I is for I can't think of anything else that begins with the letter I

I am stuck on the letter I, so I will take a break from the alphabet and show you a few of my Christmas projects.  Here I have used the cute Snow  Place stamp set and cut them out with the matching Snow Place framelits -much easier than fussy cutting!!

I is for ink dusting

You will probably have seen various examples of ink dusting on my cards over the years,

and I used this technique on the swaps that I made for our Julies' Jems Quarterly training

event last Saturday - here's what I made.
See the Winter's scene I have created on these two cards,
showing you the view from inside the house, looking out.
This has been created by stamping the trees, masking off a circle for the moon,
 then using the ink dusting technique to apply Night of Navy ink to make the sky.

                                    

                                   

                                   

The third card that I made was of the scene viewed from the outside looking in

This was just stamped, glittered  and lace ribbon used for the net curtains!

                                   

 

I'll pop back in the morning and add the list of materials used.

It's getting late and I think I am coming down with a cold after having a runny nose,

sneezing and coughing for most of the day!!

So it's off to bed with some cold/flu capsules and hope to get a good nights sleep.

And the final H is for Happy Birthday!

I have loads of birthdays in the second half of September, 

so have lots of cards that I can show you to finish off the letter H.

Here are two versions of the same style card. 

Version 1

Version 2

The stamp sets used are Kinda Eclectic and Happy Birthday, Everyone.

Inks : White (Craft), Crumb Cake, Lost Lagoon and Soft Suede.

Can't decide which I like the best.

Which one do you like the best??

Another H - this one's for a Happy Christmas!

                Have you noticed that there aren't many stamps which say Happy Christmas, 

as opposed to Merry Christmas?  Well I like to have Happy Christmas on the cards 

that I make for the kids, so I dug out this retired sentiment from More Merry Messages

stamp set - (I am always loathe to part with sentiment stamps -are you the same??)

Front view

Side view

The colour combo is Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and White.

The little elf is from the Christmas Cuties stamp set.

The background paper is some retired SU DSP which was just the right style

for a little boys Christmas card.

Did you notice the lovely Home For Christmas Enamel Dots on the sentiment??

Think that these just finish off the card nicely!

Now who shall I give this to?

H is for Happy Anniversary!

It will be my sister's wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks,

 so I thought I had better make sure that I have their card ready in good time.

Here's what I came up with - another gap card.

A simple colour combo of White and Crumb Cake and a computer generated 

personalisation and greeting.  Simple but effective I think.

 The white bakers twine and gemstones are all that was needed to finish this card off.

On to H - for half completed fancy fold card.

Here's a card that Chris and I made the week before last.

It has a fancy fold middle. but a plain C6 card is the outside - 

and it's not been decorated on the outside yet!!

When I decide on the front, I'll update this post.

Here you can see the card fully opened

View from above showing the folds and positioning of the flaps.

Apologies for the poor quality photos, I can't fathom out how to transfer these from my iPad
to Blogger direct - I have to email them - there has to be an easier way!!
I'll ask the grandkids on Friday!!

And G is for Get Well Soon (Male version!)

Hi everyone!!  Well I thought  I had better pop a quick post on here to let you all know that I am 

still alive, and well and kicking!!  After a prolonged absence ( the last post was 5th May!) I think I am ready to take up the reins again and try to get back into the habit of regular blog posts.  

Don't think I can promise daily posts, but will try my best.

It will help that the golf season is almost at an end - with my last competition tomorrow!! 

I think I am all golfed out, having played 7 times in the last 10 days! Phew!

My craft room has been emptied, redecorated, and put back in order - it looks a treat now,

 it is so light and airy and spacious to boot!!

So - carrying on with the theme of the alphabet and picking up where I left off -

G is for Get Well Soon.

Here's a card that I have made for a golfing colleague of both Barry and myself,  

who has had a stroke a couple of days ago and is in hospital.

I had to keep this masculine (which wasn't easy!), but I think the colours

have helped to make it work.

The stamp set is Serene Silhouettes, and I have created the background using the 

ink-dusting technique, which I have also used on the sentiment -

from the Hopeful Thoughts stamp set.

Colours used: Cajun Craze, Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Marina Mist and So Saffron.

Get well real soon John!

G is for Giraffe

Apologies for the absence once again - I have had the decorators in and

it hasn't been easy finding the time to update for my blog.

I have also decided that my craft room needs redecorating and new

floor covering fitted.  That will be quite an event.  I reckon it will take about three weeks,

one week to empty the room, one week to decorate and fit cushion-floor, 

then one week to put everything back!!

Barry reckons that I am being optimistic with this timescale, but we will see.

I plan on doing this in the summer, when people are on holiday,

 so it won't be too bad for my crafting ladies.

I'll keep you updated on the time scale!

Meanwhile - back to the alphabet - another little punch art animal-

Geoffrey Giraffe.

Once again I have used the Sweet Dreams DSP for the background -

don't you just love those clouds.

See you again soon!!

G is for GORGEOUS GRUNGE!

I never used to like Grunge style designs at all, but after being converted to this

by my friend (and now my SU downline) Cheryl I do use this style more often.

Here's a quick and easy card using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.

I used the 2014-2015 In colours here -

Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist and Lost Lagoon

I used the Petite Petals stamp set and marching punch for the flowers

(stamped in the same colours) and added the sentiment  from Blooming with Kindness.

I really like this card - I have used it in different colours for a get well card too.

G is for Get Well

You never know when you need a Get Well card in a hurry -

a friend of ours was rushed into the hospital over the weekend, 

and as we were mega busy, I had to make a mega quick card.

Here's the result.

Just one stamp used here - a sentiment from Hopeful Thoughts stamp set

the three panels are cut from Painted Blooms DSP

and the only embellishment is the ribbon with the Basic Rhinestone.

I think this looks very cheerful and will do the trick in wishing 

Pat a speedy recovery!

And so to G - for GOLF - naturally!

Those that know me well know that I love my golf nearly as much as my crafting,

but I am truly a fair weather golfer, so if it rains, I don't play!.

The exception to this is if it is an important game in the Golfing calendar.

Today is one such day - Lady Captain's Drive In.

Weather it rains, snows, blows or shines, all our Ladies attend and

play this first game of the Season.

(When it was my Lady Captain's Drive In, it rained most of the morning 

and we all ended up absolutely soaking wet, but everyone who could come did-

and I was truly grateful for the support)
If you want a laugh you can see a few pictures that were taken back then in March 2010
HERE

So today, at 10:00, you will find us playing this important game

and showing our support for our new Lady Captain.

Here's the card that I have made for her.

So here's to a good year Chris - enjoy!!

And the final F is FOR YOU!!

Yes Ladies - this final F is FOR YOU- all you lovely people who visit me 

and leave me such kind comments on a regular basis - this card is for all of you...

Happy Easter to you all.

The stamp set is Flower Shop, and the sentiment from  Tag Talk.

Colour Combo is Marina Mist, Pool Part and Daffodil Delight,

Flowers punched with the matching Pansy Punch.

Basic Rhinestones and ribbon are the only embellishments.

Next time we will start with the Gs!

Meantime, take care and have a wonderful Easter.

Fancy Fold cards

Here's the penultimate .....   F is for .....  Fancy Fold cards!

Here's one that I made at Chris's (Sis-in-law) yesterday.

I have taken photos at various angles so that you can see the fancy fold 

and the mechanics of the card.

Colour combo - Soft Sky, Night  of Navy and White.

Stamp set - Butterfly Basics.

Heart Border Punch.

Really enjoyed doing this one - a new design to me!

F is for Feathers

Fine Feathers to be exact!

This is a retired stamp set, but I just couldn't bear to part with it.

Here's a card that I made with it last year, it is cased from one that I saw 

on the Internet, so I am afraid I can't give credit to it's originator as I

never made a note of whose it was - if it's yours, please let me know 

and I will link this post back to your website/blog.

The sentiment is from the Four You stampset.

The colour combo is Lost Lagoon, White and Basic Gray.

The white feathers I have stamped in Versamark heat embossed 

with White embossing powder to make them show up

on this sponged background.

I have coloured the Basic Pearls with a Basic Grey Stampin' Write marker pen.

I still love this stampset - it doesn't age.

F is FLORAL

I am sure that you must have noticed that I love floral designs and flowers are 

frequently featured on my cards.  I saw this card as I was browsing the Internet

 the other day and just had to case it.  Here's the site where I found it.

born2stamp

Colour combo is Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Lost Lagoon.

Stamp sets used - Flower Shop, Petite Petals both used with the ma

Only embellishments used are Basic Rhinestones.

I just love these delicate flowers and colours!

(All the products used are Stampin' Up!)

And F is for FORTY

Here's a really quick CAS card for a forty year old.

I think that I should have inked round the die cut letters to make them stand out more,

so i will try this one again and see how it looks.

The letters are die cut using a retired set of  Alphabet dies

using the beautiful Gold Speciality Designer Series Paper.

I do love the simplicity of this and think it's quite effective.

F is for Frog

..... and here's a cute little punch art frog that is so quick and easy to make.

The colour combo is Old Olive, Soft Sky and White.

The background is Sweet Dreams DSP - this shows both the sides of one double sided sheet,

The punches used are:

1.3/8" Circle

1/2" Circle

Owl punch (for the whites of his eyes)

Large Oval

Boho Blossoms

I haven't put a sentiment on it yet, but I'm thinking of giving this to

my great-nephew Hayden for his first birthday next month.

I think it will make him chuckle.

... and also for Friend to Friend

Here's a card that I have made today, whilst exiled to the craft room, as we have 

had new replacement windows fitted to the front of the house.

I might add that we only got back from Tenerife late last night (11:30 p.m.!)

and the window fitters were scheduled to come tomorrow.

There was a message on the ansaphone saying that they would be coming today -

I only listened to the messages at 7:30 this morning, so it was panic stations

 trying to ensure that the workmen had easy access to all the windows, 

and Barry had to take down the blinds and fasten back the curtains.

Needless to say all's well that ends well - the fitters arrived at 11:30 and finished 

at 5:15 - a job really well done.

I had phoned up the chap who fitted our existing blinds, to come and quote us

for the downstairs window blinds (to match those upstairs)

and he came along just as the fitters were tidying up.  I cheekily asked him

if he had time to put the upstairs blinds back up for us - and he very kindly obliged.

He's measured up and we should have them in a couple of weeks - magic.

So - after all that digressing - here's the fruit of my labour!

It's a 7" x 5" card, which I think really suits this Butterflies Thinlits die cut.

The colour combo is Sahara Sand, Black and White

with a touch of Blushing Bride rosette trim and Mossy Meadow leaves. 

The background paper is "Something Borrowed" DSP.

There is a white doily underneath the butterfly, which has a Basic Rhinestone

embellished body and head.
The sentiment is from teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped on Sahara Sand Card stock,
then punched with the Word Window punch,
stuck on top a Modern Label punched in Black card stock.

I can't take credit for the design, which I found on the Internet

Here
 made by Carolyn King from Perth, Australia.
I really enjoyed making this card, so thanks Carolyn!

F is for Friend

Another card featuring the lovely Something lacy stamp.

A simple colour combo of Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White.

The ribbon is retired, but it was the only matching ribbon that I had.

The sentiment is from the "Simply Wonderful" (Sale-a-bration) stamp set.

Another quick and easy card

This is a card that I have cased from my Stampin Up Mummy - Julie's blog.

I really love this card, which I think looks fabulous.

The colour combo is Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Gold (sequins)

The stamp set is Butterfly Basics, and the butterflies are cut using the 

matching Butterflies Thinlits Dies.

You can see other cards that Julie has made HERE

And now for something completely different!

 Here is a wiper card!!

Card closed

Card Open - you can just see the flower peeping out.

View from above - showing how the "wiper" works

This may  look complicated, but it didn't take long to make.

I've just noticed that I lost one of the rhinestones off the front !!

E is for Emergency!!

This is a card for an emergency - when you need a card at the last minute!!

So I  like to have a couple of cards at least, that I can just add a

suitable greeting to, and then either give or send to the person.

This card features the Something Lacy  stamp - inked in Wisteria Wonder,

then coloured with Blushing Bride and Old Olive - using Blender Pen and Ink pad.

The little bow is punched out using the Bow Builder Punch.

And another of Elizabeth's punch art creations!!

Today's card is one that she has made for her husband Alan,

who you might have guessed by the outfit is a Mason.

(This is to celebrate him being Master of the Lodge for the second time in 2015

the first time was in 2007 - if you wondered what the dates were!)

I think she has done this perfectly!!

Great stuff Liz!!

Eis for Elizabeth's Punch-art

You will recognise this style of punch -art as one of my Tuesday class ladies

 (who is also a good friend!) - Elizabeth - affectionately known as Liz.

(But I need to call it Elizabeth's or it won't fit in with E!!)

Liz has 4 grandsons, so she loves doing these super characters for their birthdays.

Isn't he cute!!

E is for Envelope

E is for envelope - and I like to do a matching one for the card that I send.

Today is my friend Carol's birthday (as well as my Sister Maggie's!)

and here is the envelope that accompanied her card.

And here's the card

Happy Birthday Carol

and Happy Birthday Maggie too!

E is for Easter Chick

I just love doing these gap-cards and I thought that these cute little punch-art chicks

would just fit nicely in the gap!!

I don't think that I can bear to part with this one!!

E is for Easel

Another suggestion that I received for the letter E was Easel card.

As it's my sister Maggie's birthday next week, I decided that an easel card

would fit the bill nicely.

I wanted something bright and cheerful, but eye catching...

Here's the result.

I love the Black and Daffodil Delight combination - think it's

quite dramatic.

The "Happy" is one of the Hello You Thinlits dies

"Birthday" is from Crazy  about You stamp set

and the TH on 60th is just the T and the H from the "Birthday" stamp.

Maggie was stamped using the Back to Basics Alphabet stamp set.

Petite Petals stamp set used for small flower then punched out with matching punch. 

The Pansy Punch was used for the large flower and the centres of this were punched with

the Petite Petals punch and the Boho Blossom Punch.

I used the Circles Collection Framelits for both the scalloped and plain circles.

Hope that Maggie likes this!!

E is for Elephant

As you know, I am trying to come up with different ideas for cards by doing a different letter 

of the alphabet each week or so - and you remember I asked for help with the letter E.

Someone suggested "elephant", but I know that I don't have a stamp with an elephant on,

so I resorted to punch art - and here it is!!

I am really pleased with how this came out - I did consider personalising this card

with a name on the body part of the elephant, but then thought better of it.

I think that it's really cute - and I might make another one similar,

along the lines of a belated birthday card and words to the effect that

an elephant never forgets - then inside put something like

shame I'm not an elephant!

E is for Eggcraft

I have long been a fan of Faberge eggs, and many years ago my brother bought me 

a hand crafted decorated egg with a timepiece inside as a special Christmas gift.

The following year he bought me another similar decorated egg.

A short while after this, I saw an Eggcrafting class advertised on one of our

local schools Night Class schedules, and thus started one of my past hobbies.

I went to classes for a few years, joined the Eggcrafters' Guild and for some 10 years

this was one of my main hobbies. (Remember I worked full time until recently,

and they were very time consuming to make).

Here are a few of my favourites.

This one is inspired by Faberge himself

Closed front view

Open front view

Open Side view

The next one utilises eggs that have suffered "accidents"

you can see that the girl's skirt is made from the bottom half of an egg -

I assume that the top half was broken at some stage.

Always a great one for "waste not want not" - this was then transformed

with the addition of quilled body, arms head and flowers,

into a pretty little bridesmaid.

This one is an egg that I made for my mother-in-law (sadly deceased - so now back in my custody!)

the top is cut and the see through panels are chiffon.

Inside there is a platform, enabling this to be used as a jewellery box.

Sadly, the glue has deteriorated over the years and so I daren't open it to photograph

for fear of breaking the egg in doing so!

Another little lady made from a mishap!!

This next one features decoupaged flowers and greenery.

I recall that it took 6 hours to cut them out!

Truly a labour of love!

Top view

Front view

Side view

All the eggs used above are goose eggs, blown, disinfected, hand cut

and then decorated in different mediums.

You may find it interesting to note that the first egg featured here was made 

using the following, very basic, list of tools.

A Junior Hacksaw blade - for cutting the egg ( in later years I bought a miniature

electric drill with a circular saw attachment")

A craft knife - used to cut the membrane inside the egg.

An elastic band - used for drawing cutting lines on an egg,

the band clings to the egg and was most useful for this purpose.

Again, in later years I bought sophisticated tools for marking out patterns on eggs.

Sadly, I now no longer have the patience, nor the standard of eyesight required

to do this hobby any more. I do talks to various local WI groups on Eggcrafting

and take along my precious cargo of eggs, and the talks are very well received.

Hope that you have enjoyed this diversion from card marking!

E is for Embossing

Thanks ever so much Andree and Laine for your suggestions for the letter E,

I may need your help again later on in the alphabet!!

This card demonstrates Heat Embossing -

using Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder.

If you look closely you can see that the embossing emphasises the leaves on the tree

and the trunk and branches appear to be behind it.

The stamp set used here is Sheltering Tree - it's so versatile,

I have used it for several different occasions.

This is the thank you card that I gave to Jackie and Tom

to thank them for letting us share their special day.