it and came up with this:

This used:  

Image:  Penny Black - "3865K" Gossamer

Sentiment:  Clearly Besotted "CBSSP649" Speaking Out
Backing Papers:  ArtStudio -  No design name but it came from The Range about 3 months ago and I have finally Christened it
Tiny Scalloped Rectangles - Pre-loved from Ebay
Ribbon
Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and now to my "BIG decision" ........ and no ....... the sun hasn't done something to my brain

This beautiful design paper pad below is going down in my crafting history as the last physical design pad I ever purchased -  no matter how beautiful or cheap I am buying no more .. .. .. 

My patterned papers are going to be digital downloads or ones I will have attempted to create myself.

My logic being:

A digital file will take up far less room in my life and they will all be backed up so no chance of losing them or running out of my favourite designs.  Quite often with bought pads there are some gorgeous papers but also there are always a fair amount of what I call "those ugly ones".  So eventually all my papers will be beautiful useable ones.

Sometimes I make a card for someone and they will say "could you make me another three like that" but I don't always have enough of the design paper left in the pad .. .. but when I go digital I could make another three hundred if they wanted them!

It is going to take me a while to be totally paper digital though .. .. .. .. so apologies now, because there are going to be lots of old design papers making an appearance.  I dread to think how long it is going to be before I use all of those up .. .. but I will!

I have simply decided I have far too many part-used paper pads taking up far too much space and I am not adding any more full ones.  The dream being I will simply print out a piece (or pieces) as I need them, cut what I need and the remainder will be stored as snippets for future projects.

But there is no way my images will ever go totally digital.  Yes, I love using digital images and there are so many lovely designs and images available .. .. .. .. .. you can get lots for the price of a single stamp.. .. .. but there is something about physical stamps and colouring them that is timeless.

Wish me luck.  

I wonder how long it is going to be before I can post that all of those old pads have gone?  Answers on a postcard LOL!!!

Enjoy your weekend when it arrives and keep slapping that suncream on!!!!!

HEDGE-WORD

Hi Everyone

Another lovely day .. .. .. this would do me for the whole of summer.  It doesn't need to be any hotter.

Just a quick share tonight with another of my favourite Penny Black Stamps.  A really great one because yet again it is an image that is suitable for the ladies or the menfolk.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "4060K" Hedge-word
Sentiment:  Already part of the image
Backing Papers:  Pink Petticoat for the green .. .. ..  the manuscript background was out of the snippet box but I feel if was from a design pad from The Works 
Promarkers
Corner Rounding Punch
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Hopefully catch you again soon

HAPPY DAY

Hi Everyone

It is another lovely warm sunny day here .. .. .. not overly hot .. .. just perfect, and once the chores were over and done with I headed straight to the craft den to have my first play with part of a lovely prize I was very fortunate to win from the snippets playground.

This used:

Image: "PM0380 - Gorgeous Vases - Pink and Main
Sentiment:  from Woodware Clear Magic "JGS492" Circle Flowers
Heart:  Clearly Besotted "With All Your Heart"
Backing Papers:  Ditsy Roses - Pink Petticoat (sadly no longer trading)
Distress Ink Pad:  Victorian Velvet
Corner Rounding Punch
ProMarkers
Ribbon
Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

There are more vases and flower arrangements in the stamp set so lots more playing to be done.

Wishing you a very happy day!

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.

JUST FOR YOU - WITH LOVE

Hi Everyone

Firstly a very big thank you for all the comments and kind messages on my previous post, they are very much appreciated .. .. .. so here is a card that is especially for you ......  mwah!!

I am still on a mission to fill my nearly empty stock box and today's offering is also for entering into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme is either "stitching" or "anything goes" .. .. .. .. provided you use "Penny Black Goodies" somewhere on your creation of course.

I went for "one" of my many favourite Penny Black Stamps where those cute mice are busy stitching .. .. .. and of course it wouldn't be me if I didn't add some stitching of my own too.

This used:

Image:  Penny Black Wooden Stamp "1656K" Stitch in Time
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-524" Happy Hugs
Backing Papers:  From snippet mountain - Buddly Crafts "Eline's House - Roses are Red" and
                            Pink Petticoat "Swiss Dots" (Sadly no longer trading)
ProMarkers
Corner Rounding Punch
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.  There are still three days left on the challenge if you want to play along.

Take care everyone. 

BIRTHDAY SUNDAY SNIPPETS

Hi Everyone

Here again .. .. at last .. .. after a few VERY busy days here in the House of Hearts.

Our buyer wanted to come to view again and measure up in readiness for all the plans he has once we hand the keys over  .. .. and this involved us having to make the whole house "viewable" and "accessible" again!  We had boxes and piles of stuff we were sorting out everywhere LOL!!!   

So crafting (very sadly) had to take a back seat.

But I am back again today with a birthday snippet card (just to give you a break from Christmas).

This used:

Card and papers from the snippet mountain range
Martha Stewart Edge Punch:  Daisy
Julie Hickey: Sentiment Dies
First Edition: Flower Die set
X-Cut Mini Die Button

X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch

Hot Fix Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Sorry, not sure what die I used for the leaves, these were already cut and sitting in a box waiting to be used .. .. .. .. and how about my tiny snippet of ribbon threaded into the die cut button! I don't think I could ever use a smaller piece do you?

I hope you are having a good weekend?  A very wet and windy one here today so I'm not planning on setting foot out of any doors if I can help it! 

BAALAMB

Hi Everyone

Happy Friday!  Nearly the weekend .. .. .. .. yet again!!!  Where are these weeks disappearing too?

Here today to share a quick card which uses one of the images I have enjoyed colouring whilst sitting in the garden.  I don't think I have ever had so many images coloured up and "ready to go".  

Every year I promise myself that I will sit and enjoy the garden and the fresh air more .. .. .. and every year summer comes and goes and all I have ever done is "physically" garden .. .. .. but not this year.  

At last I have learnt to enjoy my garden in a different and more relaxing way.  It hasn't been a case of just digging and weeding ... ... ... though I have had to do that as well!  LOL!!

Anyway, let me introduce you to Baalamb .. .. :

This used:

Image:  Woodware "JGS768" Fuzzy Friends - Baalamb
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font Aracne Condensed Regular
Backing Papers:  From the snippet box .. .. all I know is it came from a Nitwits Collection
ProMarkers
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch
My Trusty Sewing Machine

Isn't it just the most fun image?  Perfect for filling the front of a 14.5cm square card all on its own.

So it is nearly time for me to head off to Mum.  Friday is our laundry and cleaning day .. .. .. though today making a batch of peanut brittle is also on the cards. 

Mum really fancied some a while back and we have looked in every shop and supermarket over the last few weeks and haven't been able to find any.  I felt sorry for her, so decided I would have a go at trying to make her some myself.  She loved it .. .. .. so I am guessing this may become another part of our routine now.  LOL!!!

I know that looks like a huge glass of gin and tonic on the left .. .. but it is just cold water with ice in that I used to test my toffee was going to set  ... ... honestly guv!

So that is me for today.

Enjoy your day and your weekend .. .. whatever you are doing.

BIRTHDAY CHEERS

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has been going well ... ... and you have seen some summer sunshine!

Lots of re-organising and gardening has been happening here, which hasn't resulted in anything to share on my blog, but I did find a little bit of time today to make this:

This used:

Image:  GCR Designs: Wine Definition
Sentiment:  Computer Generated
Backing Paper:  JAnnB Designs Cork Papers
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is all! 

So now you know the definition of wine please don't get all your nutritional "5 a day" from a wine bottle .. .. .. as nice as that might sound you will more than likely end up with a BIG headache!  LOL!!

Take care everyone.

Hopefully catch you again soon.

LOADS OF LOVE

Hi Everyone

I hope your week has been a good one and that you are ready for your weekend.  Hope it is one filled with things you enjoy.

I needed to nip to the supermarket for some additional supplies for Mum today and I couldn't help but see what other folk were putting through the check-out!  Most folk appeared to be buying food that wasn't going to take much preparation to eat alongside the football on Sunday .. .. .. a few people even had bottles of bubbly so were clearly planning on having something to celebrate!  Oooooo .... ... wouldn't that be nice .. .. .. an England win .. .. .. in fact that would be very nice! 

Anyway, just a quick share from me tonight:

This used:

Image:  Julie Hickey "SKU: JH1043" Sweet Daisy Stamp Set
Sentiment:  Penny Black Clear Stamp Set "30-146" Loads of Love (Great to be able to curve clear sentiment stamps).
Backing Papers:  All from my snippet mountain
Distress Ink Pad:  Bundled Sage
ProMarkers
X-Cut Corner Rounding Punch

Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine
and Sketch Number from Five from my Rectangular Sketch Library  (feel free to use it if you like the look of it).

Enjoy your weekend everyone .. .. .. whether you are a footie fan, a tennis fan or someone who isn't interested in either.  

Personally I don't have the foggiest idea how to follow the scoring with tennis .. .. .. but footie .. .. I will definitely be there for that!  Come on England!!!!

HARE IN THE MIDDLE

Hi Everyone

Happy Monday .. .. .. I hope you all had a good weekend and all the Dads enjoyed their special day. 

I needed to get up bright and early to clear the dining room table (yet again) ready for our youngest Son coming to celebrate the day with his Dad .. .. unfortunately the London Kids weren't able to be here but we had a good catch up on Facetime!

We can't wait for the day to arrive when we will all be together again.  It feels like a lifetime since we were.

A while back (in the good old days) I was fortunate to visit the offices of Immediate Media and whilst there got to sit in on a pre-issue planning meeting.  One set of cards that really stuck in my mind used a technique called "retiform".  

I thought about the technique over the weekend and decided to give it a go for the background of my card.  Not too bad for a first attempt.

This used:

Images:

Woodware Clear Stamp Set "JGS699" Hare in the Middle
Woodward Clear Stamp Set "JGS300" Going to Seed
Sentiment:  LOTV "Simply Cute Sentiments"
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set "664382A" Springtime Borders
X-Cut Flower Punch
Distress Ink Pads and Memento Dewdrop Ink Pads
Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I am taking this over to the As You See It Challenge where the theme is "Masculine".

Hopefully catch you again soon .. .. 

MOUSE BALLOONS

Hi Everyone

I hope your day has been a good one.

A birthday card from me today which I am taking over to the Bugaboo Catch the Bug Challenge Blog:

This used:

Image:  Bugaboo "Mouse Balloons"
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular"
Backing Paper:  From the snippet mountain
ProMarkers
My Trusty Sewing Machine

So no opening of everywhere in England by the Government .. .. surprise, surprise .. .. but I "was" surprised that the number of people allowed to go to a wedding from the 21st June onwards isn't limited to 30 any more.  

Lots of  happy couples will be celebrating tonight .. .. .. the actual wedding celebrations won't be quite as we know them from times gone by .. .. but at least people can get married with more of their friends and family.  Probably after having their happy day cancelled numerous times in the past!

Catch you again soon.

A NEW SKETCH

Hi Everyone

Happy Saturday, I hope all is well with everyone and you are enjoying another weekend!  Hopefully a sunny one!

A new sketch made its way into my Rectangular Sketch Library earlier in the week and today I actually had time to play with it and used it to create this:

This used:

Image:  Hero Arts "H2817"Garden Flowers Sketch
Sentiment:  an Ebay purchase without proper packaging but a reference number of PICS066
Backing Papers:  First Edition "J'Adore
ProMarkers
Ribbon
Pearls
Nail Heads
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and Rectangular Sketch Number Four which looks like this (but my flower morphed into a tiny butterfly LOL!):

If anyone would like to use any of my sketches then please feel free do so so.  Both square and a few rectangular sketches are available on the tabs at the top of my blog.  More sketches for both tabs will be being added, but as the rectangular collection is new to my blog, that is the one I am trying to bulk up a little.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Catch you again soon.