WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS

Hi Everyone

Well nearly everywhere seems to be being totally bombarded with lemons at the moment don't they?

But we all try and cope in our own way .. .. even though it isn't easy.   

Some of us will withdraw into ourselves, some will unfortunately become nervous wrecks, and some will feel totally lost by being isolated from other people who perhaps "lift their spirits" under normal circumstances .. .. and of course there are those who believe "nothing will ever happen to them" and are convinced that any rules given can't possibly apply to them. 

Not everyone is lucky enough to have people to share their lives and home with (though some prefer that), some don't have internet access so perhaps can't talk to friends and family remotely, some don't even have a telephone!!!    How on earth are these people coping?

I have to admit to gradually becoming obsessed with everything that is going on and I have been watching and listening to far too much news for far too many days.  Each day is becoming more and more depressing.  So I am making a real effort now to try and listen just first thing in the morning and then to the up-date around tea time (and definitely not before I go to bed!!!  That was a very bad move for me last night and it took ages for my brain to settle!!). 

So I have let music take up more of my day today.  Music always lifts my spirits .. .. .. along with creating.  Not just creating cards but also creating a big mess everywhere .. .. but more about that later LOL!!!.

First I will share my creation for today which uses an image that always reminds me of the old saying "when life gives you lemons .. .. make lemonade" .. .. which Wikipedia describes as .. .. .. 

"a proverbial phrase used to encourage optimism and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune.  Lemons suggest sourness or difficulty in life: making lemonade is turning them into something positive or desirable". 

Very appropriate at the moment don't you think?   For me I am trying to use this "locked in at home time"  in a productive way as I would like to get on top of my commissions, accounts and admin work.  That would be a big move forward for later in the year .. .. with the cherry on top being if I could get some spare stock made (including Christmas).  I don't want much do I?

Anyway, with lemons on my mind here is what I created to share today

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1675K" Make Lemonade
Sentiment:  Woodware Clear Magic Singles "JWS061" Happy Birthday
Backing Papers: Etsy Jazzy Patterns "Cocktail Party" 
ProMarkers
Ribbon
Diamond Stickles
My Trusty Sewing Machine

So with my card shared .. .. I will now share how I know when my craft space needs a really good clear up .. .. as alluded to yesterday.  I loved reading how other people know when they reach this stage LOL!!!

My room has never been as messy as it is at the moment .. .. but the good thing is this means I am in hyper production mode and my brain is jumping from one idea to another.   But the bad thing is I waste time looking for something I have buried .. .. .. somewhere .. . .. .. and this needs to stop! 

So here we go .. .. 

First Clue .. .. This is the aftermath of yesterday's creations.  I can no longer access much of my work desk so you can see why I don't play along with What's on My Workspace Wednesday .. .. it would be far too embarrassing.  I need to get into the habit of clearing away as I finish the day so I can start the next day afresh.

That lovely long red tin is full of hearts, the stamps on the right are new ones I have recently gained that I won't put away until I have used them and that little space front left is where I squeeze in and create LOL!!!

Second  Clue .. .. I am missing a drawer - how can you misplace a drawer!!!!  I looked for it for too long (and in the strangest places and eventually gave up).. .. then surprise, surprise I spied it downstairs on the dining room table as I had taken some work down there to do last week!!  That little bag in the gap where the drawer should be belongs "in" the drawer when it makes its way back home.

Third Clue .. .. .. I am climbing over boxes to actually get in and out of my room.  I am a health and safety hazard really and Mr Heart won't even attempt to enter. This is my "little craft pod" and is the smallest bedroom in a 1930's house and the place I feel most creative.  It really is super small but I love it sooooo much!!!

That little gap you can see is my entry point.  The crate on the floor goes up and downstairs multiple times a week and holds my ProMarkers and a box of images waiting to be coloured.  It also goes in my car everytime I go to Mum's .. .. just in case I get time to do a bit of colouring whilst I am with her.  The other box with the Christmas image on top holds my Christmas sentiment stamps and when it isn't on the floor it lives in my bedroom (nowhere is safe from my crafty goodies).  I can't believe Mr Heart never complains.

So as you can see lots of clearing and organising to do (as well as hovering that bitty floor).  Does anyone else ever get into this much mess or is it just me?  LOL!!!

Good job wedding work never happens in this room.  That has to be super organised and lives in the larger back bedroom!!  So it isn't that I am not capable of being organised .. .. I am just sometimes not capable of stopping creating.  I just want to go on and on and on instead of stopping and clearing away!!!   

Did you notice I deliberately didn't show you my collection of snippets!! LOL!!!  Must try and use some of those tomorrow.

Hope you have enjoyed looking and laughing at my crafty mess.  

APRIL CHRISTMAS MAKE NUMBER 2

Hi Everyone

Well .. .. how strange does this bank holiday feel?

Mine started with me feeling very "homely" .. .. so even before breakfast I had made cranberry muffins and potato and leek soup (not to be eaten together I hasten to add) and the day has finished with me feeling nice and Christmassy after making this little creation: 

This used:

Unbranded dies that came from a mixture of Ebay and Amazon

Backing Papers:  Make & Create "Marble Dreams"  

Sentiment:  Woodware Clear Magic "FRS771" Merry & Bright

Crystal Glamour Dust

and that is it.

I knew as soon as I saw this paper pad exactly what I was going to do with it.  The blue was immediately a sky with snow falling and the marble was ideal for a moon .. .. .. and with each sheet being 12 x 12 and two sheets of each in the pad there are going to be a lot of Christmas Cards looking like this made here in the House of Hearts (mmm... .. thinking about it perhaps the retired Mr Heart could be given responsibility for cutting out all of those dies!!  LOL!!!) 

I am taking my creation over to The Christmas Kickstart Challenge where the theme this month is "Create a Scene".

So that is me for today .. .. but I will leave with a question.  

How do you know when your craft space needs a really good clear up?  Mine definitely does and I will share with you tomorrow how I know!!

In the meantime take care and stay safe .. .. .. and enjoy the rest of the Easter break as best you can.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well and coping OK.

I have spent quite a while with Mum today and once home I wanted to have a play with an idea that has been running round my head for a while using a stamp set that was attached to a craft magazine I bought quite a few weeks ago now.  You know .. ..way back when you could wander aimlessly around the store, walking in any direction you want to, having your pick of the whole store without an empty shelf in sight.

Oh Memory Lane is a lovely place isn't it?  But those days will come back again .. .. and hopefully sooner rather than later!

Anywyay, this is what my playing resulted in:

This used:

Image and Sentiment:  Magazine Covergift

Memento Ink Pad:  London Fog  (but any light coloured ink pad would work)

VersaMark Ink Pad

Gold Embossing Powder

ProMarkers

Nail Heads

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I stamped the image first using the London Fog ink pad, coloured the image with ProMarkers then stamped again using the VersaMark Ink Pad and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  

A stamping platform makes really easy work of ensuring your VersaMark Ink stamps exactly on top of the London Fog ink.  I am guessing a stamp positioner would work just as well.

So short and sweet from me today and hopefully I will be back again tomorrow.

Take care everyone and be warned .. .. .. the shops were manic again today.

CAS MIX UP

Hi Everyone

Another day full of sunshine .. .. and isolation!  It is now starting to feel like "the norm" which I suppose isn't a bad thing.  At least it is getting us all into good habits.  

I can remember the first time I gave someone a "wide berth".. .. ..  it felt really weird and a little bit rude and I thought the other person might think I was being "over the top".  But she didn't and just smiled and said "good evening".

Now though almost everyone (when you actually meet someone) is automatically keeping their distance and they are actually saying "thank you" if you moved for them.  Likewise I no longer feel silly wearing latex gloves when I go out food shopping and I am washing my hands what feels like constantly .. .. .. .. which means I am getting through rather a lot of hand cream too!  I don't want any of those silly bits of rough skin forming or they will snag my ribbons!!!

Anyway, I am trying slowly to enter all of the CAS challenges this month.  Something I always intend to do but it never happens .. .. mainly because of all the wedding work.  But as things are nice and quiet on that front I am hoping this month will be the first time I manage it.  

So today I had a try at the CAS Mix Up Card Challenge where the theme this month is "bleaching" (no not our hands .. .. our artwork) and this is what I came up with using:

Bleaching, Stamping, Ink Blending, Heat Embossing, Die Cutting & Sewing

This used:

Image:  Funstamps "FQ14" Butterfly

Distress Oxide Ink Pads: Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans and Broken China

Onyx Black Versafine Ink Pad 

Clear Embossing Powder

Bleach and Fine Paintbrush

Go Kreate Die Set:  Frilly Square #3

My Trusty Sewing Machine

I really enjoyed this technique and will definitely be trying it again.  It was certainly easier bleaching Distress Inks than trying to bleach plain coloured card .. .. which is what I have tended to do in the past.

If you don't fancy messing about with bleach then you can always use plain water and a paintbrush to remove some of the distress ink, using tissue to dab the water and ink away.  This will remove the colour but not leave a pure white finish .. .. which is what I wanted.

Thank you ladies for a great challenge.

No sentiment for this card.  I am trying to get a stack together without any so that I can add what feels appropriate at a later date.

Stay safe everyone and I will catch you again soon.

TEENY TINY TUESDAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all well and staying sane whilst in lockdown .. .. .. at least we have had some lovely sunshine to lift the spirits.

I have been to the washing line a couple of times today and saw a few of these little fellows flying about and they inspired me to make this teeny tiny card:

This used:

Image:  Cart-Us Clear Stamp .. .. no name or reference number (very, very old)
Sentiment:  Computer Generated using font "Aracne Condensed Regular"
Backing Paper:  The Lovely Studio "Honeycomb"
Poppy Stamps Die Set:  Stitched Market Tag
Circle Die Set
My Trusty Sewing Machine
Twine
Gems

for anyone new to my blog my teeny tiny cards are a whole 3.5 inches square.

I will catch you again tomorrow all being well.

Stay safe and thank you for all your visits and comments.  All very much appreciated.

JUST TO SAY

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all as good as you can be under the circumstances.

Just a quick share from me this evening that has used up papers that were left on the back of my desk after making a very similar card last week.

This used:

Image and sentiment:  Digistamp Boutique "A4 Quick Print Colour Sheet - Butterflies" (very sadly no longer trading boo hoo!!)

Backing Papers:  Not sure which pads they came from .. .. .. but they were from The Works - when they were allowed to be open.

Circle and Scallop Circle Dies

Ribbon and Cord

Eyelet and Eyelet Setter

My Trusty Sewing Machine

So that is me for today.  Short and sweet.

I'll hopefully catch you again tomorrow.

  

CAS STENCIL

Hi Everyone

I hope you have managed to enjoy some of the lovely sunshine we had today. 

We spent some of our time outdoors doing some much needed work in the garden .. .. .. plenty to keep us out of mischief out there that's for sure .. .. .. with the downside being there are no brown bin collections at the moment..

The greenhouse needs to be emptied and washed down ready for us to start some seeds off.  We doubt that the nurseries are going to be open for buying plants so had better get a wriggle on and start growing our own.

I did have a little crafty session too and played along with the CAS Stencil Challenge which this month wants us to use gilding flakes with our stencils

Here is my offering:

This used:

Stencil:  From the front of a magazine

Gold Gilding Flakes

Flower:  MFT Dienamics Die:  Blueprints 14

Sentiment:  MFT Dienamics Die:  Thanks

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Gold Thread

and that is me for today.

CAS CHRISTMAS

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all coping OK and you have managed to keep yourself amused.

I played along with the CAS Christmas Challenge today to help me get a start on my April Christmas makes and the theme for this month is "Christmas Song".

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "2988H" Caroling Duck!
Sentiment:  Hero Arts "DC170" Merry Stamp and Cut
ProMarkers
Snowflakes:  Memory Box Snowflake Heart
Crystals Glamour Dust
Gems
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today with April Christmas card number 1 complete .. .. 4 to go!.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Hi Everyone

I am not going to comment on the state of the world .. .. we are all hearing all the sad and bad news that is pouring out of radios and televisions.  I really feel like I am going to wake up soon and it will all be a really, really, really bad nightmare.  If only!!!

One of the tasks we are slowly attacking whilst confined to barracks is to sort out the roof space.  The weather is just right for it .. ..in winter it is far too cold up there and in summer it is far too hot .. .. so now is just the right time.

Far too much up there that needs sorting.  Of course anything that is mine "should" be up there but I am sure everything else is rubbish LOL!!

There is a small section of the roofspace that has boxes full of fabric from my sewing days (which may come back one day so I won't part with anything out of those boxes) .. .. .. and one of those boxes had lots of organza scraps in.  So I took that box into my craft space to play with and made the flower for the card below by cutting circles and re-shaping them with the heat from a candle.

This used:

Sentiment:  Polkadoodles "PD8022" Everlasting Sentiments
Embossing Folder:  Sizzix "662606" Botanicals
Skeleton Leaves
Metallic Thread
Buttons
Gems
Ribbon
My Trusty Sewing Machine

and that is me for today.

Enjoy your weekend .. .. .. doing whatever we are allowed to do once it gets here .. .. .. but most of all stay safe.

DRAGONFLY VINE

Hi Everyone

I hope you are all keeping safe and aren't running out of any supplies.

Today was one of the days when I needed to leave home to sort out Mum and also my Auntie who had her knee replacement mid February.  I think we are nearing the end of the compression stockings for my Auntie now and putting them on has become easier over the weeks .. .. but I am still nowhere near being "proficient" .. .. but the procedure does give us lots of reasons to laugh which is a much needed thing these days.

With no wedding work to pull in at the moment I am trying to get back into the habit of posting to my blog each day.  I do miss blogland when things are busy.

This is my favourite creation for today .. .. ..

This used:

Images:  Stampendous! CRP119 - Dragonfly Vine
and Elusive - Script Background
Gold Embossing Powder
Distress Inks - Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters and Pumice Stone
Tea Green ProMarker
Crystal Glamour Dust

So that is me.

Hoping to catch you again tomorrow but in the meantime take care and stay safe.

HEDGEHOG BOUQUET

Hi Everyone

I hope you are coping with yet another day in isolation and finding lots to keep you occupied .. .. .. there is plenty for me to be cracking on with here and I am trying to be ultra positive and keep myself motivated and make the most of the time I am at home.

But then I put the TV on and end up feeling saddened by everything that is being reported.  Each day it feels worse and worse and so totally frightening.

All those poor people who are losing their lives and families who are having to come to terms with losing loved ones.  It is just heartbreaking and so worrying and the sheer numbers seem unbelievable!.

Thank goodness our crafting lets us escape .. .. .. at least for a little while!  This was part of my escape for today:

This used:

Image:  Penny Black "1444K" Hedgehog Bouquet

Sentiment:  MFT "LJD-23" Birthday Greetings

Backing Papers:  Make & Create "Once Upon A Time"

Die Set:  Hunkydory Moonstone "MSTONE020" Fabulous Flowers

ProMarkers

My Trusty Sewing Machine

Pearls (which look an awful colour in the photograph but actually match the card in real life)

Diamond Stickles (that you can't see too much)

I am taking this over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, which I haven't had chance to play along with for far too long.  The theme is "Anything Goes or Think of Spring""

Many thanks for popping along. 

I am pleased to say that my computer was on best behaviour again today after "playing up" last night.  

Take care everyone

THREE OF A KIND

Hi Everyone

Apologies for being so very late tonight with my last three Christmas cards for March .. .. .. for some reason my computer wasn't recognising the memory card with my pictures on .. .. no matter how many times I tried. 

I restarted my computer several times but still no joy.  

In the end I re-started it with the memory card in place and for some reason it recognised it then.  I hope it is in a better mood tomorrow when it has had a rest overnight!

So here are my cards .. .. ..

These used:

Image:  Docrafts  "PMA 907941" Bellissima Christmas

Sentiment:  Dovecraft Christmas Basics

Gold Mirri Card

Gold Gems

I decided to hit the scraplings again for these cards and do a quick batch of three all the same.  I loved making them and could have happily made thirty of them.  They were so quick and easy to do with the help of a stamping platform.

It was quicker to actually make them than it was to get the pictures onto my blog post!! LOL!!!

I am taking these over to Fezziwigs Festive Frolics Challenge where the theme this fortnight is super easy "anything festive"!

I'll catch you again soon .. .. .. when hopefully my laptop will be in a better mood!!