Sunday 30 April 2017

Nativity for the Christmas Card Club!

Hello to You All, I hope you are all well and keeping cosy in this downturn of cooler weather. Our weather has been a shocker.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last project, you are all so kind and I do appreciate the time you take to visit.

Well it's time once again for the Christmas Card Club girls to share their cards and this time around  the theme has been chosen by our lovely Mary  and she would like to see the Nativity, so here is what I've come up with;
I've used an old image found in my stash from Hunkydory and added a piece of musical score behind it. I also added a shooting star from Britannia Dies.
For my second card I've used this rather lovely silhouette image from Little Claire, heat embossed, and although not showing up well the background is made with DI, meant to be a dark sky. The mirri card knocks the photo all off, I've added plenty of sparkle too.

I hope these will be okay Mary, thanks you for the image, this particular one is alway a challenge for me, takes me out of my comfort zone.

Scheduling this for Sunday when I hope you will also visit the other girls on the team as I know their cards will be fabulous.

Signing off for now and see you soon,
 




Thursday 27 April 2017

New Home!

Hello Everyone, just popping in to show a New Home card made for a friend and to say thank you so much for the lovely comments on my last card... which was a tag. 

My friend Patricia is an author and she is at the moment in the process of finishing off the third book of her trilogy.  Her stories take place in the Cafe Paradise, which is based in the lovely city of York, and it's all about the characters who, own, work and visit this tea room. I've both her two books and eagerly awaiting her latest one.  There's even two characters in the stories called Kate and Alistair. 
You would be able to find her books on Amazon Kindle, and her name is Patricia Comb, anyhow she and her husband Peter have been on the move again, hence the card,
I don't have much in my stash to make a new home card, but found this castle, which I've given a colour wash with DI after having heat embossed in black. I'm not sure who the EF belongs to , I think it was a freebie, but I thought the brick wall went well with the image, added a Tim Holtz die behind it and mated it all on to CE black graphite card, the sentiment goes along with the image, and it's very apt as they are a very happy couple who have load of laughs. A few gems and job done.

Off now to get a coffee and settle down to a bit of telly, have a good evening and see you soon,


Tuesday 25 April 2017

Gifts!

Hello from the Wintry North!! My goodness has our weather turned pants or what, it's freezing and snowing, not lying thankfully on lower ground, but our mountains have a fair flourish to them. Of course that means the woollies are back and the heating is on.  Are you having much of the same?? I believe this is what is called the Lambing Snow, poor little creatures having to be out in this.

Apart from all the poor weather I hope you are well, but sending kind thoughts that you will feel better soon.
Thanks you all so much for your lovely comments on my Poppy card, I really appreciate each and every one of them.

We had our last rehearsal last night at the choral, it's our big concert on Saturday, and it went very well, I certainly feel more confident than I did a couple of weeks ago, pieces are wonderful, Bach's  Magnificat and Haydn Paukenmesse... Mass In Time Of War.  The Haydn is new to me but have sung Magnificat once before, and it's just as challenging as the first time which was 14 years ago.  Still it will be a fabulous concert, so looking forward to that, even though Alistair will miss it as he will be on his canoe weekend.... I've been racking up the Rain Dances, those who follow me  regularly will know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, enough of all that nonsense, I've a little something that I'm entering the CB colour challenge,
A tag, never really do these unless it's for Christmas, and indeed this is from the Gift of Christmas stamp set. There is a star on top of the image which I've not stamped to make it an anytime pyramid of gifts. I used DI on Silk Art Card which was fine for that part, but I then used Derwent Inkintense pencils and they didn't do so well on this particular card, but I've gone over some of the image with Sakura Gel pens. which also gives some sparkle. Added some ribbon which my lovely friend Ang (Mrs. Duck) gave me a while back and job done.  Here is the colour swatch for the challenge;

I've tried to interpret the colours, don't think I've done too badly.

That's me for today, I hope you are enjoying your day whatever your are doing...me.. well I'm off to see Milo and Rowan in a wee while, I wonder what we'll get up to today.
Take care everyone and see you soon,
I would like to enter my tag into ;http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/challenge-thirty-four.html

Sunday 23 April 2017

Poppies!

Hello to You All, I hope you are all well, but sending kind thoughts to those who are struggling just now, hopefully you will feel better soon.

Having a quiet Sunday, keeping an eye out for rain as I've got a load of towels out in the hope the wind will blow them dry.  Isn't life exciting!!  

I have more Poppies for you today, but this time in card form,
Using one of Imagination Crafts Stencils I coloured with Sparkle Medium and then just layered up with red, graphite black and white card. I felt the Sparkle Medium was enough so didn't embellish the card.
A simple card to look at, however, I used different colours of the Sparkle Medium and had such a job applying it to the little bits of stems. The Imagination Crafts Girls make it all looks so easy when they do it. As I've used IC glossy black card there is a bit of a shine so it's not photoed  too well.

A short post today, I want to get back to my book, I'm reading a Val McDermid just now and it's a real page turner, so I'm away to make a coffee and put my feet up, much deserved after ironing the clothes Alistair is taking on holiday, can't even face my pile yet, that's for another day.

Before I sign off, just want to say thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, always appreciated, but love to read them, so I hope you keep them coming.

Have a lovely day and see you soon,  take care of yourselves,

 

Friday 21 April 2017

Sending Smiles!

Good Evening to Everyone and I hope you are well and have had a good day. I felt stunned earlier on today to be told that tomorrow was Saturday...this week has gone by in a flash, I really want it to slow down.  I remember whilst I was still at work, there were days there that I thought would never end, kept clock watching and thinking that the hands of the clock were at a standstill, and now they are just whizzing around.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my Kindle cover, you are very kind.

I've got a card tonight,
Image and sentiment from Little Claire, and I've coloured it with Faber-Castell Pastel Pencils, the papers are from LC too and I've added a little sunflower from WO, some ribbon, pearls and glitter and that's that.

A short post this time around, so I'll love you and leave you and hope your weekend is a good one,
 

Wednesday 19 April 2017

A Little Bit of Fair Isle Knitting!

Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you this evening and that you've enjoyed your day whatever you've been doing.

Pretty cold here first thing in the morning 2 degrees, no wonder Teallach was battering the door to get in this morning, hasn't rained  though which meant the washing got dry.

I went on the hunt for buttons in Hobby Craft this morning for my Kindle cover, I really wanted grey ones, but no luck with that and could only find reddish ones, anyway, here is the finished work;
I love this pattern and so pleased that I managed to complete it. It was actually quite easy, just follow the chart, and I didn't make many mistakes and when I did it was easy to see where and take back.  
I however have one of the newer Kindles and the cover is more of the size of  the older models, that being said the purpose of knitting this was to introduce myself to Fair Isle work and this pattern was the simplest on I could find at the time when we were in Shetland.
A close up of the pattern and colours which are grey, red and a cranberry shade. from Jamieson & Smith who are the main yarn producers in Shetland and it's 100% Shetland Yarn/
 Hope you like it. 

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my Poppy project from yesterday. I've looked out some cross stitch that I'd bought years ago with the intent to have a go at them. I used to do cross stitch years ago, but then the old eyes let me down and I couldn't see the holes in the aida. but I do have glasses for close up work now, which I need now for doing my colouring, so I'll crack on and hopefully be able to complete those.  However I've started an Intarsia knitted cushion cover. Intarsia is another form of colour work, but worked in blocks of colour rather than a couple of rows of colour to make the pattern.

That's all from me for this evening, hope you have a good one and see you soon,



Tuesday 18 April 2017

Ribbon Poppies!

Hello Everyone, did you all have a lovely Easter Holiday?? I certainly hope so.  We didn't do anything special, just enjoyed a quiet time at home. The weather has been up and down and quite cold.

Thank you so much for all your visits and your kind comments on my last selection of Christmas cards, I do appreciate the time it takes you to do this.

I have something a wee bit different for you today;
I saw a similar project the other week on Marianne Fisher's blog which you can find here  
and I would urge you to visit Marianne's blog as she makes the most wonderful cards and sewing projects. Anyway, I loved what she had make which was a Fairy Door, so I popped off to Crafty Ribbons to look at the kits and found this one and as my friend Dale loves poppies I thought I would make this instead of a card this year for her birthday. I'll put together a lovely box for it and get it in the post.
Crafty Ribbons have quite a few of these lovely ribbon kits and you can find them here.
The embroidery hoop is from Hobby craft.

I managed to finish my Fair Isle Kindle cover, but would you believe it I couldn't find two buttons that would do for it, and I 've got boxes of buttons, typical isn't it!! I'll just have to pay a visit to Hobby Crafts tomorrow.

A short post from me tonight, I'm off to put my feet up, the puppies have tired me out this afternoon, we had great fun playing out in the garden, we then came in and we all dozed off only to be caught when Moreen and Damian got in from work talk about sleeping on the job.

Enjoy your evening and see you all soon,


Sunday 16 April 2017

A Little Bit of Humour for the CCC!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all having a lovely Easter Weekend and that the weather is good.
A bit watery here through the sunshine but really cold.

Thank you all for such lovely comments on my knittng projects, you are all very kind and I appreciate your kind words. I'm hoping to have my first piece of Fair Isle finished over the weekend, it's a Kindle cover pattern which I picked up whilst in Shetland last year, it's going well and I'm pleased with it.

However, it's time for our two weekly CCC shares and this time it's our lovely Mrs. A who has chosen the theme and it's to be humorous, so without further ado here is what I've come up with;
I just love this Hobby Art image, I think the sheep's facial expression says it all. I've given him a tartan coat with some buttons and used various other stamps from CB, Cardio to create the scene. MB colours and DI, The sentiment and fairy lights are also from the Hobby art stamp set, finished off with loads of sparkle.
Here is another Hobby Art image, Round Robin and he is coloured with Promarkers and SN pens, I've given him a wee had and put lots of Star Dust on it. then cut him out and put him on a background coloured with Creative Expressions Cosmic Shimmer  Christmas set of paints. CB little  mistletoe stamp along the bottom  and some faux stitching, sentiment is from the same stamp set, drops of Just Pearls to look like it's snowing.

Just for a change....it's another Hobby Art stamp, as with the Robin this one is more cute than humorous, but I love the image as it has a snowman and penguins and the snowman is juggling with them so that's a bit of humour. Derwent Ink Intense Pencils for colouring with Faber Castell Pastel pencils to add a bit of shading around the image. Loads of sparkle . I've then used Imagination Crafts stencil to make the background , the sentiment comes from the stamp stencil and that's all coloured with CE Colour Cloud. A purple bow and some gems.

Super challenge Valery, thank you so much , I hope these will do.

Right off the schedule this post for tomorrow when the challenge goes live,pleased visit the other ladies in the team to see what they create.

If you celebrated Easter, I wish you a very Happy one, and if  not well have a Happy day anyway, and don't overdose on Chocolate. Take care and see you all soon,


Tuesday 11 April 2017

Woollie Wonders!

Hello Everyone,  later than I'd planned to be putting up this post, but finally here.
Not great weather today, I'm back in socks and the heating is on, it's been raining and dull, but I've had a day indoors so got quite a few things  done.
I hope you are all well, but kind thoughts going out to everyone who isn't.

No card to share today, I thought I would show some of the knitting I've managed to finish;
This is a sweet little cardi for a 3-6 month baby, the yarn is called Blossom, I love the way the yarn forms little flowers. this has gone into my box for refugees.
Just a couple of bobble hats for children, for the box.
Adult beanie, Pattern is called Tree and Moon, knitted with Knit Picks yarn, for the refugee box.
I love this yarn from Opal called Little Prince after the lovely story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, they are for my sock box.

More socks, this time knitted with gorgeous yarn bought when we were in Norway, for Meee.
More Little Prince socks.

Finally a photo of my lovely boy....no not Alistair

It's a bit picture heavy, but I hope you could stay till the end. These little bits and pieces I've made over the last few months, I'm not a fast knitter, I wish I was as I have so many lovely pieces that I want to make.

Thank you very much for your kind comments on my last card, much appreciated.

That's me for now, take care everyone and see you soon,






Sunday 9 April 2017

Crocuses!

Hello to You All, hoping you are well and enjoying the weekend, but if your not so well, sending kind thoughts that will feel better soon.

Yesterday was a cracker here with sun and heat so we took ourselves to Lossiemouth for the afternoon, it was so busy, but lovely to see so many folk taking advantage of the good weather. We had a walk on the beach whilst eating our ice cream, and watched the brave folk who went in for a paddle.  After that we went into Elgin for a food shop..must needs and then finished off with a fish tea, then home.  Boy were we tired, enjoying yourself is tiring work, but someone has to do it. To be fair though my overload of carbohydrates was to blame for most of my tiredness.
Today, is overcast and pretty cold. It's amazing how the weather can change from day to day.
I have no photos as not only did I forget the camera, but forgot my phone, felt naked without it, so not photos.

My washing machine is getting plenty use as I've pulled out my summer clothes and washed them as we are off to Madeira in May, and the down side is that I'm looking at a pile of ironing, but I'm delighted with my new machine.  We are looking forward to our holiday, a place we have never been before and we've chosen the time to be there for the Flower Festival.  It's been while since we had a sunshine holiday, going more to Scandinavian countries

So my card today is another little Chocolate Baroque creation;
Crocuses from the Songbird-Crocus stamp set and coloured with Derwent Inkintens Pencils matted on to some silver miri card and the background is coloured with the same pencils scribbled on the base card, just a simple little card, I love the image so much I didn't want to add anything else.
It's my second card for the colour challenge and although I've used the colour pallet, I've made the colours much softer, here is the colour challenge swatch;
Thank you all so much for your comments on my previous card, very much appreciated.
Before I go here are a couple of Best Pals;
Butter wouldn't melt in their mouths. Damian must have snapped this while they were having some downtime from digging holes and chewing wood. 

That's all for now, enjoy your Sunday and see you soon,
I would like to enter my card into;http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/challenge-thirty-three.html




Thursday 6 April 2017

In the Garden!

Hello there Folks and how are you all today?? well I hope and having a good day so far. 
We have a mixture of sunshine and dull, but really quite cold, just when you think Spring has sprung it gets cold again.

Our washing machine packed in on Monday and I felt like having a wake for it as it was an old friend of 18years, with never a days worry. So as I could never be without a washing machine off we went to see what we could buy and I decided that I wanted another Bosch as mine had been so faithful, but what kind of price would they be now I wondered.  However, one chosen and it was so sad seeing the old one being taken away this morning, yes I do get too attached to "things", Alistair is just sad at having to pay for it. Anyway, the new one is up and running, well washing really, after having had a warm welcome in the hope that it will be with us for just as long.  I bet your all thinking "gosh doesn't she lead an exciting life", maybe not, " my goodness she's sad, get a life" LOL

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last project, and for taking the time to visit.

I have a card to share today;
I just love Card-io stamps and I treated myself to a few new sets the other month. I had been so disappointed that they weren't at the Glasgow show this year.
Background made with DI and Card-io images, I just love the tortoises and the snail, there is even a wee worm on the wheel of the barrow, oh and catch the spiders dangling from their webs  The sentiment is also Card-io. Lots of sparkle to finish off. Just one of those cards you send Just Because.

That's me for today, taking things easy as yesterday was one of those days you wish you'd never started, you know the kind, I'm sure you've all had them, so I'll say cheerio for now and see you soon,



Tuesday 4 April 2017

Songbird Canvas!

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying life, but sending virtual hugs to those who are struggling a bit.

Thank you so much for your visits and kind comments that you leave me, I love reading them and really appreciate the time you take to pop in.

It's been a bit of a blustery day here and it looks as if we will have high winds tonight, glad I'm not going anywhere tonight.
Last night was the Choral rehearsal and we had one of our Patrons who is a world renowned singing teacher giving us some coaching. This lady makes the practise so much fun that the two hours goes past in a flash. One of our pieces for this upcoming concert is quite challenging, Bach's Magnificat, it's a fantastic piece but there are lots of long runs and sustained notes, but Pat put us through our paces and it's really helped. We consider ourselves one lucky choir to have this lady's tuition.
Our concert is in four weeks time, and looking forward to it, but it will be the first concert in fourteen years that Alistair will miss as he is going  away on a canoe weekend. I was furious that he OKd the date of that before running it by me, but in true typical man mode blames the choir for changing the date, as he seems to think that we have the same time every year.  Anyway, it will be his loss as it's bound to be p....ing down as I've learned how to do a rain dance, and serve him right, lol.

My little make today is a canvas;



My canvas background is made with Pebeo Moon and Prisme Fantasy Paints,  I just let them do heir own thing, these paints are fantastic and mix together of their own accord into amazing shapes.
Songbird image from Chocolate Baroque stamp set and coloured with Derwent Inkintense Pencils, the sentiment is also CB from Breath of Spring stamp set. I mounted the bird image on to CE Antique Gold Foundation card, isn't showing up well , cut with a SB die, a little flourish die from Marianne Dies.  I have to say the colours are much better in real life., however I'm pleased with how it's turned out.

That's me for tonight, hoping to get a bit of time to visit your blogs now, so enjoy your evening and see you soon,
I would like to enter my card into:
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/april-anything-goes.html
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/april-challenge-all-things-spring.html

Sunday 2 April 2017

Christmas Flowers for CCC!

My Goodness another weekend already, where did the last one go!!! Another new month to boot, time is fleeing in.
Hello to You All, and I hope your weekend is going well. We have a mixture of weather here, but did manage to get a whirly of towels out and dried this morning before the juice started, or I should say Alistair did, he is awfully good at the hanging out and bringing in bless him., mind you I was making fruit scones, so going out to bring in the washing took his mind of the scones for a few minutes, he loves them and was off with one straight from the oven, they won't last long I'm thinking.

Thank you very much for your kind comments on my last card, I really appreciate the time you take to visit me.

I've got my cards for the Christmas Card Club and this time Carol is our hostess and has chosen Christmas Flowers which is right up my street as I love floral cards, here's what I've come up with;
Well Poinsettias had to be here didn't they and this image is by Papermania a few years ago, coloured with Derwent Inkintense Pencils, after heat embossing with WOW powder and cut out. SB Decorative Circles and CE Antique Gold card. Paper is also Papermania but can't remember with pad, but again it was a few years ago. The beautiful leaves and flourishes are SB too, given to me by my lovely fried Mrs. Duck, they come along with a rose, but that's for another day. First Edition Sentiment die and some gems.
This lovely Christmas Rose image is from the same stamp collection, coloured with Derwent Coloursoft Pencils and cut our. Paper is from the same pad as the first card, and the other layers were given by a friend ages ago and I've now found a use for them. a little sticky on sentiment , gems and a bow and lots of sparkle on the centre of the flowers.
Imagination Crafts beautiful flower stencil and Sparkle Medium for this card, sentiment is from IC too and just added a little bow. CE Graphite card and a red card I had in my stash, I didn't think anything else was needed.

I hope I've done Carol's challenge justice, it was a pleasure to do.

The Christmas Card Club is a bunch of us girls wanting to get ahead of our cards for Christmas, and we each take a turn in choosing the theme which is every two weeks.. and boy do they go in fast. It all makes things a little less hectic in the run up to the Big Day, so If you want to join us, just let me know , or any of my team mates and we will tell you how.  I'm scheduling this for tomorrow when the challenge goes live, so make sure you have a look at what the other girls make, always such wonderful cards, till then,