It's spring!

Spring has officially sprung and there is so much to do in the garden. It's looking very colourfull at the moment with all the spring bulbs that have come through this year.  I'm itching to get out there but I still don't have the energy. I am starting to be able to do a little more each day but the progress is slow...too slow for me..I want to get going! Not been totally idle though. I've done a little crafting in the form of cards.

This one was for my friend Anne. She was feeling a bit fed up..so a "just because" card.

A birthday stepper card for my great Niece.

Finally this month's forum inspirational. A sketch and using three different backing papers, a ribbon, and a bow...and no image. The focal point had to be text. Found it a bit daunting at first but thanks to a 6x6 paper pad it was made easier 'cos Ii knew all the papers would co-ordinate. This might end up as my SIL's birthday card in a couple of weeks.

Finished one project for our crafting group...but I forgot to take a pic. Will try to remember next week.

Also got another couple of projects on the go and I hope I finish them in time for when I need them. Not telling what they are as that will spoil someone's surprise.

Slowly getting back...

..to "normal"..but still not able to do too much. Sons have been great...vacuuming, washing pots...and cooking.  I have done some crafting....3 cards...and even they have took me a while to do. My concentration level is way down at the moment.  Little steps is the key until I can get some energy back. Anyway here they are.

This one was for my youngest's girlfriend. I don't really know what her taste in cards is, but I'd been playing at making some flowers and I have to practise my colouring.  I loosely based the layout on Jackie's sketch that was used for last month's inspirational challenge. The image is from Lili of the Valley, pink paper from Polka Doodles, Sizzix embossing folder, X-cut and Spellbinder dies. Flower punch from Woodware. Leaf punch and die cut letters borrowed from son so don't know.

This card is for my great niece. A baby brother expected any day now. image again by Llili of the Valley,backing paper by Kate Knight. A bit of glitter card and Stickles makes it a very girly card.

A card for this month's Inspirational challenge on the forum. It's also for eldest at home son's birthday next month. I'm running out of ideas..men are not easy to make for.

 A male card that has to have a least one circle and some ribbon/twine/string etc. I don't know where the backing paper came from and I'm not sure about the stamps.....had them ages.  Used paper string threaded through eyelets and a dymo tape for the sentiment.

I've been playing...

...with my new crafting goodies. My prize from the Do Crafts November prize draw arrived after a slight delay and I've finally got to have a play with it.  A3 glass cutting mat, stamp edge cutting dies and two sets of urban design stamps. Love the cutting mat and the dies..and a bit out of my comfort zone with the stamps. Well I played about with them for a while and ended up with quite a few bits. Thought that I really ought to be able make a card with some of them so... I did.  It's my eldest's birthday today so he got the resulting card. A bit of a mix of things as most of my experimenting was using card and paper from my "bit bag."

An unusual colour combination but I think it works. You can't see it in the pic but I have stamped the main image in a very soft grey over the background, to match the base grey card

What have I been doing?

Not a lot!  I haven't been well for the last couple of months and the last few weeks have been worse. Don't know if it's a flare up of the M.E. or something else. I'm slowly getting back to what is normal for me but I'm still very tired. Everything is an effort. Luckily my two sons have been very understanding and are keeping the household chores at bay and doing the cooking. I'm still without my one of my hearing aids. I did have an appointment but I didn't make it....just wasn't well enough. I haven't made another appointment yet as I don't want to make one and not be able to keep it again. Mmeanwhile I have managed to make three cards so far this year. The first was for my youngest grandson's birthday and I struggled to make a card...wasn't very happy with it but didn't have time to make another. Forgot to take a pic before it was sent off. Second card was for the Crafters Re-united forum.  The challenge was a sketch from the lovely Jackie. My niece is due to have her second baby..a boy..in about 3 weeks so that gave me a bit of inspiration for a card. Third card for another grandson's birthday. I have to make yet another card for my eldest's birthday this weekend.
Here are the two cards that I did take a pic of.

The image is a Bently bear stamp from Adam Prescott. Everything else from my stash.

This one was made using a free download from my Craft Studio.  The letters were cut out using a die then applied glossy accents.

It's Christmas..

First of all.....can I wish you all very happy Christmas..and thank you all for visiting. Everything is done and all ready for a nice quiet day. Just a slight problem with one of my hearing aids....it's not working!!..and it would have to be the one for the worst affected ear. I will cope though..the TV volume will be a bit higher. I now have to contact the hospital for an appointment to see what the problem is and hopefully get it fixed.

I've had to cut back a little more than usual this year but I think that's true for a great many of us. No reason why it shouldn't be just as festive though. Anyhow.....Got all my cards done with time to spare. Forgot to take pics of some of them and the ones I did take haven't turned out too well.

Papers and images include.... Nancy Wyatt, Polka Doodles, Just inklined, FSS, Dustin Pike, Adam Prescot and glitter, ribbons, punches,stamps and adhesive gems from my stash.  Die cuts from Spellbinders and X-Cut, masks/embossing templates from Stamps Away.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

A Very Happy Christmas To You All

Just to let you know..

..that I have had to put the word verification feature on again as I'm getting a ton of spam. It's a pain ..I know ..but it has to be done I'm afraid. Hope to be back soon as soon as I've finished the final Christmas card I have to make.

I'm a Winner!!

Just checked my email and I have one from Do Crafts saying that I am a winner of the November prize draw......gobsmacked!!! Now I can't wait for my prize to arrive. The news has come at the right time to cheer me up, as I've been watching the pennies extra carfully this week.  My youngest has got a temporary Christmas job, and as he won't get paid until after Christmas, things are a bit tighter financially at the moment. I've been sitting on my hands when watching Create &Craft, and avoiding temptation to go onto some of my favourite craft sites to see all the crafting goodies that want to jump into my basket. I'm being very good.
Other wise I have been busy making some cards. Not finished yet but almost there. Just a few more to do then all the inserts need doing....as well as a load of inserts for the crafting group. I've found that they are a lot easier to do now with Craft Artist. I've only got the free compact version at the moment but hope to get the full version soon. Now I just need a few more hours so that I can spend longer playing with it. 
Be back soon I hope with some pics of some of the cards.

A good week....

...despite the damp and gloomy weather, the last week has been so good for a change. Last Saturday I spent a lovely afternoon at the theatre. Anne..my best friend...was part of the performance..singing in the choir in "Lives in art." It was fabulous and was rounded of with time spent with Anne, and a former colleague and his boyfriend. It was lovely to catch up and have a giggle. Tuesday was craft group. I don't actuallyt get anything made myself. This is due to a lovely lady who is an enthusiastic crafter but has some learning issues. She has always done decoupage and was amazed by stamping. She had never seen clear stamps and has always been told that she couldn't stamp. Last week proved that person wrong. She stamped perfectly and then enjoyed colouring in her image. I helped her choose a card blank and embellishments, and she produced a beautiful card that she was very proud of.  We stamped and embossed a few more images, which she took home ready to make some more cards. It felt so good that I, with even my limited knowledge, opened up a whole new chapter of crafting for her. Isn't that what crafting is about?..sharing knowledge and enabling someone to create something beautiful. Friday was a  hospital appointment for my osteo arthritis. The consultant was very pleased that the treatment was having a positive effect. Medication, thumb splint, resting splint and compression gloves. I was even happier. During the last few months ny weight has gone up considerably. I put it down to the medication. Well it seems to have levelled out and I thought that I might have lost a little of the extra weight. Was I surprised when he said that my medication was to be reduced...alternating the dose....one a day then 2 a day.  The reason? The dose depends on your weight. So that means I have not only lost the extra weight I had put on....but lost some extra from when I last attended. Wooohooo!!! 
Also managed a card and I am pleased at the way it turned out. My colouring is definitely improving. Some way to go yet but I'm getting there. The card is for my granddaughter's 15th birthday in a couple of weeks.

The image is from Inklined...glittered foam flowers from a pound shop. Go Kreate die, x-cut punch... everything else from my stash.

Cold, wet and dark...

..the weather that is. Not feeling all that bright myself. Supposed to have gone to craft group today but got up with a raging headache. I thought that breakfast and a shower would help shift it... but no. Went back to bed for a couple of hours and I do feel a little better now, although I am very cold. I've got the heating on and extra layers of clothes but it doesn't seem to be helping. If this carries on my heating bill is going to be horrendous.  I have to go out tomorrow as I have to put money in the bank to cover my shopping delivery which I'm waiting for at the moment. I think an extra early night is on the cards for me.  All that aside I do have a card. It's for the monthly forum challenge, and the theme is LIM..less is more..and had to have a snowman or penguin as the main image plus a sentiment. Not a easy as you think when you are used to using backing papers and embellishments. I made it..then had to make it again.....the sentiment was wonky and I had some ink transfer from one of the stamps. I couldn't make it without any glitter at all so I added just the tiniest bit to the snowflakes. The base card is white though it doesn't look very white on the pic. I added a little colour to the snowman and the sentiment using my new pencils.

Just a quick post...

...so that you know I haven't gone awol..lol.  Had plans to get my housework done and enjoy some crafting time at the weekend. "Best laid plans...." haven't been feeling too well this week, think it has been the change in the weather. Nothing specific..just feeling more tired than usual. Decided I needed a little retail therapy, so I bought myself some new colouring pencils. I know everyone is using the alcohol markers but I'm resisting that route. First..I can't afford them at the moment and will be unlikely to in the near future. I know that that the price is coming down steadily, but if I buy a few I will want them all. I do have some colouring mediums so I've decided to try and improve my techniques with what I've got. Now....I've been colouring with cheapo colouring pencils and I've found that I'm happier with those....so..I bought myself some Staedtler ergo soft pencils from ebay.  Good price as well..24 for £9.99..with free p&p. ordered them Thursday..got them this morning...my kind of shopping! Going to have a proper play with them tomorrow..housework can wait. I've got another card done. Was really pleased with it until Molly got her paws on it. Left it on the table for the glue to dry and she decided she wanted to play with the buttons that I'd glued. Managed to rescue it but there is a little bit of glue showing. I think I might be able to get away with it though....hope so anyway. It's my great-niece's Christmas card. She always wants fairies and Disney princesses but I went different this year. Still girly with pink and lime green and a bit of blue...and glitter!   Spotted paper and snow person stamp from Polka Doodles...buttons, ribbon, card and glitter from stash.