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Sunday 31 August 2008

Box for golden wedding Bookatrix



The box is made from gold card but I put the gold side inside the box so you get a very rich gold experience on opening it, which allowed me to decorate the white outside by using more gold for the initials which I cut using the Robo in thinner gold card from The Works. The box corners are punched to match the vellum and they also gives a glimpse of gold inside.






As well as finishing the box for the golden wedding card I thought I would show you my new stamps, yes more, the three on the right really made me smile when I opened the package.
I also have some Mrs Fastidious the cow stamped images ready to use, and some Pete (is it Plimsoll Pete?)





Tuesday 26 August 2008

Golden wedding bookatrix card

I made this card for my Parents to give to my Uncle and Aunt, I still need to make mine.

I am going to put it in the This Thursday challenge too as this week is bling!

It is a bookatrix, with layers of embossed card, pearlescent card and patterned vellum that I stamped and heat embossed (not very well). I mounted it on gold mirri card added different gold ribbons and brads and a bow, and finished it with some gems.

This is only the second Bookatrix card I have ever made despite having the board for years but it takes time and is elaborate!

I don't know what to do with the book marker, it is just propped up for now but do I attach it there, leave it loose, or attach it in the centre? Or leave it out all together? Any help appreciated.

I have made a box in gold card inside out so the gold is inside and I can decorate the top. That isn't finished yet, well the bottom half is. I have punched the vellum and the corners of the box lid with the puzzle punch.

I had another comment from Deguline that I thought I had published but it has vanished so I am sorry if I pressed reject by mistake. Thanks for the comment.

Sunday 24 August 2008

Dragonfly days



I had this visitor in the conservatory today, so I took a photo before catching it to release outside. I also got a better shot of baby bird, these babies are so big they must be going to leave the very small nest soon.

Perhaps I should make some bird and dragonfly cards after the current project which is a golden wedding card.

Did you know there is a British Dragonfly Society? Lots of photos and maps of sightings of dragon and damsel flies.



Saturday 23 August 2008

New babies



A couple of days ago we discovered there was a messy nest in the wisteria over the patio, and in it are two baby collared doves, despite the dogs! One is very shy, the other is a bit more bold, and what gave them away was a pile of you know what on the patio under the nest! This angle is the only one I can see and take photos but I did stand on a step stool to get a better shot.
I have included a photo of mum or dad taken a while ago.
The jungle photo does have the braver baby peeping through the leaves, it is a good hiding place I think.





Note: I have had to reject a couple of comments that certainly didn't sound genuine going by the blog names, and one asked where the first comment went - it was rejected too when you left it and for the same reason. You both look like spammers to me but feel free to prove otherwise!




Wednesday 20 August 2008

This Thursday colour challenge

I got home at 5:15, had inspiration and made this in the colours Monet puts together so well. I love teal and turquoise right now too. Hopefully this is in the nick of time as it has taken just 30 minutes - you can probably tell that!

I stamped the background with a Hero Arts silhoutte stamp, then stamped and heat embossed the butterfly and cut it out to mount on the background for a 3d effect, then I punched out the three sizes of flower in spare card, the blue was stamped too, and added a matching turquoise gem to the centre.

Tuesday 19 August 2008

Tagged by Lazy Kay

I have been tagged by LazyKay, thanks Kay. I haven't been tagged for a while so I can cope!


Here are 6 random facts about me:


1. I like Meatloaf (the singer not the food).

2. I watch TV while on the computer and I am on the computer for too long like Kay.

3. I love the colours teal, turquoise, peacock blue, petrol blue right now and I saw a turquoise van on the way home that made me go all goose pimply!

4. I eat far too much organic chocolate, I am a chocoholic.

5. I love photography and am trying to get back into it.

6. I buy far more stash than I need or can use, but you probably know that already!


So here are my 6 random bloggers (out of the 936 I have currently in google reader) to be tagged:


1. Laura - a woman after my own heart

2.Cass who is talented and funny, her blog is very entertaining and she should write a book.

3.Leslie - inspirational with tutorials too

4.Lily who makes such lovely things

5.Debbie who is very talented at drawing, and card making with her drawings

6.Ashley who makes some gorgeous and classy cards


I hope you will take part ladies but I understand if you don't and I hope you won't take offence at being tagged.


It’s a random tag and here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who ‘tagged’ you!
2. Post the rules on your blog!
3. List 6 random facts about yourself!
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post!
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!
6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!




Friday 15 August 2008

Surprise present


Here is the present that is going in the bag below. It is for Vanessa who likes cows and bought me the butterfly stamp set for my birthday. I had this photo dome in the cupboard for ages and I had a sheet of cows, my son said Vanessa would like those cows so rather than a card I thought I could make something she could keep.

The cow stamp is Penny Black's Mrs Fastidious. The butterflies are from an unknown make stamp set.

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Butterfly bag



I know this is a bit late but I hope it will be accepted into the this Thursday challenge.

It is also perfect for the Lots To Do recycle challenge.

I took one plain canteen bag, coloured it with alcohol inks, then stamped it with butterflies in tuquoise dye ink. I punched holes in the handles all the way round and all round the top of the bag and threaded sheer pink ribbon with glitter hearts on it. It is a bit hard to see the ribbon in the photo.

I could do more to it, but I wouldn't make it for the challenge if I do.

I am going to put a special present in this for a special person.


Monday 11 August 2008

A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge card



I made this card for the A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge which is a card using something recycled.

I used the front sheet from a pack of Dovecraft papers as my backing paper, so that is the recycled part. The image was given to me in a bundle of images from dear Fe Fe (thanks Fe - I used one), and was coloured beautifully by my lovely assistant Vanessa.

I added a scalloped mat, and two BazzilL Butterflies blooms attached with a brad and topped with a gem.


Friday 8 August 2008

Some quick cards and new stamps












A few new stamps, the box full are stamps by Crackerbox and the others are Penny Black and one Inkadinkado (the cafe scene).

The cards are my first attempt to use up the big basket of embellishments, I decided to get stuck in and just make some quick cards that I could sell perhaps a little cheaper than usual and that will make room for other stuff. The basket is hardly dented so I have a long way to go!

I have had quite a week or two, I lost my glasses at work, I had a spare at home but then I "lost" those when I was off sick. When I went back to work I found the second pair in the car.

Today I was sitting on my office chair, moved back and heard a cracking noise and something falling off the chair, when I looked down there were the first "lost" glasses"! Spooky! I had been phoning round, retracing my steps, searching cars and getting other people to search their cars - so how did I not see them on my chair? They must have dropped out of my bag when I was packing up and lodged in the bend at the back of the chair obscured by my cushion! They are in a grey case so don't show up well - maybe I need fluorescent green!

I got bitten by an insect and it got infected so I had antibiotics, but I had two days where I was feeling really ill and couldn't go to work, I just slept all day.











Monday 4 August 2008

Whoops, just bought more stamps!







Sorry I haven't been around, I have had a few problems like not feeling well then getting bitten and getting an infected leg, so I am sitting here with the footstool from the lounge under my desk with my leg up which isn't too bad!

So with that and the holiday I haven't got any more cards made, or taken photos of the quick cards so I can bag them up but I will.

I have started a companion blog to tell all I know about crafting (shouldn't take long then!), and I started a section on stamps. (there will be a beginner section before that when I get round to doing it).

I have only got as far as mounted and unmounted rubber stamps and I mentioned magnetic then popped over to Rubbadubbadoo to check the link and they are having a sale! How can I resist at those prices?
I also ordered some stamps from I Brake for Stamps, and some punches from a good Ebay seller in the U.K.

The lovely lady at I Brake for Stamps asked me if I wanted to pay $8 or $12 for postage, I said $8 and she told me she will post them today (as it is still day over there).

The punches I ordered are a dragon border punch, a baby feet border punch and another Puzzle punch as I am quite impressed with the first one and will be posting about it on the other blog when I get to punches!


Now here are a few photos from "sunny" Torquay! Mostly with birds and all but one are gulls, spot the one sitting on top of the fountain? I had hoped to get a better shot but I don't think I used my new lens for that one.