Well it was a nice dream.

the idea of posting on Christmas Day.
Life has been just so, so hectic. But in a good way.

What with the three services on Sunday, two on Monday and one on Tuesday. (The pyjama service went so well with lots of kids there in their pj's listening to the stories of Christmas) I was exhausted by Christmas lunch time! Still I had to wake the kids up at 7:30 so it wasn't too early a start!
I have worked hard to make Christmas a relaxed time. Some people (not the children) get a little over excited and I have had to be quite firm so as to not wind the children up in the past. Now we all take out time opening presents and we all get to enjoy each others pleasure and it is just plain lovely. Some may feel it is boring. I stick to lovely.
At the same time I know of bereavements and strokes and broken hips over Christmas so I know it is not an easy time for everyone.

I don't have many pressies any more. This is because I tend to spoil myself all year! I did open my cuttlebug which has been waiting for me for a few months! And I also had a set of sparkly peel offs from one friend and some lovely wooden scrolls and crochet flowers from another. Fabby!

I made notebooks for many people - and bought some toilets in Africa for them too!
This one uses Piggy Tales papers and American Crafts stickers. I took Dolly dimples idea of laminating the paper which makes it light and sturdy. I did get frustrated with myself as I just can't work out how to punch more holes than this with my Bind it all. I am going to ask Emma at Imagine That for some lessons I think!
And for my sister in law Louise I made an altered canvas. It was a mad idea because I didn't really have time. But then I woke far too early last Sunday morning and boshed it off!

American Crafts Papers cut with Sizzix and QK dies and a star punch, some AC thickers and heaps of outlining. I hope she likes it. May not be her thing at all.

I managed a few minutes crafting to do my DCM card this week. At least it was fairly straightforward to come up with an idea.

4 of the best

Hi All. Today we have decided to revisit your most favourite dares of 2007. The four top dares, decided by the number of comments you made on them are (in no particular order): 'buttons', 'ribbons', ...'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style.

I used a card from the October Self Addressed kit, paper from there and from a BG mellow pad (same set, different sizes). I hand cut (tick) the frame (tick) and made a button (tick) T with real sewing (gasp but no tick), added a "hankyou" (I like doing thanks cards with a large t for some reason so have loads of these lying around) then added stickles for extra bling after reading about stickles on UKS and remembering I have rather a lot. I should have used rub ons for the "hankyou" I think but not bad for a quick card. I have spent the last few days mixing family time and work. Last night we went to see Tintin in Tibet in London. It was fab, fab, fab, fab, fab. See it if you can. Today I am having a CRAFTY DAY OFF (apart from the Church stuff I have been dealing with while doing this. And you didn't even notice. Clever eh?)
Cuttlebug here I come!

The Phantom Blogger returns

Eeeek!
I hate being so long between posts. Feels a bit rude, so I'm very sorry.
this week has been filled with...
rehearsing a Christmas service production, doing a Christmas service production, preparing orders of service and powerpoint presentations for more Christmas services, a carol service, a funeral, an advent meditation, carol singing, teaching at Imagine That, Christmas food shopping and more service planning. It's beginning to look a lot like....

Plus the Salt challenge and Dare card for this week.
So v. quickly, here they are!

Salt theme was set by Esther The verse John 3:16 'For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believed in him shall not live but have everlasting life'

It is perhaps a well known verse, but it is a real testimony to our Christian faith, the fact that the babe Jesus was born as a SAVIOUR for our sins. So that if YOU believe that he came to die, and ask for forgiveness YOU ALSO will receive the GIFT of eternal life in heaven. John 15:13 reminds us 'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'

Use this verse to inspire you or to meditate on in the next few weeks

I had ambitious plans of making signs with the verse on for people to hold up. Then I forgot til it was too late and went for something simple instead...

I printed the world on a sheet of acetate then wrote the verse in gold pen, adding some chipboard letters for key words. It was hard to photograph though. You can see the words best on balck
and the world best on white

Then the Dare this week was cool beans.
I'm free!
This week, we the DCM team, would like you to design a card using a magazine 'freebie' .

It was a job finding the freeibes as they had been on my desk but then I tidied up.
NEVER tidy up a craft desk...
The flowers and the "make a wish" are from a free gift with Scrapbook Inspirations. I tend to use up my free papers with the craft groups so didn't have many large bits to use. And they didn't match. Actually neither did these papers until I turned the middle of the flower blue rather than green. Now the extra glitter is truly dry the effect is a tad more subtle than it looks. The papers are SEI ones.

And that is that. I'm sure you are all as busy as me at this time of year. I will try and post before/on Christmas Day - enjoy all your preparations.

Inside and out

Kind of sums up my life just now. Never a dull moment! Although I would love more crafty time the rest is pretty good too.
Actually a lovely thing happened yesterday. I am still trying to get a craft club off the ground at my small church. We usually do card making. One of the two wanted to try scrapbooking so I phoned the other one to bring some photos. I think she was a bit hesitant. But boy did she love it! Actually person 1 then forgot completely to come and so I made up a little kit, including my page so I can't show it to you yet. I did a page with the title Cute as a button. Person 2 suddenly said "no, I don't want a button on mine, I want it to be "cute as a butterfly", so we made a butterfly for her page instead. That little thing made me so happy - that she was already confident enough to do it differently from mine.
I gave her a little 6x6 album I have had for ages. I just can't do that small. SO I did my page 8x8 and scaled down for the class.
And apparently we are doing scrap booking again next time!

I can show you my dare card for this week...
Gillian chose the theme and the different ways we have interpreted it are fabby I think!

Inside and Out

I dare you to take the design of your card to the inside as well as the outside Add a little finishing touch to match the theme on the outside, or Surprise the receiver with a flap, foldout, decorated journal block to write on,or one of those pop-out delights....It really adds so much to a card when there is attention to detail on the inside as well as the outside. I know some of you are finished your Christmas cards already so this week it's Any theme, Christmas or not But make the inside count too :)

My card was inspired by some layouts on UKS. Someone used the same technique on a few layouts - curling paper at the edge. Can't remember who it is but thanks for the inspiration!
I used one sheet of Scenic Route Laurel. I love it all so much that cutting into it is torture - but then you can't keep everything. If anything, the card is a tad brighter in real life. Anyway using double sided cardwieght paper was a joy for making this, although it may need another panel at the back to stop it buckling
I just cut strips to different lenghts, rolled them up and attached them with double sided tape. The flowers are from the Euro shop in Achen, Germany - such a bargain as there were about 20 in a pack.. I spent ages choosing how many button flowers to put on! I added a little watercolour paper to break the stripes up and a safmat greeting.

I have been on a funeral visit this morning - to a family who have chickens! So we had a nice chat as well as the sad one of sorting out details of a funeral. there is never a good time to lose a loved one but Christmas can be especially hard. May all of you who are grieving find some comfort and peace even in your sadness.

PS: Kathy I have no idea how to put it in an envelope. Will need hand delivering methinks

PPS: Forgot to mention a big WOOT to Carys for passing her Grade 1 piano with a merit - and just a gnat's crotchet away from a Distinction. You go girl!

Sparkle time

I love driving at this time of year. When people gradually put up their outside Christmas lights. I don't like a big show. We don't have any as we are concerned about the use of energy - and I do worry about it. But there is something spiritual about seeing all the lights shining in the darkness. If it wasn't for the green issues then I would be for keeping them on until the clocks go forward in the spring.
I have to go out tonight and I would rather be in, with a real fire and some crafty stuff to play with. But I have work to do tonight - nice work though - sharing good news with a local church. And lots of lights to see on the way!

I have had some crafty moments. I haven't shared my Salt layout for this week yet.

Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas

We all love celebrating Christmas because it is a time for us to stop, remember and praise God for the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. HE IS the true meaning of Christmas. Not presents, not parties, not decorations, etc. JUST JESUS!!!

It would have been easier if I had got the hang of digital I think. But I haven't...
The words are from Meekness and Majesty by Graham Kendrick. The picture is one I saved to the computer but not where from. I would love to give acknowledgment for this beautiful picture so if anyone recognises it please let me know. For me it sums up the vulnerability of Jesus come amongst us, totally reliant on those around him - as we are totally reliant on Him. The words were printed onto white card, the photo mounted on top and the whole thing matted on red bazzill. The word "God" has been glittered. Three red gems and that is it.

I also made two 8x8 layouts this week.
An old piccy of Carys. She doesn't twiddle as much now but I still have to cut the odd knot from her hair! The papers are from an old SA kit- they are American Crafts. The title is robo'd. I just added some black gems and shisha mirrors - they look pretty but make a layout hard to photograph!

This months Self Addressed kit papers - sassafrass lass. The heart was hand cut and mounted on card. It was distressed with red distress ink. The stamps used on the heart are purple onion. The wings are from Artbase. I coloured them with red distress ink and then used my new dot stamp with the same ink. I wanted some sparkle so added Diamond shimmer paint on the top - which took all the ink off. SO they have ended up very distressed indeed (and so was I). He said and she said are Technique Tuesday stamps, the arrow is from an old SA kit. The chipboard letters are from my QVC box. I thought it would be good to get Phil to write what he said on the layout. He thought it was mad...
No change there, then.

A change of clothing

Well several actually today! Started off in ordinary clothes, then sparkly top for a short concert Phil and I did at his church, now about to put on a clerical collar and do a funeral, then back to ordinary clothes again. That kind of sums up what my life is like at the moment - coupled with not feeling well. My throat glands are still a little tender so I am still not 100% but I am feeling better now than I have done for two weeks. Which kind of leaves an awful lot to do before Christmas...
I have made about 56 Christmas cards though which is a result.

I will share my Salt contribution tomorrow but here is my Daring Cardmaker Dare for the week.
Saffa chose the theme

Candy Stripes

I love the stripey candy sticks that are around at this time of year so inspired by this I challenge you all to create a card featuring stripes of some kind, the occasion is up to you but you must use some form of stripes on your card. Maybe stamps, or paper, or ribbon...
I used one of my Tilda stamps and my all time fave papers - Salem by Scenic Route. The colours are actually a tad brighter in real life but I had to photograph it in the dark! I made the little balloon shape (as if you can't tell) and hand wrote the greeting (ditto) Just added two black brads and some of the felt stars from the Euro Shop in Achen. Phil hates the scary stamp girls (as he calls them) but grudgingly admitted he liked the card "of its kind". Praise gets no better...

Normal service will be resumed shortly

Life is just to busy for crafting right now. I'm hoping that Monday will have some crafty time. I have made a few more Christmas cards - but some of the letters I robo'd have gone missing. Life is pants!
Have a look at Daring cards today - we have two new teamies - Mel and Rachel.
And a new Guest Darer - Ros.
And some amazing birdie cards. If I have a minute I will make at least one of the cards I have had ideas for!
Have a good weekend.

Who are you and what have you done with my children?

Something strange has happened at my house.

Every evening the children come home from school, say hello and then get on with tidying and hoovering their designated area of the house. They also asked last week if they could start trying more different vegetables. It is really quite amazing. They have taken on more chores etc with such equanimity that I wish we had done it earlier.
They also make their own lunches and put their clothes away (eventually)

This has all come from us having family meetings (almost) every Monday. We all get a chance to talk about things that are vexing us and together try and find solutions. We also get to make family decisions together.
Sometimes it is very painful to go through - especially if certain family members are in a silly mood.
But it is amazing the difference it has made for us.

We are by no means a perfect family - ha, ha, ha, ha, ha - at the very thought! But I am so proud of my three amigos and wanted to share.
I promise no more gushing for a while.

You may notice a lack of photos - that is because apart from finally getting round to some Christmas cards that you have seen the design for, there is just nothing to see. Sob! I'll have to see what I can do this week with the tilda and sugar nellie stamps I have coloured in.

Flying visit and family troubles

My dad came to stay overnight. He is on a Church Committee and they have training in London this morning. It was all a bit mad what with children (Hywel's friends) Guides (taxi service) and dog plus trying to fit work in too. But I think he had a good time. We all enjoyed Lead Balloon with Jack Dee. I am not very good with comedy of errors - hated Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em for example. Last weeks Lead Balloon got so painful I had to leave the room. But if I can stick it then it is very, very blackly funny. How the girl playing Magda manages to keep such a sulky straight face I don't know. Thursdays 9:30 BBC2.

My mum arrived home from another URC training - this time in Windermere, after Dad had left to discover water coming down the kitchen wall. Her question to him "Did you know it was leaking?" still has me chuckling - although the situation doesn't. She also decided not to turn the stopcock off as she would be cold without the central heating... I have phoned this morning and got no reply so she might have gone shopping as Friday morning is shopping day.

This morning we have had lost pe kit (Carys as a nice change), forgotten cello and then a call from Phil's mother as there is tough family news from Canada and she has to travel there asap. Which has rather sent life all awry.

And, most importantly of all - it meant an all out rush to try and get a card done for today. Especially as it was my turn for the dare this week. It was a bit tough - and it may look as though the team have turned chicken - but it is simply that there is loads of ill health, pregnancy and business just now!

So here it is

Song without words

I would like you to create a card inspired by a song or a carol - it could be for Christmas or not! (you may have got all your Christmas cards done by now...) BUT there is a twist. the words of the song are NOT to be seen on the front of the card. You could leave it to us to guess! Have fun!

It looked so much better in my head
The card stock is 8x8 Bazzill folded in half.
The paper is nearly all from the Self Addressed September kits, one of my most favouritest ever. I added some gold card . The nativity figures are QK dies. I bought the nativity set a few years ago meaning to use it for Christmas cards. Until I started to cut it out. Now it is saved for special occasions as it is v. fiddly.
Then lots of outlining with gold pen and some pop dots for effect. Then just added a bit of ribbon. Well two actually. Held in place by two gold brads.
Why can't you buy just gold brads on their own anymore?
NOt as serious as some of the above problems but still annoying.

Anyway can you tell what the song is yet?
It was number 1!

OK make that twice.

Looks like there will be a third family member sharing our room (though not I hasten to add, the bed). Lucky is beginning to recognise her name, "no" and "good girl" and to get the timetable of the day. She is also beginning to climb up the stairs on her own and jump on the sofa unasked. Not so good. We need to make sure we don't get too soft or we will end up on one of those dog borstal tv shows. We just need to keep reminding her of her place in the pecking order. Which is just above the chickens ironically. (Don't worry, they can look down on the goldfish. Actually they don't know the goldfish exist but if they did, they would. And the goldfish don't care)
But she is very cute and loving and makes a nice snuggle partner on the sofa (when asked)

Today is Salt challenge launch day and I have had no end of trouble making and showing this one. Ruth chose a great theme

The theme for this week is
LIGHT

It is mentioned so many times in the Bible, and has many facets of meaning and symbolism.

I am the LIGHT of the World... The people walking in darkness have
seen a great LIGHT ...The LIGHT shines in the darkness, but the
darkness has not understood it...In the same way, let your LIGHT shine
before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father
in heaven.

Please create a piece of work using it as inspiration and
leave us a message so we can see and link to your work.

I had a picture in my head of what I wanted to do. It just took a bit more work to make it happen
The candle is made of various pieces of American Crafts Papers which I then embossed. Only I had forgotten that you need to use extra strong Pritt for this and they kept popping up. I kryloned round the edge before uteeing as well. The flame is gold card embossed once, as when it was done I liked the ripple effect. The letter stickers are Basic Grey. They were green or red before the attack of the krylon once more.
Here is a better look at the candle without the flash.
I had huge trouble finding a camera that would work, taking a photo that wasn't out of focus and loading the image onto the computer today. The actual layout is as vivid as the lettering in the first picture but more the shine on the candle of the second one!

My dad is coming to stay overnight tonight (we are the London b&b for the family) so I had better go and make the bed!

Once a week

Can anyone tell me why Miss Lucky chooses one night a week not to sleep? For 5 0r 6 days she lulls us into a false sense of security and then it's werewolf night again. "Awoo, awoo" until she gets to sleep with humans. The last two times Phil has taken her in the guest room so I can sleep but we don't really want her to get use to the comfort of carpet there. Plus she is on heat.
(IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH DROP TO THE PICTURES)
The only thing that I was worried about with having a girlie dog was the bleeding. "oh no it is hardly anything" says the dog expert airily. I call it enough. She is going to have to have a new quilt cover for her bed. And will be going off to the docs asap.

I did manage some work so I could play yesterday.
And as I printed up the journalling I was able to assemble it in the living room to keep Phil company. If I hadn't hand cut the stars from the Salem papers it would have taken next to no time.
I am going to have to work on my photos of layouts. If I do it on the floor they are wonky. Putting them on a table and they are wonky. Any tips?
Anyway this really very square layout features Scenic Route Salem papers which are just fabby and awesome and some of my favourites ever.
The font is SP you've got mail printed directly onto the paper. Another strip of stripy paper to cover the join and some cut out stars and that is it really.
The letter stickers are 3 Bugs and were originally purple but came up a lovely black using a Sharpie pen. The black and white round the edge of the photo was also done with a black sharpie on the white surround. Just add a few Basic Grey rubons and Bob's yer layout.

I have a few hours to create something for the Salt challenge tomorrow before going to Church meeting. Sigh. Anyone want to chair it for me?

I got candy

I had a spiffing time with Sue yesterday. Mostly chit chatting. I managed a whole 2 (almost 3) cards all day. But they were made using my candy box goodies. I did use a Magnolia stamp on one of them (shock horror!) but I will use Luca on the rest of the papers. The colours are just wonderful on the papers and the stamps are so cwute.
Just added the use of my new Around the Block dymo type label maker
Here just added white brads. Rest from the stash of goodies!

At home I had time to do a layout. Sometimes I just have to do something for no reason - though mostly I only have time to do challenges. And it probably means a few late nights completing the rest of this weeks dares etc. Ooh what a rebel

It is slightly squiffy in real life, but not as much as the photo suggests...The papers and ribbon are American Crafts
Stamps Fontwerks Fortuna stamped using a rather runny Butterscotch Dabber so you can't really appreciate the dotty effect of the actual stamp - so I added some extra dots...
Buttons from my ever increasing stash
And a Making Memories tag that really sums it up...

Right back to work so I can play later!

All the fun of the fair

Having a theme for your church fair makes it so much more enjoyable. This year it was circus.
Glynis (my card making buddy/church treasurer) and I dressed up as the lion tamer and his lion.
Here I am looking suitably menacing.
Actually a lot of people didn't recognise me with a moustache.
which I think is a good thing...

We dressed the stall accordingly (note the unironed tablecloth. I think they look so much better don't you? Unless someone is prepared to iron it for me in which case I prefer it that way)

And our stall made £86 which I was really pleased with. We may also have someone who wants us to make cards on a regular(ish) basis so I will wait and see.

I did get to Imagine that to meet Jane Dean and stand there like an idiot in my costume - I had washed the scar and moustache off though. She brought some of her work with her and it is even better in real life - each page a true work of art. She also started a board book for the shop and found a really great way of using BG tags. I'm not telling how, you will have to go to the shop and see!

I went back today for the make and take on using alcohol inks on clear ornaments. Actually I learnt a better way to use alcohol inks too.
I may also have bought one or two things.
Like...
2 new circle punches - a pink one (in between blue and purple for aficionados) and a blue scallop.
the Designing with 2008 calendar
Some EZmount (I am sure I have some left - but where?)
BG Christmas papers. Not as struck as I though I would be as they are double sided patterns. Preferred last years with plain colours on one side. But I also bought the 6x6 pad and the designs look gorgeous at that size.

That goes with the two parcels I received the days before.
One I knew about - the latest Scenic Route papers (Salem, Roxbury and Loveland. Oh I can't beleive I can tell you the names without looking them up.) and Zoe by Love Elsie which is v. bright. I love, love, love scenic route. Now I had better use more of it instead of just hoarding it!

the other was a complete surprise - a Sugar Nellie candy box. It was full of wonderful papers and embellishments and best of all the most wonderful Sugar Nellie stamp. You can find out more here and buy them here only the one I have is already sold out (smug) cos he is so cute. I have to say that he stamped better than my Magnolia too.

I shall be putting cards together at Sue H's tomorrow. Can't wait to see her as it is ages since we got to meet up!

Good news/bad news

The good news...
Lucky is still settling in with us. We are all on a learning curve of setting routines and feeding patterns which lead to the odd "accident" and bad night. But really she has done very well considering most of her life has been spent in a kennel. She has discovered that she likes Roses chocolates... She is now adopted into the family so Lucky will stay her name. For some reasons my choices of "fafalou" (means Zany in French) and Doris were overruled. I then made a bid for her to be called "Lucky Banana" but that was vetoed too (curse our democracy). A last ditch suggestion of Annie or Clarabel got Carys all upset becasue she would be the only one without a middle name from Thomas the tank engine.
When she does wake up frisky and ready to play in the middle of the night she gets called something different altogether...
But she is sweet and lovely and we all enjoy having her around!

The bad news is I have been a bit poorly. Not at death's door but every now and then I just get wiped out and can't do anything - I suspect it is a bit of a virus in the system somewhere. I could have done without it this week as I had loads of cards to make for the Church Fair tomorrow. I am now longing to do a scrap book page again!
I have managed to make a few more cards, won't bore you with them all but here are two that I made using Basic Grey 6x6 paper pads (just love 'em)
This was using Mellow, with ribbon and cardstock from Self Addressed (large scale Mellow was the paper this month) and little flowers from Poundland. The sentiment is from All Boxed Up 2 font available from 2 Peas
And this is Infuse. QK hearts embossed with Cuttlebug folder. Lots of copper Krylon pen and soe lovely jumbo ricrac from my ribbon stash. The squares are punches.

Other good news...
It is Daring Cardmakers day today!
Keryn chose the dare - and what a scrummy one it was too.

Golden Highlights
this week I'd like you to make a card for any season or occasion but must include gold somewhere.

My only problem - a lack of golden papers. So I improvised.
The hearts are a zipemate die cut from cream glitter card and gold foil card (I think it is from Craft Creations. Really lovely and I only have a teeny bit left). The other gold card was a freebie from a crop goodie bag. The other papers are all We R Memory Keepers Silver Lining papers. Yup, silver. SO I got out my fine gold pen and did some doodling, turning silver to gold
The greeting is safmat on glitter card.
I'll take it tomorrow but I'm not sure it will sell. I have a feeling Glynis ' cards will be more popular than mine - still it means I won't have to make any birthday cards for a while!

must get on with some work and then sort out my fancy dress for the church fair. I am going to be a lion tamer. I am hoping to pop to Imagine That for their 1st birthday celebrations. I would love to see Jane Dean at work. But I am not sure I want to be seen in my lion tamer costume. I'll be in on Sunday afternoon though. I can't beleive Emma's shop has been open a year. It is just so fantastic to have such a wonderful place on my doorstep!
If you are anywhere near Upminster this weekend there are all sorts of things going on at the shop - do pop in and celebrate!

Walkies!

The service went well this morning I think. At my little church we are a teeny tiny but wonderfully diverse group of people. This morning we had teenagers and toddlers, people in wheelchairs and with learning difficulties, the elderly and the middle aged - a wide selection of ethnic groups and experience. I just love it. because we all sit close to each other and there are only about 15-20 of us, it gives a wonderful feel to worship. Little by little the church is growing and we may well outgrow our small space soon. I hope we can created something as intimate in our big hall WHEN the time comes!

This afternoon we went for a walk round the fishing lake. It is just down the road from our house and you just step off the pavement into another world. Wonderful.
Lucky is really settling down well now - hurray! So I think tomorrow will be official adoption day. She is beginning to tell us what she wants and to sleep a lot more. Phil had to drag her out for a late night walk yesterday!
I'm beginning to think I want a fatter dog to stand next too. It would be easier than dieting...
Took some snaps of Carys too - who looks so grown up...
until you give her a pile of leaves to play with!

Here is a layout I have just finished. It is for the holiday album but has no orange in so I won't bother with that idea!

Who would have thought that £3.50 would have provided as much entertainment as this helmet did?
Ingredients:
All paper: Samantha by Crate Paper
Letter stickers - Mustard Moon and American Crafts
chipboard - from SA kit painted with Blonde Moments powder and paint medium topped with pearl dabber
Distress ink - black soot

Lucky-ly

She slept through the night.
Well until 6:45 which pleased me!
Then she stayed in our room for a while until PHil got up.
BTW thanks for all the dog lovin' messages! (And cat lovers too!) Lucky did not actually get into bed with us, just slept on the floor nearby.
It really is like having a baby around again. We talk about her sleep patterns a lot. I was out at a meeting all day today, phoned to find out how things were and got told all about her bowel movements.
Lucky is beginning to settle now. The fireworks spook her a bit so she ends up under my desk which is where Dutch used to go too. That is fine, only there is no room for my legs as well. I think she is starting to beleive that this is her new home with her new routine.

Here are the cards I did on Thursday. The first two use more of the wonderful Ribbon Oasis Christmas ribbon kit that I was sent for the Daring Cardmakers dare a few weeks ago. I have one left to use at all and then I shall use them all up as they are lovely. The last one will be more of a challenge as it is not really my style but I am determined so watch this space!


The background was a Pink Petticoat design printed on card and cut to A5 size and folded. The snowman was pieced together. He started out as two punched circles but that didn't look right. The brown of the hat and buttons is Pink Petticoat too. And somehow I had this bright orange piece in amongst my Christmas paper just right for his carroty nose. And I used a (shock horror) peeloff greeting. There is a white border to give added definition and of course, the lovely snowman ribbon.
I used the next two ribbons before on my Christmas tree ribbon card. The horizontal card I just cut a star out of last time though! Backing paper is from the HOTP Christmas pad, edged with Krylon. The Pink Petticoat paper was die cut with a sizzix die and then embossed by a cuttlebug one. I went over the embossed part with a gold ink pad. Then I used a ribbon punch to cut slots and managed to tie a bow myself. (Sue H who once had to tie a bow FOR me during a class as I took so long to do it, should be impressed. I still have to do two loops...)

Finally
All Pink Petticoat apart from the shiny lilac card base. And some extra stripy and check doodling by me.

Thanks to the meeting all day I have still got some bits for tomorrows service to do. It is Remembrance Day so we have the two minutes silence. It becomes more meaningful for me as I get older. I hate and abhor war. It makes me so sad that we do this to each other. Especially when civilians are hurt - by accident or deliberately. It was quite sobering walking round Germany a few weeks ago and talking about the Blitz during fire work season here. It made me think about areas of both countries being obliterated during the war. And of course of the Genocide that took place against the Jews. And that Christians did notso all they could to stop it.
I think I have decided that, although I would always prefer to find a different way to act, I would never say never and me being a peace lover does not negate the sacrifice made on my behalf. And unless we remember, we will never learn from the past and keep making the same mistakes.

I hope you are able to find some time to stop and remember tomorrow

Seperation Anxiety

My first child was not a "good" baby. He did not beleive in routines. or much sleep. So I was delighted when number 2 came along and on his third day became a do it by the book baby waking up only every 3 or 4 hours for a feed. I looked forward to being able to plan out my days quite easily.
Unfortunately the routine only lasted 24 hours.
(7 months later the controlled crying thing did the trick though)

I was reminded of this in the middle of the night. Obviously Lucky sleeping through on her first night was just, well, lucky. The hound of the baskervilles cried from 1 (when Phil finally went to bed still on a high from Bolton tying with some German team. They are v. good apparently) until 2:30. Apart from the foray round the block that Phil hoped would help. It didn't. the only thing that did was... sleeping in our room. Hmmmm. Mind you she refused to walk down the stairs again (not sure how she got up them. I was trying to sleep). I suppose it is nice that she is attaching herself to us. Just don't want to have her sleeping in my room with me.
Yawn.

Emrys went back to school yesterday but he and Hywel are off today. Both feeling very nauseous. Not helped by the fact that their bedroom is over the study where the controlled yapping and whining thing was going on. (And didn't do the trick)

On to brighter matters
It is dare day.
Jo set a cracker of a dare this week!

Getting Corrugated...

I seem to have developed a little bit of a fixation with old cardboard boxes....! My dare this week is to use some corrugated card on your card - it could be corrugated craft card or an old box etc. taken to pieces :) You could make the card blank from it or die cut shapes etc...
I really enjoyed this one. Someone I met a few years ago, with the marvellous name of Booj Beak(married to a mate from Uni who I am pants at keeping up with) makes wonderful baskets from cardboard boxes. She wets the outer layers and peels them off. Then apparently you can make little rosebuds and flowers with them. That was my plan. Only it didn't work. Booj then goes on to paint the corrugated bit, cut it into long strips and weave it into the most pliable but strong baskets. I didn't attempt that bit either but instead ended up with this.

I used a cream square card blank (just to be different). The red paper is Daisy D's - torn, scrunched up then painted with Gold Dabber paint. the next layer is brown wrapping paper torn and edged with gold. The long strip is the middle of a thick cardboard box, roughly painted with gold. Next comes the outer layer of that cardboard box painted with red and gold Dabber.
Horizontally we have some gold and red raffia type ribbon stuff that I found (literally) on the floor of the conservatory/craft space, then the inside of a thin cardboard box roughly painted with gold, topped with three punched out flowers, two inner and one outer cardboard box with 3 little red gems on the top. the greeting was printed on white card which was darkened using brown and red distress inks.

I think describing it took longer than making it!

I managed to make some other cards at my small church craft club yesterday but I will share those tomorrow as there is a service to be done and some boys to nurse and a dog to ask please stop whining (I think she has attached herself to Phil who is now out!)

Sing a new song

Well the first song we heard this morning went like this
"Aaaawoooooo. Aaaaawoooooooo, ie, ie, ie, Aaaaaawoooooooooo"
At least it wasn't until 7:30. Lucky needed to visit the garden!! She had managed to stay clean all night (we did have some accidents yesterday) and is really settling pretty well. We have already been out for short walk number 1 this morning so I am hoping that I get a bit fitter as well....

But the main song for today is for Salt. It was my turn to choose the challenge.

From the hymnbook

take your inspiration from a hymn or song that means a lot for your faith

Old hymn, new song, overtly Christian or kind of hidden,
God speaks to us in music in all sorts of ways.

But how hard was it to choose a song/hymn. I have so many favourites. two more recent ones were just pipped to the post.

Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live.
A place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
all are welcome in this place.

read it all here - it is a vision of what a church should be.

And how can I keep from singing - made popular by Enya - lovely music as well as words. But gosh how that video has aged! (And I have just discovered it is a really old hymn. 1860 it was written!) It is something that resonated through dark times for me. For all the words see here although it comes with some lovely trembly organ so be warned!

IN the end I went for another oldie All to Jesus I surrender
I'm not always good at giving my all to Jesus. But I do try - it is my aim, my goal. And I know that when I do, I get overflowing unconditional love in return.

The hands belong to Carys. I made her put on a black tshirt for the background!
Bazzill 12x12 inked with a gold ranger dabber (which I thought was copper until I pondered how gold it was looking and read the label. Doh.) The metallic dabbers come out super smooth and lovely. It is not the cheapest way of buying paint and some of them are a tad temperamental. But the colours are just the best!
The papers are mostly 7 Gypsies with a little bit of Heidi Grace (the 3 squares. They are from the same sheet of paper and two of the squares have a fuzzy felt feel) I just loved the idea of thew words on the orange paper - I felt like it was Jesus speaking to me and then me singing my response. I printed out the other words and all of them were highlighted with a clear glaze pen.
The "all" was done using Blonde Moments UTEE in plum. The middle of the flower was from the "60" that I embossed last week!
I quite like the crumpled flower effect. The other chipboard letters were painted with the ranger dabber. They look a little bare to me so I may go back and add something to them. Don't know what yet.

Do have a look at the amazing work that the Salt team have done. It is just incredible and whether you are a person of faith or not, I reckon you just may be uplifted.