Pages

Thursday 29 December 2011

Summer days


I have had some lovely crafty goodies for Christmas including Promarkers, card blanks, toppers, Tim Holz Idea-ology ruler and a bowmaker.

Our visitors have all gone home and my table is free to use again for making cards.  I have had a dabble with my new Promarkers and one of my clear stamps.  I went delving in the crafty stash and found some backing paper  that I have had for a couple of years.  It gave me a colour scheme and it really makes me think of summer; rather nice as it is grey and wet outside.


I have entered this in the following challenges:
4Crafty Chicks:  Something new
Bearly Mine Challenges: Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz Challenges: Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shop Challenge:  Anything goes
DYSU Challenge:  Rainbow of Colours
My Mum's Craft Shop:  Anything goes
Sundays with Chrissie:  Anything goes
Hiding in My Craft Room: Use it or lose it
Craft Room:  Anything goes

Monday 26 December 2011

Celebration Blog Candy

There is celebration blog candy over on CHNC.  This is a super prize and well worth going over to the website to enter for it.  Look what is up for grabs:-

Open to 6th January 2012

Friday 23 December 2011

Tiger

I thought I would make this little fellow before I put the needles away for a couple of days.  Having knitted him I just knew who would enjoy having a soft a cuddly for Christmas; hope my newest little grand daughter will like him.

There are quite a few different designs in the knitting pattern I have and so think I might make a few of these to go to Kids Company.

Thursday 15 December 2011

Snowman

Following my snowman theme from my previous posting, I broke out the knitting needles and made this cute little chap from scraps of double knitting wool.  I think he will be just perfect as a little gift to one of my grandchildren.  I had better get knitting and make another one quickly!!!!



I have entered this in the following challenges:

2Sisters Challenge:  Christmas
Craft Your Days Away:  Snowmen
Dream Valley Challenges:  Christmas
Just Some Lines: Thanks So Much
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Projects with Depth
Top Tip Tuesday:  A Gift
Tuesday throwdown:  For someone Special
By the Cute and Girly: Let it snow
Charisma Cardz challenges: Last Minute Xmas makes
The ABC Challenge: Frosty

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Christmas Decoration

When my first grand daughter was born I decided to give her a tree decoration for every year of her life up until she was 18 because I then reckoned she would have a goodly number to start off her own tree when she had one.

I now have a new grand daughter and have bought her a "Baby's first Christmas", just like the first grandchild.  From next year I shall continue what has now come a tradition and will need two decorations each year.

Last year I cross-stitched a little tree decoration and this year decided to do another one.



I have entered this in the following challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday:  A gift
Just Some Lines: Hand Made Gift
2 Sisters Challenge: Christmas
By the Cute and Girly:  Let it Snow
Craft Your Days Away:  Snowmen
Cupcake Craftroom:  Christmas Traditions
Dream Valley Challenges:  Christmas
Lollipop Crafts: Happy Holidays
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Projects with Depth
Tuesday throwdown: For Someone Special

Friday 9 December 2011

Christmas Tree Festival

Each year Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield has a Christmas Tree Festival for the second weekend of December.  Different organisations and local businesses pay to have a tree and then decorate according to the theme they have chosen for the tree.  There is space for over 70 trees and the whole Church becomes magical in twinkles and glitter.  It really is wonderful to visit and walk round the trees whilst listening to a variety of local musicians as well as the Church Choir and Music Group who play or sing throughout the event. 

I belong to two organisations that have a tree and this year have made a good use of the Craft Robo that I had for Christmas last year.

I am a member of the Music Group and we decided the theme for our tree would be music for all seasons.  We divided the tree up into 4 section for four liturgical seasons and use the appropriate coloured tinsel to mark the segments.  We then also themed the colours of the decorations for each of the segments.  We have used silver/white for Christmas; gold for Easter; red for Pentecost and finally green for Trinity.  The latter being rather appropriate to the name of our Church.

These two photos show the completed tree from different angles.



These photos show some of the triquetras that I cut using my Craft Robo.


I also belong to Mothers Union and we decided to use one of their international project appeals, Wheels Appeal, as the theme for the tree and so it was called Wheels in Action.

This is the finished tree.



These photos show the cycles, trucks and jeeps that I cut using my Craft Robo.  It has been a very busy machine this Christmas.


Wednesday 7 December 2011

Monochromatic

A simple one this, but it can be very effective.  I first made one with a tree in brown on the squares but decided to do this as an untraditional Christmas colour card.  Simply stamp three squares and colour the edges with the stamp pad.  Line up where they are going to go and stamp the fourth image  in the space left to complete the square.  Mount the three squares on sticky pads onto the card.  Add your sentiment.

I have entered in the following:

Bearly-Mine Challenge#25:  Un-traditional Christmas
By the Cute and Girly:  Let it snow
CHNC Challenge#49:  Mainly monochromatic
Come and Get it challenges:  Anything Christmas
Delightful Expressions:  Let it Snow
One Stop Craft Challenge:  wk 160 Let it Snow
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #63:  Let it snow
Tuesday throwdown #77: Celebrate the Season

Monday 5 December 2011

Knitting for Kids Company

Most of my friends know that I enjoy sitting and knitting for this worthwhile charity in London.  I also have a few other people who knit for them and about twice a year I have a trip to London to take up all the goodies.  I am going up to London on Thursday to deliver my second parcel for this year and this time I am accompanied who is a very prolific knitter and she too has a big parcel to deliver with me.

This is my parcel and includes 9 hats, 5 pairs mittens, 1 pair Mary Jane shoes, 1 scarf, 2 blankets, 1 jumper, 1 matinee jacket and 7 pairs of bootees.



My mother has knitted a scarf, 4 hats and 3 pairs of mittens.



A 90 year old lady has knitted 6 little hats.



A friend has knitted a small cardigan, matching hat and mittens and 4 other hats.



Another friend has given me a small cardigan, hat and set of matching scarf, hat and mittens.



Friday 2 December 2011

Bird of Peace

I made this card at a card club that I attend.  I really like the image and it was cut out of all different papers and then mountied on nesties.  The embossing really gave it more depth and a couple of card candy, along with a sentiment to finish it off.


I have entered this in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge#42: Any Winter Holiday sentiment
Bird of Peace Challenge #47:  Seeing spots
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #131:  Christmas present
Papercrafting Journey Challenge: Anything Goes
Stamptacular Challenge #40:  Anything Christmas
Artistic Stamper December Challenge
Christmas Cards All Year Round December Challenge
Sundays with Chrissy:  Anything goes

Wednesday 30 November 2011

Thursday 24 November 2011

Snowflakes

I have had little time this week to make any Christmas cards for me as I have been busy making cards for sale.  Today I finished putting the cards I have made in cello bags and so at long last have had time to start on my cards.

I used a clear stamp and an image from the Daisy and Dandelion range.


I have entered this in the following challenges:

4Crafty Chicks challenge#65:  Snowflakes
Charisma Card Challenge#46: snowflakes
Cup Cake Craftroom November Challenge: Sweet Christmas
Lollipop Crafts Challenge#58:  Anything goes
PaperCrafting Journey:  Anything goes
Papertake Weekly:  Christmas Crackers
Scrapbook Sisters Challenge#61: Christmastime

Monday 21 November 2011

A busy life

People have always said that when they retired they didn't know how they ever managed to find time to work and after 2.5 months I can quite see what they mean.

Since I retired at the beginning of September I have had my son and daughter in law over from Hawaii for a 2 weeks holiday, a new baby granddaughter born at the beginning of November, joined U3A and go to a Family History group each month and also a card making group each month and also set this blog up..

What has taken more time than anything has been card making as I am running a card stall twice a month at Church to help raise funds for the repair, restoration and re-ordering of the church I attend in Cuckfield, Holy Trinity.  Last Saturday I sold over 50 cards at my stall that I ran whilst there was a fundraising pianothon going on; I now have to try to make good my stock before this Saturday when there is a sale at the local primary school.  I am quite pleased it is only a 2 hour sale and not the 12 hours of last weekend!!!

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Off to find Santa

I was thinking of cards that could be made fairly simply and quickly ready for sale at church over the next few weeks and came up with this design which wasn't particularly quick as there are lots of parts to cut out, emboss and assemble.  Nevertheless, I liked it and so have made a pack of five to add to the other packs.

I used some paper I bought a few years ago, some white embossed pieces of card and some black to add some dimension to the layers as well as co-ordinating with the reindeer.



I am entering this in the following challenges

Forever Friends :  Christmas is coming
Totally Gorjuss Challenge 106:  Christmas Traditions
Pile It On Challenge: Traditional Christmas
Cupcake Craftroom:  Sweet Christmas
Paper Pretties:  PCW180 Non Traditional Colour
Crafyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge#46:  Whatever lights your candle
Papercrafting Journey PCJ23:  Embossing

Saturday 12 November 2011

A second baby girl card

I made several cards before my new grandchild was born because I couldn't decide which one I preferred and we didn't know whether it was going to be a boy or a girl.  I made three girl cards and this was my number 2 choice.  I used a Crafts Too embossing folder - Happy Valentines Frame and then in the middle I mounted the little bunny topper on pink card.
I have entered them in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Sisters Challenge#59: Baby, Baby
Papercrafting Journey Challenge#23:  Embossing
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge#128:  Cute
DYSU Challenge#45:  Inspired by Song  - "Run, Rabbit, Run" a Flanagan and Allen song.
4 Crafty Chicks :  Baby, Baby, Baby
2 Sisters Challenge#65: Anything Goes
Designed2delight: Baby

Friday 11 November 2011

Blog Candy Alert

There are some wonderful digi images available as prizes on blog challenges but can you beat 50 digi images as a blog candy?  See Handmade by Jenn if you are interested.

Thursday 10 November 2011

Pretty in Pink

I looked at the variety of blog challenges out there and the design for this card just popped into my head.  I went rummaging around some 12x12 co-ordinated papers and voila ...... my card.


I have entered this for the following challenges:



Wednesday 9 November 2011

Baby Knitting

I enjoy knitting and was so happy to be introduced to a charity in London who needed knitted baby/kids items as part of their work in London.  I have taken two large parcels of knitting up to their offices in London during the last year and have another big bag full to go up before Christmas.
Knitting little bootees and mittens is ideal when travelling by car as I can use quite short needles and use up lots of small balls of wool that has been donated to me.

Kids Co tries to make a practical difference to kids living in poverty in the London area.

Monday 7 November 2011

Pumpkin girl

I am on a roll trying to use up some of my crafty stash.  One can never have enough stash but just sometimes you have to make space for more by using some of it  lol




I have entered this card in the following challenges:
Birthday Sundaes :  Challenge #34 - Birthday
Charisma Cardz: Challenge #44 - Cutesy
Heart Song Inspirations:  Challenge 23 - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly:  Anything goes

Sunday 6 November 2011

Baby Girl Card

My daughter has just given birth to a little baby girl and I needed to make a baby girl card.  This was the result!!

I have entered it in the following challenges:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge: #117 - Anything Goes
Crafty Boots Challenges:  Young at Heart
Craft Inspirations Paint:  Anything Goes


Saturday 5 November 2011

Bird House

My mission today was to make a card for someone moving house.  I was trying to think of something different and had this stamped image of a bird house and thought would be suitable.





I have entered it into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Stamp and show a house
Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge:  #58 Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge:  Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts: Challenge #55 Anything goes
Dream Valley challenges: #19 Anything Goes
Annabelle Stamps Blog: Say it with sentiments

Friday 4 November 2011

Cupcake

I just loved range of digi images that included this one with a cupcake.  I needed to make some cards for kids and decided to use this one.  I tried to focus on the pink for the colour co-ordination.

I have entered it in these challenges:
Card Makin Mamas :  Challenge #32 Cut it out
Charisma Cardz : Challenge #44 Cutesy
Crafty Cardmakers: Challenge #55 Colour Combo
Heart Song Inspirations: Challenge #22 Embossing or three or more layers
One Stop Craft Challenge: Challenge #155 No sentiments
Bows and Berries: Challenge#13 Clean and Simple
Fresh Brewed: Challenge #71 anything goes
Dream Valley Challenges: #19 Anything Goes

Baby cardigan

I have just finished knitting another little cardigan.

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Donkey

This is one for donkey lovers and seeing as though the donkey lover I had in mind had a sense of humour (a bit painful at times) I decided to make a funny one for him.
I have entered this in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog Challenge # 40: Make me Laugh
Birthday Sundaes Challenge # 33:  Birthday
Cards for Men Challenge #22:  Animals
Charisma Cardz Challenges # 43:  Anything Goes

Thursday 27 October 2011

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Plain and Simple

I needed to make a card for someone who "does" plain and simple.  I think she will like this one as it uses her favourite colour.





I have entered this in the following challenges.

Lollipop Crafts:  Embellishments
One Stop Craft Challenge #154:  No designer Paper

Monday 24 October 2011

Veteran Car

Cards for men can sometimes be a problem unless you really know what the men are interested in.  However I thought this old car and some of my stash of men style papers went nicely together and would be acceptable by most men.




I have entered this card in the following challenges:
The Pretty Little Ribbon:  Anything goes
Heart Song Inspiration Challenge  21:  No sentiment and/or harvest
Make it Monday Challenge 60:  Anything goes 
Paperplay Challenge  week 42:  Use black 
Creations by Gill M Challenge  #18: Transport

Friday 21 October 2011

Robin

Another robin card, only a stitched one this time.  It is so long since I have done a stitched card that it made quite a change. 
I have used it for the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog:  Winter Theme 
Mel Jen's Designs Challenge 81:  Red and Gold 
Shelly's Images:  Anything Goes 
Little Claire's Designs: Challenge #14 Christmas 
Sparkles Christmas Challenges #9:  Christmas Song (When the red, red robin goes bob, bob bobbin along)
Just Some Lines: Reminds me of a song  (When the red, red robin goes bob, bob bobbin along)


Wednesday 19 October 2011

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Halloween Colours

I made this card to match the seasonal colours of Halloween or autumn.
I have entered it in the following card challenges:
Craft Your Days Away: #31 Halloween Colours
Crafty Boots Challenges: Autumn or Halloween
Delightful Challenges:  Colours of Fall 
Paper Sundaes:  #91 Halloween or Fall 
Paper Take Weekly :  Spooky Hues 
Whoopsi Daisy Challenges:  Free and Easy 
Lexi's Creations #51 : Sentiment




Baby cardi

I have been busy finishing this little cardi.  I now have a matinee jacket in pink and this cardi in blue ..... can't you tell I am hedging my bets for the forthcoming grandchild?

Sunday 16 October 2011

Rye Harbour

Yesterday was such a lovely day so went down to Rye Harbour to spend a couple of hours mooching and walking through the nature reserve by the river, prior to hospital visiting in the afternoon.

We hadn't been to Rye Harbour before; it is a little bit further down river than Rye itself.  They are slowly turning the marshes back to salt marshes and although we were not there at the best time to see the variety of birdlife as the summer birds migrated and the winter birds arrived, we still had a lovely time looking out over the marshes.

Across the other side of the river we could clearly see Dungeness out in the distance and closer, of course, was Camber sands.

It is certainly a place to visit if ever you have time.




Saturday 15 October 2011

Dabbling

The other day a friend and I decided to experiment using our water colour pencils.  I have had these for about 9 months now and have only used them once!!!  Maybe I needed the company of someone else to get the confidence to use them, or maybe it was because I was away from the house and all the other temptations  LOL.
The first one I did was A in the top right hand corner.  I was quite pleased except for my inability to know where to shade things to make them look right.  I thought I would do the smoke and then wished I hadn't.  Since this picture was taken I have added some grass, a path and some flowers in the foreground.
B was slightly different in that I stamped with distress inks and then just used plain water to "bleed out" some of the colour to fill the white spaces.  I only did a bit of this, by way of experimenting.
C I tried to get a bit of shading in the flowers and have since put some colouring on the frame - just a very pale beige colour.
The other images I have yet to colour.  I thought the bird houses would make quite nice "New Home" cards.

Thursday 13 October 2011

Butterfly

I love using my Marianne Creatables butterfly die and I raided my stash box of bits to find the right pieces of card for the butterfly and then added a little bit of glitter to bring it to life.  I love brown and cream as a combination too.

I have entered it in these challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday's: #175butterfly
Heart Song Inspirations: #19 diecut or sponge
Scrapbook Sisters: #56 - anything goes
WoodwareUSA # 47 - anything goes
Paper Sundaes#90 Favourite Colour Combo

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Cuckfield

Cuckfield is a lovely village not far from where I live.  The Parish Church of Holy Trinity is set in a beautiful churchyard with views through to the South Downs.

I started a website about Cuckfield, mainly for those people interested in genealogy and social history and it is certainly a labour of love.  Please click the link to visit the Cuckfield Compendium

These are views of the Church, some of the cottages in the churchyard and views across to the South Downs on a somewhat atmospheric day.




Tuesday 11 October 2011

Safari

A friend gave me the images for these a long time ago and may even have given me the paper too.  I was asked for a leaving card and I saw the image of those elephants walking away to the left and new at last that I had the right use for my stash.

I have entered it into the following challenges
Crafty Boots Challenge Zoo or animal Theme
Craft Challenge 123 - Bright Colours 
Crafty Cardmakers 53 - Anything goes 




Monday 10 October 2011

Sepia Tints

I always try to find something different for my daughter's birthday cards and preferably to try and include photos of her daughter in there too.  I have used Paint Shop Pro to do some of the creations but this time printed off little photos and put behind a film strip I created in my Craft Robo and added other relevant embellishments to the card.

I have entered it in the following challenges:
Do You Stack Up Challenge #40 - Brown
The ABC Challenge - No 1 - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge #152 - Anything goes
Creatalicious Challenges # 26 - Anything goes

Sunday 9 October 2011

Lucy

This is Lucy, a rag doll that I made my little grand daughter.  She is well loved, just as was the rag doll I made from the same pattern 32 years ago for my daughter.