BAH HUMBUG - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hello there blog friends - and to my new follower - Hi and thanks so much for following me and adding such lovely comments. 

I decided to put a 'C' card on my blog today - well it is August after all - I actually made this one last year.  I do love these stamps, they are from Jayne Nestorenko's Adorables collection and you can build up all sorts of scenes.

The backing paper is from her CD and I printed it out on pearl paper.  The die cuts are some I did waaaay back and were from my bit box.  I inked around the edges but instead of doing the normal circular motion, this time I just tilted the piece of Cut n Dry then dragged it onto the card with just a 'sweep'.

It is a really simple card and I hope you like it. 

I love reading your comments - you have built up my confidence no end and I really love being part of the blogging community - my hubby often hears me say "oooh I've  had a lovely comment from ....... , she's one of my blog friends".

Loads of hugs to you all

Bye for now and thanks for stopping by!

SUE

A SCENTED GARDEN!!

Hello there blog friends and a special hello to my new followers - at last I have finished my tag!!!!   I am so happy that I am unblocked - so to speak.  I was going to call it something slightly different but, in the back of my mind, I have a feeling it is probably a naughty book!!

Anyway, I covered the tag in pale 'word printed' paper and then dabbed chalk ink onto it through several 'That Special Touch' masks.  I cut the foliage, butterfly and label using my Spellbinders.  I found the birdcage in my 'bit' box and can't remember who made the die without foraging!

Before this came into my brain though, I decided I must use some of the Frantage glitter - hence the gold streak!  Prior to making up the Bitty Blossoms in white handmade paper, I stamped over them with a background script stamp just to add a bit of interest.  I used some pale green printed paper for the solid butterfly and then added touches of chalk ink over the embossed bits.  The top of the butterfly is cut in parchment.  The label was stamped in Maroon Archival ink and I also inked around the edges. I popped some little pearls into the centres of the flowers and glued two flowers inside the birdcage.  No trapped birdies for me.  Just before I glued the butterfly to the tag, I scrunched a small piece of 'Spider Web' and placed it underneath the butterfly.  A little bit of ribbon at the top of my tag finished the project.

And here it is ... 

Now that my hubby is taking the pics for me, I have asked him to do some close ups of various bits.

The piece of white plastic underneath is not part of the tag - just something to prop it up!

I hope you like this - thanks for stopping by and for all your comments.

Hope my next project doesn't take me as long.

Hugs to you all

SUE

YOU ARE SO KIND!

Hello blog friends - better late than never as they say.  I am still working on my tag but have terrible constipation of the brain.  Nothing is moving so I am stuck.  I have finished ironing (no I didn't do it all because there is three weeks' worth) my back is really playing up today even though I have been doing my physio exercises.  I figure if I do a bit (of ironing) every day it will soon go - ready for the next lot on Friday - oh joy.  While I was ironing I was doing some inspirational thinking - supposedly - but nothing came to mind.

I have decided to pop another of my creations on my blog today instead - hope you aren't thinking that my tag is going to be a work of art when it's done 'cos I will start giggling now and tell you ...... as if!!!

Here is something I made earlier - da da - no sticky back plastic in sight.

The patterned paper is from my stash and I used Bazzill Basics card for the backing, borders and for the diecut.  This card is 6" x 6" so I wanted a small border punch, the one I used is by EK Success.  I twisted some beige/white and blue/white Bakers Twine together and then added a bow of the same colours.  The three buttons are really pretty - they look a little like Abalone shell as the colours change when the light catches them.  The sentiment is one from a plate by Creative Expressions.  Before I assembled the card I went around the edge of the blue backing card with my distressing tool and I also cut out a faux diecut for the matting of the sentiment.  I learnt this from Sue Wilson and I love doing this - just another way to put your dies to use.

That's all for now lovely blog friends - a big big thank you to my new followers and for your brilliant comments.  I do think my Dolls' house has set many of you off thinking about your childhood houses.  Forgot to mention that I still have my doll - a Christmas present when I was 9 - her name is Sandra and she sits on the chaise in our bedroom, still wearing the clothes that my Nan knitted for her.  Although her shoes and bloomers were made by me when I first had her.  

Sorry I'm going off on one again.  Lots of hugs to you all out there, see you soon - hopefully with the tag that is freezing my brain into inactivity.

SUE

STRAYING FROM THE NORM!!!

Hi there to bloggers one and all.  Today I thought I would stray off the path of papercraft and go to one of my other hobbies.  Hope you don't mind.

When I was a little girl I had a small dolls 'bungalow'.  My Nan always came with me to buy mini bits and pieces,  she was as fascinated as I was and was always a source of information.  Anyway when we moved house, my lovely bungalow was left behind in the attic - I was 9 at the time but there are somethings you remember when you are young and this is one of those memories.  I bet you are all going 'ahhhhh' - but I can say that I did get over it - sort of.

Many, many, many years later I saw a programme about dolls houses and it set me off again.  My hubby wanted to know what I would like for my 50th birthday and I said ..... 'a dolls' house please'.  He did look at me rather oddly, but by then he was used to my, shall we say, foibles.  The house he bought came in pieces so he built it for me and I chose paper and paint and we decorated it together in the Victorian style.  He put all the electric lights, lamps and fires in for me, each one lights up separately and the lamps and fires flicker.   

I still don't have it all finished but it is coming along nicely, I thought I would share a pic or two of the kitchen with you on this occasion - it is my favourite room so far.   Apologies for the pics I need a few lessons from hubby!!!!   I bought the dresser and table ready made but I try to buy most of the furniture in kit form and then I sand the pieces, glue them together and stain/varnish them.  This is also a very therapeutic hobby.

Mrs Broom (the cook) has been dressed by me from her cap down to her bloomers. 

I hope you like it, I will be back to my cards next time.

Hugs to you all and thanks for stopping by, I do appreciate your lovely comments.

SUE

GIRL ON A TOADSTOOL!

Hi there lovely blog friends - I know I am never very early with my blog but I have just returned from a lovely lunch with my hubby to celebrate our anniversary.  Now I just want to sleep!!!!

Anyway whilst I am still almost awake I thought I would post the card I finished yesterday.  This is for my little next door neighbour Katie - 8 today (I can remember when I was that age ........ just).

I got the image from a Polly Pickleberry cd - I'm not really into cds but I do like this one and the Polka Doodles cds because of their digital images, they really are nice and I love using my Promarkers.  I did my usual inking around the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink.  I had the yellowy paper in my stash and the gingham was a freeby with a magazine.  The two red borders were punched with a Martha Stewart punch and I threaded some of the vintage ribbon through.  I used a scalloped edge square die for the digital stamp and a scalloped rectangle die and a plain rectangle die for the sentiment.  I used a little ink around the edges of the large scalloped die and small plain die - naturally!!!  The '8th' was a peel off, mainly because I had some to hand. 

I popped three little rose heads underneath the sentiment and used some butterflies from the 'waste' off a Butterflies Circle diecut.   Now for a little confession (for which I am not at all ashamed, lol) my Promarkers 'bled' just on the edge of the toadstool and I had red ink over the edge so I removed most of it with the blender pen and - following a flash of inspiration for me!! - I popped on the butterflies.  Four little bits of Card Candi in the corners of the picture and it was complete.

Thank you for stopping by, I do hope you like my girl on a toadstool.
Crafty hugs

SUE

LADY IN GOLD!

I have just decided (it does take me a long time to make any decision!!) to enter this card into Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge - 216 Gold.  I am not sure whether I am doing this right so please bear with me.

My hairdresser asked me to make her a card for her daughter's birthday as she was going to be 21.  I  made this card for her in March and she was pleased with it.

She had requested blue and gold and asked for an old style stamp.  I had showed her some of my collection and she picked out 3  stamps, then told me to choose.

I used a piece of white card which I inked over with Distress Ink (I chose a mixture of blues) I then stamped a few twirly foliage bits in Versamark ink and then embossed them in gold.

I stamped the image with Coffee Adirondack  ink and dabbed the edges with Versamark and embossed in gold.  I layered both pieces on blue card and added a few 'handcrafted roses' from Craftime.  I popped a blue grosgrain ribbon down the side and added a small key as a 21st token.

Hope you like this.

Thanks for stopping by - hugs to you all.


Sue

A REQUEST FROM LINDA (LINDYLOO)

Hi there blog friends - I am in the middle of making a card for my young next door neighbour and I am therefore going to make this one really short.  "Can she" I hear you wondering?   Well I am the first to admit that I waffle - always have done and always will do lol! 

Anyway the sweetie who is Lindyloo has asked if she could see a picture of 'moi'.  I know you can't see my other picture properly but there is a reason for that - ie I hate having my piccy taken.   Ooooh there are soooo many chins and I can never get me head in the right position to lose any!!     Well, here we go -

It has been so difficult to find a pic of me other than on holiday - I really am camera shy!!  Oh and my hair is no longer blondish - I've gone back to my normal brown!!

As for this one, when I have curled and primped my hair ready for going out, I always ask my hubby if my hair is alright.  We were on this speed boat having just got off a 14 hour flight and he suddenly said "By the way your hair looks nice" - think this pic is just before I said a naughty word!!

Well that's all for now, will be back very soon with the card that I am now going to finish.

Crafty hugs to everyone out there, especially Linda,  and thank you for stopping by.

Sue