The last step fold card for now

This is the last of a bunch of four easy cards I put together using 'all wrapped up' supplies by Kanban. The theory was to try and take my mind off the pain and burning sensation of shingles in my head and face ... it didn't really work, but at least I've made some cards! Once again, there is an acetate domed image over the underneath image.

This is for:

Paperminutes 224: stair step fold
Fussy & fancy 66: fancy folds
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Hooked on craft 22: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
2 sisters 99: Christmas in July
Jingle belles: have yourself a very vintage Christmas
The sisterhood of crafters: seeing stars
Crafty bloggers network 1: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Tuesday alchemy 21: anything goes
Whimsy 46: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Catch the bug July: anything goes
Make it Monday 96
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

And another step fold card

These cards really are easy, but quite effective I think - just the sort of thing to make when you feel poorly and can't concentrate on anything much.

So here is another step fold card using Kanban 'all wrapped up' supplies - once again this has a printed domed acetate overlaying the image underneath.

This is for:

Paperminutes 224: stair step fold
Fussy & fancy 66: fancy folds
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Hooked on craft 22: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
Crimbo crackers 19: buildings (the picture is of a church)
Christmas card challenges week 31: monochromatic
Craft punked 27: monochrome
2 sisters 99: Christmas in July +option: no red or green

Another step fold card

This is another quick make using Kanban 'all wrapped up' supplies. This is another card for my own CHNC challenge 80: snowmen. This time there is an oval acetate dome over the snowman image, printed with the same image.

It's also for:

Paperminutes 224: stair step fold
Fussy & fancy 66: fancy folds
Christmas crafting 13: two or more folds
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Hooked on craft 22: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion 26: ho ho ho Christmas
Christmas card challenges week 31: monochromatic
Craft punked 27: monochrome

Easy card for a difficult day

The pain in my head/face from shingles is getting to me big time, so I've tried a little crafting to see if it can distract me for a while. So this is an easy card made with a ready prepared step card - all supplies are from  Kanban 'all wrapped up for Christmas'. The panel with Santa has an acetate overlay that matches up with the underneath card.

This is for:

Paperminutes 224: stair step fold
Fussy & fancy 66: fancy folds
Christmas crafting 13: two or more folds
Annabelle: say it with snowflakes
Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Hooked on craft 22: Christmas in July

Another get well card

Having made the previous card for my brother using the Charmed cards & craft Nurse Dottie digital image, I printed out another and used for another quick get well card. This time I've used a couple of snippet pieces of card at the sides and some sticky ribbons.

This inspiration picture was given for Skipping stones 135, so I've gone with the red, white and blue theme:

Also the red, white and blue theme from Just inspirational 36:

This is for:

CAS-ual Friday 60: text me
Catch the bug July: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: what the text

Get well card

It never rains but it pours! So it seems in our family atm. As regular visitors to my blog know, I've got shingles. Yesterday my brother had a fall and has broken his hip - he is having an op today to pin and plate it.

I wanted to get a card into the post for him, but not feeling up to much, so I've used a quick Nurse Dottie digital image that I got long ago from Charmed Cards & Crafts, adding my own sentiment. I hope his nurses are a bit more gentle than this one looks! I've just added a piece of stitched ribbon and a few medical bits from Jolees stickers.

I didn't deliberately set out to make a red, white and blue card ... it just sort of happened and then I realised how many challenges there are this week with that theme.

So I'm linking this for the following challenges:

Amusing challenges (Stamped blessings): red, white, blue
Gingerloft 43: red, white and blue
Order of the opus gluei 134: my country's colours: red, white and blue
Sentimental Sundays 109: be patriotic: red, white and blue
Squiggle stamps: red, white & blue
Incy wincy: patriotism - colours of my country: red, white and blue
Party time 75: patriotic - show your country's colours: red, white, blue
Divas by design 42: red, white and blue
Penny's 83: red, white and blue
Perfect sentiments 39: anything goes with red, white & blue
Scrappy frogs: red, white and blue
Pattie's 47: red, white and blue
Raise the bar 108: red, white and blue
Allsorts 162: red, white and blue
Crazy 4 challenges 144: colours of your flag: red, white and blue
S J crafts 6: red, white and blue
I brake for challenges: I brake for red, white and blue
Unique crafters 5: patriotic: red, white and blue
Wags n whiskers 83: red, white & blue
Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple
One stitch at a time 120: use a digi
Jackson's digital 14: anything goes
Crafty bloggers network 1: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Sassy Cheryl 122: anything goes
Tuesday alchemy 21: anything goes
Whimsy 46: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Mema's crafts July: anything goes
Make it Monday 96
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

CHNC challenge 80: snowmen

As I've been poorly this week with shingles I haven't managed any crafting, but have made the effort to produce a card for my CHNC challenge 80 which starts today. Please click on the link and read up about this week's challenge and also welcome Catherine as my Guest Designer for July.

The theme this week is 'snowmen' and the challenge is being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish, who kindly supplied the 'Chester da snowman' image that I've used. I coloured the image with copics.

All papers are from my Christmas offcuts box - the pink background is Papermania, the brown paper with silver glitter is Anna Griffin and the strips with stars is My Mind's Eye lost and found Christmas - an opportunity to pop into the playground at Pixie's crafty snippets 27 (sorry that I've not been playing this week, too poorly with shingles).

I used the sketch for Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 18:

Colours are for Festive Friday 26:

This is also for:

Lollipop crafts 84: Christmas in July
Ladybug: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Hooked on craft 22: Christmas in July
Crafter's cafe blog 6: Christmas in July - non traditional colours
Holly jolly Christmas challenge: acrostic Christmas challenge - I've used C for colouring with copics, H for heart, T for text paper and S for snowman, stars and sentiment.

WOYWW 161

Happy 4th July to all friends in the US

and greetings to all Canadian friends who have just celebrated their Canada Day.

It's that time of the week again when lots of crafters join Julia and show their workspaces for WOYWW 161.

There's not much crafting going on here as I've been poorly so my desk would be too boring to show, so instead I'm showing three ATCs and cards that I received from Karen, Sue and Janet. It was lovely of these WOYWWers to swap with me because I missed the 'official' swap week when I was on holiday. I apologise to Janet that I've yet to make an ATC for her, but will do so as soon as possible. Thank you, girls, for sharing your lovely creativity with me - I will treasure these.

Some time ago I won 50$ to spend at Simon Says Stamp as a result of winning one of their challenges, so I thought I'd show what came in the post the other day:

Last week I started off quite well in visiting fellow WOYWWers, but then became poorly and didn't manage to visit any more. I hope to do better this week - see how it goes. I've got to go back to the doctor's today because I'm still in a lot of pain in my face and jaw.

Suzie's 365 photos day 185: dirt

I looked deep into a tall vase and saw some dirt for day 185:

I think I need to clean it!

And here is the vase:

Suzie's 365 photos day 184: shadow

It's been such a full and difficult day here that I've only just seen Suzie's prompt for day 184: shadow. I've looked through some of my old photos and come across some that were taken when we were privileged to go to Bermuda for our tenth wedding anniversary:

Happy memories!

Butterfly wishes with love

These cards were made from the sketch for Technostamper Monday lunchtime 227:

All papers, sentiments and 3d butterflies are from Anna Griffin supplies.

The second card was made with the scraps of the first one, so another for  Pixie's crafty snippets   27  (and there are more of these snippets, so watch this space!)

These are also for:

Come and get it: cute as a bug
It's all about the vintage and beauty 22: summer and butterflies
Allways something creative 33: butterflies
Dream valley 35: things with wings
Craft your passion 166: things with wings
Card and scrap: wings
Creative inspirations 169: anything goes
Charisma cardz 25: anything goes

Bowls birthday

John asked me to make a quick card for one of the members of his blind bowling club and this is what I've made, using the square sketch for Mojo Monday 247:

All papers are snippets from my offcuts box - some are Nitwits that were free with a magazine and the piece behind the image has been recycled from a stationery wallet - so this is another one for Pixie's crafty snippets   27. The image is from the Papermania Nostalgia pastimes etc designed by John  Byars, inked with memento and coloured with copics. The scalloped circle was cut with a nestie (edges distressed with shabby shutters DI) and the scalloped dark green background was cut with my rotatrim.

This is also for:

Pile it on 27: for a guy with a sports theme
Cards for men 13: sports with a sentiment
Crafty boots: sport
Simon says: sporty and/or patriotic
Cutie pie 21: one for the boys
Robyn's fetish 114: distressing
Hotshot 9: distress inks
That craft place: it's all green
Anything goes 70: polka dot with a birthday theme
The cheerful stamp pad 46: numbers
Victorine 37: birthday
Celebrate the occasion 68: happy birthday
Emerald faerie garden 27: birthdays
Crafts and me 90: birthdays
Moving along with the times: happy birthday
LiaStampz 20: scraps
Sweet stampin: scallops
Desert island crafts 33: I chose: inked edges, a sketch challenge and use a rubber stamp

Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple

Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Mema's crafts July: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Blue Christmas

For this card I've used a fancy fold card and components from the Kanban 'all wrapped up' kit. The picture of the snowman is glittered in places and is overlaid with the spotted vellum held in place with the four brads.

I'm not really happy with it because I should have cut the snowman picture etc to better fit the upright of the card blank - I'll know better next time!

This is for:

Holly jolly Christmas: bingo - I chose: glitter, free, blue (also used brads)
Christmas card challenges week 31: monochromatic
Winter wonderland: monochromatic
52 Christmas card throwdown: anything goes
Christmas crafting July 13: two or more folds
Card crafters circle 29: construction cards
Fussy & fancy 66: fancy folds
The squirrel and the fox 21: Christmas in July
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 131: Christmas/holiday challenge - sparkle and snow
Crafty catz 139: show us your metal

Waiting for Santa

This is another card using a scene from My Craft Studio Magic of Christmas CD rom - like the one I did here - with different wording:

This is another for my CHNC challenge 79: festive funnies and also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 192: Christmas
The squirrel and the fox 21: Christmas in July
Through the craftroom door: Christmas in July
Crafter's companion July 26: ho ho ho Christmas

Totally papercrafts: can you digi it
One stitch at a time 120: use a digi
Totally Gorjuss 138: sweet and simple
Alota 85: colour challenge - blue + 1
The poodles parlour: cute and/or cuddly
Jackson's digital 14: anything goes

Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes

Paper makeup digi makeover 42: anything goes

Digital Tuesday 166: amazing animals

Tuesday alchemy 20: furry companions
Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple

Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
ATCs and card with attitude 17: anything goes
Chocolate, coffee & cards 16: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Mema's crafts July: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Santa in blue

It was Chris' turn to choose the theme for today's card for the Christmas Card Club and she chose 'Santa in blue'. I really wasn't sure what to do for this and then I hit on the idea of a silhouette of Santa and his sleigh and reindeer, so I found this free clipart picture on Microsoft Office.

I've used the sketch for Freshly made sketches 41:

 The idea of the Freshly made sketches challenges is to keep the card clean and simple, so that's what I've done, using two snippet pieces for the background, so this is my first wander into the playground for Pixie's crafty snippets 27, although I feel too poorly today to have a go on the swings - I need a quiet bench in the corner.

This is also for The paper players 102: Christmas in July.

Suzie's 365 photos day 183: grumpy

I'm still feeling poorly so we are staying in today, so it wasn't too difficult to get a 'grumpy' picture for Suzie's day 183!

I had several attempts at taking a photo of myself and wasn't really happy with any of them. I've got no make up on, my hair is all over the place ... but, I suppose, as I'm feeling poorly and perhaps a bit grumpy, it's not surprising that the photos aren't great.

In the end I opted to digitally create a kaleidoscope effect (mainly so that you didn't have to see me in large format - lol!).

Another festive funny

This is another card for my CHNC challenge 79: festive funnies. If you haven't yet discovered my Christmas challenge blog, please click on the link and join in.

Everything I've used is from My Craft Studio Magic of Christmas CD rom. I added my own text within the program. John gave me the idea for this.

This is for:

Secret crafter Saturday 192: Christmas

Totally papercrafts: can you digi it
Totally Gorjuss 138: sweet and simple
Alota 85: colour challenge - blue + 1
The poodles parlour: cute and/or cuddly

Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes

Paper makeup digi makeover 42: anything goes

Digital Tuesday 166: amazing animals

Tuesday alchemy 20: furry companions
Just some lines: let's keep it clean and simple

Incy wincy: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
ATCs and card with attitude 17: anything goes
Chocolate, coffee & cards 16: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Suzie's 365 photos day 182: Gothic

For day 182: Gothic I'm showing a couple of pictures I took when we were in Maidstone. They feature the gothic window arches of All Saints Church - this is the church that John went to when he was a choir boy.

When we visited All Saints Church John met up with someone who he knew at school - they were choirboys together. This picture shows the gothic arches inside the church:

CHNC challenge 79: Festive funnies

It's time for Challenge 79 over on my CHNC blog and today I'm asking to see cards with 'festive funnies' - something amusing, funny - a humorous Christmas card to make me smile. Challenge 79 is being sponsored by Ooh la la Creations - more details if you click on the challenge link - I've love to see your entries there.

For my card I've used 'Santa putting' pyramid pictures supplied by Ooh la la Creations printed from their CD rom 'Festive Funnies' with artwork by D. R. Laird, plus backing papers from the same CD and a decorated insert. You can read more about my card here on My Crafty Outlook.

Side view of the pyramid layers:

Decorated insert:

This is also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 192: Christmas

Sunday's with Santa on Facebook week 27: a card for a man (would be a good card to give to a golf player)

Crafty boots: sport

Cards for men 13: sports with a sentiment
Simon says: sporty and/or patriotic

Allways something creative 32: football (alternatively, sport)

Cutie pie 21: one for the boys
Nutcrafters 22: making a scene

Stampin' sisters in Christ 145: use flags

PaperPlay 26: flags

Totally papercrafts: can you digi it

Crimbo crackers 18: anything goes

Daisy doodles 62: anything goes

Paper makeup digi makeover 42: anything goes

Digital Tuesday 166: amazing animals

Tuesday alchemy 20: furry companions

Incy wincy: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 16: anything goes
Let's craft and create 47: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Scrapbook sisters 90: anything goes
ATCs and card with attitude 17: anything goes
Chocolate, coffee & cards 16: anything goes
Hiding in my classroom 52: freestyle
Make it Monday 95
Inspire me Fridays 65
52 card pick up 26

Suzie's 365 photos day 181: silhouette

When we were in Eastbourne recently I wandered along to have a look at the funfair on the west lawns (not far from our hotel) and I took a few photos (like you do!).

I took a couple of the big wheel as it was getting dusk and when I looked at them later I thought how useless they were. However, I've used one of them for day 181: silhouette - admittedly, I've darkened the photo more than it was originally.

Thanks, Suzie - this was a good opportunity to use a photo that I thought would never get used!

Suzie's 365 photos day 180: free choice

As it's 'free choice' for day 180 on Suzie's 365 photos, I thought I'd show some photos that I took from our hotel balcony at Eastbourne. These were taken while we were waiting to see the Jubilee fireworks the night before we came back home.

I won't bore you with any more (I took quite a lot because I wanted to get the various looks of the moon as the evening progressed and it got darker).