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Tuesday 20 November 2012

She'll Love It!

The other day, I was asked to make a card for a young man to give to his sister.  After trawling through my 'Kanban So Macho/So Feminine' kit (love this kit) this is what I came up with...
 
 
 
Its so nice to be asked to make a card for someone you know because you know that person is going to love it.
 
This is my 'A Card A Day' card for today!
 
 
I will also enter this into the following challenges...
 
STAMPIN SISTERS IN CHRIST CHALLENGES - ch #166 - 'create a card for a child'
CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - ch #7 - 'anything goes'
 
I hope everyone has a great day...
 

 
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Monday 19 November 2012

GO THERE............

Where? A Card a Day Blogging... Why?  Well...

If you are anything like me (and you probably are because - a). you're visiting craft blogs, and b). because I bet I'm not the only one you've visited today!) or like countless other bloggers, you started off with EVERY intention of blogging EVERYday, the operative word here is 'intention'.  Someone mentioned being visited by the 'Bad Fairy of Procrastination' the other day, very entertaining, by the way, however I don't think that is entirely fair.  It is all the fault of LIFE!  It REALLY, really, really does get in the way of crafting.  You're just getting into some new technique and someone wants feeding, I mean, come on, don't you know I'm busy, and yes, it is more important than YOUR stomache, I'm not hungry after all (I swear I'd be thinner if they'd just let me craft!).  And then if family wasn't bad enough... there's work!  How I hate that word sometimes, usually when the postman has just handed over another must-have kit!  But I digress...
 
A Card A Day Blogging is really worth a visit (and joining in) for a few simple reasons.  Firstly the other bloggers there are YOUR kind of people... they craft and they blog, what more can be said (yeh, I know I'm sure I'll think of something LOL).  Secondly they really do visit your blog AND say nice things, don't we all want that?  Thirdly? It really does encourage you to keep blogging, they inspire and then you inspire... what a wonderful thing!
 
Anyone who has been following my blogging journey will know I'm a bit hopeless!  It has taken me several attempts to do even the simpliest things in order to create and maintain blogging (I'm not very technically minded!), but I've done it... so can you (sorry if the person reading this is an expert already, that last bit is aimed at the inadequate, such as myself).  The blogging is a way to encourage other crafters, inspiring each other and learning new things.  The information other crafters have is astounding, and if you want to know where all the best challenges are or where to find the latest craft bargains or just 'what did the telly say about this kit?'  -  just start blog hopping.
 
You never know, someone may truely be inspired by YOU...
 
 
 
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Rain, rain go away...

Not having a great day, I'm feeling a little bit down, perhaps its the weather.  I know we British talk a lot about the weather , but that's because we NEVER know what we're gonna get! Yesterday was a lovely bright Autumn day, cold but dry and fresh... today... well today is WET, very WET.  The roads are flooded, the caravan park is boggy and even the poor birds are bedraggled and too scare to venture onto the feeders!  And as for me, I had to pick up some shopping and visit the doctors and by the time I got home I needed to visit the doctors again for the pneumonia I picked up on the way home!
 
Anyway enough moaning, I think I'm turning into a grumpy old woman!  I made a cute little card late last night using the 'Boys Will Be Boys' cartridge and my Cricut, I hope you like it.  Paper Playtime are doing an 'Anything Goes' challenge so I'll be putting this little lovely in.
 
I hope your day is a good one...
 
 
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Saturday 17 November 2012

Sweet Thing...

I made this little treat bag for my daughter because she is a 'sweet thing'! Mind you before she got it, it had to be photographed, entered into a crafting challenge and posted to 'A Card A Day Blogging' LOL.


 

 
... and the challenge? Allsorts Challenge Blog Week 181 'A Gift', what a lovely site this is and the design team has some VERY inspiring creations, check it out, you won't be disappointed!
 
My daughter has been thoroughly spolit this week - she's been treated like a princess by her fab boyfriend -  she's been whisked away to view the latest 'Twilight' movie 'Breaking Dawn - part II' (in premier seats no less); showered with gifts and flowers; indulged in the culinary delights of 'Frankie and Benny's' and her mother gave her a treat bag! And what has she done to deserve all this attention?  I have NO idea, we must just love her!
 
 
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No Rhyme Nor Reason!

... to the order of card making.  I shall simply 'go with the flow'!  So today may I present to you, for your delectation, scrutinization and (hopefully) enjoyment...
 
 
 
 
My daughter needed a birthday card for a co-worker ("in a hurry").  With 'Tip Top Toppers Things' 's son Samuel in mind - he had recently adventured into the realm of baking - I thought I'd put a cupcake on it!  A simple black card blank, with ribbon, sentiment and topper... and of course a little bit of sparkle.
 
Have a great weekend everyone...



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Friday 16 November 2012

Reverse Psychology?

We all know how it works... if you want them to do something (especially very small children or teenagers), tell them not to!
 
Kathy left me a comment yesterday saying it was nice to see something other than Christmas... soooo, yep I had to do something Christmassy! Thanks for the inspiration Kathy!
 
I'm still using the Cosmo Cricket 'Social Club', but I wanted to see if I could get it festive!  The Christmas tree is cut on the Cricut Expression using the 'Joys of the Season' cartridge; a bit of bling; some sparkle; a sentiment and bada bing bada boom...
 
 
 
 
So this is my creation for the 'A Card A Day Blogging' group... happy crafting...
 
 
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Thursday 15 November 2012

24-7

That's my job... because I work in the 'family' business, not only does my job cover a multitude of responsibilities but it also covers a wide variety of hours. 
 
For instance - Monday merely involved cleaning the clubhouse and answering telephones; Tuesday covered the organisation of workmen to various locations and tasks, answering the telephones, as well as attending a meeting for licencees; Wednesday was taken up with answering the telephones in the day, cleaning the clubhouse, checking the bird feeders on the caravan park and maning the bar in the evening; Most of my "work" today has had to fit round my trip to the dentist this morning and my taxi driving duties for my father this evening! I've also been trying to organise entertainment for the OAP's Christmas party.  If variety is the spice of life... I must be sizzlingly spicy!
 
Now... back to that stack of Cosmo Cricket 'Social Club'.  I haven't had a lot of spare time today, sooooo... I made just a very quick, simple ensemble.
 
 
You never know, I may get round to something else whilst I wait to be called to duty!
 
Whilst on facebook I came across a lovely group called "A Card A Day Blogging", so natually I asked to joined in the hopes of having some lovely like-minded co-conspirators crafters to inspire and create with.  BUT (yes I know, I know, there's always a but - with me), I think I'm supposed to link to them, and then them to me!  Hope I get this right!!!
 
 
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Wednesday 14 November 2012

Comments... please!

I've only been blogging for a very (VERY) short while, and so far apart from a few (... well many) hiccups along the way, I have to say I'm really enjoying it.
 
It doesn't actually matter if no-one is looking at my scribbles and ramblings, but you know what? some people actually are taking note!
 
This blogging business has made me realise one thing though... and that is... that we all like to be acknowledged.  Whether its someone saying 'well done' or 'thanks for being there' or even 'saw your post today', so I'm making a conscious effort to leave comments on other bloggers blogs, especially if they really HAVE inspired me in some way, 'cause you know what? I still get a little tingle whenever someone takes the effort to put a comment on my blog and I'm sure some other bloggers feel the same way.  So come on crafters, go that extra mile and place a comment on someones blog and if they've done something you really like - tell 'em so!
 
I pick up a 6x6 'Mini Deck' by Cosmo Cricket called 'Social Club', the other day... it was on sale so I got a bargain, but I just thought the papers were really pretty (especially the one called 'Blue Eyes', it looks a bit like a peacock!), here it is... what do you think? what would you make? If you've made something, leave a comment and a link so I can see YOUR great creations!
 
 
Thanks for looking, don't forget to comment...
 
 
 
 
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Everyday? A Learning Curve!

Right... so that worked!  I think I'm getting there!
 
I'm going to enter into another challenge (surprise!), this one is a 'Created With Love' Challenge.  I stumbled upon this site quite by accident (like most of my surfing!), But the challenge sounded interesting and since I knew I'd use the card after (not just create for create's sake - who am I kidding LOL).  I'm having a go. 
 
So... the focus is on 'birthdays' and the twist is that it MUST have a 'number'...
 
 
 
 
The shaped card is cut from the 'Wild Card' cricut cartridge and the '50' is from the 'Alphabet' cartridge (pre-installed on the Expression 2).  I used My Mind's Eye  'Wild Asparagus' paper pack on a 6x6 card blank, with a little bit of velvet rik-rak ribbon and a peel off, here is my entry...




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Font-ly Challenged!

I'm still having trouble blogging... I suppose I SHOULD look at it as a challenge, and be really pleased when I finally figure it out... BUT, to be quite frank I finding it a pain in the neck!
 
I want to use a certain font for my posts (I'm sure that's not TOO much to ask!).  I know my blog's been looking a bit higgledy-piggledy lately with all the different fonts - but I've finally decided which one I want to use (sorry about the indecision, and I hope the size doesn't upset anyone... but if I have it a bit bigger then I don't have to wear my glasses!).  Up until now I've been typing up my blog in 'word' then copy and pasteing it.  Blogger only shows me a couple of fonts (that I don't want to use), so how DO I get the font I want to use? It's a bit of a nuisance and... I'm not getting any younger you know!  I HATE wasting my time (sure a precious commodity).
 
Hopefully I've done this right... from my blog I clicked 'design' in the top right corner.  From there I clicked on 'customise' and then 'advanced'.  I then found 'page text' and chose my font - size and colour, lastly I clicked 'apply to blog'.  I DO hope this may help anyone else out there who's as ignorant as me!
 
Right here goes... as I type up my post (using Blogger not word) it is showing up in an undesired font, I'm hoping that when I post it, it will be in the correct font... fingers crossed!
 
I'm sure seasoned bloggers are looking at this and thinking "what an idiot" but I'm on a learning curve here, and we've all gotta learn somehow - my method it 'trial and error'!  But I do apologise if this is excruciatingly boring!
 
When I previewed this post it DID show up with the correct font... so hear goes nothing...
 
 
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Autumn? Or Fall?

colours? or colors?

 

Good morning all, I’m going for another challenge today... ‘Autumn Colours’ at PaperPlaytime, go over and have a look at the design team’s creativity, its very inspirational! 

I love this card, its simple!  Just some background cardstock, sentiment and topper, then a few gems, some foam tape and hey presto!

 

Gotta go... work and all that!

 

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Tuesday 13 November 2012


A Mother’s Place?  Why?

Well I’ll tell you why...

 

My son has not been well, which in itself is very unusual, I must say I’ve managed to raise two (blessedly) healthy children... must be all that dirt I made them eat as babies (kidding! Well no, not really I do believe they have to be in contact with a certain amount of dirt, in order to produce the necessary antibodies).  Anyway back to my son... tummy bug, with excessive amounts of vomit (from both ends, sorry TMI), stomach pain and weakness.  And all this is apparently MY fault!!!  How? Because I was good enough to pick him up (taxi service, sound familiar?) after he had been out drinking, large amounts of alcohol, with a mate! The connection? You would be forgiven for not grasping it straight away! Because he felt guilty! Guilty for dragging me out at 1.30am, yes in the morning (an earlier time than normal I might add!), and so guilt MADE him buy me a burger from the local kebab house... and naturally since he was buying me said burger, he felt compelled to have a donor kebab himself – which has visited the toilet ever since... thus it is ALL MY FAULT!!!  Why am I not ill, because the greedy little bugger ate MY burger before I picked him up! Serves him right, I say... which naturally i don’t mean because he really has been ill.

Enough said... I’ve been thinking about my Christmas cards, and have decided to add a small gift to them this year in the form of a chocolate lolly, so here’s what I came up with...
 

 
I used some old (very old) gold card blanks that I’ve been trying to use up, along with some gold leaf paper that I found in my stash, the green and gold mat is from a ‘Crate Paper’ 6x6 pad called ‘Portrait Collection’ and the scalloped circles, Christmas tree and ‘JOY’ were all cut using my ‘Cricut Expression 2’ and the ‘Cricut Craft Room’.  I’m really pleased with it... just twenty more to go!
Have a great day...
 
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A Mother’s Place?
always in the wrong!
All those mothers out there know what I mean!
Anyway... I am at present lying in bed, typing away... lazy or what? (Well it was a rather late night/early morning!).  I cannot believe how lazy I’m being, but my lovely daughter bought me in a cup of tea (bribery... she wanted to eat the last cupcake, which incidentally was MINE!), she woke the cat up, who happened to be laying on me, who promptly clawed me in shock (ungrateful little bugger! But like all cats he believes he is the king of this particular castle and we are merely here to pamper to his ever need!).  I did say last night (earlier this morning) that I would share some things with you, so here they are...
The first is a joy fold card (finally understand what that is!).  I used my Hunkydory kit, and did alot of ‘matting and layering’ and I (unlazyfied myself) inked all the edges (I used the wrong ink pad on the first mat, so had to keep going with the rest) - I think it turned out ok!
 
 
 
 
The next two I used part of a ‘Kanban’ kit in a ‘stepper’ card...


 
Two VERY different looks from one kit, I seem to have a bit of a ‘black’ thing going on! Did you notice my latest acquisition? My Martha (yes, I’m taking over the world) Stewart ‘Drippy Goo’ border punch, believe it or not I had to send away to America to get that! Come on Britain, keep up or at least catch up!
 
Right I’ve gotta get my lazy back-side out of bed and do some work (no, no, no stay out of the craftroom!).  I’m a cleaner today, as well as a secretary, so clean the clubhouse, then get that filing done, oh and I must remember to ring the electrician... etc. But first ‘the boy’ (my son) has rung me, “can I give him a lift” so I’m a taxi driver first, then I’ll get on... no, no, no do not stop for breakfast and tea!
 
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LIFE...

quite frankly, it is getting in the way!!!
 

I’ve been rather busy, sorry! And I’m still busy... life is getting in the way of crafting.. How dare it!


I will be posting later today (at a more sensible hour); I have a few cards I’d like to share.  But I couldn’t wait to tell you all - I am a ‘Top Three’ winner! Yes, all those challenges paid off (not in monetary terms... but who needs money? Eh? No don’t answer that... I know, we all do!). My talent has been recognised (well that and a little luck from ‘random.org’, but who cares! I still won!)  Thank you 'Little Scrap Pieces'.

But more importantly, I have managed to place a ‘button’ on this blog, (I did have to go to ‘youtube’ to learn how, but its there... see it?).  Thank you, youtuber...


HOW TO ADD A BUTTON TO A FRIENDS SITE IN BLOGGER by ‘DAILYREVOLUTIONS’.

Cheers, mate... it worked!
 

Oh and check out the funky new font! Wow, I'm getting good (LOL), anyway talk later, night night...

 

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Sunday 4 November 2012

And down came a spider...


... yep all the halloween decorations are now packed away,
 
 
 
... including the giant spider in the middle of the clubhouse dance floor, and all the cobwebs (some intentional... some not!), all the balloons have been popped, all the fake blood mopped up and the bats, ghosts, witches, gravestones and broomsticks put away for another year! And all this was accomplished during the major clean-up at 7.30 this morning whilst sporting a serious hang-over!  Unfortunately we were let down by staff at the last minute, so I had to become a great many different people during the course of the evening.  Barmaid, doorman (lady), dancer (someone has to get 'em going!), raffle ticket seller (folder and caller), glass collector, judge (best children's costume/dancer) and toilet paper re-stocker, to name but a few! And all this was achieved with great success for a brilliant family fun evening.
 
Of course at the end of the night I also managed to have a drink (or two) and when invited (along with a few like-minded grown-ups) to partake of a night cap (or two, or more... alot more!) it would have been rude of me not to have trotted along with everyone else to said caravan and continued to over-indulge until 3 o'clock in the morning.  Needless to say, I was quite impressed with myself for managing to get up for 7.30am and get on with the job of cleaning.  I do have to state though, that now I am feeling rather tired!  I probably wouldn't be quite so tired if it wasn't for the fact of having to cook Sunday lunch for my delightful children and their repective other-halves, having to do the washing-up as AND "could you just do that bit of ironing for me, please mum?"
 
No day would be complete, however (no matter how tired/hung-over one might be) without the completion of at least one card.  I managed two!
 
 

 
Early night for me... I thinks!
 
 
 
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Saturday 3 November 2012

Halloween Over?

Not for Me!!!
 
 
 
All Hallows' Eve may be over... but we on the caravan park still have a party to attend! TONIGHT!
 
I've done my bit... I've given my rocker cards to the raffle (although I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make it that far - my mum's got her eye on them!).  So before the festivities begin I thought I would put in a quick post... I've entered the following card into a couple of challenges (listed below). 
 
 
 
 
 
FUSSY AND FANCY FRIDAY CHALLENGE - Challenge 75 Pearls and Flowers
ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE BLOG - Challenge 79 Anything Goes 
RAISE THE BAR - Challenge 118 Anything Goes
LADY ANNE'S CHALLENGES - Oct/Nov Sentimetal Friday Anything Goes
 
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the challenge organisers who have left comments on my blog. Its very good of them to take the time out (I'm sure they're VERY busy) to leave a comment and try to encourage me (or anyone else, for that matter). Thank You...
 
Gotta go... I've got to sort out my mask for tonight's party (it being a mask party and all!).
 
 
 
 
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Thursday 1 November 2012

Sorry Emma's Crafty Challenge...



I really DO have the linking right NOW, only I didn't when I entered your challenge the first time... oops!  Please feel free to delete 1. Karen Can., from your list of challenge entries (apparently Karen Can't.)  Please don't delete 2. Karen Can., 'cause I really CAN!!!
 
Well I can NOW...


The good news is that I have now finally got to grips with the 'linking' monster!


Thank you all for your patience...


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I did it...

...FINALLY
 
 
I have managed to work it out (only taken me a month!) How to link to a post  not the entire blog
 
For anyone else as ignorant as I HAVE been... publish your blog post (with any relevent links, I usually want to link a picture to a challenge website I want to enter); now go to your blog, and click onto the post you wish to link by clicking it on the right-hand side (in my case under 'archived' or 'what went before' it will be under a heading or date depending how you have your blog set up); after clicking on the post you want copy the address (top bar beginning http); then go back to challeng site; in the URL space, paste the address of your post (http............); you have now linked to your post not the entire blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'm beginning to feel like I'm the only thicko out here, it's taken me so long to figure it out.  But I'm still pretty chuffed with myself, another thing learned!
 
A computer was something on TV
From a science fiction show of note
A window was something you hated to clean
And ram was the cousin of a goat.
 
Meg was the name of my girlfriend
And gig was a job for the nights
Now they all mean different things
And that really mega bytes.
 
An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano.
 
Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account
And if you had a 3-inch Floppy
You hoped nobody found out.
 
Compress was something you did to the garbage
Not something you did to a file
And if you unzipped anything in public
You'd be in jail for a while.
 
Log on was adding wood to the fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
And a backup happened to your commode.
 
Cut you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
And a virus was the flu
 
 
 
 
No wonder I get confused.com




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STILL challenged!!!


I've been relegated to the bedroom! No, you dirty-minded people (I said relegated not promoted!), its the only place I can get a half-decent internet signal! Have I mentioned just how annoying it is? I have? Okay, enough said...

Here's my entry (possibly one of three, as I love this challenge... brown and blue) for Emma's Crafty Challenge #10

Cute init?
 
 
 
I've got the linking to other websites right NOW! Hooray me... but the other way????? Duh I must be thick, 'cause I'm still not sure about linking to a blog post not the entire blog???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? so if I've got it wrong (again) I'm SORRY...
 
 
 
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Wednesday 31 October 2012

Broadband Challenged!


Oh but I'm having SERIOUS issues with picking up a decent internet signal at the moment... It is SO fustrating.  I'm sure we've all experienced it... the little circle that continues to spin, and spin and spin and... you get the picture! In fustration we switch off altogether, only to log on again 2 minutes later in the hope that some miracle has occured to clear the way for a trouble free surfing fix!  I'm having no such luck, my circle has spun so much I'm positively dizzy, just looking at it.  Anyway enough of the rant... lookie here...
 
 
What do you think? My friend (yes I do have some... I don't spend all of my time on my laptop!), is feeling poorly.  I put this together this afternoon, but before I sent it off I photo'ed it to enter the following challenges (did I mention I've become a 'challenge addict'!). The inside read... "I'll be your umbrella"...
 
Fussy and Fancy Ch 74 - Anything goes
 
Paper Playtime Ch 87 - Anything goes
 
Amusing Challenges - Anything goes
 
Twisted Tuesday Challenges - Anything goes
 
Party Time Tuesday's #92 - Anything goes
 
 
 
 
Gotta go now... I've got chips to cook for the darts team... Go Moorlands!
 
 
 
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