A couple more ...

... from the Christmas workshop. A bit later than anticipated as I've asked a question and waiting a reply which doesn't appear to be forthcoming.  Nothing to do with the cards but relevant to this post.  Will post anyway ....
I loved the diversity of the designs Clair came up with.  I so wish I had the imagination.

An 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) card.
Imagination embossing folder
No idea whose die or stamp
Spellbinders Shapeabilities - 2013 Snowflake Pendant
Gems

An A6 card
Woodware Clear Stamp - Snowflakes & Sparkles
No idea re the Let it Snow stamp or the plaque die
White embossing powder
White ribbon
Candi made with a punch and matching card scraps.

I've started the photo book of mine and Jackie's holiday to Italy earlier this year.  Should have started it sooner but I'd already done 3, or is that 4, photo books this year and I kind of ran out of steam.  It takes a while to put the holiday ones together (it takes a while to put any together if I'm honest) as I research the places we visit so I can put a little info in the book and I also like to tell little 'stories'.  I keep a diary (I know, I'm sad) on a daily basis while we're away to remind me of what we got up to when the memory of the laughs we have start to fade - lol!  Have to say I love doing the books but I do have to be in a 'creative' mood to do them as I don't just dump photos in and hope for the best.  I can take a whole evening just doing 4 to 6 pages, or less.  Layout is everything and the choice of photos is hard when there's so many to choose from.  I prepare the books and then wait for a deal to come along.  I never, ever pay full price for a book and I never buy in advance and put myself under pressure to 'perform'.  Did it once, never again.  Gave me a month and I went to the wire.  Hated it.  Much prefer taking my time and there's always an offer round the corner *big grin*

Thanks for dropping by .....

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And a wedding ...

... card!  Yep, mojo came back enough for me to put together a wedding card.  Just hope it's liked as I'm not sure about it myself.  I guess the focal point is the decoupage.  TBZ embossed and gilded and layered using Pinflair Glue Gel.  Oh how I dislike that stuff.  Give me good ol' silicone any day!  

The border punching was done using the totally idiot proof, Woodware Crafty Edger.  I'm loving this border system.  It really makes it so easy to match the pattern.  There can be no mismatching/double punching with it as there can be with all the other border punches I've tried and yes, that would be the Martha Stewarts and EK Success ones.  Pretty as those designs are some are a real nightmare to match and they can be a complete fiddle to get in position and held secure while you punch.  With this Woodware system there is absolutely no margin of error at all - it just works!  Wish they'd hurry up and bring out more designs ... and the corner punches I've been assured will be coming as well. ;0)  If they bring out a big enough range and the corner punches, then I shall quite happily get rid of all my MS punches.  Storage is a lot easier as it's a cassette system and the cassettes stack. Even better than the flat EK Success punches as they're smaller *grin*.  Guess it's got the potential to have everything that the others haven't got - providing they come through with the designs.  Digressing again but I'm sooooo impressed with this system.  It's not often I like something this much.

Anyway, I kept some of the punched waste shapes and used them as 'confetti' to take the plainness off of the white surround.  Greeting was an SU stamp but I borrowed it so not sure which set it belongs to.  Ruffled ribbon again (I love the effect ruffling the ribbon gives) and a few pearls.

I've been wondering where all the followers & subscribers I had on Crafty Bits are.  I had 126 followers and 91 Feedblitz subscribers.  I've come to the conclusion that they followed and subscribed but really didn't 'cos if they did they'd have moved over when blogs merged ..... wouldn't they? Daft thing is Bits still has 126 followers, even though there's nothing on the blog now so I'm guessing, without checking, that it also still has 91 subscribers - *lol*!  What I was sad to see go was the country count on my Neoworx counter.  It's building up again here - and quickly - but Bits had hits from 133 countries.  I'm happy with the way things are and I've not regretted doing what I did so guess that's the main thing.  I've felt more inclined to blog and hopefully, for those that do follow, with more variety it's a bit more interesting as well.  My life isn't all crafting.  If truth be known there's not much crafting involved at all, although I'd like there to be but who knows .... one day - *hehe*

Paul's pre-op assessment was OK so everything is go for him to have the screw out on the 6th May.  Hopefully he'll be able to start using the hand more and there'll be a better judgement on any residual pain 'cos at the moment not too sure if it's all down to the screw or not :0{

Today?  Some of that 'h' word.  Well, had to finally do some, didn't I?  I also started sorting out my holiday packing.  Nothings packed but it's coming together.  I've also done, or prepped, a fair bit of paperwork so I'm feeling quite organised but I'm sure that won't last *LOL*

It's still hot and sunny and looks as though the Easter weekend is going to stay that way.  Very unusual weather for a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK.  It usually rains - *lol*

Thanks for dropping by .....

Plans again ...

... down the pan - as ever.  I really will, one day, realise that I get to do what's intended if it's not planned.  Nothing done in kitchen but got paperwork done instead.  No idea why nothing else got done except I had a bad night, fell asleep as it was nearly time to get up and ended up sleeping late ... again!  Really will have to get a handle on that.  I always used to be an early riser but I'm getting later and later.  I'm hoping that today ... *grin*

I've another card to show.  It should be 2 but I've still to make the second one.  It's the card made last Friday, the 18th, at a floral punch craft class with Jane Gill at the Glitterpot.  The workshop was making gerbera and margeurite daisies.  We made the gerbera in the morning and put the card together after lunch.  Once done we made a daisy and bud.  Time ran out so we were given all the elements to make another daisy and all the requirements to make a card with it.  To date, I've still not made the other daisy let alone the other card *lol*

The main punch used was a super duper Woodware daisy punch - the largest one they do.  Other, smaller daisy punches were used for the more central part of the flower.  The black middle was fun flock.  A Tim Holtz Sizzix swirl, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set, greeting stamp, ribbon and Bazill card ... 

The Friday of this workshop was also Red Nose Day/Comic Relief.  (Bit blurry but she was other side and down the end of the table from me - *lol*)  It didn't stay on ...

A workshop full of concentration. Note the view in the background ... containers!  Not quite the pond and sheep in the fields we had at Scaynes Hill.

Lunchtime and Jane prepping for the afternoon class ...

UPDATE:  I've remembered why nothing got done yesterday .... I was Googling and comparing prices for anti-malarials, anti-bug spray, bite relief and sunblock!  Successfully, I might add 'cos it's all on order.  Well, there's only just over a month before the off *yessssssssss*!

Thanks for dropping by .....

Bubble Butterflies Workshop - part 2!

The 2nd card we made I absolutely loved!

We used the large, single Woodware Bubble Butterfly stamp.  This is a very large stamp and would make a definite statement on a large square or A5 card.  

This one was stamped onto black shrink plastic with white Stazon, cut out  and heated until it had shrunk.  While still warm (I would say it was blooming hot) the wings were raised and held until the plastic had gone hard ... to give it some dimension.  I should add here that, before heating, the cut out shape was heavily doused with a stamp buddy (or talc would do) to help prevent the plastic sticking to itself as it curls through the heating process.  The powder was cleaned off with a baby wipe before gems/pearls/Stickles and Liquid Pearls were applied to decorate.  A large statement flower was made using various sizes of scalloped circles (I've seen tutorials for this type of flower in blogland but can't remember where so can't post a link but ..... if there's enough interest I might do one).  Stamped Hero Arts greeting onto a rectangle, matted with toning paper/card to the background papers (BoBunny in this instance), a border punch (this one was one of the new Woodware Crafty Edger - foolproof for matching the pattern) a bit of ribbon and done!  I fixed the butterfly with a blob of Pinflair gel but a sticky dot would work as well.     

One tip - if using Stickles, Liquid Pearls and the like .... allow each different product/colour to dry before adding another as they tend to run slightly, as can be seen on mine if looked at closely enough.

There were several variations of this card across the ladies in the workshop as not all added the butterfly to their flower.  It depended on how the rest of the card came together as to where the butterfly was placed but, without exception, all the cards were stunning.  Everyone's colour selections worked (we chose our own) as did their layouts.

Thanks Jane, for making us think for ourselves instead of having it handed on a plate!

Photos are not good as light was bad when taken.  The top of the card was actually a browny colour, not green

Dad day yesterday and, oh dear!  He seems to be getting worse mentally. Last week he started to ask me about what he had to do with his hearing aids when he went to bed. Went through the routine with him, a routine he's been doing for at least 10 years and what happens this week? The whole visit was taken up with the same thing.  Somehow he's managed to forget the routine or he's started thinking about it without doing it on auto-pilot and he's confused himself. He wasn't even wearing them yesterday and, when asked, he told me he'd not been wearing them for a 'couple of days' which could actually mean since my last visit. He has no concept of time. One had run out of battery but it seems he's now stopped asking the carers to change them for him as well. I told him he can't wait for me. If I'm ill he could be without them for weeks and nobody wants to hear his TV blaring out as it was yesterday - *lol* I've left a note for the carers to check he deals with the aids correctly at night .....  

There's other signs of deterioration as well. He gets so cross as he's aware that he's getting worse. He has trouble explaining things. He knows what he wants to say but the words aren't there. Lack of socialising doesn't help but he seems to think he's very busy. I'm fast coming to the conclusion that he's living his life in his head and that is his reality. Anything outside of his head is becoming increasingly difficult for him and that includes talking and conversing. It's scarey that it could be me in a few years.

Thanks for dropping by .....

Bubble Butterflies Workshop - part 1!

But first -
Had another busy day, for me, yesterday.  Got the last 2 kitchen cupboards sorted while hubby was having his post op appointment with the surgeon, followed by an appointment with the hand therapist.  Found plenty more rubbish which will be finding it's way, either to the dogs home shop (might be rubbish to us but to somebody else?) or the tip!  Unfortunately there's more for the tip this time than the dogs home shop, although I found a lot of garden 'stuff' that my neighbour can probably find a use for ;0).  Only problem I've got now ... I found another cupboard I'd forgotten about.  Small one so decided to take care of that as well but - it's had a spill of something in it and it's a pull out which has to come off of runners so it's not an easy job.  Decided to leave it for another day as it's going to be a tough job to clean up whatever has spilled. Unfortunately I think some sort of chemical will need to be used.  So not good for my lungs but needs must!

Hubby can now start using his hand, gently, fully ... being sensible with it so, my cooking duties will be disappearing again soon - yay!  He can try driving again as well so hopefully I'll be getting my Wednesday's back as he's been champing at the bit to go shooting.  He was concerned about a 'clicking' he was getting near his thumb sometimes but seems they're not too concerned about that as it's not part of what they've done.  Just suggested it might be a touch of arthritis.  He was also concerned about a lump that had appeared on the side of his thumb 'joint'.  Turns out it's a screw they put in to hold everything together until it had all 'gelled'.  The screw will be coming out .... :0)  Looks as though normal life, as we know it, will be returning to some degree - and am I pleased about that! *hehe*

Anyway ...

Saturday March 12th, workshop with Jane Gill at the Glitterpot.

A 'scrapling' card.  The bit of card you get left with when you cut a folded piece of A4 to make a square card.  Don't let it go to waste ... use it - *lol*

Butterfly (using a stamp from Jane's new Woodware set called .... Bubble Butterflies :0)) stamped onto parchment/thick vellum and coloured with a variety of Sakura pens.  Gelly roll, normal, stardust - whatever is to hand.  A combination of a very large punched blossom, a variety of toning/contrasting paper flowers and a brad (in this instance a felt one).  A stencil ...  Jane had made the stencils from acetate and punches and there was a variety.  I chose the flower and double stenciled to give a shadow effect - and a greeting.

Quick, but very effective and the butterfly could be coloured with anything that will take to parchment/vellum.

Unfortunately photo shows the pen lines of the colouring but it's not actually obvious in real life.

Thanks for dropping by .....

Foxy Birthday Card.

I wasn't going to post this yet but decided I would.  It's for hubby's birthday which isn't until the 23rd but as he doesn't read the blog I'm safe to post it here.  I've also entered it on the forum's February Inspiration challenge.  I was holding back mainly because of that but then remembered that it is no longer a 'competition' challenge.  It used to be entered anonymously and then the cards are voted by the membership but it was changed this month so I am safe to post it before the challenge closing date.

The challenge was to use something from a CD.  Now, I don't do CD crafting although I do have some.  I've bought some but, other than opening them and looking to see what's on them, I've never used one.  Knowing hubby's birthday was on the horizon I thought that I could kill 2 birds etc. etc.  A quick look through the only CDs I had that I thought might have something suitable and I decided on using an image from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD.

I imported image into PSP9 and added a texture effect.  I then added a border and buttonized it - picking out a colour from the fox to tie it all in.  I then mirrored the image, cropped it down, faded it, added the same border/buttonizing and added text to make a matching greeting plaque.  Images were mounted onto thick, bronze pearlescent paper (bought eons ago from Craftwork Cards at a craft show) with that used for the main image being edged with a border punch.  Everything was then mounted onto gold mirri board.  I printed a blank 'plaque' matching the greeting one and stuck that on the base of the card for signing.  Finished off with a few pearls .... job done!

I decided to make a twisted easel card but a double one however, for one reason or another it ended up as a single.  It is also quite small, only being 4" x 4" when flat.  I'm not into 'big' cards and I love how this one has turned out.

Ingredients:

White card for blank

Gold mirri card

Bronze paper

Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew Collection CD (image)

Staples IQ Smooth 160gsm card for printing

Martha Stewart Modern Garland border punch

Woodware inverted corner punch

Gold/bronze pearls from stash

Enjoy!!

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!!
 

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 Flowers Workshop.

Wednesday 21st October - with Jane Gill at the Glitterpot

Getting a bit behind with my posting. Life keeps getting in the way! This workshop was an all day one and was based around the Woodware Christmas Flower combination punch (Jane's design). We made one card and matching tag in the morning and the same in the afternoon. I'm unsure of the ingredients of these cards but a selection of designer papers, nesties, Martha Stewart punches and stamps were also used.

Ingredients (as much as I remember)

Woodware super duper Christmas flower combination

Martha Stewart punches - Modern Garland & Lattice (although any would do)

Scallop circle and plain circle nesties.

Stamps - Merry, Merry Christmas from Woodware Rocket Christmas & Penny Black Christmas Text

Papers - Basic Grey

Stickles & Liquid pearls.

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!!