Wot no view!

Just to finish my hols report before I get back to crafting - after my pics the other day I had to add one of Helvellyn.
We chose a day in the week that had the best forecast for our walk and the morning was beautiful, clear blue skies and a great temperature.

Needless to say heading over the Kirkstone Pass towards Glenridding it was very murky and the cloud was really low over the hills.
We had hoped it might clear but there was a point where we knew it wouldn't and ploughed on anyway.

To be honest if it had been clear at the top there is no way I would of made it along Striding Edge - I'd still be there clinging to the craggy rocks I think even though the view would of been spectacular.

This is me at the top of Englands third highest mountain:

It was a little refreshing for our coffee stop at the top but there were quite a few people (and dogs) up there.

Because of the cloud we managed to miss the turning we meant to take at the top to come back down so came a slightly longer way but the cloud lifted a little as we went down and there was some lovely scenery (it was still cloudy at the top).

After around a 6 hour outing we had a well deserved meal in a lovely cafe in the car park called Fellbites if anyone is ever passing.

Stampin' Up Christmas Extravaganza

So, I may do a little more holiday recap another day.

Had a busy few days with cards to finish, my printer was pronounced dead so had to spend some time rustling up another and had to book a little break to accommodate some Commonwealth Games tickets for next year (amongst other things).

Today I must mention yesterday's Stampin' Up Extravaganza with the lovely Jenny.

As I was away for the local version last week myself and Mum went to Jenny's group so we didn't miss out!

For those that haven't seen, this is what we made:

Firstly we made a card and decorated the large box.  Then we decorated the long, slim box which I think is great for a gift (and very reasonably priced) and lastly we decorated the little box and made 3 cards to go in it.

I love the colour combo on all these.

Jenny's days are always very labour intensive but this time we could be a little more leisurely and had time to chat, have lunch and watch the arrival of the bride in the church next to the hall where we spent the day!

We sat with two lovely ladies but they probably won't sit with us again as we swept up the table prizes and also both won on the raffle.  Mum asked me to make special mention to Janet and Val who recently saw her and commented on their improved chances of winning as we didn't go to the local day!

Mum always wins - I was going to stop taking her!!

I got caught this morning in my dressing gown having a leisurely start to the day catching up with some blogs (not quite done everyone yet but had quite a good browse) and sorting through some e-mails.

Could do with a couple of extra weeks in October if anyone finds any!

Jill

Still here!

A busy few days sorting some things out so just popping past to say I will be back to crafty updates soon but another holiday view to keep you going.

This was taken on the top of Latterbarrow which was a great walk from where we were staying in Hawkshead and from the top you could look over the other side of the hill to Windermere - it was a beautiful view.

Fingers crossed we don't all get blown away at the weekend!

I'm back!

Some followers will not know that I have been away because amazingly I scheduled 5 posts before I disappeared for a couple of weeks!  They were set up at very strange times of day and night but I got there, maybe not as detailed as some posts.

This also means I am behind on everyone elses blogs which I shall catch up with over the next few days.

We had a few days away at Manchester Velodrome for Graeme to compete up there - no medals to report but not for lack of trying!

We were staying in North Manchester and on the Saturday were heading up to the Lake District for a week.  As it happened there was a Sincerely Yours show in Lancashire the day we were literally passing - so I had to didn't I?!!

This confused some exhibitors I know as they expected to see me in Taunton but it was also nice to see a few different stands in a completely different area.  Thanks to Tim from Anna Marie Designs for another fab card deal (like I needed more!).  I only spent 2 hours there but it was nice for a crafty fix.

While I sort out some pictures and conduct a test on my printer to see if it is repairable or needs replacing I'll leave you with this quick view just to show it can be nice in the Lake District in October - so much nicer than it's been since we got back so I hope it brightens your day too.

Wetlands

This card came about after Jenny added a class at Stamping Moments.  I got the instructions and this card combines ideas from a few different cards.

The stamp set used for the birds and reeds is Wetlands from Stampin' Up.
The stone/sand effect is achieved by using the Gorgeous Grunge set which I have become a bit of a fan of.

Papermania 'nesties' used for the main image with a sun sponged in the background.
SU used for sentiment and punches it is mounted on!

Good old Stampin' Up!!

On your Wedding Day

Another quilled card!

I have stamped the sentiment in the middle of this card from a Forever Friends 'Going to the Chapel' set, embossed it in gold and layered on a piece of gold card.

Unfortunately this picture doesn't do some of the gorgeous quilling papers justice.
The teardrop flowers are made from 'lemonish white' paper and are edged with another brilliant new colour from JJ Quilling called 'solid gold' which also has a gold edge - it just adds a finishing pick me up to the flowers.

The solid gold has also been used for the roses and the gold edged version for the scrolls.
The fringed flowers are made with 10mm american paper from my stash but the centres are the gold edged solid gold again.

The leaves are the new olive crush again but this time a gold edged version to tie in with the rest of the design.

A quilled 'Special' Birthday

This is probably the first of rather too many cards this year for 'special' birthdays!

This is a 7x7" card from Anna Marie - rather a good 'in between' size - like we need another size card!

I've layered a peel off greeting on to a couple of punched shapes and added this to the centre of the card with foam pads.

The fringed flowers - yes, actual quilling!!! - are made from 10mm paper in bright colours.
This card was very much cased from the fab Jill over at Paper Daisy - do have a look if you haven't visited before, her cards are fabulous.

I've used a large quilling tool to roll the flowers so there is room for a little seed bead in the centre.

The leaves and tendrils in between are made from a gorgeous new paper from JJ Quilling called Olive Crush which actually contains crushed olives (or residues in some way from olives).  Apologies if I haven't entirely got my facts straight but either way the paper is just so scrummy!

There could be a range of these recycled papers so I look forward to some more.  The picture doesn't really do the colour justice but it is gorgeous in real life and was much admired when I took some to the local quilling group last week!

Poppy Birthday

You may remember from my box card-athon a while back that I made a poppy card and decided to keep it for a birthday.

Well, I kept it for Mum's birthday.

I added a little bit more to the inside for a message and made a box for it.

This is the card front.  I've used the Stampin' Up poppies stamp and coloured some of the flowers with copics and punched them out - layering them on more punched shapes.

SU sentiment also on punched shapes and finished with card layers and a couple of itty bitty punched shapes with gems in the centre.

The middle of the card has the main image and I've stamped the flowers twice, cut them out and added them with foam pads for a 3D effect.

I've then added a couple of card layers to the inside and added a tag with an SU sentiment.

And this is the box - not highly decorated but with some of the little flowers to match the front of the card and a tag to write on.

It makes it more of a surprise when you open the box then!

Sport

A quicker card today but one that fulfilled a request.

Haven't used this fab Sport stamp for a bit from Clarity Stamps.  Stamped it in SU real red and then added the footballer in the middle.

The card is for a Manchester United fan, hence the colours.

The card is A5 and I have randomly stamped a little Happy Birthday across the back and added some stamped footballs that I punched out and popped on a little 3D pad.

Main image then layered and added to the middle.

Piggies

A few days, several wedding cards and a mutant migraine later and here we are!!

A request this week for an Anniversary card - apparently the recipient has a 'pig' thing hence the subject.

Paper background from a Papermania Honey & Hugs set, layered on some pink card.

Piggies from a Woodware set, stamped on pink card and cut out.  The grass stamp is also from the same stamp set.

A touch of quilling added to the pigs spots and all finished with a selection of punches and a little peel off greeting.