BF August ATCs

I've been working on these ATCs on and off for the past week, grabbing a little time here and there.

The theme for the August ATC swap on BF is 'beach'. I used two rubbadubbadoo stamps, masking one behind the other and coloured with copics, with just a few squiggles of Sakura pen on the sand:



John is now home from hospital again - going up to Guy's again today for an appointment. Thanks for all the comments and concern.

BF Beth's CJ

I thought that with John coming home I'd be able to catch up with a bit of crafting, but it wasn't to be. Unfortunately, early on Saturday morning, while walking with his zimmer frame, John lost his balance and fell - he didn't hurt himself, but he couldn't get himself up and I couldn't either. So I had to call an ambulance and he's been in the local hospital since then - might be coming out later today, depending on blood results (to do with kidneys working poorly again).

Anyway, this is a crafting blog, so enough of that and on with the crafting - although there's been little of that here for some weeks now. My blog used to show regular crafting, but that has had to go by the board.

I needed to get my DLO done in Beth's lovely CJ 'Tranquil moments' so here is what I've managed to put together (a small confession that some of this was cannibalised from a LO I did a couple of years ago).

The 'does the song of the Sea end ...' and the waves and sun section are acetate, part of a sea collection I bought a long while ago (and am sorry that most of it is used up now, because I love it). The right hand background paper is from 'British beach', but I can't remember what the left hand one is. The picture beneath the 'does the song of the Sea end ...' is from a BA brochure.




This week's challenge 47 on Rosiedee is 'beach' so I'm being cheeky and linking there (no chance of doing any other challenges atm)

Salt: Imperfection

I'm a day late posting my contribution for the new challenge on Salt - the topic was chosen by Pauline and you can read what she wrote here.

When I considered the story of Jonah and the topic of 'imperfection' I thought of the lovely song by Marilyn Baker 'Jesus, you are changing me ...' (you can read the words of the song if you click on the photo) and the verse from Isaiah 64:8 'O Lord you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.'

When a potter works with clay he has to get rid of the imperfections, otherwise the finished product won't be usable. God the Father is at work with us, moulding our lives to rid us of our imperfections - He still has a lot of work to do on me because I know only too well that I am far from being perfect. But I am nevertheless encouraged that I am like the clay in the potter's hands and my Father is gradually making me into the person he wants me to be. The trouble is that my 'own way' can hinder this process because of all my imperfections.

Papers used for my LO are Dreamstreet 'simply stated' - 'grapevine gossip', 'elegant expressions' and 'straight talk'; also My Mind's Eye Andrea Victoria 'petals'.



John is now home from hospital - thanks for all the good wishes. He has very limited mobility, but we are managing.

Yay! I made a card!

Yesterday a friend asked me if I happened to have a card in stock suitable for her husband's birthday, featuring tennis. I didn't, but I said I would make one for her, so I made this last night.

Crafting has been low on my agenda for the past few weeks so it was good to have a request that spurred me into action.



John's been in hospital now for six weeks. He's been making progress and is becoming more mobile, so it's hoped that he'll be coming home at the end of this week. He's going to need lots of support and regular hospital visits, but he's certainly better than he was a few weeks ago.

Salt: According to His purpose

Once again, given the present circumstances of John still being in hospital, resulting in an uncertain and emotional time, the challenge chosen by Nikki for yesterday's new Salt challenge was indeed a challenge for me. You can read what Nikki said here.

Romans 8:28 is a familiar verse to most Christians, the main part quoted is usually 'all things work together for good'. For me, the opening of the verse is so important: 'and we know' - indicating absolute assurance in God as Father, knowing how to give good gifts to His children. There are times when it is humanly very difficult to see the 'good' in a situation, but we don't have the full picture. Also, of course, this promise is for those who 'are the called according to His purpose'.

I used K & Co Urban Rhapsody papers and a selection of ribbons, blooms and lettering, including letratag on the ribbons.



These Salt challenges are very precious to me and my journey of faith. I spent some time this morning reflecting on some of my responses to past challenges, being reminded of promises from scripture and thought provoking verses too.

Perhaps you would like to reflect on this verse from Romans and respond with some crafting - we'd love you to leave a comment on Salt with a link to your response so that we can come and look.

At last!!!

Blogging, indeed crafting, has been way down the bottom of the list for the past four weeks since John went into hospital. He is still in Guy's - making a bit of progress - he can now walk with a zimmer and is doing gym work to strengthen his muscles. He's still having dialysis and there doesn't look much hope of his kidneys working again, but we still live in hope.

Thanks for all the good wishes, cards etc that we've received from so many crafting friends. And the other day I received this RAK from a forum friend - some lovely Lush bath stuff:



Yesterday I had a little bit of crafting time in the morning to make my ATCs for the July swap on BF, which asked for two embellishments the same. The background paper is DCWV; the rose circles are PM elements and the silver lettering, swirls etc areAnita's Glitterations - I confess that these are really like peel offs, which I long ago vowed I would never buy again, but somehow I acquired some of these:



And this morning I've managed to do a couple of ATCs for the July swap on CBC - using a stamp. I printed the wording from computer, stamped the Creative Expressions music stamp and the Anita hearts stamp with versamark and heat embossed with silver detail, colouring the hearts with a copic pen. The background paper is PM wedding march:

RAK received this morning

I received this RAK this morning from one of my crafting buddies, with a note to say that we're in her thoughts. We've received cards from lots of forum friends - thank you to everyone - and thank you too for all the comments that have been left wishing John well - much appreciated.

BF Elaine's CJ

As I'm part of a CJ group on BF, I realised that I needed to do my DLO in Elain's 'Perfect Poems' ready to be posted before 14 July. So here I am crafting for the second day in a row - grabbing some time this morning.

You can read the poem I've chosen if you click on the picture for a larger view.

Salt: Prayer

Today's new Salt challenge is 'Prayer', chosen by Mona. You can ready what she has to say here.

With John in hospital and travelling up and down to Guy's every day to see him, I've had very little time for anything other than the essential things of life, so crafting has gone by the wayside.

Until this morning I'd done nothing for today's Salt challenge, but wanted to participate because the subject matter is so relevant in our present situation.

So I got up early this morning and spent time on my LO. It's very simple, but it comes from the thoughts in my heart.

The background paper is Craft Creations Sunset Photo A. (btw the LO isn't crooked like the photo!)



Why not go along and have a look on Salt at the fab crafting of the rest of the team. And perhaps you'd like to make something to contribute this time - please leave us a comment on Salt so that we can visit your blog and see your item.

White space

For the second sympathy card I've used the idea for day 123 on 365, which is: 'Well, we've had a white space challenge before, but this time, I am directing all the decorations to the blacked-out areas in the following image. That means absolutely NOTHING in the white space!!'

The base card is pearlised; the flowers are some Crafty Bitz ones - again, a simple card for a sad occasion:

Lovin' Lavender

With John in hospital I just haven't had the time or inclination to make any cards, but, sadly, needed to make a couple of sympathy cards. So this one fits with the 365 challenge 114 'Lovin' lavendar' - a simple card:

CBC June ATCs received

Postie's just been and I've received two fab ATCs from the June 'men/male' swap on CBC.

The one on the left is from Jane (albajane) and the one on the right is from Andrea.

Lovely surprise

My name was the one randomly picked for the monthly prize for May on 365 cards, as you can see here.

I must admit that with everything that's going on I'd forgotten all about this, so it was a lovely surprise when the postie brought this - 50 sheets of card stock from Sierra Pacific Crafts, card stock alphas from Colorbök, and rhinestones from Kaiser Scrapbook:

BF June ATC swap: square

I have no crafting to show atm. John was in the local hospital all last week and, unfortunately, on the weekend his condition deteriorated and he's now in Guy's receiving treatment and further diagnosis.

I received these ATCs for the June swap on the BF forum:

Commissioned wedding card

A friend commissioned me to make a wedding day card in the same style and colours as the invitation - and, fortunately, I managed to find the same font as well.

As the card features a bride and groom silhouette, I'm linking for 365 cards day 119: 'seeing a silhouette'.

Keep it to yourself: wedding card

'Keep it to yourself: wedding card' was the theme for day 116 on 365 cards: 'The message should be clear without an actual sentiment.'

This is my very simple card for the challenge:

Wheelie good fun

The theme for the ATC swap this month on CBC is 'male'.

I used a PM stamp and K & Co Rough and Tumble paper. Wording was printed and embossed:

I notice that challenge 66 on Cute Card Thursday this week is 'wheely good fun' - snap! (except I've spelled it differently)

Simply stamped

The challenge on 365 cards for day 117 was 'simply stamped' - 'One stamped image and one stamped sentiment - that's it. You can color in the image and use any color of card stock - no patterned paper and no other embellishments!'

Yes, this was a challenge. I decided to make a very simple sympathy card (it's a sad fact of life that I always need to stock up with these because every time I have a Tearfund sale I sell out).

I've used a Magenta stamp on white linen card, with versafine onyx black clear embossed. The colouring is just an ordinary colouring pencil - no copics today.

Artarazzi challenge 28

No actual crafting to show, but just thought I'd play around with the Artarazzi challenge. This is the picture provided:



and here is my take on it, incorporating a picture of a single green bloom that I took a while ago:

Salt: Fruit of the Spirit

It was Melita's turn to choose the topic for today's Salt challenge - you can read what she says here.

I've chosen to focus on 'joy'. You might think it's an odd choice, given the present circumstances - John in hospital following weeks of being poorly and this morning I've had to go to the GP and for xray for suspected new vertebrae fracture - but I feel it is an apt choice, because no matter what the circumstances the Holy Spirit enables us to have a joy that isn't based upon how we feel - and I'm so thankful for that.

My LO is based on Nehemiah 8:10, which ends with 'for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'

The paper is My Mind's Eye Bella Bella Paradise, which needed nothing much added to it (which is just as well because I did this earlier this morning before going to see the doctor) - just the addition of the K & Co letters and a Wizard die cut black butterfly.

If you click on the picture to enlarge you will be able to read what I've written.

Commissioned card and ...

... a bit of an explanation. John is back in hospital, so things are quite topsy turvy here (again!) Because my main laptop died on Friday, I now don't have my list of challenge sites and am out of touch - and atm I wouldn't be able to do much anyway.

I needed to make a commissioned card for a diamond wedding - it's an A4 size so that lots of people can sign it.

The background is a textured pearlised card that I coloured with chalk ink pads because I needed it to match. The coloured diamond paper is K & Co Brenda Walton small wonders (girl) - yes, I know papers from this pad are usually used for baby or 'girlie' cards, but it seemed an appropriate pattern for a diamond wedding card. The sentiment was printed on a matching piece of green paper, which I think is Brenda Pinnick. The swirly hearts were cut on the cricut and the flowers top and bottom were off a strip I bought ages ago at John Lewis - they are embroided on an organza type of material.

This photo doesn't do it justice:



Neither does the scan (the middle part is too raised up so it's causing shadow: