A baby card and some Christmas bells

I keep feeling guilty when friends ask me for my blog address and I have to explain that I haven't updated it for a while.  Note to self:  Upload a photo of something I am working on each week.......well we'll see won't we!  It's been a bit of a poo nine months really, my Brother-In-Law died of Cancer and my Sister looked after him at home right until the end so we (family and friends) took turns in supporting and helping her, he died at the end of June and then in November I had a heart attack, not a serious one, but one nonetheless and am trying desperately to change my bad habits and lead a healthier life, but the weather has not been kind to us.  

On a happier note my Son and girlfriend visited from Australia during December and in October they got engaged and are getting married March 2014 in Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Australia, which is where she comes from......some something to get in shape for.....oh and to save for!

Friends of ours recently brought baby Casey into the world and this is a card I made for them.  I haven't yet had a cuddle with the new born and must arrange a visit.  I blame the weather, this snow doesn't inspire one to get off their backsides and do anything.....watching TV with a crochet hook and ball of wool is all I can muster these days, oh and snoozing!  

I succumbed and bought a Martha Stewart edge punch, mainly because I have been asked three times during the past year to make/design wedding invitations and thought that this lends itself to a romantic theme.  

I bought the gingham card at a show in Five Lakes, Essex (cannot remember the show's name) in blue and I have some in pink too, love it for baby cards.  The tile is a 2" square piece of stampbord coloured with alcohol inks and about four layers of clear UTEE  plus a little gold embossing powder that I stamped into with the foot stamp.  

I have also made two lots of wedding invites this year already, although they were almost identical, which made the second lot easier, just a slight variation with the flower, but made some mocks for them to look at.  I shall put them up here when I gather the photos together, some.  I never know whether I will find them on my camera, Andy's camera or my iPhone to be honest.......another note to self:  Be more organised!

I have also been sewing and made this little Christmas ornament to try out smocking, which I haven't done since my school days.

The one on the right is my one and the purple one I bought at the Warner Archive Christmas sale in Braintree, but it was made by a friend in my Thursday class.  I wanted to make more, but with the heart attack happening it changed a few things before Christmas, I shall make some more next year to give out to friends and family.  Some of the girls made Christmas crackers with the central body beaded and smocked, they were lovely.  

More to come from my crafting world.......

Carol xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ah.....she posts something - long time no do!

Yes it is becomming less and less these days, not because I'm not crafting, oh no definitely not, just lots of unfinished projects!

I went to the show at Towerlands, Braintree on Saturday with my friend Eileen and bought a few goodies.  I am lucky that it is almost on my doorstep.  It was nice to have Eileen with me to advise on some fabrics that I bought for a future creation that I will do in my Thursday night class (creative embroidery).  I was inspired by a demonstration made with some Sakura 3D crystal lacquer (so I bought a bottle),which essentially is glue.  Can't say that I like it as much as Glossy Accents (and it was more expensive).

 I inked up a piece of acetate with three or four colours of alcohol inks without using any blending solution. and I smeared and made circles with the applicater  On the same side as the ink was applied I poured in a random pattern some 3D crystal lacquer and then laid some tissue paper over it that had been scrunched and left it to dry for a few hours.  When dry it gives a lovely effect, but this was lost when laid on a piece of white card so I matted it onto some gold mirror card, that reflected the lovely patterns the tissue paper and glue had created.  It was a bit messy as unlike Glossy Accents this glue was runny and the final outcome is not that neat, but I love the textures and patterns that formed.  The last thing I wanted to do was cover it so I just stamped on the otherside with black Staz-On.

Not a great photo, but the colour is quite true and where the flash is reflecting you can really see the texture underneath.  I think I have seen a similar technique in Craft Stamper, but using KLEAR floor polish and tissue paper, I will have to try that to see if I like it better as it will be a lot cheaper than these little bottles!  I also think that it would work well with baking foil underneath....will have to try that too!

The next card is for a friend of mine who has just become pregnant with her second child, so out comes the lovely drawing that Janette did a few years ago....

This time I made a smaller card (A6) and printed the image onto vellum, it was a bit too grey so tried to brighten it up with bright pink brads which also attached the vellum to the card.

Leaving card

I was asked to make a leaving card by a friend, it is an A4 size card for everyone in the office to sign.  This image was drawn by my Sister-In-Law and I have used it many times, thank you Janette! 

New Job and Baby Card

I've started a new job, part-time maternity cover in The Paper Mill Shop as the Manager is now on maternity leave.  Enjoying it very much, although it is very tiring.  Made this card for her new arrival.  I melted embossing powder onto card and gave it a final coat of UTEE and then did the same with a piece of stampbord and then stamped the baby foot into it.

At last I get to do a bit of crafting

Last week I was helping my friend to move into her new house and spent two whole days there.  What with sorting our own house and decorating I hadn't got to make ANYTHING and by yesterday afternoon I couldn't stop thinking about making something, it was ridiculous, it was on my mind all the time.  Well.....it got to about 16:30 and I couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed my craft mat and some card an started inking it up, but I was miffed because I couldn't use my heat gun as Andy was on the phone to a client and I didn't want it to sound like someone was drying their hair in the background.  Well what to make I thought and the smallest and quickest thing to start was a book tag.  My friend came around for dinner and for the evening and Andy got a DVD that I had been wanting to see from the shop and I still wanted to craft, so I made Andy clear his desk and brought my friend into the office after dinner where she too made a card, lol.  The funny thing is that she said "shall we watch that movie" and I replied (selfishly) "no, I want to craft tonight".....how bad is that eh!  She made a card for her friend who was in labour so she didn't know if it was a boy or girl, so she opted for green, I made a tag and I am okay again now I've had my fix, lol.

I am now inflicting my mania onto my friends, but credit to her, this is only the second card she has made and although I showed her how to emboss she designed it all herself, she has potential to get hooked and it's all my fault.

The Patter Of Tiny Feet

Our friends are over from Russia, they got married in Russia in April and are here in England for their honeymoon and a blessing in a church last Saturday. They have just given us the lovely news that Alina is pregnant......This card is to congratulate them. The main image was drawn by my Sister-In-Law, Janette (Jntzworld).
Hair, cup and lips enhanced with Glossy Accents. Dress coloured with pencils and clear embossed - dress adhered with sticky pads.