Still Keeping Up With ....

.... the Daring Cardmakers!

Lythan set the dare this week:

"I just love, love, love patterned paper so this week I dare you to join me in Patterned Paper Passion. I want to see 3 different patterned papers on your card. And to be extra daring, why not see if you can use 3 different lines of paper!"

I started working on this card, for a friend's daughter, a few weeks ago at a crop. It's like one I made for my teenage daughter last year (only her's was black and grungy with a metal ballchain - you get the idea!). I decided to use all different PPs to finish this off when I read the dare. I've used paper from Doodlebug, Love Elsie, BG, and one other I don't know. The dangling number 7 is Doodlebug Sugar Coated card with a glitter-stopping coat of Glossy Accents.

No soppy stuff ....

.... here!!!

Well that's a big lie. Keryn's dare this week on Daring Cardmakers is:

"My dare for this one is the predictable, someone had to do it, theme of Valentines. Although I don't want you to feel you just have to make Valentines Day cards, feel free to make a card fitting any theme you like as long as it has a heart somewhere on it. Stamped hearts, punched hearts, diecut hearts, heart embellishments, cut from patterned paper, whatever, whenever as long as it has the right shape".

Now I just happened (yet again, cough cough!!) to have made this card a few weeks ago. Started with my new set of Hero Arts heart stamps which are very yummy, and BG Scarlet's Letter paper which was the first paper I HAD to have when I got into this crafting lark and I still love!!! And then after a lot of stamping, embossing and an awful lot of inking, I had this!!! DH will be surprised to receive such a lavish Valentine's card - or suspicious!!!! Ha ha ha!!!

It was a sunny afternoon and I hoped the light would be good for the photo - but, thanks to my neighbour's accursed new extension - I don't think I'll get good photos any more even in high summer. Grrrr! (OK, everyone Irish reading this knows there's no such thing as high summer here!)

Outside my ....

.... comfort zone!

I had a few thank you cards to make, and I decided to challenge myself a bit and use paper and colours that I normally wouldn't go for. I also decided to keep it very simple, no ribbons or embellishments at all, also a challenge for me these days!! I'm quite pleased with the result. The photo, though, is absolute pants, my hand must have been shaky.

.

Little House in ....

.... the big woods.

A relative of mine will shortly move in to a beautiful new timber house situated in woodland (Grr - very jealous!!!!). I wanted to make a card that would reflect the house's setting, and as we had visited the site back in the Autumn, I used Autumnal colours.


It's quite a sparkly card in real life: I used platinum stickles on the tree branches, rubbed some across the roof of the house, and highlighted the heart in the window with the same. This is the first card I've used my new Fiskars threading water punch on - I like it!!!

As some of my friends will know, I am a tad obsessive about cutting things out (understatement of the year, really!), so yes, the letters are printed on the computer, stuck onto chipboard, and then hand-cut!!!!

Little Pitchers ....

.... have big ears.

Discussion with DS today about some family members, specifically one who has recently married for the second time.

Me: Yes, J used to be married to B, but they fell out of love and decided they didn't want to be married any more.
DS: Did he dump her?

Hmmmmm, someone's been listening in on his teenage sister's conversations.

'Tis the season ....

.... to recycle.

This week's Daring Cardmaker's challenge:

"We'd like you to do your bit for the planet and make a card using some recycled items."

I had already made this card last week, using Amazon packaging for the kraft bits, and a ribbon from a clothes label, bang on the brief, I think.

What's really funny is that Sue, one of the DCM DT, used the same background paper for her card.

The Winner ....

.... is

DS did the drawing, and the picture is blurry because he can't stand still (or else he had to go to the toilet!!!)

Congrats, Lynda - I have your address so will post this on to you!

Teeny, Tiny .....

.... blog candy!!!

To celebrate my blogginess, cos it's a New Year, blah, blah (but really because I made a mistake before Christmas and ordered something I already have!!!!), I have a little (emphasis on "little") giveaway, pictured below:

Should you wish to have a chance to win this magnificent giveaway, just post a comment. I'll draw a name next week from all who post (just hope I don't get trampled in the rush!!!) and send it to the winner.

P.S. The euro is MINE!!!!!

At last ....

..... the Christmas stuff!!!

And we're still within the twelve days!! Everyone has finally received what was sent so I can post the lot.

I made these little treat bags, containing yummy strawberries covered with white chocolate, for friends and the children's teachers. Have heard from all who got them that the sweets were all downed in one go - having much guilt heaped on my head for that - Ha Ha!!!!!

I picked up a tiny blank kraft box in Hobbycraft in London when I was there in November. I decorated it to hold a tiny stamp for my friend, Lisa, who is into crafting too. Really pleased with how this turned out, and it was very quick and easy to do too:

And finally, this thank you card went to my forum friend, JeanJeany, who is way too generous!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Does a Mini-Studio ....

.... make any difference?

I'm not sure. I think it might - a bit - maybe. Photo number one shows card taken in mini-studio, with light coming from above. Photo number two is just as I normally take it, on two sheets of white paper, trying not to let my shadow fall on it!! The blue is much truer in the first one, but the gold is a bit washed out. Gaaaaah - I don't know!! Anyway, the image on the card was one I did while doing a bit of a stamping/watercolouring workshop with my friend, Lisa, over Hallowe'en. I just got around to stickling, matting and finishing it recently.

P.S. Oh yeah, Happy New Year and all that!!