A couple of ...

... weeks since the last missive and not much has changed.  OH is still in the hospice and he's still in pain. He's had a partial MRI.  Only partial because he couldn't keep still long enough to have the whole spine done.  I don't know, but I'm thinking that they never scanned the bit that would give any clue as to what's going on. I got called away from a workshop as the hospice had nobody free to go with him for the MRI so I went.  I was 'nurse' for the duration, having been given his drugs to dish out. He tells me they're looking at taking him to the pain clinic now.  We'll see.

He's quite funny at the moment.  I've never seen him drunk or really, even tipsy, in the 30+ years we've been together but whatever drugs they've got him on at the moment gives the impression he's permanently in a happy place *ROFL!*  Not only is he having oral drug therapy he also carries a syringe driver around with him (sitting on his lap in the pic) and then there's occasionally 'extra' intravenously.  It can be very difficult getting any sense out of him at times and trying to understand anything he's saying is pretty hard work.  He's speaking quite clearly - just doesn't make any sense - *lol*

He had his birthday a couple of days ago.  We never have a birthday cake but, as he wasn't home, I bought him one.  Apparently they made him one at the hospice as well, although I never got to see it as it had disappeared by the time I got there *lol*

This past weekend I went to see my nephew in his first lead role.  He's a student at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts doing a degree course.  It's his final year so it's all shows and showcases for agents and the like. He's been lucky enough to have already been signed to an agent so he can do open auditions for work.  If he gets work before the course ends, his finals will be assessed from wherever he is, whatever he's doing, otherwise it will be done in college.  Saturday matinee was virtually a full house and the show got an excellent response from the audience.  Apparently the best up to then.

I'm getting confused as to what I need to catch up on and what's been done.  I'm not organised enough to have made a list, checked it twice and then checked things off as done.  Perhaps I need to do that now before I go too far - but first ... 

The workshop I got called away from to escort OH to his MRI was for a shaker card.  I got as far as cutting the first matt and no further.  I asked Clair to stamp the image for me then I cut and ran, thinking I'd be able to finish it at home except ..... I had none of the things Clair used to make card.  I'd decided I wanted to make it for OH's birthday card so I improvised with what I had.  You can see the original card here - and a video on how it was put together here.  This is my version ....

I used Prismacolors, Zest-It (as my blending fluid) and blending stumps to colour LoTV's James with Heart.  The embossing folder was a new one from Crafter's Companion - Sunbeam and the white matt was edged with a Martha Stewart frame punch.  First time of using and I need to practise, or use it in a full light, not half light and then, perhaps, I can see how things are lining up - *lol!*  I used the punch outs in the shaker bit (coloured with Sharpies) and yes, that is a peel off Happy Birthday - stuck to the stripey paper under the acetate - so shoot me!

That's about it for this time.  Off to visit OH and think about making that list *lol*

Thanks for dropping by .....

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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!!
 

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!!
 

Another anniversary card.

... for mine and hubby's Silver Wedding anniversary - today! Yep, 25 years today and it's a 2nd marriage for me, 3rd for him. We must both have got it right this time but who knows what's round the corner. In the meantime this is a scheduled post as we should be away on a weekend jaunt to 'celebrate' the occasion. It's not quite what I'd envisaged as a celebration but it's better than nowt so making the most of it ... hopefully *LOL*

Here's the card I made for him. Not the best and not sure I actually like it but as I left it so late to make it, it was either go with it or go and buy one (it has been known *hehe*).  It's a mixture of stamps and peeloffs and I also stamped and decorated the insert.

Ingredients:

Mega oval nesties, scalloped & plain for matting/layering

Silver mirri board

Pearlescent card for DL card blank and layering

Woodware Wedding Anniversaries

See D's Celebration Messages stamp set (insert)

An assortment of Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps from Love, Noel & Joy

Anita's peeloffs

Silver ink pad and various red & greens for RST stamps.

Enjoy!!

 

Birthday cards.

Two birthdays this week. Youngest grandson was 2 yesterday and a future step-grandson was 13 on Tuesday. Little one was easy enough to do. I'd bought a Kanban kit from QVC a few months ago. Don't normally go in for kits as I don't really relate to them as crafting. A bit of sticking and matting and layering and they're done. Doesn't do it for me unfortunately however I could see a use for this kit - Kanban Wobblers - because of the novelty value for kids of all ages. As Zac is a little monkey there was only one I could do ....

I made an acetate 'spring' to attach his head (lesson learnt from making the elephant earlier in year) and it is far more secure although it's not quite as 'wobbly'.  I curved the arms so they stood out from the body a way and curved the bow tie to give it dimension.  I then found my stash of wobbly eyes so added those over the printed eye. Trimmed the rocker so there wasn't as much 'spare' overhanging the edge, age added with peeloffs - job done!  Dont know what little Zac really thought of it 'cos he opened Great-Grandad's card, which was shop bought and had a teddy on it, and spent the next 15 minutes walking round with that repeating, like a broken record, 'oh look'!  Well, he is only 2 ... bless!

I don't really know the future step-grandson and have no idea what interests he has. When I see his Mum he's usually with his Dad so, although we do see him on occasion, it's not often. He seems a nice lad though and we have to recognise he exists so a quick phone call to eldest and it's football! Tottenham Hotspur to be exact. Just hope I got it right. Not heard to the contrary ....

Ingredients:

Textured card blank from stash

SU backing papers (offcuts from my stash),

Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio, Classic circles & scalloped circles for sentiment and rosette,

Pictures of strip from t'internet

Computer generated sentiments

Enjoy!!

Magenta Magic Workshop.

24th April 2010 - afternoon at the Glitterpot.

With the inspiring Jane Gill.

It's been an age since I posted a card on here and it's been an age since I actually made one. Here's one that I think is definitely worth posting though.

Using Woodware Magenta Style peel off stickers (Code #98219 - leaves) and vellum paper. Who could imagine that a sheet of peel off leaves could end up looking like this? Well, Jane did! Excuse the rubbish stamping. The plaque was a 2nd attempt and hides the first attempt! The 2nd attempt it definitely an improvement, believe me, but it's still rubbish and I now know how I could have made it better ... now it's too late or - is it? *LOL*.

Enjoy!!