Family Cards

My hands are still playing up but I have managed to make 3 family cards this week, I feel as if I am back on track at last. The first is for my d-i-l's birthday - the backing on this is actually silver although it looks blue. I think I have included everything Talya loves - crystals, glitter and pretty pretty. Her birthday is the same day as my son's so they have to have equally glamourous cards.

So this is Darren's card. As always I have made this in reverse - I start by picking a blank card I like, then complete all the background in this case the embossed panel, peel offs and crystals. Lastly I decide on the theme and central design. I know that's exactly the opposite to how you should work but it works for me so I'll carry on that way. It's also the perfect excuse for a huge craft stash - I always have just what I need to finish a card off - well it sounds like a good excuse to me.

Finally a card for their 3rd wedding anniversary next month. They collect porcelain cherubs and we have another one as their anniversary gift so the cherubs on this card seemed perfect. I haven't done any decoupage for ages so it was a welcome change.

Altered Canvas

I bought some blank canvases in The Works Clearance Sale and wanted to finish one to welcome my friend Jackie home from hospital. I tinted the background with Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters and Milled Lavender and then randomly stamped some Tim Holtz swirls in black Stazon. I stamped my Hero Arts Bird in a cage onto one corner and then onto a piece of tissue paper. I cut the tissue paper image out and glued it to the canvas. A couple of grungeboard swirls and a chip board J were coloured and added with a piece of ribbon across one corner. I hung 3 metal charms from the canvas and added some peridot and lavender crystals just to finish it off. I was pleased with the end result and thankfully Jackie loved it.

Anniversary Card

I've been itching to use my new Laura Ashley stamps, papers and brads so made my husband a card for our anniversary next month - where have those 36 years gone??

My Birthday Thanks

I wanted to add this here in case some of you aren't on the forums I am on so here we go

Ok folks you’d better be sitting down with a cup of tea to read through this. It has taken me almost an hour to type it up.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for all the wonderful things I’ve received for my birthday. To say I am overwhelmed is putting it mildly. You are such a great group of people and I am proud to call you my friends. Thank you all so much, love you all.

Ok deep breath and here we go with the cards –

Andrea – too much of a good thing is fine by me too
Ann – such pretty hydrangeas and such beautiful words, and my special day ATC and my blue fat book page
Antonia – Toni a lovely fashion atc
Barb – My beautiful decoupaged flower card – and I am definitely not counting. And my friends atc and my pretty flower fat book page
Becky – a beautiful butterfly atc
Becky S – a beautifully stamped card and then more stamped impressions for me to use
Brenda – someone else who knows that Westies hold a special place in my heart and this one looks just like my Harley and the atc looks just like me walking the dog, and my purple fat book page
BrookieBell – Julie what a pretty rose atc
Catherine – such a pretty pink gingham card, my heart flower fat book page
Chrissie – such a pretty blue and brown card and a Paper Dolls book mark too, it’s in my book already, and the friends plaque you made me will go up in my craft room and the rose atc from the Home for Psychiatrically Challenged is so pretty, and my Bee bottle top fat book page is gorgeous
Claireabelle – Claire a stunning card on acetate, so unusual
CraftyC – Claire such a pretty personalised card
CraftyJayne – Jayne a beautiful spring fat book page
CraftyJoy – this card made me stop and stare when I opened it, stunning
CrystalLady – Kay love this stamp and such pretty colours
Darcy48 – Arline I love Victorian cards
Debi-Lee – such a pretty card in pinks and silver, and my gorgeous mauve and pink atc, and my dog fat book page he’s so cute
Edith – wow what a stunning stamp you used, lovely card and an equally stunning fat book page
Fiona – wow love the beaded bee and the quilled bee on the fat book page
Gillian – love the colours in your nasturiums
Hilmof – Hilda am I right in thinking that’s a JS decoupage cottage, very pretty.
HunyBunny – Gloria you are so clever with all your computer designing, the beautiful fat book pages – buttercups and butterflies to match my card, love my bees and my personalised page
IrisX –Dee a beautiful iris folding butterfly and the packs of Iris folding cards for me to use, they are beautiful thank you.
IvyB – Wilma the ATC is stunning, as is the fat book page and for my JillCraft voucher which I'll enjoy spending.
Jane – ah that kitty is so cute, pretty fat book page using shrink plastic
JaneyC49 – Janet that is a really pretty card
Jarajewl – Jacqueline, a stunning oriental lady
Joana – love my green and pink card and fat book page and yes I will eat cake
JulieR – Julie that is beautiful decoupage and such a sunny card and my rose tag fat book page
Kathy – ah that little mouse looks so cute peeking round the door
Lapsapchung – Jane your card is stunning
LesleyGee – Lesley I adore my ickle housemouse card, he makes you smile and the beautiful roses fat book page
Linda – well there isn’t much I can say other than you are so clever and talented
LindaE – the way you have shaped that butterfly is beautiful, looks as if he is about to fly off the card
LizzieAnn – Liz yours was the first Westie card I opened, he is so cute and a big thank you for the book mark too
Lorraine 3009 – such a pretty flower atc
Margaret – I love the thread work on your stunning red rose card
MaryPoppins – Barb what a pretty pink and black card
Mumsy – my gorgeous oriental fat book page
PickleyPoo – Karen my only waterfall card, gorgeous
Pinkle – Hels you are always making me giggle so your card was very apt
RachelP – Rachel I love my little house mouse atc he just needs to blow a bit harder to put the candle out
Shaz – that is so cute, I love cuddly buddlys
She – what a gorgeous black and white card
SlinkyMinx – Nicky you naughty minx, your card did make this old bird laugh
Sockscat – Heidi those stamps are gorgeous, so very elegant, and the spring flowers atc and the fat book page is gorgeous, such fab colouring.
Sue – my poodle atc is so cute
TinaB – you are so right, today sure is my day
TraceyW – Tracey I love my bee and flower card
WackyJacky – Jackie my beautiful card in pinks and blacks so pretty, and then my 1920s card so elegant, the fantastic Laura Ashley rubberstamps buttons and backing paper – I have come so close to buying these recently, I wanted them so much a great big thank you. And for my black and white and my garden fat book pages
WendysTeddy – Wendy love my butterfly atc and my gold medallion fat book page
Witch – Sylvi I love black and white, gorgeous, my cut work fat book page gorgeous
Zot – beautiful butterfly fat book page, such pretty colours

And can I just add special thanks for the beautiful pieces of artwork that I received
A beautiful little book from LindaE – you just have to see it, stunning you are such a lovely friend
A ‘Neil Diamond’ themed book from Wilma (you must have done a lot of research to get all this info, you are a treasure
An Alice in Wonderland book from Tina B – what a work of art, love it you are so kind to let me look after it
A beautiful little book from LesleyGee – the quotes and words are so special, thank you so much my dear friend
From Hels the most beautiful book in it’s own decorated box – the sentiments are so true and I send them all right back at you, we both believe in our dreams
And from my crafting buddy, my mate Jackie – sorry you are in hospital right now but I am thinking about you and missing you so get your butt out of that bed and get on those crutches you only have 14 weeks to get to dancing stage, thank you for my beautiful black and white book.

To all my fabulous Paper Dolls a big thank you for a huge box of beautiful freesias, they will perfume the house for days and a special mention to Sylvi for putting all the fat book pages into a book for me and to whoever made the covers for the book.

I will get photos of all my cards, ATCs, fat Book pages and books on my blog over the weekend – hopefully.

Knickers.....

My friend Jackie is in hospital recovering from an operation. There is a story involving knickers which folks on the forum know (Paul insisted Jackie) I wont repeat it here - sparing your blushes Jackie. Of course I couldn't resist making her a pair of knickers card.

Tag Swap - May

I've made my stamped tags for this month's swap - the theme is Oriental.

I used a new set of stamps I'd just received - it's the Limited Edition Asian set.

Sunday Stampers Challenge - Boys

This week's Sunday Stampers challenge is Two Little Boys, so I took the chance to use my new Sugar Nellie stamps - Chef Hamish and Big Brother. I needed a couple of cards for little boys so here they are.