Salt: God's righteousness

Kim chose the topic for today's Salt challenge - you can read what she said here and also see the lovely crafting of others in the team.

Having just returned from a week in Maidstone, I reflected a bit on our visit to All Saints church - such a walk down memory lane for John (you can read more about it here). This seemed to tie in very well with the verse I chose for the theme:

'I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.' Psalm 7:17

As usual, if you click on the picture it will enlarge and you will be able to see what I've written - you can also click again to see it even more clearly.


The paper is making memories 'music edges findings' and the lettering and scallops etc are PM Hampstead. The text from Psalm 7:17 was printed on my dymo letratag.

We would love to see what you are prompted to create for this theme - please leave us a comment on Salt with a link to your project and we will come and look.

Stairway to the stars

It's a long time since I did anything for a Soartful challenge. When I saw the current Stairway to the stars challenge, I immediately thought of the picture of Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup, the winners of Strictly 2008. I've used this picture as my avatar this month on BF forum. I digitally cut out the dancers from the original picture and inserted them on to the stairway provided by Soartful - so, a very simple entry.

In the post

When we got home there was some post waiting for us - most of it went into the paper recycling box - but there was an envie waiting for me with the gorgeous twinchies from the swap on BF forum organised by Carol.

Thanks, everyone, they are all so beautiful.

In case you haven't read my previous post, we've just returned from a week in Maidstone - a little bit about it here with some pictures.

Back from Maidstone

I've been missing from blogland for the past week because we went to stay in Maidstone. John was born and brought up there, but hadn't been back to stay for many, many years. We stayed at the Hilton hotel, which was very comfortable, with excellent food and facilities.

We were able to visit some of John's relatives, with the opportunity to catch up on old times and enjoy their hospitality - two lovely evening meals on Saturday and Sunday.

John was keen to visit the church where he was a choirboy some 60+ years ago - he was head boy and also head solo boy. We were disappointed to find out that the church opened to the public up until the end of September - and, of course, it was October by the time we were there. However, we found a number to ring for information and found out that there would be some people in the church on Thursday morning and we could go along then.

As we entered the church we were given a welcome by a man who got chatting with us. When John told him he had been a choirboy there, having given his name the man chatting said he too was a choirboy there at the same time and remembered John - he used to call for him to go to school - they were in the same year group.

So here they are - two school friends together again - it was such a lovely surprise - John never imagined he would meet up with someone from the past like that.

We went to the service on Sunday morning - it started at 9:30 so we had to have early breakfast and John's cousin picked us up at the hotel and took us there.

After the service we walked down to the river and strolled into the town. You would never guess from the tranquility there that we were so near to the hustle and bustle of a busy town.





And we were blessed with such beautiful weather most of the time. When we left home last Tuesday we had had days of rain - and, indeed, Wednesday morning in Maidstone it rained hard, but it cleared by lunchtime and thereafter we didn't have another drop all week.

I haven't enhanced the colour on these photos - the sky really was that blue.

Some swaps received

These swaps came on Saturday - my first chance to blog them today.

Firstly, these are the inchies I received from the group on BF forum for September's 'back to school' theme:


And these are the swaps I received from Something Completely Different for the torso challenges during August:

They are all so lovely - thank you to everyone involved.

A request for a John Lennon fan

I had a request yesterday for a card featuring John Lennon for a friend to give to another friend. The recipient's picture is in the righthand bottom corner, but, as I don't have permission to show it, I've blurred it.

I made it last night and handed it over today, so had to take a quick scan and photo. The sentiments are black with silver surrounds and writing - doesn't show properly in either the scan or the photo.

I found the Beatles and John Lennon photos free on the internet.

Sending Christmas wishes across the miles

The background paper for this card is Artic frog 'white out ski bunny' and the ribbons are from Poundland. The picture of the post box was rescued from an old card - I love the little robin perched on top - and the sentiment generated by computer.

This is for:

Bah! humbug 38: 'across the miles'
Paper minutes 133: 'colour combination turquoise/red Christmas'
Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
One stop craft 99: 'snowflakes in September'
Alphabet: 'W for wings' (the robin)
4 crafty chicks 5: 'crazy egg challenge - a chick - a bird of some kind'
Our daily bread 31: 'wing it'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Cutie stampers 75: 'anything goes'
Sew many challenges 29: 'anything goes'

You'll notice the GR on the post box - well this is vintage, so it's good for Alphabet: 'V for vintage'. I suppose the fact that I can remember GR post boxes makes me vintage too!!

Simply with sympathy

Sadly, however many sympathy cards I make they seem to sell - sad fact of life, I suppose. So I needed to make some more today (still need more) in order to have enough.

These are simply paper with the stamped sentiment - nothing more - the paper speaks for itself and doesn't need anything else - it is 'the gift of love' memory page by the USA paper company - two cards from the left side of a 12 x 12.



These are for:

Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Cutie stampers 75: 'anything goes'
Sew many challenges 29: 'anything goes'

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

No, I'm not really - certainly don't like the snowy weather - looks nice on Christmas cards, but that's where it can stay!

Anyway, two more sets of simple cards using some stamped images that I got from a round robin stamp group that was held long ago on Crafts by Carolyn forum.




These are for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Totally Gorjuss 49: 'Christmas'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Crafty Emma 5: 'animal antics'
Paper pretties: 'animal'
Paper cutz 60: 'critter'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
One stop craft 99: 'snowflakes in September'

Santa with his reindeer

Another set of simple cards, using some strips of paper left over from last year (or it might have been the year before - time flies!), some Santa and reindeer toppers and a sentiment.


These are for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Totally Gorjuss 49: 'Christmas'
Die cut dreams Christmas 36: 'Christmas furry things'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Crafty Emma 5: 'animal antics'
Paper pretties: 'animal'
Paper cutz 60: 'critter'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'

Christmas blessings

'Christmas blessings' is the sentiment on these cards and the vellum wrap also has greetings on it - the pictures are from last year's Dovecraft papers.

These are for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'

Just a tree

For these cards I used a digi from the Charmed card & crafts bumper Christmas set - simply mounted on to a piece of red card; the base card has a mottled finish.

This is for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
ABC Christmas: 'T is for tree'

Simply words and trees

Another five cards made simply with some DCWV papers and a few Christmas trees, with the addition of a peel off greeting. Just realised that I've used quite a bit of pink on my cards today.

These are for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
ABC Christmas: 'T is for tree'

Christmas tags galore

More simple cards made today, this time utilising some ready made tags. Each card has a vellum wrap, secured at the back and stuck down with the tag at the front.



These are for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Totally Gorjuss 49: 'Christmas'
Die cut dreams Christmas 36: 'Christmas furry things' (the third set)
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Crafty Emma 5: 'animal antics' (the third set)
Paper pretties: 'animal' (the third set)
Paper cutz 60: 'critter' (the third set)
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Sparkle creations Christmas 43: 'tags'
One stop craft 99: 'snowflakes in September' (first and second sets)

Even more Christmas words

Some more cards using another stamp with lots of names for Jesus - very appropriate for Christmas cards.

The second and third sets have been stamped with versamark and embossed with detail gold (second set) and detail silver (second set).

No designer papers were used for any of these.




My challenge for this month's 25th club on BF forum is: 'I'd like you to make cards where the emphasis is on the sentiment - lots of wording or one big sentiment. There can be images on the card, but the main focus should be wording.' - so these are for that and also for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Ooh-la-la 63: 'sentiment - main feature'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Practical scrappers: 'stamps'
Pollycraft 63: 'no designer paper'
Glitterbabe's 14: 'embossing'
Other lovelies thoughtful Thursday 28: 'E' - my 'e' is for embossing

Some more Christmas words

A couple more sets of cards using a simple words of scripture stamp. The second set have vellum wraps.


My challenge for this month's 25th club on BF forum is: 'I'd like you to make cards where the emphasis is on the sentiment - lots of wording or one big sentiment. There can be images on the card, but the main focus should be wording.' - so these are for that and also for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Bah! humbug 37: 'stars'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Ooh-la-la 63: 'sentiment - main feature'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Practical scrappers: 'stamps'

Christmas word tree

Today I've been making more packs of five Christmas cards.

These three lots are based on a word tree stamp, colouring the star and baubles with copics, peel offs on the first two sets and stamped Anna Griffin greeting on the third set.



My challenge for this month's 25th club on BF forum is: 'I'd like you to make cards where the emphasis is on the sentiment - lots of wording or one big sentiment. There can be images on the card, but the main focus should be wording.' - so these are for that and also for:

Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Charisma cardz 39: 'Christmas crafting'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
ABC Christmas: 'T for tree'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Ooh-la-la 63: 'sentiment - main feature'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Pollycraft 63: 'no designer paper' (the second set)
Practical scrappers: 'stamps'

Salt: speak with kindness

For the new challenge topic today on Salt, Julie has chosen: 'speak with kindness' - you can read what she wrote here and see the other lovely creations of the team.

I've concentrated on the verse from Colossians 4:6 that says: 'Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.'

I've used some of the digital elements from a lovely free kit that I downloaded from here.

I've set this now as my desktop background so that it is a reminder when I boot up my computer - and I'm aware that 'my conversation' isn't just what comes out of my mouth, although that, of course, is important, but what also is typed by my hands on the keyboard - so much communication nowadays is done in this way and it's important to bear this verse in mind in that respect.

We would love you to visit our challenge and create something for this theme - just leave us a comment with your link so that we can visit and see your artwork - this could be a card, LO, ATC or whatever.

I'm also linking this for Cute card Thursday 132: 'tic toc!'

I've got Santa's hat on

Today I'm making more packs of five Christmas cards - I found that I'd already got five of these lovely images stamped, so all I had to do was copic colour, add some stickles crystal ice on the hat, mount and add a greeting (yes, I'm still using up some very old Christmas peel offs).

I didn't dare put the card under the scanner because the stickles is still a bit tacky, so I've had to take a photo on a dull, rainy afternoon.

It's for these challenges:

Copic creations 35: 'shading on & around images
Creative Inspirations 80: 'Christmas in September'
Fun at fairy knoll 17: 'colourful Christmas'
Sew many challenges 28: 'Santa's on the way - Christmas theme'
Totally Gorjuss 49: 'Christmas'
Crafty pad 90: 'Christmas sparkle'
Die cut dreams Christmas 36: 'Christmas furry things'
Allsorts 71: 'plain and simple'
Craft your passion 25: 'clean and simple'
My partner in crafting crime 12: 'clean and simple'
Crafty Emma 5: 'animal antics'
Paper pretties: 'animal'
Paper cutz 60: 'critter'
Sundays with Crissy 9: 'sparkle and shine'
Delightful: 'make it sparkle'
Tellen's place: 'bring on the bling'
Crazy 4 challenges 56: 'bling'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
Pollycraft 63: 'no designer paper'
Practical scrappers: 'stamps'

Seaside post in note holder

This is another post-it note holder, made with a piece of DCWV pocket full of posies paper, a die cut spiky circle cut with a nestie and a twinchie that I made some while ago - I used a seagull stamp and a nice sea/sand/marshland stamp, masking the seagull one. The colouring is copics. The stamps are part of a set from rubbadubbadoo.

This is for

Ann's creative nook 107: 'seaside wishes'
Crafty Ann 24: 'anything but a card'
Stampin' royalty 38: 'anything but a card'ed things'
Flutter by Wednesday 123: 'any thing with wings'
Paper sundaes 37: 'things with wings'
Our daily bread 31: 'wing it'
Practical scrappers: 'stamps'
Corrosive 83: 'masking'
Incy wincy 61: 'I wonder what it could be? - anything goes'
One stitch at a time 32: 'as you like it - anything goes'
There she goes 74: 'Iwona's inspiration challenge' (the main colours):

Cute post it note holders

Today I've made some post it note holders ready for Saturday - simply a piece of textured card scored, with the post it note block stuck inside. For these two, I've used some epoxy fairy stickers (sorry about the glare from flash photo).


These are for:

Anything goes 17: 'cute'
Totally papercrafts 35: 'a kind of magic'
Crafty Ann 24: 'anything but a card'
Flutter by Wednesday 123: 'any winged things'
Paper sundaes 37: 'things with wings'
Our daily bread 31: 'wing it'