One for the guys

Another JB challenge: September challenge 6: one for the guys: 'A nice easy challenge - make a birthday card for a bloke! Not for a baby or a child, but for a grown-up man.'

I've made a couple using 'Guy's Life' papers and bits:





I've been determined to join in at last with some of the challenges on Just Bex (as I didn't do any during September). Today is World Cardmaking Day (info here: http://www.worldcardmakingday.com/) so I thought I'd do my bit. I have to confess that my back isn't good today - is continuing to hurt so much despite the painkillers and isn't any different whether I'm sitting in my armchair or whatever. I feel all I can do is make the best of things - and my crafting certainly gives an opportunity to concentrate on a bit of creativity.

Old and new

Sue has set a super challenge on JB: challenge 3: old and new: 'for this challenge we want you to do 2 things - yes 2 things we are asking for 2 fantastic items - one with old paper - you know the stuff you hate and really do not want to use and one with new paper yes cut up that NEW stash you have bought'

For the 'old' I've used papers from a K & Co Life's Journey 6 x 6 pad - I don't think I've ever used any of them, because I couldn't really think of anything to do with them (I think I bought them in a mad moment with other K & Co pads):



The 'new' is mainly Imaginisce: Go for Baroque: If it ain't Baroque' with a little bit of blue HOTP:



That's an anniversary card done that is needed for next week.

Button it for Christmas

This is another JB Friday night challenge (this time it's last night's, so up-to-date for a change): '.....and for THIS FRIDAY we are continuing the Christmas preparations and as usual are asking you to make 5 cards for the challenge.Simple one this week - all cards must include BUTTONS. Any buttons, whether normal or novelty.Complete the challenge before Midnight Tuesday and you will get 3 points.'

JB Trimming the tree

This one was for a Friday night challenge (21 September): trimming theYour challenge for the next few days is to make 5 Christmas cards featuring Christmas Trees - any shape, any style, any kind of tree! These can be 5 different cards, or 5 all the same, it's up to you.'

I know I'm late in doing this, but decided to make a few more cards using some of the Anna Griffin papers I had left over and over bits and bobs that have been hanging around:

JB September challenge 2

This is for the JB September challenge2: get tearing: 'You've guessed it...cards or LO's tear them to your hearts content.'

It's a poor attempt (somehow meets my mood today):

HS:MS SPS 7

I've been doing the HS:MS self portrait Saturday photos every week and I thought it might get easier - huh!! I didn't feel like facing the camera todsy (not much different to any other day) - Saturday is never my best day - it's when I take my tablet for osteoporosis and I never feel that great.

I had several attempts at a SP for today and deleted them one by one! In the end I kept this one and played around with various effects and have finished up with this (a bit like looking through rose-tinted glasses!):

Stripes, spots and waves

This card is for September challenge 5 on JB: 'Feel free to make a card or LO using Stripes, Spots and also Waves'.

I hope that the little buttons count as spots:

Paisley crazy

This is for another challenge on Just Bex: October challenge 1: 'So, basically the challenge is to use something Paisley on your card, whether is a patterned paper, a die cut, ribbon, Paisley embossing, whatever you want.'

I've used Papermania Inspirations paper as a background (it has a distressed look) and stamped with a favourite large paisley stamp using Brilliance pearlescent purple and embossed with fine detail clear ep.

This is the same card, but the first photo is without flash - this shows the colour well, but the second photo shows the embossing detail that isn't apparent on the first one:

All there in black and white

The CBC crew set this challenge: Joanne said: 'I know it's still September but October is only a few days away and then Christmas will be here before you know it... here's a chance to tick a Christmas card off your 'must make' list.

We all sit down to enjoy the good old Black & White movies at Christmas so your challenge is to make a B&W Christmas card.

You can use a metallic (gold or silver) to accent it if you want but no sneaking other colours in, OK?'

So here are three very similar ones from me (while I had the paper out it was just as easy to make three as to do one). The white papers with trees and ivy were from some blocs I bought a couple of years ago and the other papers are DCWV (bits that were left over from last year - or perhaps it was the year before, time goes so quickly!) The little squares of snow, snowman and words were stamped and embossed with black fine detail:

Beary special

The challenge crew on Crafts by Carolyn say: 'so we want you to make a card for any occasion but it must be

BEARY SPECIAL

Here are three from me:





(Although it's a bit of a wrong time of year to use that one ... roll on next summer!)

'You need to sit down'

Sue set the Friday night challenge on 7 September on Just Bex (yes, I know I'm way behind the times!) was: 'you need to sit down and relax ... now this challenge - and I BET you chose NOT to accept it !!! is to make a card using ........ wait for it ...... PEEL OFFS!!

Sue and many others have shown such style and invention using their peel offs. Mine is just a sad, naff card:

TEAR Fund sale update

I've just heard that I've sold another £10 worth of Christmas cards and someone else wants £10 worth tonight, so that will add another £6 to the total for TEAR Fund. I now have £60 + a donation of £10 to send. I'm keeping it open for a week or two in case anyone else wants to have some cards (if you're local and reading this, you'd always be welcome to come and have a coffee and a browse).

JB September challenge 12

This was one of the challenges on Just Bex: 'This challenge is to create a LO using only back and white and a splash of one other colour'.

I've used BG scarlet's letter papers and other bits. That's me as a bridesmaid when I was six:

HS:MS blade

A flat sharp cutting edge. Find 'blade' in your space today.

Here's a picture of the blade of my food processor. I've had this for years and keep talking of replacing it because the blade isn't half as sharp as it used to be:



Sally was asking about the 'random' photos. They are the result of a daily photo challenge on Her Space : My Space

HS:MS mesh

A material made from a network of wire or threads. Show us 'mesh' in your space today.

This is a sieve that is frequently used in my kitchen:



I hope everyone's having a better day than I am!! (computer problems, not to mention other things).

Tagged by Emma

I was also tagged by Emma

Emma said: Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Right then here goes:

Firstly I must explain that I've done this one before, so I might be repeating myself (but I don't suppose anyone will remember):

1. I've never ridden a bicyle
2. I can't swim
3. I remained single until I was 43
4. I've had my photo in Hello magazine
5. I've sung a solo in the Royal Albert Hall
6. One of my favourite books is 'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier
7. One of my favourite films is 'A touch of class'

As Emma said, that was hard (even though I've done it before - tried to think up different things, but there are some repeats).

I now tag:

Rachael
Kate
Louise
Diana
etteY
Rach
Sharon

These are all friends on HS:MS - if you haven't visited it yet, check it out!

Tagged by Andrea

I was tagged a few days ago by Andrea and I apologise for not doing this before.

Here goes:

4 places I have worked:
1. BX Plastics, Manningtree
2. BXL, London
3. Brook Street Bureau temping
4. Turnham Primary School

4 places I have lived:
1. Dovercourt
2. Catford
3. Petts Wood
4. Bromley

4 places I have visited:
1. Singapore
2. Perth, Australia
3. Hong Kong
4. Bermuda

4 favourite foods:
1. dark chocolate
2. chips (but don't often have them nowadays)
3. pasta
4. strawberries

4 places I would rather be:
1 - 4. on holiday somewhere warm

4 blogging buddies - because I love to visit their blogs:

1. Chris
2. Bobs
3. Suzy B
4. Charli

Apologies to Andrea and Emma

I got tagged the other day by Andrea and Emma (two different tags) and I told them I'd do them when my sale was over, but I'm sorry, girls, I haven't done it yet. I will tomorrow.

Just Bex September challenge 1 O's and X's

This was the template that Sue gave us:



And here is my card (it really is square, honestly - photo taken on the slant to avoid flash reflection in the middle):



Earlier this evening I did a card for a chinese whisper swap on Carolyn's, but I can't show it yet until all the others have been seen.

HS:MS tray

A flat , shallow container for carrying food, drin k and small items. Find a 'tray' in your space.

This is my favourite tray, although it doesn't get used very often:



And this is one that I use a lot. When I first had a vertebra fracture my mum bought me a special craft lap tray, but I couldn't use it because it was too big and cumbersome. This is my old, old lap tray, but it still gets plenty of use. I find that towards the end of the day however my back has felt earlier, the pain isn't good and I tend now to sit in my armchair for my evening meal, using my lap tray:

Just Bex September challenge 10 folding card

During September I didn't take part in challenges on Just Bex because I was preparing for my card sale. I know that many people incorporate the challenges at the same time, but I couldn't cope with trying to do that.

Yesterday I decided to try and get back into the swing of things, so I started on September challenge 10 foldering card: to make a folding card like the one below . It's made from one sheet of cardstock, and is very straightforward!' and there were clear instructions to achieve the card.

Having got all the bits out to do the card, I half finished it last night and have to admit that I didn't feel like completely it tonight, but I have, and I'm glad I did.

I've made an anniverary card for my brother and sister-in-law (I hope it's safe to show, because I don't think they look here very often).

The hearts tucked inside the little envelope have their initials on them.

Most of the cardstock and bits used were from K & Co Brookfield range:











I'm so thankful that Nicky set this challenge, because it's made an unusual anniversary card - it's certainly something I'll try again sometime.