Have a 'Mice' Retirement

The lady who was my mentor when I started my career 25 years ago was planning to to take her well-earned retirement today, but I think all this current mess has meant she's had to change her plans with just days to go.  All that hard work to get to the finishing post has been thwarted at the last minute.  It felt odd enough to think of her leaving, because she's been such a key part of the company for so long.  She's one of those people who do so much without recognition that the company's real loss cannot be anticipated, and will only be realised once she's gone. I hope she gets to enjoy her retirement really soon.

Anyhoo, I've used a sweet Lili of the Valley image on a card I made for her. I've edited the 'with love' text and covered it over with a typed 'Good Luck' sentiment instead.  I've also added 'Enjoy your retirement' in the same font.  Hopefully I'll be able to give it to her soon.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Mice: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Pencil: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap
• Tag: Old Paper, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Sky: Milled Lavender

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Love Tag
• Creative Expressions Chic Floral papers
• Organza Wired Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel
• Circle Cutter

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Spring Mood Board (purples, florals)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

The definition of retirement

It's happening a bit more often than I'd like lately, but whenever I have a particularly crappy week at work, I console myself by remembering that it's one less week until retirement!

There's nothing like wishing your life away, huh!

Anyway, for one of my colleagues, that time has come (lucky lady).  She's taking early retiring, but however jealous I might be, I think it's fair to say that she's earned it.

I wanted to make her a 'Happy Retirement' card, but had two problems to overcome;  Not only do I find this theme quite a tough one, but also she's not really into my fussy style cards.  So I did some thinking, and eventually came up with a design which I hope she might like.

For such a simple card, you would not believe how much time it took to plan!  I even procrastinated for a while about adding a trio of pearls in one or other corner, but in the end decided it didn't need anything else. So I stopped.

Talk about 'Simples!'  :0)

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Typed Sentiment (Font = Arabic Typesetting)
• Cardworks Card base
• Papers - Crafty Impressions Lace Butterflies
• Berisfords Aqua Satin Ribbon
• Pearl ribbon buckle

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Retirement Card

I've got a bit of a different card today, as it has a sentiment rather than an image as the focal point.

When I received these gorgeous papers from The Stamp Basket I couldn't cover them up, so decided to make a C&S design which showcased the papers more than anything else.

The card was requested by my hubby for his boss who is retiring in a few months, and the only requirement was to include some Swarovoski crystals, and preferably not a bear (hmmm, I can't think why he'd feel the need to say that)

Anyway, here's what I came up with;  a shaped card base, with floral papers.   I cut out a central square, matted it onto contrasting paper from the same pad, and edged it with Stardust gel pen before wrapping it with strands of red twine and sticking it back down in place so that the flowers still match the base card positions.

I then typed a sentiment in an elegant font, die cut it out and stamped flowers and leaves around the edge.  I layered that onto the same plain backing paper and used 3d foam pads to place it over the twine.  I then tied a bow in some more twine, threaded on a bead and a crystal onto each strand, and tied a knot at the end to stop them falling off.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Crafty Impressions Lace Butterflies Florals and Plains Papers
• Red Burlap Twine
• Spellbinders Labels 18 Nesties
• Sakura stardust gel pens
• Sentiment typed in font SNF Infinity
• White Beads
• Red Swarovski Crystals
• Card-io Majestix Emily's Garden mini stamps

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Enjoy your retirement

Today is the last day of work for one of my lovely colleagues because she is retiring today.  I've only worked directly with her for a year as I transferred into her department last April but she is a lovely lady and will be greatly missed.  I am pretty sure that her leaving it is nothing to do with my moving into the department, and I'll just take her timing as a coincidence for my own sanity!  Anyway, today's card is to give to her on her retirement.

It's also my final project as a guest designer at CRAFT where this week's theme is "Feminine".  Hopefully the girlie image, spot of pink and the glittered floral papers fits the bill.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Sunbonnets from Bugaboo
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Spellbinders Labels 3 dies
• Pink satin ribbon
• Glossy Accents
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Boots - Flowers
• Bunny Zoe - Girlie
• Incy Wincy - Pastel Colours
• Sweet Stampin' - Layers
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Happy crafting.