Floral fold

Yet another card using the MCS everyday essentials kit.

Colours are for Critter 123:

This is for:

Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats
Alota: looking through a window
Kreativer Basel blog 1: purple/lilac
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 67
52 card pick up week 28

More cosy cats

Another couple of cards featuring the cats from the pets elements of the MCS kit. These are window aperture cards.

These are for:

Alota: looking through a window
Ooh la la 109: whiskers
My time to craft 183: it's raining cats & dogs
LEJ designs 11: animals
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 67
52 card pick up week 28

Wishing you love and happiness

A monochrome brown card made with some of the antique section of the MCS everyday essentials kit, using a dark brown card blank. The oval tags held with brads can move from side to side.

This is for:

Blog a doodle: monochrome
Here come the boys 31: tag on a card
Our craft lounge 125: use a tag on your project
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Nutcrafters 22: one for the boys
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 67
52 card pick up week 28

Two kinds of windows

I'm still blogging cards made the other day from the MCS everyday essentials kit. This time there is a fancy fold card and a window aperture card, both from the antique section.

The first card is for:

Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats

Both cards are for:

Alota: looking through a window
Blog a doodle: monochrome
Whimsy 47: monochromatic
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Nutcrafters 22: one for the boys
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes

Especially for you

Another card made the other day using MCS everyday essentials supplies with a dark brown card blank.

This is for:

Blog a doodle: monochrome
Whimsy 47: monochromatic
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Nutcrafters 22: one for the boys
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
ATCs and cards with attitude 18: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 67
52 card pick up week 28

Antique just for you

Elements from 'antique' MCS everyday essentials, using a navy blue card blank.

This is for:

Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Nutcrafters 22: one for the boys
Sisterhood of crafters: let's hear it for the boys
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
ATCs and cards with attitude 18: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 67
52 card pick up week 28

Windows on Paris

A couple of cards I made the other day using elements once again from the travel section of the MCS everyday essentials kit.

They are both window aperture cards so that the die cut image is on the inside of the card.

The first card is for Cards for men 14: happy birthday.

These are for:

Alota: looking through a window
Blog a doodle: monochrome
Whimsy 47: monochromatic
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Nutcrafters 22: one for the boys
Sisterhood of crafters: let's hear it for the boys
Kaboodle 127: anything French
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
ATCs and cards with attitude 18: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 67
52 card pick up week 28

Suzie' 365 photos catch up

Because I've been poorly I haven't been taking part in Suzie's 365 photos for the past ten days. I did actually take two or three photos, but didn't get round to blogging them.

So this is a catch up before I get further behind.

Day 186: dangerous - dangerous to exceed the stated dose

Day 187: empty - lovely to have an empty linen basket

Day 188: modern - I no longer have a newspaper delivered - I synch my iPad every morning to see the Daily Mail

Day 189: past its prime - this pear is past its prime

Day 190: broken - this Country Lines collection 'river crossing' belonged to my dad - he loved trains - the bush on the right hand side got knocked and is broken

Day 191: delicate - John's nieces gave us this lovely delicate ornament as part of our wedding present - it's only lasted 21 years because it's housed safely in a cabinet

Day 192: shiny - salt and pepper

Day 193: cold - inside the freezer

Day 194: motorised - no explanation needed

Day 195: flower - no fresh flowers here, so this is a flower ring that was at the base of a candle on the table at our wedding reception - some of the flowers were burgundy but have faded over the years

The quality of the photos leaves a lot to be desired, but my excuse is that I'm still poorly!

Time for a man's card

I haven't actually done any crafting today - the cards I'm blogging were made a couple of days ago when I was trying to do something to distract from the pain - so today I'm hoping that a bit of blogging might do that.

This is another card made with elements from the 'antique' section of the MCS everyday essentials kit, using my own navy blue card blank.

This is for:

Here come the boys 31: tag on a card
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Nutcrafters 22: one for the boys
Sisterhood of crafters: let's hear it for the boys
Card a day July: just for men
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
Cupcake craft 200: number cruncher
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

Cosy cats

These cats have found a nice cosy resting place. Another fancy fold card using MCS supplies from the everyday essentials 'pet' section.

I've just noticed that there were a few white bits where the die cut piece was taken out of the 'window' at the front - these have now been sanded to make them disappear.

This is for:

Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats
Alota: looking through a window
Ooh la la 109: whiskers
My time to craft 183: it's raining cats & dogs
LEJ 11: animals
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

Flowery hearts

Another two cards made with the MCS everyday essentials, this time from the 'romance' set.

The first one is another fancy fold for:


Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats
Art impressions 71: easel or more than one fold

The above card and this one are both for Alota: looking through a window. The card below opens up to reveal the die cut image on the inside.

Both cards are for:

Phindy's Friday 113: initials - use something beginning with your initials - a hard one for me as my Christian name and surname both begin with H - so I've gone for hearts
Blog a doodle: monochrome
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

Fancy fold owls

This card is another for the July colour combo on Daring cardmakers:

It's another quick card made with part of the MCS everyday essentials nature set. I made quite a few the other day to try and take my mind off the pain.

This is also for:

Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats
Art impressions 71: easel or more than one fold
Card and scrap 35: wings
Dream valley 36: anything but square
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Crafty creations 178: free for all
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

WOYWW 163

For once it seems to have been a long week since last Wednesday because I've been really poorly and in a lot of pain which has made the days and nights seem endless. When I wrote up last week's WOYWW post, I said that I had pain in my face and jaw. Well, having been to the dentist and had xrays to establish whether there was anything wrong (and there wasn't), I had an appointment to go back to the doctor to try and get to the bottom of why I felt so awful and in so much pain. During the day last Wednesday I began to get lumps and bumps on my chin and by the time I went to see the doctor there was a rash up to my eye and beyond. The doctor then realised that I had shingles. It is the most painful condition and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (not that I've got any - lol!).

Anyway, the purpose of this post is for today's WOYWW 163 to show what's on my desk. I've been trying to do a bit of crafting to try and take my mind off the pain, but haven't felt like doing anything that requires much thought or creativity, so I resorted to using a kit that just happened to come in the post a few days ago - My Craft Studio everyday essentials.

You can see the little piles of the different sections of the kit sorted ready to make some more cards.

You can also see three Stampotique Christmas stamps that I got with a voucher I won from Crazy 4 challenges a while ago.

And this is my desk to the right of where I sit - you can see quite a few cards that I've made with the MCS kit - some have been blogged, but some need to have bits finished off - so I feel I've achieved something this week even if I haven't felt up to much.

I started off last week with visiting other WOYWWers, but, unfortunately, became too poorly to do so for the rest of the week. Thanks to everyone who visited me and left comments and for all the get well wishes.

Owl love

This card was made with some of the nature section of MCS everyday essentials. When the card is flat the shape on the inside fills the 'window' on the front.

Colours are for the July combo on Daring cardmakers:

It's for:

Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 115: blue and green
Alota: looking through a window
Fashionista 4: winged things
Card and scrap: wings
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

For a gentleman's birthday

Another card using some of the 'antique' set from My Craft Studio everyday essentials.

This is for:

Cards for men 14: happy birthday
PaperPlay 27: happy birthday
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Card a day July: just for men
Crazy amigo: hats
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
It's all about the vintage and beauty 23: anything goes
Paper pretties 213: celebrate - any occasion card
Unstampabelles 13: celebrations
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
That craft place: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

In quietness and confidence

'In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.' Isaiah 30:15.

When I saw this photo prompt on All kinds of cards 57, I thought of this verse from Isaiah:

So I googled and found a lovely water lily photo, added the text and made this simple card:

This is also for:

Pile it on 28: it's a shore thing - water
CRAFT 162: splashy/water themed
Corrosive 153: sentimentally yours
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: what the text
Word art Wednesday 35: blessings from God
Di's digi designs: Come and pile on those flowers
One stop craft 190: summer flowers
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

A touch of Paris

This is one of those difficult to photograph cards because of the folds, so here are two pictures to give some idea of what it actually looks like. This uses some of the 'travel' set from My Craft Studio everyday essentials.

This is for:

Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Top tip Tuesday 80: one for the men
Card a day July: just for men
Kaboodle 127: anything French
Dream valley 36: anything but square
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

Time is a great storyteller

Another card using components from My Craft Studio everyday essentials ' antique' set.

This is for:

Alota: looking through a window
Cards for men 14: happy birthday
PaperPlay 27: happy birthday
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Top tip Tuesday 80: one for the men
Card a day July: just for men
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
It's all about the vintage and beauty 23: anything goes
Paper pretties 213: celebrate - any occasion card
Unstampabelles 13: celebrations
Dream valley 36: anything but square
Crafty bloggers network Monday challenge 1: anything goes
Tammy scraping corner 18: anything goes
Catch the bug July: anything goes
Creatalicious 35: anything goes
Make it Monday 97
Inspire me Fridays 66
52 card pick up week 27

Time for birthday wishes

This is a step card using components from the My Craft Studio everyday essentials, this time from the antique set.

This is for:

Gingerloft 44: fancy folds
Shopping our stash 59: extra fold or pleats
Cards for men 14: happy birthday
Always crafting creative Mondays 11: for men
Top tip Tuesday 80: one for the men
Card a day July: just for men
Paperminutes 225: shabby chic/vintage
It's all about the vintage and beauty 23: anything goes
Paper pretties 213: celebrate - any occasion card
That craft place: anything goes

Birthday meow

This is for the sketch for Creative inspirations 170:

I've used elements from the My Craft Studio everyday essentials 'pets', adding my own flowers, ribbon and sentiment.

This is also for:

Celebrate the occasion 70: happy birthday
PaperPlay 27: happy birthday
Mishelflo's monthly challenge July: happy blooming birthday
Ooh-la-la 109: whiskers
My time to craft 183: it's raining cats & dogs
LEJ designs 11: animals
Truly madly crafty July: animals
Paper pretties 213: celebrate - any occasion card
That craft place: anything goes

Crafting in between the tennis

Well, surprise, surprise, it's raining at Wimbledon (and here), so I've had a chance to finish off a card that I started last night. In fact, I've done this card twice because I wasn't happy with the first attempt. Update: they closed the centre court roof, so I had to leave this till afterwards.

This is for Joan's gardens 24: create a card similar to Selma's card - an embossed background, a lace border, Selma's tutorial to create flowers and use pink and white. Selma's tutorial involved using a Spellbinders die that I hadn't got, so I made my own similar spirals and cut them out (fiddly!).

For the 'lace' border I've used this new Martha Stewart 'garden gate' punch that I bought with a voucher that I won with a recent Crop Stop challenge:

Crop stop 79 is asking us to 'show some love' so this card is also for that.

I used papers from my offcuts box and a couple of pieces of sticky ribbons, my first opportunity of the week to participate in Pixie's crafty snippets 28. I added a couple of die cut hearts under the handmade flowers. I also decorated the inside of the card with a matching paper.

This is my first attempt, but I wasn't happy with it because I distressed the flower papers with inks and made them too dark:

So I took those flowers off and made three more smaller, but pinker ones:

This is also for:

Shopping our stash 58: triple threat - I chose ribbon, flowers, punched elements and die cuts
Our craft lounge 124: use any die cut shape (the hearts)
Playing in paradise 74: love
Catered crop: ruffles (to create the flowers)
LEJ designs 10: fabulous flowers
Scrap-cards 31: ribbon and flowers
The paper shelter 71: flower power
Bizzy Becs July: flower power
Crafty mess 12: ribbons and lace
Unstampabelles 13: celebrations - suitable for wedding, engagement or anniversary