Sunday Snippet Card

Evening Everyone,

Wishing all my US friends a Happy Mother's Day - I hope you've had a truly wonderful day.

I've made a birthday card to share. I made it entirely from scraps and snippets for Di's fortnightly challenge over at Pixie's Snippets Playground.

Here's how it was made:

• the card base, measuring 5¾" x 4¼"  was made from a scrap, an admittedly large one, of Docrafts Kraft cardstock.
• the topper was constructed using a snippet of lilac Coordinations card, embossed using the Folksy Circle (Sizzix) folder, trimmed to fit the front just leaving a tiny margin of Kraft showing. 
• A die-cut greeting, made with a die purchased from China through Ebay and another snippet, this time white satin finish cardstock, was glued to the centre of the embossed design.
• to finish, the card was decorated with a dragonfly, stamped and die cut, Creative Dies Dragonfly Die & Stamp Set, from the same scrap of white satin finish cardstock and also from a tiny scrap of leftover lilac Coordinations, and three paper roses, from Wild Orchid Crafts - very old stash!

A couple of close ups of the dragonfly. Silicone gel was used to achieve the dimension.

It's not often I can say that a card was made entirely from scraps but this one certainly was.

Happy Crafting,

A little Christmas duo

Evening Folks

Well, it's evening in Scotland and it will be morning somewhere else - perhaps where you are. Wherever that is, I hope you are well.

Today has been a special day for me, as it has been every year of my life. It's the day I remember the fallen  and the heroes of two world wars - especially those in my family. My great-grandfather, who served in WWI - he survived but only just, returning home suffering from the effects of gas inhalation, and my two great-uncles who fought in WWII and, tragically, died. They have never been, nor ever will be, forgotten.

That said, on to what I've been up to in the craft room this afternoon.

It's not a lot - just a wee Christmas tag and matching re-covered notebook set which I thought would make a nice little stocking filler for someone.

The paper is a vintage design from Hot of The Press. I've trimmed each item with ecru cotton lace trim,  chipboard shapes from Docrafts, and poinsettias.

I covered the label, front and back, with the DP, inked the edges with red ink then added the embellishments to the front only.

To cover the notebook, I removed the original cover and used it for a template to cut out the DP, then glued it to the cover - this gives the cover extra strength - before adding the decoration.

List of materials used:
Manila label, size #5 (4¾"x23/8") 
Small memo/note pad - I found these in Asda.
Design paper, Hot of The Press, Christmas Vintage
Chipboard shapes from Docrafts Papermania's Noel collection
Ink, Tim Holtz distress ink, Festive Berries
Ecru cotton lace trim, red/white bakers' twine, Wild Orchid Crafts red poinsettias, gold edged red satin ribbon, red dew drops, tiny red/white alphas - all from stash.

Just a quick share - I'm off to have a cuppa and spend a bit of sofa time watching a film with the EM.

Thanks for popping in. Take care all, keep crafting, and I'll be back, hopefully tomorrow.

True Beauty

Evening All,

Well, we are waiting impatiently for the Olympics opening ceremony. I been tuning in and out all day, listening to the ringing of the bells and some of the commentary ... what a build up!

I started to write up about this card several days ago and had to abandon it for other things but at last I've found time to post it.

I love heavily patterned paper ... I buy it, admire it, stroke it and then just put it away. Lovely though they are the patterns are difficult to use. However, on my trips around blogland I spotted someone else also trying to tackle this problem and her solution was to stamp over the paper and make a real feature of it as I have done here ... I neglected to take a note of the person concerned, so if you recognise your hand on my card, please contact me so I can give you the credit you are due.

The paper I've used is from the Prima Madeline 6"x6" paper stack, and it is gorgeous. The topper, love the sentiment, is from the same stack. The butterfly was a present from a lovely crafter, Chris ... many thanks. I've covered it with glitter glue and added tiny white pearls to decorate.

The inside.

The back.

Materials used:
Square white base card
Prima Madeline 6"x6" paper stack
Coordinations cardstock - Tim Holtz Milled Lavender
Stamps from Inkylicious: Rose Sauvage; Simply Script
Ink pads: Tim Holtz Milled Lavender; Memento Tuxedo Black
White card with punched edge trim - bought ready-made last year from ebay
Tools: Scalloped edge punch; scalloped edge round punch; straight edge round punch; tiny scallop edging scissors
Die cut butterflies from my friend, Chris
Embellishments: Wild Orchid Crafts - mauve & cream roses, white cherry blossom and black crystal sprays; Ribbon Carousel - baker's twine; tiny paper and satin roses, white and black adhesive backed pearls - all from stash.

There's been no basking in the sunshine here today ... we've had rain, lots of it and it's breezy ... so not been tempted out into the garden at all.

I'm off to a new craft shop I've only recently discovered tomorrow - it's at Cardwell's Garden Centre near Gourock. There's going to be a cardmaking demonstration from Sheila Halliwell of Docrafts and, as the EM is on the hunt for a Rowan tree, we are taking a trip up ... no doubt I might just find that one or two crafty items may slip into my basket :)

Whatever happened to my vow to use up what I had before buying new!?!? I'm still making a real effort to use up stash, but I simply cannot resist acquiring new goodies - the Prima paper used on this card is a case in point. I suppose I did well to last into the sixth month :))

Right, I'm off for a cuppa, have a good evening everyone.

Happy crafting,

Snowman - A Challenge Card

Hi Everyone,

Well, it's been a lovely day here in the west of Scotland, I hope it has been as nice for all of you. We made the most of it by going for a drive along the coast.

Which is why I'm so late in sharing this card.

This week, Hazel has chosen snowmen as her CHNC Challenge 80 theme ... I'm not sure that this LOTV character qualifies ... I think that it's not a snowman but a snowbear :)

Like many of you I suspect, I have plenty of 6"x6" paper stacks in my stash, which is all very well if I want to make a card of measuring that size or smaller. However, it's not so good when planning a larger card like this one which measures 7¾" x 5½".

 To overcome this wee disadvantage I added a decorative trim, made up of strips of the DP, down the left side, and I think it worked quite well, especially as all the papers coordinate beautifully even though I've chosen them from two different stacks.

I recycled the back of one of the cards we received at Christmas to make a base mat for the front of the card ... figuring that, as it isn't going to be seen when the card is completed, it doesn't matter that it's not new card I'm working with.

The sentiment is on one of the design papers, I just punched it out using an oval punch and matted it on to a scalloped oval punched from a contrasting paper. All the edges are distressed with TH's vintage photo.

The double bow ... seam binding spritzed with water and scrunched ... was added separately, using glue gel to stick it down.

Materials used:

- Smooth white card trimmed to measure 7¾" x 11" - scored and folded in half to form the card
- A piece of white card, recycled, measuring 7¾" x 5½" - this is the base mat for front of the card
- Design Papers: Memory Box's Mistletoe 6"x6" paper stack; Paper Cellar's Traditional Christmas 6"x6" paper stack
- Ink pad: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo
- Lili of the Valley (LOTV) Cute Squares, Christmas Animals - Decorations
- Tools: Oval punches - scalloped and straight edged
- Embellishments (all from stash): Flowersoft, Polar White; White Iridescent Glitter; Ribbon Carousel's white bobble trim; Wild Orchid Craft's seam binding, Camel Hair, red button (Dovecraft), red pearls (Kanban) gold cord (Meiflower)

I've completed the first ATC using the inky messes I made earlier this week - scroll down to the WOYWW post to see what I'm talking about. I'll do a post sometime tomorrow to let you see how it came out.

I'll also be back tomorrow with some fabulous photos of today's outing - we did visit somewhere pretty amazing!

It's late and I'm off to bed now. In the meantime, I hope you are all well and I wish you a lovely day tomorrow.

Happy crafting,

Mountain Ash - A Snippet Card

Hello Folks

Well, I sat and watched it from beginning to end, on the edge of my seat most of the time ... and wasn't it a dramatic tennis final ... one of the most exciting I've ever watched, and at my age, I've watched a few!!!

Disappointing that Andy didn't pull it off ... and I did feel for him ... but there is always next year.

I made this card for the Pixie's Crafty Snippet Challenge - 28 over at Di's and intended posting it earlier today but, well, see above - I played hooky ... hangs head in shame :( You could say, tennis stopped play :))

When I was printing out the Mo Manning image, Cat's in the Christmas Tree for another card - see previous post - I came across this one of rowan berries, somehow neglected and forgotten. I can't think why because I love rowan trees (mountain ash) and like to have one growing in my garden to ward of witches ... an old Scot's superstition!!!

But then, I have a lot of things that are neglected and forgotten in my stash, be it on my PC, like many a digital stamp, or in the (too) many boxes and drawers in the craft space, like the paper lace I've used to embellish this card. How often do we buy something, use it once, move on to the next project and promptly forget it ... I know I do this a lot and it's a shame.

Materials used:
White deckle-edged base card
Snippets of smooth grey card for base of topper - can't be seen but it's there! ... white card for digital stamping, and  green card for matting - just visible around the stamped image
Papers: Berry Merry 6x6 Christmas Papers by Jennifer Ellory - free from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine; Prima Madeline Collection, 6x6 stack; Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium - the striped snippet under the paper lace trim and matting the greeting
Tim Holtz DI, Vintage Photo
Stamps: A Passion for Stamps, Mountain Ash; Stampendous, Holiday Messages - candy from Jozart (many thanks, Jo)
Promarkers: olive green, pear green, burnt sienna, ginger, ruby
Embellishments: Polar White Flower Soft. Crystal Stickles, Wild Orchid Crafts' small poinsettias, leaves and red crystal stems, Siesta Craft's Christmas paper lace borders and green ribbon ... all from stash
Tools: punches scalloped and straight-edged circles; straight-edged oval, scalloped edged border

Now that the excitement of the the tennis is all over, normal service (pun  intended) will be resumed in the Worthington household, the floors will be hoovered, the furniture will be dusted and the ironing basket will be bottomed ... life goes on ... until the Olympics and yet more tennis :)) 

Watched Wallender this evening ... my, but that is one awfully dreich (e.g. drizzly, cold, misty and miserable) looking setting - just the place to suffer from SAD, I'd say.

And talking of the weather I'd like to send my sympathies and best wishes for everyone who has been affected by the incessant rain and flooding that is happening in various parts of England and now the east coast of Scotland. The situation is dire and, having had my house flooded many years ago, I know just how destructive water can be ... there's not much more I can say except my heart goes out to all who are affected.

Take care everyone,

Hellebores - Week 14 Christmas Roses Card

Good evening everyone,

Well, I've done it - completed my weekly Christmas card before Friday. It makes such a change not to be rushing at the last minute as I usually do. And, it is the card based on the beautiful yellow sunflower card created by Brenda, Floral Fantasies, which I so admired - you can see it here and compare :) I particularly liked the background made from nothing more than copy paper, plus stamping, tearing, sticking and white gesso - sounded like fun and just had to try out the technique.

Fortunately, I had a huge tub of white gesso tucked away just waiting to be played with, lots of lovely stamps and plenty of copy paper. So once I'd thought about what was the most suitable ink pad to use, I chose waterproof Archival, I dived in and it was a lot easier than I expected. First, stamp the copy paper fairly randomly with a selection of stamps, leave to dry, then tear into strips, mine are about 1" wide. The strips are mixed up, glued to backing card, then given a thin coat of the gesso. When the gesso was dry I trimmed a 1" panel of the bottom for the greeting, then came a further trim of both panels to fit the pink matting card, and finally gave the edges a touch of TH distress ink, Spun Sugar.

The hellebore decoupage and insert were printed from a CD Rom on to smooth matt paper. The original frame for the decoupage was brown but with a VersaMarker pen and heat embossing with silver powder it was transformed. Once that was done  touches of iridescent glitter on the leaves and hellebores and red glitter on the holly berries gave it sparkle. A spray of Spray & Shine ensures that the glitter doesn't rub off.  And, just to finish the card, the back has a panel of the gorgeous paper.

I'm entering this card for the usual challenges:

• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #14 - Christmas Foliage and/or Flowers
• Snoflakes Christmas Card Challenge on Docrafts.

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Papermania Premium Textured Cardstock. 2 shades of pink for card and matting; a piece of leftover embossed card in silver for matting; a scrap of black cardstock to back the decoupage frame; a piece of  recycled white Christmas card to back the copy paper, it's going to be well covered so it really doesn't have to be your best cardstock.
• Paper: Print IT Super Smooth Matt Paper, 100gsm; Asda copy paper, 80gsm
• Design Paper & Decoupage: Crafter's Companion Vintage Christmas CD Rom
• Stamps: For the gessoed background - Penny Black Winter Bow; Hero Arts, Flowers are Poetry; Wavy Stars; Crafty Individuals, CI-302 Postcard, Imagine, Be Like The Bird; Sheena Douglass, A Little Bit Sketchy, Best Friends Swirls; the greeting is from Joanna Sheen Giordano, Wonderful Christmas GIO714; the insert sentiment is a ClarityStamp, Christmas Wonder.
• Other Materials: Archival Ink, Jet Black; Boldmere white acrylic gesso from The Works; Heat It Up embossing powder in silver; iridescent and red glitter; Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine; Wild Orchid Crafts ivy leaves and hellebore flowers; the pink beaded twigs were a pound shop find.

I think the finished result is really pretty feminine card - not exactly what I set out to make but the Christmas roses cried out for pink so I just went with it. I definitely use the backing paper technique again, easy but effective. The only difficulty I had was in deciding what stamps to use :)

We've had a beautiful day here, warm and sunny, and I'm told that the weekend is going to be even better so that's something to look forward to. I took a wee stroll round the garden today, taking my camera with me to record the flowers that are now in bloom. The wildlife border is looking promising, lots of fresh green growth and a few early starters. I'll leave you with this photograph of a delicate pulmonaria, common name lungwort, which has grown from seed sown last year. If you look closely you can also see the leaves of a lupin and an aquilegia plant amongst the grasses - can't wait to see them in flower!

And with that I'll say goodnight.

WOYWW 95 - A Flower Haul + Spring Flower Boxes

Happy WOYWW 95 to you all,

After all these months of card making I'm scrapping again so what you see on my work desk today is all about that. What you see is the first page, no; the second page of an album I'm making for my grandchildren's other grandmother. It's the second page because I will have to do a title page but haven't exactly decided what to do with that yet. As I'm the snapper in the family I'm the one with all the photographs and Granny Ann mentioned she had very few so, hopefully, this album will fill in the gaps in her collection.

I've mocked up the page layout but not stuck the elements down yet because I like to take a photo at this stage so that I can refer to when sticking it down. Round it are the supplies I've been working with: Papermania, Tweet stamp set; Adirondack Stonewashed ink pad, a pack of Vellum Writer pens, etc. Propped up at the back you can just see a couple of cute little LOTV squares - one is Christmas themed and I plan to use it in this week's Christmas card.

Hanging down is a pack of new jewel brads. My stash of WOC flowers were at an all time low so I had to put in an order and couldn't resist some bling too.

Yummy flowers: pink-edged hellebores, red poppies, red poinsettias, roses, white tulips, mixed cherry blossoms and rose and ivy leaves. There's also some cotton lace, white seam binding, and crystal sprays in red and gold. That should keep me going for a while.

For a sight of many more work desks best to hop over to the Queen of Desks, Julia's place at Stamping Ground - just click on the WOYWW link to the left here and happy desk hopping.
And here's what did me in at the weekend - we tidied up the front garden, rearranged the tubs and planters and added some more window boxes.

The pieris, to the right by the bench, was a present for my 50th birthday so is now about 13 years old. It was a tiny wee thing when it was given to me but is a beauty now and the bees love the flowers. That's a berberis next to it which is not so old, about 7 years old - I worked for a landscaping firm for a few years before going freelance and this plant came from the nursery there. It's a favourite because the blackbirds really enjoy the berries. After a jaunt to the local garden centre the, the Under Gardener (aka, the EM) planted the pots up with pansies, primulas, bellis and trailing lobelia, while I got out the secateurs and tidied up the plants from last year. Result: lovely. But I forgot to pace myself, did too much, and was jiggered for the next couple days. These are the joys of arthritis and impending old age : ) Next on the list is the back garden - it really needs a seeing too!

So that's it for today. Once I've posted this I'm off to look at as many desks as I can before lunch - yes, I'm really late uploading this today :)

Happy crafting to you all and I look forward to hearing from some of you over the next week.