Basket of Flowers - Monday 18th August 2014

Hello Friends!

 How are you today? I want to say a massive thank you for all your comments on my last post, I was totally blown away...the card was made for my group at our workshop to base their cards on, but it did turn into a labour of love, not least because that Jofy stamp is one of my very favourite stamps and all they need is  a colour wash, anything else and they would be 'over done'.

Today is a fairly simple 'pop up' card, made in a very short turnaround time! Last week, one of my cousins in Wales contacted me to say it's her Mum's 60th birthday this week (I knew it was her birthday, just not her 60th!) and would I be able to make two cards: one from Jo and her husband and one from their two very young kiddies. I have been turning down commissions lately, especially with less than a month's notice, because I'm too busy. Jo needed to receive the cards within a week, but what could I say, she's family and I have come to the conclusion that most people who aren't crafters think we can conjure up a masterpiece in minutes!

I said I would make them, but explained the usual amount of time I need, so to bear that in mind! This is the card I made for the children to give to her....it had to be quite 'flat' to post..so I just created a simple front, using papers from Pink Petticoat. The flowers and heart are Sissix dies and the scalloped circles are Spellbinders.

 Inside, the flower basket pops up and when the card is 'flattened' out the basket stands upright. For the flowers I used a mixture of Spellbinders and Sissix dies and all the patterned papers are by Pink Petticoat.

I haven't ever made many cards for children to give and it is quite hard to get the balance right, so I hope I've managed it...Jo was thrilled with them anyway, so I hope her Mum will be too!


Did any of you catch Sam Poole's C&C shows on Saturday? We were out all day sorting out new kitchen 'stuff' but I recorded them and when we got home I watched them online - I thought they were super shows and loved Sam's demos...it is such a strange feeling when they hold up your cards and say your name..but I was excited!

Tomorrow is my day for Sam's blog and it will be some sewn Christmas makes...that's all I'm saying! 

Have a good day all!

Love and Hugs
Carole X

Fun card today! - Saturday 2nd August 2014

Hello Friends,

Thanks for your comments on the ice skate card Thursday,  sometimes you make a card you are really pleased with and that was one for me. It was only a little card and to be honest, that ice skate stamp is so beautiful, you just can't go wrong with it.

Well where did July go? I didn't get a chance to enter any of the challenges I had earmarked, yet have been crafting in every spare hour!! I've got to say I'm not a huge fan of August, only because it's one month closer to the evenings drawing in...I am one of those people who really does not like winter....I loathe dark mornings and evenings, the wet and cold and the thought that we might even  get a smattering of the white stuff (see I can't even say the 'S' word!

Also, the 1st August...yesterday I had a very bad start...it was my day off, I put the washing machine on and then, because it was  raining, put the clothes in the dryer and went off upstairs to craft. My mobile went off and I'd left it downstairs, so I went back down and as I picked it up there was a tremendous 'bang' in the kitchen! I rushed out to see smoke coming out of the dryer, so I pulled the plug out and opened the door...it was just a burning smell and steam, so I pulled the washing out (all ok) and opened the kitchen door to let the smell out...well, if you open the door and the hens are out in the garden they rush in...so there I was shooing them back out whilst trying to rescue the washing!

Then I realised that the surge had cause the fuse to trip, so I had to go out to the garage to flip the switch..it was a bit scary really at the time, but at least there was no fire!

I shouldn't dwell,  Summer is still here and we have to enjoy it whilst it lasts...and today is my hubby Tom's birthday!!  I don't make him slushy, romantic cards - he would rather have something that will raise a smile and include a nod to our 'ladies'...so as I have been playing around (in my head so far), with Pop Up Box cards for our next workshop...this is what I came up with....

The card folds flat, but I went a bit OTT with the embellishing because I didn't have to put it in an envelope and post it: I just made a little wrap, tied with ribbon.

The papers are all by Pink Petticoat, as are the digi stamp trees, bees and butterflies. The chooks are a stamp by Magnolia and the sentiments, stamps by Dreamees. I fussy cut the grass and made the little coop myself. 

That's all for today, I don't know what the birthday boy wants to do yet and the family are coming over Sunday, so not much crafting for me this weekend!

Have a great weekend, whatever you are doing,

Love and Hugs,
Carole X

Baby boxes - Sunday 17th November

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a super weekend and not feeling too cold! It seemed to get dark really early last night, I always notice by the time I have to put the hens back into their run and last night was the first time before 4pm.

Last month when I did the craft fair locally, I was asked by one of the other stallholders if I could make her a few boxes for the baby mittens she was selling as Christmas gifts. She left the design up to me as she was just about to go on holiday, but she needed them for her next craft fair in the Cotswold town of Cirencester: a regular fair that she sells at during the year. Sue makes lovely baby clothes and I have spoken to her for several years when we've met at the fairs, so I was pleased to do so and these are what I made...

They are little 'milk carton' style boxes, made using a template out of paper by Pink Petticoat, as are the images and sentiments. I made and assortment of boy, girl and white boxes, with only the white one having a Christmas image. 

I'm happy to say she was very pleased with them!

Thanks for stopping by,

Love and Hugs,

Carole X