Monday 28 February 2011

Kissing fun....

The February challenge over at Hero Arts included the technique of "Kissing"  ~ this is a fun technique but sometimes it is not easy to get a good image.... I played around with several stamps before finally getting something I was happy with....
I used Poppy background ( lots of inky spaces) and kissed it with Magical background.  I found that if I used a light colour ink on the Poppy stamp and a darker one on the Magical background I got a good look.

Friends Forever Kissing

I used Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue ink to ink the Poppy stamp very well.  I then inked up Magical Background in Mediterranean Blue and kissed the two.... Got a reasonable result ( on my second try)   Added some ribbon and a little HA sentiment and made a lovely simple card.

Now I did mention that it took 2 goes to get a good image.... Here's what I did with the first image....

Live Simple Tag

It didn't quite stamp all the way at the bottom, so I cut out a little tag and where the non-stamped bit was, added a sentiment.

Off to watch the last of the Oscars.... see Natalie Portman won the best actress... who will get the best actor?????????????

take care

Sunday 27 February 2011

Fun with Friends.

Yesterday I had a fun day with friends stamping and reminiscing.... this was the first time our group had meet since we lost our friend Sue to cancer in January.... so there was a touch of sadness, but lots of remembering and talking and eating and having a glass of champagne with lunch .... oh and yes some stamping and card making..... We were all a bit slow off the mark.... too much talking.... but so much fun.
Here the group is... ( minus me behind the camera!)
Stamping at Lei's

From left to right... Lei, Janet, Sandie, Glenda and Helen.  We were at Lei's place this month...out on her patio.  It was a very warm sunny day, so inside there were fans going to keep us cool.

I did manage 3 cards..... using a couple of digi images I had printed, one already coloured in from a few weeks ago.... I'll share a couple today...
Friends Birthday

This image is from the internet, but I forgot to note where.  I try and add the name to the image as I download it so I can remember where I got it.... but had forgotten with this one... so if it from your site.... thank you!!!!  I had used some coloured pencils to colour it, giving an old fashioned look.  I then used a Spellbinders die to cut it out and emboss it... added it over some lovely background paper I had made.  Recently my friend Sue showed me how to use watercolour paints to make backgrounds and this is one of my attempts. I used a number of background stamps on it... Hero Arts script stamp ( can you see where I made a boo boo with it?), a crackle stamp and very subtlety the HA Envelope stamp.   The sentiment is from My Favorite Things " Clearly Sentimental about Birthdays"  it had some lovely sayings.

Puppy Love

Next card is also a digital image that I got from Crafters  Digital Art Centre.  I used Distress inks and aqua pen to colour it.  I used kraft card for my base and stamped it with Hero Arts Envelope pattern.  I had cut a card out with a Spellbinder die so used part of it for the next layer.  I used a flourish stamp from HA for a background on it.  I layered the puppy image on the top.

I had a fun day spend with friends, sharing stamps, ideas and just enjoying each other's company.   I finished the evening by sharing a meal with our friend Michael.  He and hubby had ended up spending the day taking some furniture up to Michael's bach ( holiday home) about 2 hours north of Auckland... going for a swim then heading back to our place.   Today the warm summer weather continued.... so spend some time at the beach... reading and sunning myself... no swim today....

Thanks to everyone for leaving such lovely comments here.... I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog.  Take care

Thursday 24 February 2011

What inspires you?

that's the question on Jenny's blog ( Wee Memories) this week?  Do you have a fav designer? Fav magazine? Fav online gallery?  And what does it inspire you to make.... 


I get a lot of my inspiration from the Hero Arts Flickr group ( see this post )  and from the various blogs I visit.  Last night I was flicking through the HA group and came across this card from the lovely Lin 
Another splash of blue

Isn't it adorable.... it got me thinking and looking on my desk.... and inspire this card

Pretty in Blue


I started with a strip of blue paper on found on the desk.  I stamped it with the HA Envelope Pattern  ( Hero Arts ~ this is the BEST stamp ever!!!!!!!!)  I used Stormy Sky distress ink.  Once I had cut the paper in half, I used one piece to punch out the edging ( Fiskars Apron Lace) and I matted them together.  I used a Spellbinders Label 4 for the little tag, stamping a HA sparkle clear set sentiment and sponged the edge with the Stormy Sky ink.   I made the flower with some Hero Arts flowers and some punched flowers, one being made with a bit of a tissue box ( a la Arlene) I adhered the flower to a blue ribbon bow and added to the card with the tag.   All in all, quite simple looking... but effective and a big thanks to Lin for the inspiration..( make sure you go see her wonderful work on her Flickr photostream) ..so it is getting entered into the Wee Memories challenge....



Hope the week is going well for you.... almost the weekend.  I'm off to stamp with Lei, Helen, Janet,  Glenda and Sandie.... what a wonderful thing to look forward to...

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Elegance in Black and White

The 21st we went to in the weekend, had a 1920-30's theme and Josephine, the birthday girl, looked lovely in an old cream suit.  I decided to make an elegant and simple card to celebrate.
21st Birthday

My daughter had given me all the scraps from her wedding invitations.... long strips of the brocade patterned paper and the metallic papers in blacks and greys.  Plus some black and white patterned fabric.  I stuck the fabric to some card and cut out the flower petals from a Tim Holtz die.  Added the Prima flower and pearl to make my own embellishment.  Layered the rest of the card and stamped the sentiment from Stamp-it and added the 21 cut from a CB alpha die.   I finished with the little silver oval ( a left over piece from cutting out a bird cage die) and added the pearls to it.  All in all, I felt the card meet my expectations.

I would also like to thank everyone for their concerns and thoughts via emails, comments, Tweets and Facebook.  Here in Auckland we are very safe and sound, but in Christchurch things are very grim.  The death toll is rising and there are still many people with no where to sleep again tonight.   One sees devastating earthquakes on the TV in other parts of the world, but when it is in your own backyard ( so to speak) it hits home a bit.  Here in Auckland we live amongst 49 volcanoes.... none active at present... but it makes you think a bit.  I'm going to be getting a survival kit set up now.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Major Earthquake hits Christchurch, NZ

It was a very sad afternoon here in New Zealand when our 2nd largest city was hit again by a major earthquake 6.3 magnitude at 12.51pm.  Although not as large as the one in Sept 2010, this one was nearer the CBD and much shallower and has caused more major damage in the central city and at present a death toll of 65 with more expected.  This is the sort of thing we think of as happening elsewhere..... not in our backyard.  Christchurch is know as the "Garden City".... it is very beautiful and serene........ but no more!





 Just devastating.... There have been a total of over  4857 earthquakes since Sept 4 2010. People were just coming to terms with rebuilding and feeling a little better but this has put them back to square one....  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone done there..... please can you do the same....

And thank you to those of you who have enquired that I am ok.... much appreciated that you thought of me.... we are lucky to live quite a way North....

Take care

Monday 21 February 2011

Hannah's 90 minute scramble....

I managed to get up in time for the 90 minute scramble on Flickr Hero Arts group yesterday.... it started at 8.30am Sunday for me here in NZ.... but as we had a late night, I wasn't sure if I'd make it.... but there I was in my PJ's and dressing gown!!!!!!!!  and I left hubby sleeping ~ catching up with his jetlag~
The theme was to use a Hero Arts woodgrain stamp ( don't have) or to use distress ink (which I do... 28 colours in fact now)  I decided to break out my new Timely Bird Collage cling stamp and off I went.... used distress inks to colour, but then I cut around it.... yuck wish I hadn't done that... looked awful....oh well only have 90 mins so better get on with it,..  added some black Enamel Accents.... well let me tell you.... DO NOT pick it up to photo when it is wet..... smeared something terrible.....all over the card, all over my fingers..... HELP!!!!!  now what.... only 45 mins left..... so start again.... have to be different this time.... needs to be simple.....

Hannah's 90 min scramble

Oh much better looking ( and NO enamel accent in sight)
This time I stamped the image and then used an oval nestie to cut it out.  Left it in the die and used some Tea Dye distress to sponge around the inside. Then painted with some Pearlescent paints and some distress inks.  Once I took it out of the die, it left a lovely frame so was able to quickly mount onto the cinnamon card stock with the ribbon and the sentiment.  Nice and clean and simple....  in the end was rather pleased with the result.... now I know I can do more with this stamp.... maybe some layering, or highlighting, and as my friend pointed out, it would make a great acrylic overlay.... so lots of ideas running around for when I have more time.

My desk however at the end of the 90 minutes looked like a bomb site....
after 90 mins

Yes Sue.... I know!!!!!!!!!!!  I am a messy messy crafter..... she has seen my desk even on a good day!!!!!!!!!

Rest of the day went well.... sun sun and sun.... walked down to the beach and had a swim and a read nap on the grass overlooking the beach....then went out to a Teppan Yaki Japanese meal with the kids and their partners and DD's parents-in-law.   Great food and lots of fun.  Got to see the Official Wedding photos.... stunning.
here's one of the family
and one of my favourites ( Emma's too)
Hope your weekend was a good as mine....
take care

Saturday 19 February 2011

Let it Shine.....

I found two challenges that had "Shine" in their themes this week and I had made this card which had some Glossy Accents on it.... NO STAMPING though!!!!!!!
Vintage Girl
The image is from a Hero Arts Digital kit called Vintage Italian Artprint available to twopeas.  I printed it onto white cardstock and then added some Glossy Accents to various parts of the lady's dress and hat and to the buttons and clock on the background.  I matted the image onto two  different tones of black metallic paper ~ from some scraps that my daughter gave me left over from her wedding invitations.  Some of the scraps were a brocade print on the metallic paper so I used them to make the flower which also had GA added.  Finally I layered some lace over a strip of black and put it altogether onto the base card.  I have entered this into
~ Cute Card Thursday ~ Shiny Happy Cards
~ Paperplay ~ Add Shine

Been for a swim this afternoon ~ another gorgeous day in Auckland and now at 4.47pm am sitting under the umbrella outside typing this up.  Off shortly for my shower before heading out to the 21st.... it starts with a pig on a spit ~ yummy!!!!!!!

Might even get up early in the morning to take part in the Hero Arts Flickr group 90 minute scramble... depends on what time we get home tonight!!!!!

Take care

Friday 18 February 2011

Bird in a cage...

I have a work colleague turning 50 shortly so thought a card with 50 on it was in order.... just so she wouldn't forget...
50th Birthday

I used some of my water-coloured paper for a background.  I cut it and matted onto silver mirror card.  I cut the Tim Holtz birdcage out of the same card but coloured with some butterscotch alcohol ink to give a slightly gilded look.  I used a scrap of PP to cut out the bird which I inked the edges of with vintage photo distress ink.  I added a dot of black Enamel Accents for the eye.  The flower is one I made a while ago, also using a TH die.  The centre pearl was one I got at Spotlight.... they come on long wires which I curled up behind the flower. Picked up a packet of 6 for 50 cents on sale.  The PP was some scraps of a double sided paper I had in my scrap bin ( so don't know the make now)  Cut out the "50" from a CB alpha die set and highlighted with yellow Copics ( to symbolise Golden 50.  Finished with a tiny sentiment from Hero Arts.

Hubby arrived home this evening.... so pleased to have him back.... now for some "US" time .... just for a while then we can think of heading off for some vacation time later in the year... maybe to Perth..... why there you may ask..... well in just under 4 weeks our darling daughter and her husband are moving there.....  Perth is in Western Australia for those of you who don't know where it is.... 7 1/2 hours by plane from Auckland..... feeling sad to see them go, but happy for them.... a big adventure........... I wish them all the very best for their future....

Hope you weekend is fun and filled with family and crafting time.  Take care

Thursday 17 February 2011

Inspiration at its best....

Last week I was struggling with getting a card made.... simply no mojo so for my trip to stamp group on Saturday, I decided I need to have some inspiration.  So I popped into the Flickr groups I belong to, and some of the blogs I visit regularly to supply me with some.... and boy did I find plenty......
so first off I was inspired by the very talented Dustypenny ( aka Joy Ott). This card she made (here) inspired me to make this:
Leaves

I started by sponging the one side of my base card with Old Olive distress ink and over stamped with a grid stamp by Rubadubado and then all over with Hero Arts Envelope stamp ( fast becoming a MUST USE stamp) For my focal panel I use a piece of water coloured paper I had made. I started by stamping it with a script stamp ( again by Rubadubado) in tea dye distress and then used Forest Moss to stamp the Hero Arts Leaf Cluster.   I used Joy's idea of lace and a flower along the bottom of the panel.  I used a punch to make my own flower in a matching colour and added the lace leaves 

For my next inspiration,  I used this card (here) from the Penny Black blog. It was made by Denise Marzec .  She used some of the new PB papers called Field of Irises.   Here is my take on the card
Great Friends

I made my pp by distressing some white card with Dusty Concord  and Shabby Shutters distress ink.  I then used some inspiration from Jill Foster.... flicked water drops onto it.  Jill is the Mistress of this technique.  I then stamped Hero Arts Dandelion Frame in the Dusty Concord.   I stamped three Hero Arts butterflies ~ two onto the distress card and one on white card.  I fussy cut them and layered onto the card.  I finished with a sentiment by Hero Arts and some gems.  

I love that there are so many many talented and wonderful crafters out there who provide us all with inspiration and I thank them all....... what a great way to get the creative juices running again.  I feel it is very important to acknowledge someone when you have used their card for inspiration.  It only takes a moment to say thanks for the idea, inspiration, concept etc.  I know I am happy that someone thinks my work is good enough to copy, inspire, challenge or whatever but sometime it can be disheartening if you see some has taken your idea and used it without acknowledging where they got it.....



Hope the rest of the week is good for you all... it's almost the weekend.  We have such a busy one... a 21st birthday party on Saturday evening and a family dinner on Sunday evening. 

Wednesday 16 February 2011

Mail from Norway.

This week I received the most beautiful card from Norway... from the lovely Anette as part of the February Card Chain Challenge run by Deborah Nolan.
Isn't just wonderful.  Not only did she manage to follow the sketch, but she also used the colour scheme....

Now for another share from the weekend....

With Love (feb11challenges)

this card is a very simple one.  On arrival at the group, we were all presented with some reddish card stock, some lovely patterned paper and some die cut hearts.  So I decided to do a "Love" card with the what was there.  I started by putting a strip of pp across the card base I made with the Bazzil and adding a thin strip of the card stock to look like a ribbon.  I then adhered the hearts.  I had sponged on some red ink ( not that it showed up that well) prior to putting the hearts on the card.  I used some of the rest of the pp to make the roses.   Finally added the small sentiment in the bottom corner.  I entered this card into several challenges...  Cute Card Thursday   and SSC card challenge.

My husband and some of his family have finally been able to say their last farewell to Helen, as her Requiem Mass was held in London overnight ( Tues 15th)  I just wish I could have been there to say goodbye to this lovely courageous lady.  She will be sadly missed by all... Hubby will be winging his way home in the next few days... arriving back Friday afternoon.... yeah!!!!!!

Tonight, though, I am off to the movies with some friends.... to see "The King's Speech"  I have only heard good things about it, so am pleased to be going to see it.

Wishing all my readers a happy week.

Monday 14 February 2011

More Saturday stamping....

Tonight I want to share two more of the cards I made on Saturday.   I don't have a certain style, preferring just to make what feels good.  I have lots and lots of stamps.... I can help myself buying new ones.  At present I probably have about 5 stamps I haven't even inked up yet!!!!!  But one new set I got last week had an outing.

Pure Innocence

This set is from Pure Innocence and is called " Being Cute is What I Do…"  I stamped it on water card stock and used Copics to colour her hair and face and then stamped the image again onto dotted PP and black paper and pieced the pieces.  The dotted paper was blue dots, but I used a Tombow marker to change the colour to tie in with the flower centre.  The PP I used were from My Grafico - a free set that I got awhile ago.  I printed out the four colours onto one A4 sheet and then trimmed them.  I saw a neat technique on Gina K's Stamp TV that showed how to make a faux corner fold.  I had to add a piece of PP down the front, as I wasn't concentrating while I was using my Scor-pal to fold it.... I finished it off with a sentiment by Hero Arts.

I have just realised that 6 out of the 7 cards I made on Saturday had at least one Hero Arts stamp on it.... They are great stamps and are my favourites.  I'd say around 80% of stamps are by Hero Arts .

My next share is definitely a Hero Arts card..... I purchased the Wish You Were Here set on Saturday as I have wanted a chair stamp for some time.  And it was the last set in store....

Thinking of you

I used some of the left over PP from the earlier card and stamped the Envelope pattern over it and then the chair stamp.  I cut out the chair and layered it onto a circle I had with me, cut out of a paint chip. I then layered that onto an other piece of the PP.  Then I added to  the pink card and the white card base.  I used a Spellbinders tag to cut out the sentiment and the added some distress ink to soften the look.  I finished off by adding some pearls to the chair back.

I'm writing this on a very hot humid night.  The last few days have been very humid again.  At 10.00pm on Saturday night it was still 21degrees.   And it feels like that now... plus I'm sitting with the laptop sitting on my lap as I am watching CSI while typing this.  All the new seasons TV programmes have started and all the good stuff is on at the same time!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week.

Sunday 13 February 2011

A Marathon Stamping Session...........

almost 12 hours worth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Today I feel shattered..... but oh what fun.  Stamp'n'create ~ one of my LSS~ runs a monthly group on the 2nd Saturday of the month.  It runs from 10.00am till midnight..... so far I haven't made it to midnight... lasted till nearly 10.00pm last night.  We have a shared lunch and dinner ( for those left around 7pm)  Yesterday we started with 8, by around 6pm there were 4 of us left, and then Sue B and I left round 10.00 leaving two to continue.  Judi ( owner ) obviously stays too...

I had such fun... lots of talking, making, eating .... here we are

 
Sue and Sue working away... 

 Sue B hard at work
 Glenda
 Betty with her Cuppa
my deskspace at 5pm ( 4 cards made, 3 to go)

Yeap.... I got 7 cards made, cut out an onion envelope ( still to work out what to put in it!) and colouring in an image.... so very pleased.  It was slow going to start as I have been suffering a bit of a creative block.

So I had gone to my Flickr group for inspiration, and visited  a few blogs to get some ideas.  Thank you to everyone who gave me inspirations...

First off... it's thanks to Deirdre and her lovely CAS Valentines ~ plus the note that the HA digi kit was on sale~  
Love Always
I printed out the image onto kraft card ~ used the coloured stamp - looks sepia coloured.  I then highlighted the umbrella in yellow and distressed some white card in yellows and oranges to mat the image.  I then added some of my hand made roses and a bit of lace ( thanks to Sue B for that idea) and a nice big bow.  
More over the next few days ~ otherwise you'd all be asleep by the end of what would be a LONG post!!!!!!!!!!!
Am off to spend the afternoon with my DD ~ a girlie afternoon of shopping... and to see the offical wedding photos.... 
thanks for stopping by.

Friday 11 February 2011

Some Blog Awards

My mojo seems to have gone on strike this week.... I haven't had the motivation to make anything.  I have been suffering with my back this week and it has me feeling very grumpy and tired.  I even had to spend a day at home  ( didn't even do any crafting) plus hubby hogged the computer on Wed night, entering his works team ( and families) into a local fun run... Round the Bays. It is a 8km run/walk that has over 70,000 runners.... yes you read that right.  Last year it took us nearly 15 mins to pass the start line!  Anyway come 13th March Hapag Lloyd's Orange Brigade team of 26 will take on the hoards...

So no cards to share.... but I have been lucky to have received some awards over the last week or so...

First Up
This award that was given to me the lovely Virginia.
To accept this award I need to do a few things:
1.Thank the person who gave it. Thank you,Virginia.  You are very thoughtful and kind.

2.Copy the award and put it on your blog 
3.List three things which you love about yourself.
   #1. I love helping people ~ encouraging and mentoring as I can
   #2. I love creating and crafting... and will give just about anything a go
   #3. I love being me.... having such a fantastic family and some superb friends/
4.Post a picture that you love.
  These are my two wonderful children. The photo was taken on my daughter's wedding day.  It was so sunny that poor Emma was squinting into the sun. 

5.Pass this award to 5 people--in no particular order
Sue B ~ for being a great and fun friend ( an a reasonable new blogger)

Heather ~ for being so extra specially creative and inspiring 
Isha ~ an new blogger friend who makes wonderful cards

Anita ~ who has the most beautiful children and shares her adventures with us

Tiffany ~ just the loveliest of ladies there is


And then
I'd like to thank Eileen for this lovely blog award.  Eileen is a fellow New Zealander  who comes from my home town of Dunedin ( in the South Island)

In accepting I had to sign up to a few little rules...

1) You have been tagged, do you want to accept? YES! then create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.


2) Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept.

3) Choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged.


As the aim of this award is to bring unknown good blogs to light, please don't tag somebody with 3000 followers.


The people I would like to pass this award onto are:

Vicky ~ my lovely niece who had three beautiful children ( and a way with words)

Sally ~ a very talented card maker ( an a Hero Hostess!!!)

Nancy ~ whose blog always, always has the most inspiring "Thought for the Day"

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm off to Stamp'n'create's stamp group tomorrow... first for the new year! so hopefully some crafting will get done, amongst the talking and eating.

 




Tuesday 8 February 2011

Happy Birthday Chelsea.

Yesterday my great niece Chelsea turned one!!!!  Boy does time fly.  She is a real cutie and has two lovely big brothers....  My niece posted some of her birthday party photos so I'd like to share with you some of my lovely family....

The bottom photo is Vicky with Chelsea, Zade and Hunter.... what a lovely family you have Vicky.

And here is the card I sent to Chelsea... my little star
Birthday Girl WMC39


Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my family.

Monday 7 February 2011

A bit of a scrappy card......

Over at Wee Memories this weeks challenge is "Dust off those scraps".  I was perusing the Hero Arts Flickr group discussions and I saw that Sarah had challenged us to make a card with the colours of the new Hostesses aprons..... (see here) ~ well I came up with a very simple card that covered both....
You're so special........(WMC42)


I went to the scrap pile and found some card stock and some paint chips and punched out the 5 butterflies.... Then found the tall card for them to land on... added the sentiment ~perfect for these 5 very special ladies... Anita, Sharon D, Sally, Heather and Linda W. Simple but effective I think.

Today was the funeral for my stamping friend Sue.... a very emotional time as she was a very incredible woman, much loved by those who she touched.  Our group was all there to say goodbye... Sandie, Lei, Helen, Janet, Glenda and myself... We will miss Sue at our next gathering in a few weeks, won't be quite the same again.  RIP my friend.

thanks for stopping by..

Saturday 5 February 2011

Summer is................watermelon and fresh peaches....

Yes... summer continues in Auckland... today is probably one of the hottest we've had for a while... the morning was extremely humid and now the sun is shining and it is stinkin' hot and humid.... earlier I was making a Lemon Meringue Cheesecake to take to the BBQ we are going to tonight, and the sweat was dripping into my eyes and down my nose.... my kitchen windows let in so much sun!!!!!  So a nice cool slice of watermelon....ahhhhhh.  Hubby has headed off to the beach but I had some Focaccia bread baking and it needed 30 mins rising and 25 min cooking time!!!!!!!!  Smells amazing now as it is in the baking stage....

For once my craft room is reasonably cool... so I have been working on some very tiny roses...
 they look like baby Primas.  I found a couple of videos on you tube... here and here.  I used flowers the size of the first video... about 3/4 inch wide.  They are fiddly to work with but worth it.  The yellow ones are made with some card that I crumpled and worked till I could pull it apart ~ feels like soft suede.  I them inked it up with Wild Honey distress ink and over-stamped the HA Envelope background in Brushed Corduroy. It is lovely and soft and looks scrummy.  The blue flowers are patterned paper - blue with white dots.
This is what they look like prior to putting together.  The green bits are from a Cuttlebug Alphabet die, cut from scraps of white card and covered with Forest Moss Distress ink.  I put some stickles on them.... Frosted Lace on the yellow ones, and Baby Blue on the blue ones...  The finished rose is around 1/2 inch across so quite little.  Now just to make some cards to use them.... I want to make a whole lot first....

Hoping the humidity drops so I can get a good nights sleep.  Even sitting in here, I can feel the sweat pouring down my back ..... so sticky... off for a cooling shower before heading out.

Take care... thanks for visiting.

Friday 4 February 2011

A Valentine's Gift

Valentines is not celebrated here in New Zealand to the same extent as overseas so I jumped at the chance to make a Valentines Card as part of a Hero Arts Flickr Group exchange organised by the lovely Anita.....
I got to sent a card to Elise and I received a gift card from Amy

My card to Elise
Valentine's card ( WMC#40)

See this post for details  

and this is what arrived from Amy

That's a delightful Hero Arts Cling stamp called Cherries and some lovely pearls.  Wasn't Amy just so generous.

Hubby arrived back on Wednesday afternoon feeling very tired.... fall asleep in his chair watching TV at 9.30 Wed and at 8.30 last night.... it really takes it out of you.... but he's back in the air next Friday.... going with his younger brother for the funeral.  They get back the following Friday...    I have been spending my time with him, so no cards made.... although I have sneaked in to the craft room to make some flowers... so my stash of hand made flowers is growing... will share some over the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend, hopefully not too cold and snowy for my USA/Canada/European readers!!!  I'm just hot and sweaty here again,..  high humidity and warm temperatures.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Life continues....

thanks once again, for all of the lovely comments left here over the past few days...  They have helped me to continue with my life....

I spent some time crafting yesterday on my extra day off.  First off, I saw this amazing sketch on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog.  I don't have a lot of Penny Black stamps but had a set which I hadn't stamped ~ Enjoy Life~



Lots of different stamps used. Two Hero Arts, one Inkadinkado and two Penny Blacks (both from the same set)
HA stamps ~ Design Fabric cling stamped in Pumice Stone on the watercoloured paper and Envelope Pattern stamped in Brilliance Twilight onto the pink card. ( Such a wonderful subtle background) The Inkadinkado flourish is also stamped in the Brilliance ink. The birds and sentiment are from Penny Black Enjoy Life. I coloured them with Faber Castell pencils and Gamsol and distressed the background with Faded Jeans distress ink. The flowers I made using two tones of purple paint chips and two Spellbinders dies. The leaves die is from Sizzix. So quite a mixture of bits and pieces used.  This was my "Happy Card"

Then I worked on a card to send to Sue R's family.  I wanted something simple but heartfelt.  I made a sheet of alcohol ink in soft colours... and then overstamped part with Musical background in black.

Sympathy Hearts


I punched hearts out of the plain and stamped portions and alternated them onto a cream textured background and added the sentiment by Stampit. 

I am looking forward to hubby getting home tomorrow.  It has been a hard few days.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope your week is going well