On the mend

Thank you for all your good wishes.  After a dreadful few days I am finally on the mend I hope.  I am waiting for the sample results.  I have started eating a bit more and yesterday went for a short walk.  It was nice to get some fresh air after being indoors for 4 days.  However I was exhausted when we got back. I managed to do a little simple crafting at the weekend and yesterday scheduled a few blog posts.  

I received some new goodies as part of the Craft Label DT and started by making some gift bags.  The papers, sentiment and decoupage are all from the Dovecraft Naughty or Nice range.  I used a Spellbinders tag die, added a wooden snowflake and diecut some trees using Dovecraft  self adhesive glitter card.

Everything on this card is from the Naughty or Nice range except the glitter ribbon which is from the new Winter Wonderland ribbons.

 

Apologies for absence

 So sorry I haven’t been posting or visiting you blogs but I am really poorly at the moment with a tummy bug. Well I hope that is what it is. I will spare you the details but I felt poorly since Tuesday night. Wednesday night and Thursday morning were the worst with it but having eaten hardly anything I am exhausted. I am drinking plenty of water and herbal tea and after a phone call from the Dr’s surgery Graham has gone to buy me some rehydration tablets.

I have so many things I want to make but haven’t felt like doing anything. Graham is very good, looking after me and doing all the housework.

More snowflakes

When I posted my blue snowflakes on Facebook I had the most comments I have ever had on a project so I am hoping they will be good sellers at the craft fairs.  I am really enjoying making them even though they are quite fiddly to finish off by cutting round the sticky felt I back them with.

I decided to make some in pinks and purples as an alternative to blues.  So that is 8 in total I have made so far and hope to get more made as I would also like to take some into Prima Rosa, the cafe/gift shop which sells some of my makes.

 

Snowman and friends

I have been busy making but just haven't had time for adding to my blog.  I have been sewing more than cardmaking but I did make this card at the weekend.

The image is from one of this year's launches at LOTV and is called snowman and friends.  I coloured him With Copics adding some snow using a white gel pen.  I used a MFT clouds stencil and a MFT stitched rounded corner die. The papers are some lovely vintage ones I bought on holiday.  I used a Whimsy fence die and a wooden snowflake which I coloured with a wink of Stella white pen.  The sentiment is LOTV.

Another new week and I still have lots of Christmas cards to make and lots of sewing to do for my craft fairs.  This morning though we will be busy tidying the front garden and getting the last of the Spring bulbs planted.

 

Another photo card

Another commissioned card using pet photos.  I had to make this one a 7" card and cut the photos to fit into the frames.  The paper and frames are from Craft Label's finding paradise collection.  I used Memory Box stitched hearts and a sentiment die which I had forgotten I had.  Not my favourite type of card to make but the customer is pleased with it.

 

Poppies for Poppy

I was asked to make a card with poppies on it for a lady called Poppy.  I remembered I had this Woodware stitched poppy stamp which I coloured with Copics.  I wanted to go for  distressed look to match the grungy stamp and knew I wanted to use burlap.  I love this one with the lace across it.  The sentiment is LOTV teenage girls and I added a burlap butterfly and some tiny dots using red liquid pearls.

We have decided to have a trip into the city today.  We don't go into Norwich city centre much unless we have an appointment or we are going to the theatre.  Going to do some Christmas shopping and have a browse round the shops and some lunch no doubt.

 

New toadstool home

Today I have used one of the woodland fairy extra digis which are launching on 23rd October from LOTV.  I coloured it with Copics, using chalk for the sky.  The papers are  Craft O'clock home sweet home.  I used a LOTV block sentiment, MFT stitched cloud and Sweet Dixie flower dies.

Time goes so quickly and I have lots of Christmas cards to make still plus sew Christmas decorations.  How is your Christmas crafting going?

 

Snowflakes

Last year I made one of these for our tree and never had time to make any to sell so this year I was determined to make some for my craft fairs. The patterns are from Catkin and Lilli on Etsy.  There are various designs which you can mix and match to make layered snowflakes.  Each snowflake has 3 layers and like the reindeer I sewed them on perforated paper backed with self adhesive white felt.  

I really enjoyed playing with the different designs and making 4 individual snowflakes.  I did adapt some of the patterns slightly which is really easy to do.

Thank you for the Birthday wishes.  I had a lovely day, starting at my favourite cafe/gift shop Prima Rosa then on to Cromer for a lovely walk along the prom and pier before a delicious fish and cheap meal.  It must be at least 2 years since we had fish and chips in a proper fish and chip restaurant.  We ate them in the restaurant looking out at the sea.  I enjoyed them more than going out for a fancy meal.

 

Happy Birthday to me

Yes today is my Birthday and the weather should be fine so we will be heading out somewhere today.

This is another of the new fairies launching soon at LOTV.  This is Sprite and I merged her one of the extras in the set, which is the bunting toadstool.  I coloured her with Copics.  The paper is from The Works and I used a Joy tree die, some toadstool dies, a Doohickey tag die and a Hobbycraft butterfly punch.

 

Christmas sewing

You may have seen some of these on my blog last year when I made them. I made 3 different ones last year and kept them for our tree.  I have made these ones to sell as I have 4 craft fairs booked.  I am hoping to make some more but I have a lot of sewing I want to make before the fairs.  The pattern is from Catkin and Lillie.   I stitch these on perforated paper which is a nice stiff paper, then cut them out, add the ribbon loop and back with self adhesive white felt trimmed to fit.

 

Second sneak peek

Meet Willow, the second of the woodland fairies launching soon at LOTV.  I merged her with the garland and 2 butterflies and coloured her with Copics using a sparkle pen on her wings.  The papers are Paper Favourites pastel dots from Emerald Crafts.  I used a Crafts Too butterfly die and Joy flower dies along with some paper leaves from Hobbycraft.  The sentiment is from the fairy digi set by LOTV.

 

Sneak peek

Well it has been a while since I had the chance to get into the craft room. With sorting out the kitchen cupboards, emptying and refilling them once the work was done, out for massages and haircuts and the usual stuff I just haven't had time for cardmaking. I have been busy sewing for craft fairs though.

There will be another launch soon from Lili of the Valley and this one is Woodland fairies.  They are so cute and they come with a range of extras so you can create little scenes as I have done here.  I used Dew fairy and added the toadstool, rose bush and butterflies.  I flipped the butterfly as I wanted to use the same one twice and I think it looks like she is hoping it will land on her hand.

I coloured it all with Copics, used weathered wood distress ink and distressed all the edges.  The paper is Paper Favourites shabby chic wood. I bought a pack of glitter tape in The Works, 10 colours for £1.50 and it was just what I wanted for this card.  I also added some sparkle to her wings using a sparkle pen.  The roses are from Wild Orchid, sentiment from LOTV.

I have a couple more images ready to colour so will be bringing you another sneak peek soon.  Today we are going out for breakfast, then visiting a couple of craft fairs to check out the venues.

 

Scruffy Edward again

 Now you may have seen one of these elephants in a different colour on my blog before. The pattern is Scruffy Edward from Lili of the Valley. He is a larger pattern holding a balloon and I made and sold one of those. I then made a couple without the balloon so he fits into a 4” hoop. One of those sold at Prima Rosa so I gave her the other one to display. 

I made this one ready for my craft fairs. I popped a picture on Facebook and a lady who lives locally that I met through a jigsaw puzzling group on Facebook messaged me to buy it. So I don’t have one for my craft fairs once again 😀. I am busy cross stitching some Christmas decorations at the moment so may be a while before I sew another elephant. 

Off to the pub

Another commissioned card.  The image is Hunkydory and the denim papers are We R Memory keepers which I bought in America years ago and forgot I had. The sentiment is LOTV and I added some wooden chevrons.  

Now what do you do when you have made the card and check your order list and find she wanted special Uncle on it. Well I thought where is that going to fit? I decided to print it vertically as theta was the only place it would fit without spoiling the layout.  I really like the effect.

 

Golden Wedding Scene

A simple card today for our friends' Golden Wedding.  They don't like cute but they love scenes like this so I was very happy when I found this image in one of my old LOTV art pads. The papers is Santoro and I used some Dovecraft ribbon and a Whiff of Joy die.  Fairly simple, just how they like it.

 

Look at me in my bandana

Mum asked me to make a card using a photo of her friend's dog for her friend's Birthday.  Honey is sporting a lovely bandana, which I made.  I used papers and heart from the Woof collection from Nitwits.  The sentiment is LOTV and I added some wooden hearts.

Yesterday we went to a Macmillan coffee morning at Prima Rosa and today we are off to another one at some friends' house.  We haven't seen them since before the first lockdown as his Mum had terminal cancer and they moved to Harrogate for a few months to be with her and his Dad.  They had a lot of work of work done on their house whilst they were away so it will be lovely to see them and seen the house improvements.  Sadly his Mum died a while ago so this morning is in memory of her.

Cake for Macmillan coffee morning

I used one of the old LOTV art pads for this commissioned card but it is available as a coloured simply print called Summer treats, pretty sweets.  I teamed it with Dovecraft oh so sweet papers and make a wish puffy stickers.  The sparkly butterfly is from an old pack from Poundland.

Off for lunch shortly at Prima Rosa for a Macmillan coffee morning.  The kitchen is coming along well.  The worktops went on yesterday and he did most of the tiling.  So this morning he has completed the tiling and is now grouting them.  We cleaned all the cupboards and got everything back in the cupboards last night and today we can have another clean and move things back to the worktops.  Not that we have much on the worktops as I don't like lots of clutter in the kitchen, well not anywhere really.

 

Bundle girl

I don't seem to have had too much time for colouring lately so it was a joy to colour up this cutie with Copics. This is Stamping Bella bundle girl with a wood anemone  I got this stamp last Christmas from Dies to Die For in a Secret Santa pack they did.

I made it for a friend who loves pink.  The paper is from one of the new packs I bought on holiday, Paper Favourites shabby chic wood.  I went for a shabby chic look and found some ombre pink paper which I used with Joy flower dies. 

The tiles came off in the kitchen on Tuesday and yesterday we emptied the kitchen cupboards. Today the worktops will be changed.  Tomorrow the new tiles will go up.  Thank goodness we have a conservatory to store everything in and a utility room to use as a kitchen.  Lunch out with friends today as it is their Golden Wedding on Saturday and they are going away for the night.  It means we won't have to cook a meal tonight which will be good.

 

Two peas

I was asked to make a card using this photo. The friend who ordered it has a joke with her best friend about being teo peas in a pod and she bought her these socks. I immediately thought of the LOTV baby image of 2 peas in a pod so used that as well. I coloured it with Copics and added the sentiment on the laptop.  The papers are MFT. I found the patterned roses in my stash which I bought in America a few years ago, added some leaves from Hobbycraft and cherry blossom flowers from Wild Orchid.  She is delighted with the card thank goodness.

I have noticed how blogging is dropping off even further.  Many of my crafting friends have either given up cardmaking or are still making cards but not blogging.  My visitors and comments are way down compared to 10 years ago.  I know commenting takes time so I really appreciate those who take time to comment.  I sometimes wonder whether to continue as I get a lot of likes and comments on Facebook which is much quicker to use.  However not all my crafting friends use Facebook and I do like the record of everything on my blog so I shall continue for now at least.

A busy week ahead.  We should have had new worktops and tiles in our kitchen last week but the kitchen fitter caught Covid so had to isolate until tomorrow. Apart from headaches and tiredness he felt ok. He thinks he got it from his children once they went back to school as other parents caught it too.  So all the kitchen cupboards have to be emptied, what a joy. The painter is coming next week.  Graham has done the door frames and will be painting the doors but the decorator will be doing the skirting boards, ceiling and walls.  It will be nice when it is all done.

 

Back to Christmas

Yes another Christmas card.  I have a few fairs booked now for later in the year so thought I should get some more Christmas cards made plus making mine to send of course.  I used a lovely coloured digi from Lili of the Valley which I teamed with First Edition North Star papers.  I added some diecut Christmas trees which I cut from Dovecraft adhesive glitter card.  The sentiment is LOTV and I added some Martha Stewart punched snowflakes.

We were at the theatre again last night to see the 35th Anniversary show of That'll be The Day show.  We have seen them many times as they are fantastic singing songs from the late 50's to 80's with an emphasis on 60's songs which we love.  As it is a long show and was in Lowestoft we stayed overnight at a Premier Inn.  This morning we will be going to the beach for a walk and brekkie before heading home.  It is so nice to be seeing live performances again.  We felt perfectly safe at the show on Sunday night though we were surprised at how few people wore masks given the ago group of people going to a 60's show.  We wore ours until we sat down and again in the interval and when we left.

Have a good weekend everyone.

 

Bright pink request

A good friend asked if I could make a bright pink 70th card,  Originally she asked for a flamingo card like the ones I have shown before.  However she then discovered the lady doesn't like flamingos! I mean who doesn't like flamingos!

So I used the Dovecraft Finding Paradise papers and topper for this 7" card.  I remembered I have a large leaf die which was perfect to match with the large flowers.  I diecut a sentiment, added some puffy stickers for the age and a couple of sparkly butterflies from an old pack from Poundland.

Playing with my some of my new goodies

When we were in the New Forest I was delighted to find Emerald Crafts were still trading in Lyndhurst. They have a lovely shop packed with crafting goodies. I bought some lovely papers, a few essentials and a couple of dies and couldn't wait to try them out.  I used a Craft Deco star circle and Christmas roses and foliage dies by Creative Expressions.

The lovely image is a coloured digi from Lili of the Valley.  I used one of their older sentiments and papers from First Edition.  After I diecut the roses I wanted to add some sparkle.   The sparkle pen wasn't giving much sparkle so I squeezed the nib and got more sparkle than I expected.  I really like the effect on the plan card though so glad it turned out well.

Robins on seed heads

Another of the recent coloured simply prints from Lili of the Valley.  This is robins on seedheads.  I teamed it with some First Edition papers, a LOTV sentiment and poinsettias from Hobbycraft.  I do love tartan for Christmas cards.

 

Winter

Anotehr of the coloured simply prints from Lili of the Valley.  This one is countryside Winter.  I teamed it with First Edition Winter Rose papers.  I wanted to add some foliage to match the image.  I used a Xcut embossed ivy punch and Crafter's Companion berries die and Sue Wilson twiddly dies.  The sentiment is LOTV.

We are going out this evening to the theatre for the first time since Covid.  We are going with friends and having a meal at Bella Italia first.  We shall be wearing our masks in the theatre until we take our seats, which are in the front row luckily.  It feels quite strange to be going but we have to try to get back to normal whilst staying as safe as possible.  It's a 60's music show so most of the audience will be our age and hopefully mostly double vaccinated.

 

Dachshunds and back from holiday

Another card from the Nitwits Woof digi collection.  I think the sentiment is so cute.  I remembered I had some dachshund washi tape so added that plus some wooden hearts.

We are on our way back from a short break away. On Monday we travelled to the New Forest for 3 nights in a lovely place called Spot in the Woods.  Then on Thursday we went to stay in a Hilton hotel near Wisley in order to visit the RHS Wisley Flower Show on Friday. We had never been to Wisley before, both the flower show and gardens were lovely and we spent all day there.We took loads of photos and I will share a few of them.

 

Another angel

And it's another of the coloured simply prints from the recent LOTV launch.  This one is angel trumpet and is one of 3 angel images.  I teamed it with First Edition North Star papers.  I used a LOTV elegant sentiment, MFT stitched scallop border dies and Martha Stewart snowflake punches.

Sorry for the short posts this week. You will see why tomorrow.

 

More cats

Another card made with the Nitwits Me-Wow digi collection.  I love the way these cats look like they are made of material.  I simply added some heart buttons tied with twine and some baker's twine.

 

Happy Christmouse!

I have another from the second Christmas launch from Lili of the Valley today. This mouse with holly which I coloured with Copics.  The papers are First Edition Winter Rose. I love the rich colours of these papers.  The ribbon is an old once from Crafty Ribbons.  I used a holly punch, flowers from Hobbycraft and berries from stash.

 

Footballer

Another commissioned card for my friend who orders a lot of football cards. This time as it was for a teenager I used the coloured digi football buy from Pink Gem.  I printed it a bit larger than I relaised so kept the design simple.  The papers are MFT and I used a MFT pierced banner die for the sentiment and stitched square die from The Works.

 

A surprise commission

I decorated one of these hearts some time ago and as it hasn't sold at craft fairs decided to advertise it on Facebook Marketplace. A local lady contacted me and asked what other designs I have. Luckily I had one of these standing hearts left which Graham had painted for me. 

I asked her what she had in min and she said pink and girly so I mocked up a design and sent her a photo. She said it was exactly what she had in mind so I put it all together and she was very happy with it.  The photo isn't great as the flowers look darker than they actually are and the light is shining on the butterfly.