Monday 26 February 2018

All Dressed Up!

Hi all!

After a horrid couple of weeks with a very poorly back (again!!!), I'm feeling a little more positive and confident that the pain-relief patches will do their work and get me back to normal (my kind of  normal I mean!!!).
My OH put my final two shelves up in my craftroom yesterda
y (yaaaaaayyyy!!!) and I've had fun sorting through some boxes and deciding what to keep, what to throw, what to sell............blah, blah, blah and now I need some pretty boxes to keep my "keeps" in!
I think I'll have a mooch around that well known Swedish website and see what's on offer! I've already got some fab stuff from them and they don't cost the earth, which is great as I've no money! Lolz :D

The builders have finally completed the building work ready for the new kitchen etc.
The new floor will go down next weekend (courtesy of my OH) and the new kitchen should be delivered on the 13th March.
We all can not wait!
It's really hard trying to survive on take-out, microwave meals and eating out and I've put on half a stone (7lbs) at least since this all began on the 3rd January!
I'm looking forward to cooking my Slimming World meals again and even to feel motivated to go to group and have a chat with everyone!
For now though, I'm going to try and eat healthier meals and stop stuffing my face with the good stuff - pie, cake, bread................Mmmmmmmmmmm Hahahaha !

So, on to todays project!
I decided to enter the February challenge at All Dressed Up!
I bought some digi images from them years ago and enjoyed using them and it's great to use them again! Sometimes doing something a little out of the ordinary can inspire me to speed up my mojo and feel good about creating again.
Anyhoo, enough yap! Here's my card on the theme of Romance, Hearts , Love.


Yet again, it's a rubbish photo but I think you get the idea!

I created a background using Versamark ink and white embossing powder on a "love" stamp and soft pink backing paper. I added some sparkly Ranger Stickles to it for extra pzazzz!
The frame is a Spellbinders die with the First Edition Wanderlust paper pad layered onto another die cut frame in black cardstock.
I coloured my cutie with spectrum noir markers.

All in all, a pretty little card.

Hope you're all having a great day :)

TTFN
Lesley xxx



Wednesday 21 February 2018

Sunflowers!

Hi all!

Yesterday, I made this card ready for the special challenge over on The Outlawz Challenges site to celebrate their 7th birthday!
I joined The Outlawz a few years ago but, due to other things happening around me, I abandoned them :( BUT!!!! I'm back on their site and enjoying it!
It's a fun place to be for crafts and inspiration and all the members are so lovely and welcoming too.
So, when I saw these gorgeous digi sunflowers by SheepSki Designs , I just had to rejoin and enter into the fun!
My father was a hobby-artist and he painted the loveliest vase of sunflowers and I always relate sunflowers to him now. He's greatly missed :(.

Anyhoo, here's my card :

I heat embossed stamped sunflowers on the backing card before covering it with blended inks and layering the lovely digi sunflowers on top. I coloured them with my usual array of Spectrum Noir and Nuvo pens. I added bronze UTEE to the centres for texture.
I think Dad would like this card - and he'd certainly enjoy his day when he had his paints out!

I've been busy with other projects but I'm not ready to share them just yet (secretive as ever!!!).

Have a great day 

TTFN
Lesley xxx



Sunday 11 February 2018

What's happening???

Hi all!
So, what's happening I hear you ask!
Well, I'm hoping to expand my blog and offer all my super followers and 'some-time' readers the chance to visit the same craft store as I do to purchase oodles of lovely crafty stash!
I think that by linking my blog to the store, you'll be able to have a look at some of the items I use and maybe get an idea of how I create my projects.
You might not want to follow the links, but then you'd be missing out on lovely stuff!

Anyway, it hasn't been finalised yet so let's just watch this space and see what happens!!!

I made a couple of cards this week............in fact I made loads but I followed some guides in my Creative Stamping magazine as I really couldn't find my mojo and I just wanted to give my brain a rest from trying to think up new ideas (for me).

So, these are taken from the mags and I can't claim any originality to them :( other than tweaks here and there!
But they are nice aren't they? !!!








 I did manage to use up some scraps of patterned paper and some odds and ends by doing these! I love the stamps from the mags and the inspiration is great - I went on and made a few of my own after this!...................




...................then I got all Graphic 45'y' and made a frame box card using a Heartfelt Creations base card and G45 Gilded Lily collection.......



............and ......................

I made a few valentines cards!
These two feature an Elizabeth Craft Design "junglies" lion and First Edition Wanderlust and Sweet Nothing papers.]



My final make is another Valentine/Romantic/Love card which could be used for anniversaries/weddings etc - I haven't finalised it as I'm not sure for which occasion it will be used just yet! Again, these are Creative Stamping images with FE Sweet Nothings papers.


So, that's enough for today! I'm sure you've had as much as you can take from me for now so.....
......TTFN!
Lesley x

Monday 5 February 2018

Chilly Monday

Hi all.
Today is cold.
Cold outside and cold inside too!
The builders are still working on our renovations and, as they have to replace windows and doors, then the cold air is creeping in and freezing any bits that I've not managed to cover up......hands, nose, ears etc!!!
Lol!

Anyhoo, I hope you're all doing ok and had a good weekend?
We did very little really.
Friday, we went out for "tea" which was really an excuse for a liquid tea - followed by more alcoholic liquids right up until midnight when I couldn't fit any more in!
Saturday, we were all a little subdued!
Really had a good night out but I always seem to "lose" the next day and I can't drink as much as I used to anyway - which is a good thing I suppose and even better for "His Wallet"!!!

Saturday was Pizza Hut for tea - can't say I'm thrilled with Pizza Hut though. I find it very expensive and I can't see the reason why! It's just pizza and salad after all!
Sunday was microwave curry for tea. Soooo fed up with microwave cooking and eating out!!! Hahahaha!!!

I did find some time for crafting a magic slider card last week.
I decided to make something suitable for Valentines day (14th Feb) and followed a tutorial on You Tube by Christina Griffiths (she has a really informative blog and she's a Lancashire lass too!)

I used Junglies stamps by Elizabeth Craft designs and a little heart stamp to create a pretty background.

I've added three photos so you can see how the magic slider works!
It's great fun to do and I feel an urge to create another one coming on!!!





I hope you like this card and I'd love to read any comments you'd care to leave!

Have a great day

TTFN
Lesley xxx