Bumbleberries CJ

Angie's is the last CJ within the group on Bumbleberries. She chose for her theme: 'My best creation'. I thought and thought about this and came to the conclusion that something that I did when I was 7 was worthy of this.

I used Scrapbook walls papers 'small vest stripe' and 'knicker stripe' and also Gin-X find your identity 'some kind of green:dotted dipsticks':

HS:MS SPS

It's SPS day on HS:MS. I've chosen a photo I took of John at Covent Garden on Wednesday, when you went out for my birthday. It was taken in Neal's Yard:

CBC ATCs: seaside capers

This month's ATC swap on CBC is 'seaside capers' kindly hosted by Jackie (okey-dokey).

The stamp used for the first one is from Rubbadubbadoo.

HS:MS What's B for?

SuzyB's challenge today: 'Boobies!!!Oh my god there she goes, lowering the tone as normal - find B in your space'

Lol! There is no way that I could compete with Suzy's fab photo, so I've looked elsewhere for my 'B' (so the answer to her question for my photo is: B is for boring!):

My Birthday cards (updated)

Such a fab load of cards (had some more in the post today).

Thank you, everyone.

Updated - more in the post today (Friday)

HS:MS Q for Quebec

Today on HS:MS: 'You may have to be a little inventive with this one, see if you can find a 'Q' in your space.'

I'm not sure whether I've been inventive enough - I hope it counts as an old-fashioned looking Q!!

HS:MS J for Jericho

'I think you all need challenging today, go find a 'J' in your space.'

I managed to find some Js:

We've been out today to celebrate my birthday. Despite the aches and pains, we managed to go to Covent Garden (one of my fav places in London) - we had a superb lunch at Tuttons (would recommend it). A couple of pictures John took in the restaurant, complete with shiny nose and glasses (still got the little cyst under my eyelid, so still can't wear my lenses - hospital appointment not till 8 September):





Then we went on to Blade Rubber and I spent a bit of my birthday money - would have been rude not to! Here are my purchases:

HS:MS V for victory

Today find 'V' in your space

Here are some of my collection:

HS:MS S - a close up

HS:MS S for sugar

SuzyB is standing in for Kirsty and Anita for a few days and today has said: 'We’ll start with an easy one, let’s go find ‘S’ shall we?'

I found some 's's in our kitchen:

Firstly, turned into black and white:

HS:MS SOS

I used to do a photo for HS:MS everyday, but somehow recently it's gone by the board.

I took a few photos in the garden this week - some beautiful spider's webs with the sun glinting on them:

CBC challenge 057: sport for all

Continuing on the Olympic theme, here are another two cards, this time for the CBC challenge set by Joanne (Angelnorth): 'Continuing the run up to the Beijing Olympics, today's challenge is to use a sporting theme for your card or other crafty project. You can use any sport you like but if you use one of the official summer Olympic sports (check here for a list) you get an extra entry into the prizedraw!

There are lots of sports illustrated on my cards, including some that are being played at the Olympics.

I used papers from K & Co Donna Ingemanson Rough and tumble and some 3D stickers from a pack I bought from the Works some time ago and have never found a use for until now:

CBC challenge 060: the Olympic rings

It's a while since I did any of the CBC challenges, so I thought it was about time. This is a very simple card for challenge 060 set by Jackie (okey-dokey):

'And the final Olympic themed challenge ...

Your challenge is to make something; card, layout, jewellery or anything else using the Olympic flag as your inspiration. It does NOT have to have anything Chinese, does NOT have to have anything to do with sport, just use the flag for inspiration. '

The background paper is a DCWV one that I got in a pad ages ago and the 3D stickers were from a pack bought a while ago from the Works - just added the 'Just for you' and 'Happy Birthday'. I think it qualifies for this challenge as the balls represent the five rings:

Salt: obedience

It's Salt challenge day again today - how those last two weeks have flown by.

This time, it was Kim's turn to choose the theme and this is what she said:

"Psalm 119:60, “I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”

Greetings! We continue to be blessed by your participation in our challenges and all of the lovely comments we receive on the SALT blog. We pray that, like us, you will be inspired to create a piece based on our challenges and encouraged to further study the topics discussed.

This week I (being Kim) chose the topic of OBEDIENCE.

We use a phrase with our children, adopted from some close friends; obey right away. Delayed obedience is really disobedience. Thinking that you can obey God’s commands later, maybe when life’s circumstances are different, is dangerous thinking. For this attitude would prove that we have no serious intention of obeying at all. As the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

In our text we see that the psalmist “did not delay” to keep God’s commandments. His prompt response shows his love for God, faith in His Word, and wisdom in the application of Scripture to real life. He was not relying on his own feelings, conscience, or advice of family and friends to decide if he was living a life that was pleasing to God.

How was the psalmist able to keep God’s commandments? Is it possible for anyone to perfectly keep God’s law? Not a chance! But this is the good news of the gospel! The more we see how sinful we are, the more we will know our need for God’s grace in Christ, who is the only One who kept the whole law of God.

May we “make haste” to obey God’s commandments, putting away all excuses, repenting of our disobedience, and committing ourselves to a right relationship, gained only through trust in Christ, with our Creator!"

I found this very challenging.

I was drawn to Mark 14 which includes the account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and also to Philippians 2. Jesus' obedience stemmed out of unconditional love - for the Father and also for us.

In John 15 Jesus said that if we love him then we will keep his commandments.

Obedience and love go hand in hand.

The background paper for my LO is Be Blessed Glory and the stained glass window depicting Jesus praying in the garden was taken from one of those free photos sites (and I'm sorry I can't say where it is).

This is a very simple LO, but such profound and challenging truths within it:

Please take a look at Salt and the marvellous creations that others have made

JB August challenge 2: summer lovin'

It's a while since I did any challenges on JB, but this afternoon I came across some seaside pictures and acetates that I thought would be OK for this challenge set by Lisa: This challenge is to celebrate our beautiful English Summers !!!! You know me girls.....the ever loving, positive girl that I am - I want anything that makes you think of our English Summers....let your imagination wander.

So, the ideal summer for me involves a visit to the seaside, so I made these three cards - they all have acetate overlays secured to the pictures with brads (unfortunately, there's a bit of reflection on the acetate in the photos):







The last one says: 'does the song of the sea end at the shore or in the hearts of those who listen to it'

I've just realised how dull these look - they are a lot brighter irl!

Commissioned card

I was asked to make a silver wedding card. I used a background script paper by K & Co La Boutique and printed using Lucida Calligraphy font. Just a few little additions and some ribbon around it and a 'Happy Anniversary' insert. A very simple card, which I hope will be acceptable:

Think Pink 6

The project on BF for Think Pink 6 this week is to make a multi-fold card, perhaps a maze book.

I've made a maze book using K & Co Hannah DS papers, tags, etc.

I'm not totally happy with it - I think I've made it too bulky with the pockets and bits and perhaps should have made the gap between the covers bigger. If I get time before sending the stuff off I might try to do another better one.

I've left nearly everything blank so that the recipient can add comments and photos.

I've been featured!

I've been featured on

afaithperspective layout of the week

I'm ao amazed (and just a little chuffed!).

Another pack done!!

Yesterday I received a lovely stamp that I'd won on ebay. It's 'winter trees' by Inkadinkado. I stamped with versamark and embossed with white fine detail. The background paper is a script one that I had left over from last year - think it's English Paper Company. Insert says 'Season's Greetings':

BF Matchbox Christmas swap

On BF forum Leigh kindly arranged a swap - the idea was to fill a large matchbox with Christmas bits.

Nowadays our post doesn't usually come until 1 pm or beyond, so I was surprised this morning when the doorbell went and there was a postman with a few packages, one of which was my matchbox from Nicky (madhousekeeper).

I took out all the fab contents so I could take a picture (a poor flash one because it's raining and dull here atm) - I don't think I'll be able to get them all back into the box - there's so much!

Thank you so much to Nicky and to Leigh for organising the swap.

As you can see, there are all sorts of embellies, plus ribbons, fibres, brads, a snowflakes stamp ...

Christmas Cards

About four weeks ago I prepared some cards with backgrounds using my newly acquired A6 English Paper Company papers. Because I sell cards to give profit to TEAR Fund, I need to make simple ones that will sell at a low cost. I will be making these up, as usual, in packs of 5.

I've now managed to finish off these cards, using various bits, including rub ons and die cuts.

They aren't finished yet, as I need to put inserts in and then bag them up and label them (a job that I don't enjoy, but it has to be done).

I have made 10 each of most of these cards, so I now have a stock of over 100. Some of them have similar variations.

I realised after doing the scans that there seem to be dirty marks on the cards, but this is on the scanner glass, not the cards.

Where gold foiling has been used it doesn't show up well - looks more black than gold.





























I need to make some more of this kind of card before I can make the more elaborate ones that I sell individually.