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Monday, 23 September 2013

Yoo-Hoo

... it's your birthday



I made this pretty little twisted easel card earlier today, I think it turned out pretty well, except for the raggedy edges to my mats (I really must get a new blade for my paper trimmer).  Don't you just love those googlie eyes?




 
 
 
 
 
 Here is the card I made for my Grandmother's 90th birthday, sadly, yesterday, she passed away.  I could tell you all about her, and gush over her life, how she bravely fought again her Parkinson's disease for soooo long, but I won't (who needs a downer... right?).  But as anyone knows (and most of us have lost someone we love, at some point)  - "life goes on" and "time is a great healer", two much used platitudes that are so very, very true. Goodnight Gran x
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Kanban Kwikie III

Quick (kwik?) post...

 
A variation on the 'Joy' fold theme... I used double sided paper -  ECHO PARK 'Dots & Stripes - Metropolitan (Concrete Large Dot), an oldie but a goodie.  I love these ECHO PARK papers, so so versatile!

 
All the toppers and sentiments are from a KANBAN kit called 'So Macho', this kit seems to go on and on forever, I bought it AGES ago!

 
I added two strips of punched CS to the front, the punch used is from X CUT called 'flowers', in the same grey CS as the base




 
I added three gems, which I coloured using a black promarker and hey presto!
 
 

Challenges...

OLDIE BUT A GOODIE CHALLENGE - 'Spots and Stripes'

613 AVENUE CREATE - Ch #36 - 'Anything Goes'

A CARD A DAY BLOGGING


Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Fancy Fold

I am suffering from tooth ache!  As you are all aware, having suffered yourselves at some point, there really is no greater pain, than that of a rotten tooth.  It is VERY distracting, my creative juices are running decidedly low!
 
However, my toothache has made me realise how VERY lucky I am to have been born in this era of advanced dentistry and high hygiene standards and with the invention of a variety of  pain relieving concoctions at least there is some relief from the agony.
 
My dentist is a very pleasant, young Portuguese lady, who is both kind and knowledgeable, unlike in years go by.  I would, probably, have gone to the local barber, who would have preformed extractions willy-nilly, with no thought to the amount of pain he was inflicting with every yank, pull and twist. 
 
Apparently I need a 'root canal treatment' if I am to save my tooth.  Well since I don't have that many teeth left, I felt I should make an extra effort to save the ones that are left.  And since I was, in fact, nearly crying with the pain I said yes, go ahead.  Now for the tricky bit... a root canal treatment is two appointments, the first of which is for 30 minutes and since I was an emergency my over-worked dentist could not possible do it now!  You can imagine my reaction... this normally laid-back, eager-to-please, doormat - suddenly wasn't.  I can hear me now, whining... "But it HURTS", "You've got to do something NOW", "Please, please, please.".  To be fair to my dentist, she looked at my tear-stained face (twisted in agony) and said she'd get as much of the infection out now, file down the canal and put some kind of super bacteria-fighting agent into the gap, so at least she would be able to kill the nerve and remove the pain before my next appointment (30 minutes) to complete the 'treatment'.  After I had blubbered my thanks, we got started. In goes the needle - do I care? not really, although I was consciously trying to relax (tense muscles cause more pain), out comes her drill - really is there anything more distressing than that drill? I eventually leave the dentist office with half my face smiling and the other half frozen into a mask of horror, but at least for a short while the pain is gone and in a few hours I'll be able to live my life, pain-free. 
 
When I'm not in pain... I don't like the dentist (I don't mean the nice Portuguese lady, I mean the dental practice in general), or at least the thought of having to go there and pay for the privilege of having needles stuck into the most delicate parts of my mouth.  However, actual toothache, makes you re-assess all negative thoughts of the dentist, and suddenly they are the only thing standing between you and permanent anguish.
 
Enough of the horror stories...back to my crafting.  Before the toothache I had made a 'JOY' fold card, this is only my second attempt at this fold, but I really like it, so it could become a favourite!  My previous effort can be found here.
 




CARD BASE - green CS - 4 1/4" x 7 3/4" - scored at 2 1/4"
INSIDE CARD BASE - green CS - 3 1/22 x 7 1/4" - scored at 4"
CARD BASE MATS - patterned paper by 'WILD ROSE STUDIO' called 'BUTTERFLY GARDEN' -  x 1 @ 4" x 5 1/4", x 2 @ 2" x 4"
INSIDE CARD BASE MATS - patterned paper by 'WILD ROSE STUDIO' called 'BUTTERFLY GARDEN' -  x 1 @ 3 1/4" x 3 3/4", x 2 @ 3" x 3 1/4"
EMBELLISHMENT - flowers from 'CREATE AND CRAFT TV'
SENTIMENT - from stash and a peel-off
All the edges have been inked using 'TIM HOLTZ' distressed ink pad 'TEA DYE'
 
For a great video demo of this fold visit 'CARDZ TV'.
 
Challenges...
 
I really can't be bothered!
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Sunday, 1 September 2013

If I Were A Robot

... perhaps I wouldn't do such stupid things!  I have had a MAJOR 'senior moment'.  Today is the first of September, and I need to put my new tax disc in the round holder in the car. Simple? You'd have thought so, for a competent person, like me! Ah...
 
I was 'super' organised and I purchased my tax disc early, well I say purchased but my cute, dinky little car is exempt, but I still need to display a tax disc. So all organised, I go to put my tax disc on... and, where is it?  I've lost the blasted thing!  Senior moment, or what! 
 
Just so you know, if you need a duplicate tax disc you will need form V20 from the post office!
 
So I found this really cool group on Facebook called... "I Love My Cricut & I Live In The UK", its been really interesting looking at other people's interests and getting lots of inspiration.  Since I have never made anything with the 'ROBOTZ' Cricut cartridge, I decided today would be the day!
 
 
So, what we have here is... a blue scalloped card blank, and onto this I matted a piece of 'BLACK MAGIC' 'CORE'DINATIONS' cardstock called 'CAULDRON'. Before it was adhered down I embossed it using my CUTTLEBUG and the 'COOLIO' embossing folder, this I then sanded so that the light blue core would show through. The robot is cut from the Cricut 'ROBOTZ' cartridge at 3 1/2" and the sentiment is from the same cartridge (shadow and font) at 2".  With a little bit of faux stitching and a couple of googlie eyes... eh voila!

 
Challenges...
 
NATALIE AND AMY - Ch. #12 - 'Embossing'
 
CRAFTERS CAFE - Ch #26 - 'Embossing Wet or Dry'
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Burnt Toast and Gumdrops...

I burnt my toast this morning... perhaps you don't think this is news-worthy, but I beg to differ!  The smell!  For an extraordinarily amount of time after the burnt toast incident, the acrid smell is STILL lingering!  And worse...
 
Because I live in a flat, and because I'm careless enough to leave my doors open... that awful smell is now permeated into every corner of my dwelling.  I know when I go to bed tonight that smell will be there.  I once heard that if you leave a dish of vinegar out, it will take away the smell... it doesn't!  I would know this -  through the various failed attempts that I have done to rectify this problem in the past.  I have even left my 'usually' wonderful aromatic candles burning for the past 5 hours, and it still smells of burnt toast in here!
 
Any tips on getting rid of the smell of burnt toast will be gratefully received, and yes, I know, DON'T BURN THE TOAST IN THE FIRST PLACE, that doesn't help and your superior attitude is rather annoying!  I didn't MEAN to burn the toast but... yes you've guessed it... I was crafting!
 
I was trying to cut vellum with my Cricut!  I assumed that because it is fairly delicate it would require little blade pressure... how wrong I was.  Eventually, and several slices of bread  later (yes bread not vellum... the toast, remember), I managed to cut the vellum out with my ordinary card stock settings, who knew?
 
 
 
I made this with the Cricut 'JUST BEACAUSE CARDS' cartridge and... there's the vellum!

 
Challenges...
 
HIDING IN MY CRAFTROOM - #113 - 'Freestyle'
 
PUMPKIN SPICE - #35 - 'Anything Goes'
 
CREATIVE CORNER - 'Child's Play'
 
 
 
MAY ALL YOUR CRAFTING BE FREE FROM INTERUPTION
 
 
Bah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, 31 August 2013

Pop...

... of yellow

 
My little offering for today is for a CARDZ TV challenge.. the theme? black and white with a 'pop' of yellow, and since I have begun to 'pile it on' this card is also for the MY CRAFT SPOT challenge - 'get well soon/sympathy'.  Both these sites have some BEAUTIFUL stamps, I love sentiment stamps, I think they add a great touch to a card. ~ I want more stamps  ~  I need more stamps  ~  I must HAVE more stamps  ~ 
 
I am (its getting a bit of a habit!) using my Cricut to make the topper, this time using the 'PAPER LACE' cartridge.  This is the first time I've used this one, and I discovered some truly lovely cuts on this cartridge, very detailed and intricate.  Since I'm also going to enter the EXPLORING CRICUT challenge for this month, my two cuts are (p.57) <GetWell1> and (p.67) <GetWell2> (in yellow, I only used the word 'well')
 
 
The 'topper' is mounted onto a piece of white CS, which has been embossed using my CUTTLEBUG, and the 'snowflake2' folder.  I also added some ribbon, glitter and gems.

 
The yellow flowers are punched out using a MARTHA STEWART flower punch (this one also has some stamps stored in the top, but I decided not to use these and to simply shape the flowers before adhering them down.

 
The inside also has an embossed mat, this time using the all-in-one folder 'thank you'.

 
Challenges...
 
 
MY CRAFT SPOT - #110 - 'Get Well/Sympathy
 
EXPLORING CRICUT - August - 'Cricut Choice'
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 


Friday, 30 August 2013

First Day of School

... not as a pupil though... NO, my beautiful daughter starts her new job (teaching assistant) in a couple of days, and since she has also moved away from home, I'm sending her a good luck card.  Love that girl... she's such a little 'scaredy-cat' and yet she's embraced her new life with such purpose, she's made me very, very proud to be her mum!  Anyway, the card...
 
 
The white mat actually started out VERY differently.  I (in my wisdom) decided to make some educational flash cards for my niece, however, I was a little ambitious... and by the time I'd made 'a', 'b' and 'c' my little niece was too old for them!  Yes, I know... but I got distracted! The mat was actually a large 'tag'.
 
Anyway, the topper, (which was a tag), made using Cricut 'PLANTIN SCHOOLBOOK', had a piece of 'TERESA COLLINS' 'Fabrication' 'yellow brocade' adhered to it.  On top if this was a ('JUST BECAUSE') Cricut cut (apple), I have since... sliced off the top of the tag to make a plain white mat.  To make my card more 'schooly' I added a sentiment (computer generated), punched it out (large scallop punch) and gave it some faux stitching. 

 
The apple and it's leaves are created using a 'CREATA' paper pad, which has lovely glossy detailing.

 

 
The other punch used was a 'MARTHA STEWART' deep edge border punch ('DAISY FAN'), which is utterly gorgeous.  This punch makes a beautiful decorative border, and if you cut a piece of cardstock 2 1/2" deep and punch both sides (line it up), it creates an even lovelier border.  I added a button and gem for a little bit of bling.

 
The inside wording is computer generated, although I would have preferred to use the 'SCRAPPYMOMS' school stamp set, but I was limited on money at the time and only bought the 'owl ocassions' set.  And the same happened with 'MY CREATIVE TIME', I ran out of money! So annoying when that happens! But hey ho, I'm pleased was the result and I'm sure my daughter will love it.  Although she's loving ANYTHING from home at the moment!
 
Challenges...
 
MY CREATIVE TIME - Throwback Thursday #363 - 'Altered Item/Old Cartridge'
 
SCRAPPY MOMS - Terrific Tuesday - 'Back to School'
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Just Because Tree

I made this for the 'Die Cutting Diva weekly challenge, the theme being 'Just Because', which was rather appropriate as I needed to send a 'just because' card out to a friend who is going through some nasty medical treatment.
 
So here it is...

 
I love how this turned out...
CARD BASE - white card blank (5 3/4" x 4 1/8")
1ST MAT - 'SIZZIX' paper pad (green leaves) 'EARTH TONES' (5 5/8" x 4")
2ND MAT - 'FIRST EDITION' paper pad 'DREAMCATCHER' (3" x 4")
CRICUT CUT - green mirri cardstock - 'ELEGANT EDGES' p. 29 shadow <leaves -s> (2 1/2")
CRICUT CUT - black cardstock - 'ELEGANT EDGES' p.29 oblong <Leaves -s> (2 1/2")
CRICUT CUT - green scrap - 'CINDY LOO' p.65 <Tree1> (3")
SENTIMENT - from stash
EMBELLISHMENTS - gems (from local pound shop)



 
Inside decorated using up any scraps, as usual.
 
 
 
 
Challenges...
 
DIE CUTTING DIVAS  - #130 - 'Just Because'
 
PILE IT ON  - #34 - 'Designer Papers'
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Kanban Kwikies II

Some more Kanban Kwikies...


 
What can I say... is he right, or is he RIGHT? I used scalloped blanks for all three cards (varying sizes).  My frugal moment... I used the waste from the topper sheet as accent borders!

 
 
Number Two...

 
Embossed using my 'CUTTLEBUG' and the 'DAISY' folder, I also coloured some clear gems - black with my promarkers

 
A small rub-on, finished the inside... carrying on the football theme
 
 
 
... and Number Three

 
Embossed again, this time using the 'COOLIO' folder.

 
 
Challenges...
 
 
PAPER CREATORS CRAFTS - #13 - 'Anything Goes'
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Sunday, 25 August 2013

Kanban Kwikies

I managed to get in a quick couple of cards using an old Kanban kit 'SO FEMININE/SO MACHO'.  This has been a great kit, with tons of toppers and cardstock all ready to make incredibly quick cards. 
 
So for todays 'quick fix' for this crafty junkie, I managed to do these after I'd cleaned the clubhouse, which was amazingly clean considering we'd had a disco last night...
 
 
This first card was made using the Kanban topper sheet 'RETRO CLASSICS', I used one topper from a selection of 8 (you can see what great value this kit has been!), I used a kraft card blank and my first mat is a piece of light blue cardstock from my stash... after a quick rub around with a Tim Holtz distress ink pad I mounted it to the base card.  The black/silver spotted scalloped circle was cut out using a punch (Kanban CS - 'GRAPHITE POLKA DOT') and has had a little bit of blue wool tied around it before it was mounted to the first mat.  The topper was adhered with foam pads and a couple of gems added to the top corner.  Very quick!
 

... I try to add something to the inside of the card, to make it a little special (or a least, not quite so boring), here we have another scalloped circle and a piece of light blue CS.
 
 
Next ...

 
I used a scalloped card blank and mounted a piece of patterned CS to it (Kanban again, 'CHEQUERED FLAG'), to this I added a small black mat with my topper off-set on top of it.  The sentiment was matted onto a piece of black CS and adhered down.  All corner have been 'chomped', that is rounded off.  The inside was then decorated...

 
 

 
Card Number Three has more of a teenage vibe going on.  I used three toppers from the sheet 'EXTREME SPORTS' (two picture, one sentiment).  The patterned mat ('GRUNGE SPLATTERS') has a narrow piece of black CS adhered to it, and then this was mounted onto a 'skinny' card blank.  One picture topper was mounted onto some silver mirri CS and then adhered to the front, whilst the other was adhered to the inside.  The sentiment on the front of the card was also mounted onto silver mirri CS, both the picture and the sentiment were 'popped' using foam pads.

 
So now I've had my 'fix' for the day, I'd better get back to work.  Quiz and bingo tonight! Busy, busy, busy...
 
 
Challenges...
 
GREAT IMPRESSIONS - August Challenge - 'Square Card'
 
THROUGH THE CRAFT ROOM DOOR CHALLENGE BLOG - August 20-27 - 'Anything Goes'
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Saturday, 24 August 2013

Heatwave? ha ha ha

Not Happening!

 
As usual the predicted heatwave for this weekend... HAS NOT HAPPENED, what a surprise!  The weatherman has got it wrong again.
 
Still, hey ho, since there's not so many customers to deal with... I can craft!  As you know I recently purchase the 'FABULOUS FINDS' Cricut cartridge, and after trawling the Internet for some inspiration I found http://cardcreationsbylorraine.blogspot.co.uk/.  Lorraine has made a lovely little creation using this cartridge... I thought I'd put my spin on it, here's what I came up with, using scraps from my stash...
 





 
I used magnets as the closure and the punched border is Martha Stewart 'Around the Page' 'DOUBLE LOOPS', the patterned paper is from 'CREATA', I also added some sparkly glitter stickles on the flower and stitching (everything looks better with stitching!) and a few gems... all from my stash pile!
 
Challenges...
 
PENNY'S PAPER-CRAFTY CHALLENGES - #141 - 'Dies and/or Punches'
 
BUNNY ZOE'S CRAFTS - August Challenge ' - 'Bingo' used... die cut, sparkle and stitching
 
LITTLE SCRAP PIECES - Fun Friday - 'Anything Goes'
 
A.R.T.  CARD CHALLENGES - #11 - 'Anything Goes'
 
Enjoy the Sun (hahahahahahahaha)
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...