Sympathy Card

Hi fellow crafters.

Just a short post today from a very wet and dismal Birmingham on Easter Monday.  I've been having a good old clearout of my craft room and I'm going to put a load of crafty items on my Work 'For Sale' site, then I can buy more crafty goodies.. yippee....

A work colleague's mother passed away on Easter Saturday, and although expected as she was 92, it still doesn't stop the sadness and grieving process does it.  This is a sympathy card which I have kept very simple as I do not think 'fussy' is right for this occasion.  I've used...

A5 Linen Card
Rose flower Rub Ons
SB dies for sentiments (front & Inside of card)
coloured cardstock
Ribbon from stash

Hope you're all having a good Easter and not chobbling too many chocies... as if you would...
See you all soon.  Dee xxx

Hubby's Birthday Card

A sunny good morning to all from Birmingham.  Well although it's colder today the sun is out, beautiful weather for a walk, a lovely spring day.  Just thought I'd post the card I made for my hubby's birthday. I was quite pleaased with this it came out better than I'd anticipated.  It's an easil card using one of the Whimsy lazy days stamps.  My poor hubby hasn't had time to stop and relax over the past few weeks, between work, decorating and trying to tidy up the garden after winter so I thought this was appropriate for him and he loved it, he even said it's one of the best I've made for him.... I used:-

Whimsy stamps
Promarkers
SB Grand Calibur plain & scalloped circles
SB Stars
Navy & pale blue cardstock
Paper from stash
sun burst edge border die (not sure which make)
blue twine
sentiment

What do you think?  See you soon. 
Dee
xxx

NEC Here I Come......

Evening crafty mates.  Just a quick posting as I'm off to the NEC in the morning with a pal of mine to spend more money.... as one does at these craft shows.  Although can't afford much this time round as I have a lot of things to buy for my lounge/dining room when the decorating is finished.  New curtains cost nearly as much as a new car nowadays, good job we don't need to replace them every month!!, but us girls do like to make changes to the decor don't we...
A quick posting tonight a card I made a little while ago for a friend's birthday.  Hope you like it.  Be back soon showing off all..... my new goodies.  Luv & hugs Dee xxx

Another Pan Pastel delight

Hi everyone,

I've been experimenting again with the pan pastels, but this time with a mixture of three stamps, Lavinia and Clarity stamps, plus an Artemio butterfly stamp that I've had ages but not used for a while, even though it's gorgeous.  I love Barbara Gray's swirl stamp, it can be used in so many different ways, and I think the Dandelion is one of my favourite of Tracey's stamps.

I've blended the background with various colours first and then used Archival black ink to stamp the swirl and butterflies on the background, plus the dandelions across the bottom.  Some ribbon and a flower from stash, also a round sentiment.  Quite a simple card to produce for a work colleagues birthday recently, just takes me a long time to decide on the design, longer than making the card actually...  Sometimes my brain switches off after a day at work.  Hope you like it, and I'm so glad Eileen promoted the pan pastels on her blog as they are so easy to use and blend with.  See you soon.  hugs Dee xxx

Pan Pastels and Lavinia Stamps

Afternoon everyone.  Bit of a shock this morning when I got up and saw the snow, I can't recollect the weather report saying anything about it... Still it's gone now, thank goodness.

I'm posting a card today I've made for a colleagues birthday.  I've been experimenting again with Pan Pastels along with Lavinia Stamps.  I've also used some organza baby blue ribbon and a few gems from stash. The inside is decorated in similar design and colours.  Hope you like it. Have a smashing evening, I'm looking forward to Upstairs Downstairs later.  Hugs Dee xxx



Valentine Cuddles distressed

Happy Valentines Day

Hi everyone,  this is my card to hubby for Valentines day, using a little Claire stamp coloured with pro markers, which I think is so cute.  I'ved used black and purple/lilac rather than the usual red and black.  (bit of a last minute rush so the colouring in isn't brilliant)..
 I've  also used :-

TH -distress inks,

Coordinations card stock,

Fancy flourish corner from Dies to die for - (sorry forgot the name) 

 Cheery Lynn lamp die

 SB Hearts die, 

Various twine etc from stash.

Challenge 5 - Love and Romance

I'd also like to enter this card into the Pan Pastel Challenge 5 Love and Romance

http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-5-love-and-romance.html

Pan Pastels debut - flutterbies in the grasses

Pan Pastels Debut

Hi everyone,  it's me back again after another long break.  But hey... my pan pastels arrived on Saturday and I managed to spare some time Sunday to start playing.. and they are lovely to work with.  Thank goodness for Eileen recommending them, I'm personally finding them so much easier than using the brayer.  Although I do still love using TH distress inks.  As Eileen said in her recent postings, they blend beautifully.  This is my first effort so I wouldn't say it's brilliant but I'm quietly pleased with the end result.  I only bought a small number of colours to try them out as they are fairly expensive, but in the card below I've used a mixture of red, orange, green, yellow and blue.  I will hopefully purchase more next pay day  (lol)....  I sprayed with hairspray and also spray and sparkle, although this does not stand out on the photo.  I stamped the flower scene with Sheena Douglas 'a little bit sketchy' stamps in black versafine ink, onto watercolour card, which I then mounted on black & yellow card stock.  Black ribbon and gems from stash to finish off.  Hope you all like it, hope to post another pan pastel offering soon.
luv & cuddles Dee xxx

New Year Fancy Dress

Happy New Year Everyone

Hope you all had a momentous new year.  We went to a family fancy dress party at a small local country lodge hotel, along with my son, granddaughter, daughter in law and her mom, dad, sister and partner.  We all had a fantastic time.  I've attached some pics for you to see.  I must admit the fancy dress was of a very high standard with some unnusual outfits.   I went as a gangsters moll and my hubby was the gangster.  Although I must admit my son looked great as 'Barney' Flintstone. 

See you all soon with my 2012 offerings.  Luv & hugs... Dee xxx

 Me and hubby 1920's gangster & Moll

 My son & daughter in law as cave man & woman

 daughter in law's sister & partner - howdy partner...

daughter in law's parents - Penguin and Cracker

Sister's birthday picture

Hi everyone,

Hope you all thoroughly enjoyed yourselves and over indulged with yummy chocs and a glass of wine or two over Christmas.  I certainly have, but back down to earth this week with a big bump as I'm back to work.  It's my sister's birthday today and I've made her something a little different to the normal birthday card.  She keeps telling me to make her a card that she can frame for her bedroom wall.  So, her wish is my command - I've made a front only card so it will fit into a 10" x 8" photo frame.  I have used colours that match her bedroom; lemons, peaches and salmon colours.  I haven't posted it framed, but what do you all think.  I think it's a little unnusual to a normal birthday card.  Although it's her birthday today, we are not meeting up until tomorrow when we are going out for lunch so I will give it to her then.  I hope she likes it.....

Anyway, hopefully I will try and post a little more often if time allows, I do have a lot of family birthdays coming up, as usual so I'm going to be busy.  I was lucky enough to have a cricut for christmas off hubby and a table top easel to use when I photo my cards.

We are going to a fancy dress party new year's eve with my son, daughter in law and family members.  This will be the first time we've done fancy dress publicly so it should be fun.  I'll try and take some photos for you all to have a laugh at.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year, enjoy....  Dee xxx

A few More Christmas Cards

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all ready for christmas.  We've had a busy week trying to catch up with christmas shopping, trimming the house etc., but finally we've got there.  The decorating is finally finished, the new carpet is laid and it's looking quite nice now.  I just need to put the finishing touches to it after christmas, such as new lights, mirror and pictures.  I've been at work all week and finish tomorrow lunchtime (hopefully), so hubby has been left with finishing off everything and housework.....

I'm just posting a small selection of cards that I've made for family, as everyone else this year I'm embarrased to say has been given a bought card, something I haven't done since starting card making 4 years ago.  Still needs must this year.  I shall have to make the effort to start earlier next year.. (bet you I don't).....lol....

Anyway, the cards I made for hubby, son and granddaughter are amongst the bunch. 

I hope you all have a fantastic christmas and a very happy and healthy new year, and would like to thank everyone whose visited my blog during 2011 and the support you've shown me as a new blogger.

See you all in 2012.  Luv Dee xxx

Abigail - Our Granddaughters card

Hubby's christmas card - He loves pengiuns....

Sparkling Snowflakes Cards

Hi Crafty mates,

Wish I could say I felt better, I think someone's got it in for me over the past 2-3weeks.  First I came down with the dreaded stomach bug and had to come home from work, and now I've got a humdinger of a cold that's making me feel under the weather and a bit sorry for myself, basically I'm fed up with sneezing... now I know how Rudolph feels. lol .....  Plus to top it all off, my Son and DIL both came down with the stomach bug in the early hours of Saturday morning and felt really poorly, so my husband had to go and collect Abigail from their house on his way home from work, and she was really niggly all day and also started with it last night, so hence no card making has been done this weekend either!!!   Or decorating, present wrapping, or even getting the tree down from the loft..So I feel really behind this year.  Is there anyone else out there the same? 
So decision made I'm afraid only close family and a couple of close friends will receive handmade cards this christmas.  It has been decided at work that cards are not being sent, money is being given to charity instead, so at least that cuts down the volume a little. 

Well I've posted a couple of cards I made last week, the theme is snowflakes all glittery, red, black and white.  Mainly using a variation of die cuts, glitter papers and ribbon.   simples...
Be back soon.
Dee xxx

Shop til u drop 'dressy' birthday card

Hi, all, I'm back again, this time with a card I've made for a work colleague.  Like a lot of us girls she likes to shop, so I thought this card quite appropriate for her.  I love the way Sue Wilson gathers her ribbon on cards and thought it finished this one off quite nicely.  What do you all think, hope you like it!

I've been blog hopping the past week or so, and as usual Eileen is producing stunning cards, but I have to also mention  Poppy's Patch (Sylvia), Bev Rochester's blog, Fleur's blog, Stampin for Pleasure (Sandra), Cards Calligraphy (Shaz In Oz) and Addicted to Magnolia (Ellen) to name but a few, but I would also like to say a BIG Thank You to my new followers and everyone else who has left a kind few words and taken the time to look at my blog.  It's been nearly 12 months since I took the plunge into the blogging world and a big thanks to Eileen for her enthusiasm and encouragement.

Also I've been busy trying to make christmas cards, but the past few days have not been fruitful, as I came home from work early on Thursday with an upset tummy, I couldn't believe how quickly it hit me at work and by the time I drove home I was like a wet lettuce, good for nothing, so Friday was a wash out too.  Didn't feel anything like myself until saturday and today I had family over for lunch so good job I was feeling better...  I'll post again later in the week with a couple of christmas cards I've put together.

I've also posted a couple of photos of goodies I bought at the NEC a couple of weeks back, I forgot I hadn't posted these yet.  As usual spent more than I was going to, but enjoyed every minute watching a couple of demos too..  See you all soon.   Luv Dee xxx

Cordinations card stock white and back

plain red card stock

White spotted organza ribbon

dress die cuts Bazzil On the Edge card

SB Labels 17

red jewelled brad

small coloured gem stones

Die cut sentiments

Inside of Card designed similar to front.

Christmas gem baubles & Christmas Cheer

Hi Crafty mates  I've been having a play the last few evenings and have made a couple more christmas cards.  I try and get my close family cards made first if possible and then follow on with other family, friends and work colleagues.  This year for some reason I seem to be finding it a challenge to make cards for everyone, including work colleagues but I'll see how it goes....  I always take a look at Eileen's blog and couldn't believe the 3 cards that she has made, they're wonderful as usual, but coincidentally one of the cards I'm posting is a similar version to one of Eileen's posted last christmas using the woodware stamp set and gems. It was Eileen's offering that motivated me to also make a similar card.  I have listed the materials below the card.

My second posting is using the large Christmas cheer stamp that I absolutely love, it is so versatile according to which colours you use.  I will probably use this stamp a lot again this year.  Again the materials used are listed below the card.  Sorry about the quality of the photos I seem to have a shadow on the bauble card.
Thank you to all my crafty friends who have left such lovely comments on my blog, they are so appreciated.  Have a nice evening - Cheerio for now.  Dee xxx 

Woodware Baubles stamp

Selection of Gems from stash

Red satin ribbon

Holly corner punch

Martha Stewart branch leaf punch

White, Blue & /Red /Cardstock

sentiment typed on computer.

Christmas Cheer stamp

Encore Ultimate Metallic Inkpad (embossed)

Purple organza ribbon

White, purple and teal card stock

Musical Christmas Wreath Card

Hi fellow crafty mates,

Today I am posting my first christmas card for 2011.. Yippee.... It isn't quite finished yet , still need to add a couple of bits on the front and a sentiment and complete the inside but thought it would be nice to share it with you.  It's an 8" x 8" card BTW.

I've listed all the materials used underneath the card.

 Musical Christmas Wreath

SB Grand Calibur Scalloped circles
Adirondack Inks Butterscotch
Big N Juicy - Spice
TH Distress Inks Forest Moss
Stickles Lime Green
SB Corners - Christmas from 2010 range
ribbon
Pearl card and papers
Die cut musical bell for centre
SB Pointsetta will be added later at right hand bottom and sentiment.

I've also got a couple of links to blogs that are well worth a look as there are some lovely cards to see.
http://crafty-lou.blogspot.com/
http://causewaycrafts.blogspot.com/

Back soon with more christmas offerings I hope....

Dee xxx

The Garden Gnome

Hi, Well after a long wait I'm finally posting my garden gnome card, made for my son's birthday at the end of September.  Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of it before giving it to him and I've now finally got it back to take the infamous picture.  (this is especially for Eileen as she borrowed me the die to make it).  I do agree with you Eileen it is a bit of a faf putting the pieces together, and I did lose my patience a couple of times....lol.  The inside is decorated very similar to the front of the card.

I made the card using:-

Cuttlebug gnome die
Quickcutz photo corners
SB Labels 8 dies
SB Nesties scalloped circles large
SB Stars 5 die
SB Crown dies
Crafty Individuals paper pad
Other papers from stash.

Vintage birthday cards

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted for a while trying to catch up with birthday cards through to December so that I can concentrate on getting started with christmas.  Here are a couple of birthday cards vintage fashion that I really enjoyed making.  The first card I made for my sister in law's birthday and the second was my nephew's birthday which is today.  Both are decorated inside in a similar design to the front. I've listed below items used to make them in case any bloggers like the style.  Hope you like them.
Be back soon with a couple more, and hopefully the promised gnome card for Eileen G..... all for now.  Dee xxx

HOTP papers

La Blanche Stamp

Grand Calibur Plain & Scalloped Oval SB dies

Distress inks

MC flower button die

Cuttlebug corner die

twine

button

SB labels tag die

lace ribbon

coloured card stock from stash

HOTP paper stack

plain cardstock from stash

SB label dies 8, 16 & 21

map of Uk downloaded from net and aged using TH distress inks

Clarity minature stamps

creative expressions bike stamp

metal cogs

SB Edgability

sepia & glossy accents

sentiments using pc



Paradise birds

Hi everyone,  life seems a bit hectic at the moment, so I just thought I would post a quick card that I made last year for a friend's husbands birthday, but never posted.  It's monochromatic using Kanban die cuts and cardstock.  I've also used some mirri board from my stash.  I must try and find the time to start my christmas cards, otherwise I'll be on the last lap again. See you all soon. Dee xxx


'

An Array of Cards

Hi fellow crafters,

Well the Autumn seems to be creeping in on us doesn't it, and the nights are getting darker, pity we didn't have a better summer but never mind at least we haven't had hurricanes and the like, have we...

I'm glad to see Eileen G back blogging again, bringing us some more super duper cards.  I have done a little bit of blog hopping and left some comments, some really pretty and unusual cards are being posted. It seems to have gone a little quiet the past few weeks, perhaps now winter nights are drawing in crafty mates will again start to post again.  I'm not sure if it's because I've changed my blog name but everything seems to have gone quiet.....

Anyway,  this posting consists of a couple of wedding cards for a friend and her sister, whose son is the lucky man.... also a couple of birthday cards, one for my Uncle, again more of a vintage and distressed feel to this, I do love making this type of card, and also a card for my little nephew who was 5 on 4th September.

On the wedding cards I used SB labels 1 small and 9, Grand Ovals plain and scalloped. Ribbons tag trio 3, Marianne  Creatables flower, LOTV wedding stamp, Penny Black Bride & Groom stamp, Pearl gem stone swirls, textured card stock and bits from my stash. 

For the vintage card I used a crreative expressions air ship stamp, Clarity vintage tiny stamps, TH cog wheels which I cut out of card and covered in Alcohol inks to look like metal.  The paper is Bo Bunny Time range, and bits and bobs frfom my stash.

My nephews card was a LOTV die cut I (I cheated a bit, as I didn't have time to stamp and colour in), plus, gro grain ribbon, paper is from my stash, sorry can't remember what make, and craftwork cards, card candy.

Hope you like them.  See you again soon.  Luv Dee xxx