Dear oh dear

Despite all that's going on, the swap csrds for November on Crafts by Carolyn needed to be done - and try as I might I just couldn't come up with an idea for 'bright and funky', which is the reason why these were left till the last minute. In desperation I've made these four cards, but to say I'm unhappy with them is to put it mildly. But suppose everyone has times when inspiration and creativity just fail to respond to the urgency of the task! These cards weren't even my first attempt - I wouldn't dare show those - my young grandchildren would be able to produce much better.

I was hoping that perhaps the photos might make the cards look better, but, no, they look just as bad as they do irl.

Perhaps inspiration and creativity will return soon so that normal service can be resumed (although with the chaos atm I'm not too sure when that will be).

The flowers and leaves are stamped with cat's eye chalk in pads direct to paper and quickly embossed with gold detail (which admittedly does actually show up better irl than on the photos) - the edging was done the same way.

Snowmen and Snowflakes

These ATCs are for the November swap on Tanda Stamps (oh, why did I leave them till the last minute? We didn't expect the rest of the decorating to be done till after Christmas, so all of this happening suddenly has thrown everything into chaos).

I nearly gave these a miss - try as I might, I just couldn't get into thinking what to do, probably because I wanted to achieve something different to the norm, but inspiration wouldn't come.

So here is what I did, using Whispers stamps and embossing - the background is the same small stamp used again and again (embossing in between so not to smudge):

HS:MS soft

Today's prompt on HS:MS is 'soft'. Here's mine:

HS:MS bristles

'Bristles or spikey textures ain't always a nice feeling - but we all have them in our space. Show us yours.'

Mine is a stiff brush that is part of a brush-and-dustpan set - it's in a bit of a state, so here it is, just as it comes:





If a year ago someone had told me I'd be taking photos of a brush and putting them on the internet, I would have laughed! And here I am doing just that!

We've just come back from having lunch out for mum's birthday. She managed to get out after all, which is good, because this is the first time of going out since her last fall. I think she enjoyed her lunch. She's now gone back to have a tea party at her sheltered accommodation (we couldn't go to that because we had to get back because the decorators are here. It looks as if the decorators are going to be able to come back after the weekend to do some of the rest of the work that needs doing, the hall etc. and then we have to arrange for the carpet people to do their bit. Did anyone say that it's getting a bit near Christmas? Help!!

We've just agreed with mum that this year we'll go over to her and I'll cook lunch etc there because we don't know what state we'll be in - and mum reacts to the smell of paint. The trouble is that if you have painting done at this time of year the smell lingers on longer because you can't have the windows open so much. I can't stand it myself, but just have to put up with it.

Sorry, this is has got nothing to do with crafting and this is meant to be 'My Crafty Outlook', so enough!!

Mum's birthday card

It's mum's birthday tomorrow. A few days ago I had an idea of making her a card on the robo, using a template kindly Shirley Anne on UKS. I had a trial go and intended to make a better version today. The way things are going, time is going to run out (getting ready for the onslaught of the decorators tomorrow - and various other things I need to get done while I'm able, except that my back is hurting and I'm tired, because I didn't sleep at all well last night - in fact from about 3.00 am I was watching the recording of Holby City because I couldn't sleep).

Anyway, back to mum's card - I've decided in the end to use the 'trial' one, with a few flowers and Poundland bling added.

Why is it that it's always difficult to make cards for those nearet and dearest? I think it's because we want them to be extra special and somehow mine never seem to turn out like that.

Tomorrow is tinged with sadness, because it will be four years ago since dad died.

Some crafting to show at last

I was asked by a friend (Diane, if you see this, I hope you like them!) to make Christmas cards for two of her grandchildren. Diane had seen my card I did for my brother and SIL's anniverary and asked if I'd do something along those lines, so here are the folded cards. Of course, when they are folded up, everything is the right way up, but when laid out like this some of the squares look upside down (and I haven't got time to take individual shots because we're trying to get sorted ready for the decorators to start tomorrow).

Jade's card was to include fairies (which aren't very clear on these photos):





Reece's card was to include Spiderman:

HS:MS smooth

'Lots of us have a super smooth surface in our space, question is - where's yours?'

I thought this one would be easy, but in reality I was a bit stumped as to what to do. Then I found this:



and this is what it says on the back:



so I think it qualifies!

Help!!!!

I need to make a list of all the crafty things that are outstanding and need to be done (nevermind my own Christmas cards to be written etc).

Earlier this afternoon we had a call from our decorators to say that they could start on the lounge on Thursday if we'd like them to - they can slot it in Thursday, Friday and Monday (we had said they could call us at short notice but that it probably would be after Christmas).

So we have spent time this afternoon moving things around and I now have piles of videos, CDs, DVDs etc on the worktop in my new craft room.

The funny thing is that I was just about to take some photos soon of my room, having almost organised everything - ha ha - no photos yet now, not with all the 'extras' in here.

I'll have to make sure I can still get into my chair to do some crafting (got to do some of the urgent things on the list).

Hey ho - and it's mum's birthday on Thursday and we're hoping she's going to feel able to go out to lunch - at least it will get us out of the chaos.

We have a very heavy old-style TV that we're going to replace with a flat screen one - we are in process of juggling what we do when - and we have carpet on order, so don't know now whether perhaps it will be done before Christmas.

One day we will be straight! And we've only just got rid of the paint smell from having this room and the bedroom done and now we'll be going all through it again in the lounge (and we only have the one lounge/dining room, so nowhere else to escape to).

We must be mad!!

HS:MS rough

'Have you got a bit of rough in your space?'

Yes, too much on my feet (and no, I'm not showing you my feet!), which is why I need this (and ought to use it more often - then my feet wouldn't be so rough!):

HS:MS wet

'Starting a week of Textures, go and find soemthing wet in your space.'

Josey's nose - wet and healthy:

HS:MS SOS 13 and 14

Today is Show Off Sunday on HS:MS. I didn't show anything last Sunday, so thought I'd try and make an effort today.

I've used a red rose from a bunch that I had earlier in the week - was changing the water and thought that one would make a good topic for today, so I just placed one on a piece of white lace. The various edges are effects within Digital Pro:

HS:MS SPS 14

It's SPS day again on HS:MS and this week I've used the camera capture on my laptop (it's a Sony one with a motion eye). This is the first time I've used this (I hear you say: it should be the last!). This is because the whole day has gone by and at this hour of the day I couldn't be bothered to get the camera out and start messing about.

DCM little extra helper no. 5

The midweek dares recently on DCM has been 'little extra helpers' for getting Christmas cards done. This week the theme is 'bells, baubles and bows'. Well, this card caters for two out of the three:



Irl the greetings on the baubles are much more visible and golden (had to resort to scanning because photo reflected terribly with flash - oh for the longer summer evenings when it keeps light longer).

DCM dare: song

Today's DCM dare is:

Song without words

I would like you to create a card inspired by a song or a carol - it could be for Christmas or not! (you may have got all your Christmas cards done by now...) BUT there is a twist. the words of the song are NOT to be seen on the front of the card. You could leave it to us to guess! Have fun!

I've done a very simple card (using some of a kit I bought yonks ago) and I'm sure you know the song:

A few cards using the bits

In the quest to get my room really sorted, yesterday I got out a couple of boxes of bits and pieces and used some of them to make a few cards - they will help fill the gaps in stock.

On this one, the cuttlebug embossing had already been done, so just a question of putting it together:



Cuttlebug embossing (already done) and Anna Griffin decoupage:



Another cuttlebug embossing:





This one made with an image from one of my favourite Magenta stamps:





This Anita's stamp of a labrador looks like Josey:



This one uses one of the little cuttlebug embossing foldfers (agree with others that there doesn't seem to be much use for these) - this one, having the corrugated card, could have been used for a recent DCM dare if I'd done it sooner:

HS:MS crystal

'A substance with geometric regularity. Find ' crystal' in your space today.'

This is one of the glasses that were given to us as a wedding present from the school where I was teaching.

I stood the glass on a piece of silver mirror card and couldn't use flash because of too much reflection, so the silver doesn't look silver, but quite an interesting result:

DCM: Golden Highlights

I don't do the DCM dares every week (I'd like to, and the extras, but I can't do everything and I often don't feel like doing any more).

Anyway, I decided to do something for the 'golden highlights'. The first two are very similar, using K & Co papers and some epoxy stickers (not sure where they came from - had them for a while) and the copper strips have gold foil printed within them. The third card has a piece of mulberry paper matted on to a piece of card. The middle bit with the dragonfly was embossed from a metal embossing (run through my die cutter). (Poor photos I'm afraid, because it's pretty dull now and flash was glinting too much on the golden bits - and I didn't want to wait till tomorrow, because there will be a new dare then. I can promise you that it is gold foiling on the copper strips on the first and second card, although it doesn't really look like it.)

Salt: Light

Don't the days go by quickly. It doesn't seem a fortnight since the last Salt challenge launch and here we are today with a new one.

Ruth set the challenge this time and this is what she says:

Hi everyone, its my turn this week (Ruth).

It has come round quick, and I'm so pleased at how the Lord is letting us be Salt.

The theme for this week is

LIGHT

It is mentioned so many times in the Bible, and has many facets of meaning and symbolism.

I am the LIGHT of the World... The people walking in darkness have
seen a great LIGHT ...The LIGHT shines in the darkness, but the
darkness has not understood it...In the same way, let your LIGHT shine
before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father
in heaven.

Please create a piece of work using it as inspiration and
leave us a message so we can see and link to your work.

Please take a look at Salt

For my contribution I used a 12" x 12" paper by Be Blessed as the background to my LO - it's called Sunwashed - and cut the stable scene on my robo (from a template kindly given on UKS - it was made from a dingbat). I was tempted to add more to the LO, but in the end felt that the simplicity was right so that the awesome message stood for itself.

It was inspired by the song:

"Here I Am To Worship"

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Chorus:
Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Chorus (2X)

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross (3X)

Chorus (Repeating)

© 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

HS:MS thirsty

'To feel a need to drink something. Find 'thirsty' in your space today.'

I managed to coax Josey to go to her water bowl and took a quick shot (I haven't edited this at all today, so wysiwyg - and I've very conscious that the bowl needs a clean - although she's John's guide dog and he looks after her, he doesn't see how it looks, but I do and I need to do something about it!)



The funny thing is that when I returned here to upload the photo, she went back to her water bowl and had quite a long drink - it would have been a much better opportunity to get a more decent photo - typical!

CBC big challenge prize

Carolyn kindly send a prize to each of us who completely the challenges during the recent big challenge on Crafts by Carolyn. This is what the postie brought me this morning:



Thanks again to Sue, Carolyn and the mods for all the organising - and, of course, thank you for my lovely prize.

HS:MS grain

'A rough texture on wood or stone. Find 'grain' in your space today.'

I didn't go far in my space to get these - just out of the back door to the fence - three photos taken at strange angles. The neighbours must think I'm losing it if they saw me go out and take close-ups of the fence (it's not even as if it's a lovely fence - needs a coat of something I think).

So definitely here is rough texture:

HS:MS alley

'A narrow passageway between or behind houses. Show us an 'alley' in your space today.'

It's very damp and dismal today - it's only now just gone 3 and it's getting dark. I went up the garden a little while ago to take this photo. It is an alley that runs along the backs of the gardens to where our garage is (there's obviously road access as well, but a longer way round). This is a neglected 'no man's land' alley, but very handy, although we only rarely use it because we don't have a car. Until recently we had quite a lot of stuff in the garage but now it has been cleared (what a load of useless info!!).

So here is my dreary dull alley photo:

At last (hangs head in shame!)

Big apologies to Elaine who should have got her Paper 'n' Lace CJ back well before now (but thankfully she is understanding and has been willing to wait - thank you, Elaine).

The title of Elaine's CJ is 'Birth Year'. This was an easy one for me because it was the year our Queen got married, and, of course, she and Prince Philip will be celebrating their Diamond Wedding tomorrow - Happy Anniversary to you both (just in case you read my blog .... how funny would that be!!!!!!!!!!)

So here's my contribution:

A late blog

This is a card I've been wondering about and working on. I was asked to do a card for a lad who regularly takes part in athletics, including javelin, hurdling and cross country. I managed to find some illustrations, make alterations in Paint, add the hurdler to the track and cut the cross country runner on my robo:



Somehow the scan has chopped the right hand side a bit, but the border is even irl.

HS:MS SPS 13

This is me today:



Don't know whether I'm getting braver or more stupid!

Santa card and tags

I had a request to make a large Christmas card with Santa on (an musical insert) and some tags: