A Salute to my Lovely Mum

The last couple of days have been extremely painful  for me, but for my mum its a happy release. Yesterday I rang my mum at her nursing home in Hove, Sussex which I have been doing regularly since she went in two years ago, and when she eventually answered the phone yesterday, she sounded in a great deal of pain, which wasnt unusual but this time it sounded even more so. When I got her to tell me what had happened, it seems that she fallen during the night and it had been difficult to get her back into bed again, as she was in so much pain.

Anyway the long and short of it is, that they had to take her into hospital last night to discover why shed become so pale, and it seems that in the fall shed caused a vein to burst and shed been bleeding internally. They did manage to stabilise her last night but we were warned that it would only be a matter of hours before it would start again and this time it would be fatal. And this was proved to be right, as at 4.40am this morning she lost her fight and passed away peacefully, and at long last shes pain free.

So if I dont manage to visit your blogs in the next few days please forgive me, I will be back once I feel I can cope with it. Thank you for the lovely comments on my card yesterday, I very much appreciate that. With all my love and huge hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

Just Magnolia Challenge Card - Distressed

Todays card has been created for the Just Magnolia Challenge this week, its all to do with Distressing, Ive actually used one of the new Christmas images that I bought while visiting the NEC this weekend, and guess what for a change Ive used my Distressed Inks for colouring and for distressing the edges of not only my stamped image but also my sentiment. These were cut out with one of my Nestabilitie dies and then drawn around onto some brown glittery card and cut out larger ones for them to be mounted onto, I did distress the edges first with a piece of sandpaper, that might not be quite so easy to see.

The base card is my usual 8"x 8" white card with a first layer of the same brown card and one of three papers that I have used for this card, they are all from Donna's Bearly Mine Extreme Designs Cd, the first layer is a greeny brown paper in a distressed pattern, for the second and third layers, Ive torn the edges to give it a distressed feeling. Across the centre Ive again used the same brown card but popped it with a embossing folder through my cuttlebug, and then wrapped a piece of red/brown gold edged ribbon around it and attached it to the back.

On top of this I have stuck my mounted image and the greeting to the bottom right hand corner, to finish of I have punched out with some of the left over paper, two flowers that have been moulded and then stuck together with a pearl brad and spacer, then Ive punched out some brown leaves from the same colour paper as the mounts and arranged them in a circle in some silicone and popped the flowers on top.

Remembrance Sunday - Lest we Forget

As a lot of  you are already aware my eldest grandson has just finished a duty in Afghanistan, and Im one of the fortunate ones that as hes in the RAF he wasnt actually on the front line, but so many of our lovely youngsters are, and no doubt quite a few of you have had a family member lost in a war zone I felt it was right to remember those today.

Both my father and grandfather, who have now gone were in first and second World Wars, luckily though they did come back and I was able to love and get to know them, a lot of families didnt, so I want to dedicate this card in their memories and to thank them for their bravoury as well as those that are carrying on in the services today. I have quite a few friends whos sons are doing this and I want to say that I am thinking of them today and praying that they also will come back home safe and sound and the end of their duty to be with their respective families.

I wont go into to much detail today as I feel it would spoil the dedication, the card is a 6"x 6" white card with a embossed mount, and black satin ribbon, with a mount of two of the Nestabilitie diecuts in red and white, and a lovely build a poppy stamp design by Papermania.

God Bless you all, with love and huge hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxxxxx

Stampin for the Weekend Challenge - Festive Goodie Box

Oh wow Ive had a fabulous day today, Ive been to the NEC and bought lots of goodies and met some fabulous blogging friends, and even watched Tab and Kim on the Magnolia stand creating their gorgeous images ready for making up their cards. Oh what can I say but it was a brilliant experience to see how patiently Kim paints with her Distressed Inks, and Tab with her pencils, they are an inspiration believe me, I dont know whether I would have the patience to work so intensly as they both do, Im afraid my work is a lot quicker than theirs, but they did give me such lovely comments on my work and that boosted my ego no end, so thank you girls for such a lovely experience. Im just sorry I didnt get to see Bev and Marcea, but by 12.45pm I was exhausted with all the pushing and shoving that was going on, that my hubby and I decided to call it a day and make for home.

Anyway this weeks Stampin for the Weekend Challenge is a Festive Goodie Box, now this is the first time Ive made such a large one so wasnt quite sure how it would turn out, anyway its basically two piece of card 3"x 6"x 1" and 3" in depth, that Ive covered with some papers that I printed from the Nitwit Downloads, the bottom one is snowflakes, for the lid Ive used a slightly larger size 3.50"x 6" x 1" and this is 1.50" in depth, I hope this makes some sense, anyway these were made into a rectagles I then made two large top and bottoms covered them with more paper, the lid is a check pattern which was then attached to the rectangle to created a lid. I should have said that the bottom of the box was covered with a piece of the snowflake design.

My stamped image is one of the new Whiff of Joy Blue Egg stamps, isnt it gorgeous, a lovely little figure in a Christmas stocking, Ive stamped and coloured it with my copic pens, and mounted it onto a piece of red card, this was then attached to the lid of my box to right hand bottom corner, I then arranged a Christmas decoration above it, and inside the box Ive popped some toffee's and some chocolate eclairs, makes you feel hungry doesnt it.

Mo Mannings Challenge - All that Glitters

Todays card is for the Mo Mannings Challenge, All that Glitters, which incorporates three different types of glitters or sparkles. Ive used this cute fairy image, shes blowing bubbles, Ive printed her from my computer and coloured her with my copic pens, then  used my Sakura glitter pens on her, the stars on her skirt, and on her wings, and the bubbles.
I then cut her out with my rotatrim and mounted her up on some glitter rainbow card, the sentiment was created on my computer and then cut out and mounted in the same way. The base card is a 8"x 8" white card with the first layer another piece of the same rainbow glitter card, with two of Donna's Bearly Mine Extreme Designs from Vol.III. The first paper is a pink base one with some yellow stars, this was stuck to the glitter board with some silicone glue, on top of this Ive used another paper with an explosion of flowers, I used my star border punch all around all four sides, then this was stuck to the first layer, and on top of this I have wrapped a piece of glittery ribbon around the middle and attached it to the back of the first layer, the mounted image was then stuck on top of this, and the sentiment was stuck to the bottom right hand side.
I then found some very glittery flowers and stuck them to the top on the left hand side, with some punched out leaves underneath, and for final flourish I have stuck some glittery gems to the right hand top and bottom left hand sides.

A lovely Award from Linda

I received this lovely award from my very special friend Linda http://simpleandsassycreations.blogspot.com/

and I thought it might take me awhile to sort out all the questions and answers that have to be done with this award, luckily it wasnt as difficult as I expected so here you Linda, hope that you approve, and thank you love for thinking of me. Anyway love heres my answers to the questions:- 

1. Where is your cell phone? Hanging up in my craft room

2. Your hair: white/grey
3. Your mother: awesome
4. Your father: sweetheart
5. Your favorite food? Roast
6. Your dream last night? About my family
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? healthy
9. What room are you in? craftroom
10. Your hobby? crafting
11. Your fear? snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? crafting
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something you aren't? unhappy
15. Muffins? yup
16. Wish list item? for my daughters to be healthy and happy
17. Where did you grow up? South East London
18. Last thing you did? Have a cup of coffee
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pets? none
22. Friends? trustworthy
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? content
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? Skoda
27. Something you're not wearing? perfume
28. Your favorite store? Craft Shop
29. Your favorite color? purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. When was the last time you cried? This morning
32. Your best friend? My hubby
33. One place that I want to go over and over? Shopping for craft things
34. Facebook? yes
35. Favorite place to eat? depends
Now I need to pass this onto 5 people which isnt easy as Ive got some really lovely friends out there so here we go,
Swaantje -  http://swaantjes-welt.blogspot.com/,
Teresa - http://treesawardincrafts.blogspot.com/,
Mandy -  http://sparklybits1.blogspot.com/,
 Jules - http://jules-alwayswithaheart.blogspot.com/,
Lyn - http://spyder-spyderscorner.blogspot.com/,
 Ok girls you know the rules, I hope you will accept this award and enjoy. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Primary Colours Red, Yellow and Blue

Todays card has been created for the Cute Card Challenge, this has to be in Primary Colours of Red, Yellow and Blue, and Ive also managed to use one of Janet Roberts gorgeous images from http://www.pinkgemdesigns.com/catalog/manga-c-36.html this one is one of the new Manga Designs, called Christmas with Kaya, shes such a little sweetheart that Ive deceived also to use this card for one of my new granddaughters Christmas Cards.

Ive stamped her onto white card and coloured her with my copic pens, after which Ive cut her out with my rotatrim and inked the edges with some red ink, I also used one of Janets sentiment stamps as well and mounted it in the same way as my main image.

My base card is a 7.50"x 7.50" white card, and for my first layer I have used a dark red card, and one of three designs I picked from the Nitwit Mainly Mouse Collection, the first paper is an all over sentiment greeting design, and on top of this in the top right hand corner I have stuck a smaller square of blue card with a snowflake design on it, and the third layer is a label design piece in yellow with a yellow square pattern on and Ive popped a bright red snowflake ribbon at the back to make it look like a tag.

Ive then stuck my main stamped  image in the centre and my greeting to the right hand side at the bottom, Ive used some foam tape on both these two mounts to raise them slightly of the card. To finish of Ive made three snowflakes and dipped them into some twinklets and popped them in a group at the bottom on the left.

Sample No.3 for Sarah - An Fieldmouse Easel Card

Todays card for Sarah is an Easel card, if youd like to see some more of Sarah Hallam's cd you can find them at http://www.spanglefish.com/peerlessdesigns/newreleases.asp  and you will astounded at how beautiful her work is, she is definitely one very talented lady. Her new show to preview her latest Cd "Woodland Treasures" is on Create and Craft on the 15th November at 12pm I hope that you will be there to watch it as I certainly will be. This will be my last card for now and I will post the other three next week nearer to the launch so that I can remind you of it.

This card has been created from three pieces of equal size card, in this instance its 8"x 8" x 8"size and several of the backing papers and one of the main toppers, I printed out two main ones and mounted them onto so green card one for the front and one for the bottom (Ive left the middle section plain), I have also printed out two more papers the first one has been made into a smaller 6"x 6" square and punched all around the edge with one of my Martha Stewart border punches, I also used the corner one on it to, this was then stuck to the centre of the front and my mounted Fieldmouse image was stuck on top.

For the bottom I have mounted the other piece of paper onto the same coloured card and then cut a smaller piece to attach across the bottom of this sheet for the front to stand up against, on this piece I have stuck a further paper but firstly have punched along both the outer edges, then wrapped a piece of ribbon across the centre and popped two brads through it and then opened them out at the back before sticking it to the card. This acts like the stop for the front piece to stop it falling flat, although its not easy to see you can definitely see the brads, which were created with my Itop brad maker and some of the paper from the cd.

To finish of Ive created two flowers from more of the left over paper, and moulded them with my ball tool and put a brad through the centres with a spacer, and before sticking them to my card, Ive punched out some fern leaves and arranged them in a circle then popped the flowers on top. The Sentiment was a stamp that I had in my stash and this also has been mounted onto a piece of brown card and positioned below the main image to the bottom right.

Sample No.2 for Sarah - Dioarma Card

Firstly I want to thank all those lovely girls that left me comments on my being asked to join a new Challenges DT team, Im really excited at this new adventure, so thank you so much girls, Im sure we will have great fun with Donna and her "Cards for men" Challenges, and I hope that the rest of you will join in and have fun with us, I will give you more details about whats going to happen as and when I get them.
I was so busy yesterday trying to get Sarahs samples finished so that I could get them into the post this morning, in case the Postal Strike escalates, so I must apologise for not going on my normal blog hopping, I will try and get around today if my hubby allows me, as its our swimming day it might not be till later on today.
Anyway did I managed to get all six samples done and will post them on my blog, some of them this week and the rest just before the show on the 15th to remind you when its on.

This second sample is a Dioarma card and is not the simplest to create, it means that you have to print six of the toppers that you want to use to create the scene, and then with a bit of imagination cut away bits of five of them to make it stand out, a bit like a cartoon film, when they create the background for their characters to move around on.
As you can see from the second photo, its necessary to cut two side pieces to make a sort of concentina to fit all the photos to, this has to be done to both sides, Ive then created a outer folder for the card to be put in, and on the front Ive stuck a background paper first, then another of the main toppers mounted it up onto brown card, and popped a ribbon underneath so that I can close the whole card up and make a bow on the side.
I hope you like this one, it was not the easiest to make, but I thought it would be something different, I think it was probably harder to create than the exploding birdhouse.

Wow guess what Ive been asked to join a Design Team for a New Challenge Blog

I know its a bit late for this but I thought youd like to know that Ive been asked to join a Design Team for a new Challenge Blog http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/ its to start operating from the 1st December I do so hope that all my friends and followers will pop across and see who else has been invited to join the team. Wish me luck as its the first time that Ive done this sort of thing and I hope that I will do justice to Donna's Challenge Blog.

Samples for Sarah - Exploding Birdhouse

Today Im going to be posting one of my samples from Sarah Hallam's new cd which is to be previewed on Create and Craft on the 15th November at 12pm, if youd like to pop across to her website you will be able to see more information and catch all her other beautiful cds, she is a wonderful talented lady who creates all the images herself this is her website http://www.spanglefish.com/peerlessdesigns/newreleases.asp.

This is my first sample Ive tried to create an exploding Birdhouse rather than and exploding box. As you can see its made on the same principle as the exploding box but with a apex on two of the outside pieces to allow you to pop the roof on, in one of the end pieces Ive cut two doors and stuck two brads in holes I punched to allowe them to be opened. Ive used three layers inside, the first one, the outside one is a 4"x 4" size squares in a X formation so you have a square in the centre, this is for sticking them one on top of the other, and these have been covered with one of Sarahs papers that you will find on her Cd. The front one was then cut to create a door and behind this I have stuck a piece of Acetate and then printed an owl image to stick to it, to make it look as though a owl is hiding inside.                                                 

 I then left it ready to pop the other layers inside and got on with the second and third layers.         

The inside pieces were create with firstly a 3.50"x 3.50" squares and the third layer is a 3"x 3" squares, each of the panels was mounted with the owl images, I picked several different images to use for this and mounted them all onto square pieces of gold textured board, and stuck them to the panels. In the centre of the exploding box I found one of Sarahs Decoupage images, this one has octagon pieces that Ive cut out and mounted with some sticky pads to raise if of the bottom picture.

The exploding box was then mounted up together in layers and I then popped the roof piece which was created from one piece of card 10"x 5" scored and folded in the centre, and two side pieces were created by scoring 1" in on either side of the long side, two little pieces were clipped out at the apex, and it was stuck in a A shape, then popped on top of the roof.

I hope I have bored you to much with my long explanation, but it wasnt the easiest of things to explain.

Oh what hassle to post my blogcandy

My husband and I have spent hour trying to sort out how to keep the post at the top of my blog, only to discover that my settings were out of date, you need to use the new editor to do this, it actually gives you a complete new posting page and the Post Options are different again. I hope this helps anyone else whos been having similar problems, its all to do with these damn updates that they keep giving us. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS Ive posted my finished bathroom for you to see, hope you like it

Just Magnolia and Cute Card Thursday Challenge

Wow two cards posted in one day, you will be thinking Ive gone mad, but I finished this one just a hour ago so thought as tomorrow is going to be a big day for me that I would post this now. Its for the Just Magnolia challenge which has to be monotone colours, Ive used blue as my base colour, and the Cute Card Challenge is Midnight Margaritias, so Ive used this Magnolia image and masked her and popped a glass behind her.

Ive then coloured her with my copic pens and cut her out with my Label No.8 Nestabilitie die, drawn around the outside of the same size for the mount, Ive used a dark blue pearlescent card for this, I also used an appropriate sentiment stamp and mounted this in the same way, with both of these mounts Ive used a pale blue chalkpad around the edges.

For my base card Ive used a 8"x 8" white card and for the first layer Ive used a piece of the same dark card and one of three designs from the Bearly Mine Designs by Donna, and then for my second layer Ive used a smaller piece of blue card with the second paper design, for the third layer Ive punched out two scalloped circles and then cut another two pieces of patterned paper to mount onto them, though the top one isnt visable because of my flowers, but I did cut them and threaded some ribbon through the holes and stuck it to the back of the first two layers. I actually used a sketch that I found on the web, and slightly changed it. On top of this I have stuck my mounted image with some foam tape and my sentiment at the bottom.

To finish of Ive created two flowers from some of the papers I had left and hung a heart charm from the bottom one, and then mounted them both on top of some punched out leaves that I have stuck to the top right hand corner with some silicone glue.

Stampin for the Weekend and Mo Mannings Challenge

Todays card has been created for the Stampin for the Weekend and Mo Mannings Challenges, Ive again combined the two as Ive still got to make a start on some of the samples for Sarah, Ive created one thing already and will post it probably next week as tomorrow Im going to post my Blogcandy, as its nearly a year since I started blogging and its almost my birthday and the biggest thrill of all is Ive nearly received my 10,000 hits, you wont see the counter for this as its right down the bottom of my blog and was the first counter that I put on the blog. So its to be a triple wammy one and I hope that you will all take part in it.

Back to the card, Ive created a easel card for Mo's challenge and used purple, blue and orange and the theme is "Girls just wanna have fun" for the Stampin for the weekend challenge, so I hope that it hits both camps. The base card is the most difficult part of the design, it has to be three pieces of 8"x 8" size pieces stuck together to make one long 8"x 24" size card, and onto this I have layered up firstly for the inside one Ive used a piece of mauve card with one of Donna's Bearly Mine Extreme Vol.III Designs, a pretty mauve one and on top of this I have put a strip of the same mauve card with yet another of the papers which I have used one of my Martha Stewart border punches along both of the edges then wrapped a piece of ribbon around it and attached it to the back. Ive then made up two brads and put them through the ribbon to hold up the front flap then stuck towards the bottom of this page.

For the front of my card Ive used a piece of Orange card with one of the orange designs and on top of this Ive layered up a further two pieces of blue patterned paper with the same border punch design along the edges. My gorgeous Mo Manning image was printed from my computer and coloured with my copic pens, and then it was cut out and with some blue chalkpad, Ive distressed the edges of it, then mounted it onto a piece of blue pearlescent card. The sentiment was printed from my computer and mounted in the same way.

To finish of Ive used a large crochet flower and four small ones, Ive used one in the middle of the large flower, and the rest Ive stuck amoung the punched out leaves that I layered on first with some silicone glue. I also hung a crown from the large flower.

Guess what I won a Stampin for the Weekend Blinkie

Im sorry I havent been around for a couple of days, its been a bit hectic here, weve had a new shower installed and my hubby has been tearing his hair out with trying to tile around it and finish of putting up a shelf at the top of the bath, and guess what hes having a nervous breakdown, so I havent had much time to devote to do any crafting, as Ive been trying to write this post Ive been called several times to inspect his work, so you can image what it would be like if I was in the throws of trying to make a card.

I also received the new Sarah Hallam CD by Peerless Designs, the other day which means I have some samples to create for her, the new program is due to be aired on Create and Craft on the 15th November so I have to get a move on and start making them. The new Cd is absolutely stunning as all Sarahs are, this one is called Woodland Friends and you can guess what it has on it, Badgers, Owls, Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Doormice and lovely things of that nature, I will be posting my efforts as I make them.

I really wanted to tell you that I won a Blinkie for my card for the Stampin for the Weekend Challenge last week, and Im thrilled to pieces at that, as I can pop it on my side bar and wear it with pride, thank you so much to all those judges who considered my card worthy of it. Bless you and thanks.

I will be posting two photos for you to see the mess weve been in for the last month, what with having to have a new bath as well, its been a real struggle to try and get the bathroom straight again. (This is the first time my hubby has done any tiling and I dont think hes done a to bad a job of it).

Danu's Dilemma - or one little girls frustration

Today we received some photos of our little granddaughter, as like most of us trying to force square pegs into round holes this little mite was also getting a bit p......ed off with trying to get her shapes through the holes on her snail.

I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as we did, she is now 14 months old and walking, we love her to bits. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxx

A wonderful Award from Poppy and Birsel

Ive been awarded this several times before but I think its a wonderful award and Im always thrilled when its given to me as I think its such a personnal one, so thank you both Poppy of http://poppy2splace.blogspot.com/ and Birsel of http://hobbyvita.blogspot.com/, but before I go any further I must apologise to Birsel for not acknowledging receiving this a month ago, as Id only just received it from someone else and didnt want at that time to give anymore of my secrets away so I have to really give it some thought as to what I can shock you with today.

The rules of accepting this award are that you must give five things away about yourself that isnt already known and to pass it onto five more worthy receiptants, so here goes. 1. Im a really big Teddy Bear collector. 2. We went shopping on Saturday and my hubby who bought me two more Bears and a gorgeous Gollywog for my birthday in a months time. 3. We had to have a new bath installed a month ago, and I made my poor hubby re-tile the bathroom, which he really didnt like doing. 4. We also had a shower installed today so hes now got to finish the tiling of. 5. We are moving his mum to a new Old Peoples Home in the next couple of weeks as the ones shes been living in is closing down next March, and weve been extremely lucky in finding one that only 9 miles away instead of over a 100.

Now I would like to pass this award onto five lovely followers of my blog, so here we go:

Amanda - http://montygonza.blogspot.com/

Lyn - http://spyder-spyderscorner.blogspot.com/

Doris - http://zwisselsbastel-wunder-seite.blogspot.com/

Swaanje - http://swaantjes-welt.blogspot.com/

Donna - http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/

I hope you will all accept this award with my love and I must apologise that I wasnt able to pass it onto more of you fabulous followers as you are all my most ardent friends. Thank you so much for being you with my love and huge hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxx

My First Digi Image onto a Candle

Well Ive been experimenting on trying to get an image on to a candle and my first attempt was really awful so I wasnt quite sure I want to try again, but as my middle daughter is a lover of candles I thought Id give it a go, and be brave about it.

Well I printed a image of the wonderful Mo Mannings, its the Holly Fairy onto a piece of tissue, now this is one of the first problems I encountered, you really need to make sure that the tissue is well attached to the paper so that it doesnt buckle as its going through the printer, I also used a program that allowed me to site it in the centre in case I had another problem with it buckling but luck was on my side this time it went through absolutely fine.

I then coloured the image with my copic pens, and afterwards cut it out ready to pop onto my candle, this was held in place with a piece of greaseproof paper, and you hold the two ends tight so that you are able to able your heat gun over the image, the greaseproof paper actually reacts the same way as your embossing powders, you can see it slightly change colour and it also starts to melt on top of the paper.

Once you remove your greaseproof paper, there you are the image on a candle, I will probably pop some little sparkly gems to make it zing, but I thought you like to see the result so far.

Just Magnolia and Stampin for the Weekend Challenges

Well yet again Ive had to create a Halloween card, but I think I may just send this to my eldest grandson now hes home again, thank you so much for the really lovely wishes so many of you have sent me and him. I actually managed to talk to him on Friday and I was so relieved to hear his voice, hes now of on holiday for a week with his fiance, so I want to wish him a wonderful time. My mum is also relieved and happy to know hes back in the UK again, bless her shes now 87 and its a worry for me can you image what's it been for her about her eldest great grandson.

Anyway todays card has been created from one of the new Magnolia Halloween stamps, this one is a mummy and Ive masked it to stamp the tombstone behind and then coloured it with my copic pens, after which I used a oval template to cut it out then created another in silver pearlescent card just a bit larger for the mount, before sticking the image on top of this Ive used a slate grey inkpad and distressed it around the edge. The sentiment is another of my stamps from the Waltzing Mouse stamp set, if you click on the name it will take you there so you can see what overs theyve got to over.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card and for my first layer Ive used one of Donna's Halloween set of papers from the Extreme Designs Volume III set, this is the prize for this weeks Stampin for the weekend Challenge. The first papers Ive used is a blue and black check paper, and this was stuck on a piece of the same grey pearlescent card, for the second layer Ive used a silver card with the second of my papers this one is a orange and white cheque design with bats and sentiments on. Around these two layers Ive put a black satin ribbon and attached it to the back of the second layer.

The third layer is a piece of orange card with yet another of the papers, this one is a orange based one with bats, hearts and sentiments all over it, then positioned at a angle across the card over which I have stuck a black velvet ribbon around the opposite way to the other one. I then popped a bat hat pin through this ribbon at the top. The stamped image was then positioned in the middle with the sentiment to the right hand bottom of my card. I then popped a hand button with black ribbon threaded through the holes on top.

To finish of Ive created two flowers of the smaller size and one big one from some left over papers from this set, moulded them with my ball tool and threaded some brads through the centres of all three with some pretty flower spacers as well. I then mounted them onto the card with some black fern leaves first and the flowers on top which were attached with some silicone glue.

My Grandson is Home

I havent been able to tell you but my eldest grandson has been in Afghanistan for the last six weeks and its been one of the most worrying times I know, luckily as hes in the RAF he hasnt actually been on front line service, but has been at the Airforce Base looking after the planes. Anyway tonight I got confirmation that hes home again, and Im SO COCK-A-HOOP and so relieved I carnt explain how relieved and happy I am to have him back, hes one of the most loving and thoughtful men I know. Thank God hes home and Safe. With all my love and Hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxxxxx