Well its been another very Busy Day

Today has been another busy day with the boys. On Tuesday we took them to Bristol Zoo, and we were so lucky with the weather we only once got caught in a small shower, and even then it was a quick run to the monkey house for cover.

Todays trip was to the Big Pit, in Blaenavon its not far from Abergavenny, and its high in the Brecon Beacons. I was a bit scared about going down into the mine but I did go and although it was a bit wet and slippery it really did show how difficult it was for the miners to work in such awful conditions.

My grandsons found the kit that they had to wear was extremely heavy and very uncomfortable, but with a little help from me the youngest did manage to do the round trip and seemed to have enjoyed the experience.

The photo above was taken just before we entered the lift that was going to take us down to the level that was open to the public, I hope that you like what you see. I will be back hopefully on Monday to do my blogging and to visit all of my usual haunts. Thank you so much for visiting me to see whats been happening, Ive missed you all as much as it seems youve done me. Bless you all with love and hugs Shirleyxxxxx

Wow see my gorgeous win in the Craft against Cancer draw

I received notice today that Id been lucky in the first draw in Michele's "Craft against Cancer" draw and guess what she is the most gorgeous little fairy figure named Rita. Now you might think this is a bit ironic but my mum's name is Rita, and I believe that both Michele and her mum have already decided that this fairy is a little Angel Fairy I also believe in Angels to, and I wont argue with them as I believe in a way my son is showing me that hes still happy and out of pain, and watching over me.

Thank you so much Michele you couldnt have given me anything more appropriate as Fairies and Teddy Bears are my most collectable things (as well as Craft stuff) so she will be extremely happy in my home. With love and hugs, and heres hoping that the drive to collect money for the Royal Marsden Fund keeps increasing even more. Shirleyxxxxxxx

Hi just a quick peek to see what we've been upto

I thought you might like to see a photo of my two grandson's enjoying a day out in Bristol yesterday, we first went to the @Bristol, its a place where children and big children can enjoy playing with science and of course they really enjoyed themselves. We also took them on the ferry to the SS Great Britain, and of course we had to play pirates. I will be back again next week, with love and hugs Shirleyxxxxx

A Watercolour Friendship Card

Well this is definately my last posting until after my grandsons have gone, Ive already started clearing out my craft stuff so my poor room and desk look so bare, but I did manage to get this last card done yesterday, its a bit different to what I usually post but I sincerely hope that you like it.

The stamps I have used are by Dark Room, they are an Australian company, and they come in tins, though you do have to cut them out and mount them, I loved this set when I saw a card in one of my magazines, Im very keen on using Marvy Le Plume pens on stamps to create pictures, and this is what Ive done this time.

The set contains several wild flower sprays, and Ive coloured them with my pens and sprayed them with a fine mist before stamping them onto watercolour paper, its a very misty effect but I absolutely love it. The greeting was also in the same set, and Ive unfortunately stamped it a bit of centre so I hope you will forgive me, I dont think it effects the result to much. To finish of Ive used my cats eyes and a foam sponge to distress the edge, then mounted it onto a piece of blue pearlescent card.

The base card is again my favourite 8"x 8" inch card, and Ive layered up a piece of blue pearlescent card with one of the papers from the Nitwit downloads, and Ive punched out the corners with a really lovely punch by Kreaxions, these punches are quite difficult to get hold of, but I know the Glitter Girls have a few on their website if you are interested in them. To finish of Ive used six beaded brad spacers and pearl and glass brads.

So although I may with my laptop, get time to visit your posts while the boys are here, I wont be actually posting myself until probably the 3rd of August, so take care with love and hugs to you all Shirleyxxxxx

A really lovely award from Avril

I was surprised today to receive a really lovely award from Avril of Crafting in the Shed and the Bottom of the Garden, its such a gorgeous image of a row of us crafting girls enjoying a day out and the seaside, and I want to thank her so much for sending it to me, and Id very much like to pass it onto some really lovely girls as well, they are

Denise - http://deniselovesstamps.blogspot.com/
Sue - http://scoopysstuff.blogspot.com/
Kimmi -http://poppy-petal-designs.blogspot.com/
Jacqui - http://jacqui47.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://allissa-designs.blogspot.com/
Linda - http://linda-wright.blogspot.com/
Brenda - http://stamping-fantasies.blogspot.com/

This is to thank some really lovely ladies that I enjoy visiting nearly every day and so enjoy and receive so much love and inspiration from them. Bless you girls and even if we carnt actually go and enjoy a day out I hope you enjoy the award and pretend we have. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

A Real Funky Card for Kimmi

Todays card has been created from Kimmi's downloads Patchwork Cow, Donkey and Dog, Ive printed the Cow and Dog this time and coloured them with my copic pens after which I cut them out completely.

Ive created a base card with a piece of A3 card cut into a 8"x 8" inch card, and for the first layer I have used a piece of pink pearlescent card, now these papers are from the cd that comes with The Complete Cardmaking Magazine, I had a job tracking down this mag, but found this one in WHSmiths in Chipping Norton on Saturday, the cd has a couple of sets of papers. I rather like this set its really funky and bright and thought it would really give it some go man go, (sorry about that) anyway Ive used four different patterns and for the first one Ive used a rather large flower one, and for the second layer Ive used a piece of yellow pearlescent card and a yellow honeycomb paper. For the third and forth layers Ive used two more papers one a circle pattern and the other a small version of the first flower paper, these were stuck to pink and yellow mounts and arrange opposite each other on the base card.

On to these two mounts I have stuck my coloured images with some silcone glue, I did a bit of moulding before sticking them on. The greeting is another of my stamps which has also been layered up onto two different pieces of the same card and stuck with some foam to the bottom of the card. The final thing Ive done is stuck a few buttons at the top on the right.

I hope it doesnt cause any visual disturbances as it is rather funky.

Thank you, you wonderful Bloggers

Todays card is my "thank you" to all of you who over the last week have been such a comfort and left me such wonderful comments, its amazing how much it goes to help make life worth living when things are difficult and hard. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I shall only be posting a few cards this week as a lot of you are aware I have two of my grandsons coming to visit this weekend, and my hubby and I are already preparing for the onslaught, luckily hes taken next week of work to help me give them a good time, I just hope they do enjoy themselves.

Todays card has been created with Tilda and the Large Envelope, Ive stamped her first then masked her to stamp the envelope on afterwards. Then Ive coloured her with my copic pens, after which I punched her out with the Mega Nestabilitie punch, but rather than use the next size up Ive drawn around the same size one and cut it out. I did try to run a pen around the edge of the image but as you can see at the bottom Ive gone over the edge, so to try and disguise it Ive tried to distress the edge with a red catseye inkpad. I did the same with the sentiment, these were both mounted together with some foam tape.

The base card is another of the 8"x 8" size card with a base layer of red card with the first of my four papers, these are all ones from the Nitwit downloads. The first one is a pink one with a red and green flower patterns on, the second layer is a lavender paper with a mauve mount card, I also attached a ribbon around the middle of this one, the third layer is cream layer with a flower pattern on, though its not that easy to see, Ive used my border punch on this one, and this was stuck to the fourth mount this one is a blue one with a blue paper. On top of this last one I have stuck my stamped image. The greeting was stuck to the left hand side at the bottom.

I have created two flowers from my hydrangea petals and with a purple brad and silver spacer I have stuck them together and a heart charm was hung from the bottom one, before sticking them to the card I have arranged some petals and leaves in some silicone glue and stuck the flowers on top. The last thing is the four petal gems stuck to the right hand side.

Whiff of Joy - New Summer Stamp Kit blogcandy

Yesterday was the launch of the new Whiff of Joy Summer Stamp Kit, Katharina is now offering some blogcandy, which will be two sets of this stamp kit on her blogspot which is http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/, If you go to click on this link you will be able to find out how to enter this. To pre-order these stamps just click on the side bar, this will end on the 7th August.

One Card two Challenges

Im afraid Ive cheated again this week and made one card to cover two challenges, Just Magnolia's "Buttons" and Stampin for the Weekend's song title "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks. This is the last Challenge card I will be making for a couple of weeks as most of you know I have two of my grandsons coming to stay for a week's holiday, and we have to travel up to Norfolk to collect them next Friday. And as they will be sleeping in my craft room I have to hide or remove all things that might hurt them, and to be honest I wouldnt like them to damage some of my more expensive things. I do have a lot of lovely things for them to play with Im not that selfish, but I suspect we are all a bit protective of our craft things.

Anyway Ive have created a card with two of the new Magnolia Summer Club stamps, Ive stamped Tilda onto white card, then masked her to stamp the tyre afterwards, then I coloured her with my copic pens. I then used one of the larger Spellbinder dies to punch her out after which I have drawn around the edge of the same size die on some orange pearlescent card to create a mount for it sit on, these were then stuck together with some foam tape. The greeting is one of my Just-Right stamps, which I have also punched out with a circle die, and created a mount for it with the Inverted circle and pearlescent card.

The base card is a 8"x 8"size card, then Ive used for the first mount a piece of orange pearlescent card, and one of the patterns from the Bearly Mine Cd designs, and used it again for the second, third and forth layers, but these were punched along the edges with the EK Success Border punch, this one has sandcastles, spades and buckets design on it.

After I stuck them across the base layer, Ive put my greeting at the top on the right hand side to create the illusion of Sunshine, then put my mounted image in the centre. Along the bottom of the card I have stuck several buttons, these are sandels, sunglasses, a bucket and starfish.
I also stuck a further six small flower buttons across the centre either side of a piece of rik rak braid, which had been attached before I stuck my stamped image on. The final thing is the flower, this is one of the Prima Sprite flowers with a crochet flower in the centre and a pearl brad threaded through the middle, before sticking it to the card Ive arranged some punched out leaves in some silicone glue then stuck the flower on top.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Christmas in July

Ive been rather naughty today, Im posting a card that I created last year to enter for this challenge, I hope you approve. I have stamped the two Magnolia characters onto white card and coloured them with my Karisma pencils then cut them out completely.

The base card is a A4 card folded in half, with one of the Cute Companion Christmas design sets, this one is of a tree and snowman in front of a iced up pond, this was stuck to the left hand side of the card. Over this I have attached a piece of Acetate, onto this I have stuck my cut out characters and then I have punched out some holly leaves and stuck them onto the acetate in and around the tree and bush, I also used some red stickles to create berries. Ive also done the same with some snowflake shapes, to create the scene that they are skating on the pond and its snowing.

The greeting is one that I typed out and printed from my computer and this was layered up and stuck under the acetate onto the card. To attach the acetate to the main card I have punched out two holes along the fold and stuck a piece of ribbon through to hold them together.

Ive been given a lovely Award

Ive received a most beautiful award today from Sue and I carnt tell you how proud I am of it, Sue is a really lovely hardworking lady and her blog is really inspiring, funny and a joy to visit, please do pop along and see what beautiful work she creates.

I have now got to pick from all my most lovely visitors and followers some people who I would love to give this award to, if I could I would pick you all, but it would certainly take me time to type you all in, so please if I dont put your name in this list think that I dont appreciate your support as by gum I do. So here is my list

Rach - http://papercraftsbyrach.blogspot.com/

Avril - http://avrilannwatson46.blogspot.com/

Brenda -http://stamping-fantasies.blogspot.com/

Linda - http://linda-wright.blogspot.com/

Lorraine - http://coldwaters2.blogspot.com/

Lisa -http://allissa-designs.blogspot.com/

Claire - http://clairebsd.blogspot.com/
Paula - http://paula-pollys.blogspot.com/

Linda - http://simpleandsassycreations.blogspot.com/

Jamee - http://pink-beach-ball.blogspot.com/

Nikki - http://sketchesbybunny-zoe.blogspot.com/

Janet - http://pinkgem-janet.blogspot.com/

Michele - http://extremelycrafty.blogspot.com/

Thank you again Sue for this lovely award, and thank you also girls for being such constant and regular followers of my blog, I really do appreciate all your lovely comments and your support.

With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

To a Special little Angel

Todays card has been created from the new Sandra Kuck Angel stamps, it might be a little ironic that I should use these stamps today after the last two postings Ive done, but I wanted to make a card for my youngest granddaughter who Im going to visit on Saturday. You will remember that I created a Thank You Miss card for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge last week, well I posted the card to her last weekend, and my daughter sent me a text yesterday, to say that she had given it to her teacher, and it seems the teacher was that thrilled with it, that she told her she intends keeping it forever, so I just wanted to give Taylor a card for herself.

Its a gorgeous stamp as you can see, and Ive stamped it onto white card and again coloured it with my copic pens, Ive then cut it out with my rotatrim and mounted it onto dark blue card. I also used one of the sentiment stamps from the same set and mounted this in the same way, before actually attaching them to the mount I have used one of my catseye inkpads to distress the edges of them, then used foam tape to mount them up.

The base card is again one of my 8"x 8" inch white cards with a dark blue card first mount and one of Laura Ashley papers, this one has a huge Hydrangea flower on it, Ive then used another mount with a plainish paper for the second mount and a further diamond pattern for the third one, both these were mounted onto a pale blue card.

Ive then mounted my stamped image in the centre of the card, with the sentiments stuck underneath. To finish of I have used some lace flowers down each edge of the card.

A Very Big Thank You

Firstly I want to thank you all for the lovely way you accepted my blog posting yesterday and the beautiful comments you left me. It wasnt something I would normally do, to publically show my loss, but I wanted to try and bring home how important it is for us to carry on the fight against cancer. I know there are lots of different ways of raising money for research but I felt that Michele had really taken on something that she was having difficulty getting people to follow and donate, as you and I both know the way the media force all these different ways into our homes and our minds, they bombard us and then try to get us to open up our pockets.

I wanted to show that it was a very personnal thing to me and if by showing and sharing a photo of my son I felt it might just encourage more of us to open our hearts and donate even a small amount to a very good cause.

Thank you so much again, and Ive posted another photo for you to see, this one is of my daughter and son together, I do hope you like this one as well. Both of the photo's were taken in December, 1964, when my son was 26 days old and my daughter was 2 years and 9th months old.

Raising Money for Cancer Research

Todays blog is different as I want to try and get the ball rolling for my friend Michelle, she is trying through crafting and donations to raise money for the Royal Marsden hospital, I suspect a lot of you out there have heard of this very famous hospital in its leading the way to find a cure for cancers.

Fortyfour years ago I lost my little lad to Acute Lympthatic Leukamia at the age of 6 months, unfortunately in those days they didnt have anywhere near the answer to try and reverse the way it ravaged through my sons body, but with all the research that has been done over the years they now have a very high proportion of sufferers attaining remission and even going on to be completely cured of it.

I am hoping by making my own case public that more people will click on that top right button and donate money or goodies to the fund and hopefully we shall be able to raise a lot of money for the hospital to use in the research of this dreaded discease. Please donate if you are able, and it doesnt have to be much, even £5. will give you a chance of going into the draw for some beautiful prizes that have been donated to the cause.

A second card from the Pink Gem Xmas Stamps

Good Morning all, today Ive used another of the new Pink Gem Christmas stamps for this card, this one is Milly and her Snowman. Ive stamped her out onto white card and again used my copic pens to colour her, then punched her out with one of the larger Nestabilitie dies, and created a mount for it by drawing around the edge of this particular size onto a piece of mauve pearlescent card, rather than using the next one up it would have been to big for it. Ive then stuck them together with some foam tape. The greeting is another stamped image also mounted onto a piece of the same card to.

The base card is my usual 8"x 8" size white card, and onto this I have mounted up for the first layer a piece of the same mauve card, and have used one of the Xmas Nitwit design papers, this one has fir trees all over it in a patchwork design. The second layer is a striped design in mauve, green and white, but Ive used the star border punch on this and then with the third layer, which is a further piece of the same mauve card Ive stuck another of the designs and wrapped a piece of ribbon around it, and attached the two together onto the base card.

Ive then stuck my mounted image in the centre, and the greeting to the left hand side at the bottom. To finish of I have punched out multi Snowflakes with my punches, and moulded them with my ball tool punched a hole in the centre and threaded a brad through the centre with a snowflake charm hung from the back. I also before sticking them to the card, Ive stuck some glue onto the tips and dipped them into the Twinklets to make them sparkle even more.

Pink Gems Mary and Joseph

Todays card has been created from two of the new Pink Gem Christmas stamps, Ive used the Mary with her baby and Joseph stamps. Ive stamped them together onto a piece of white card then coloured them with my copic pens, after which I cut it out with my rotatrim and mounted the image onto a piece of dark blue pearlescent card. The greeting was also stamped, cut and mounted in the same way.

Ive made a 7.75"x 7.75" card this time, because the piece of dark blue pearlescent card Ive used for the first mount wasnt quite big enough for the usual size I use, Ive used again one of the Nitwit downloads papers, this one has a snowflake pattern all over it. The second layer is a piece of star patterned vellum on which I have used the snowflake embossed border punch of Martha Stewart, Ive actually used a embossing ball on the snowflakes just to make them stand out a bit more. Ive stuck this to another mount of pale blue pearlescent card on which I have stuck another patterned paper, this one has greetings printed all over it, before sticking this to the base layer I have put a ribbon across the seam between the paper and vellum.

The third mount is another piece of the same pearlescent card but this time I have run it through my cuttlebug with the snowflake embossing folder, then I have stuck it on top of the layers. The stamped mounted image was then stuck on to the middle of the card, and the greeting was stuck to the bottom right hand side of the card.

To finish of I have punched out some snowflakes, dipped them in glue and then into Twinklets, these are rather large glitter crystals and they really do sparkle, Ive even put some stickles on the star to.

A Birthday Card for Danu

Todays card is one that Ive made for my hubbys granddaughter, she will be one on the 6th August, now I know its a bit early, but with my grandsons coming on the 23rd, Im not going to have much time to plan and make one for her, so I thought Id get it done today.

Ive actually used a photo of her and built the card around it, I love this photo she looks so happy and had just got her first tooth. Ive used a Nestabilitie frame die to cut out and create the frame to go around the photo. The greeting is one that I created on my computer and printed it onto semi-gloss photo paper, then I mounted it up with a piece of the same pink card that Ive punched out for the frame.

The base card is my signature 8"x 8" white card, with a first layer of pink pearlescent card, with one of the Nitwit downloads that Ive falled in love with, the designs Ive used for this card are from the Happy Bornday set, Ive actually used two of the papers this time, one with loads of icecream cornets on and a pretty pink spotted one, this was used on the second layer. The third and final mount is a piece of the card left from the frame popped through my cuttlebug with the birthday embossing folder, I then stuck a piece of spotted ribbon around it and stuck it to the base card.

Before sticking the second layer down, I wrapped another ribbon around the card this one has Princess written on it, then stuck the ends to the back of the first layer. Over this I stuck the second mount with the photo and frame stuck onto it, with the greeting at the bottom. I even printed some embellishments from the same Nitwits download, these were then stuck to the small mount.

To finish of I have stuck some little flower gems around the bottom and top of the card. I also used a some stickles on the frame just to give a bit of a glitz.

A Card for two Challenges

Ive made the card today to enter two Challenges, Stampin up Weekend and the Just Magnolia Challenges, Ive used the theme from the Stampin up Challenge, which was Chocolate and Strawberries with the Just Magnolia Sketch. Its been a rather stressful week and neither my husband or I have been particularly well, although Im feeling better than I was, I wanted to thank all of you who so kindly have been asking how Im progressing, and left me such lovely comments and wished me a speedy recovery. And I do have to get fit quickly as I have two of my grandsons coming to stay for a week from the 23rd and they will be expecting a to be able to do things that 8 and 9 years old love doing. While Im on the subject, during their stay I wont be posting any cards till after the 1st August, or be able to visit your blogs which I will sadly miss, as they will be sleeping in my craft room and I wont have access to my computer or my crafting goodies.

Anyway to get back to my card, Ive stamped my new Summer Club Tilda stamp onto white card then masked her and stamped the rather large and juicy looking strawberry behind her. I then coloured them with my Karisma pencils today, thought Id give them an airing for a change. Ive then used my oval Nestabilitie die to cut her out. As it was the largest of the dies I then drew around the die and cut it out of a piece of red mirri card, and stuck my stamped image onto it with some foam tape. I also stamped out one of the greetings and mounted that on another piece of the same card.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, with layers of red card with my first pattern Nitwit download paper, and on top of this I have cut a piece of brown pearlescent card and used another of the patterns on it. I have then cut a smaller piece of the red card and layered a third paper onto it and with some ribbons wrapped around the centre, Ive stuck it across the base card.

I then stuck my mounted image on the card in the centre, and the greeting to the top right hand side. After which I have stuck two roses around the greeting, and made three flowers from the Hydrangea petals with some pink pearl brads through the centres, then stuck them to the card with some silicone glue and a few punched out leaves underneath them.

Then punched out some flourishes using a piece of one of the papers and stuck them to the mount down the left hand side, after which I stuck some little heart gems amoung the flourishes.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - "Thank You Miss"

Todays card is for this weeks Cute Card Thursday Challenge - a thank you card for the teacher. As all my children have children of their own, I will have to send this to one of my granddaughters to pass on to their teachers. Anyway Ive used one of the Tilda stamps, and in this one shes dressed in her school uniform and carrying a slate. Ive stamped her onto white card, and then masked her to stamp the pile of books behind. I then coloured her using my copic pens, after which I have used my Polka Dot Nestabilitie die to cut her out. Then used it again on some blue textured card and with the die still in place Ive used some white ink to stencil through the holes.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, onto which I have layered up a piece of pale blue pearlescent card and again used the Nitwit downloads, the first one is a lovely check pattern, on top of this I have used a further two more patterns and with my flourish Martha Stewart border punch, created two layers with them. The top mount is another piece of the blue pearlescent card, but Ive used one of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders on it, and then stuck a piece of brodiary angliese along the edge of it, then on the two outer edges Ive stuck thin grosgrain ribbon.

Ive then printed a greeting from my computer and layered it up with a piece of the same blue card that I used for the frame, this was layered up with some foam tape and stuck at the bottom right hand side. The mounted image was then stuck on to the base card.

I then punched out with my flourish punches some swirls and stuck them down the left hand side, and in between them Ive stuck four flowers. The final thing is the pearl gems stuck down the right hand side.

Hold on to your Dreams

Todays card has been created with one of the Tilda stamps and the butterfly background. Ive stamped Tilda first then masked her and stamped the background on afterwards. Ive then coloured them with my copic pens and cut her out with my rotatrim, before mounting her onto a piece of coloured vellum I have distressed the edge with some red ink, then mounted her onto the pink pearlescent card with some foam tape. I have done a similar thing with the sentiment and this one was also distressed around the edge before mounting it onto another piece of the same coloured card.

The base card is a 7"x 7" white card, and again I have used some of the Nitwit papers, I have used two of the papers, I should confess that Ive used one of the sketches that I found while blogging. The first mount is one of pink pearlescent card, with the first of the papers, and the second mount is a triangle and a spotted paper, these were then attached to the base card, and two pieces of rik rak ribbon were attached to the back of the first mount.

Ive then stuck it to the card, and positioned the stamped mounted image at the top of the card, the mounted greeting is stuck at the bottom, and the final thing is the three heart buttons stuck on the left hand side. Its quite a simple card this time, but I hope you like it.

Gorjuss Girl in Mauve

I must apologise for not posting for a few days as both my hubby and I have been suffering from some sort of virus, mine was stomach cramps and my poor hubby's in bed with Vertigo, so neither of us are feeling a 100%. But I did manage to create one card yesterday with one of the new Gorjuss Girl stamps.

Ive stamped the image onto white card and coloured her with my copic pens, then punched her out with one of the Nestabilitie label dies, then cut another out of some Pearlescent card so I can mount her onto it, (but before doing so Ive distressed the edge of the stamped image and the sentiment with some mauve ink), and as it was the largest Die I rotated it instead. I also did the same with the sentiment stamp. Theyve both been mounted with a bit of foam tape.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, with a first layer of mauve pearlescent card and one of the lovely Nitwit downloads , if you havent come across these papers before, if youd like to click on the name it will take you there. Ive actually used four of the patterns this time from the Noah's Ark set.

On top of the first layer I have used two of the papers and punched both of the edges with my Martha Stewart border punch, and the final mount is another piece of the same pearlescent card, and a further paper and then Ive wrapped a piece of the lovely ribbon that I won in the blogcandy from Jacqui. On top of the ribbon Ive stuck my stamped image again with some foam tape. The sentiment was then stuck to the bottom right hand side with foam tape.

The flowers are some lovely crochet ones, the larger ones I bought on Ebay and the smaller ones from Wild Orchid Crafts. Ive used some pearl brads in the centres and hung a fairy charm from the bottom one. I then attached them to my card with some silicone glue and punched some leaves out to sit them on and arranged them first before sticking the flowers on top.

The final thing I did is to stick some flower buttons along the bottom and the top just to take away the plainess.

Sarah's new Cd - Create and Craft on Monday 6th July, at 9am

I meant to remind you that my friend Sarah Hallam of Peerless Designs, will be on Create and Craft previewing her new Cd "Teddies Friends" special edition. This is the cd that I have made several samples for, I do so hope that you will be watching her at 9am next Monday morning on Create and Craft.
With Love and Hugs Shirleyxxxxxxx

A Card for Two Challenges

I have created this card for two Challenges, Just Magnolia's - So Charming, and Stampin for the Weekend - Kimmi's Sketch, I sincerely hope that it will be ok to do this.

I have used my Summer Stamp Club set of Magnolia stamps, the Tilda with a watering can, and the flower border. I stamped the Tilda image onto white card then masked her off while stamping the flower border, this was done twice to give it a longer border. I then coloured it with my copic pens, then cut it out with a circular tool, and distressed the edge with some distressed ink. I also cut a larger circle to use as a mount, which were stuck together with foam tape. I also used one of the sentiment stamps for the greeting, then cut it out with my square Nestabilitie die, and a mount out of the scalloped one, I stuck them together in a rotated way with some more foam tape.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, and onto this I have layered up with a piece of pink pearlescent card, and used another of the Nitwit paper downloads, on top of this base layer I have stuck a triangle mount with another of the designs, and a oblong mount with yet another pattern this one has hearts over it.

Ive stuck the mounted image in the centre, and the sentiment to the right hand side at the bottom. To finish of the challenge I have stuck three flowers at the top with a charm hanging from the bottom one, and some punched out leaves. It also called for yet another flower to be put at the bottom left hand side, and this also was stuck with some punched out leaves under it.

The final thing I have done is to punch out some flourishes with yet another of the patterns, and stuck them down from the top on the left hand side, with some pink pearl gems stuck in the swirls.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - A Stitch in Time

Todays card has been created for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge, A Stitch in Time. Im not sure what the title of this image is as it was a RAK from my friend Linda, but I wouldnt mind being able to relax as this little creature is doing as its so hot at the moment.

Ive coloured him with my copic pens and cut him out with my Nestabilitie Label die, Ive had to create a larger mount with some green pearlescent by drawing around the die, as Bev's tutorial shows you how to. I then mounted them together with some foam tape.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card onto which I have layered up some pale blue pearlescent card, and a paper from my Nitwit Download papers, I have made a second mount with some yellow pearlescent card with another of the papers, and a third layer is another of the papers and this one is stuck to a piece of green pearlescent card, Ive then used my sewing machine to stitch them all around the edge, as the challenge asks.

Ive then layered them up on my base card in a upside down shape, and stuck the mounted image with foam tape in the centre. The stamped greeting is one that I have in my stash, and mounted this onto a tag punched out of green pearlescent card, then attached it to the card with some brads.

I created two flowers with my Hydrangea petals and stuck a brad through the centre with a sandal charm hung from the bottom flower, Ive also stuck a couple of yellow roses in the centres. Ive attached them to the card with some silicone glue, and some punched out leaves.

The final thing I have done is create some flourishes and stuck them to the bottom left hand corner with some pearls stuck amoung the flourishes.

My Gorgeous Orchids

I havent done any cards for posting today, but thought you might like to see my beautiful orchids, I have quite a few on the Dvd cupboard in front of my living room window, and several of them are just coming into bloom.

They are moth orchids and are the easiest of the species to grow, I love them and especially the yellow spotted one you can see in the front as it has a very delicate smell. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxx