DIY Dad! and Candy Winner!

Good Afternoon to Everyone, I hope all is well with you, but here are some ((((Hugs)))) for those of you who are finding life sad and difficult just now.

We have a lovely day of sunshine here in Inverness, and really quite warm, I've a load of washing out so here's hoping it will dry.

Today is the day I am going to try and learn to crochet, there must be a you tube tutorial, there is for everything else.  It's just popped into my mind that I've forgotten to take a photo of the socks I was knitting for Kerr's mum and I wrapped them up and sent them off this morning, oh I'm so annoyed with myself, Oh well, you'll just have to take my word for it that they were lovely, just plain but with a lovely sage green and aubergine self stripping yarn, which gives a random pattern.

Well I have to tell you that Karen loved her card and she had a terrific day of Graduation celebrations

Now at this point I will reveal the winner of my Anniversary Candy, and to say thank you for all your good wishes and for joining in with me to celebrated.  Only one winner, I would love to give you all something, but....... it's you Kate Wylie from http://downrightcrafty.blogspot.co.uk/
Alistair pulled your number out of the hat this morning, so Congrats to You Kate!!  If you would get in touch  with me by email I will send the info in order to get the voucher from Chocolate Baroque.

I have a card for you today which was requested  by Karen for her dad's 60th Birthday and he is a bit of a DIY guy;

I must day that this chap in the image is rather a young looking 60 year old.
Do you know I can't remember for the life of me where this digi image comes from, it could be Just Inklined, anyway it's coloured with Prismacolour pencils.
Limited Edition paper and Tim Holtz Brick embossing folder on grey card
Hessian from The Ribbon Girl
Tools embellishments from Hobby Craft
Peel Off Sentiment and Numbers
Kraft Basic Card

So that is me for today, I've a couple of days to myself as Alistair and his friend Bill are off on an other adventure, honestly the pair of them have just never grown up.

See you soon and have a good day,

Graduation!

Good Evening Crafty Friends and Visitors, trust you are all gearing up for a good weekend.  I'm working tomorrow but then off for a few days.  I'm having a wee crafting group tomorrow making Christmas decorations, not sure how many will show up, but it will be fun.

Our clients are reeling a bit just now as Eileen has announced that she is leaving soon, some of them are taking it quite hard.  They feel quite uncertain about the project's future, mind you so do the staff, and we can't tell them anything, anyway we support as best we can.

My card today is one I've made for my friend Karen who has her Graduation Ceremony tomorrow, and I thought I would do something a little different for me;

Sorry about the amount of photos, but it was quite difficult to photograph it to it's best advantage.

It's a very simple design that I got on Youtube, but boy did it take me ages to do, I had great difficulty in following both written instructions and the photos on the tutorial.  I'm pants at measurements and at one point I thought I was going to have to ask Alistair to help with his engineering mind, than all of a sudden I had the light bulb moment and it all clicked in.

I've used red and black card
Sentiment and scroll from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps
Creative Expressions Dazzler
Papermania black gems
SB die shape for the Sentiment
Tassel made from Dovecraft twine
I'm really quite pleased with it, I hope Karen enjoy it and have a wonderful day.

Now my lovely supportive followers remember to drop by and make a comment to be in for the candy win.  So that most people get a chance to visit, I'll close it on Sunday mid night, and let you know who has won on Monday.

So it just remains for me to thank you all for your lovely comments on my "Oldie" post, and for all the support and encouragement  over the last two years, I so appreciate your time  and kindness cos with out it this blogging lark would be pointless.

 

Two Oldies for Friday!

Hello to You All,  and hoping you are all well, but sending out positive thoughts to those of you are struggling at the moment, I hope it won't be long until things are OK for you.
Isn't it wonderful news that Rachel's husband Shaun is finally awake, lets hope he goes from strength to strength.

Now, I'm here today to join in with Erika of  http://snappycrafts.blogspot.co.uk
and a few other Blogging Friends for An Oldie For Friday.

Let me introduce Captain and Mrs. Alistair Currie, lately back from South Africa and the Zulu Wars.

Oh how the imagination takes over!   We had visited Beemish Museum and decided to have our photo taken and Alistair was just desperate to wear the soldier outfit, especially as he loves the film Zulu and reads quite a bit of history about the Wars.  It wasn't till I saw the photo that I realised that no Victorian lady would have worn her hair down, should have whipped up under the hat.  It was great fun getting dressed up, and we have the large framed photo on our wall  Hope your amused by it.

Why don't you join in, it can be anything you've made at an earlier stage in your crafting life, doesn't have to be a card, in this case it's just two "Oldies" having a bit of fun.

Under the Sea!

Hello My Crafty Friends, here we are at the beginning of another week, I hope you all had a good weekend whatever you had planned.

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments you've made on my CCC card, I have to say I loved everyone that had been made, it was a super Challenge, so thanks for that Christine.

I have managed to get some crafting done today, in between housework of course, and it's been a super day for getting washing done and out.  It's now the ironing, but that's for another day.

I've got Choral practise tonight, lots of high notes to reach, some of which I don't make, top As for goodness sake, just as well some of the sopranos can reach them.  It's a lovely piece of music though, Bach's Christmas Oratorio and our concert is in November.

So on to my card, I decided to make one to enter into;

I've used images from The Mermaid Queen Set, and tried to keep to the challenge colours, but introduced blue as we were under the sea.
Prismacolour Pencils and DI
Mesh, Ribbon and seahorse charm from The Ribbon Girl
Hobby House Pearls
Pion Papers
Star Dust and Liquid Pearls.

I must take blending lessons though, I never get it just right, but I'm pleased with it all the same.
Right I'm away now to get the dinner seen to, see you all soon.

I would like to enter my card into the ;
http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/challenge-three.html

Winter Wonderland for the Christmas Card Club!

Good Evening one and All, has it been been a good Saturday for you, hope so.   They go all too quickly don't they.  We have had a mixture of weather, warm and sunny then showers and quite dull at times, as it didn't know what to do for the best.

There are quite a few of our blogging friends who are experiencing difficult time through illness, either themselves or their loved ones, so just want to send out (((((Hugs))))) and positive thoughts to you all for a good recovery.

Thank to all who commented on my "Oldie" yesterday, very kind of you.

I'm scheduling this card for tomorrow morning when the cards from the CCC go live.

A rather alternative Winter Wonderland as it's quite pink and lilac.  The paper and image are freebies from a Making Cards Magazine, cut with Xcut scalloped circles and matted on to Bazill white Swiss Dot Card, Lace from Hobby Craft.
Silver Card Candy and Star Dust on the snowy parts
Sentiment from Creative Stamping magazine, free stamp
Embossialious Embossing folder
Snowy Acetate
The Ribbon Girl Silver Twine and Bell Charm
Snow Pearls from my stash

This weeks theme was chosen by Christine of http://christinescardsandcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/
and what a fabulous challenge it is.
The other members of the club will be along to show their creations too.

We really enjoyed our concert last night, we had a mixture of Wagner, Schoenberg, and Mahler, and two fantastic soloists sing the Mahler pieces, a lovely way to spend an evening.

I'll say Good Night now as Alistair has made a cuppa and I think I see a wee bit of chocolate, yummmmmm.

Snowflake, an "Oldie for Friday"!

Good Morning to You All,  I hope you and yours are well, but thoughts for speedy recoveries going out to those who are going through difficult times just now.

We are a bit of a sad household this morning, the referendum vote didn't go our way, but onward and upward as they say and hopefully there will be another opportunity in my lifetime.  However, on the bright side, we know we can waken up in the morning and know we can face another day without being hit by bombs, suffer starvation and killer viruses unlike some people, and that puts it all very much in perspective.

So it's Friday and time for my "Oldie",

This card was inspired by Erika of http://snappycrafts.blogspot.co.uk/
Who incidentally began the Oldie for Friday post.  Erika was a demonstrator for Personal Expressions a wee while back and came along to our local craft shop to demonstrate and she make this sort of card.
I was so impressed by it, it wanted to have a go.  As you can see it's focal point is a SB Snowflake.

It wasn't as good as Erika's, but it was early on in my career with dies.

Do join us in these posts, it's great looking back at our earlier creations.

Heading into another weekend, and off work for five days, yippee!  Off to a concert tonight, which we will certainly enjoy, a bite to eat before that and maybe a wee glass of wine in the interval.  Gosh Alistair and I really live at the wire.  Not that much else planned, but I'm sure something will turn up.

Thank you all for your fab comments on my last card, your very kind, and about the state of play at my work, don't worry, I don't get stressed these days, thankfully, it's only a job and taking care of my well being is more important.

Steampunk Vintage!

Good Evening Crafty Friends and how has your day been, a good one I hope.
I've been really busy at work  the last two days, but I have only tomorrow to work then off for a few days, I'm always ready for my days off.  Yesterday we received a shock when our Assistant Manager Eileen announced that she had resigned that morning.  Well I felt knocked sideways, never saw that coming, at least not at this point, but when she explained why and how she arrived at her decision, I thought yes, life is too short and you're doing the right thing.  However, it will leave us without a manager as Eileen has been  Acting Manager since Susan our manager was offered redundancy and left.
 Those who have been following my blog for a while might remember that I mentioned Susan having mouth cancer, well she never did return to work although her surgery and treatment have been successful. 

The whole Organisation is changing so much, and not for the good I believe and it feels like I have been the catalyst last year when I was off with stress for such a long time, then one by one colleagues have fallen like nine pins in one way or another.  There is only myself and one other member of staff who have been with the Organisation for a long time, everyone else is new this year.  Oh well, things never say the same but Eileen will be missed, even although we have had our ups and downs professionally, she has been a good manager.  Our clients are very fond of her and it will be another unsettling time for them.

On a happier note, I've had the house to myself tonight as Alistair is at out at his music night so, it has given me time to catch up with your blogs, I think I've got around everyone so far, with being at choral practise on Monday night and too tired last night I had a couple of days worth to look at.  All wonderful creations too.

Thank you all for the lovely, kind comments you leave about my cards, I do appreciate them and just delighted that you are all following my stories and creations.

I will have been blogging on the 27th of September for two years, so quickly have they flown by too, so I will be having some Anniversary Candy to give away, not sure what it will be yet, so watch this space.

My card for today;

I needed a birthday card for a young friend and although I had been keeping an eye on the date, I ended up missing it and had to make this one in a hurry to get it off today.
Kanban Image, papers and sentiment.
Hunkydorry adorable scorable card
Dovecraft Twine and Buttons
The image is from one of the Kanban Steampunky ranges, but can't remember what it's called. I have to say it's a range I like especially the colour combinations.

That's me for tonight folks, I'm ready to head off to bed with my book and a nice cup of herbal tea.

Gingerbread People Mid Month Remeinder for CCAYR!

Good Morning to Everyone, I hope you all had a good weekend, don't they by so quickly!  Trusting you are well, but to those who are not, especially your loved ones, sending out positive thoughts for speedy recoveries.

I'm here this morning with my card for the mid month reminder for;
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/mid-month-inspiration.html

The theme for the challenge is to use Kraft Card and cream and white, I sort of forgot about the colours, thinking only of Kraft Card, hence my quite colourful card, but I was too late to make another one.
I've used a Kraft Blank card, and papers from an old Making Cards Magazine, Bazzil Blue card for border made with Xcut Floral Border Punch. White Seam Binding from The Ribbon Girl, Papermainia Gems, and the cutest Gingerbread Man that I won as part of a Candy Prize from my Lovely Blogging Friend Karen of http://haveascraphappyday.blogspot.co.uk/
If you have time pop in to her blog and see the lovely cards she makes.

Do visit CCAYR and see the other inspirational cards, and there is still time to join in the challenge.

Thanks to everyone who leaves such kind comments on my cards, I do appreciate them,

An Oldie for Friday!

Hello Everyone, hope you are well, but ((((((Hugs)))))) to everyone who needs them.

Another cracker of a day here, very warm and sunny, going to be a sticky night I feel.

Thank you all for the lovely comments on my Angel card, your very kind.

This is just a quick post as I was working late today and it was a very busy day and a bit bushed, here is my "Oldie"

An LOTV image, I think it's a brilliant one, Promarkers for colour. Before I had my die cut machine, so papers and card cut with my woodware paper trimmer.  I tried to blend DI but not successfully. I've moved on a bit since those days.

That's all from me tonight, take care,

Angel Gift!

Hello to you all, gosh it's getting dark quite early now, and it's only 8p.m.  How are you all today, I hope its been a good day for you.  Sending out positive thoughts to all my Blogging Friends who have loved ones who are poorly just now. I hope it won't be long till you are all well again.

Thank to all you left me lovely comments on my last card, and for Irish Cherokee's very kind comment, it's the first comment you've left, maybe it's your first visit, I do hope you come back again and I'll be along to have a look at your creations.

Well my Hero is back home, just in time for tea and he was ravenous, so the lamb hotpot went down well. They all had a great time, even although both canoes capsized, and Alistair is covered in bruises.  It's lovely to have him back, but the piece and quiet has gone.

I've had a lovely couple of days on my own, managed to do a bit of crafting, and I've met our new neighbours, who appear to be a rather nice young couple, moved up from London.  They have the most gorgeous two dogs, now I did ask the breed, but I've forgotten, they look like Huskies with a thick coat and a curly tail and apparently they are Japanese.  The young dog who is 2 years is autistic, never heard of that in my life, have you?, anyway, as his owner is an animal behaviourist, and physiologist, I guess she knows what's what.  I hope to get to know them all better.

Here is my offering for tonight;

 Second photo is trying to show the sparkle, but I don't think it's showing all that well

SW Angel die, couldn't resist it when I spied it, but you need the patience of job to get it released, even with waxed paper.
Her jacket is coloured with Promarkers and Pismacolour Pencils
Little gift die comes from the same die set, in Gold card
Gold Tattered Lace paper
First Edition White Christmas paper
Sentiment from free stamp set from this months Creative Stamping Mag.
Glamour Dust in Crystal
Papermania Gems
Hobby Craft Gold Lace.

I't such a beautiful die and it comes along with a selection of little dies to put into the Angel's hand.

Well I'm back to work tomorrow for the next three days, I'll have a lot to catch up with there, so I don't expect to get much crafting done, but I will try to keep up with your fabulous blogs.
Enjoy your evening, and I will leave you with a little quote I found on Pinterest, and it's what I've always said;

In the Style of Rennie MacIntosh!

Good Evening to my Crafty Friends, I hope you are well and have had a good day.
Well it is certainly getting cooler here, and dark so much earlier, I guess Autumn is on its way.

Well I should be a choral practise, I'm not playing hooky honest, but I was getting a lift this week with my Buddie as Alistair is away with the car, but unfortunately she text me to say she can't go, so I'm stuck.  Hope she isn't unwell, she didn't say in her message.  Anyway a night off to myself, in fact a couple of days as hubby is away on yet another canoe trip, finishing off canoing the River Spey, but I'm car less.

Thanks to you all for leaving such lovely comments on my last card, I love reading them, so keep them coming you are aways very encouraging.

My card tonight;

I am entering my card into the ;
http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

I use one of the wonderful stamps from  the Macintosh Beauty set and coloured with Promarkers.
Vintage Rose Embossialicious Folder edged with DI
Sentiment from Stamp it Up Australia
Various colours of Core'dinations
SB corners

Hobby House Pearls
Dazzler and Ribbon from my box
Star Dust

I wanted to keep if fairly simple as the beautiful image doesn't need much in the way of embellishments.  It's the most lovely set of stamps, lots of images to create with.

That's me for tonight, hope you evening is a relaxing one for you.

S for Ships for CCC!

Hello to you all once again, and I hope you are well.  There are a few Blogging Friends whose hubbies are not so well just now, so sending out positive thoughts for their speedy recovery.

Thank s everyone for you visit and comments on my last card, you are all very kind and encouraging.

Just a short post which I'm scheduling for tomorrow's CCC  challenge theme chosen by Hazel, something beginning with S;

As you can see my S is Ships, inspired by the Christmas carol "I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day in the morning"
It's a wonderful stamp from LC, coloured with Prisma Pencils and DI
Seniment part of the set.
MB Die
LOTV paper
Silver Mirri Card
Papermania Gems and Star Dust

Hope you like it, that's me for now.

My "Oldie for Friday"!

 Hello to you all, I hope all is well with you, but big (((((Hugs))))) to All who need them, and especially thinking of Rachel and her family as her husband Shaun has suffered a massive heart attack, just awful news. It seems that people are getting younger and younger for taking heart attacks these days.

Once again we are heading into another weekend, so I hope you all have something good planned. We are going for a drive over to the West Coast tomorrow, take a picnic with us and just stop in a lovely spot and relax, I think the weather is to be fairly good.

Thank you to all who left lovely comments on my chess card, I really do appreciate them all.

I'm rather late with my "Oldie" card, but here it is;

As you can see the image is from Thomas Kincaid.  I love this image and it was for an elderly gentleman's birthday who loves sailing ships.
I bought a pad of these images a couple of years ago, and I have to say that this one is the only image I like.   I'm not really big fan of Thomas Kincaid, I know many are though, I wish there had been more of this one in the pad.

Anyhow, the "Oldie for Friday" was started up by Erika of http://snappycrafts.blogspot.co.uk
and a few of us play along. It's good to have a look back at what you made in the early days of your crafting, so why not dig out some of your old creations and share them with us.

That's me for now,  remember "Carp Diem" or Seize the Day,

Checkmate!

Hello Crafty Friends, and welcome to my Blog, I hope you are all well, but sending out kind thoughts to those who are not so good at the moment.
Thank you for the lovely comments left on my last card, I do appreciate them and the time it takes to go around the blogs.

I've been once again dabbling in other cyberspace areas, facebook and pinterest. I do these thing mainly to see if I can, it usually takes me ages to figure out how to set them up, but I've managed to do it, quite how I will use facebook I don't know, as I don't lead an interesting life and feel that people wouldn't like banal comments.  Pinterest is different though as it has loads of interesting things on the site and therefore offers fantastic inspiration.  I've been pinning many of the cards I've viewed around the logs and putting them on my " cards that offer me inspiration" Board.  It's also another way of getting your work noticed. I'm sure I'm preaching to the converted, but there might be someone who doesn't know of Pinterest.

Well on to my card for today, it's a birthday card for my Stepson;

I've used the Chess Stamp Set from Chocolate Baroque, I love their stamps as they ink up beautifully.
There are lots of images in this set and so useful for a male card.
Versamark Onyx Black Ink
Black card and Silver Mirror card
Papermaina Liquorice Paper
Ribbon from my stash
Card Candy in Silver and Black

I'm quite pleased with it and Alistair thinks it's super and as it is for his son that's what matters.

I'm back to work tomorrow after some lovely days off, and today I met up with two crafty buddies, Shona and Fiona for a chat and a coffee, which a lovely.  Who knows what the next three days will bring at work, but it will soon be over and I'll be on days off once again, you'd be forgiven if you think I don't like my job, well put it this way, I am soooooooooo looking forward to retirement, and work prevents me from doing all the activities I want to do.

Have a great evening and I'll see you soon,

   

Krafty Bauble for CCAYR!

Hello to Everyone and welcome to my blog, and especially my latest follower nwilliams6,  thank you so much for following me and I hope you will return often and like what you see.  Am I right and thinking you don't have a live blog, tried to have a look but couldn't fine one.

Just a quick post tonight which I'm scheduling for CCAYR as it time for another challenge.  This month it's about using Kraft card, with Cream and White, and the option of grey and black if you want. Here is my inspirational card;

5x5 Kraft base, Hunkydory swirls card, Kraft card with a Papermaina Bauble Stamp, heat Embossed with WOW Embossing Powder in White, Papermainia Sentiment stamped with Versamark in Sepia, Frosted Gems, Ribbon fro my box.  Just simple wee card, that should go through the letterbox.

Please visit http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/ 
where you will see the what my teammates have made, bound to be loads of fab cards.

Before I go I want to thank all the lovely people who left such kind comments on my last card.
I really do appreciate your time.

Have a great weekend what ever your doing and keep well,