Salt: perseverance

It was my turn to choose the topic for today's Salt challenge. When I chose 'perseverance' I was unaware of the difficulties and circumstances that some of us are going through atm; I also didn't think about this being so close to the London marathon and the picture it represents of 'running the race' with perseverance.

You can read what I wrote here.

I used pictures of the London marathon from http://telegraph.co.uk/.

The background paper is K & Co Urban Rhapsody. I inked the soles of my trainers with versafine black for the footprints. (My first idea had been to stamp with my feet on to shrink plastic, but it curled up and got stuck, so it finished up in the bin - but I'm happier with this anyway).

To read the verse from Hebrews you will need to click on the picture to enlarge it.


Please visit our Salt blog and see all the lovely crafting done by the rest of the team - and perhaps join in our challenge - we'd love to see what you do for it.

CBC April ATCs

The CBC ATC swaps has reached Z, so the topic for April is 'zoo'. I'm just scraping in with mine - very simple, I' m afraid, using a Tanda zebra stamp ('zebra' - another Z) and simple masking:



Thanks for all the good wishes for John - he's had angioplasty done today.

Just to say ....

.... I'm still here, but no crafting to show. John is still in hospital.

This morning postie brought me a bill, but also some crafting goodies:

A box of gems from Bex on JB (I won the gems March challenge 1 - randomly picked - yay!):

I also received the lovely April 'spring' ATCs from the group on BF - very cheery:

I also received a CJ for the group of CBC - so must think now of my favourite recipe for 'comfort food'.

When I got up Sunday morning, the sun was out, but then there was a downpour, resulting in the most magnificent rainbow:

A commissioned card

John is still in hospital, so my crafting time is limited, but this morning I've managed to get a commissioned card done. The background paper is PM regal:

As often is the case, photo was difficult to get because of reflecction on the foiled die cuts, which look different on here, but not irl.

A bit of therapeutic crafting

Having said that I would get back to more crafting, things changed because John's gone into hospital (to do with his toe ulcer/foot). However, this morning I've squeezed in a bit of 'me' time and made my inchies for the May 'faces' swap on BF.

I used one of my favouriteJudiKins stamps:



I stamped on to shrink plastic (with pink patterns) with Brilliance pearlescent crimson and then mounted on to Fancy Pants Heavenly paper, which is double sided so I was able to mount on one side and then on the other (you can see the patterns on the shrink plastic more clearly if you click on the picture to make it larger).

I hadn't worked with shrink plastic for a while, so I enjoyed doing these.

Green accordion card

For challenge 49 on 365 cards, Vicky gave instructions to make an accordion card. I'd never made one before and I must admit that I forgot to put the ribbon through first, so I did have to adapt mine, but I don't think it's too bad for a first attempt.

Now I've made one, I think I could do another one properly! It's good to try something different.

The theme this week on Inspire Me Thursday is 'green' so that is why I chose that colour as the predominant one for this card.

Black and white with LBD

There are a few challenges atm to use black and white monochrome.

On Colour Create challenge 12 this week the theme is black, white and pink, with the option of using polka dots - I know it doesn't look like it here, but the strip of ribbon on the right hand side of the first card is actually pink with white dots.

Challenge 6 on Creative Card Crew is 'monochrome madness', asking us to use black, white and grey/silver, so the first card is good for that, and Lots to do challenge 16 is also black and white, so I think both cards qualify.

Challenge 15 on Charisma Cardz is 'little black dress', so I've used a black dress on each of these cards, with papers from DCWV.




It's a while since I used any of these DCW papers and I've had the LBD stickers for ages, so it was nice to have some challenges that made me incorporate them.

Roll on summer!

Day 40 on 365 cards was: spring break - Pam said: ' For this card, I want to see you use the sun, sand, and surf to inspire you. I would love to be walking along the beach and looking out at the ocean, how about you?'

I've used 'British beach' paper at the bottom, but the rest of the card is made up of an advertising card that I received long ago and kept, wondering what to use it for. So I'm linking this card for two 'recycling' challenges this week: The Pink Elephant challenge 11: 'Don't throw that away!" and Our Creative Corner: get ready to recycle.

This week's challenge on Secret Crafter Saturday is 'create a scene', so I thought it would be good to include this ... looking forward to summer seaside scenes.

Created byhand challenge this week is 'colors blue and sand' - this card is good for that.

And, lastly, this card is good for Everybody Art challenge 36: only one scrappaper, climate change (roll on summer) - and the only scrappaper I used is the piece of 'British Beach' at the base of the card.

I love big blooms

On 365 cards yesterday (yes, I know I'm doing the challenges in the wrong order ... still got a few old ones to catch up with) the theme was 'picture this', with Pam supplying this picture as inspiration:

I don't need much excuse to use blooms - I love them - and I also love BG papers, one of my favourite ranges being Scarlet's Letter, so this is what I used for my background paper.

Deanne's Challenge 30 on Rosiedee last week was to use blooms, so I'm linking for this as well. I'm also linking as another submission for challenge 56: floral fantasy on Cute Card Thursday and for Dutch Dare 44: favorite things, because I've used some of my all-time favourite papers and also blooms, which I love using.

Score a pattern

Day 48 on 365 cards involved scoring a pattern, so I chose a white square card blank and scored it both ways at regular intervals, adding lots of PM 3D flowers and a couple of sentiments.

This is also good for Creative Belli 63: dry embossing and Alphabet Challenge: D is for ... dry embossing.

I'm also linking this for Cute Card Thursday challenge 56: floral fantasy (and will also be adding another card for this because I couldn't choose between them).

Challenge catch up begins!

When the challenges started on 365 cards I decided that I would try to join in all of them, which would give me some stock cards without too much hassle, but, of course, my craft re-organising put paid to that and so I've got behind.

I made four cards last night for various 365 challenges (and to fit others), so I'll start with the one that goes further back:

Day 38: That's it, I quilt! Pam gave us this pattern and asked us to make a card based upon it:

Mine is very simply a photo cut up into squares:

Back to crafting at last!!

Having sorted and re-organised my craft stuff ... took me sooooooo long, but I was determined to get it all sorted this time, rather than abandon the job halfway through as I usually do.

So now I'm back to actually doing some crafting and made four cards last night, which I'll show in separate posts as they are for various challenges.

How strange!

This is a quick card for mum to send to one of my nieces next week (hope you don't look here, Carol, but if you do, then look away NOW, please!)

The strange thing is that I went to Gez's blog and she's made a card with some of the same elements (from K & Co) (and I like Gez's version much better!).

This is an aperture card, so I used a double sided paper so that there would be a different pattern on the inside of the aperture:

Salt: sheep of His flock

Gina has chosen the theme for our Salt challenge today: 'sheep of His flock' - you can read what she wrote here.

It's so good to share crafting and faith with so many talented ladies on Salt. If you haven't already done so, do pop over there and have a scroll through the wonderful artwork produced - perhaps you will be inspired to create something for the challenge and share it with us - we'd love that.

Psalm 23, 'The Lord is my Shepherd' is one of the best known passages from the Bible - quoted or sang at so many occasions, including weddings and funerals - it so encompasses all aspects of life.

When pondering upon this theme, I was drawn to John 10, where Jesus talks about Himself as the shepherd of the sheep, so this is the basis of my LO. I am assured and comforted that Jesus is my shepherd - the good shepherd - He knows me and I know Him.

Having just celebrated Easter, it is fitting that the verses from John 10 go on to say: 'and I lay down my life for the sheep' - that's what was particularly remembered on Good Friday, but something for which I am thankful every day as I reflect upon the sacrifice made by Jesus for me.

The fancy edge of my LO has been cut from K & Co Sea Glass Shell Pattern paper, which is embossed, overlaid on to Karen-Marie Photo Collection Grass 1. The words were printed on to some of the remainder of the K & Co paper, with the addition of sheep and heart by Express Yourself'. A simple LO that conveys profound truth.

365 cards day 44: money holder

The challenge on 365 day 44 was to make a 'money holder'. Mine is a different kind to the example given. I've made a similar shirt card before, putting a handkerchief in the pocket, but this time the card has a pocket that houses a banknote:

And now I must get on with my sorting ... until the next crafty urge overtakes me!

365 cards day 43: gift card holder

I know I should be continuing to sort my craft stuff, but everyone needs a bit of a crafting bug break, so these are for the 365 day 43 challenge: gift card holder.

If you click on the picture you can just see the semi-circular cut outs to house the gift card:

And this one is a gate fold one:

and the back shows the semi-circular cut outs:

And here's another version of the first idea:

BF Paddy's CJ

I've done very little crafting in the last week or two, mainly because I'm still sorting and labelling everything and am determined to get it done once and for all (not that it won't need doing again before long!).

Anyway, I needed to do my DLO in Paddy's 'Nature's Beauty' CJ for the group on BF.

I've chosen Spring as my response to Paddy's theme - everything used, apart from the stitched ribbons, is from the DCWV spring range. On the left hand page the background paper is embossed and glossy.

I don't know whether it's because I've had a bit of a break or because I'm not feeling too good, but I found it so hard to get into this.

The first thing I tried was to stamp trees and sprinkle with flower soft - I wouldn't dare show it - let's just say it wasn't a success!

And I apologise to Paddy that I didn't take the card out of the rings to stick my backing papers because I couldn't get the rings open - I know, I am a weakling!! And John isn't here as he's gone up to Guy's foot health again and I wanted to get this done to get into the post.

365 cards day 41: feel better Friday

Day 41 challenge on 365 was to make a 'get well' card with five flowers on it. I wasn't sure whether to count the layered blooms as one or not, so I did, so there are at least five flowers on my card.

The flowers were still on my worktop from making the Diamond wedding card, so I thought the background papers went well (the papers were a magazine freebie - been in the box for far too long!)

Btw, it's the scan that's crooked, not the card.

365 cards day 39: Wacky color Wednesday

The idea for day 39 on 365 was to use orange, purple and green on a card - it couldn't have been simpler with this DCWV paper for a base:

365 cards day 37: DIY dress up some chipboard

Having made the Diamond Wedding card earlier, I just had to make another card, so I decided to catch up with 365 (I'm a whole week behind now), so this is for day 37, using BG ambrosia papers for background and for covering the chipboard flowers, with distressed and inked edges.

Diamond wedding anniversary

I was asked to make a Diamond Wedding Anniversary card for a lady and her husband who has been a member of our WEF at church for many years. I think I'm safe in showing it here because I don't think the lady concerned comes on to the internet. If by any chance you do, Audrey, then please look away NOW!!!

The background paper is a pastel rainbow effect with an overlay of a 'material' feel paper that has sparkly swirls woven into it. The scan doesn't do it justice and the light's too poor now to get a reasonable photo. I'm taking it tomorrow morning to give to the leader of WEF to pass around and have signed, but if I can I'll take a quick picture before I go.

This is an A4 size card so that the insert is big enough for everyone to sign.

You can get a better idea of the detail if you click on the picture to see it larger.

Now I've started crafting again I'm tempted to continue, but I really ought to be disciplined and carry on with sorting my craft stuff. This morning I spent time sorting out sentiments and 'relatives' (no, not the real ones!) and putting each category in a little bag and boxing them all up - took quite a time, but will save time when I want to find 'husband', for instance, I won't now have to rummage through all of them to find a suitable one:

Salt

Just a reminder that Salt goes live now every Thursday. The challenges are still fortnightly, but on the in-between Thursdays there is an opportunity to get to know our DT. This week, Mona tells us about herself.

And, of course, there is still time to participate in the current challenge 'The real meaning of Easter' and, of course, to read what Esther wrote about this, as today we remember with thanks the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

I have no crafting to show atm because I'm having a real sort out of my craft stuff - spent time yesterday sorting, bagging, boxing, labelling all the little bits and pieces, like brads, eyelets etc - I like to have a place for everything and everything in its place!

However, there are one or two crafty tasks that need to be done over the next few days, so, hopefully, something to show soon. But I'm limiting myself to doing those until everything's sorted, so no challenges for a while.

BF April inchies swap

Since the weekend I haven't done much crafting, but I did manage last night and this afternoon to finish my two sets of inchies for the April swap on BF being hosted once more by Karen.

Karen said: 'I would like you to makes them all with BIRDS on and with WHITE AS YOUR MAIN BACKGROUND colour!!!'

So both sets have been done on white linen card which has a nice subtle texture.

On this first set, I've stamped part of a stamp that was within a BF kit - the stamp was an exclusive Bubbly design created by Caroline.

I stamped with Heritage dark walnut and lightly waterbrushed. picking up some of the colour from the ink pad and lightly coloured the leaves with Brilliance pearlescent ivy watered down.

This is what the whole stamp looks like:

For the second set I used a clipart bird picture available in Publisher, imported into Paint, where I changed the colours, and then printed out, finally using a Marvy pink pen to do the borders.

This is what the original clipart looked like:

I enjoyed making these.

I'm linking these for Sunday Stamper challenge 54: chirpy chirpy cheep cheep, which, of course, is all about birds! I'm also linking for Alphabet Challenge blog B is for ... birds! And also for Lots to do week 14: Art.

Yesterday we spent the day at St Thomas hospital for John to get his eye looked at (nothing serious, but disappointing in that the limited vision he had in his left eye has gone down further than it was and he also has a bit of an infection).

Today I met a friend for lunch and a catch-up, but did manage to get my second lot of inchies done when I got home.

Sheila's candy

I just love visiting Sheila's blog - so inspirational. I've met her irl and have watched some fab demonstrations - she has so many wonderful ideas and such talent. If you visit her here you have a chance to win some super candy - as Sheila says, 'You've got to be in it to win it!' And while you're there, why not have a browse through her blog - you will not be disappointed.

365 cards day 35: ad inspired

When I saw the challenge on 365 cards today, I knew exactly the paper I wanted to use. This is the ad that was given by Vicky for inspiration, together with her beautiful card (why not go and check it out):

The paper I used is Fancy Pants Dainty. The paper very much speaks for itself and it would have been a shame to have covered too much of it (I used the bottom right corner of a 12" x 12" sheet, so I've just added some turqoise ric rac and the sentiment.

Sympathy cards

At last, I've done a few sympathy cards. I always feel that these should be kept simple and I often opt for a couple of lilies on a background, but today I've abandoned lilies and used other flowers.

The background for the first two cards is a lovely embossed paper by K & Co BW which doesn't need much added to it.




This background is BG, with the picture printed on to linen card to give a slightly watercoloured effect:

The background for this one is Anna Griffin:

And the red paper backing the roses here is BG, surrounded by a piece of K & Co Brookfield:

and lastly, a very simple one:

They all have inserts that say 'with deepest sympathy'.

This is all very well but ...

... my next job was going to be making some sympathy cards - well, these are getting closer, I suppose - I just saw the 'You're in my prayers' stamp on the shelf and fancied using it (stamped with Brilliance pearlescent ivy and clear embossed - although you can't see the shine on here), so this is the result:

Off to make a cup of coffee now ... and then I must get on with some sympathy cards!