1st Anniversary & 40th birthday cards & Pictures of Chelsea Flower Show

Hi Folks,

Sorry I haven't posted much over the past couple of weeks, but we've been busy bees off on our travels.  We have just arrived back from London, having had a great 4 days.  We took in some sight seeing but the main reason for our visit was the Chelsea flower show.  The tickets were christmas presents from our son and daughter in law, and very much appreciated too.

I've posted a couple of cards today, the first one being the first wedding anniversary card for our son.  It doesn't seem 2 minutes since we were in Italy this time last year for the wedding, doesn't time fly by...
I've used a mixture of Kanban die cuts along with Marianne Creatables leaf swirly die, organza ribbon aND MS leaf punch across the bottom.  My second posting is a simple 40th card for a neighbours birthday using mainly Kanban die cuts and just adding a few extra bits and bobs from my stash.

I've attached a few pics from the flower show that I thought you may all like to see.  Eileen.. thanks for your comments, and yes we do know we are having a little grand daughter, we have 12 little boys in the family and only one little girl, so another girl will be so nice.  Hope to post again soon with my new baby card.. see you soon.  Dee xxx

Birthday & Anniversary Cards

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks but there's been such a lot going on especially all of last week, as it was my birthday on Thursday and our anniversary on Saturday.  I've had such a wonderful few days, and such lovely cards and presents. We went for a meal Thursday evening with my son and daughter in law, and my hubby booked a surprise meal at our favourite restaurant near worcester for Friday evening.  We set out for Cardiff on Saturday morning to see Eric Clapton in concert, stopped overnight at a hotel and arrived home late this afternoon. Hubby has also been busy helping our son with decorating the Nursery, as there is only about a month to go now before the new arrival and I'm becoming very excited about becoming a Nan. A lovely week, only spoilt by having to go to work, but never mind, hey...

I am posting 3 cards today, I won't go into too much detail about them, but hope you will all like them.
The first one is a birthday card I made for a good friend of mine.  Her birthday is on the same date as mine, and she is the same age too, which is such a co-incidence. I mainly used Marianne dies, My Minds Eye and K & Co papers, flowers from Wild Orchirds, MS punches. I'm really chuffed out it came out.
My second posting is a 13th birthday card for a neighbours son.  A very easy card using card candy, co-ordination cardstock, and stamps from  Banana Frog.  My third posting is the Anniversary card I made for my hubby.  I used Clarity air ballon stamps, Cosmo Cricket papers, along with word stamps from my stash Card Candy again, Heart Nestie dies and wording using my p.c.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend although the weather could be better as it has gone quite chilly here in the Midlands again.

On a separate note, I wonder how Eileen G is getting on with her On-line course, can't wait to hear more about it... see you all soon.  Dee xxx

Lavinia carriage and Brayer, and Nephews 6th Birthday Card

Morning everyone,

After a few days of feeling really under the weather with a nasty cough and cold I decided to rouse myself and do a bit of crafting. I have finally produced a card using one of my stash of Lavinia stamps that I have bought over the past 12 months.  The end product isn't perfect, but I'm pretty happy with it, but only after sweat and toil with my brayer... I'm sure a lot of you will know what I mean.... practice and patience make perfect, unfortunately I haven't got much patience...  I'm definitely 'Taurus the Bull'...

I bought it at the NEC because I really love it.  I have tried to produce some colours different to what I've previously seen posted using this stamp.  I used A5 Lavinia smooth card, along with various adirondack and distress inks.  To create the sky I used both Adirondack denim and distress black soot and victorian velvet.  For the water, a combination of distress stormy sky and adirondack Juniper.  I made the carriage look as though it's coming out of the evening mist. 

My second quick card I made a couple of weeks ago for my little great nephew's 6th birthday which was on 29th April, using a combination of Kanban die cut, along with embossing folder brick wall, nesties circle die for the number, felt stickers for his name and Bazzil black on the edge for the top and bottom, along with paper from my stash.  I've attached a photo of Luke with his little sister dressed as pirates at his party on Friday.

See you all soon. Dee xxx

40th Birthday card

Hi, just a quick posting tonight.  This is a 40th birthday card for a colleague at work.  It is a large A4 size card made in order that all the team could sign it.  It was very easy to make using Kanban card stock, numbers and embellishments.

I have quite a few cards to make for May, including our Anniversary card, my son and daughter in law's 1st wedding anniversary card, plus several family birthdays, so I'd better get moving.

I've come across a lovely blog and thought you might want to take a peek as well.  The link is below:-

http://crafty-lou.blogspot.com/ Home is where my craft room is...

See you all soon. Dee xxx

Clarity Swirl in lemon & lilac and Anniversary flowers cards

Hi again, it's Easter Monday morning, and thought I'd do a quick posting before we're out and about, busy busy....

Eileen this is the card I was talking about...

My first posting is using the large clarity stamp inked in black archival. I layered lilac paper and lemon card onto an 8" square. Inked onto plain white copier paper using my brayer in various colours, cut into 3 strips, layered onto textured yellow card and placed them in a stepping design on the card.  I brusged over the design with pearl perfect pearls powder to give it a slight sheen. The corners are Cuttlebug and punched butterflies using Martha Stewart punch. I added flowers & ribbon to finish. 

My second posting is an anniversary card for my sister & Brother In Law, it's their 14th wedding anniversary today.  Again it's an 8" square card with scalloped borders. I used DCWV 12" paper mat and embellished with various die cuts from my stash.  Nesties hearts, Marianne creatables flowers & swirls, Cuttlebug corners, Martha Stewart punch to create a ribbon down the right hand side and various flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Have a great Easter, see you soon - Dee xx

Nesties, Marianne creatables and cuttlebug dies in a Monochrome Starburst

Hi everyone, hope you're all enjoying the lovely weather, although the gardens could do with some rain now couldn't they.  We have heavy clay soil in this area and it now desperately needs water. I hope everyone enjoyed their day at the Ally Pally, wish I could have been there, but I'm going to try to go in September.

My card today was a simple card created with a combination of dies and a 6" white square card, plus black bazzil card.  A large gem for the centre and some ribbon.  For the inside I used a Nestie and a Bazzil 'On the Edge' down the centre.




I have been trying to spend a little time blog hopping and looking at some of the gorgeous creations that are being designed.  I have come across a few blogs that are really worth a look at, here are a couple of links:-

http://stampingforpleasure.blogspot.com/
http://alwaysaboutcolour.blogspot.com/

See you soon,  Dee xxx

Present Boy Peter and 'In The Pink' Shabby chic

A big hello to all crafty mates on this gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon.  It's Grand National Day!!  It's on my list of visits but haven't yet got round to getting their.  My Mother loved horse racing, as my Grandfather was a 'bookie' many many years ago and she grew up learning all the 'jargon' and permutations of placing a bet. She enjoyed a flutter and although she never had big wins she always got her money back and a little bit extra. 

We are having a weekend of gardening and doing jobs around the house, you know the sort that always seem to get put aside for another day.  I've been busy re-arranging my wardrobe from winter to spring/summer, which means loads of washing and ironing.  I've also got to visit my dad and do a few chores for him... busy busy....

Anyway, I've been busy making family cards the past week and thought I'd post a couple whilst I have got 10 minutes.  The first is a 2nd birthday card for my little nephew whose 2 on Monday.  I've used 6" square card, LOTV stamp, coloured in with pro markers, Nesties plain square and loop dies, cuttlebug photo corners, quicKut present dies, Co-Ordination cardstock and gingham ribbon.  I'm very pleased how well it's come out I'm trying to make a few cards that everyone seems to be doing now, what I call very 'busy' cards with lots of detail on, as I think they are gorgeous.

My second offering today is for a friend's birthday also on Monday.  It's an A5 white card covered in Kanban paper and cardstock and die cuts.  I've added ribbon and roses, single gem and message in each corner.  I cut the bottom of thre paper using an EK border punch, which I think is very pretty.  I've covered the inside of the card similar to the front.  I'm in the middle of another 8" square card at the moment which I will post shortly. 

Thanks to everyone for looking in and would apologise for not following the bloggers guidelines when receiving an award, but I just do not have enough time and energy, but what I will do is follow in Eileen G's footsteps and every now and again highlight blogs that are worth a look at.  I've come across Pam's blog and she makes some really lovely cards amongst other things and is worth taking a look at ....
http://peejays-ramblings.blogspot.com/search/label/Crafty%20Ramblings

See you all soon.

Dee x

Mothers Day - Super

Hi Just a quick posting because I've had such a super Mothers Day.  I was invited out by my son and daughter in law to a local farm for Mothers Day Breakfast/brunch.  They grow all their own produce, sell it in their farm shop and also the most important, we can eat it in their restaurant... Yummy......  It was lovely.

Just a couple of quick thank you and get well cards and a new home card that I made a little while ago now, but thought they deserved a dusting off and a viewing.  Off now to finish off a card I started yesterday for one of my little 'Great' Nephews who is 2 this month.  Back soon, thanks for dropping by today and to Missy for my new award!! Just have't got time to follow it through.

Melting Pot,UTEE, Grand Calibur Nesties and Wine Tasting

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since my last posting, but I've been a bit busy with hubby's birthday amongst other things, along with trying to catch up with loads of family and friends birthday cards.

I went along to the NEC last Thursday and bought a few more crafty 'goodies', that of course I really needed .... What's the use in going if you can't spend any money...

My first posting is the card I made for my husband's birthday.  He is partial to a glass of red wine and thought this theme appropriate for his card.  I used my melting pot for the bottle of wine on the front.  I used a tag and coloured and distressed it before layering the wine bottle on top, finished with ribbons. Grand nesties on the front and inside the card, cut out of wine papers.  Labels nesties inside for the message.  Unfortunately the wine hasn't come out as light as I would have wished, but if you enlarge the photo you get a better impression of the UTEE.  I am in the process of completing another couple of cards and will post these over the next couple of days. 

I've also attached a snapshot of the goodies I bought at the NEC, along with a couple of photos of my craft room where I escape into my own little world. 

BTW sorry Dawn I haven't had chance to pop over to your blog yet will do so as soon as I get a bit more time.   See you all soon.  Dee xxx

A Bouquet of flowers and football crazy

Good Evening crafty friends.

As usual another busy week gone by and another coming along.  I have so many cards to make at the moment they are coming out of my ears....  Still, I break up for a few days annual leave on Tuesday, can't wait for Thursday when I will be hopping on the train with a friend to the NEC craft show.  It's hubby's birthday Saturday so we will have a nice few days together.

Anyhow, my first posting is completely different to what it was supposed to look like, but I'm fairly pleased with the end result. I tore some K & Co neutral paper and using cut and dry foam edged it with antique linen distressed ink.  I stamped leaves in forest moss distress ink using Sheena Douglas leaves stamps.  I again tore ribbed cardstock, distressed the edges, wrapped green elasticated ribbon diagonally around it. 
die cut a couple of pieces of buff cardstock with labels 16 third smallest, distressed the edges, and using foam pads placed a La Blanche flower die cut from my stash on top.  A few flowers, buttons and leaves and ready for an insert.

The second posting is a card I made for my great nephews 10th birthday on Tuesday. I needed to do a few quick cards for nephews this month, and Kanban are ideal for this.  I used a 6" square card, covered with a variation of HOTP papers. Green gro grain Bo Bunny ribbon wrapped around the middle. Spellbinders Labels 8 die cut and kanban football die cut angled opposite one another. I die cut a circle for the number 10 and smaller one at the top of the card.  A line of clockwork card candy and a message.

I've collected a couple more followers, you're very welcome and thanks so much for taking the time to browse through.  BTW thanks to Shaz in oz, Mary B, Mustavcofee, Dawn, Aud, Sylvia and anyone else I've missed for the lovely comments received, they're greatly appreciated. Shaz you asked me if I have got any tips on the Marianne dies, sorry I haven't, they seem to cut reasonably okay with my electric big shot. I do sometimes run them through twice. Sorry can't be more help!  Not sure if Eileen G may have any hints at all, I know she has provided some useful ones on her blog previously.  Thanks for looking, back soon. Dee xx

Marianne Creatables Butterfly and Cosmo Cricket Papers

A warm welcome everyone, to a beautiful sunny spring morning.  It started off very wet after heavy rain started saturday afternoon and didn't stop all night.  I have enjoyed a leisurly morning watching Barbara (Clarity Stamps) on tv.  It's her birthday today and she received an overwhelming number of e-mails.  She's a lovely lady I met her last November at the NEC show, I just caught the latter end of a demo using the Noel stamp and I had bought a few bits from her stall she kindly dropped the card she had made into my basket.  I was so chuffed.  She is such a talented lady.  I shall visit her stall again later this month at the NEC.

Anyway, my first posting today is using an A5 card I have made for a colleagues birthday next Friday at work.  I have cut the card diagonally on the front, covered with cosmo cricket papers. I cut an oval using an X cut punch and sprayed with cosmic shimmer copper mist.  I die cut a Marianne Creatable Butterfly and sprayed this the same.  3 flowers also lightly sprayed. A few gems for a bit of glitz.  I punched out small butterflies to flutter around, bronze and lemon ribbon tied down the spine and a happy birthday to finish.

My second posting is an A5 easil card in greys and silvers, also using the Marianne Creatables large butterfly, I do love Marianne dies they seem to make a statement on their own.  I covered the card in Kanban card and papers.  I punched out some small butterflies and sprayed with DB Moonlight shimmer mist.  Added a couple of small silver peel offs, a happy birthday and job done.

I'm in the process of completing another couple of cards for family, one will be for my hubby's birthday on March 26th.  Hope you're all having a great weekend.  toodle hoo for now.  Dee xx

50th cards update

Hi, well I have 10 minutes to spare before going off to visit my son and daughter in law, so thought I would  do a quick posting on the 50th cards from last night.

The pink and black is an 8 x 8" square.  I've used a combination of DCWV the 'Endless summer' stack and My Minds Eye 'Pretty Please' 12 x 12 cardstock. I die cut 2 small Nestabilities labels 16 in pink and white and used Anita's black glitter words and numbers for the sentiments.  Bazzil on the edge diagonally across the page, small tag, black ribbon and a large pink flower to finish.

The 'shabby chic' card was an idea after watching Sue Wilson, on create & craft. I think she makes such beautiful cards, she's probably one of my favoourite crafters to watch.  Anyhow, I used a biscuit coloured A5 card, covered the front and also 2 panels with My Minds Eye 12 x 12 card again.  Using the swirls crafts too embossing folder I embossed onto cream card. rubbed versamark ink across and perfect pearls to give a lovely sheen to it.  I spritzed brown card with cosmic shimmer sprays and layered embossed card onto it.
I die cut the shapes for the centre using Nesties labels 5.  Satin ribbon, flower and leaf spritzed again with cosmic shimmer, pearl accents, a length of lace tied around, finished.

Hope you like these, will hopefully post again at the end of the week if I get time..  Thanks for looking.. Dee xx

50th birthday celebrations.

Hi everyone,

Just a quick posting tonight as I feel shattered, it's a very busy time at work and I also have loads of cards to make this month for family and friends.

The cards are both 50th birthday cards for twin sisters.  The one lady is a work colleague and she asked me to make a card to give to her sister, which is the pink and black one.  The creams and browns 'shabby chic' look is the one I made for her birthday.  Haven't time to explain everything tonight but will do so in my next posting

Bye for now, thanks for taking a peek...

A Wet Sunday Morning .....

Good morning to all you fellow crafters out their, this very miserable and wet Sunday morning in South Birmingham.  It's definitely a day to stay in and lock ourselves away in our craft rooms.  My hubby has been on his night shifts, and is in bed so I thought I would take this opportunity to post a couple of cards I've made, and also to post my effort onto the Allhallowes card making competition.

The first being a 'thinking of you' card using  the 'Hero Arts~ rubber stamp, and once again I have to thank Eileen G as she has used this a couple of times and I thought it was such a simple stamp but also so pretty.

I have used mainly greys, greens and cream as my theme colours.  Stamped with memento grey ink pad onto Lavinia white card, layered onto green card, layered onto grey card embossed with cuttlebug embossing folder. Martha Stewart butterfly and loop punches, ribbon and a gem.

My second posting is a 21st card  made for a colleague's son who is 21 on Tuesday.  Again because I needed masculine colours I used mainly silver and greys.  Kanban die cuts and card stock, along with Bazzil on the edge in blue and white.  I used 2 sizes of nesties scallop large circles to mount the 21, card craft card candy, small tag embossed with cuttlebug dotty folder and ribbon to finish.

3 Postings but created Separately....

I've put 3 postings on tonight but just to confuse you all, I've done them all separate, so please look down to see them individually

Thanks for looking, please take the time to call again soon, you're all very welcome. Dee xx

Grand daughter - 1st Birthday

Well this is the last card of the 3 cards I've posted tonight... I bet you're all thinking what a treat hee...
This is a similar card to the one I made for a work colleagues grandson's 1st birthday.  My boss liked it so much she asked me to make one for her granddaughters 1st birthday.  So it's again using Kanban die cuts, in a similar theme, but I do think they look really nice, especially as easil cards.  I also used Martha Stewart's loop punch across the width of the card to create a wall affect for the little elephant to sit on.  I think her name across the top finishes it off.  Sorry about the quality, I tend to take my photos of an evening and you don't seem to get the same quality as with natural daylight.

Well that's all for tonight, I have 9 cards for family and friends I need to crack on with from now until end March, besides any extra that I may get asked to make.  Thanks for looking, please take the time to call again soon, you're all very welcome.  Dee xx

Stylish Rose

My second card I made for an elderly neighbour who lived next door and moved 2 years ago into warden controlled accommodation locally.  I still keep in touch with her and try to go and see her at least christmas and birthdays.  She's a lovely lady and very kind and thoughtful, and loves flowers and decoupage cards.

I stamped onto white cardstock using Artemio swirl stamps I bought from QVC, they give a lovely impression, I used black Versafine detail stamp. A yellow decoupage rose in the centre, some yellow organza ribbon, mounted onto black card and again onto silver card at an angle, and stuck onto a yellow square 6" card.  Finished off with a couple of small roses in the corner and a card craft birthday wishes.
Makes us think of summer...