Thinking of You

This was a sympathy card I got asked for recently.

Yet again I had a different vision in my head as to how it panned out but there we go!

I've used kraft card and ivory stamping card, both from Anna Marie Designs.

The stamp set on the top half is good old Vintage Vogue, now retired from Stampin' Up which I've stamped in the fab sounding baked brown sugar.  I think I used a slightly darker ink for the large flowers which I have cut out and added with a little 1mm pad (the card had to be posted).

I've also added a card candi on the flowers - this was the limit for getting through the post before extra cost!

Sentiment is from the lovely new Wetland stamp set, punched out and layered on the trusty SU scalloped oval.

For the bottom of the card I used the new roller which I won at Jenny's extravaganza recently - it's called 'Very Vintage' and goes very nicely with this stamp set.
I've added this layer to some SU border punched strips (dotted scallop ribbon border).

For not going to plan it ended up well and was much appreciated by those concerned.

Birthday gifts

A lovely couple of days away on a Spa break at Center Parcs at Longleat.
I can thoroughly recommend it.  We had as much time as we wanted in the spa on day 1 which contains lots of different steam rooms, saunas, meditation rooms etc and a little outdoor bubble pool.  Our package included all our food and a much needed back, neck & shoulder massage with mini facial which was soooo relaxing.

We stayed the night on fireworks night so got to see their fabulous display.  We also managed some time in the main pool both days and a few more hours in the spa on day 2 - it was all very relaxing and a great catch up with a couple of friends.

We went in aid of Karen's 40th and these are the presents I made her.

The organiser is a copy of one we did at one of Jenny's extravaganza's.  The colour theme had to be slightly led by the fact I needed 12x12" card which I don't have a big supply of.  The picture doesn't show it brilliantly but I think it was elegant eggplant card for the body of the folder.

If anyone missed a previous post it contains 12 pockets each with a little card for a month of the year so you can keep track of birthdays and important dates.

The origami box contains a folded paper album - each page is made from a sheet of 6x6".  I haven't made one of these for ages.

I have added a picture in each page that I know means a lot to Karen.  The box was decorated to tie in the colours.

And a final picture for today which one or two people will chuckle at (or be quite pleased!) and some will think I have lost it (some truth in that actually) - I will explain further one day.

Jill

Stamp-a-stack for Christmas

So, yesterday I had another crafty day out which I booked months ago - I went to Jo Dumbleton's Stamp-a-stack down in Dorset.

We made 12 cards, 2 each of the cards below:

Aren't they great?  We used many different stamp sets and punches.  We used embossing folders and framelits on the sizzix, stamping glitter, heat and stick powder, all sorts!

I had a couple of teeny mishaps (only 3 hours sleep wasn't entirely conducive to this) but you probably wouldn't notice and I am too much of a perfectionist.

My favourite card, no surprises if you know me, is this one:

I love it!  And have already made a couple more penguins.  This little chap is constructed from a combo of Stampin' Up punches.  I'll take a pic of the card inside for later in the week - and maybe see if you've worked out where everything comes from!!

Also have to report that for once my Mum did not win a raffle prize.

But I did!!!  Still not got the star prizes and this time I was drawn last so got what no one else wanted - still a prize though.

Off for a couple of days in the spa now so back soon with some more updates.

Jill

Choo-choo!

After nearly catching up I'm not quite up to date with blogs again and thought I had better update my own too as I have been busy this week.

This card was for my Godson.  As with everything I seem to have done recently I had a different idea of how it was going to look when I started but for various reasons this is what finally happened!:

Probably not a traditional card for a 5 year old either but Alex is a train fanatic so I had to use these lovely stamps from Molly Blooms.

I've coloured the images in copics, added some highlights with white pen and added fun flock for smoke.

Also coloured some peel off letters and number and added to some card candi which is layered on some punched circles.

A few layers of card, including one using Martha Stewart punch-around-the-page and some SU circle and scallop punches for the sentiment stamp from the stash.

This card is an 8x8" one too.  I did enter it in the Molly Blooms Facebook competition but as it wasn't as fancy as I'd planned and after seeing the competition I don't think it will get anywhere but I'm still really pleased with it.

Got another crafty day out tomorrow so will report back on that too.

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!