Christmas meet shoebox project #7

Well, it wasn't my project #7 as these are the cards I made the kits up for. I made several samples as I'd used different colours in my kits and wanted to show that, depending on how the snow couple were coloured, any colourway could be used.  There was one more, in  a pinky colour, but seems I've omitted to photograph it and it's now gone to a good home - lol!

Ingredients:

Penny Johnson stamp from Stampavie - Snowy Cuddles

Promarkers

Digi sentiment from Create with TLC

Snowflakes embossing folder (Cuttlebug exclusive to Kars)

Stickles glitter glue

Snow writer

Papermania paper

Mirri card.

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas meet shoebox project #6

... except it wasn't a shoebox project. This was a Stampin' Up make and take that Joanne supplied. Mine isn't quite what it should have been as I kept getting the punching wrong. Got the bottom border right and got the corners wrong. Got the corners right, got the bottom border wrong so .... as we'd been given enough ribbon to tie a bow I decide to take the right corners and the right border and join them, using some of the ribbon to cover the join. Instead of a bow I had a knot but I also ended up with a longer matt for the stamped image. All products are SU down to the glitter used on the stamped background.

Joanne's make and take

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas meet shoebox project #5

An A5 card with a bowed front. Had difficulty lining the decoupage up through the aperture with this one. Could have done better!

Deb's shoebox kit

I think that this was sourced from a CD but don't know which one - sorry!

Circle nesties for aperture, plain and scalloped.

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas meet shoebox project #4

... and the next one in my photo album - lol! Another that is simple but very effective. I like simple *grin*

Kim's shoebox kit

Ingredients:

I'm guessing this used all SU products.

The stamps certainly are ... Contempo Christmas set.

Martha Stewart Snowflake and edger punch

Ribbon & pearl

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas meet shoebox project #3

I love this one ... well, I love them all but like the simplicity and impact that this has.

Jan's shoebox kit

Ingredients:

A6 card blank

Score board for scoring lower part of card and border (Hougie board in this instance)

Strip of DP paper

Circle nesties for matting.

Nellie Snellen Multi frame circles or Nestie Lacey Circles

Stamp or Digi image (this one was from Pink Gem)

Colouring medium (promarkers used here)

Greeting and SU window punch

Stickles glitterglue

 Enjoy!!

 

Christmas meet shoebox project #2

A second card made at the Christmas crafting day.

Carolyn's shoebox kit.

Ingredients:

3 inch square card blank.

Contrasting card for backing

Scalloped and plain circle nesties

SU window punch and a stamped greeting

Stamped or digi image and colouring medium

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas meet shoebox projects.

At the end of November (27th to be exact) I had a day of crafting with a group of friends. We used the shoebox idea again where we each supplied everyone with a 'kit' to make a card or project. We ended up with 12 projects each on the day ... some simple and effective and others with a bit more of a difficulty level ... but far too many to get through in one day. I've still to do some of the projects - and put finishing touches to others - but I've finally got round to photographing those that I have finished so there'll be a few posts to follow.

Where I can I will put details of items used but mostly ...... I have no idea - lol!

Cally's shoebox kit
based on a card we made at a Jackie Huckstep workshop at the Glitterpot

Ingredients:

Bazzill Bling

Nesties labels

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Crafts Too embossing folder (greeting)

DP for backing

Snowflake punches

Gems & Ribbon

Enjoy!!
 

... or not!

Today it's all gone. Hubby could have saved himself all that hard work yesterday except he says it was good exercise - ???

Jack Frost visited last night but had disappeared by the time we went to bed and the thaw was well and truly on. Then it rained and it rained and melted all the snow. This morning the only clue that we'd had any at all was where it had been stacked in clearing sessions but even those piles are a lot smaller. There's been a lot more rain ... and hail ... this morning but at least we can get out and about again. I've done the top up shop before the main delivery on Monday but can't get a snow shovel for love nor money. Seems the stores have ordered them but they've not been delivered. Will have to keep an eye open.

Thanks for dropping by .....
 

Weather!

You wouldn't believe it! Can't remember the last time we've had this weather this early in the winter season, except it's not winter yet ... well, not officially! In fact, it's not usual we have it at all.  We started the year with it and looks as though we're gonna end the year the same way.

The majority of the country has been hit with really heavy snowfall. The north and Scotland got dumped on last week and are still getting dumped on. We, in the south, got a share this week. Eldest son (who's 38 today - happy birthday son - lol!) got it a little earlier than us, he being treated over last weekend. Ours arrived on Tuesday. Not enough to worry us too much but that all changed Wednesday and Thursday. Fortunately Tuesday was MRI day for Paul and we managed to get there. We may have got there OK on Wednesday but had it been yesterday, well - no way José! Well and truly stuck and so much so I had to cancel a doctor's appointment I had for today. Couldn't get there. Seems main roads are now clear and passable but side roads are dangerous and I couldn't get car out of drive to find out.

Wednesday 1st December, just before midnight.

Thursday 2nd December, just after 9am and it carried on snowing!

Today there's been a bit of a thaw. Looks as though I'll be able to get out tomorrow but not because of the thaw as it's still deep in places. It's because hubby has been out and he's cleared ....

• the double ramp at back of bungalow to his car hardstanding, on his own.
• the front of the bungalow (including round my car), with the help of a neighbour.
• the snow off of my car (including the roof - lol!), on his own.

He carried on and cleared all down the drive, which is the whole side of our bungalow, and some, and on a steep slope.  He then cleared the snow off of his own car .... a big 4x4 Volvo estate.

We don't have a shovel so he used a big bass broom and a large bucket (soft broom for the cars) I started off trying to help but had to give up as lungs wouldn't allow me to so I've been on tea/soup/food duty.

It must have taken him about 5 hours and he didn't come back into the house in all that time. It's a big area and even bigger when you consider he's nearly 71, has a hand that is need of another op and he suffers with it.  Is in permanent pain with his back, just been diagnosed with prostate cancer and .... is in a wheelchair! He puts me to shame when I'm more physically able.

Hubby in action on the bottom section of the ramp having cleared from the patio doors, across the patio and to the bottom of the first section ....

... and here's some pretty ones. 

I loved the lone track in the virgin snow, which was sparkling.

 Then I saw a magpie in our neighbour's garden so the zoom came into use. Not as clear as I would have liked but then the bird was quite a distance away.

Top up shop needed tomorrow, if we're not dumped on again ... hmmmm ... and a snow shovel, methinks - lol!

 

Thanks for dropping by .....

Blue, Blue Christmas Workshop

Thursday 11th November - Afternoon session with Jane ... yep, that very talented lady ... again!

Hero Arts Clear Design stamp set used for both cards - Tree-Mendous.

The first card was an A5 card base covered, patchwork style, with squares cut from a variety of blue DP.  Nestability Labels 4 were used for the white and navy blue mats.  The tree, which was stamped in dark blue ink, was adhered to the mats using foam pads. The same ink was used for the greeting and to stamp a few of the snowflakes onto white card which were then punched out with different sized circle punches.  The Woodware Big Holly Leaf punch  was used to add detail and, to finish, blue/gold peeloff dots were used for the holly berries and to embellish the tree and the centre of the snowflakes.

The second card, A6 sized, landscape card blank and again used a patchwork design of blue DP but used in a more abstract way.  Martha Stewart Snow Flurry edge punch was used on a strip of DP with the punch outs saved to add extra embellishment once the main card was finished.  The tree was stamped 3 times with dark blue ink and then each cut out with a narrow white border.  This tree is not symmetrical and the border being left helps to disguise the fact that it can't be matched exactly.  Once cut, each tree was scored down the middle and one tree was stuck, both sides, to one of the others so forming a 3d tree. This was stuck over the patchwork on the base card.  Glitter glue, gems and punch outs were used to further embellish.

Ideal cards for using up those oddments again.  I think the monotone theme of these is the eye-catching feature and changes could be rung by changing the main colour.

Enjoy!!
 

Good news ...

  ... it's not in the bones. Paul's cancer, that is.

Bad news ... yep, it's not all good news ... it's an aggressive cancer (for those in the know, Gleason scale 9, 4+5) and has to be treated. Seems some Prostate cancers aren't treated but just 'watched'. Paul's has to be treated else it will spread and it will kill.

Good news ... treatment started immediately after we were given the news. He's started on hormone therapy and the consultant tells us that from the first pill it starts to kill the cancer. There are side effects to the hormone therapy, or likely to be, not least menopausal symptoms ... hot flushes and the like. Brought a smile to my face, I have to say. As long as he doesn't suffer mood swings I think we'll cope! He might suffer more than I did going through that stage of my life 'cos I had it pretty easy compared with a lot.

He's still to have an MRI (next week) to check out the surrounding soft tissue so we're still keeping fingers crossed that it's not found it's way into that. We're after good news again. Treatment is now transferred to an Oncologist who will decide, once the hormone therapy has started to really do it's work, whether he needs radiotherapy. If he does he'll be looking forward to about 8 weeks of daily visits to the hospital to be zapped (except for weekends and Bank Holidays ... of course) in a few months time. Hormone therapy is likely to be for life and given by injection every 3 months.

Dad - well, what can I say?  He had more than a couple of stitches in his head.  From what I saw it was more like a dozen.  Youngest son ended up going to keep him company at the hospital because carer had to go in the end.  I'm told he kept the other patients amused.  Seems he thought he'd lost a leg.  When it was pointed out he still had a leg he decided it was a foot he'd lost.  My son, his grandson, became his son-in-law whose name was Russell (his name is Wayne),  Could understand that to some extent if we had a Russell in the family but we don't and don't know anyone with that name either.  Hospital wanted to make sure he could walk OK before they discharged him.  Loaned him a walking frame and decided he couldn't possibly go home walking the way he was.  Wayne asked if they were going to keep him permanently, in that case, 'cos the way he was walking was as good as it got - lol!

  

Today (yesterday now 'cos I'm typing this at nearly 5am in the morning!) I spent the afternoon at the hospital with him.  Scheduled appointment at Trauma and Orthopaedics to have them consider knee replacements.  Finally got him to agree to consider that option if they would do it.  It's only taken about 20 years from when he was originally offered that option and refused it ... because he might end up in a wheelchair!  Thinking they'd say, no way José, they've not blown the idea out of the water but he has been referred to a specialist unit and a specialist knee surgeon.  Xrays show he has no knees to speak of.  They have disappeared under years of neglected osteo-arthritis.  It's possible that they are too bad to do anything with, hence the referral to a specialist unit.  If it is possible, and they're prepared to do it, then it will be both knees, fully replaced, at the same time.  Keeping fingers crossed that they will give it a go and it works.  He can't be any worse off it it doesn't, that's for sure.

Still trying to get time together to update this blog and to start blogging properly again but it just doesn't seem to be happening.  One day ....

Thanks for dropping by .....
 

Bubbles, Buttons & Bling Workshop

Friday 5th November - Afternoon session with Jane.

This session was all based around Jane's Woodware, Christmas Bubble Tree stamps set. Not a new set as it was released 2 years ago now but still packs quite an impact. Once again there are peeloffs also made in the design and available in gold, silver, black and white but this workshop just used the stamp set. As with the bauble and wreath cards the bubbles were filled with anything blingy to hand ....

The first card was a pyramid card cut from a template provided by Jane.  The greeting was another of Jane's Woodware stamp sets - Christmas Sentiments  A variety of snowflakes were punched ... any make of punch ... from the same card used for the card blank.  The tree was stamped onto the middle panel and filled with the bling then snowflakes were stuck on around the remaining card sides with a couple of half snowflakes stuck to the middle panel.  The card will fit into an A5 envelope.

The 2nd card is A5 but landscape.  To obtain the blank an A4 piece of card was cut in half across the short side.  One piece was scored and light folded about an 1.5 inches from one edge and that was then stuck to the other piece of card.  DP was cut to size, stuck in place and then 2 holes were punched with a Crop-a-dile to thread ribbon through.  The tree was stamped onto a piece of cream/ivory Bazzill which had been cut to size to fit front of card.  A toning chalk was used over the stamped image before the tree was blinged up.  A strip of matching DP was adhered near the bottom of the card and a greeting, matted, layered and popped with foam pads for a bit of dimension.  The greeting was made using the Crafts Too embossing folder - Christmas Greetings.  I particularly like this card.

Enjoy!!
 

Beautiful Bubble Baubles Workshop

Friday 4th November - Morning session with Jane Gill (I love that designer - lol!)

2 cards made in the morning session.  One using the Woodware stamp set Bubble Wreath designed by Jane and the other using a Woodware peeloff of the same design.

This card was originally an A6 card (approx 6x4 inches) but I've altered it since I bought it home and it's now a 7x5 inch card.  A piece of A6 size cream card was embossed with the Crafts Too embossing folder, Baubles. A peeloff of one of the bubble ornaments (available in silver, gold, black & white) was stuck on and then blinged with anything to hand ... buttons, brads, sequins, gems, beads, microbeads, glitter glue, peeloffs - anything blingy that fits and glitter to fill the odd shapes.  The ornament string was drawn in using a toning Sakura Gellyroll pen.  After I got the card home I decided to cut the front off, ink the edges, layer it onto some toning mirri card and mount it onto a 7x5 inch pearlescent card blank and added a greeting. 

The following card used the bubble wreath from the stamp set previously mentioned.  The card was an A4 sheet folded in half lengthways.  The wreath was stamped onto the base of the card and, as with the peeloff, was blinged up with anything suitable to hand.  Narrow 3mm ribbon was stuck down for the string and a small bow tied and added.  A peeloff greeting was added for the finishing touch.

Once again photos are bad because of poor light.  It's the reason these are so late being posted because I've been trying to get pictures that do them justice.  I've given up!  You'll just have to believe me when I say that they are soooooooo much better in real life - *lol*

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas Trees Workshop #2

Saturday 30th October - Afternoon at the Glitterpot with Jane Gill.

More Christmas trees in the afternoon but this time different and based on Jane's Woodware clear stamp set ... Rocket Christmas. It is an extremely versatile set.  You can use as many or as few of the sections that make up the tree as you wish so you have choice as to what size your finished tree is.

With this card the tree, using some of the sections that make up the tree, was stamped with Versafine onto pearlescent cardstock and embossed with silver embossing powder. The inner parts of the tree sections were cut out and the pearlescent card was mounted onto some contrasting card stock.  The base card was covered with DP and the matted tree adhered to card.  A border was made from a piece of card matching the backing of the tree and punched with a Martha Stewart edging punch before being trimmed with a toning ribbon and placed on card.  The rosette was made from a 12 x 1 inch strip of DP matching the base of the card, scored  at regular intervals (approx 1/8inch or 1/2cm), fan folded then joined and flattened, adding a snowflake to cover centre hole.  The sentiment was stamped onto a shrink plastic label and, once shrunk, was tied to the tree with a piece of ribbon matching that used on the border.

The following card was so different but made using the same stamp set.  This card is ideal for using up those scrap oddments we save and then rarely do anything with. 

The base card was a piece of A5 card folded in half lengthways so, where the cards in the previous post were BIG, this one was quite small!  The base card was covered with a piece of Bazzill after having it's edges distressed.  A selection of the shapes were stamped onto the wrong side of Bazzill card in a variety of colours.   The shapes are then cut out, distressed with ink and a tree shape, of sorts, formed.  A couple of the pieces were put on using foam pads and a ribbon knot tied to one of them.  The tree pieces were then decorated - in this instance with glitter peeloffs and gems.  Quick, simple, funky and effective.  This tree could be larger or smaller and is certainly one to keep in mind for that oddment box!

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas Trees Workshop

Saturday 30th October - Morning workshop with Jane Gill

Large cards.  A4 card folded in half lengthways.  Trees were made using templates designed by Jane.    The base card was covered with a DP and the base of the tree was cut out in Bazill.  Further layers were added having been bordered with Martha Stewart border punches, holly and a snowflake.  The snowflake punch outs were kept for further decoration (would be good in shaker cards as well *grin*)  Extra decoration was added with stickles and eyelets, using Cropadile to punch holes and set eyelets.  The 'Christmas' was a stamp and the 'tree' was made using a Crafts Too embossing folder and the letters cut out.

Unfortunately I had to go buy envelopes for this size of card as didn't have any in my stash but don't reckon it was too much of a hardship as I'm sure I'll be making more this size.  I love it!

 Sorry, photos are not good - light bad as we're having such dismal days lately :0(

Enjoy!!
 

Christmas with Sizzix Workshop

Thursday 22nd October - afternoon at the Glitterpot with Jackie Huckstepp.

Using Sizzix dies in the afternoon, again with a selection of DP.

Ingredients:

Sizzix Original dies - Reindeer #2 & Gingerbread Man #3

DP - Basic Grey

Bazill card

Gems, paint (for icing sugar), gems, brads, bell & ribbon.

Large scalloped circle punch or nestie.

Enjoy!!