It feels stranger when ....

.... your little brother turns 40 than when you do!!!  Well, that's what I'm thinking about it!! 

It's been a very busy few weeks - my daughter was Head of Costume, Hair and Make-up at a production of Hercules her school year put on, and I ended up helping her with some of the props and costumes (having said I wouldn't!!).  We had some very distinguished visitors here in Dublin - first Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, then Barack & Michelle Obama.  I didn't go into town to see either visit, mostly 'cos I was working and the weather was really bad too, but I watched avidly on TV and enjoyed every moment.

I've not had much time for crafting, but I had to make something for my wittle baby brudder!!  I find it difficult to make cards for him for some reason, even though he has quite a few interests.  He wouldn't like anything fussy or fancy either -  finally, I decided to go with a cricketing theme, as he loves the game and plays for his local club too.  Here's what I ended up with:

The papers are actually baseball themed ones, but it looks close enough to a cricket ball to me!!!  I didn't have time to check out many challenges when I was making this at the very last minute, but I'm entering the following:  Simon Says Stamp ("Something Sentimental"),  Little Red Wagon ("Use a Number") and Truly Scrumptious ("Anything Goes").

Here's a side-shot of the card, showing the shiny popped up numbers and the wiggly banner:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Lil' Man"

Sentiment + Numbers: Computer generated

Other: American Crafts eyelets, needle + thread, lots of Antique Linen distress ink

Thanks for looking!

No more excuses ....

.... I'm back, trying to work out what I've been doing since the 22nd April (not much!!), and showing the one solitary card I've made since then.  I had the most lovely Easter hols, the Royal Wedding was a fab way to finish off the fortnight - what a fun day - there was practically a me-shape in the sofa when I finally got up, 'cos I didn't move off it all day long!!!  Back to school then, and it was straight in the deep end - this summer term is so very short it's manic trying to fit everything in.  Had a great Saturday night this weekend at our friends' house watching the Eurovision Song Contest - we were disappointed that Jedward didn't win - but that still didn't make the evening any less fun.

I've made this card for another of my husband's infernal nephews - quite late, but as we knew we weren't going to see him until this weekend, I let the deadline slip by ..... emmmm .... only a month and 2 days.  Bad auntie!!  Here's what I did:

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("Mix & Match" - I've used Wander papers and I think the buttons are Mellow), Mo's Digital Challenge ("Here Comes Summer" - the colours are quite bright and summery, I think), Paper Sundaes ("Birthdays"), and Stamp Something ("Anything Goes").

I used this excellent Mo Manning image and decided to try out colouring on kraft with prismas - quite hard not to obliterate the lines of the image - and the sansodor tends to soak in quite a bit, but I'm reasonably happy with the result overall.  Here's a closer look:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wander"

Image: Mo Manning "Video Boy"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils and Sansodor

Sentiment: Computer generated by me!

Other: BG Buttons, Tim Holtz crackle paint around edge of image, hairy string, needle + thread

Now I have to try and sort out a card for my "little" brother's 40th this weekend - I have no idea what to get him or what to put on his card (well, maybe a 4 and a 0!) - and he hasn't yet told us what he'd like to do for the event.

Thanks for looking - I promise to be a better blogger!!