Bumbleberrycrafts CJ

The next CJ should have been in the post yesterday, but I think I've been forgiven for not queuing at the PO on my birthday! I have to confess that my DLO had to be finished off today and it was only when I uploaded the photos that I realised how blurred the first one is, but it will have to do because the CJ is now done up ready for me to go to the PO in a short while. These were pages in Beckie's superb CJ (I hardly dared to touch it!) Beckie's title is 'Strokable Stash!' - we were asked to choose a fav paper and say why, and to include a picture of ourself. So here is mine, using BG 'Scarlet's Letter' papers.

HS:MS plant and water

A green living organism. Show us a 'plant' in your space today.

I've cheated a bit with yesterday's prompt. This is a photo of a lovely little plant growing among the pebbles on Bognor Regis beach, taken during our break there a few weeks ago:

Covered or saturated with water. Find 'wet' in your space today. This is also a cheat - a zoomed photo taken at Bognor, showing activity on the end of the pier - I think the expanse of water qualifies for this prompt!

My birthday

Mum wrote in my card: 'Where have the years gone to?' 60 today! (That reminds me, I must update the bit I wrote about myself at the top of the blog.)

We were very undecided what to do today and had nothing booked because we just didn't know how we were going to feel on the day. Having decided last evening that we would go to Tunbridge Wells today, we got up and started to get ready, only to be greeted by rain. In the end we decided it wasn't a very good idea, particularly as my back is really painful. On Saturday my main laptop had died (it's been playing up for ages and John's been suggesting I should have a new one). So I've been researching for a while and picked out one I really liked - we went into the Sony shop in Bromley and they had that model in stock, so we bought it. We then came back home and had a taxi to a nearby Harvester restaurant where we had a leisurely lunch (forgot the calories today). As the restaurant is near to where mum lives we called in to see her - which was a complete surprise for her because she thought we'd probably gone out for the day. She was meant to be coming out to lunch yesterday with us as an early celebration but she's got a poorly leg and was unable to come with us.

On the way back home we had to change buses - it just happened to be by a shop in Orpington that sells craft stuff, so I bought a glue gun and a rubber stamp. When I got home my pda order had arrived - just routine cardstock etc.

John bought me a beautiful 'egg' pendant and a bracelet as well.

I know this is 'my crafty outlook' and I usually confine the blog to craft, but just for today I think I'm permitted to chat about my day.

I had lots of cards (including gorgeous ones from forum friends) - I'm going to take photos of them and perhaps try and make a slide show to put on here - won't be today though!) and some lovely presents, including some money that I'm itching to spend!

Nothing crafty to show

Nothing to show for the last few days. I decided this evening to do a bit of stamping and embossing (didn't really feel like doing anything but thought it might help me feel better). So I did quite a few of the Whispers series of 'There's no business like snow business!!', which has one stamp with the words, one with a cute snowman and one with just snow.

I really should be more careful when working with black ink pad and black embossing powder - results look quite good - but my top doesn't - I should wear older clothes when I'm doing crafting like this. I'm not sure whether it's Versafine onyx black ink or black embossing powder smudged on my top - I'm hoping it will wash out, but I'm doubtful.

I'm using Sakura white souffle pen for the snow. I'm hoping that in a day or two I'll be able to incorporate them into cards - it won't be tomorrow, because that's a bit of a special day.

HS:MS can

A container for food or liquid. Show us 'can' in your space today.

I have a 'love-hate' relationship with sardines! I buy them thinking that they will be good to give me extra calcium to help my osteoporosis, but I'm not really keen on them. However, if I actually eat them, then I find they're OK! I chose this tin because I like the shape:

HS:MS Fly

To move through the air. Find 'fly' in your space.

I found this a difficult one today. I was hoping for some birds to come into the garden - but where are they when you want them? Nowhere to be seen. So I went for a wander with my camera and almost straight away saw a beautiful butterfly settle on the path in front of me, but, of course, it flew away before I could get a shot. I then discovered a bee hovering around some lavender - I took quite a few shots, but by the time each had been taken the bee had moved on, so I ended up with shots of lavender minus the bee. Eventually I managed to take this one and then moved on elsewhere to capture the next bee in the following two photos. None of them are much good, but they were taken in difficult circumstances - lol! I was going to go out and have another go, but it's now started to rain, so these will have to do:

HS:MS Lock

'A mechanism for keeping something closed that is operated by a key. Show us a lock in your space today.'


Not a good photo, but my contribution for today.

Commissioned wedding day card

I've managed to finish the wedding day card I was commissioned to do. I was asked to use ivory and or pale yellow - I'm hoping this fits the bill - I quite like it anyway. I used one of my favourite stamps for the bride and groom. It was stamped on the same paper as used on the left and then cut out and mounted with foam pads on to the paper on the right (irl it stands off the paper more than it looks in the photo). It was quite a fiddle doing the letraset letters of the names, but it turned out OK. The flowers are some Crafty Bitz ones I've had and not used any for a while.

The photo is poor because I didn't want to use flash because it would end up with reflection. If I have time tomorrow before the card is collected, I'll try and take a better photo and replace it.

Commissioned cards

A friend rang last night asking if I could do three cards for her. These are for a wife and husband who will both be celebrating their 50th birthday (I don't think there's any chance of them stumbling across my blog, so I think I can safely show them). The brief was for the lady's card to incorporate blue and a touch of pink:

The man's card was more or less left to me to decide, except I was asked for 'something quite bright' - I'm hoping that this will be OK. The little shirt and waistcoat are from a pack I bought at Lakeland when we went to Chichester from Bognor - thought they would come in handy sometimes when I haven't got time to fiddle making my own. The bow tie is a brad from a set that I bought earlier this week - I didn't know then that I'd be asked for this card, so it's worked out just right - and just the right colours for the scheme:

Papers are DCWV.

It's taken me so long to do these cards and I've got stuff all over the place now. I need to have a rest, then a tidy up, before I tackle the wedding day card that's been requested.

HS:MS Chop

To cut into small pieces. Find chop in your space.

This is my 'oh so useful' guillotine. I have a few paper trimmers (you can also see my rotatrim underneath the guillotine). A lot of chopping gets done here!

Salt: 'Life to the Full'

The second Salt challenge is up now!

This is what Casey wrote:

Wow! We have been so encouraged and excited by all your lovely comments and awesome contributions. Keep them coming!

This week it’s my turn (Casey) to set the challenge:

I have chosen the theme ‘Life to the Full’. This theme comes from the verse John 10:10b where Jesus says that He has come so we may have life and have it to the full (or in abundance)!

So, we would really love to see your take on this challenge of what ‘Life to the Full – in Christ’ means for you.

You can do it whatever format you like e.g. a layout, card, beyond the page, canvas etc

We’d love you to leave us a comment so we can enjoy your artwork too!

Please take a look at Salt


This is my contribution:

I feel so privileged to be part of the Salt team - it is such a fab opportunity to combine faith and crafting. And Casey's challenge has been an opportunity to reflect upon all the benefits we enjoy with life in Christ.

I used my new craft robo to make the words for this - if at first you don't succeed, try, try again - in the end I got there and have learned quite a bit about using inkscape and robomaster.

HS:MS Window

An opening in the wall, filled with glass. Show us a window in your space today.

This is a terrible picture - will come back again with a better one if I can. It's the view into the garden from the room where I craft:

Today's crafting

Having been to the doctor this morning and not feeling too good (won't dwell on it, but the back pain is ... so even stronger painkillers ... there could be other spinal fracturers) I went to our (fairly) local craft shop to pick up my Making Cards magazine. I needed a few 'essentials' - this is what I bought (not a good photo because the light atm is awful - raining):

I can't show everything I've done today, because one piece in particular is a surprise.

Last evening I started my cards for the August monthly swap on Carolyn's but couldn't get much enthusiasm for finishing them. So, today I came back to them and put the finishing touches. I think I can show one because Melissa (the organiser of the swap) has shown hers.

The brief this month is to make four cards all the same. The main stamp is a Magenta one (I love it - can look so different depending on the inking and background). I decided to stamp direct to 6 x 6 paper from Warm Tones Colossal Paper Inspirations by Papermania, using blazing red Stazon. The swirly stamp is one from a QVC TSV kit bought in June. Ribbon is from a pack of Anita's sticky ribbons and the gems are from a bargain Poundland pack.

The following card is a decoupage one made for a friend's birthday:

HS:MS Pasta

An Italian food made from dough. Find pasta in your space today.

This is emergency pasta (don't have it very often - much prefer fresh!):

Crafty Recycling CJ

This is my first CJ for the Paper 'n' Lace forum. I'm not that happy with it, but as it needs to go in the post today I have to say goodbye to it as it is.

Unfortunately, the bright early morning sun has now faded and it's quite cloudy, so the photos aren't that good (not that mine are ever very brilliant!).

Front cover:

Welcome:

Rules:

My DLO:

Sign in:

Back cover:

Completed CJ:

HS:MS Drive

To operate a vehicle. Show us drive in your space today.

As neither of us drive, we don't have a vehicle - our most frequently used vehicle is a bus. We live in a maisonette on the main road, set back by a grassy area and our own garden. I decided to aim my camera from the bedroom window (twitched the nets a bit!) and here's the result:

A bus was just leaving the stop:

And then another arrived:

Not very good photos, because I was looking into the sun, but didn't want to wait till later.

HS:MS Thread

A long strand of fibres. Find one in your space today.

I had loads to choose from for today's word. I got out two of the four or more boxes of fibres I have and took photos of part of the contents of two of them. Then I got one of my three boxes of embroidery threads and took a photo of that (not that I use them much nowadays).

Yay!!! I managed it

I managed to create welded words in Inkscape and put into robomaster to then cut. Have finished my LO for the next Salt challenge - please come back on Thursday to see what the challenge is and hopefully join in.

Oh dear - pride comes before a fall!!

I've successfully created some welded words in robomaster (seems just as effective to use this as to use inkscape and import). I ran the cardstock through my Xyron first so that there was adhesive on the back to save fiddling once the words were cut.

Unfortunately, I can't show the results here because the welded words are for the next Salt challenge that won't be revealed until Thursday.

I am really pleased with what I've done, considering this is the first time I've tried creating and cutting welded words (except for a play with inkscape before I actually got the robo). The only thing I'd cut before was a frame and a rocking horse, both of which were templates I found on UKS.

I wish I could show you, but I can't!! Perhaps later I'll do something that I can show.

Having written the above I started to take my letters off the backing - only to find that they hadn't welded but were separate - obviously I need to go back to inkscape! Oh well, it's a learning curve!

HS:MS Down

To fall to the ground. What moves down in your space?

Josey, John's guide dog, lies down for a rest after a play in the garden.

Lovely lunch

We enjoyed a lovely lunch together.

Following on the story of the ducks, Sue said: 'sorry HAVE to ask how often do you turn one round !!!:)'

This is where the romance gets tinged with reality!! As John is visually impaired he doesn't really notice the ducks that much - I don't think he's ever turned them round (although he does know they're there)! I'm sure there have been many times when he should have done! As for me, on the odd occasion that I have turned them round, he's failed to notice anyway! The idea of them is really so that the other person sees and gets the message that the other is not happy, but in reality this is wasted on us.

But the truth is that we don't often fall out, but like all couples we have our moments.