Blue Poppies

I've been playing with my new set again and thought I'd try a very non-poppy colour but I like how it turned out. I eventually managed to tie a tidy bow - courtesy of Becca Freeken who has a great tutorial video on her blog Amazing Paper Grace, for the first time I didn't get the knot the wrong way around - so simple when you see it done properly! I added a strip of paper I stamped with Papertrey's Guide Lines stamps - I love how you can make so many different patterns with it.

Tapestry Rubber Stamps x 2

I spent the day out with my DD trailing round the big shopping centre in North London and I needed to do something relaxing afterwards! It's a while since I got my tiny tapestry rubber stamps out and these were two quickies that I paired with some Stampin Up paper from their designer paper stack and some May Arts ribbon. I can't get the stickles glitter glue to show very well in the photo but they do sparkle quite prettily.

Colour Challenge

Today's colour challenge over on Splitcoast Stampers was pink, black and white - I just love that combination. The pink is for breast cancer awareness month and I was remembering my flower arranging teacher at evening class who lost her battle 3 years ago. I still have foliage plants in my garden that I planted on her recommendation. I used the Remember set from Papertrey Ink but added the Believe stamp (double stamped in pink and black) from the Christmas set as I thought that sentiment worked well with the belief that a cure will be found for this dreadful disease. On that note - are you all doing your checks yourself? :)

Scallop Oval Pair

Here are two cards I made last weekend - same layout just different stamps. I used the Blossoms Abound set from Stampin Up for this first one with SU coloured cardstock and Papertrey stampers select white cardstock which is worth the postage alone from the US -

and Floral Frenzy from Papertrey Ink for this one which uses berry sorbet ink, ribbon and cardstock from Papertry.

I think I'll make a few more as a set and get some more milage from my Nestabilities!

Out of the Box Siberian Iris

I know it's not very seasonal to have irises in Autumn but I made this for the sketch challenge over on Split Coast Stampers. I love the papers and cardstock from Papertrey they are such great quality. The Flourishes iris stamp is coloured with Copic markers and the half pearl and pin is made from the Stampin Up Pretties kit. My blending of the Copics is starting to get better - slowly :)

Circle Frame Card

A forum friend put me onto Becca Freeken's fantastic blog and especially to this tutorial for a frame card made using a corner punch. Do go check out Becca's tutorial here and then feast on her blog which has the most beautiful creations.

Here is my first attempt at one using all Anna Griffin stamps and papers -well I have to use it sometimes ;)

Bloomin' Beautiful

I love this Bloomin’ Beautiful stamp set – and I see that it’s in the new UK Stampin’ Up catalogue that’s coming out soon too. It’s about time we had some decent stamps in our catalogue and not just retired sets from the US. Ok – off my soap box and on to the cards!

I made this card for the lovely Anne for her birthday. It’s very pink but I had some fun colouring in the images with my new Copic markers. I found when I was practicing with them that they picked up the black Stazon from the stamped image so I experimented with embossing my image as on this card and I like it better. I am waiting on some Memento ink as I hear the copics work well with that particular ink.

While I had the images stamped off I made this card. It’s very therapeutic sitting colouring whilst watching TV of an evening. The paper is called Ginger Blossom by SU and a little bit of Hodgepodge Hardware holds the sentiment. The flower is double stamped and given a little lift with some dimensionals.

This one was made for a sketch challenge over at SCS. It was really tricky to get my diamonds to match up – where is Paul with his set square when I need him?

Thanks for stopping by :)

Splitcoast Featured Stamper

I love Sunday- it's the day I get to play with my stash - and it's even better over the Summer when the Grand Prix are on and I don't get bothered because Paul is riveted to the tv :) My new job means I don't have to work Saturdays any more so I get to do more domestics then and chill out on Sunday.

Sunday over at SCS in the challenge section is the featured stamper day, and it's the best inspiration going.

Last weekend it was Nikie Estes turn. I visit Niki's blog daily - she makes beautiful cards (insert envious green smilie) and is a member of the Papertrey design team. I made this card,inspired by Niki for my dear friend Cathy who I visited later in the day in hospital. I used the SU Petal Prints set and designer paper.

New Guide Lines

I broke my self imposed rule on ordering any more Papertrey Ink stamps because of their awful postage charges to the UK, but I had to give in and have this set from last month. Credit where its due they arrived by registered post in just 4 days.

At the beginning of the Summer my new stamping buddy Chris came over from the US with her family and stayed just down the road from us in Uxbridge. She lovingly stashed a pile of Papertrey goodies into her suitcase for me including the cardstock and ribbon I used for this card. The rub-ones come from Delish Designs - very yummy and great to use - thank you Penny!

The layout of the stamping on this card was inspired by Rebecca Oehlers of the PTI design team - I wanted to try and emboss the images and while I had my SU Pretties kit out for the half pearls I made a pin to go with it.

A Lovely Short Break

The Doctor said that Paul was allowed to fly now he's made such great progress but only a maximum of an hour and provided he was full of asprin and wearing flight socks:) So we headed off to Scotland for a few days, After touring around the Highlands we stayed with my great friend Lorry on the Isle of Skye. Paul had a blast fishing in all the rivers and managed a couple of little brown trout for his efforts! It was the first time we have been away together on our own for a long time.

This is Plockton - a beautiful little village at the end of a Loch - I could move here tomorrow - it was so pretty and peaceful. No sirens or aircraft overhead, just great views (even though I missed the castle nestling in the forest on the hillside).

I spent a lot of time sitting besides rivers like these while Paul dibbed his rod - I wish I'd taken some stamping with me though :)

I'm not sure who was most frightened here - me being faced with those horns or the cow seeing me and my droppy boobs :) The Highland cattle are so huge and pretty - a shame they were all laying down because of the weather.















Whilst with Lorry I had a wonderful day crafting with her and her lovely friend Polly. While Lorry and Polly were busy knitting with wire and beads and making earings for a craft fair I stamped out a couple of sets of 3x3" card sets.

What do you do when your DH is ill?

Buy new stamps!

I thought I would try some stamps other than flowers ;) This card uses a set called Say Charge by My Favourite Things and coloured in with SU water colour crayons and blending pens.

Another new big background stamp that I used in this pink card came from Unity Stamps - it's called Doily and I love it! It just called out to be cut up and raised up. I used the sentiment from another Unity set that I haven't had chance to play with much as yet. The cardstock is Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush by Papertrey Ink.

I couldn't resist getting a new flower stamp and as iris are among my most favourite flowers I had to have this Siberian Iris set from Flourishes. It stamps so beautifully and I spent a good few hours sitting with Paul and colouring it in with different combinations. This is one with a sentiment by Papertrey from the trusty Out on a Limb set.

Back in the Blogging Business!

It's so good that life is finally calming down and I have a chance to catch up with things just for myself.
The last few months have been the most challenging for many years but we have come out the other side now.
Paul had his hip replaced in May after many months of not knowing where his pain was originating from and he is doing brilliantly well :) He is down to just the occasional use of a stick to aid him getting about and physio is keeping him supple.
A huge thank you to all our friends at home, work and overseas for all your good wishes to him. Check out two of the wonderful cards Paul received from Penny and Lana. Also to Deb and Linda - they were all very special {hugs} and he has been showing them off to all his visitors/District Nurses/Physiotherapists.
All the while Paul was ill, Fliss was doing her GCSE's and she coped really well with having her Daddy at home the whole time. We are keeping our fingers crossed for August and that she gets the results she wants to go into 6th form.
And me? Well I have a new job to look forward to in a couple of weeks - more about that another time :) I didn't totally clear my crafting space away of late so I do have a few bits and bobs to post. Watch this space!