tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279742522024-03-13T13:16:03.420+00:00Slightly SquiffyLythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.comBlogger822125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-48241014816024568652017-06-23T13:20:00.004+01:002017-06-23T13:20:56.126+01:00Crikey<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was involved in a car accident this week. An easily done, not realising that the car in front is not actually going to move onto the roundabout shunt. At first I thought that our car was ok, but the damage to the toll bar, its age and mileage (160,000 plus!) means it is likely to be a write off and so I needed to get the insurance involved. Everything is going fairly smoothly but what I can't get over is having honestly answered that my back was a little sore, I am being urged to go for a personal injury claim. They keep ringing back to check how I am. And to be honest, there is a little bit of me that thinks "oooh, we could do with that cash, what with having to buy a new car" (something tells me we will not be getting much from the insurers for that). But I am not seriously injured at all and it would just be wrong. So I won't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Phew, needed to get that off my chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So its been another month and a bit since I blogged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">same reasons, full working life leaving little time to craft and blogging has always been the cinderella part for me. I've not been participating in many Daring Cardmaker challenges and I have a lovely Quirky Kits box calling my name - but not much time to play just now. Its all good but I am feeling the crafty withdrawals and know that means I need to carve out some time to get lost in it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Amongst other things this month:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I went to see a funny and participative and touching one man show Every Brilliant Thing that was about dealing with his mums mental health (much better than I made it sound)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I went to tea with the Bishop (not just me mind)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I visited Birmingham and Derby for work in the same week</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I started wine Wednesday, which is me working by sitting in the pub and drinking wine - guess when.... we have only had a pub here for 5 weeks and it is still very exciting!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have gone for more red than pink in the hair and have new specs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I finished the Couch25k plan and did a 5k event with the group I have been running with </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMNgbScs1wY/WU0CrUERLII/AAAAAAAAUxM/mbXhxSGyJiEvnFT0nuyuUUSsAc9vOd-YgCEwYBhgL/s1600/school%2Bgates%2B5k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="960" height="176" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMNgbScs1wY/WU0CrUERLII/AAAAAAAAUxM/mbXhxSGyJiEvnFT0nuyuUUSsAc9vOd-YgCEwYBhgL/s320/school%2Bgates%2B5k.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">also a non running night out! </span><br />
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and my first park run. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qwy-BPphUs/WU0CqtPaoxI/AAAAAAAAUxM/cUlAWu3ZNhk4RdP3z1o8eXNtL6RnUlFdQCEwYBhgL/s1600/parkrun-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="658" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qwy-BPphUs/WU0CqtPaoxI/AAAAAAAAUxM/cUlAWu3ZNhk4RdP3z1o8eXNtL6RnUlFdQCEwYBhgL/s200/parkrun-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
So far my only parkrun as I am not running this week since the bump, just in case (ok I'm lazy)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So lets look at cards rather than me now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm going to go backwards so i remember.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week it was my turn to set the challenge and I went for <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/i-must-go-down-to-sea-again.html" target="_blank">"I must go down to the sea again" </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've now lived in Cranbrook for just over a year and I love it here so much. But I do miss the sea. This is what was just 5 minutes from my old house</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKUIHs2TMZc/WU0D1WiruvI/AAAAAAAAUxk/Z0GULqjVuI4pF8PV_YWOlI5yxmRbdvTZwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0029-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKUIHs2TMZc/WU0D1WiruvI/AAAAAAAAUxk/Z0GULqjVuI4pF8PV_YWOlI5yxmRbdvTZwCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0029-002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">every day it looked different and I never got enough of it. So i wanted cards inspired by the sea. Mine is probably the most abstract</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3WIRJIs9zU/WU0DlBQwwwI/AAAAAAAAUxc/tuMWeOiym6EVFaNbODCsljVUeDRa6ZJaACLcBGAs/s1600/sea-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3WIRJIs9zU/WU0DlBQwwwI/AAAAAAAAUxc/tuMWeOiym6EVFaNbODCsljVUeDRa6ZJaACLcBGAs/s400/sea-001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> but it was also pretty simple. I took some watercolour paper and swooshed various blues and greens over it with a thick brush. After that had dried I got out some glitter paste and added some lines of texture with my finger. I then found some sparkly glue, added that over the still bare parts and then sprinkled extra fine glitter over that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While it was all drying I cut out the sentiment three times and stuck it together. The arc on "sending" was a happy accident but I quite like it. However there was a gap I didn't like left in between the words so I took a discarded part of the painted piece and punched out a heart which was raised on a foam pad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was all stuck onto a top folding A5 card and the finishing touch was a Prima dot as I lost the "i" along the way!</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIO0XEt-sX8/WU0DliMVoPI/AAAAAAAAUxg/QR-4vYaUe6UZU2lD_ZpGtN7WlV5Tnuh1wCLcBGAs/s1600/sea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="1130" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIO0XEt-sX8/WU0DliMVoPI/AAAAAAAAUxg/QR-4vYaUe6UZU2lD_ZpGtN7WlV5Tnuh1wCLcBGAs/s400/sea.JPG" width="303" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The last dare I did before that was the June<a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/june-elemental-challenge.html" target="_blank"> elemental challenge</a>. Here is the inspiration</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUTFyi1gUfQ/WU0DkWipZbI/AAAAAAAAUxY/CSLFL6MERhIq0iMzpF7oF1gATxePRWZlACLcBGAs/s1600/june%2Belementphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUTFyi1gUfQ/WU0DkWipZbI/AAAAAAAAUxY/CSLFL6MERhIq0iMzpF7oF1gATxePRWZlACLcBGAs/s320/june%2Belementphoto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I adore these pictures (especially the sea one natch) but it took me a while to work out my take</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4NnbJ1OaLc/WU0Dkc2WBWI/AAAAAAAAUxQ/gluZuVlCP0E7JS3mHWk5PArERCGrjtbhACLcBGAs/s1600/june%2Binspo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1138" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4NnbJ1OaLc/WU0Dkc2WBWI/AAAAAAAAUxQ/gluZuVlCP0E7JS3mHWk5PArERCGrjtbhACLcBGAs/s400/june%2Binspo.JPG" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I used watercolours again, trying to emulate the colours and sequence in the sea photo. But then decided to make a log cabin patchwork pattern as per the top middle photo. That didn't quite work so I ended up just alternating the strips and tying them together with some string.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was going to cut out some flowers but then spotted this die cut which went perfectly and saved a lot of time. It has some gold on it so that was all the excuse I needed to bring out the gold mist and use gold card for the sentiment, finishing up with some gold dots. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6tkzxttzMu4/WU0DkYS7SKI/AAAAAAAAUxU/guVw_zmzMTobOtfx5m1WzNDC_EPKzFCuACLcBGAs/s1600/june%2Binspo%2Bcloseup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6tkzxttzMu4/WU0DkYS7SKI/AAAAAAAAUxU/guVw_zmzMTobOtfx5m1WzNDC_EPKzFCuACLcBGAs/s320/june%2Binspo%2Bcloseup.JPG" width="248" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Dare before was still in May.... <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/in-teacup.html" target="_blank">In a tea cup </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I knew that I had a tea cup stamp. I had to turn out almost every stamp I had to find it. I have too many stamps not organised properly.... but I was so pleased I found it I made two cards</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UrHt3owt68/WU0D1cKdvNI/AAAAAAAAUxs/L96JqGjpIqQ4FM7YtxGMSGMQtvJwMvc0QCLcBGAs/s1600/in%2Ba%2Bteacup-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1571" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UrHt3owt68/WU0D1cKdvNI/AAAAAAAAUxs/L96JqGjpIqQ4FM7YtxGMSGMQtvJwMvc0QCLcBGAs/s400/in%2Ba%2Bteacup-001.JPG" width="392" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg8AaBBwRAw/WU0D1bLM-EI/AAAAAAAAUxo/dEBJGTfXVYUF4Wxtht3m4ViTjn5oOVA3gCLcBGAs/s1600/in%2Ba%2Bteacup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1592" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg8AaBBwRAw/WU0D1bLM-EI/AAAAAAAAUxo/dEBJGTfXVYUF4Wxtht3m4ViTjn5oOVA3gCLcBGAs/s400/in%2Ba%2Bteacup.JPG" width="397" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">both coloured with Zig Clean Colour pens, die cut with a square die and matted with glitter card, stuck onto a painted backfround with some Wink of Stella and glitter glue sparkles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Right if I crack on with some work now I might have more to show next time I blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-53612639626286508242017-05-19T10:00:00.000+01:002017-05-19T10:00:04.446+01:0011 years later...<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Friday 11th May is the date that I started this blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can't remember why now, probably to have a place to note my crafty challenges.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm certainly not as prolific as I was but I'm still happy to have a place to note what I am up to and when it happened. Especially as I have a bad habit of not backing up photos so this is needed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is what I looked like then</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--eA_CzoPd8A/WR3IPEKYKSI/AAAAAAAAUr8/_2m4pmXJI3cgB-MOig-x8tQ1_cx47p_dACLcB/s1600/lyth2006.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--eA_CzoPd8A/WR3IPEKYKSI/AAAAAAAAUr8/_2m4pmXJI3cgB-MOig-x8tQ1_cx47p_dACLcB/s1600/lyth2006.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and now</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Et5CEhWz1B8/WR3IPBbdUnI/AAAAAAAAUr4/9aUFZwVhR0omOcgKfBcmUf3fXe5ygEuogCLcB/s1600/me%2Bnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Et5CEhWz1B8/WR3IPBbdUnI/AAAAAAAAUr4/9aUFZwVhR0omOcgKfBcmUf3fXe5ygEuogCLcB/s320/me%2Bnow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (is that a flattering angle where you can't see all the wrinkles? Possibly...)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> So much has changed - we have moved twice, all three kids have gone through University, (the oldest was a wee teen of 13 and is now almost 25!) Phil has a motorbike and loves cycling, I've started and stopped and started running (I say running, it is more like a small but heavy wilderbeest thundering throught the tundra very slowly). I now crochet as well as papercrafting - it makes evenings more sociable as I sit and crochet in front of the tv while Phil snores.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is the first card I put on the blog</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I still rather like it. It was Phil's birthday card.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My latest is Phil's birthday card as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week's Daring Cardmaker Dare was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/all-that-glitters-is-not-gold.html" target="_blank">All that glitters is not gold</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">where you had to make a card with lots of glitter but no gold. I went for something simple</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WQsDl3scdk/WR3J81NfeSI/AAAAAAAAUsU/sMPlMHrhiWcJSuYYqQJaCCijOV_FImkxwCLcB/s1600/All%2Bthat%2Bglitters-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WQsDl3scdk/WR3J81NfeSI/AAAAAAAAUsU/sMPlMHrhiWcJSuYYqQJaCCijOV_FImkxwCLcB/s400/All%2Bthat%2Bglitters-001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Lots of thick glitter paper circles punched out and raised up and stuck on a piece of cardstock which was given a glittery edge with a glue pen and more glitter. V. simple</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtA5iH62TSE/WR3J8tu7OsI/AAAAAAAAUsQ/pWMAnVx9rp4zWLhSk3QmTLCYeypZL4cPQCLcB/s1600/All%2Bthat%2Bglitters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WtA5iH62TSE/WR3J8tu7OsI/AAAAAAAAUsQ/pWMAnVx9rp4zWLhSk3QmTLCYeypZL4cPQCLcB/s320/All%2Bthat%2Bglitters.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Paper Smooches stamp badly embossed with black powder)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week the dare is Two's Company where you could only use 2 colours including the colour of the base card. I went for simple again with black and white</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WseeNowcvKA/WR3K_SD0GeI/AAAAAAAAUsc/4aC8HSe3vKgeyU5raGaExhNa5JyHEF7fgCLcB/s1600/two%2Bcolours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WseeNowcvKA/WR3K_SD0GeI/AAAAAAAAUsc/4aC8HSe3vKgeyU5raGaExhNa5JyHEF7fgCLcB/s320/two%2Bcolours.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I painted the white paint onto a black card ready for another challenge but liked it and so decided to use it for this one. I found some old textured papers and cut and trimmed them into different shapes. I knew I had a set of paper trims somewhere but only found them days after making the card!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Little bit of glitter, little bit of die layering, a vellum heart to allow the eye to see the words and job done. It looks better in real life than it does here :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also made my first ever layout 11 years ago in July</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and here is one of the latest</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qORyjAWUeI/WR3MKRgZgZI/AAAAAAAAUss/kDBCV_LSlIYPV7gNQpQPAqRFkX4mnrn6QCLcB/s1600/Brave.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qORyjAWUeI/WR3MKRgZgZI/AAAAAAAAUss/kDBCV_LSlIYPV7gNQpQPAqRFkX4mnrn6QCLcB/s400/Brave.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
made for the latest Quirky Kit. That style has evolved a bit more than cardmaking!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I must make a blog post of all the pages I have done recently - I had a lovely time at the beginning of May when it was Scrapbooking Day putting lots of memories onto cardstock. Don't get time to do so much now but its still good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last weekend I made more memories and also remembered a host more. I met up with friends from Lancaster University - some of whom I have hardly seen since we left in 1986. We stayed in some luxury lodges just outside Windermere and I had a an awesome time. We are all quite different now (e.g. old) but in many ways very much the same. It was a delight and I hope I can do it again. I'm aware that I have chosen a road less travelled in that being in Church Ministry means spare weekends are rare. I wouldn't be without my job and perhaps that makes these times even more of a joy. Poor Phil was also away from home but for a work conference....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I thought I had taken lots of photos but no, so I am hoping some of the others have some I can use as these are stories worth telling as well!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And here is to the next year blogging.... </span><br />
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Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-62043892477964532022017-05-05T10:00:00.000+01:002017-05-05T10:00:00.192+01:00April in a nutshell<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It seems I am now totally incapable of blogging more than once a month :(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, lets not feel guilty, just be glad I'm doing so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So this month I have been</span><br />
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<li> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">doing Easter things (although that all seems like a long time ago now! I went to hear the St John Passion by Bach at Exeter Cathedral. It was heavenly. I did nearly blot my copy book at the beginning. There were five of us there and in front of us were kneelers with names of birds on. One of my friends had one which was rather dull (can't remember what now) so I thought I would treat her to a different one. I pulled one out from near me without seeing the name. It said "Thrush". Carys and I got the giggles. Fortunately we calmed down before the music. Its become one of our catchphrases though</span></li>
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<li> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good Friday we held a Good Friday experiences for a few hours where you could try things out. Here are two of mine </span></li>
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The dark tomb was the last one where we talked about Jesus body going after he died. It was made to look different for Easter Sunday</span></li>
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we also got up for a dawn service. that will be featuring in a layout soon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">went to visit number 1 son in his new flat which meant buying/making furniture and an Easter Monday trip to Ikea. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everyone is a dab hand at the old flat pack now. It does seem strange not knowing when we will all be together again.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">lots of work - mostly really creative and challenging. I've started a new venture which means sitting in a cafe for an hour. Its a hard life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eating an amazing meal at Fatbelly Freds in Barnstable which is a fish speciality restaurant. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vx8vrl6a_oc/WQtYL6SWWRI/AAAAAAAAUoU/VWRY7M7FLBsTuNlyx6FHt8-NuWIeEQloQCEw/s1600/20170428_183030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vx8vrl6a_oc/WQtYL6SWWRI/AAAAAAAAUoU/VWRY7M7FLBsTuNlyx6FHt8-NuWIeEQloQCEw/s320/20170428_183030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
that is about an hour from us but we ate there as we were singing in an Easter concert at a church not far away. We declined dessert as they were not sure we would be able to leave by 7. Just as well as it turned out it started at 7 not 7:30 as Phil thought. I've almost forgiven him. He also hadn't mentioned the refreshments after the concert. The tables were heaving. I had my first "tatty" cake which looks like a Welsh cake but tastes different as it is made of potato. Rather lovely though</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Got up to Week 6 of Couch 2 5k. I'll be running the 25 minute run when this posts hopefully. Then going out to the new pub which is opening in our town (our first and everyone is very excited) they are offering free trials of the menu provided you pay for drinks. I'm also thinking of starting another new venture called "wine Wednesday" at the pub. Also work....</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And in crafty news.... Daring Cardmakers first. <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/spring-garden.html" target="_blank">Spring Garden </a>was Kathy's choice and I went all floaty and flowery <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVoVfoR37vA/WQtbKkK5sMI/AAAAAAAAUos/udpmeaDRKrI5m12PXADoAbkEJ7c5l9tGgCEw/s1600/april%2Bflowers%2B1-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVoVfoR37vA/WQtbKkK5sMI/AAAAAAAAUos/udpmeaDRKrI5m12PXADoAbkEJ7c5l9tGgCEw/s400/april%2Bflowers%2B1-001.JPG" width="296" /></a></div>
I do love colouring flowers, I've just bought some more because its my favourite cardmaking thing at the moment. I never tire of this set of doodle blooms. I stamped them with white embossing ink and coloured them with Zig Cleancolor markers. I decided to go with the colours of spring flowers, not necessarily actual flowers as I had used tulips the week before. I fussy cut round them (though I think I have the dies!). I used a backing plate die and backed it with vellum, leaving the vellum poking out the side. I then tucked in the flowers and leaves. Lastly I die cut the words and stuck them together. Everything got the Wink of Stella treatment. I should have done what I wanted to keep white first OR kept the brush clean as I had to turn all the letters yellow thanks to my boo boo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmK9tUVovVQ/WQtbLN923SI/AAAAAAAAUo8/3ZFnRh3Dkd0xLeres4A0ZjP3b_EzOstPACEw/s1600/april%2Bflowers%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmK9tUVovVQ/WQtbLN923SI/AAAAAAAAUo8/3ZFnRh3Dkd0xLeres4A0ZjP3b_EzOstPACEw/s320/april%2Bflowers%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That card was reasonably in the pastel zone for me, not my usual habitat but I stayed there for the <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/five-patterned-papers.html" target="_blank">5 papers </a>challenge where we had to use 5 patterned papers. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aUnS6sgn_G8/WQtbKvkC7LI/AAAAAAAAUoo/j_68C_CfHeQ7pJupVhgaBQ1__7xCGI54QCEw/s1600/5%2Bpatterns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aUnS6sgn_G8/WQtbKvkC7LI/AAAAAAAAUoo/j_68C_CfHeQ7pJupVhgaBQ1__7xCGI54QCEw/s400/5%2Bpatterns.JPG" width="395" /></a></div>
I have some new pastel colour markers so I washed colour onto my background card and added water to make it come together in an ombre effect, matching the papers from an old collection - Pink Paislee Color Wash. I found various butterfly punches and dies in my stash and cut out 5 different patterned ones (the top left one looks single coloured but it is patterned, promise!). I added die cut words, carefully managing not to colour them with my wink of Stella pen. The butterflies were getting lost on the ombre background so I dry embossed some vellum and attached it with brads (brads! I've mssed you). I stuck everything together and decided the perfect finishing touch would be some Nuvo drops in buttercream. Except some of my dots became a line so they all had to. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week's theme was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/my-super-hero.html" target="_blank">Superhero . </a>I was slightly miffed that Dawn nicked my fave one (at least graphically, Captain America is the best!) until I read about <a href="https://allthingsprettycraftee.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/my-superhero.html?showComment=1493918386641#c7799451507310095220" target="_blank">why she had made the card </a>as she did - which is a wonderful reason for cardmaking. Then I wondered if I could find any logos on the internet and a card idea was born. This is for Phil for our wedding anniversary (29 years at the end of May!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-ohff7_6m4/WQtbLd6EOoI/AAAAAAAAUpE/e_cGHyv6ZxUtBaNn5LdfxCVufqaxDyS8QCEw/s1600/superhero.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-ohff7_6m4/WQtbLd6EOoI/AAAAAAAAUpE/e_cGHyv6ZxUtBaNn5LdfxCVufqaxDyS8QCEw/s400/superhero.JPG" width="387" /></a></div>
I printed the logos on good quality cardstock and punched them out. You can see my old punch doesn't like the cardstock but none of my many circle dies were quite the right size! They demanded outlining and some black cardstock to give that comic vibe. The words are made using Lawn Fawn tiny letters. Finally an old Studio Calico arrow finished it off (arrow had to get in there somewhere !) Everything was built up on pop dots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsFeHn150m0/WQtkKthMKeI/AAAAAAAAUpg/RTZLjSZ2n1Qtgmr_EcTqR4pmTj9yZ1nCQCLcB/s1600/superhero-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vsFeHn150m0/WQtkKthMKeI/AAAAAAAAUpg/RTZLjSZ2n1Qtgmr_EcTqR4pmTj9yZ1nCQCLcB/s200/superhero-001.JPG" width="197" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bringing us up to date with the first May dare.... Here is the inspiration photo and isn't it beautiful?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I could just put "hello beautiful" on that and call it done. (the words would be over the cat of course, the cat spoils it!!!!) (sorry cat lovers, come baaaaack). Anyway that would be cheating so I did this</span></li>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6S5r5pv-V0E/WQtkKMQLtjI/AAAAAAAAUpY/H-osS8Tzs-k4ZxDSjN0bVbpNTbkyJjOMQCLcB/s1600/May%2Binspo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6S5r5pv-V0E/WQtkKMQLtjI/AAAAAAAAUpY/H-osS8Tzs-k4ZxDSjN0bVbpNTbkyJjOMQCLcB/s640/May%2Binspo.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
I used a peacock stencil, embossing paste and various glitters to make the feathers. I then die cut them, realised the paste was still wet, threw that away, die cut another piece and then stenciled it..... while I was waiting FOR IT TO DRY PROPERLY, I dry embossed a die cut rectangle and covered it with Distress Ink in peacock colours (one is helpfully called peacock feathers). I then went round the circles with silver pen to mimic the circles in the photo in the middle of the left column. I die cut "hope" once from blue glitter cardstock and twice from white card and stuck them together. When the feather piece was dry I added silver pen to the lines, stuck that to the background layer and added some lovely vellum butterflies from the recent Quirky Kit. I have some very old, very lovely stick on gems from Prima in my stash and I thought they were perfect on this card</span></li>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jsAuVtUvzU/WQtkKGy-idI/AAAAAAAAUpU/zdyxK-2BycAkYUyMkdoT82H0rMMv9zZrACLcB/s1600/May%2Binspo-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2jsAuVtUvzU/WQtkKGy-idI/AAAAAAAAUpU/zdyxK-2BycAkYUyMkdoT82H0rMMv9zZrACLcB/s200/May%2Binspo-001.JPG" width="145" /></a></div>
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I was going to mention my scrap pages and crochet activity but I think this is long enough for now!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></li>
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Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-76946590764743305652017-04-08T17:29:00.002+01:002017-04-08T17:29:25.656+01:00So this month I have mostly been...<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">not blogging again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">but this has happened:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My nephews from Canada came to stay and we found some new lovely places to eat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">changed my hair colour several times (the advantage of wash out colour is that every time you wash it is a surprise. I have some bleached streaks and they make me think grey will be ok!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJHwfNk_6b0/WOkC3nD2koI/AAAAAAAAUhk/VDYCXe0SRfcl4a8JjugszSjNBAH7cExogCLcB/s1600/red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJHwfNk_6b0/WOkC3nD2koI/AAAAAAAAUhk/VDYCXe0SRfcl4a8JjugszSjNBAH7cExogCLcB/s200/red.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> started Couch25K AGAIN. But it isn't as hilly here so I'm hopeful of getting back to 5k again. I've just done Week 4 Run 1. Yay!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">taught lots of lessons in senior school (well 4, 4 was enough).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">went back to Torbay for Ministers Spring School. Torbay behaved and the sea looked pretty awesome most of the time. Love where I live now but I miss the sea so much. True I'm only 20 minutes away but I did have a sea view from my bedroom. (play that tiny violin for me)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Went to see the parents for Mothering Sunday weekend. We went to the Gower <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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and out to the Mumbles for tea at the new Prezzos which has gorgeous views (and a VERY noisy party near us)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">who says we look alike?</span></li>
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I crocheted a shawl for both mothers but forgot to get a photo of either! Also doing an Sue Pinner aran spinning top blanket and have just started the Nuts About Squares blanket crochet along because I am a sucker for blankets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Joined in the short Quirky Kits scrap challenge day but not the weekend as I had to work that weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1IJSqTd7KYY/WOkITQyXy7I/AAAAAAAAUiM/A0Y-2RP61qw7TYb7ziuDEyN0-mKJIBbLACLcB/s1600/challenge%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1IJSqTd7KYY/WOkITQyXy7I/AAAAAAAAUiM/A0Y-2RP61qw7TYb7ziuDEyN0-mKJIBbLACLcB/s320/challenge%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> And a few cards, which mostly came late to the party because that is what my life is like at the moment </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> March 17th it was my challenge which was "<a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/green-and-glimmer-of-gold.html" target="_blank">green with a glimmer of gold</a>" what with it being St Patricks day and all</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb5l_Ae4B48/WOkJDHO8hTI/AAAAAAAAUik/CmO0jP07o2QvQaaIscF1Id1oxYGmEgBQQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb5l_Ae4B48/WOkJDHO8hTI/AAAAAAAAUik/CmO0jP07o2QvQaaIscF1Id1oxYGmEgBQQCLcB/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I was going to make two cards like this but ran out of time so my mum had something different! This card is not like the ideas in my head! All of the green is watercolour paint. I die cut lots of different shapes from watercolour card - actually no, a few were on paper and then weren't right so I turned them over and coloured them and it still worked! It all got the Wink of Stella treatment (which you can pretty much take as read these days, like the Sharpie pen on scrap pages!). I die cut the letters from glitter card and found the sticky heart in my stash. Then I went to town with various stickles and liquid pearls</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elP5SrP9x2M/WOkJDWHWT0I/AAAAAAAAUio/rK8xpfH0cVgipYm_oX0ChzVEJ_XINy69QCLcB/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elP5SrP9x2M/WOkJDWHWT0I/AAAAAAAAUio/rK8xpfH0cVgipYm_oX0ChzVEJ_XINy69QCLcB/s200/DSC_0008.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Next came my major boo boo Enfys gave us a great challenge to use things wrapped around groceries - <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/wrap-it-up.html" target="_blank">wrap it up.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I didn't read it properly and decided that it was about using packaging. So that's what I did. Doh. I quite like the card though</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eB4jxk8zcEU/WOkJCAlKeJI/AAAAAAAAUig/qz4Jax0qkKoP6TO1OuCc5f18VnmwvRMEQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eB4jxk8zcEU/WOkJCAlKeJI/AAAAAAAAUig/qz4Jax0qkKoP6TO1OuCc5f18VnmwvRMEQCLcB/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I was so proud of myself for using 3 kinds of packaging too. Only one from shopping though. I die cut the Clearly Besotted feather from cardstock . I squished some Distress Inks onto some clear packaging, sprinkled water and smooshed them onto the feather. Then I used the matching stamp over the top to add the feather details. I saw a card recently with a large scallop on and it made me all nostalgic so I cut one from a Heidi Swapp paper with my mahoosive scallop scissors. The turquoise paper is from the same pad. The diagonal stripe is the back from some Pink Paislee embellishments and the coloured stripe is the shade strip cut from a Quirky Kits contents card. I found some thick vellum and heat embossed a Paper Smooches sentiment onto it. And yes, Sharpie pen around everything for definition. I assembled it all, with glue behind the feather and some Prima gems to hold the vellum in place. It isn't quite as squiffy as the photo looks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, apologies to Enfys for not reading the challenge properly</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And finally this week it is the first Friday of April and an <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/aprils-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">Elemental Inspiration photo</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I looked at the photo on my Ipad and obviously should have had it portrait not landscape as I only looked at the bottom four pictures! </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rbpz78nXok/WOkJDTjkIaI/AAAAAAAAUis/pdvYgeOG9qAHnOp2ucItXM2uVnfRIhlAQCLcB/s1600/april%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rbpz78nXok/WOkJDTjkIaI/AAAAAAAAUis/pdvYgeOG9qAHnOp2ucItXM2uVnfRIhlAQCLcB/s400/april%2B.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> So my inspirations are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the blue egg, tulips, twine wrapping, patterned glass, little daisies and the tag on the cup.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I remembered I had a Clearly Besotted tulip set so embossed that with a silver pearl powder. I coloured it in with Zig Clean Colour markers trying to keep the colours light and pastel (man, that is hard for me). I cut it out and wrapped some twine around it. I die cut an oval shape from watercolour paper and added turquise Clean Colour to it. I also die cut vellum and also dry embossed that with a circles embossing folder. I die cut a tag shape and heat embossed a sentiment from the same Clearly Besotted set as the tulips. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I put foam pads on the back of the tulips and stuck them to the vellum which helped me to see where to attach the vellum to the blue card. One that was done the card base was looking a bit plain so I dry embossed that with a large embossing folder. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The daisies were punched 3 at a time with a handy Stamping Up flower punch and once put in place I added some creamy yellow Nuvo drop centres </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">that's all folks! well apart from my 40 Days journal which is up to date. I posted this one online and then realised it was actually Day thirty two so it looks slightly less pretty title wise now <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--26qiy3hzuU/WOkP2AiAmOI/AAAAAAAAUi8/SLqYy0jpCeMkjrWx6F1rPP-nHS9DqhCjwCLcB/s1600/day%2Bthrity%2Bsomething.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--26qiy3hzuU/WOkP2AiAmOI/AAAAAAAAUi8/SLqYy0jpCeMkjrWx6F1rPP-nHS9DqhCjwCLcB/s320/day%2Bthrity%2Bsomething.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-77049359869857965752017-03-04T20:55:00.000+00:002017-03-04T20:55:06.907+00:00If I don't do it now...<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've just managed to haul my (not quite as fat as it was but not exactly tiny either) behind off a comfy chair and into the study to write this post before I sink into an evenings snoozing/crocheting. I've already missed a few weeks and if I don't post now, when the next few weeks are mad, then who knows when?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So life in a nutshell: Half term in Bradford with Carys in a bonkers but fabulous little airbnb place; Hywel has a new job which means finally leaving home and moving to Halesowen- real mixed feelings about that; work life is full on but really satisfying on the whole; attempting to do 40 Acts for Lent - its only day 4 and 40 seems a big number!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm catching up 3 weeks of Daring Cards - the first due to it being half term (seems months ago now but its only 2 weeks!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leo challenged us to <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/lets-go-geometric.html" target="_blank">Go Geometric</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I went for a simple take on it</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH7HQLCLkLg/WLskdc94PKI/AAAAAAAAUco/KYCTuZBGd-sR5LunUEi6JI9LkusLxAFlwCLcB/s1600/geometric.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KH7HQLCLkLg/WLskdc94PKI/AAAAAAAAUco/KYCTuZBGd-sR5LunUEi6JI9LkusLxAFlwCLcB/s640/geometric.JPG" width="468" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I got out some old Simple Stories papers from a Say Cheese 2 pad - I think they are subtly Disney themed but I love the colours. Armed with a triangle die I cut out loads and then spent ages putting them in place on some kraft cardstock. I did a little pen outlining then stuck the whole thing down on a white cardbase. I treble die cut the "Happy Birthday" phrase dies and stuck em together. I only had a short time to create but was quite pleased with the end result.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The next one gave me no end of trouble - not because of the dare but a discovery I made during the process.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dawn asked us to <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/tear-it-up.html" target="_blank">Tear It Up </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">as it turned out that is what I had to do with part of the card...</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbt-r71nnbE/WLskdvskE7I/AAAAAAAAUcw/rh9MHGRTPnE6SZrNLJfyFBg1CEt4DkKnwCEw/s1600/tear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbt-r71nnbE/WLskdvskE7I/AAAAAAAAUcw/rh9MHGRTPnE6SZrNLJfyFBg1CEt4DkKnwCEw/s640/tear.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had the idea of covering a tag shape in layers of tissue paper. It looked lovely - except for the fact that the Tombow Multi glue dried yellow and you could see it through the layers. So in the bin that went (after carefully peeling off the stamped flowers and leaves) and I had to start again. Only instead of reaching for the tissue paper I picked up the hand made paper which I had also used behind the tag. Of course I didn't notice until everything was glued down so decided it would be better to leave it be. So I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The stamps are new to me - Bloom and Buds by Reverse Confetti. They are lovely but solid rather than colour in stamps and I am in need of practice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was much happier with this weeks card - though sad I needed to make it. The lovely Enfys had her first turn at picking an Elemental Inspiration and went for a beautiful room design</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPFj_Pjj7xI/WLskdWMBG7I/AAAAAAAAUc0/yUg9w_v9kX4NzxFuwM_ZyEV4H_xjbfj3wCEw/s1600/march%2Binspo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPFj_Pjj7xI/WLskdWMBG7I/AAAAAAAAUc0/yUg9w_v9kX4NzxFuwM_ZyEV4H_xjbfj3wCEw/s320/march%2Binspo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I was inspired by the windows, the black and white stripes, the plant and the pop of yellow in the left hand corner </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h6w7a0JLoDc/WLskdH0XTgI/AAAAAAAAUc0/5sQ6DOSzvfsGIAthvzFcF_LUMxnTQBf-wCEw/s1600/March%2Binspo-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h6w7a0JLoDc/WLskdH0XTgI/AAAAAAAAUc0/5sQ6DOSzvfsGIAthvzFcF_LUMxnTQBf-wCEw/s640/March%2Binspo-001.JPG" width="636" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I used 2 sizes of square die to create frames and die cut vellum to the larger size to stick behind the frames to give a window effect. I found some black/white striped card to use at the top and bottom and I cut this into waves. I think that the wave and the off whiteness of the stripe help to soften the card otherwise the black/white stripe would have felt too stark even for a bereavenment card. I found a Spellbinder border die that I cut with green and yellow papers. I remembered to use Stickit paper for the yellow one which made adding the flowers a lot easier. The whole bloom was covered in Wink of Stella</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WY1U0aKcTUs/WLskdFqBFYI/AAAAAAAAUc0/CwezO4HkPVEt2iyVqXne9eLZTg--Pf0CwCEw/s1600/March%2Binspo-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WY1U0aKcTUs/WLskdFqBFYI/AAAAAAAAUc0/CwezO4HkPVEt2iyVqXne9eLZTg--Pf0CwCEw/s320/March%2Binspo-003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and carefully stuck down using Tombow glue (without any hazards this time).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm not going to be able to join in the challenge this week - what with our two nephews from Canada (and my mother in law and four dogs) coming to stay; me going away for two days and Hywel (hopefully) moving in the middle. I'll be back soonish with the scrapping I have done with my latest <a href="https://www.craftytemplates.com/" target="_blank">Quirky Kit</a> - I'm off to schedule some posts over there now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-76507438714943311972017-02-11T15:37:00.000+00:002017-02-11T15:37:25.880+00:00Where did she go?<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today I am very excited as I have reached the target weight I set myself. It is still on the heavier side of the health bmi section but I am still over the moon about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been trying to lose weight for ages. Since moving to Devon my weight has gradually gone up adn up. And it was not for want of trying to cut down and exercise more. But nothing I tried worked. Its not helped by having an underactive thyroid and being over 50/perimenopausal. So I decided to go for a weight loss programme. I was going to do the Joe Wicks one but it was a LOT of money. I still wonder if I should have done that as exercise isn't happening much and is a large part of that one. But instead I chose the Freedom Diet which was half the price but basically is just a load of diet sheets. However I'm not knocking it because it has worked and I have lost a stone now. The diet sheets are tailor made (I don't eat meat) and I have hardly ever felt hungry so that is all good. I have slipped in a little alcohol every now and then and eaten out too but slow and steady has done the trick. I had kind of ground to a halt so I would like to thank that horrible bug for getting me back on track. I lost 2lb then and another 2 since! (I don't recommend the bug but at least I had a reward!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I haven't got many before and after photos, except in a bikini and no-one is seeing those on the internet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The best I can do is one taken last February and one last Saturday when I was dressed up as Ginger Spice (as you do) for the local charity 80s/90s dance.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfb5otkqoO8/WJ8nG78FT8I/AAAAAAAAUZE/gojSeG0yxaMThGiGUqyX3g_osCMZTUMwQCLcB/s1600/ginger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfb5otkqoO8/WJ8nG78FT8I/AAAAAAAAUZE/gojSeG0yxaMThGiGUqyX3g_osCMZTUMwQCLcB/s320/ginger.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> As you can see, plenty left to lose if I want to but I'm a healthy weight and happy with it. I don't know why Phil chose to take the photo from the least flattering angle ever but there you go. Here is a better one with Sporty and Baby Spice and several girls from the 80s. (who just reminded me of my teen years!) Oh and one chap...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Anyway I expect the Spice photos will be coming to a scrap page soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So lets get on with some crafting news shall we...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">this week on Daring Cardmakers the theme set by the lovely Sharon was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/mirror-mirror.html" target="_blank">Mirror, mirror </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> we were tasked with using </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">something reflective on our cards. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It could be foiling, shiny stickers, miri card, or even mirrored tiles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had a great idea using silver miri card. Only I didn't have any. I did have a lot of gold miri card over from Christmas Messy Church crafts so used some of that. I wanted to make a Valentines Day card so went for something quite simple (well I always do!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once more I went for that rectangle die cut with the faux stitching. This time I cut out watercolour paper so that I could paint lots of hearts on it with my Kuretake paints. It might have been neater with pencil lines but you can tell its hand drawn this way! I die cut the letters using Wplus9 Whimsy alpha dies. I've used them before but never on such thick card and love the embossed edge that you get with the thicker gold card. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For the inside I die cut a cross stitch edged heart and added the rest of the letters. I've got lots of the stick it stuff for sticking down letters but forgot until it was too late so used my old friend the xyron x150 refill sticker maker (I don't use the little machine as you get to use more sticker by just using the inside refill bit!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And there you go. All I need now is to remember to take it with me next week when we go and visit Carys in Bradford for the last holiday there before she leaves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We have a new place to start visiting though - Hywel has a new job starting soon in Halesowen near Dudley/Birmingham so that is where we will be for our Easter hols, helping to buy and assemble furniture. His new company have a relocation officer so he is doing the had work of finding suitable accomodation!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> (which is more exciting than me losing weight. But only just...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had a day off yesterday and enjoyed doing some colouring in of stamped images and also making a scrapbook page for fun. It turns out that the Go Now Go paper line by Shimelle is very similar to Fancy Pants on Trend 2 so I was able to mix up embellishments and stickers. (And also going through my random selection of bits to stick on as well)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I took my mother and sister in law to Rockfish, a really lovely fish (and chips) restaurant in Brixham where all the fish is freshly caught, the batter was sublime. But ma in law only likes a little so asked if the leftovers could be wrapped up for her dogs. She was tickled to have them returned in a posh little box!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I wasn't sure how to stick on the clouds. "Love" went through my little xyron machine but the clouds were too big. So I dotted some glossy accents on the back and it looks like a pattern. I'll do that again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The photos of the layout are not great - it snowed this morning and is still rather dark with white yet dark clouds covering the sky. Lots of excited children as snow is rare in Devon. But it didn't settle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm still practicing with the lettering (thanks for the kind comments last week!). This one is done with Kuretake Zig watercolour pens. Its better but I still can't always get enough differentiation between thick and thin letters</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Next week it will mostly be crochet as we will be away but I might take my writing practice stuff with me too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Do have a look at the Daring Cardmakers blog as there are some really terrific mirror ideas this week </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-23375477133893602422017-02-03T17:29:00.000+00:002017-02-03T17:29:09.985+00:00It was a lost weekend<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwWoGJXrPyk" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">cue the song...</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had a lovely day off last week, mooching about and crafting followed up by a delicious tea and movie night (the Hateful 8). It went downhill from there and I spent most of the night in the bathroom... for a while I thought it was my cooking but it turns out there is a bug going round here. I was able to be back in action for the most part on Monday but it as taken until today (Friday) to feel properly better. Apart from the low level cold I have had for a few weeks now. I think that moving to a new place and spending most of my time with children means that I will pick up every bug going. Sigh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway that means that I have two cards to talk about this week</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last weeks DCM dare theme was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/i-want-more.html" target="_blank">"I want more"</a> where we had to decide what we want more of. Hmmm hard to choose so I went for </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">more hand lettering</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">so I went for bravely trying to paint letters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I find it really, really hard to tell if this is nice or not. I look at my writing and all I see are the things that are not perfect and it I am totally honest, the ways in which it is not like Kristina Werner's hand lettering!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is a real difference between me and Kristina though and that is that she has spent a lot of time working on her letters and I just want to be like her straight away. To me that is a lot like discipleship. It is no good comparing yourself to others especially if you are standing there moaning rather than putting in the time practising. Christians are called to be the best we can be - using our own individual gifts not looking with longing at others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">hear endeth the sermon... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">so I do want to commit to working on this a bit more and have started adding lettering into my bible reflective journal that happens a few times a week (should be almost daily but I'm being honest here!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So the deets are large stitched rectangle die; Gansai watercolour paints; fine brush; sequins from stash.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week it is the beginning of a new month so we had a lovely<a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/febuary-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank"> inspiration photo from Svenja</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I could have sworn that in my stash I had loads of these bits and bobs from when steampunk was all the rage. Not so much, it turns out. I also wondered what card to make as I think I did a "key to my heart" last Valentines day, if not then, the year before (what do you mean he won't remember!). So I turned out my whole craft space and came up with...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The blue filigree backround (inspiration 1) is a booklet type thing left over from a Quirky Kit that I trimmed down. The key </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(inspiration 2) </span>is made from a thin chipboard one covered with Versamark ink and peacock blue UTEE. When it was melted mint green UTEE was sprinkled randomly on the top. The gold hexagons </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(inspiration 3)</span>are dies covered with old gold and then tinsel gold embossing powder, plus a little bit of Vintage Photo distress powder that you heat on and rub off to age it. The letters are die cut cardstock covered in old gold embossing powder. The combination of rough embossing and UTEE covered die cut meant the two surfaces did not want to meet up, not even with extra strong glue but finally foam pads and the threat of going in the bin did the trick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(it looks bronze there but really is green)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was sure I had some nailhead brads to be inspiration 4 but these little metal square ones were the best I could do. I cut and inked some paper layers at the bottom as it all looked a bit too stark against the large square card base. Lastly in my throwing everything about I found these lovely Prima jewel like stick on gems that are the exact same colour as the key is now so they went on. Now who to give the card to? Would it suit Carys as she is (gulp) 21 in a few months time?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In other crafting news I have finished the blanket I made for my Goddaughter. She was 18 last birthday and is heading for Uni so I thought something to snuggle under in a cold student room might be the thing. I only decided that after her birthday so it is a bit late! I used the <a href="http://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/attic24/attic24-cupcake-stylecraft-special-dk" target="_blank">Attic 24 Cosy Stripe Cupcake kit</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">which was nice as someone else had done all the work of putting together the colours and I could just crochet</span><br />
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Its a largish single I would say. The edging is beautiful<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> This is my second cosy stripe. The first was a rainbow baby blanket. I like bright colours and hoped the parents would too</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I've seen the baby wrapped in it and she looks lovely. (though I say so myself!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So now I have two projects on the go, both by Sue Pinner and I will have to hope I don't get confuddled. One is the Secret Blanket which is a small lap blanket that uses up all the leftovers from the Carousel. Its a bit scary in that I have to choose my own colourways. I mean Sue chose all the colours initially but I wanted to try and put them together well too. Here are my first two large pieces</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every one will have red in as that is the accent colour in my front room and anyway red goes with everything in my opinion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've just got the wool for the other one which is made in pieces in a similar way but using aran wool. Two of the colours should have been in a different more expensive wool so I swapped them out and hope it will still work well. </span><br />
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<br />Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-30999802655266316332017-01-21T15:33:00.001+00:002017-01-21T15:33:37.247+00:00Best laid plans<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had all sorts of creative ideas for stitching for this weeks <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/stitch-it.html" target="_blank">cardmaking Dare </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">but ended up with something that looks fairly simple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I die cut a stitched heart from watercolour paper I had previously painted to create an ombre effect. Naturally I hadn't checked how big the heart was before painting so the effect is quite subtle as I had to choose light or dark as it wasn't big enough for both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I cut from within the heart the words which I also cut from white cardstock. I stuck some Stick It paper behind the heart to make putting the white words in but replacing the painted middles easier. I think I put it the wrong way round as it wasn't easier at all. And I had to recut some of the tiny pieces as I kept losing them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once that was done and my blood pressure was back down to near normal, I peirced the heart and added some cross stitches. Finally I die cut a wavy stitched square, stuck the heart on. Realised it would have been better to cross stitch through both heart and cardstock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Knew it would be disastrous to reverse engineer it, stuck it all down and onto a card with foampad strips.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Which you can't see normally but you can in the sunlight that was pouring in when I took the photos (slightly better here than on the DCM blog) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've also done a few layouts for Quirky Kits (details up now or soon on <a href="http://quirkykits.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">the QK blog</a>) I've used recent <a href="http://stucksketches.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stuck?! sketches</a> for both</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> and</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> apart from my own dies and glitter glue everything comes from the lovely current <a href="http://www.craftytemplates.com/product-page/bac23550-4977-0f90-6721-b43b1385fe80" target="_blank">Lagom main kit</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our best laid plans did work yesterday (mostly). Phil and I have managed to get back to having the same day off - although Friday still feels wrong after 6 months! I ironed in the morning (I know how to live) but then we decided to go to Evensong at the Cathedral, a meal out in one of the 6 billion restaurants in Exeter and then to see a film. We got our timings off which mean a cuppa before Evensong (better early than late though). I impressed myself listening to the rehearsal just before the service in noting there seemed to be a lot of female voices coming from the hidden at that point choir. Turns out all the children that evening were female! I can't tell you what is different, it just is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Our choice of eaterie and film venue were down to Phil's taste card which saved us about £15 for the food (<a href="https://www.ottomangrill.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ottoman Grill</a> is a Turkish place which was great. phil tried the fermented turnip juice which was intriguing but may not be ordered again). We also save money by going to the Exeter Picturehouse which is a great place to see a film anyway. We went to see LaLaLand which was good but not as good as the hype and not as good a musical as either of the recent Muppet ones.... (however much, much better than the film of Les Mis) (I have strange tastes i know) </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-91820571928321963652017-01-15T19:51:00.003+00:002017-01-15T19:51:35.008+00:002017 so far<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">what have I been up to?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been to a wedding (ok that was on New Year's Eve but it went on until after midnight. Although we were home by then to see the New year in with the family)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been twice to the same restaurant in Exeter - Comptoir Libanais which is lovely (actually been 3 times in a month but the other time was earlier in December)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been wassailing - dancing round apple trees and hanging up toast for the robins. As you do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been to Zizzis for a farewell meal for Carys before going back to Uni. We met friends there who didn't know about the 25% discount code and that made it even better!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been to a classical concert which rather won me over. I like classical music but I prefer to either play/sing it myself or be doing something else at the same time. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I could have taken my crochet but I don't think that is the done thing...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Seen Ross Noble. His show, as far as we can tell was not scripted at all, just talking to a few people and taking it all from there. Totally brilliant. Well most people thought so, some walked out. And then became a major theme for the whole of the second half.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I look at photos of my kids or reminisce over old times I do miss the cute toddlers and small children. But I also love spending time with the young adults they are now AND having time to do things that don't revolve around them so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Which means I am also trying to get back to... making cards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">To that end I have managed the last two Daring Cardmaker weeks - and (spoiler) next week's one is already made as well. I dropped out for a while because life and work were a bit overwhelming as you may have noticed and i hadn't worked out a good rhythm. I think that if I can make a card on a Sunday that is the best time to do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Having said that I nearly fell at the first hurdle as I struggled with my card for the first week of January. It was an <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/january-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">inspiration one</a> and this is the picture</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">White woodgrain, a silver wreath, pine leaves and lots of sparkle, what's not to love? It started well, I found some woodgrain paper and added white paint to lighten it. I cut some leaves from pine coloured card. I decided to cut up an old Spellbinders thing that you were supposed to be able to emboss or use in pieces and the embossing had never worked... and then it all went dangerously wrong. Well maybe a slight exaggeration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> There just wasn't room for the leaves so I decided to mat the woodgrain on green cardstock instead. I could only have a narrow border and it kept going - slightly squiffy. There is a good reason why the blog is called that as I have a real problem with keeping things straight. I only had a tiny bit of green and in the end I decided this would do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I did something I have done before and cut a Sizzix heart out using some sticky shiny material I have. I've also got some new WPLus9 alpha dies (with stamps to match but haven't used them yet!) that I used with old silver glitter cardstock. Then came snipping off the silver flowers and turning them into a vague wreath shape. That was more or less successful. Wierdly it is ever so hard to photograph as it is silver metal that looks copper in some photos. See that bottom right hand flower? that is the correct colour</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">nothing like this! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Although as it is reflective metal that is probably my skin colour in that photo :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So all in all, not great but at least I tried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The next week Kathy dared us to <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/new.html" target="_blank">try something new</a>. I decided to go easy on myself and found a J<a href="http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2016/11/trace.html" target="_blank">ennifer McGuire technique </a>that involves stamping lightly and tracing over it with gel pen. Inspired by her colour choice I found a Papermania 4x6 mat that was a lovely teal colour and went to work with some of my favourite stamps and a white gel pen. I'm much happier with this one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The greetings are heat embossed and I went round the die cut panel which has the stitched lines with more white pen. Then added a few gems that have been on my desk for months and were starting to annoy me. They please me much better on the card!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My teamies have been kind enough to welcome me back and they have done some amazing cards so do go and show them some love! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-63751730336216627302016-12-29T17:08:00.002+00:002016-12-29T17:08:45.342+00:00Surprise!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">to be honest it was the stopping of the blogging and the crafting (mostly) that was a surprise to me. I had managed to keep going through thick and thin and then suddenly, nothing! I think maybe moving and starting a new wonderful but overwhelming job took it out of me more than I had realised. But I am gradually coming back to it. I have completed an Advent Journal</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">made a few blankets (there is another completed one that I must take a photo of, too busy using it!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and dabbling in layouts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> in case you can't read the journalling on this one...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and perhaps my favourite - although it used no paper at all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I used some distress stains, some material stuff, tissue paper, glitter paste, sea glass and chipboard painted white with glitter added plus vellum for the lettering</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lets see how long it is before I have something to blog again - I'm making no promises!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-77378448682854945652016-09-02T13:09:00.001+01:002016-09-02T13:09:15.190+01:00Take a deep breath<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and launch into action! I've had a great summer here in my new job but actually only did a few weeks work before the school holidays when most things stopped happening. So now I will be experiencing life on a different level as the regular events begin again and I have to juggle my diary a bit more. But I am loving it all so far! A lot of the things I love doing have become "work" but then it is hard to tell what is work and what is fun....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I haven't as yet managed to fit creative stuff into the work side but that will come I am sure...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But again I am behind on the old blog front so here are my cards from the last two weeks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At the end of August we had <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/wonderful-woodgrain.html" target="_blank">Wonderful Woodgrain </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I found (ahem, on the floor under my desk) a card that I had stuck the woodgrain paper onto many moons ago and then forgotten about it. It is Cosmo Cricket from their Mr Campy collection. I also found the flower raised sticker which is from a different collection of theirs on top of my desk. (I am that tidy) So that gave me the inspiration I needed. I die cut a circle of dark cream vellum and ran it through a woodgrain embossing folder. That was stuck onto a gold foil die cut doily which was added to a pinking edged circle (I added some gold pen work to that) Before sticking that all to the card I felt that something else was needed so that is where the striped paper strip comes in. I die cut the word thanks from gold foiled paper and then finally added some gold dots as a border using Beads in a Bottle. And they all worked!</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGBpzv9p8Ro/V8lojZ8iTlI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/D4EgAG7aT2oWXmbwQueSG3P99e0YLy38wCEw/s1600/woodgrain-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGBpzv9p8Ro/V8lojZ8iTlI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/D4EgAG7aT2oWXmbwQueSG3P99e0YLy38wCEw/s320/woodgrain-001.JPG" width="174" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week as it is, indeed September, there is a round of <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/septmeber-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">Elemental Inspiration </a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">using this photo</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QfcYY63N6-0/V8lolBveQTI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/GxK804NeYNAZBsyysOwz2oTKGoUhKI6EwCEw/s1600/picture-inspiration-september-2016-klein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QfcYY63N6-0/V8lolBveQTI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/GxK804NeYNAZBsyysOwz2oTKGoUhKI6EwCEw/s320/picture-inspiration-september-2016-klein.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I went old school with it and made a little boat. I used to make these boats a lot.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPWRrfHYOAk/V8lojfgS3bI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/Ii_TdGTtzuU28Ijja1BmYePinAE1ABvRACEw/s1600/Septinspcard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPWRrfHYOAk/V8lojfgS3bI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/Ii_TdGTtzuU28Ijja1BmYePinAE1ABvRACEw/s640/Septinspcard.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> this one was just a bit too big for the card. These papers are all ancient Authentique ones, die cut using various stitched squares and turning some into sails/the boat. The leaves are Clearly Besotted dies and the word is from the Maya Road Art Journalling stamp set. The leaves and boat were covered in that shiny wink of stella stuff but I don't think you can really see it. Tis pretty though</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dO-DfGOz1WA/V8lojazHZhI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/Rj-Qr7A5YbggiC3bzPTHsf6Jut5lhWfNACEw/s1600/Septinspcard-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dO-DfGOz1WA/V8lojazHZhI/AAAAAAAAT_Y/Rj-Qr7A5YbggiC3bzPTHsf6Jut5lhWfNACEw/s320/Septinspcard-001.JPG" width="279" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-9829075842644940492016-08-22T17:51:00.002+01:002016-08-22T17:51:49.904+01:00One of these days<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll get back to regular blogging. I'm still trying to work out a pattern to life at a time when lots of things have stopped for the summer and suddenly I'm writing to someone I can meet with you this week or after 21st September! So lots to cram in but I am loving my new job so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All of which is a feeble excuse for being 3 cards behind for Daring Cardmakers...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">8th August was the first of the month so a chance for <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/august-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">Elemental Inspiration</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zoAcCIJW_dg/V7sof5S8iwI/AAAAAAAAT6o/uFgCZYg9fQstHlFo6MP5QKItC1eeiH3vACLcB/s1600/august%2Binsp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zoAcCIJW_dg/V7sof5S8iwI/AAAAAAAAT6o/uFgCZYg9fQstHlFo6MP5QKItC1eeiH3vACLcB/s320/august%2Binsp.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> turned into</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv3hVdUAdxY/V7sofZGiGPI/AAAAAAAAT6k/6hot0prYD_cHYhSoyrNw3oC9VUdq4Ia1gCLcB/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qv3hVdUAdxY/V7sofZGiGPI/AAAAAAAAT6k/6hot0prYD_cHYhSoyrNw3oC9VUdq4Ia1gCLcB/s400/DSC_0008.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Sadly the silver/chrome features don't stand out on the photo. That heart is a lovely squishy silver one and I added silver streaks to the die cut "love" that look good. Oh well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I used</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the patchwork wall</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">chrome effects (the lamp shade)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">flowers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">teal and yellow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I adore teal - it is the main colour in my bedroom and kitchen. Maybe I could do a wall like that? The papers are a mix of old ones and the die cuts are from a recent Quirky Kit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The next dare was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/a-room-with-view.html" target="_blank">a room with a view</a> - to make an aperture card with a scene behind it. My card for this was pretty late but there you go...</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFu_v5aG0bU/V7sp_MuatzI/AAAAAAAAT68/7DlVLmD5n502LKgvGQ6nkwyh2JAl0f7JQCLcB/s1600/room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFu_v5aG0bU/V7sp_MuatzI/AAAAAAAAT68/7DlVLmD5n502LKgvGQ6nkwyh2JAl0f7JQCLcB/s320/room.JPG" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I made an aperture card with a porthole effect, putting acetate in the middle. On the inside I had a die cut circle the same size as the aperture hole and layered up blue coloured card and a small semicircle as the sun. I added dots and sparkles with glitter glues. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKWq2QYoIa8/V7srAg4kF3I/AAAAAAAAT7I/30oDxa_TGPM3ZunLLbyW4d7kIJle63hAgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKWq2QYoIa8/V7srAg4kF3I/AAAAAAAAT7I/30oDxa_TGPM3ZunLLbyW4d7kIJle63hAgCLcB/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="228" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When it had dried and I picked up the card, somehow some yellow distress ink had got on to the front (it is a mystery but I am untidy and anything can happen!) So that decided the placement of the stamped letters and also meant I had to add those lovely yellow polka dots as well....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And this week - I was on time! I so enjoyed colouring these flowers <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/raspberry-and-lime.html" target="_blank">raspberry and lime</a> as per the request </span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwks-XSz-nQ/V7srA57BeVI/AAAAAAAAT7M/A4aY9UQesG4jwt3afkb3o29YuyBfqQsjgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gwks-XSz-nQ/V7srA57BeVI/AAAAAAAAT7M/A4aY9UQesG4jwt3afkb3o29YuyBfqQsjgCLcB/s400/DSC_0012.JPG" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I used another die cut circle and started colouring with Distress Inks but even the Raspberry one wasn't vibrant enough for me. So instead I went for the Clean Colour brush pens and they delivered. Some of the flowers and leaves were stamped and embossed directly onto the circle and others were done seperately for increased dimension. I did sneak a bit of blue in so that the whole thing wasn't too sickly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">OOh that reminds me of when I was small and my mother overdid the food colouring and created a layered cake in almost exactly these two colours - only brighter. "Who made THAT?" said a man, temporarily blinded by the cake. "<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I did</span>" said mum. Not sure she ever used food colouring again</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The icing could well have been similar to the background of the card. I mixed some texture paste with some Mowed Lawn distress ink and pushed it through my favourite stencil. While that was drying I stamped and embossed my sentiment, layered it all up and job done.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d33J0hv2FbM/V7srAeM91hI/AAAAAAAAT7E/3bdzpJv1uUMiYCjAlfmDMrXrazEH07JmACLcB/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d33J0hv2FbM/V7srAeM91hI/AAAAAAAAT7E/3bdzpJv1uUMiYCjAlfmDMrXrazEH07JmACLcB/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've done a wee hint of scrapping as well...</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z6c1o0hUVFY/V7ssWHr0PlI/AAAAAAAAT7Y/x_JR_9XHezIUGe--Zw94-bFfWbvWsk_4ACLcB/s1600/higher%2Bthan%2Bthe%2Bclouds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z6c1o0hUVFY/V7ssWHr0PlI/AAAAAAAAT7Y/x_JR_9XHezIUGe--Zw94-bFfWbvWsk_4ACLcB/s400/higher%2Bthan%2Bthe%2Bclouds.JPG" width="395" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love just bundling embellishments together and seeing what works. And I managed to use a paper I was hoarding on the next one</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gRnsoaOZGB0/V7ssYu5lvdI/AAAAAAAAT7c/354k9xrnwh0mbApLCI_S-CsZPQdS9Kd8wCLcB/s1600/mozart.NEF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gRnsoaOZGB0/V7ssYu5lvdI/AAAAAAAAT7c/354k9xrnwh0mbApLCI_S-CsZPQdS9Kd8wCLcB/s640/mozart.NEF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I couldn't get a good photo - still experimenting with photo spots in the new place. I needed a double spread to get all the photos and what I wanted to say in. It is one of the best meals/experiences ever so deserved that gorgeous Dear Lizzy gold/green see through paper and lots of other shiny bits as well. (If you ever go to Madeira you MUST go to Mozarts!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm knee deep in <a href="http://www.craftytemplates.co.uk/quirkykits.html" target="_blank">Quirky Kits </a>now and have so many photos to scrap after a crafty hiatus. Leo makes it so easy with her choice of embellishments and papers. Loving it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-38260926844411880232016-07-31T19:42:00.003+01:002016-07-31T19:42:49.089+01:00Turn around where possible<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the phrase I least like to hear from Ken - the Aussie Satnav. Especially when I am on a narrow country lane and had just done a 3 (well 8) point turn because he had already suggested I was wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Its all a bit discombobulating when you have a deadline - leading worship - but no real idea of where you are in the scheme of things and whether just heading for a place you have heard of would help. Praise the Lord that Carys was with me and had googlemaps on her phone which got us to the right place and almost at the right time. But Ken, what were you thinking?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is a lot of turning around in my new job - but in a good way. On Thursday I was supposed to meet someone who had got the date mixed up. Instead I met everyone at the Volunteer Bureau, went to the cafe for a drink as I had another meeting set up for a short time later and bumped into someone else I have been emailing but hadn't met yet. Who told me about the Sidmouth folk festival being on, just after I had agreed to step in to cover a double booking, so then I asked Carys if she wanted to come along - which got me to the church on time (ish)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Meeting loads of new people and being at the start of new developments is amazing. It always comes with a weather eye to the fact that what works for a town of 3,000 houses won't always translate to 8,000. It does mean that I still have less creative time and energy - I wonder if it is because my day job is now so creative in a different way? I'm determined to get into the groove and think I might have to use my diary to sort myself out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So here are the cards I have made for the dares - and I have made a whole other one in the last 2 weeks :(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A week ago the Dare was called <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/doodle-doodle-do.html" target="_blank">Doodle, Doodle Do</a> which was right up my street as I do like to doodle flowers. Purvi, who is behind the dare, almost always adds hand drawn features to her cards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is mine</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6dHtgf40l90/V55C6OwkQWI/AAAAAAAATz0/gvfStWky8PYlFSGXTN6xh7ILvAM4pT4uwCLcB/s1600/doodle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6dHtgf40l90/V55C6OwkQWI/AAAAAAAATz0/gvfStWky8PYlFSGXTN6xh7ILvAM4pT4uwCLcB/s400/doodle.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I drew some flowers on watercolour paper, coloured them in with my Kuretake watercolour pens. Then I cut them out before added black pen, white dots and a whole load of sparkle with a Wink of Stella pen. Its so sad that you can't see it. I matted some white cardstock onto black and added it to a white card. I die cut a Paper Smooches "love" three times from more black card and added them together. I think the "sending you my" is Wplus 9? Then I played around with the composition of the flowers and leaves til I was happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is enjoyable - but quite time consuming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">this week it was my turn and I thought I would feature the thing that alongside work, has sucked up a lot of my creative time - <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/crochet-away.html" target="_blank">crochet</a>. The good thing about this craft is that I can do it with other people around and strangely, my family do like me to spend time with them. Having originally promised myself I would only ever do one project at a time, I now have three on the go. That is very much due to going on holiday whilst the crochet-a-long I have started was happening. This is it</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBKBCOq3uxs/V55C8GvMoyI/AAAAAAAATz8/a2-eMDAIclssfgIXl0E6EFHOCjOfwL5ywCLcB/s1600/July%2B29%2Bcrochet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBKBCOq3uxs/V55C8GvMoyI/AAAAAAAATz8/a2-eMDAIclssfgIXl0E6EFHOCjOfwL5ywCLcB/s400/July%2B29%2Bcrochet.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">not my version as I am still behind - I have two more navy blue squares and the 4 bottle green ones to do before sewing it together. It is to go in our bedroom and matches really well - better than with the other bedroom we had when I started it and had no idea we would be moving! I didn't know any of these stitches before so it has been fun learning. The project is dedicated to Marinke Slump - a really talented crochet designer known for her colourful patterns and love of teaching new stitches, who lost her battle with depression last year. She started this off and many of her friends got together to choose a square to design in her memory - you can read a little more <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scheepjes-cal-2016-last-dance-on-the-beach" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm not sure my blanket will look as good as this one pictured but I will show it when it is done in a few weeks time (I hope). I'm also making a corner to corner wrap for winter and a multi coloured blanket for the sitting room that is supposed to use up scraps but I ordered more wool to do it :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Back to cardmaking - I asked the Daring Cardmakers to </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">be inspired by crochet - maybe by the square
patterns, or to use some wool or even a bit of crochet. I went for quite a simple design in the end, based on the squares</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZq0O-tVBak/V55C6LqDZ4I/AAAAAAAAT0A/MkGJwt2rhJM4kBtrGXJ8TNxeUyX_lUfQACEw/s1600/crochet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZq0O-tVBak/V55C6LqDZ4I/AAAAAAAAT0A/MkGJwt2rhJM4kBtrGXJ8TNxeUyX_lUfQACEw/s400/crochet.JPG" width="282" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not that happy - I think because I found this really, really old perspex button to use and felt it wouldn't look right on white cardstock but I don't like the cream. I may just have to make it again with white cos I am sure that would be much, much better!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway I chose 4 colours of cardstock and ran each colour through a different embossing folder. Little bit of pen, a die cut banner and a really old dome sticker later and done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The other designers did a much better job - go and have a look :)</span><br />
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<br />Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-7361905319819176102016-07-15T14:55:00.000+01:002016-07-15T14:55:18.826+01:00Climbing slowly back into the saddle<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well, what have I been up to since last I put fingers to keyboard?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have....</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">said goodbye to Torquay and moved to Cranbrook</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">settled into the new house, although there are hardly any pictures up yet and one room needs storage stuff putting up</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">met loads of my new neighbours and discovered what a community friendly place this is</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">finally had my DBS (safeguarding clearance through the police) which took from 9th March- 24th June and meant I could not start work straight away</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">said goodbye to our dog Lucky who managed the move successfully, clearly loved her new pad (especially the carpets, much more comfy) and cleverly waited for Phil to come back from a 5 day barge trip so that he could be part of her last hours</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">seen our chickens happy in their new homes at St Martins school. I bought some eggs from the school farm shop yesterday and we are pretty sure we have one of Chantelle's.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gone on a wonderful family holiday spending a whole week on Holy Island which remains as special a place in my heart as it was before. Then spending another week 5 minutes from the end of the causeway which meant I could enjoy mainland Northumbria without worrying about tides</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">travelled to General Assembly of the URC in Southport and had a great time getting to grips with Consensus Voting which can be painful at times but seems to bring more positive results than a straight vote. I did have great angst over being asked to be a teller as counting is not my strongest point but I was only needed for one vote - that URC congregations are allowed to register to hold same sex marriages. I am glad that should my son and partner wish to, they can now be married in Church.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Been welcomed in a joyful and creative service as Minister for Cranbrook. I contributed some scones. My baking skills are not hugely better than my counting ones but I used lashings of clotted cream from a farm that is 10 minutes drive away so no-one would notice. I was given some wonderful symbolic items including this<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">- a hard hat filled with flowers that all have a special meaning. They are in a hat because this town is still being built (I also now have my own high viz vest) and flowers because our first church building won't be one as such but instead will be a community garden and meeting space on the plot where a church will be (hopefully one of at least two in the town)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and probably more stuff as well. Cranbrook is an exhilirating and challenging place to be with lots of opportunities to share God's love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All of which means I haven't had much of a chance to craft but I have a neat little space on the landing outside our bedroom, thanks to Phil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So far though, all I have managed is a simple thank you card and two Daring cards! I think as life settles into a pattern (or even less of one over the summer) there will be more creative time</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week I took the <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/lets-have-summer-party.html" target="_blank">Summer Party</a> theme and went for a simple option</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">party banner. I mixed up new and old for this card. New was the my Favourite Things wonky rectangle die and the Neat and Tangled skinny letter dies. Old was the Nestabilities flag dies and the Echo Park I love sunshine papers. And the black pen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week the dare was about <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/strawberries-and-cream.html" target="_blank">Strawberries and Cream </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was inspired by the colours and also decided to try and draw some strawberries myself</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qq-5rApK1lc/V4jm4oBYQ_I/AAAAAAAATx0/oSd1_nEc6FYVjekZzSlajNdFeZkegfX9QCEw/s1600/strawberries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qq-5rApK1lc/V4jm4oBYQ_I/AAAAAAAATx0/oSd1_nEc6FYVjekZzSlajNdFeZkegfX9QCEw/s640/strawberries.JPG" width="448" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The background stamp is by Winnie and Walter and called "Do you see what I see"
</span><span style="font-size: 10px;">. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was embossed with white powder onto watercolour card and painted with Clean Colour markers. I drew some strawberries and coloured them in. You can't really see the little dots and shading on the fruit, nor the sparkle from a Wink of Stella brush, even in close up</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeylVLhonSA/V4jm4WFrs-I/AAAAAAAATx0/eVHBTATBeXUV9tvcPBl68yE2Do6-aj8JQCEw/s1600/strawberries-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeylVLhonSA/V4jm4WFrs-I/AAAAAAAATx0/eVHBTATBeXUV9tvcPBl68yE2Do6-aj8JQCEw/s320/strawberries-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">but they are there. In order for the strawberries not to melt into the background I used a trick from Debbie of Limedoodle and punched a circle of vellum for the fruit to rest on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I do wish that I had started stamping the sentiment further to the left but tis done now! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Do have a look at the blog. Bet it makes you hungry!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-68447670044632137042016-05-20T13:06:00.003+01:002016-05-20T13:06:32.287+01:00See you on the other side?<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm not sure when I will post again. Although we are having packers come, I will need to at least tidy away my craft stuff (sob) and life is going to be mad for the next 10 days. Then it will all be a bit weird whilst I sort out the new job/house and i might have loads of time to craft - or none at all. The usual answer to questions about the new post is "I don't know" and that is both exhilarating and totally scary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So here is a little catch up with what I have done</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week's Dare was about <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/triskaidekaphobia.html" target="_blank">Luck</a> as it was Friday 13th</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I dragged out some old Cosmo Cricket papers and die cuts. I kind of see it as a good luck in your new home sort of card. I layered up papers and even got out an embossing folder...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That hedgehog is so cute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week I went <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/paint-rainbow.html" target="_blank">all rainbow</a>. This time last year we had a dare where we were monochromatic rainbow colours but I wanted all of the colours together this year - or at least some in rainbow order. the blog looks delightfully cheery.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My first card</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhJ1jJ52N6k/Vz762T8TRxI/AAAAAAAATpg/eRXrp9ucrtIi1J6U05VBv60Vi9XQ9nklgCKgB/s1600/rainbow-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhJ1jJ52N6k/Vz762T8TRxI/AAAAAAAATpg/eRXrp9ucrtIi1J6U05VBv60Vi9XQ9nklgCKgB/s640/rainbow-001.JPG" width="512" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I found some Paperchase postcards when I was tidying up that were perfect so I cut them into strips (there was a purple one too but it didn't make the cut) I die cut balloons three times out of card and layered some glitter sticky film over the top layer of the balloons.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KawF9RbmCw/Vz763aRbwsI/AAAAAAAATpg/1Z7sQzKu7X8-kbPliIt1PuuDMUt0jD51wCKgB/s1600/rainbow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KawF9RbmCw/Vz763aRbwsI/AAAAAAAATpg/1Z7sQzKu7X8-kbPliIt1PuuDMUt0jD51wCKgB/s320/rainbow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I decided some enamel accents would be a good extra to break up the white but I forget that although the white is lovely, the delivery (at least in my hands) can be erratic - which explains the gems!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I wasn't going to make a second card but while my box of stickles and pearls was open I was inspired to try and make a glittery rainbow. So I picked out rainbow colours and smeared them on some card with my fingers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It took a long time to dry - almost 24 hours but it is so pretty.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpSIyM6_4cE/Vz763nYjWAI/AAAAAAAATpg/aQa-qI24NvguAJ38-tls8Ov38fnBhlDFQCKgB/s1600/rainbow-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpSIyM6_4cE/Vz763nYjWAI/AAAAAAAATpg/aQa-qI24NvguAJ38-tls8Ov38fnBhlDFQCKgB/s400/rainbow-003.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I wanted to keep the rest of the card light so die cut some Clearly Besotted leaves from vellum and a sentiment from white cardstock (think that is CB as well). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">IN other crafting news I did join in with the Quirky Kits craft challenges for Scrapbooking Day. I haven't written them up on the blog yet. All of the pages use the current kit with a few oldie kit bits added in</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-16660711409801907802016-05-07T13:21:00.001+01:002016-05-07T13:21:15.073+01:00Endings and beginnings<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Its a hard time for me at the moment as I go through lots of lasts over the next month, whilst trying to organise some firsts. This includes spending a lot of time off painting walls in the new house. And discovering what pans will work on our posh new hob which refuses to put the heat on under any inferior vessels. (Le Creuset, yes please; Pyrex, no. Pans bought three years ago to replace our wedding set - not on your nelly, it demands <i>special </i>pans)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are lots of goodbyes to be said and working out what needs to be handed over as well as starting to think about the what ifs and maybe's of what God is calling me and the church to do in my new post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also enjoyed Minister's Spring School. It has always been a bit of a joke that Phil and I go to stay with everyone else...4 minutes drive from our home. Next year, we will be proper tourists like everyone else. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of which has meant that crafting has rather taken a back burner and blogging, once again is the most neglected corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I finished my Dad's Father's Day present. As he came to stay for a few days he already has it. It is an Attic 24 ripple pattern using colours that should match the sitting room, with a bit of extra blue thrown in as green and pink might have looked a tad too feminine. I worked out the random stripes myself and was quite pleased with that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daring Cardswise I have three weeks worth to share. Eek! The eagle eyed will also note that I hadn't tidied my desk inbetween cards 1 and 3 which meant I could use the same embellishments on both. Work it baby.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z853EbEd1dg/Vy3YL_-ECGI/AAAAAAAATmg/fAT55vCCzMQDs-BCiea1SxsYGs82Rm8_ACKgB/s1600/coffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z853EbEd1dg/Vy3YL_-ECGI/AAAAAAAATmg/fAT55vCCzMQDs-BCiea1SxsYGs82Rm8_ACKgB/s640/coffee.JPG" width="486" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 3 weeks ago the theme was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/coffee-shop.html" target="_blank">Coffee Shop</a>. Now I loathe coffee. It is an abomination. But I do like a Chai latte extra hot from Starbucks (sorry) so wanted to use green and white on the card. And I had a fabulous <a href="http://www.craftytemplates.co.uk/shop.php" target="_blank">Quirky Kit </a>delivered with the chai latte cup die cut inside (not a coffee cup, not at all) and lots of lovely green and white papers and I felt very happy. Everything paper related is Pinkfresh. The green hearts are from an old QK and the sequins I have had forever, along with the white glitter ribbon. The little words are Tim Holtz.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 weeks ago love was in the air with the <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/royal-wedding-anniversary.html" target="_blank">royal wedding anniversary </a>at the front of our minds. My wedding anniversary (28!) will be a few days before we move (have I mentioned I am moving?) and so it is good to get the card out of the way before life gets even more hectic. Yes I am that romantic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This mostly uses the My Minds Eye Fancy That collection which is great as it is the nearest to peaches and cream that I have ever seen in the scrap world and so is perfect for scrapping our wedding. Hey, those colours were bang on trend in the late 80's you know. OK I have had those papers and embellishments for about a year and not made a wedding page yet but still....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also used gold mirri card - oh I am so retro. And a more up to date see through gold accent from a recent quirky kit. "you" is a Papertrey Ink die. The phrase fits so well as "you are my world" is the music at the end of our wedding video. The one we can't watch because we no longer have a video recorder!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And finally - THIS week's card is for the <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/may-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">May elemental inspiration</a>, what with it already being the beginning of May and all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was the inspiration piece.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is my card</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vej0OazFQO0/Vy3YMObTVOI/AAAAAAAATmg/p2VFcxtumDskyY_lMRNKGjwNuzCXuD6XwCKgB/s1600/may%2Binspiration.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vej0OazFQO0/Vy3YMObTVOI/AAAAAAAATmg/p2VFcxtumDskyY_lMRNKGjwNuzCXuD6XwCKgB/s640/may%2Binspiration.JPG" width="472" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I used brickwork (Tim Holtz embossing folder); the door (I swooshed brown distress ink onto some thin wood and pierced holes in it like the door on the photo); the bike (Clearly Besotted stamp) and some leaves - various dies cut out and coloured with Zig pens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">the layout was influenced by Kathy's sketch </span><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArO4gNE6lhA/Vy3YLOfl7bI/AAAAAAAATmg/gAxOWMQZTvAfyn4qyRSRLIwtbz415vaGQCKgB/s1600/May%2Binsp%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArO4gNE6lhA/Vy3YLOfl7bI/AAAAAAAATmg/gAxOWMQZTvAfyn4qyRSRLIwtbz415vaGQCKgB/s200/May%2Binsp%2B2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I added a sentiment from the same Clearly Besotted stamp set, some more green die cut hearts and some sprinkles that came in the same packet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just after I had finished the card the postie arrived with a prize sent by the lovely <a href="http://miniowner.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sue (Miniowner)</a> who had sent me a prize for her sketch challenge. Inside was.... a die cut bicycle which would have been perfect for the card!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-43975815212388131432016-04-17T19:57:00.000+01:002016-04-17T19:57:00.159+01:00Laying out the layouts<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My scrapping often gets overlooked - what with me being a rubbish blogger and all, so here is a quick catch up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Crikey - it turns out I have loads!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I won't go into detail then, if you are curious about anything then just drop me a comment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These are all personal layouts i.e. not for Design team work, although a lot of the embellishments are from Quirky Kits because Leo is so generous with them</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This first one comes from a sketch by Susan aka Miniowner who has a great blog <a href="http://miniowner.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sketch-challenge-april-1st-30th.html" target="_blank">here</a>. This is the sketch </span><br />
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And this is what I did with it<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Warning - its bright</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Even all those bright colours don't detract (in my humble opinion) from the riot of colours of the market. All the papers are from Illustrated Faith, as are almost all the embellishments</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> And here is the layout that is all about the fruit we paid a king's ransom for in said market. The title sums it up</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> That gold mat stuff? I have had that <i>and never used it</i> since I began scrapping 10 years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Whilst I am in confessional mood, this story needed to be told but I am still cringing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The big flower carefully hides a woman who spoiled the view :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two more...</span><br />
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No, three!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I will try and keep up with myself better in future.</span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-2762643429577994062016-04-15T10:00:00.000+01:002016-04-15T10:00:08.853+01:00Don't panic, don't panic<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am very good at panicking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Some things don't help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Like the letter yesterday about the fact that my pension will be frozen as I am changing employer. Seeing that written down made it seem more real.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then I realised that I only have 4 more services left in each of my current churches.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And my DBS clearance hasn't come through yet and I can't move without it, but I have had to give notice and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">aaaaaargh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lets just put our trust in God. (But please, police, do my application next)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And perhaps focussing on crafting would be better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I still haven't blogged last weeks card and it was my turn and everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I chose "<a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/buddhas-birthday.html" target="_blank">Buddha's birthday</a>" as a theme, suggesting that people could go all oriental. I did it in the simplest fashion</span><br />
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I punched out oodles of flowers using a Stampin' Up punch that does three at a time (yay!) I cut them from watercolour paper so that I could paint the middles using Clean Colour watercolour pens. I did cut the branch using a Dienamics die and again used pens to colour it in.<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The background is also diecut - a stitched rectangle and as this was watercolour paper I was able to use some different blue and purple paint colours (the Gambai set) that were blended together and spritzed with a perfect pearls wash.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The sentiment was cut out three times and stuck together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">By this time the background was dry so I was able to put everything together. Some of my cherry blossoms were raised on foam pads and all of them had a little dot of Daffodil stickles in the middle</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been trying to clear out some of my stash before the move. I'm not being too ruthless yet as I will be working with at least one school who might be grateful for cast offs. I threw out a lot of random die cuts that I had been sent with purchases and never used but I did find a massive word which I decided to hang onto. Lo and behold it turned out to be just the thing I needed for this week's dare which is all about <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">using primary colours.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, I did use watercolour paper, thanks for asking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">but no, it isn't pen or palette - this time the colour comes from a rather lovely watercolour dye ink set I have had for about 8 years. Oh I have just found it online <a href="http://www.vycombe-arts.co.uk/onlineshop/prod_3677588-KohINoor-12-Disc-Dye-Based-Watercolour-Palette.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The colours are really vibrant and I still adore it</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> On this card I just used the yellow, red and blue, allowing them to run a little bit. I then die cut the stiched square and attached the sentiment on top with foam squares. I decided the little red gem would be a nice finishing touch but probably means the card will have to be hand delivered!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was on a roll so I made another card, this time allowing the background colours to blend and create others. I also used a brand new WPlus9 rose die set on the top.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJzY9bpNlOY/Vw_hNretTSI/AAAAAAAATeM/I3YKDZtVAjsrOMvwrIfdaljtPpw5ofqWgCKgB/s1600/primary-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJzY9bpNlOY/Vw_hNretTSI/AAAAAAAATeM/I3YKDZtVAjsrOMvwrIfdaljtPpw5ofqWgCKgB/s640/primary-001.JPG" width="522" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> the blue ink came up a lot brighter than it was when I stamped the sentiment - but I think it works better than black would have. (I know, I'm surprised I said that too)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've made a few other cards this week in what Phil likes to call "old lady style". I couldn't resist buying some more WPlus9 flower stamps and they are a joy to colour combined with those Kuretake Clean Colour pens</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ9j5_XsGw0/Vw_hQbP1VoI/AAAAAAAATeM/6h8dTuPcCoEBen7fhAQMTLYFL5It_DD_ACKgB/s1600/taste%2Bthe%2Bcolours.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ9j5_XsGw0/Vw_hQbP1VoI/AAAAAAAATeM/6h8dTuPcCoEBen7fhAQMTLYFL5It_DD_ACKgB/s400/taste%2Bthe%2Bcolours.JPG" width="313" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> You can't really see the Wink of Stella but it is there</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CP9iTp6QsrA/Vw_hPheEcFI/AAAAAAAATeM/6OY2iJcLawQ4kqPb8utRxp4C4AEsPCLUACKgB/s1600/taste%2Bthe%2Bcolours-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CP9iTp6QsrA/Vw_hPheEcFI/AAAAAAAATeM/6OY2iJcLawQ4kqPb8utRxp4C4AEsPCLUACKgB/s320/taste%2Bthe%2Bcolours-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">all shimmery and lovely</span><br /><br />
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I've coloured the flowers using a few different mediums - but haven't finished off any of the others yet. It is amazing how different all the cards look<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-60564237743960405032016-04-01T13:01:00.001+01:002016-04-01T13:01:30.920+01:00Some you win, some you lose...<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Well Easter is over, Jesus is risen - hurray!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been having a lovely week's holiday - hurray!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">but the dog just ate the last of my mini eggs - boo!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(I know dogs aren't supposed to eat chocolate. She doesn't pinch any other food and it isn't the first time she has devoured chocolate. We will just have to watch and wait)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Phil and I visited 3 National Trust properties in 3 days - one which will be close to our new house (we were there measuring and looking at what painting needs to be done) and 2 close to here that we always meant to visit and now don't have much time for - Greenway (fabulous) and Compton Castle (very old, doesn't take long to go round). It also means that our NT tickets are already half "paid for" for the year! We hope to revisit Coleton Fishacre before we move as that is absolutely my cup of tea and I would move in if I could!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've also done a little crafting as well. Its been good to recharge the batteries. I love my card for last weeks Daring dare. This weeks? not so much...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week the challenge was to <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/celebrating-spring.html" target="_blank">celebrate Spring</a> with spring themed cards that also featured a spring if possible </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcKm9HYgFwI/Vv5hfaSgrXI/AAAAAAAATb4/YnSiPVpGQOwUQIMldXdgoFCTmfKUw9hGg/s1600/srping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcKm9HYgFwI/Vv5hfaSgrXI/AAAAAAAATb4/YnSiPVpGQOwUQIMldXdgoFCTmfKUw9hGg/s400/srping.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I watercoloured a background using peerless watercolours and then added in some Doodle stamp flowers that have been coloured and on my desk for, well probably a year! So this card also has a spring-cleaning element! I added some doodle stems and then middle flower is on a paper spring so it wobles</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuqgAQSXlQs/Vv5hezMSyXI/AAAAAAAATb8/5JTRW4Jl1ocxI-RBjh8bNNJgIH43dw0xw/s1600/srping-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OuqgAQSXlQs/Vv5hezMSyXI/AAAAAAAATb8/5JTRW4Jl1ocxI-RBjh8bNNJgIH43dw0xw/s320/srping-001.JPG" width="231" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just don't get tired of those flowers and the bright Kuretake clean colour pens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week it is an <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/april-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">elemental inspiration week</a> as today is April 1st (eek). </span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OvoWlJsXe1E/Vv5heDEInXI/AAAAAAAATb8/aJ3ekknlNcMhzQ2eQ3da9O4Z-midSDpYw/s1600/april%2Binspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OvoWlJsXe1E/Vv5heDEInXI/AAAAAAAATb8/aJ3ekknlNcMhzQ2eQ3da9O4Z-midSDpYw/s320/april%2Binspiration.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Its a lovely photo but</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I really struggled with this and don't like the card I have made at all</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_pffux5lDLM/Vv5hevZhNNI/AAAAAAAATb8/fQ0Z0CS_nUAal78XJdkFbMFTSRIAFhcow/s1600/Apr%2Binsp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_pffux5lDLM/Vv5hevZhNNI/AAAAAAAATb8/fQ0Z0CS_nUAal78XJdkFbMFTSRIAFhcow/s400/Apr%2Binsp.JPG" width="303" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I like the extra stripes I put onto the pink paper and quite like the rabbit (and the extra arm that comes from one of the other sets) but I'm not happy with the whole thing. Having a splodge from the black ink that needed covering up with a yellow flower didn't help....) The others have made a much better fist of it than I have so do go and have a look.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-63942659560310473482016-03-21T18:51:00.002+00:002016-03-21T18:51:36.272+00:00Its the most busiest time of the year....<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yup, people think Ministers have a lot on at Christmas time but it is nothing to Lent, Holy Week and Easter. The latter is more straightforward in that there is more work but less having to run around and get presents and food etc at the same time. I even made sure all the churches had enough palm crosses this year (that's a first for a while without having to have last minute deliveries!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Its all good - but doesn't leave a lot of crafting time </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have finished another crochet project which I will carefully photograph so you can't see the mistakes in it. If I ever make another bag I know what to do now - but couldn't bring myself to take it right back again, again. Most of my crochet projects have to be rewound at least once. But they always end up better and stronger for doing so. (And I will always look at my bag and wish I had gone back and started again). There is something profound and theological in the need to go back and start afresh and how that is the best thing. I'll ahve to work on my theological reflections on crochet a bit more. Feel free to ask about the theology of dieting, I can <strike>rant about</strike> articulate my beliefs on that score more easily!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have had some time to craft today - I made myself take a real day off, even though it means working like a mad thing the rest of the week. Because that rest is needed to get me through. And it has given me a chance to photograph things I finished in an actual spare moment over the last few weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two weeks ago the Daring challenge was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/speedy.html" target="_blank">Speedy </a></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNoldmuawEA/VvBAkxGZNtI/AAAAAAAATaE/hUmtrEgNTF01Iw8kBwbEPp0wyXxNpLLhg/s1600/wheels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNoldmuawEA/VvBAkxGZNtI/AAAAAAAATaE/hUmtrEgNTF01Iw8kBwbEPp0wyXxNpLLhg/s400/wheels.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
...and of all the die cuts in all the world, Nat and I chose the same one. What are the chances? Pop over to the Daring blog to see how different our cards look. I used papers from the same collection (I am) to create a kind of scene for the bike to rest on. Not my best effort but I tried...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week I was very late to the party with this card. We were challenged to use <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/hand-krafted-creations.html" target="_blank">Kraft </a>on our cards. I decided to use it to colour on and this was the result</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xjbTnUOtisw/VvBAk9ShpGI/AAAAAAAATaI/rt0a7Zpb5VUubDem04gcB_YhNjLZGM92A/s1600/kraft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xjbTnUOtisw/VvBAk9ShpGI/AAAAAAAATaI/rt0a7Zpb5VUubDem04gcB_YhNjLZGM92A/s400/kraft.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I stamped the Winnie and Walter Addie's garden flowers with white ink and then coloured them in using Prismacolour pencils. I did try to watercolour first - can you spot the poorly leaf? The pencils were awesome though. After colouring them I added Wink of Stella glitter pen and then went back round the images with a white gel pen. The Paper Smooches stamp was embossed onto thick vellum and I die cut the matching word three times - the top layer is glittery - to give it dimension. I added the Prima sparkles because I couldn't get the vellum to lay down flat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've also been making layouts for <a href="http://www.craftytemplates.co.uk/shop.php" target="_blank">Quirky Kits</a> recently - here are the latest two</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omDFIPrtLfw/VvBAqfuMIlI/AAAAAAAATaQ/Z8WNGFdNgtk5DRias9-8VPhGLSkzRJ_Wg/s1600/awesome%2Bidea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-omDFIPrtLfw/VvBAqfuMIlI/AAAAAAAATaQ/Z8WNGFdNgtk5DRias9-8VPhGLSkzRJ_Wg/s320/awesome%2Bidea.JPG" width="318" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGV-8LhJ9F8/VvBAqENA_LI/AAAAAAAATaM/jpqieKG_3bksrHs-7Q-Fb0JUOdSyP3Czg/s1600/long%2Band%2Bwinding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eGV-8LhJ9F8/VvBAqENA_LI/AAAAAAAATaM/jpqieKG_3bksrHs-7Q-Fb0JUOdSyP3Czg/s320/long%2Band%2Bwinding.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> using the same set of papers and embellishments! It shows just how clever and creative these kits are</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-56351499633447842922016-03-07T11:30:00.002+00:002016-03-07T11:30:40.694+00:00All change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday I had the difficult task of giving notice. Being a Minister, you don't do it by letter or a quick chat to your boss (although I suppose prayer is involved...) but by telling a whole congregation all at once. And in fact, as I have two congregations a letter was involved so ignore most of the above!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, what I told them was that I am moving to a new post, as Minister of Cranbrook. A town on the edge of Exeter which hasn't been finished yet to be Minister of Cranbrook, a church with no building. So, a very different and challenging job with lots of exciting, creative possibilities. Leaving is hard though and I have not been in Torbay that long so it was really quite a shock. I won't be replaced immediately, which has its pros and cons but does mean people will have to take on some of my responsibilities and that is tough too. But as my Moderator (bit like a bishop) who is a wise and lovely person has said, if God has called me to Cranbrook, then God will look after my churches too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In crafty news... I finished my crochet blanket JUST in time to send to my mammy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DiHnBGbLKb0/Vt1ihQBUQcI/AAAAAAAATX4/lhOuGusXpP4/s1600/DSC_0001-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DiHnBGbLKb0/Vt1ihQBUQcI/AAAAAAAATX4/lhOuGusXpP4/s320/DSC_0001-001.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_z83OLxsXg/Vt1ihlM7oDI/AAAAAAAATX4/i3aUZffGHFs/s1600/DSC_0002-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_z83OLxsXg/Vt1ihlM7oDI/AAAAAAAATX4/i3aUZffGHFs/s320/DSC_0002-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is the Spice of Life CAL pattern for those who understand such things. I am disappointed with my edging. I have the same pick up issues that I do with knitting - where I end up with holes. I just hope mum thinks it is part of the design!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It went with this card</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U-8ZmgFtWzQ/Vt1iePZzScI/AAAAAAAATX0/yqNbfrxgu0I/s1600/March%2BDCM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U-8ZmgFtWzQ/Vt1iePZzScI/AAAAAAAATX0/yqNbfrxgu0I/s640/March%2BDCM.JPG" width="518" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> which was also handily, my Daring Cardmakers submission this week. As it is the beginning of March, our challenge was an <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/march-elemental-inspiration.html" target="_blank">Elemental Inspiration</a> one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is the picture we had as a jump off point</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rT_PeUX45Vg/Vt1idzcQ0eI/AAAAAAAATX0/UKP_QK9pt40/s1600/hallo-fruehling-banner_img-1444289980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rT_PeUX45Vg/Vt1idzcQ0eI/AAAAAAAATX0/UKP_QK9pt40/s400/hallo-fruehling-banner_img-1444289980.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Hurray, I thought, I can use my new Clearly Besotted tulips set! So I did. I was also inspired by the yellow painty splodge, the ric rac, the colours and the woodgrain. What woodgrain I hear you ask? Why the enamel dot above the "i". It has a subtle, but honestly there, woodgrain!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The paper is really, really old Websters Papers - but that is not as old as the Doodlebug paper frill ricrac which I have had forever!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Life is going to get even more complex in the next few weeks but hopefully I will still find a little time to craft and possibly even blog </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-4020770935307879382016-02-26T12:34:00.000+00:002016-02-26T12:35:36.654+00:00Yes it is actually Friday<br />
And Friday is the day when I plan to post but usually don't manage it.<br />
However that means that there is very little to show as this has been a mostly work and not play week - apart from the great crochet project with a Mother's Day deadline. The Jury is still out on that one being completed on time...<br />
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What I can share is my Daring Card this week<br />
our theme is <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/simply-ir-resistable.html" target="_blank">Simply Irresistable</a> and I couldn't resist (hah!) using it as an excuse to try out a technique I saw on <a href="http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2016/02/lifting.html" target="_blank">Jennifer McGuire's blog.</a><br />
Now obviously her card turned out waaaaaaaaaay better than mine but as a first go I am quite pleased<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-forkt-Vs7bg/VtBC4hYIewI/AAAAAAAATUs/cfWDOCH2oCw/s1600/resist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-forkt-Vs7bg/VtBC4hYIewI/AAAAAAAATUs/cfWDOCH2oCw/s640/resist.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>
You heat emboss a stamp with white powder, then cover the whole card base with dark distress ink (this is the awesome Blueprint sketch). Then you lift colour with a water brush and paint on some other watered down colours when that is dry. I think the cardstock I used was slightly too absorbant so will try this with other cardstock as I love the graphic colours.<br />
I also added some wink of stella shimmer which I don't think you can see even on a close up. Although you can see my imperfect painting!<br />
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I trimmed down the image to a size I like and added a white card mat. Then I found a strip of patterned paper that complemented the stamping as the card was a little too bare without a something else.<br />
I used a Clearly Besotted sentiment which was stamped and embossed on one of the offcuts of the first card. The image was raised with foam pads.<br />
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I made it while listening to "the Last Anniversary" by Liane Moriarty on my ipod. Oh what a delightful listen. It is probably a good read too, but having it read with an Aussie accent helps with the context I think. I've just finished it and highly recommend it (a few swear words but no graphic sex scenes. I hate the latter in an audio book....)<br />
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Right off to have lunch. I know that part of it will feature these<br />
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I had a Lent Bible Study last night and the theme is "Feasting in a time of Fasting". As each study is linked to a food story I thought we ought to have matching nibbles. I did, of course decide this at the last minute and headed to my local shop wondering if there would be anything remotely fish shaped and tasty as the story was the miracle of the loaves and fish<br />
Ta dah!<br />
They even look like little loaves rather than chips to me.<br />
And it turns out they are incredibly delicious.<br />
There are not 12 baskets left over but there are two packets and one is calling my name.<br />
I also saw <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MethodicallyReordered/photos/a.1563222033924173.1073741828.1558216351091408/1730138673899174/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">this</a> on Facebook this morning which might have helped our discussions yesterday :) <br />
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<br />Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-56567184629071098632016-02-22T21:28:00.000+00:002016-02-22T21:28:02.553+00:00Missed againPoor little blog. Still, I do what I can!<br />
I've been away with Phil to see Carys this week. We had a lovely time in Bradford and have lined up some things to do (for free) next year. We were allowed to watch a rehearsal of her next show and sing Karaoke in the bar with the students (my parents would not have been allowed. mind you karaoke hadn't been invented when I was a student)<br />
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So here is a craft catch up<br />
The Friday before last the Daring theme was <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/party-animal.html" target="_blank">"Party Animal"</a><br />
and here is mine<br />
(lousy weather for photographing)<br />
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Love this grumpy looking horse being made to dress up. I had fun going through die cuts to make him look thoroughly embarrassed! Most are Maggie Holmes. I layered up papers and added a glitter circle as otherwise the star of the show got a bit lost. A craftwork cards sentiment completed the look.<br />
It is quite a bulky card<br />
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This week I am late with the card as I was away so to make up for it made two on the <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/getting-geometric.html" target="_blank">Geometric theme</a>.<br />
It was an excuse to play with the three new stamp sets that arrived this week - a background, some flowers and those labels<br />
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One was embossed with black and the other white. I used Clean Colour pens for the background of the first and all the flowers/leaves. The second was painted using Distress Pads, water and plastic. I had some trouble with my embossing folder (It is really too thick for a Cuttlebug) and so had to cut down/disguise where it went wrong.<br />
So which is best? I can't decide!<br />
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I've also managed to squeeze in time to do two layouts for Quirky Kits (details on the <a href="http://www.quirkykits.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">QK blog</a>)<br />
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and finally.... something completely different.<br />
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One of my Churches has worked hard on a new entrance and toilets and we had the official opening this Saturday. I love the entrance being uncluttered but felt it needed a little bit of art so I made this<br />
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I used square 8x8 canvases and iridescent paint. Originally the lines were going to be straight, but they looked much better loose and blendy (I think there is a sermon in there somewhere) (there is a sermon in almost everything). As Brixham is by the sea/countryside I wanted to reflect that. I used 4 colours as well as the gold. A lovely man from church put it on the wall for me. I had visualised it with all horizontal stripes but quite like the verticals too.<br />
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And here I am next to it in my uniform so you get a sense of scale<br />
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with my phone in my pocket. Tsk!<br /><br />
<br />Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-40328428005347908762016-02-07T12:36:00.000+00:002016-02-07T12:36:13.754+00:00Layout catch upthe trouble with enjoying crochet (see last post for details :) ) is that is is social and I can do it in a room with a gas fire.<br />
Other things I have to waddle up to my craft space in my bedroom and it takes <i>thought </i>to do that. But I am still enjoying it when I get there and have made a few layouts recently. I loved doing the last one about our amazing holiday to Madeira and I am ready to go and make more.<br />
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But firstly, finishing off the stories from our last summer holiday<br />
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I used all sorts of old stuff - Simple Stories; Crate Paper and some old resist papers that I think are Pink Paislee, that I coloured blue to match the cloudy sky in the photo. The sticker should really say "undocumented" as it is about the quick as a flash dolphin sighting that we didn't get a photo of. I really enjoyed layering it up top and bottom<br />
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Then a more simple page about a poem in Welsh and a very special word that has no English equivalent<br />
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The papers are all Websters Papers and the journal spots are October Afternoon. The gold accents are mostly Crate Paper.<br />
I wrote out the translation in gold pen. I wondered about adding in the whole poem in Welsh but decided against it. You can read some of it on the wall in the photo. Welsh people who don't live in Wales, like me, often enjoy wallowing in the feeling of hiraeth, but prefer the emotional pang to actually living there! I've noticed that people from Africa who live here have the same sort of emotional responses to "home". (Maybe others but it is those from continental Africa that I have had such conversations with!)<br />
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And then... Meet Barry, done in a flash the other day<br />
I was helped by using a sketch from <a href="http://www.easyscrapbooksketches.com/one-picture-three-sketches/#more-77" target="_blank">Easy Scrapbook Sketches</a> and again keeping it pretty simple<br />
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That photo makes me smile from ear to ear. Its amazing what making a face on something does to us... which is what the journalling is about. And also reminds me that the food was delicious and the vegetables... strange but tasty.<br />
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The papers are Dear Lizzy documentary but I think most of the stickers are Crate Paper Maggie Holmes, plus some old Websters and October Afternoon letter stickers<br />
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Oh and some Heidi Swapp words - I think from an old Quirky Kit. All the words left are perfect for these holiday memories so expect to see more soon<br /><br />
<br />Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974252.post-9992396972768009292016-02-05T12:23:00.001+00:002016-02-05T12:23:35.497+00:00CrochetmaniaGoodness, this crochet thing is addictive. There is something very satisfying about the way the wool runs through my fingers and it grows fast too.<br />
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Here is the finished rainbow blanket</div>
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with cute edging (that is probably a tad too tight!)<br />
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and here is the start of the next one<br />
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which is a pattern called "Spice of Life"<br />
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We have even started a cochet club at church - most are beginners, so we shall see how many come next time but we had 10 there yesterday (so crochet getting its hooks into you does not just apply to me then!)<br />
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But I haven't lost my love of paper crafting and I was only 10 minutes late adding my card to the <a href="http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/february-elemental-inspiration_5.html" target="_blank">Daring Cardmakers</a> blog this week. It was an elemental inspiration dare and here is the photo we had to take ideas from<br />
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and what I did with it...<br />
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Can you see?<br />
<ul>
<li>Animal prints (the paper and the three layered stickers are from an old Crate Paper collection, On Trend. those red looking stickers are MUCH more pink in reality); </li>
<li>love spelled out in tiles (they are shiny gold from an Old Quirky kit);</li>
<li>heart with words on: I found some black/white striped paper in my stash (is it Dear Lizzy Documentary) and wrote some of the words on the heart in the picture in what Phil lovingly calls my messy handwriting</li>
<li>fuschia elements - pink Prima dots</li>
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I wanted the heart to overhang so cut the front of my card. I then backed it with vellum for some added interest.<br />
Must remember to hide the card as it means valentines is now done....<br />
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<br />Lythanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08820869686392457427noreply@blogger.com1