Eastbourne collage

Thought I'd just show a little collage I've made with a few of our Eastbourne photos.

Suzie's 365 photos day 150: messy

Having told my facebook friends that I wasn't spending much time on the internet while I'm away, I still want to be able to keep up with Suzie's 365 photos if I can.

Fortunately, I had a peep before breakfast to see what the prompt was for day 150 today. I decided to have a treat this morning and have croissants for breakfast (glad that my doctor doesn't see my blog as they're not good for my high cholesterol) - anyway, you've heard the saying that you can't make omelettes without breaking eggs - well, I've got a new saying: 'you can't eat croissants without making a mess' - so here it is (had to take a very quick photo while no one was looking - bit of a strange thing to do!:

Suzie's 365 photos day 149: tools

When I saw Suzie's day 149: tools I wondered what I would find in the hotel. However, I was catching up with the Sunday newspaper supplements and came across this:

Suzie's 365 photos day 148: unfinished

I'm glad I found out what Suzie's day 148 prompt was before we had lunch today.

This is my unfinished seafood pizza:

And a bit later this was John's unfinished Hawaii pizza:

A bit later they were both finished and the plates were empty - a lovely lunch (particularly because I didn't have to prepare it and it was eaten in lovely surroundings).

Suzie's day 147: cleanliness

It was easy to find a photo for Suzie's day 147: cleanliness - the bathroom in the hotel where we're staying:

Suzie's day 146: boring

When I saw Suzie's day 146: boring on Friday I wondered what I could depict that was boring, bearing in mind that this was my first full day on holiday in Eastbourne. We strolled along the prom and soon discovered that the bandstand is being renovated, so it isn't in use atm - which I think is quite boring (well that's the only thing I could find):

Suzie's 365 photos day 145: soft

Having come to Eastbourne on Thursday, I've got a bit behind with Suzie's photos prompts. I thought I'd try to do a few so that I don't get too far behind by the time I get home, so here is my 'soft' for day 145 - I'm showing some soft lighting - I played around with filters to soften the whole picture - not sure it's worked too well though.

CHNC challenge 74: Christmas foliage

It's time for another challenge on my CHNC blog (this is a scheduled post prepared before we came to Eastbourne) so here are my cards for CHNC challenge 74.

For the first card I've used a piece of NOEL paper from Flowersoft and a piece of holly paper from Flowersoft too. The image is 'holly' from Shelly's images (they are sponsoring challenge 74). coloured with copics. I've distressed the edges first with antique linen and then with fired brick DI using a new Ink Duster ink blending brush by inkylicious - this seems to work very well, pleased with it - makes a change to the sponging technique. The Happy Holidays sentiment is chipboard from Poundland some time ago.

For the second card I've used half of a card blank I've had for ages that has a feint pattern on it, a piece of green striped card that's been in my Christmas offcuts for ages and the chipboard sentiment bauble, again originally from Poundland a long time ago.

This time I've coloured the holly image from Shelly's with promarkers and again distressed the edges with my new brush.

I'm entering these for the following challenges:

Christmas cards all year round: inspired by a Christmas carol or song - 'the holly bears a berry'
Creative craft: distressing
Tanda teaser 197: something new - the ink duster blending brush, a new way of distressing with DIs
Rudolph day May
Charisma cardz 20: no flowers allowed

Suzie's 365 photos day 144: artificial

This is for Suzie's day 144: artificial - not much to look at, but a reminder of a very special day - our wedding (21 years ago this coming Friday):

We had twisted decorated candles on the tables to match the colour of our bridesmaids and this is one of the flower rings - I think I've still got a candle somewhere, but couldn't be bothered to look for that because today is a very busy day - we've been up to Guy's this morning, I'm off in a minute to get a haircut, then over to see mum ... and tomorrow we go to Eastbourne, so it's time to get the cases out!

ATCs sewn up for the BF May swap

The May ATC swap on the Bubbly Funk forum is 'sewing'. I actually showed one ATC the other day and today have made the other four ready for the swap. I distressed the original one a bit more as well.


The stamp is a Dawn Bibby design by Personal Impressions, inked with memento and then coloured with copics V000, BV00 and G21 before stitching with some embroidery threads.

I distressed the edges with dusty concord DI.

I had a bit of a panic when I ran out of green embroidery thread, but managed to find some more - slightly different colour, but it's not going to matter as the ATCs will be going to different people.

I'm entering these into the following challenges:

Tammy scraping corner 11: show us your distressed
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 19: flowers
Crafty ribbons 19: flowers
Dilly beans: flowers challenge
LiaStampz 17: April showers bring May flowers

Suzie's 365 photos day 143: restful

Suzie's prompt for today is 'restful' - having had a very stressful day again yesterday, I'm trying to have a bit of a restful day today, but really I feel far from restful.

I'm cheating a bit today because I'm showing a previous picture of our garden with the sun lounger ready outside the summerhouse (and there's some crafting stuff in there) - an ideal recipe for 'restful' - wish that was me today. At least the sun is shining today and it's a lot warmer.

So here is day 143:

We' going off to Eastbourne on Thursday, so, hopefully, we will begin to feel more 'restful' there - this is where we'll be staying (photo taken when we were there last year):

Suzie's 365 photos day 142: ornament

On Friday we went into Bromley and John wanted to get a card for our anniversary (this coming Friday), so we went into Clintons. Because John has difficulty seeing I had to point him in the right direction for his choice of cards and then wander around while he used a magnifying glass to make his choice - bless him, not easy for him. While I was wandering around I saw this little ornament and told him about it and he bought it for me - just a bit of fun!

So here is my ornament for day 142:

Suzie's 365 photos day 141: minimalist

Oh dear, Suzie's prompt yesterday for day 141 was 'minimalist' - a difficult one. But this morning I've had a tidy up before Golddie comes to clean, so here is my miniamlistic workspace (it certainly didn't look like this yesterday!):

Christmas travel fun

Today's facebook Sunday's with Santa theme is 'travel' - the nearest I could get is to use some pictures left over from papers I bought a few years ago (think they were Dovecraft) of children travelling on a sledge. I've used up other offcuts that were in my Christmas box, so this is my first card of the week for Pixie's crafty snippets 21.  The trees and sentiments have been in my Christmas box for ages.The background papers are Papermania 'a Christmas carol'.

I've used the sketch for Sketch challenges 4:

and you will see that I made five cards with the same design - these will be another pack ready for my Tearfund sale in the autumn.

These are also for:


Sparkles forum Chjristmas challenge 16: Christmas tree
Woodware UK week 51: children's cards
Bunny Zoe 24: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
Whimsy 39: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 90
Inspire me Fridays 59
52 card pickup 20

Christmas birthday

'Christmas birthday' was the theme for last week's facebook Sunday's with Santa (yes, I'm a week behind - hope to do a card for today's challenge later). We have a lot of family birthdays around Christmas, so it's good to have the prompt to make some in advance.

I've used one of my favourite Greeting Farm Anya stamps that is just right for a winter birthday, colouring the image with copics and mounting on a piece of red polka dot card. I've put diamond stickles on the edges of the coat to add a bit of sparkle. The stamp is for All that scraps Wednesday challenge: anything goes.

I followed the sketch for Mojo Monday 241:

I used black, white and red for:

Farm fresh Friday
Addicted to stamps 30: white, black and ?
Lexi 65: black and white plus one other colour
Anything goes 67: colour combo - black with one other
Paper crafting journey 9: black + one other colour

Papers are 7 gypsies life noir and adore. The sentiment was generated on my dymo letratag and mounted on to a die cut label. The crocheted flowers have been combined with a couple of craftime flowers, the larger one held together with a material covered brad.

This is also for:

Flourishes timeless 169: alphabet letter - B - blooms, birthday, bling, black
The paper shelter 64: birthday cards with sentiment
Crazy 4 challenges 137: birthday card
Joanna Sheen: happy birthday
Stamp and create May: for the ladies
Crafty catz 133: girlie time
Sentimental Sundays 103: whimsical
Festive Friday 19 product challenge: glitter or glimmer
Stampin' sisters in Christ 140: build up your card - layers and stacked flowers
Hotshot craft 8: die cuts
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 19: flowers
Critter 115: flowers
Tammy scraping corner 10: show me your flowers
Crafty ribbons 19: flowers
Die cuttin' divas 65: flowers
Stamp, scrap & doodle: flowers
Hooked on craft 20: flowers
Paper pretties Monday challenge: glitter
Cute card Thursday 217: a touch of sparkle
Di's digi designs: show us that bling
Let's ink it up 23: bling
Freshly brewed May challenge 94: tic tac toe - I chose: flowers, patterned paper, bling
Bunny Zoe 24: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
Whimsy 39: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 90
Inspire me Fridays 59
52 card pickup 20

Christmas aperture card

This is an aperture Christmas card for Zoe's challenge for this fortnight for the Christmas Card Club (for info about this please click on one of the names of my sidebar and contact for details). It's also another card for my own CHNC challenge 73: a touch of the blues.

I've used Patchwork Pals supplies from a kit that I've had for a few years now.

This is also for:

Stempelsonne 63: headgear
Glitter geeks 20: polkadots
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
Whimsy 39: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 89
Inspire me Fridays 59

Commissioned Golden Wedding Anniversary card

I was asked to make a Golden Wedding Anniversary card using the photo of the couple's wedding. I printed this out on to a shaped die cut and then mounted this on to a gold mirror card matching shape.

The background sentiment panel is vellum and the gold mirror card top and bottom are embossed strips run through the cuttlebug with an embossing border folder.

The flowers are Craftime and the other bits and pieces are from stash. This is an A5 card.

I'm linking this for the following challenges:

Fashionista: wedding, anniversary or shower
My Sheri 85: wedding/anniversary
One stop craft 183: spring weddings/anniversaries
House of Gilli 32: emboss
Emerald faerie garden 24: embossing
Mema's May: bingo challenge - I chose: bling, die cut, embossing
Hotshot craft 8: die cuts
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 19: flowers
Critter 115: flowers
Tammy scraping corner 10: show me your flowers
Crafty ribbons 19: flowers
Die cuttin' divas 65: flowers
It's all about the vintage and beauty 19: summery flowers
Cardmakin mamas: May flowers
Stamp, scrap & doodle: flowers
Hooked on craft 20: flowers
Paper pretties Monday challenge: glitter
Cute card Thursday 217: a touch of sparkle
Freshly brewed May challenge 94: tic tac toe - I chose: flowers, patterned paper, bling
Bunny Zoe 24: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
Whimsy 39: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 89
Inspire me Fridays 59
52 card pickup 20

Suzie's 365 photos day 140: interior

It's seems incredible that we're already up to day 140 on Suzie's 365 photos and today Suzie is asking us to show something for 'interior'.

I'm showing a peek into one of my wardrobes - you will notice that even the bedroom doesn't escape housing my craft stuff - the RUB box you can just see at the top houses some finished cards (and there's lots more boxes on the shelves above).

CHNC challenge 73 - another blue card

The second card for my CHNC challenge 73 uses some of the Patchwork Pals background card together with supplies that came in kits ages ago together with a silver sentiment and snowflakes punched with silver mirror card - Woodware punch - sorry they look black here - they really are silver):

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Crafty mess 9: Christmas card with non-traditional colours
Pile it on 20: clean and simple
Kaboodle 119: clean and simple
Top tip Tuesday 76: clean and simple
Simon says: clean and simple
Cute card Thursday 217: a touch of sparkle
Di's digi designs: show us that bling
That craft place: monochromatic
The poodles parlour: monochromatic
Bunny Zoe 24: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
Whimsy 39: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 89
Inspire me Fridays 59
52 card pickup 20

CHNC challenge 73: a touch of the blues

It's time once again for a new challenge over on my Christmas blog, so please go and have a look at CHNC challenge 73 - I'd love you to join in the fun and avoid the panic later in the year by getting some Christmas cards made.

The background is made from some card from a Patchwork Pals Christmas kit that I bought three years ago, perhaps more - and I've still got quite a lot of it left, so I thought it was about time I used some.

The stocking is chipboard from Poundland (a couple of Christmases ago), the baubles with snowflakes are stickers that have been in my Christmas box for ages and the lovely sheer ribbon with glittery blue and silver trees was bought from a market stall.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Holly jolly Christmas challenge: Christmas stocking
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 16: Christmas tree
Christmas crafting 11: twas the night before Christmas
Festive Friday 19 product challenge: glitter or glimmer
Mema's crafts May: bingo challenge - I chose blue, ribbon, bling
Ooh-la-la 105: ribbon or twine
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 89
Inspire me Fridays 59
52 card pickup 20

Suzie's 365 photos day 139: flower

Suzie was very kind to us today, asking to see a flower for day 139.

I managed to find one of the orange roses that were still presentable - got some a few days ago and they are now looking past their best, I think this one is OK. I digitally blotted out some of the background to give the rose centre stage:

Stitched ATC

This is a bit of a trial run (the second one actually because the first one had to be ditched) before I make the rest of the ATCs for the monthly swap on the Bubbly Funk forum, which for May is 'sewing'.

I was spurred on to make this tonight by the Annabelle challenge: say it with ... stitching.

The stamp is a Dawn Bibby design by Personal Impressions, inked with memento and then coloured with copics V000, BV00 and G21 before stitching with some embroidery threads.

I distressed the edges with dusty concord DI.

This is also for:

Creative Mondays (always crafting) 8: stitching
Cutie stampers 127: stitching
Sweet stamps 65: my favourite colour (purple/lilac)
For fun: I smell flowers
Creative craft: distressing
PaperPlay 20: destruction - distressing

Now I just need to make four more for the swap ... but not tonight!

Suzie's 365 photos catch up

I'm behind with Suzie's 365 photos, so it's time for a catch up.

On Friday for day 132 the prompt was unforgettable - it made me think of many occasions - most of them very happy, like special birthdays and mum and dad's diamond wedding anniversary, but also some sad occasions that are unforgettable. It so happens that on Friday we went to a funeral of one of the helpers from John's blind bowling club - a lady who had bravely battled with cancer.

Before others came in, I managed to take a quick photo of the front of the church:

For day 133 Suzie asked us to show a self portrait. Like many others, I hate having my photo taken, but here's one I took a few minutes ago (caught me today with my specs instead of my contact lenses - and why is it that my hair looks much darker here than it really is?):

Day 134: portrait of a woman - my mum (shame about the reflection on the glasses) - unfortunately, the picture isn't very clear because it is a small section taken from a much bigger, more detailed, photo:

Day 135 called for a 'faceless portrait' - those things you see that make you go'OH! that is so ...' - this is so John - his laptop and headphones with microphone - because he is visually impaired he uses a speech input program to communicate with his laptop:

For day 136 Suzie asked us to show a portrait of a stranger. I went into London yesterday and met up with a friend and had time to stand around on Charing Cross Station on the way back to wait for a train, so I looked around and took a quick photo - I wasn't that close to him, the photo is zoomed:

For day 137 a candid photo taken recently when our grandchildren came over:

I didn't realise how many days I had got behind, but here I am up to date with today's prompt for day 138: group:

Floral card

I had a request to make a floral card suitable for an older person, so I've used Anna Griffin supplies from the engraved botanica kit I recently purchased. It was a very quick and easy card to make because the supplies did all the work, but I'm not complaining! It's A5 size to accommodate the large rose and butterfly decoupaged items.

This was inspired by the photo for Scrap-cards 28 (the pink roses):

And pink for Divas by design 35: we are tickled pink, also pink and green for Totally Gorjuss 131.

This is also for:

Sentimental Sundays 102: birthday theme with embellishments that start with B - borders, butterfly, blooms
The paper shelter 64: birthday cards with sentiment
Crafty catz 132: happy birthday
Joanna Sheen: happy birthday
Whoopsi Daisy: spring colours
Crafter's companion 24: here comes summer
Amusing challenges: flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 19: flowers
Critter 115: flowers
Tammy scraping corner 10: show me your flowers
Die cuttin' divas 65: flowers
The sisterhood of crafters: May flowers
Crafty ribbons 19: flowers
It's all about the vintage and beauty 19: summery flowers
Cardmakin mamas: May flowers
Hooked on craft 10: flowers
Fairytale 40: things with wings
Catch the bug: things with wings
Craft your days away 45: all creatures great and small
Crafty bloggers network 21: decoupage
L E J designs 3: lots of layers (the roses, butterfly and sentiment are decoupaged with lots of layers)
Bunny Zoe 24: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
CES 85: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
Whimsy 39: anything goes
Little Miss Muffet 35: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 89
Inspire me Fridays 58
52 card pickup 19

WOYWW 154

It's Wednesday again (only just, as I'm preparing this a little after midnight ready to link later) and that means it's time to have a peep at crafting workspaces around the world, thanks to Julia - why not click on the link for WOYWW 154 and find out what it's all about (as if there's anyone left who doesn't know) and join in the fun.

For the past few days I've been having a sort out of my craft stuff - always seem to be doing that, probably because I like to have everything in its right place and boxes labelled etc.

I'm on the final hurdle, so just a few boxes on my workdesk that now need attention.

To the left of me are ATCs, inchies, twinchies etc that I've received in swaps, You can see that there are a couple of PM folders ready to house these (I've already got quite a few of these full).

On the other side of where I sit you can see a box with toppers etc - some that I put together ages ago and still haven't used - the box needs sorting and perhaps I'll start to use some of the contents. At the back you can see the Christmas decoupaged pieces that were there last week, except now they are housed in a container - the idea is that if I leave them there I'll start to use some of them - hopefully!

Just realised that you can see the CDrom poking out of the side of my computer - since upgrading to windows 7 I can't get the scanner to work with my network printer, so I tried installing again, only to find that it still doesn't work - have now found drivers online for windows 7 and am in process of downloading (taking ages even though I have fast broadband) - hoping it will work then because I need to scan a photo for a card I've been commissioned to make.

I managed to get round everyone last week, but doubt I'll do that this week, but I'll do my best. I'll be out later today - meeting a friend to go and see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - we should have gone two or three weeks ago, but had to postpone, so hope we'll actually get there today.

25 December

No, I know it's not 25 December yet ... and nowhere near ... but the weeks go by and it makes sense to get lots of Christmas cards done early in the year to avoid the panic nearer December.

I've been quiet on my blog for a few days because I've been sorting craft stuff and also putting inserts into cards, bagging, labelling etc - I actually had 95 of these to do - I need to go back to my new year crafty resolution to do this once a week to avoid the build up.

Anyway, I digress. While I was sorting through my Christmas stuff I came across a card that had been started and left. I'd used an offcut of My Mind's Eye glitter book paper for the background, stamping the days and months of the year with Sally Moret stamps. It didn't need a lot more on the card and I found a lovely glittery Santa with his reindeer and a couple of trees - shame that the glitter doesn't really show here, but it is there, honestly!

This is for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 19
Hiding in my craftroom: super scraps Saturday
Phindy's Friday 105: Christmas in May
Christmas card challenges week 24: old/neglected stamps (I've had these calendar stamps years)
Paper pretties Monday challenge: glitter
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 16: Christmas tree
Stampin sisters in Christ 139: any type of animal
Crop stop 71: show us the animal in you
Craft your days away 45: all creatures great and small
Forever friends 36: use 2 images (two separate stamps used)
Desert island 31: I chose what's your number, 2 images, something old (everything!)
Bunny Zoe 24: anything goes
CES 85: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
The paper shelter 63: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Make it Monday 89
Inspire me Fridays 58
52 card pickup 19

Back to the sorting now!

Peek-a-boo Cutie pie

Tonight I've made five baby cards - no, I don't know about five new births - the cards will fill a gap in supplies for the future. While I was sorting some papers I came across some K & Co papers and frames that I bought years ago - I used some at the time and then the rest were left. So this is for Waste not Wednesdays (Wishcraft cards) 18: use your old stash.

The first two are to welcome a baby boy. The square frames were stuck on to some K & Co papers and other cut outs were added. There was a sheet of die cut pieces to match - I used some and cut some up in a different way to add to the cards.

The next three are to welcome a baby girl: The first one has the frame stuck over a piece of K & Co paper:

For the next two the frames have been put over piece of Tutti frutti papers - these are also very old and offcuts that I came across - another for Pixie's crafty snippets 19.

These are for:

Daring cardmakers: fussy cuts
Amusing challenges: fussy cutting
Everybody art 192: baby
Creative Belli 143: baby/new arrival
Bloggers challenge: oh baby
Alota 82: animal challenge
Papertake weekly: cute cute cute
All kinds of cards 53: frame
Crafty creations 169: frame it
Flourishes timeless Tuesday 168: pink-a-licious (the last two cards)
CES 85: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
The paper shelter 63: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Creative Mondays (always crafting) 7: anything goes
Make it Monday 88
Inspire me Fridays 58
52 card pickup 19

CHNC challenge 72: Traditional Christmas colours

It's Saturday again and time for challenge 72 on my CHNC blog - please click on the link to find out what it's all about - and hopefully join in - now that we're into May it's an ideal time to start making Christmas cards if you haven't already done so - it's never too early, as some of us know since we've been making Christmas cards all through the year and building up quite a stock.

So today's CHNC challenge 72 is to use mainly traditional Christmas colours of red and green.

My card is based on Fetch-a-sketch 23:

Bugaboo Stamps are kindly sponsoring CHNC 72 and supplied the lovely 'cupcake candycane' digital stamp that I used for my card, coloured with copics. I covered the white icing with diamond stickles. This is for Catch the bug May challenge: anything goes.

All papers (Dovecraft, Anna Griffin and Papermania) are from my Christmas offcuts box, so this is another  entry for Pixie's crafty snippets 19, also Hiding in my craftroom: super scraps Saturday.

This is also for the following challenges:

Phindy's Friday 105: Christmas in May
Christmas inspirations 45: bingo - I chose 'layers, green, glitter'
Squigglefly 1812: use stickles
Simon says: sweet tooth
Cute card Thursday 216: food or drink
Sassy Cheryl 114: stitch in time (the fabric Noel sentiment is stitched)
One stitch at a time 112: use a digi
Jacksons digital expressions: anything goes
Stampin' for the weekend: layers
CES 85: anything goes
Truly scrumptious 80: anything goes
The paper shelter 63: anything goes
Just keep on creating 2: anything goes
Creative Mondays (always crafting) 7: anything goes
Make it Monday 88
Inspire me Fridays 58
52 card pickup 19

With sympathy

This is another sympathy card using one of the Martha Stewart lily of the valley stickers.

The textured green and white square is from the Craftwork Cards Sweet Pea peas in a pod collection which I received as a prize for winning Penny Black Saturday challenge 198 - this is such a lovely collection and I am so grateful to them.

The sentiment stamp is Anita's simply inked with memento tuxedo black.

Colours were inspired by Inspired 23, particularly the picture of the green fern on white bottom right:

This is also for:

Dilly beans: texture challenge
Lawnscaping: clean and simple