Not the Jubilee 60.......

Last year my lovely brother in law reached 60 years of age. We didn't know quite what to do for a birthday present for him as he was very ill and we were really worried. The doctors didn't seem to know what to do to help him!. Tony didn't have the energy for any of his hobbies or anything else so all the usual gift ideas weren't right. Although money is always useful a cheque in the card didn't seem appropriate either, so we had to find a more novel way to mark his birthday AND it had to be posted!

I couldn't think of a way to stick so many £1 coins to a piece of card and make it good good enough to give as a gift and survive in the post. So I decided to use a piece of polyethylene foam packaging instead. It still didn't look good! There were too many coins to make a reasonable sized 60. Credit where it's due, my DH came up with this idea. I printed out another paper template and he used it & my craft knife to cut 60 slits in the foam and each coin was then wedged in upright so that when the box lid was closed they wouldn't shift in transit. A printed message and some 'fancy' drawing pins and we were good to go!

My BIL liked his present and I'm pleased to say that once the right part of the NHS  made the correct diagnosis and started to treat him appropriately he made a great recovery and is enjoying life again!

I think this idea could be adapted for other birthdays or money prizes with a bit of novelty visual appeal.

Here's a closer look for you

Thank you for looking
Margaret x

Two Weeks!

As I said last time I blogged  I'm not the quickest crafter on the block and this card was no exception.

A very kind friend made me a gift of this image after I had admired a card on her blog. Thank you lovely lady! Inspired by her card I decided to paper piece the image as it's a technique I've never tried before.

After a few false starts I managed to paper piece the dress and the parasol using the turquoise blue floral backing paper and coloured the parasol to try to give it that beige 'papery' look of a real parasol.

A composite flower cut from the green stripey backing paper edged with dark chalk, a few gems and a craftwork sentiment and phew! the card was ready to go to Ali in time for her birthday last week.

I'd like to enter the following challenges please


http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ paper piecing
http://sketchycolors.blogspot.co.uk/ Turquoise & green
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ Anything Goes
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.co.uk/ Anything Goes
http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.co.uk/ Something that makes you happy (the floral backing paper)
http://www.sjpapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ Favourites (the floral backing paper)
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/ Anything Goes

Thank you for dropping by

Margaret x

I've Made A Card!

I recently saw a poll on facebook asking how long it took you to make a card, the options started at about 15 minutes and the max time was an hour. It's only taken me a week to make this card......... LOL!

For a change, it hasn't been made to fit any specific need other than if I'd left it any longer I might have forgotten how to......

The image was a LOTV freebie off a recent magazine, coloured with Copics and liberally dusted with glamour dust.
The lace, doily, pearls & flowers have been in my stash for far too long.
One of the backing papers was a gift from my lovely friend Jennie to help me re-discover my MoJo - It worked. Thank you once again x
And the other backing paper was the 'Must Have' item bought a couple of years ago that I believe qualifies me to enter Flying Fresian's MSE challenge.

Thank you for looking

Margaret x

Is it Springtime?

I haven't blogged since last September, I've made a few cards but always seemed to run out of time to blog them so if I can remember how......... here goes.........

I follow the MSE card making thread here I think the current challenge is Springtime, if that's right then I'd like to enter this simple card.

This is what I used:
Image - LOTV recent magazine freebie -coloured with Copics & chalks
Papers - Backing Yellow card from Lidl, yellow spot is Stamping Up, green spot is Pink Petticoat (both these hoarded bits)
Punch - Fiskars Threading Water my first punch - sadly neglected
Flowers - from stash - they were the first I ever bought, also for an MSE challenge!

I'd also like to enter:

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/ Think Spring
http://useittuesday.blogspot.com/ Green
http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Going Dotty
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ Green
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Spring

Thank you for looking

Margaret x

Come Fly With Me!

I made this card for my husband's birthday. Building & flying model planes was his hobby when we first met and as funds allowed he has since changed to flying full sized light aircraft. Therefore, as soon as I saw this LOTV image it was the obvious choice for a card for him.

When the stamp arrived I hid it so well I thought I had lost it but luckily I found it just in time! I used my copics to colour it. The papers are from Fine & Dandy True Blue and Papermania Secret Garden. I used matt Gold Mirri as the backing and used one of my favourite MS punches. The tiny flags were cut from a different sheet of the Fine & Dandy paper. I don't very often admit to being happy with my work but must say, I think this was one of my better efforts, even though it was made in a bit of a rush.  Sorry the photo isn't very clear.

I'd like to enter it in the following challenges - always hoping that I meet all the rules!
Georgiegirls MSE Challenge/ Change
http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Challenge 72 Anything Goes
http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Inspired by a song – Come fly with me.
http://www.totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ It’s a man thing
http://prairiefairyfridays.blogspot.com/ Masculine
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ Inspired by a song – Come fly with me
http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/ Green


 
Thank you for looking

Margaret xx 

Move It......

This card was made for my lovely godson & his wife who have been married for just one year - how time flies - it doen't seem that long since I was fretting about what to wear for the big day. The papers are a Back to Basics lilac star and a pretty darker lilac floral/heart patterned one that I have had for so long I can't remember where it came from but it may have been Pink Petticoat. The image is LOTV from their recent romantic collection. I used an MS corner punch for the corners and cut the hearts with my cuttlebug in the same card as the backing layer. 3 pearls and a simple sentiment and it was done. On the basis that a swing 'moves' I'd like to enter this into the current MSE Challenge 'Move It'.

I think it also fits the criteria for the following:

http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/2011/08/ Anything Goes

Thanks for looking

Margaret x 

And.........Relax!

I made this card for my oldest brother's birthday. Men's cards are always tricky and after a while I run out of inspiration based on their hobbies so have to resort to something neutral, and this is it. The image is, of course, a LOTV die cut square. The paper with trees is from an 12 x 12 SU pad, the green spotted paper is from one of the first packs I ever bought, Papermania Secret Garden and the matt gold card was from Hobbycraft. A bit of careful lining up and punching with my MS border punch and it was done apart from adding a strip of Crafty Ribbons ribbon and a Craftwork sentiment.

I'd like to enter the following challenges please:

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ One for the boys
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Birthdays ---Oops Too Late!
http://suchins.blogspot.com/ Masculine
http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes

Thank you for looking

Margaret x

Card for an MSE friend

I've not blogged for so long I've almost forgotten how! and I've got quite a few cards I'd like to share with you, hopefully over the next few days if I get a bit of time to myself.

I made this for one of my lovely friends, Susan, who I 'met' on the MSE card making thread. She had received some very distressing news and I wanted her to know that she was, and still is, in my thoughts even though she has priorities other than card making just at the moment.

I scanned the image from a calendar because I loved it, I thought the cat looked very relaxed and calming .........and pink!. As the background was already coloured I used white card to make the scalloped border and used Pink Petticoat papers, plain, gingham & dotty punched with an MS border punch. A simple Craftwork ready made sentiment was the only other thing I needed to add.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ non-stamped sentiment
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/ Animal image
http://glitterfairieschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Pretty in pink

Thank you for visiting
Margaret x

OAP's MSE Challenge

Blogger is being a B*gger and not letting me upload the photo's of my card.
Will try plan X as all other efforts have failed!

Update: 23/06/11 - Blogger let me upload my photo today - HURRAH!

The lovely Toni (aka OAP) set us a recipe challenge on the MSE card making thread.

1 Square Card - check
2 Patterned Papers - check
1 Plain Paper - check
1 Ribbon or Lace - check
1 Focal Point/ Image - check

The only missing ingredient was my imagination but I added a few ounces of grit & determination instead and managed to make a card. Not sure just what sort of card it is but think I'll use it as a notecard as it's not quite pretty enough for a female birthday neither is it particularly male with the flower. All 3 papers are all from a Stamping Up Pad, the image is one I liked when I found it on a leaflet that came through my door! The ribbon, flower & card candy are all from my stash.

Thank you for visiting

Margaret x

How Long!?

My brother & sister in law have been married for 35 years and this is the card I made for their anniversary. It's very simple and probably too 'cute' for them but after all these years it must be the thought that counts!

I've used a fab die cut image from LOTV and tried to pick up the pinky red tones with Pink Petticoat leaf print paper, dark pink 'Gemstones' backing card from Co-ordinations, a few pearls and ribbon from my stash and to keep the love theme going I included a doily heart. The sentiment is a freebie download from Nettie's blog - Thank you Annette! The little bow isn't quite as crooked as it appears on the photo but it did look a bit sad despite my best efforts with my bowmaker.

I'm going to search out a few challenges for it but in the meantime thank you for looking.

Lily of the Valley - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Margaret x

Just because I can.......

........Blog, that is!
I've struggled to get on here even to comment for over a week now and didn't realise I'd miss it as much as I did.

I'd like to share this card with you, I made it for Tina's (artydoll) birthday. I started with the image which is one of my favourites. I coloured her frock then added rather more glamour dust than I intended! and 'Glossy Accented' her wings. The green card is the back of whitewash card stock, the backing paper is I think Laura Ashley, the other paper was part of a swap so long ago I can't remember who sent it - do you? The corners were punched with a MS punch. I made all the flowers myself, two are punched from dotty bazzil card and I made the other one based on a fab demonstration I saw at Craftwork Cards in the Harrogate Show as I didn't have any others in the right dusky pink shade. As ever, I used a Craftwork Cards sentiment and card blank and the pearls are from my stash.

I'd like to enter my creation into the following challenges:

http://creativecraftworld.blogspot.com/ 3 or more flowers
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ things with wings
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ Make your own flowers
Thank you for looking
Margaret

MSE May Challenge

Here is my entry for the MSE challenge set by Louise (Cardpaperscissors) for a card using red, blue and white and a circle. I made this for my oldest friends 60th birthday. The two little girls on the LOTV image remind me of when we were at infants school together, Susan was very dark and I was a light auburn. Those were the days! The papers are dotty blue back to basics, Pink petticoat blue check and home bargains red holographic card. The greeting is Craftworks, the numbers are red table confetti, and a few gems from my stash. 

The photo's aren't very good as I had to copy them from my pc to the laptop due to technical problems which mean I am unable to easily access blogger, I apologise that I haven't commented much of late because of those problems I will catch up as soon as I can.
Thank you for looking.

My Birthday Cards

At last, I've managed to take photos of the lovely handcrafted cards I received for my birthday. Don't they look wonderful? I must confess I haven't taken all the shop bought ones down yet as the sitting room will look so bare without them but I will have to bite the bullet tomorrow as the dust is accumulating!

From the top L to R they are from Jennie (The Wife), Debbie (Padster) Caroline (CT1972) Sarah ( Rainmac) Alison (Ali.b) and Jo (Jowri)
Next row Dawn (Addams) Claire (Wanna b) Claire (Mad frog) Toni (OAP) Jenny (Dragonllew) front Jan (Scatty Jan) back Susan (a friend from infant school!)
Bottom row Connie (Mum of friend Susan) Charlotte (my God Daughter) Susan (TomsMum) Karen (Flourgirl) and Tina (artydoll).

My photography skills aren't great at the best of times and the camera battery ran flat in the middle of the photo 'shoot' so the lighting on some of the following is a bit grim. Sorry! But I can assure you that in real life they all look fabulous and were very much appreciated.

Now I've photographed them I'm going to rearrange the huge noticeboard in my office so I can squeeze them all on there - not an easy task as it is already full of all the other hand crafted cards I've received, maybe it's time to move the Christmas cards from 18 months ago?

Toni Jenny & Tina

Karen Susan & Charlotte

Sarah Jo & Alison

Caroline Dawn & Claire

Jennie Debbie & Jan

Susan Claire & Connie

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the internet

Margaret xx

Last Minute.......Again!

Over on MSE the lovely Caroline (CT19720) set us a challenge sketch and this is my take on it. The challenge was due to end yesterday but I'm hoping my entry will be allowed as I don't think the draw has been made yet.
I celebrated my birthday yesterday with family and friends. I received some lovely gifts and need to send some 'proper' thank you's in addition to texts and MSE mentions. I will use this card as one of my Thank You's. It is very simple (and a bit wonky - blame dodgy eyesight). I stamped the tree with rich cocoa Memento ink, (it's a Kanban stamp), added some brown jewels & pearls, my first hometied bow, some gold stretchy cord and finished it with a sentiment stamped in the same rich cocoa ink. The card blank is from Craftwork cards and the brown backing from a now closed Papermill shop.

Oh! whilst I am here you might like to see this photo.

Last week we visited a scarecrow festival at Wray village. Wray stage the Scarecrow event every year with a different theme, this year it was Royalty. I love the fact that nearly every house participates even if they only put a scarecrow doll in their front window and the range of the exhibits is amazing. There were lots of brides & grooms, and beheadings representing the 'cuts' but this was the first one I saw of a few on the same lines and I thought it was funny, hope you do too. 
Thank you for looking

Margaret x

When I'm..........

I made this card for my friends husband's birthday. I've made cards for him before featuring his football team and pictures of ships that he is interested in and wanted to do something a bit different. So I dusted off my Ronnie relaxing digi (again!) and coloured him with my copics. The remote control, the sweetie bag and the mug have all been treated with Glossy Accents. The papers I used are MME 'Fine & Dandy True Blue' backed with Gemstones card that matched Ronnie's shirt. The green paper was cut with my MS zigzag border punch to add a bit of interest and in lieu of the flowers I'd use on a female card I've used stars. The sentiment was sent to me in a stash swap some time ago.

Now the fun bit, my friends husband is 64 and for the days it was taking me to make the card I was singing the Beatles song and couldn't get it out of my head - so annoying! But I wanted to include it somewhere. So I used the full lyrics of the song and made my version of a watermark, added a 'Birthday Greeting & Bottle of Wine' and to be on the safe side took it round the day before with a real bottle of Rioja. Here is a photo of the inner I think it works OK.

I'd like to enter the following challenges with this card:

C. R. A. F. T challenge  - Animal/pet
Catch the bug - 4 or more layers
IDIC  - Sing a Song "When I'm 64" - you should be able to relax a bit then!
Our Daily Bread  - No Ribbon
Fairy Tale Challenge  - Happy Birthday
Papertake weekly - Anything Goes
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Inspiration

Thank you for visiting my blog
Margaret x

3 Days Later.........

Jennie (aka The Wife) set us a challenge over on MSE to make an Easter card or one featuring spring colours of yellow and green. I chose to go the Easter route. Thank you for setting the challenge Jennie. My entry's a bit more wishy washy  Pastel than I expected, even in 'real' life I should have used a stronger yellow. The image is 'Warren' part of a set from Craftwork cards. I coloured him with a mixture of Copics and chalk. The paper is PP daffodil gingham and the back of co-ordinations whitewash run through the cuttlebug with a swiss dots folder. The flowers, gems and ribbon are from my stash and I made my own sentiment cut with SU scalloped oval punch.

Apologies for the strange photo at the top - I tried to put a fuzzy edge to it and ended up wiping all the outside edge instead! and had no more time to spend on it.
PS Just realised I could post the 'unmessed with' photo as well ...so I did!
I'd like to enter the following challenges:
MSE Easter or Yellow & Green
stampingvacation.blogspot.com/ Pick 3 (hope this means AT LEAST 3 ‘cos I’ve got 4!) Circle, dry embossing, corner punch and a home made sentiment
colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ Pastels
www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ Add an animal
craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Use Yellow
creativecraftworld.blogspot.com/ Easter
aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Easter
Thank you for visiting
Margaret x

Just Because........

Oops! Another wonky photo - much as I'd like to blame the camera (and we'd like a new one!) I think it's down to my lack of skill........

I'm finally managing to make a few cards ahead of when they are needed and this is one of them.

One of my lovely MSE friends sent me this cute image and I finally plucked up courage to colour him. Then I started to play with the papers I'd need, I was heading towards my trusty PP spots when I saw the freebie calendar from Basic Grey and just HAD to use it. Sadly, the image was so big that you can't see all of the lovely pattern which has lots of detail and the lemony lime is brighter in real life than it looks here. I will have to try to use it again sometime so you can see just how nice it is. The other backings I've had for ages and were amongst the first ones I bought, maybe Laura Ashley? Anyway, I used my new MS punches for the edge and to make a couple of corners to reduce the white space on the image. Swirls, a home made flower and a new style Craftwork sentiment completed the card.

I'd like to enter it in the following challenges:

http://gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/  Die cuts or punches
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ springtime
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Adult Birthday
http://www.totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Spring

Thank you for reading
Margaret xx

Simple Animaltastic!

Oops! It all looks a bit crooked now but it's too late....... no time to do another.
I don't usually make cards 'to order' but my colleagues insisted I made one for one of the chaps at work who is retiring tomorrow. I decided this image, bought here in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, looked suitably 'retired'. By the time I'd coloured him with my Copics I realised he would only just fit in the largest of my circle dies so no framing was possible (I really should learn to think things through!). I love this cheers paper for men's cards and I'm sure you'll have seen it here before. The backing paper is from an old 'Away in a Manger' download, mat gold Hobbycraft card backs that, and the sentiment was printed in word and raised with a foam pad. The only other embellishment Craftwork Card Candy (before it was renamed for the USA market). I do hope Terry likes it......

I'd like to enter it in the MSE Animaltastic Challenge
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - Keep it Simple
OSSAT - One for the Boys

Oh & just before I go here's a photo of my stash purchases at Harrogate. My favourite LOTV images, MS punches, Craftwork Sentiments, images, yummy coloured Stickles, Candi (with stars on) and a couple of ink pads. Now I just need to get something made with it all!
Thank you for looking
Margaret x

Mother's Day

It was Dawn's (Addams) turn to choose a topic for the MSE challenge and she chose Mother's Day which was good for me to get ahead as I'm usually on the last minute.

My MIL almost always wears pink/lilac colours so that was the starting point. My colouring isn't good so I tried to colour this little bear with my Copics like the illustration on the stamp. You can't tell from the photo but I added glossy accents to the top of the brolly. The backing paper is Pink Petticoat, the lilac card the back of coordinations whitewash, the glitter card came from Hobbycraft and has a slight pink tinge, that I didn't notice when I bought it but it works here. The ribbon, flowers and tiny gems are from my stash and, for once, I made my own sentiment! Phew!

Sparkles forum - Mother's Day

Thank you for looking!
Margaret x

99 Red Balloons - not quite!

I wanted to use a bright blue/red colour combination for a change, but what to do with it? 
My lovely friend Tams (aka Rusty) had sent me this lovely stamped image so I coloured him in denim tones with my trusty copics and gave his balloon and jumper star a coat of glossy accents for starters. Now what? Ooo I know! my new MS edge punch to add interest to the layers. I used Paper Mill red card, Papermania back to basics dotty and Pink Petticoat gingham papers for the blue. The recipe challenge at Cards for Men asked for 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments (same or different) and this is where I got stuck, does the sentiment count or not? hey ho, go for it. I found the 3 balloon image, copied it onto stiff, slightly shiney card and cut it out myself !!!! The sentiment was printed on the same card in a 'balloon' font, cut with my oval SU punch and to cover the join I used Craftwork Card Candi (note the new spelling). Two slivers of red card made my 3rd embellishment.

I'd like to enter the following please:

Cards for men - recipe
I did it Creations - Punches & dies
ECP Challenges - Something for the boys
Stamping with the Dragon - Birthdays
Wags & Whiskers - Punches
Do You Stack Up - Anything Goes

Thank you for looking
Margaret