Distracted by visitors

Two little fellas have come to stay for a fortnight and charmed their way into my heart. This shot was taken through the glass of their palatial pad so there's a bit of reflection.

I don't do babysitting/petsitting etc etc except in a crisis-can't handle the responsibility but nobody else wanted to take them on so I thought I'd better do the decent Mum thing.

Darn it they are gorgeous and I've fallen in love. What are they? They are Degus-sort of a cross between a chinchilla and a gerbil. They are very lively but I took this when I noticed them stop to listen to me whistling -LOL. Rushed for my camera and whistled "Colonel Bogey" at them -they seemed to like it. They've been with us a week now and I've actually managed to stroke one of them. Not got much crafting done!

Lavinia stamps

How annoying-the inside came on before the outside-I will never fathom this-ah well. Have managed to get the camera out and take some piccies. Since my discovery of Crafty by Nature in Farnworth , a real crafters craft shop with all sorts of bits and bobs, I've been playing with Tim Holz (I wish) and I got out some Lavinia stamps which seem to lend themselves to these kind of treatments.

I'm afraid I love to just mess about without actually completing a card but this time I was determined and an inside too. Why I've never used distress inks before I don't know but I really do have hundreds of inks. The colour I've used for the background is broken china and I've also sprayed it with Glitz Spritz desert moon endless sky (had this for years and it matches beautifully. I then sprayed again with water and recrumpled so that the spray ran a bit and then rubbed the crumples. If you want to know more about these techniques (bet you lot are already fully up to speed with 'em anyway) you should watch Jill Tuck of The Stampman demonstrate or better still nip over to America and pop in on Tim Holz-LOL. After ironing the paper I just inked the background stamp with broken china again and stamped the wording over the top. Fairy is coloured with Cosmic shimmers and Sakura stardust and I've added a bit of Stickles stardust.

As you can see the inside is slightly different with a bit of masking and no crumply wumply. Bet that distress ink would look good stamped over with brilliance inks as well.

Some heart shaped sequins crept in on some wire. I wound them around the brad and just to make sure they stayed there I tried out something else I thought I'd give a try-Pinflair glue gel. So far it's living up to its reputation -that's some more glue to add to the collection then wouldn't mind some more of those Lavinia stamps either.

Am off to practice my tri- shutter, cantilever and double slide cards now. If you want to see a lovely tri-shutter card hop over to Kaye's Crafty Place-don't land on a kangaroo.

Bit under the weather

Dear folks-sorry no post-bit under the weather at the moment.
Spent last week trying to stock up the freezer a bit with some bulk cooking. Poor planning really as we tend to run out all at the same time. Not cordon bleue-just basic grub like bolognese sauce, casseroles and stuff. Then tried my best to get ahead with the housework and keep on top so it wasn't too big a deal. What with that and the rain everything has conspired to bring back the FMS big style.
Did manage to go to two demos which I thoroughly enjoyed. The first was at a local craft shop that I've just discovered which has been there for three years-can't believe I've never spotted it. They had a demo involving Tim Holz distress inks which I have avoided for a long time 'cos a while ago I just felt I had enough inks. Since I vowed never to buy any more inks -guess what- I discovered Versafine, which I love and I'm now a Tim Holz convert as well.
I then went to a Docrafts demo at my local Range where I saw a double slide and a triple slide. Came home and made some blanks to remind me. The double slide I particularly loved. Apparently they are both on You Tube. Impressive and not too difficult.
Did make a couple of cards but didn't take shots for once. In one I used the Big Fella alphabet from Pink Petticoat and in the other the Tim Holz ink and a great stamp of a vintage biplane from Papermania-ie they were both for blokes.
Enfys will be pleased to note that I did buy the Dustin Pike downloads while they were on offer. Thanks for that Enfys. Hope everyone has seen the new tiny alphas from Pink Petticoat- they are scrummy and I've been playing about with them in Publisher since I got more acquainted with the ins and outs thanks to all the online help I've had from Paul at Crafty Blogocks and Regina at The Cutting Cafe.
Will post some piccies when I've got something to show.

Happy Birthday to you

My graduation card for daughter- in -law
Printed directly onto 300 gsm card using Paul's instructions and doodle curls from Pink Petticoat

Sentiment Girly Curly Pink Petticoat

Cap stamped on back of card scraps then cut out and layered.

Making an envelope but not done it yet

My first biggie using a Dustin Pike image and Cutting Cafe download.

Details to follow 'cos going out now. Ta ta.

Crafty philosophy

Or Wednesday wandering-or make up your own title.
A while ago Jeannette (my lovely SU supplier) said she'd been having a discussion about what was the most important equipment for a beginner and asked me what my thoughts were. I've been pondering ever since and I've got a long list but here's a few for you to think about and they are FREE.

1. The eyes in your head. Use them to look around you. There are shop displays, bought cards, this seasons colours, mother nature, craft stores, visits to craft shows-add some more here.........
2. The tongue in your head. This has served me very well and probably driven some people mad. How many times have you been at a craftshow and seen someone demonstrating and walked away without really understanding what they are doing. They are selling something and they'll be only too happy to answer your questions. As for craft shops-if they can't take the trouble to answer your query-don't shop there again-find someone with the patience to help you. I've not been able to get to The Stampman recently but they have helped me a great deal.
3. The internet. This is a no brainer and the reason I decided to put this post on today . If you're reading this you have internet access and most likely broadband so use it not just for blog hopping but for searching out and watching craft videos. My absolute favourite is the Hot off the Press one at paperwishes.com. I think you have to sign up to their newsletter but it is worth it because you then get notification of their webisodes which are usually weekly but occasionally they do a week of webisodes like this week. There are some great ideas and even if you don't buy their products you will love these ideas. My other favourite is the one from Crafts Beautiful (which includes Make Jewellery Magazine) which I catch up on fairly often. These are hosted by You Tube and as well as advertising the issues of the magazine they also have little technique spots. I've just been viewing one on making wrapped beads. I made a couple then I had a card to make so I went with the flow and used wire on the card.

There you have it for now. I'm just going to have a go at some of the ideas I spotted on the webisodes. Tomorrow I'll put some cards on if I get time. We are going out on the bus passes. Probably to Gallery Oldham which has a couple of exhibitions on we've been meaning to get round to seeing. Never know, I might pick up some inspiration.

Says it all

Wasn't going to post today but I've just read Edna's blog and I'm sad to see she has decided to give up her blog. I hope it's just temporary and when she gets a bit more on top of things she'll be back. After all just wait until winter when there's nothing on TV! and the sun isn't shining.
On a more cheerful note I see Liz is giving the site a face lift over at Pink Petticoat and that she's involved with Cardmaker of the year at Cardmaking and Papercraft.
Remember I talked about sympathy cards well I made this one for a friend of my husband. His wife has just died after a thirty year battle with various cancers.
I kept it very simple. No need for hearts and flowers. The rub on is from the same sheet as before and I printed onto the 300gsm card from Century card that Liz recommends using a Pink Petticoat download. Think it was washed out-or something like that. I put an insert in using the lovely Tesco 120gsm paper we all love and signed it on the back. I have been working on something else but it's a secret for now 'cos my DH reads this blog. I don't know why because we do live in the same house and we see each other at mealtimes.
Occasionally we have conversations as well.
I've also got to do my first graduation card for our daughter in law who receives her degree this week. Party on Saturday. She has worked very hard.
Going now before numty bumty becomes permanent. Don't work too hard. See you soon.

Oh dear, playing catch up!

What happened there then? Stopped for a breather and suddenly it's the beginning of July and I'm planning my Christmas cards.

I hadn't really stopped though. I got it into my head to enter a competition in Creativity magazine. Somebody has to win after all. It took over my life because I really want to win. The prize is a visit to Hallmark Cards in BRADFORD plus thirty pounds worth of goodies (as if I didn't have enough). All right -it's not Disneyland or London but you know me I love Bradford and I fancied getting my card in the mag and meeting Claire Curd who seems like a nice lass. It would be something a bit different in my life. Anyway my six entries have been sent in but I don't think I can bear to post them on my blog in case it's tempting fate too much. Can't really imagine I might win but..........Oh and I had to send in a snapshot of myself as well ....painful.

Meanwhile we had a little fundraiser at the group I go to and I managed to sell a few cards as my contribution including some flowerpot cards which I was quite pleased with. We raised over £100 for Marie Curie cancer care.

While I was sorting out my competition entry I had to call at the post office which is right next door to Nortex Mill (Chorley Old Road Bolton personal shoppers only) so I popped in to check out if they were giving anything away and just bought a few ribbons to top up the collection. You never know when a world wide ribbon shortage may occur.

Another sympathy card

Pink Petticoat flourishes which I used to make the envelope as well.

Base card is 300 gsm from century paper as recommended by Liz at Pink Petticoat which I finally sussed how to get my printer to print without begging and pleading with it.

Royal and Langnickel rub on.

One of the not so good things about being older seems to be the number of sympathy cards to make. Sometimes quickly. This is the third one this year for us and I've another to make. My neighbour is Hindu and it's difficult sometimes to know what's appropriate but I wanted to drop something through the door to let her know I was thinking about her. I don't usually use rub ons but this sheet has been useful although some of the sentiments on it are way too flowery for me.

Final flowerpot

Seen these on a couple of blogs and wanted to know how to make them 'cos couldn't quite work it out. Think I finally found it on Craft Planet but it could have been Split Coast Stampers. Sorry if I'm being brief but got some probs with the ole pandies and armies as well just now (and the bumty is a bit numty-not to mention the head!!LOL). Anyway thanks to a major two day clear out prompted by the gift of a black bin bag full of storage boxes from my lovely buddy Lynn I found all sorts of bits and pieces including the whizzy paper on the pot which came as a freebie with Cardmaking and Papercraft. Got out several punches and had fun making up flowers with card candy from Craftwork cards in the middle. Even the tag was in the freebie. Struggled with leaves as couldn't find any green I liked except the little scrap.

The flowerpot is destined for a friend who moved house in May! Thought I'd better not send a new home card now as it's a bit late. Oops

Apart from all that I've been keeping an eye on the nasturtiums I planted in chimney pots in the backyard. At the moment the blackfly have homed in and need ERADICATING. How do they know where my nasturtiums are?

Much excitement over the weekend as a small contingent made their way to Glastonbury.

Number one son and partner plus number two son (on a jolly away from the family). I've still got the texts which I received over the course of this junket and they certainly gave an added excitement to watching on TV.

Here's just a few

1. specials nr a donkey flag (me "there's hundred's of ****** flags")
2. yes,but just one donkey shaped (I didn't see it!)
3. about to cry. two little boys. uh oh. ( I then had a phone call apparently to distract himself from bursting into tears at Rolf Harris. Number two said he had trouble during Sun Arise. I remember when we went to see ET.

There were others and I've not seen the photos yet. Trashland was apparently incredible (that's not a group by the way just one of the many areas on the site.

If you watched and you saw a sombrero in the crowd it might have been my babe. Then again.....

Have had another delivery from Jeanette of Stampin'Up goodies and have also had gooseberries given by DH's friend at the Oxfam shop who has an allotment. So far I've made gooseberry crumble and gooseberry fool and frozen some.

That's it then -how we got to July without trying. DH's birthday on the ninth and daughter in law graduates next week so plenty more cardmaking to get on with apart from standing guard over the nasturiums armed with some sort of spray to knock those black fly from the skies before they feed on my babies. Hey ho see ya folks.