Today's efforts

Thank you for all the kind comments I've received, particularly about the 'let it snow' robo card. All credit must go to Erika on UKScrappers who provides such wonderful templates. All I did was get to grips with learning how to manipulate the robo to cope with the various layers.

I've been using the robo again today and have adapted a couple of Erika's templates:

The template for the next four cards was provided on UKS by Lin (Eui22). Now that I look at them again, I'm not sure whether perhaps they should have something in the middle - a flower or something - or whether to leave them plain. The photos aren't good because I've had to take them with flash by artificial light and some of the papers used are irridescent:









The following cards have been adapted from Erika's templates:

I've had fun doing them, in between crying with back pain - but, thank goodness, painkillers are kicking in better now.

'Let it snow' card

I've been trying to work out how to do different layers on my craft robo (using different coloured cutting lines) and last night I had success, using a template kindly given by Erika on UKScrappers. The small snowflakes along the rounded edge were a bit of a pain, because the little bits had to be teased out, but they cut well, and I've learned now how to select and cut the various bits of a template:

HS:MS break

To seperate into pieces. Show us 'break' in your space today.

First thing this morning (before 8 o'clock, which is early for me) I was still in bed, although I was awake. I was aware that John had got up much earlier as he has an appointment at Guy's this morning and always takes a long while to get ready. Suddenly I heard a crash and I just knew what had happened! John is registered blind (has some residual sight in one eye). In our kitchen we have a table that can be let down to be flush with the wall. John had left an empty milk bottle on the table and then had released the flap and ... crash! (This is not the first time ... and probably won't be the last).

So I hopped out of bed to go and clear up the mess (there is no way he can clear it himself). When all the bits were safely gathered up I put my computer on and looked at the HS:MS word for today - break!!!! Huh!!! specially for me!!

So here are two of the larger pieces (the rest shattered into tiny bits):

Today's Christmas cards

Last night I stamped up a few pieces of card and have now managed to colour and mount 15 of them (will be used 5 in a pack):



Being relatively new to using the craft robo, I haven't ventured yet into making my own templates (although I've achieved quite a few welded words). So I used a template kindly contributed by Sally on UKScrappers of Mary and Joseph on a donkey. I think it works quite well as a silhouette against a dark blue mounted on a card for the sky and some brown card torn to give a ragged edge for the ground. I've had to resort to using up some old 'Seasons Greetings' peel offs (and stars, because I didn't have enough of anything else and haven't got time or inclination to make any). This is the result (I've made 20 of them):

HS:MS quirky

Something characterised by the peculiar or unexpected. Find something 'quirky' today in your space.

At first I wondered what on earth I could use today, but then I remembered a birthday present I had recently. As I unwrapped and found the box inside the paper, there was a delicious chocolaty aroma and a faint coffee smell as well. On taking the 'cakes' out of the box I discovered that they were candles! Aren't they fun (and definitely quirky!):

A few more Christmas cards

Yesterday the postie brought me some lovely stamps that I'd purchased from QVC, so I stamped up quite a few pieces of card with Stazon black and set about colouring.

So far I've finished 4 of this one:



I've done 10 of this one:



5 of this one (the middle bit has been stamped again and raised with 3D foam):



And 5 of this one (the poinsettia has been stamped again and raised with 3D foam):



These will be some of the cards that I'll sell in packs of 5 to fundraise for TEAR Fund.

HS:MS hang

To suspend, be suspended or dangle. Show us 'hang' in your space today.

This radio hangs in the corner of our shower, but I have to confess that more often than not I forget it's there - note to self: switch it on!

HS:MS us

You and me!

Here's us:

HS:MS S.O.S.

This was taken a few years ago - from the London Eye - didn't come out badly considering it was taken through the glass of the window and the light was fading fast:

HS:MS SPS 4

I've discovered that I never open my eyes wide enough on a photo. For this I decided to look sideways and downwards at the camera. This will have to do for tomorrow, especially as the battery is almost flat:



Decided I'd also try it in black and white:

World cardmaking day 6 October

I just found this link on someone's blog and thought I'd pass it on in case you hadn't come across it: World Cardmaking Day

WHAT

World Card Making Day is a holiday especially for card makers around the world to:
Celebrate the creativity of handmade cards and the personal connection that they create between friends and family
Kick off (and get a head start on) the holiday card-making season

WHEN

The first Saturday of each October, kicking off the holiday card-making season, the most popular time for creating and sharing handmade greetings.

WHO

The card-making community worldwide, including hobbyists, beginning card makers, manufacturers of card-making products, retail sellers of products, educators, and press are invited to come together to celebrate this holiday and creative passion.

WHY

It is a day to connect with fellow card makers both near and far, to applaud the creativity that powers the craft, and to provide an opportunity for card makers to connect and find resources that will empower, inspire, and encourage them in their card making.

HOW

Use this site to find unique ways to celebrate this holiday, including:
Creating your own handmade cards from the dozens of sponsored ideas in the Inspiration Avenue section
Sharing your unique designs with the world in the Creation Corner gallery
Finding and visiting an Official World Card Making Day Retailer
Discovering many fun activities in the Celebrate section

Crafty friends

Saturday is the day when I take my tablet for osteoporosis and have to keep upright for at least half an hour before eating or drinking - the cuppa at the end of this is very welcoming. John made the mistake this morning of bringing me a cup of tea in bed only to be reminded that I couldn't have it 'cause it's Saturday.

If the weather's fine, I often spend the time walking around the garden. This morning is lovely and sunny, although cool in the shade. I use that time to pray for people and this morning I felt led to pray for 'crafty' friends (not cunning ones, you understand!). I know quite a few people who are struggling with various problems or ills, either their own or others close to them. I've made some lovely crafty friends - some in real life, some cyber ones who I've met up with and others who I've never met but who are now among my friends because we have this cyber crafty link.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to look at my blog and to leave comments - much appreciated - and I love visiting others and seeing the results of so much talent.

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Andrea

Andrea said that if it wasn't my thing, then ignore it. Hey ho, it might not usually be something I'd particularly go for, but a bit of 'frivol' is OK!! So here goes:

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Timmy (haven't got a car - so I don't think I'd get anywhere as a rock star with that name!)

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Chocolate hazelnut

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) HHAR (doesn't really have a ring to it, does it?}

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Purple Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Mary Harwich

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Harha (sounds laughable!)

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") The Lilac Merlot (I drink a lot of water, but I don't think The Lilac Water would conjure up the thoughts of a superhero!)

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) James George

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) Poison Humbug (sounds more like a gangster than a stripper, not that I'd want to be either!)

I now tag:

Joanne

Melissa

Paula

Cheryl

Jackie

CBC August swap cards

I received these cards for the swap a couple of days ago (apologise that they got buried under a pile and I should have shown them earlier).

The first one is from Sally (Designer Bunny):

The second one was by Nigel (Freebird):

And the third one was by Melissa:

All terrific cards (although I'm amazed that there is not a hint of pink on Mel's card!! lol!)

Another Bumbleberry CJ DLO

This time this is for Jacqui's CJ, entitled 'Who I am' - telling something about ourselves and including a photo:

An instrument for picking up small objects. Find tweezers in your space today.

I seem to have quite a selection! So here they are all lined up (looks as if they're ready to be used in a surgical procedure!):

Bumbleberry CJ DLO

Here is my DLO for Caroline's CJ. The theme is 'Girly'. Caroline said: 'Here I would like you to celebrate all that makes you a girl, a woman, a female, the mighty SHE!'

Well, although I'm now officially a senior cit, I still like girly things, so this is what I produced:

HS:MS curious

Eager to know or learn. Find 'curious' in your space today.

I make no apology that it's Josey again. She loves carrier bags, especially if there are toys inside. If I come home with a carrier bag she always wants to know whether there's anything in it for her.

This is a carrier containing toys. It's kept in a cupboard and as soon as we go to get it she gets excited.

Salt challenge: God's Promises

Today is Salt challenge launch day. Gillian set the challenge this time and here is what she said:

Just want to say thank you to all who have been joining in on the challenges so far, we loved seeing what you created for the Water challenge.

Gillian here and it's my turn to set the challenge this week and I've chosen

God's Promises.

So many times we are guilty of breaking promises,

or have been on the other end of a broken promise,

but what a wonderful blessing to know

that when God makes a promise it's steadfast.

We'd love to see what Promise from God you choose to use as your basis for your challenge

so leave us a comment when you are finished your piece,

so that we and others may see your work.

To get you inspired the Design Team have come up with some beautiful pieces.

Please take a look at Salt

If you read about my problems with Vista and my craft robo yesterday, you'll understand that my contribution went a bit haywire.

Fortunately I did get my robo up and running (thanks for the sympathy, folks), but I couldn't get it to recognise the registration marks on the printed image for the centre of this LO, so in the end I cut it without and it went 'off line'. I nearly abandoned it to the bin, but then thought that sometimes people do funky things for effect and that I'd leave it as it is! (The simple solution, of course, to all this would have been to cut it out by hand, but I didn't want to be defeated).

So here is my contribution, based on what Jesus said in John 15:5: 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.'

HS:MS kiss

AKA: Pucker up, swap spit, snog, tonsil tickling (tee hee).A show of affection by means of mouth to mouth contact. Go on, give us a kiss!

My response to this today needs either a lot of imagination or poetic licence! I'll leave it for you to decide whether Josey is actually kissing one of her favourite toys or nearly biting its head off!

Windows vista ...

Having bought a new laptop to replace my dead one, it, of course came Vista-ready. I love certain aspects of Vista, but it has been a bit of a pain getting new drivers for my printer etc. 'What has this to do with craft?' I hear you ask!

Well, a couple of weeks ago I (thought I) installed my craft robo successfully and actually used it to do a DLO for a CJ. Last night I tried to use it for the project I need to complete for this week's Salt challenge which will be launched tomorrow morning ... and the robo controller wouldn't work.

So I've now taken off what was installed and going through the whole process again - downloading the software from Graphtec. I hope to be able to return later and say that my robo is working. Meanwhile, I'm having to turn to plan Z for my Salt project.