Happy Birthday Tracey....

Hello My Lovely Friends

I do hope you are all coping with this terrible weather we are having right now!  I drove down to Cardiff today with my friend (needed to do a reccy on my new place of work - did I tell you I have a new job?, and we popped to Ikea too!!) and the car did have a few scary moments when the wind buffeted it.  In the days when the old rear engined Skodas were the car of choice in our family, my MIL used to carry a bag of coal in the boot on days like this.  I wished I had one in my boot today!!

Anyway, enough chat, I know you wanna see what I have been up to recently!!  This card wasn't done too recently, but it is one I have not shared before.  Hope you like it...

I used my lully Penny Black poppy stamp, inked with Ranger Archival ink and then coloured in using my watercolour pencils.  Then using my TH text stamp, I made a mask of the poppy and then stamped using DI and inked around the image before mounting it onto some red card. 

This was then layered onto some left over hessian (or burlap to my US friends),  then some Papermania pp and some more red card before putting it onto the kraft card.  

Some buttons along the top and ribbon and hey presto a card was born.  

The hessian and red card were from the vast Snippets collection so I am running with my lead boots over to the Snippets Playground ready to take part in the cookery lesson and subsequent pancake race tomorrow!!  There is talk of chocolate spread, but I am an old fashioned gal who likes the lemon juice, currants and sprinkled sugar with cinnamon.  Who is with me?

Thanks for calling by.  

Hettie 

First Rudolph Day of 2016

Hello there My Friends

Gosh where did January go then? I don't know about you but I have been pretty busy this month with one thing or another and to be quite honest, I am hoping that February and the rest of 2016 will be a bit kinder to me.

So here we are at the end of January and I have two cards to share with you for the Rudolph Day over at my friend Mo's blog.

Here is the first one...

I stamped some Snippets of red card with the bauble stamps and die cut them with my Spellbinders dies.  More Snippets for the Memory Box ribbon and Penny Black sentiment, a little ribbon onto the background MME paper and a card was born.

And just for good measure, I made another card....

Again I used some Snippets including the glitter paper border down the side and the vellum.  The lady was cut a long time ago when I was with my friend, and I will try and use the rest of them.  It needed a little dolling up when I finished, so added some glossy accents and sprinkled MS glitter over.  The vellum was left over from another card which I stamped the Stampenduous border stamp and embossed gold powder.  No idea where the background music paper came from, I found it in my Snippets drawer when I was clearing it out. 

Running off to my friend Mo's Rudolph Day and the Snippets Playground with my cards.  See you on the swings with Parsnip.  I need a cwtch with my fluffy friend!!

Wedding Card for Dawn and Steve..

Hello There

I have a hard day tomorrow so I thought I would share a little card I made towards the end of last year for a friend of mine who was getting married.  .........

I cut the top layer on my Silhouette before mounting it on the card base.  I had lent some stamps to Dawn for her (or should I say Steve) to stamp some images onto their place cards.  Dawn kindly gave me the stamp pads she used and so I knew the colours of her wedding which was the turquoise colour of the ribbon and background.

I decided the card needed some zing, so I spritzed it with Tattered Angels spray, thought the picture doesn't show the shimmer very well, possibly because it had not fully dried when I took the photo.  I forgot to photograph the inside - doh!!

Dawn and Steve loved the card (phew) and had a wonderful wedding day.

Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

NBUS Christmas Stamp....Yippee!! and Rudolph Day

Greetings!

It is Santa's Head Elf here sharing with you a NBUS Christmas Stamp on this auspicious day.  Why auspicious?  Because it is the last Rudolph Day before the Big One!!!!  

So to kick this Rudolph Day off here is my first card....

Isn't that stamp just gorgeous!! My lovely friend from over the water sent it to me.  You know who you are.  MWAH!!  It is by Stampenduous and is called Fireside Ivy.  I actually got the inspiration to Viv and I hope I have done her card justice!

So what I did was to stamp it on a background card with Versamark and embossed it with white WOW embossing powder.  I did the same again on some vellum.  Then I took my oval die and cut out the middle of the vellum piece before placing it over the top of the background card and securing it with brads.  I then mounted the whole thing onto the card, added some faux stitching with my Sharpies white chalk pen and added some ribbon with a little stamped tag (Hero Arts stamp).

Now what do you suppose I did with the vellum centres that were cut out?  Yep, like a good little Santa Elf I cut some more ovals from plain card and tied them together to make tags for my parcels.  How is that for recycling my Snippets?

Right that is all from me.  I must get busy as the Chief Elf (i.e. the chap in the red suit) keeps going on about deadlines etc.  He is a bit tetchy right now!!

Off to share this with my buddy Mo and of course my other buddy Parsnip down at the Snippets Playground.  

Thanks for calling by.  Will pop over later once I have done my dance class.

Hettie

Funkie Junkie Christmas Jumpers...

Hello My Friends!!

It is about time I joined in with the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas again.  I have jumped to Tag 4.  Well! I am behind so I can choose which one I want to play with next.  Jump HERE and you can see Linda's Tag.

I don't know if it is just me, but when I see these dies/stamps I always think of Christmas jumpers.  So I decided why not make some in cardstock.  

I took a Snippet piece of white card out of my crapalanche and some NBUS stamps of hats, scarfs and mittens mounted on a block, my Versamark and red glitter embossing powder and stamped a background panel.  

Next the jumper.  I turned on my Silhouette and went to the design store to find some jumpers.  I cut two out of cardstock then cut the arms off, laid all three pieces side by side and stamped the Tim Holtz stamp and embossed it with WOW white embossing powder.  I then joined the sleeves back on with some tissue tape.  If you are wondering why I bothered to cut the sleeves off, I am also a knitter and fair isle is knitted in straight lines and then joined to the body, hence just stamping the whole jumper in one go would not look right.

When I put the jumper onto the background, I felt the background was far too "busy" but I really wanted to use it, so I stamped a sentiment on to some vellum with Versamark and WOW powder and placed it over the top of the background securing it with brads then a quick tag, well Linda's is a tag, some ribbon and a wooden embellishment, inspired by Linda's tag, finished the card off.

Oh, I said I made two jumpers so here is the second card.   

I made this a portrait style card this time.  

I really like these cards and may make a few more.  

If you want any of the Tim Holtz stamps, they are available at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  

Thanks for calling by.  There is still time to join in the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas with some fun prizes to win if you complete all 12.

Off to join in with the Snippets Playground as I did use some Snippets, just as soon as the gates have been opened.

Hettie

NBUS Birthday Card

Hello there

I know, I know, I have been a very bad blogger lately.  My blog has been badly neglected, save for my Friday Funny posts.  I have visited a few of you, but time has simply been running way ahead of me lately, but hopefully the lure of working outside will not be so strong now as the nights are drawing in and it is getting a little on the cool side now.

I wanted to share my Christening cards I made recently, but I appear to have lost the photos.  Shame as they were gorgeous.  For one of the cards I used the same stamps as this card (well it seemed a shame to put them out too soon!) so I guess I can stretch the NBUS rule as this was only the second time I used them.....

The Lilies are Sheena Douglass stamps that I bought AGES ago and not used them - shame on me.  This was also the first time I used my new Abandoned Coral DI which I LOVE!!!    I inked up the stamp with Versamark and WOW white embossing powder.  I then used Abandoned Coral  and inked the background.  Spritzed and flicked some water, trimmed and adhered to the front of the card.  I needed a little white so used a MB die cut that was in the Tin of Shame.  I used some Snippets to stamp the HB and inked up again, Can you see it is different card as it is darker?  I mounted this on to a slightly larger piece of white snippet having first tied a little ribbon around the card. 

Some pearls spotted around and there you have my card.  I do love this colour and those stamps are not going to be back in their packet for long!! 

 

Right then....off to join in on the following Challenges!

 

NBUS

 

 

Addicted to Stamps Challenge

Snippets Playground

Thank you for calling by.  Please leave me a comment so I know you have been.

 

Hettie

Rudolph Day - July Already????

Hello there

 

I am baaaaack!!  Have you missed me?

 

I have decided it is about time I take a hold of my mojo and give him a stern talking to and when that did not work then a bar or two of chocolate and he decided to return and do his job!! Well, you didn't think I would miss out on Rudolph Day did you?  I cannot believe it is July already!!  I got a flurry of paperclips thrown at me today when I dared to mention that it was only four more pay days until the Big Day!!

 

So then, onto my Rudolph Day card....

 

 I was given a bunch of envelopes that are a different size to standard so I bought some card from the local Art shop in order to cut my own.

 I do wish you could see it IRL as it is brimming with Perfect Pearls shimmer.

The main image is Penny Black which stamp I bought in Absolutely Everything last year stamped with Archival Potting Soil.  I mounted this onto a Snippet of gold cardstock and then dark brown cardstock and tied with a piece of ribbon.  I stamped the Tim Holtz text stamp on the main card with Frayed Burlap and then sprinkled Perfect Pearls over before stamping again with the Tim Holtz Christmas stamp.  I mounted the PB image and added a little Poinsettia which I cut using Snippets and edged with gold embossing powder, finishing off with a little glossy accents and gold micro beads.  Another one for my box.

 

Thanks for calling by.  Off to see what has been going on down at the Snippets Playground. Also off to join Mo with the Rudolph Day of course.

 

Thanks for calling by.

 

Hettie

 

Rudolph Day - May 2015

Hello there

The best laid plans and all that.......

This past month has gone at such a pace that I completely forgot about getting cards ready for 25th of the month.  So Monday afternoon I sat down and made some cards and ruled that as many of the parts had to come out of my Christmas basket of shame.  Let me tell you this basket is overflowing with Snippets, embellishments, ribbons, and all manner of Christmas things.  It really needs to be cleared and so I have made the decision that if there is anything left in there by September then I will be giving them to my neighbour for the Brownies.  Some of the stuff is so old and it is time to get rid of.

I completed seven on Monday which I thought was good going for me, and on Tuesday evening I completed another three which means that for the first time this year I managed to complete my target of ten per month!!!  Yeay!!!!!!

So here they all are....

Using Dreamweaver stencil, stencil paste and microbeads onto black cardstock (I did this last year but never used it) I then cut around the image and mounted it with a lot of glue onto the glitter cardstock Snippet (having put it under a heavy book overnight to make the glue stick).  I wrapped silver twin, tied a Snippet of recycled ribbon and tied on two bells (from Christmas crackers) and mounted it all onto a card which came from a kit from QVC many years ago.

Chipboard from chit pads used in work using Tim Holtz die borrowed from buddy and inked with Festive Berries DI, brushed with Kiwi Perfect Pearls and then stamped with Tim Holtz flourish stamp.  Snippets of patterned papers and Poinsettia cut from TH die with brad in the centre.  All mounted onto card, some faux stitching and another completed.

The background piece was made as a mock up for a Christmas Album two years ago.  I chopped it up to make this panel.  Susan Wilson (NBUS) die cut with Snippets and layered.  Some ribbon to tie a double bow.  Hero Arts stamp for the sentiment and mounted on a Snippet and pearls added.  No 2 completed.

Background paper Bo Bunny and just enough to paper two cards.  Punched the corner with Martha Stewart punch and added some faux stitching.  The Trees were stamped with Stampin Up stamp (NBUS yet had it for ages) and then punched.  The trunks and pot were from the same set.  Embossed with clear embossing powder.  Sentiment stamp is TH.  XCut die cuts, again from Snippets. All stamping is Pine Needles DI. Added some shimmery die cut stars (SSS) and a teeny bow.

Same details as above, but I chomped the corners with Memory Keepers chomper.

 

This background piece is soooo old I am not sure it was even this century when I bought it!  I found a piece of kraft card looking lonely so I cut it in half, chomped the corners and punched a hole using my SU 1/2" punch.  I took another Snippet and punched a 3/4" punch and made a hole ring thingie.  Stamped a TH stamp and then ran it through the B/S with an embossing folder.  Die cut some stars with a K&Co Snippet added it on then added schtickles.  The rosette was taken off one of my Tags and I added another punched circle.  I took my TH chit chat stickers, ribbon and another for the tin.

 

Similar to the last one, only I used a different Snippet. 

And now for the recycling of my Christmas Tags. I used a freebie piece for the background (I think it is Docrafts), chomped the corners and then added the Tag, having first of all added a TH word card underneath.  I took the original paper bow off as it had got bashed in the basket and replaced it with a punchboard bow with a button in the centre. 

 

 

I tried putting this tag onto a background piece but nothing worked.  Whatever I used didn't work so I just plonked it onto the kraft card, chomped the corners and added faux stitching.

And last but not least here is my last card for today.  Thanks for sticking with me so far.  Another I made for the Funkie Junkie Tags Challenge.  This is pretty heavy so it will be a hand-delivered to the recipient.  Only thing I have added is a Snowflake die cut from the Snippets basket and a word card from Tim Holtz.

 

I thought I would share a photo of my lickle Dobby.  Does he look comfy or what?  Bless him.  Some of you may know he has been poorly having had a fall down our stairs, but he is slowly getting better and in the last few days he has been more of his usual self.  Only thing is we now have to carry him down the stairs to save him straining his shoulder joints.

 

Right then.  That is it from me.  Thank you for sticking with me.  Off to join Mo at the Rudolph Day Challenge, Miss Di at the Snippets Playground (Miss is away at the moment on a school reunion so I am guessing there is some mischief going on behind the bike shed with the usual suspects), Cuttlebug Mania as there is plenty of bling on these, and I am joining Hazel at Hazelnuts.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Hettie

Happy Birthday Jackie...

Hello there

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend. The weather here at Chez Hettie has been wonderful and I have enjoyed a great weekend, involving meeting with friends and spending quality time with Mr Hettie.

 

As the weather was so nice Mr Hettie wanted to open up the hives. Mine first and they were pretty happy to let us have a good look. However when it came to us looking at Mr Hettie's bees, they decided that enough was enough and stung me through my jeans. I am sorry to say that I am still suffering with my right thigh burning, swollen and with a very large blister forming.  I had about 8 stings in that one.  Little critters!

 

Right then, onto today's post. I recently dipped my toe into the world of Brushes. My excuse is that I am going on a workshop soon where we can use them and wanted to make a card for my friend Jackie ...

I Spritzer some paper and used two blue shades of brushos and I sprayed water in my mini mister with some white perfect pearls. I hope you can see the shimmer. I then ran the paper, once dried, through my die cutter with Sizzix hexagon die, as Jackie is a quilting friend.

I used Snippets to make the tag and flowers using TH dies and flourish using Tonic die. I stamped a SU image on the tag with DI and used a McGill punch to make the little flowers.

 

Some pearls, Hero Arts HB sentiment and I was finished. Jackie was pleased with it and surprised to learn I had made it.

 

Thanks for calling by. Off to join the Snippets Playground. Hopefully there will be some chocolate left. I am also joining Cuttlebug Mania as they are looking for tags.  Have a great week.

 

Hugs

 

Hettie

Happy Anniversary...

Hello there

I am just about up and able now after the last 2 weeks or so of feeling quite feeble and poorly.  I finally went in my craft room on the weekend and just gasped at the mess in there!!  I have quite literally in the last month been going in, doing what I have to and then leaving all the mess and debris there!  Tonight I will don apron and duster to give it a bit of a spruce up!

So today I thought I would share an Anniversary card I made for a very loving couple that I know.  The anniversary was last month but I am only just sharing.  

I made the tent style card to fit some envelopes I was given.  Then I took a Snippet of card, stamped it with clear versamark and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I then took Peacock Feathers, Broken China and Stormy Sea DIs and smooshed over the top until I liked the colour.  

I then took the iron out and ironed off the embossing powder.  This is one of the only times I actually like ironing!!  I trimmed the card to fit and adhered to the background.  I stamped a NBUS Hero Arts HA sentiment (I should have stamped it with Archival first on a scrap piece to prime the stamp!) The M&B sentiment is part of a SU set I acquired recently.

Then it was a case of attaching some ribbon, which is much more silvery IRL and was attached to a Christmas present that the recipient of this card gave me!!  A little bit of silver twine and some hearts, chomp the corners and hey presto the card was done.

The couple loved it.  

Off to share this with the Snippets Playground (card and ribbon).  I am hoping the fire is lit as I could do with a warm up!

Thank you Sue for becoming my latest Follower.  

Thanks for calling by.   Hopefully now that I am feeling a bit better I will feel up to a little more blogging now.  Oh, and if BT gives us our internet back!  Grrr!

Hugs

Sealed with a Kiss....Layout

Hello there

I have to apologise to my blog for neglecting it for the last few days.  I have been a little under the weather with the lurgy after someone very kindly coughed and sneezed on me last week.  I came home from my Quilting Group on Saturday feeling dreadful and got generally worse.  I am not going into details ok, but I did not get out of bed much until today.  Though I did have a shock when the person concerned phoned me yesterday to apologise!!! 

Anyway, a few weeks ago I promised to share with you a little layout I had done so here it is...

 This is most probably the last layout of my Wedding Album, but note I only said "probably"!!  I have so many photos left still!

 

 

So where do I start?  The background piece is a piece of black cardstock and I took some of my stencils, my old white ink pad and an inkie paddie thing (can't remember what you call them now...made by that Tim chappie!) and swooshed some ink through the stencils, one of which is a NBUS bought from US by Memory Box...the one with butterflies on.

The die cuts are a mixture of some that were kindly sent to me by my Buddy over the water and some from my Tin of Shame.  The TH clock one was originally a wishy washy beige colour when I started.  I smooshed some TH DIs Tea Dye, Gathered Twigs, Brushed Cord, and then rubbed some Treasured gold wax on top.  

The PPs are bits left over from previous layouts so Snippets...yeay!!  The corrugated card is from a package that had arrived a few days before (again inked with some DIs as above.

I put the little birdies on top as a nod to the pair of seagulls we kept seeing on Guernsey where we got engaged.  Now THAT is another story and why there are two seagulls in our bathroom!!

Now the flowers.  The one at the bottom of the clock and the others like it are NBUS and by Prima.  I only used a few as they are soooo nice.  Can you see the little seeds popping out from behind the flower towards my arm?  There are a few of these dotted around and they came out of my Happy Post I received just before Christmas, along with the sparkly heart...Thanks again my Friend.

The other flowers were made up from flowers in my stash, brads in the middle, some of which are years old, sprayed with Glimmer Mists, Perfect Pearls, layered and scrunched up. 

The MS Monarch butterflies came out of the Tin of Shame and there are others that I made using old books and my SU die.  

I wanted a little bit of watch parts in there and I saw a key somewhere when I was gathering things up so thought I would throw that into the mix too along with a NBUS TH card.  I tied the ribbon with a little bit of silver grey ribbon that was actually adorning a present my friend gave me at Christmas.  Waste not and you will want not.  Lace came from Funkie Junkie.  Only a little piece as it is too nice to use all in one go!

The leaves you can see were punched out of Snippet using my MacGill punch and inked up with DIs.

Finally I used my Cricut to die cut the  title which I cut twice to give it a bit of oomph!  Then I smooshed some more wax around and spritzed a little perfect pearls on there. 

Love the layers you can see in these last two photos.  

Hurrah!  You have made it through to the end.  Well done you.  Unless of course you skipped and just looked at the photos!  I don't mind but please leave me a comment to let me know you have been.

I am taking this over to the Playground for a ride on the swings and then cosy in front of the fire.  I am also entering this into Shopping our Stash as they are looking for old brads...mine certainly count as they are ancient!  And I will flutter past the Butterfly Challenge as there are some hexagons on my layout.   Not very often I get to link up with a few challenges!!  Woo hoo!!

Thanks for being patient.  See you all soon.

Hettie