HS:MS row

'A number of people or things in a straight line. Show us a 'row' in your space today.'

This is John's idea (I couldn't think of anything original - was going to go for a row of DVDs) - a row of broad beans in their pod:

HS:MS SOS continued

I thought I'd just try zooming into the section with the bee and see what the result's like:



No crafting today - my back is agony atm despite the painkillers (always does hurt, but this is off the end of the scale!) - yesterday I bent down to pick up some post and ... oh gosh, here we go again. I'm having to waddle across the room. Sitting is the most comfortable position - might try a bit of gentle crafting to try to divert my attention away from the pain.

And today has been lovely and sunny and I couldn't even get over the step to go into the garden to enjoy the late summer sunshine.

Sorry, shouldn't really moan.

Think I'll make a crafty list of things to do - you never know, I might get inspiration for what to do next when I feel like it.

Another little moan (while I'm at it - lol!) - sitemeter has upgraded it's site and now I can't get into it. I've found my username, but tried every possible password I can think of and can't get into my statistics. When I click on the forgotten password link, I'm told that an email has been sent, but I haven't got it. So now I don't know how many hits I've had - I'd already said that I'll do some blog candy when I get to 20,000 hits - I think the last time I looked it was about 19,600, so in the end I might have to guess it - so watch this space - blog candy coming soon!

HS:MS SOS

It's SOS day on HS:MS, so I thought I'd show some more photos that I took when we were in Eastbourne:

Christine's blog candy

Like buses, offers of blog candy seem to come along in groups. This time this is from Christine: http://craftlingscosycorner.blogspot.com/2008/08/10k-blog-candy.html

This is a bit of a different blog candy posting, because Christine points out the merits of turning off word verification. I must admit that I used to have it on and then for ages took it off. I did get a bit of spam, so put it back again. However, I've now taken it off because in the grand scheme of things it doesn't make much difference and is probably an annoyance to visitors to my blog.

Christine is one of the team on the new BG challenge blog.

BG challenge blog: ATC

Having found this new challenge site, I was interested to see that the new challenge today is to make an ATC.

Having already got out BG lilykate papers for the two cards I made earlier, I still had some bits left over (although I did start a new piece for the actual background). I used the scraps in my cricut to cut smaller versions of the same sort of flowers I'd made earlier for the cards (it's really useful because small scraps can be put in the corner of the mat and used on the cricut - it's amazing what you can do with scraps!)

I thought up the little phrase that I printed out. As before, edges are inked with lime pastel chalk inkpad:

Another BG lilykate card

Following on from making my card for the DCM challenge, I thought I might as well use up some of the pieces left over to make another card:



I'm really trying to ignore the pain in my back - not at all good atm.

Concertina zigzag cards

Ages and ages ago I cut the blanks for these and put the daisy sticky ribbons on and that's as far as I got, so, earlier in the week, I got them out and decided to finish them:



I also had kept these blanks in a box doing nothing for far too long, so I decided to use various stickers, rub ons etc to do these:



I even managed to bag and label them - all done!

A couple of birthday cards

I made these earlier.

For a friend's birthday (today):



For our son's partner (tomorrow):

DCM: the same but different

This week's DCM dare, set by Kathy (sorry, Kathy - originally said Lythan!), involves using a quote.

I used BG Lilykate papers and cut the flowers on my cricut. The paper on the left was embossed with one of the cuttlebug folders and the birds and edgings were inked with lime pastel chalk ink:



(I wonder why the quote looks crooked, but it's not irl!)

Thanks for a good challenge, Kathy - it made me think!

HS:MS SPS

Today is SPS day on HS:MS, so here's a shot taken with the capture camera on my Sony laptop, me looking over my glasses:

Gina's blog candy

Here: http://cardkabin.blogspot.com/2008/09/christmas-blog-candy.html

BF Think Pink challenge 8: sew nice

I'm still catching up with the Think Pink challenges on BF forum - I really want to do them all because it's all for such a good cause.

Di (Crazy Daisy) set the challenge to make a card with sewing on - and it could include 'faux sewing' if need be.

So, I'm sort of cheating. There is sewing on these cards, but I didn't do it - it was already on the dark red and dark blue paper (I hope I'm going to be forgiven).

HS:MS passion

'A strong and barely controllable emotion. Show us some passion in your space today ;)'

Mmmm, a difficult one today. There's no doubt that there are quite a few things that I am passionate about, the first being my Christian faith, which is represented by this photo, although 'living the life' is just as important as study of God's word. I've just noticed that the shot includes the book on Galatians written by one of our ministers at Bromley:



I'm also passionate about my husband, family and friends - and, of course, my crafting, but you've seen many pictures before that depict those.

This leaves me with another definite passion - dark chocolate:

DCM midweek: did we make an impression

The midweek dare was set by Sue, who did a great tutorial and showed some marvellous examples of dry embossing, including pergamano, which I just don't have the patience to do.

So my attempts have simply been done using Cuttlebug embossing folders.

On the first card I used the front of a Papermania card that had a pastel pattern of random circles on it. Having run this through my machine, I then inked the surface and added a stamped image of one of the flower foam stamps from QVC:



The second one is a gatefold card, similarly using an embossing folder and inking - the fairy etc are rub ons:



and this is the inside of the card, the card blank itself having an iridescent sheen:

Basic Grey Challenge: buttons

Here are my cards for the first challenge on the BG challenge blog. I've used 'Scarlet's Letter: amongt the ruins' as the background. I haven't added much to either of them (except, of course, to make sure I've included buttons!) because the paper is so beautiful I just don't want to hide it:

Basic Grey Challenge blog

Having discovered this new blog (thanks to Paula on JB), I've added a bit to my Salt challenge for today because the card I made for that fits perfectly in with the first challenge, which is 'buttons' - the new site is http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

I've made two other cards for this (so it doesn't look as if I'm just submitting one I'd already done) and will post pictures in the morning.

CBC crew challenge black magic CBCC063

Joanne (Angelnorth) set a new challenge on www.craftsbycarolyn.co.uk - 'A simple challenge for you today! It's so easy to get into using white, cream or pastel bases for our projects and sometimes a dark one gives it that extra kick so today's challenge is to make something using a black base. It could be a card, a LO, an altered notebook... whatever takes your fancy.'

Isn't it strange how sometimes a new challenge just cries out to be done, although there's still plenty of the others I haven't done.

Anyway, two very simple, quick cards for men (very similar to some I've done in the past). The lettering is from a sheet of rub ons from Poundland that I bought ages ago.




I'm also submitting one of these for the BF Think Pink challenge 11: Awkward Annies.

DCM: Getting Funky template

Last Friday on Daringcardmakers, using this template was the challenge:



And the bonus this week is that there is a lucky dip to win a Funky Hand Shabby Saturday download.

I've made three Christmas cards using the template. The papers are all BG figgy pudding and the circles came with a kit from QVC:






I like this template - will probably use it more.

HS:MS over

The prompt on HS:MS today is 'over: Above, at the other side or beyond an object. Show us 'over' in your space today. '

I have to admit that I knew I'd be struggling with this one, what to do.

Well, from this view of such a dull sky, it looks as if summer is well and truly over:

so I think very soon I shall have to get my overcoat out:

Salt: He knows us inside an out

It was Lythan's turn to set the Salt challenge this time.This is what she says:

'Last time it was my turn (Lythan) I chose the Psalms as the challenge theme. I'm having a variation on that this time as I would like you to look in depth at a particular Psalm - Psalm 139. It is quite long so why not have a look at it here. That way you can also see a variety of translations.

this is one of the Psalms that I love best. It is quite challenging in parts but there is plenty to reflect on as well. Sometimes it is so comforting, sometimes a bit scary to think that God knows us so well. What does the idea that

He knows us inside and out

mean to you?

I most often make a LO for Salt, but this time I decided to make a card for a change. I find Psalm 139 both a challenge and a comfort - I felt led to produce a card to assure someone of our thoughts and prayers at a difficult time.

The papers are BG sugared.

Please take a look at the creations of the rest of the team on Salt

I've just discovered that there is a new Basic Grey challenge site, so I'm going to link this card as it also fits perfectly with the first challenge (I've made another couple to submit too, so that it doesn't look as if I'm cheating - lol!) This is the link for the new site: http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/ and the first challenge is 'buttons' (you also have to use something from BG).

A sad sympathy card

Yesterday we had very sad news of the death of our next door neighbour, so I've made a simple card for his wife and family.

The middle background is mulberry paper and the lilies of the valley are 3D embossed rub ons (bought some of these from QVC and love them).