CBC Tanda stamps competition

Over on CBC Tanda stamps have kindly donated a lovely prize for a competition that's closing this evening: 'So to win this fabulous prize you need to get some sun and..... shake off the blues and make a spring/summer themed card.'

I made one earlier this evening and I had to wait for the matte accents to dry and then I found I couldn't get a photo because the flash was just making the accents look like streaky white patches. So in the end I've resorted to a scan, which doesn't show any of the detailed embossing or the matte accents.

The stamps I've used are ones I bought ages ago and have never used - they are by Elusive images.

Everything was stamped with Versafine Onyx black and embossed with fine detail clear. Colouring was done with Karismacolor and Sansodor:

HS:MS delicate

'To be very fine in texture, structure or workmanship. Find something delicate in your space today.'

John had a diabetic clinic appointment at Guy's this morning so we were up early. I looked at the prompt and thought of a spider's web, so I went out into the garden armed with my camera, but it started to rain so I came back in!

Then John suggested that I should take pictures of some flowers that I received on Monday. A friend from the church where we used to go had heard that we have both been in poorer health and called round with a big bunch of some of the flowers from church.

Here are a couple of shots:

HS:MS road

Today's prompt: road: 'A way of course on which to travel. have you got a road? (Im betting you have!

I went out by bus to a fairly local post office and craft shop and I remembered to take my camera with me. The first two shots were taken from the bus stop looking in either direction - a busy main road. And the third one is a quieter road just round the corner from us.

ATCs for CBC swap

This morning I worked on my contribution for the Salt challenge that will be launched on Thursday - so can't show it yet.

Since lunch, I've made my ATCs for this month's swap on CBC 'quick and cute'. I used some stamped images that were kindly sent to me by Purplepenguin (Nick) - by Dewdrop Crafts 'Misty' designs.

The background on the giraffe one was achieved by using a Fiskars embossing plate in my big shot and inking it with Stazon saddle brown. The background of the elephant one was done with alcohol inks: pepper red, butterscotch and a touch of slate and silver.

The colouring in was done with karismacolor pencils, pastel pencils and inktense pencils, blended with Sansodor (I'm still very much at the practising stage):

HS:MS yellow

Today on HS:MS: yellow: 'A golden colour - vibrant, sunny and warm. Have you got some delightful yellow in your space?'

I'm afraid mine is nothing like the wonderful photos of Anita and Kirsty. Mine are just artificial blooms for crafting:

DCM hot and spicy

The challenge on DCM set on Friday is 'hot and spicy':

We'd like you to take the phrase
"Hot and Spicy"
and make of it what you will.

I hope these are hot and spicy enough!

The papers are from the Far East range by DCWV; some of the other bits are DCWV and some are (I think) Brenda Pinnick. The flower was inked as I didn't have any matching ones.






PS: I've decided that I'll send these to Melissa for the April card swap on CBC.

HS:MS SOS

Today, being Sunday, is SOS on HS:MS: 'go on...you know you want to...show off a little :)'

I thought I'd show a few of the photos taken when we did some of the sights of London with our DIL and grandchildren.

The first is just one of those 'sightseeing' ones - taken from near Buckingham Palace:



Dani and Chloe posing in a red phone box:



Standing to attention at Horse Guards Parade (Dani would never make a soldier!):



A welcome stop at McD after walking around:



And one little lady is tired out (probably my favourite):

HS:MS SPS

Saturday has come round again - and on HS:MS it's SPS day: 'Show us a portrait from your space today.'

Following on from yesterday's post, Sue asked if I would show picture(s) of Josey. Here is one, taken at Christmas:



And I thought I'd also show one of my favourites of John's previous guide dog, Oscar:

HS:MS sad

Today's prompt: sad: 'Feeling or showing sorrow. Show us sad in your space today.'

I think most people reading this will know that John's guide dog, Josey, went back to Guide Dogs a couple of months ago. John's health hasn't been so good in the last couple of years, which has meant he was using Josey less than previously, but also at the beginning of the year he had to have a toe amputated because of an ulcer that wouldn't heal - all to do with the diabetes. It was said that one of Josey's hairs could have got into it and made it worse. This made John make the final decision to part company with Josey, especially as other factors were pointing in that direction too.

We still miss her - and, obviously, particularly John, because it's not as safe or interesting to go out with a white can instead of a dog.

So my photo today is the corner of our bedroom where Josey used to sleep on her fleece. I still miss seeing her there last thing at night and first thing in the morning:



Some of you have kindly asked what has happened to Josey. She's now been retired and adopted by the mother of the person who is in the office of our district GDBA, someone who John has never met but has chatted to over the years. We think she will be happy, so this post is not all sad.

HS:MS repeat

Repeat: 'Say, do or show the same thing again or form a pattern. Find repeat in your space today.'

There's quite a few repeats scattered in just this bit of today's TV schedule, not that it bothers me:

HS:MS investigate

When I saw today's prompt on HS:MS: investigate: 'To carry out an inquiry, discover or examine. Show us investigate in your space today.' I didn't have to think much of what to do, because I was already on my laptop investigating articles in order to try to get a friend's computer back up and running. It was hit with a virus and refuses to boot, even with a windows disc in the CD drive. So I'm going over there this afternoon to have another go at rescuing it.

So this is my shot for HS:MS - I'm afraid it's not a good photo because as soon as I put the camera on the battery went dead, so I turned it back on and shot quickly before it went again. (I might replace it later when the battery's charged):

Cricut expression

It arrived yesterday!! (and four cartridges; another one in the post and two more to come).

I decided last night to have a go and see what I could produce. I used a piece of plain pink 12 x 12 paper that quite honestly wasn't good quality - quite thin - the reason being I didn't want to waste good paper. Oh dear! The mat was so sticky that when I'd done my cuts (and I did quite a few, because they seemed to be going so well) I just couldn't get the paper off the mat. Even when I tried using an old credit card to scrape at it, it still wanted to stick fast and only the top layer of the paper coming off, leaving white backing still on there.

I sought help on one of the craft forums and googled 'cricut mat too sticky' and found that it was a common problem at the beginning - and there were suggestions what to do about it.

So, after running the mat under warm water and scraping away with the credit card, I managed to get all the paper off. Then I felted the mat on my clothes so it wasn't so tacky and got out a piece of K & Company double sided Brookfield paper to have another go.

I figured by now that I probably hadn't paid attention to the pressure setting (something that was pointed out among solutions of what to do in this situation), so I looked at the manual (mmmm I suppose I ought to do that more!) and turned the pressure down. First time I turned it down too much and the cuts didn't go right through. Then, when I turned it up a bit, success:



I've no idea whether I'll ever actually use them, but at least it worked!

What a pity I've got other things I need to get on with, otherwise I could have another play - hopefully later.

In fact I need to make a card for my niece's birthday on 22 April (gosh, that's only a week away and it's got to be posted) so I think I'll set myself the challenge of making a card using the cricut.

HS:MS window

HS:MS prompt for today: window: 'An opening in a buildings filled with glass. Show us a window in your space today.'

I've got a poorly toe so I'm staying in today. I didn't even want to walk up the garden, so from the open back door I got a couple of shots of windows in our little summer house, zooming in on them. It's really showing neglect from the winter, but these sunnier days is making me think that it won't be too long before it can be cleaned up and put into use.

In the second picture you can just about make out the reflection of trees.




And this is our front door taken from the inside (we have a tiny porch which was quite dim when I took this):

I meant to say

Thank you to all of you who commented about mum - she was able to join us yesterday for lunch.

In the morning John and I managed to get to church together. There were some really prolonged showers - we would have been caught in one if a friend hadn't kindly given us a lift from church to the restaurant.

We were worried about mum because she moves so slowly with her wheelie frame that she would really get soaked, but, fortunately, by the time her taxi was due the rain had stopped and the sun came out.

Mum really enjoyed her meal (so did we) and said how pleased she was that she had got out. And, even though it rained again heavily when we were in there, it stopped just before we left, so mum had a taxi home and dry.

HS:MS puddle

The prompt today: puddle: 'A small pool of water. Find a puddle in your space today.'

This morning has been beautiful sunshine here and no sign of any puddles. However, early this afternoon I was sat here with the sun streaming in and suddenly there was a tremendous clap of thunder almost overhead. I went and looked out the front and, yes, it did look stormy! It then began to rain, but not for long. John needed to go to the hospital for blood test and Xray and I needed to go to the PO, so we waited for the rain to stop and went over to get a bus. As I went into the PO the rain came on again and, although it was quite a quick shower, it was quite heavy.

I came out of the PO and went to the bus stop to go back to the hospital to meet John. What did I see but a few little puddles dotted here and there. And the prompt does say 'small pool of water'. The only trouble is that there were a couple of people at the bus stop and I thought it would look really odd to get my camera out and be seen taking pictures of the road! I waited till they were in conversation and looking the other way, whipped the camera out of my bag and took two very quick shots looking each way. Then I decided that the second one would look better if I zoomed in on the puddle, so I went round the side of the bus stop where they wouldn't be able to see me and took the third picture.

What some of us do to join in!

HS:MS SOS

Sunday on HS:MS is known as SOS (Show off Sunday): 'Show off your favourite photos today!'

I make no apology for the lack of quality with these photos, but they were taken in 2002 with a poor resolution digital camera.

I've chosen these today, because yesterday would have been my mum and dad's wedding anniversary, but, sadly, dad died over four years ago.

These photos were taken on the occasion of their diamond wedding anniversary - 60 years of marriage celebrated on 12 April 2002.

The first one shows them holding the card they received from the queen:



The second one shows them with one of the huge bouquets of flowers they received - their room looked like a florist's shop within the space of a couple of hours.



To see these photos it's hard to imagine that dad was already poorly with dementia (by then he was already 84 - although I don't think he looked his age at all)and it wasn't long after this that he was admitted to hospital and then permanently to a nursing home.

I'm actually writing this Saturday evening, ready to post in the morning. Today I went over to see mum - took her some flowers - deep pink carnations (she had similar in her wedding bouquet) - dad used to buy these for her.

We're hoping that mum will feel well enough to meet us at the local Beefeater for lunch tomorrow (today by the time this is posted). She hasn't been out for quite a while - has trouble with her knees and also giddy turns and has really lost confidence, so we're hoping that she will feel up to coming out.

HS:MS SPS

Having returned to HS:MS this week, I wasn't particularly looking forward to Saturday, known for a long while now as SPS - Self Portrait Saturday. Well, the good news is that you don't have to look at another of those awful shots of me, because now the prompt says:

'Self / Someone's Portrait Saturday!!!!'

So I'm definitely opting for 'someone's portrait'.

On Tuesday I took quite a few photos when we met up with Mandy and the children. On our way between Westminster and Downing Street we stopped at a phone box - one of the old-fashioned red ones and Dani and Chloe both posed 'on the phone'. Here's the one of Dani:



What an expression on her face!

DCM butterfly, flutterby

Quite a long while ago I bought a kit from QVC - seemed a good idea at the time, but ... - lots of stuff by Craft House - all very nice, but no real crafting involved in making anything. It's just a matter of peel off the sheet and stick on a card. I sold some off on ebay recently, but still had lots left, so last evening I decided to make some cards with them - I did 21 altogether - and I've still got some more left over (watch out on ebay!).

Anyway, I had a look this morning to see what the dare is today on DCM and it's 'butterflies', so here are five cards from me that have butterflies on them, but I take absolutely no credit for any creativity or crafting, because it's just not appropriate. However, I'm hoping that some of these cards will help towards raising money for charity the next time that I have a sale.

I deliberately left a couple quite plain (temptation to add more and more)







The photos are rubbish - the light is varying so much today - April showers!

HS:MS recycle

Todayt on HS:MS: recycle: 'Covert waste into reusable materials. Find something to recycle in your space today.'

The first shot is one looking into our yukky green box which is used for recycling glass, tins and plastic - it looks really mucky - it's been raining a while ago, but I have to confess that it's dirty anyway, but who on earth bothers to clean the box (probably everyone else!):



And this is a much nicer recycling. This is what I started with:



and ended up with this (it now lives on my windowsill and is very useful):

HS:MS secure

Today's prompt on HS:MS: 'Something that is fixed or fastened so as not to give way. Find something secure in your space today.'

I've only just been able to get these shots. The gardeners were here (sounds posh, doesn't it - we have someone to do the grass cutting and hoeing etc because we can't do it) - and I didn't want to be seen taking odd pictures (it's bad enough that the neighbours see me wandering around taking strange aim with my camera!).

The first one is the padlock on our garden shed:



The next one is a little cupboard at the back of the maisonette - there's a water tap inside and a few bits and pieces. I'm not sure why there's a bolt as well as a padlock!



And, hopefully, this is the most secure of the three of them:

Salt: His Presence

It's time for another Salt challenge - and my, how the weeks go by. Last time I said that I wouldn't leave it to the last day this time, but actually it was a good job I did, because our day out on Tuesday gave me inspiration for my contribution - a LO based on some of our sightseeing with the grandchildren.

Gillian chose the theme of His Presence and this is what she said:

His Presence
what does God's presence mean to you?
Does it mean Comfort in time of loss,
Strength when you face a battle,
Reassurance that you Walk the Good Walk...

or is it something you need to accept,
is it something you want to be more open too.

Joshua 1:5
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

there are many other verses that speak of God's presence in our lives here are a few.

Matthew 18:20, John 6:37, Romans 8:38-39

as we do each challenge the design team have created some beautiful pieces
and we'd love you to join in with us

In whatever creative form you feel lead to create in, it could be a Scrapbook LO, card, ATC, journal entry, or whatever else you can think of it's really up to you :)

Post your piece onto your blog, with a link to Salt then come and leave us a comment with your link so we can come and share your art.

Please take a look at Salt

Talking with the children about the flag flying when the Queen is at Buckingham Palace got me thinking of the kids' chorus: 'Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart when the King is in residence there' and the fact that Jesus said that He is always with us, even to the end of the age.

I used Center City Designs Imagination project papers for the background: midtown south '5 minute cab ride' and 'walk on Madison Avenue' (where do they get these titles from?!?) Lots of K & Co letters, some dymo tape with my Letratag and a couple of chipboard pieces for the K and crown. The wording says:

"Yesterday we met up with Mandy and the girls and went sightseeing. At Buckingham Palace we explained that if the Queen was there the flag would be flying. Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart when the King is in residence there. Jesus said: I am always with you."