Happy Father's Day

This is especially for Ken who is supporting me in all the time I need to be creative and to take on Design Team work. I am spending every bit of spare time at home getting to grips with being a DT member for two challenge blogs and have been asked to join a third, which I have deferred till December. I applied to four to test the water and so far 3 out of 3 replies have offered me a DT spot. I just can't believe it.

So here is my card for Ken. Made in between all the other bits I have been doing this week and getting myself organised for challenges etc.  I don't usually like using bought 3D embellishments but I needed something for a man and nearly all my bits are for feminine cards and golf just fitted the bill.

I used the TH textured fades embossing folder to make the golf ball and the sentiment I made using Word Art in MS Word. I edged the ball with Adirondack denim ink pad and used Star Dust Stickles for the edge of the green mount. I wonder if there is a challenge out there to not use any DPs???

Anyway HAPPY FATHER'S DAY KEN.

Have a great day everyone especially if you are celebrating by doing something different.

Take care. Luv Brenda xxxx

Starts today Stitchy Bear Stamps Bundle sale

Just to let you know that there is a sale over at Stitchy Bear Stamps and it is well worth a look.

Do It Yourself Bundle Sale

Starts June 20th for one week only

Check out what the creators at Stitchy Bear have for you! They are having a bundle sale, not pre made bundles, do-it-yourself....when you purchase a bundle, follow the instructions in the download and pick your own stamps or stamp packs! Time to create and enjoy the new high quality stamps at a low price!

Don't forget our challenges go live every Sunday at noon UK time...please pop over and show us what you've made..

                                                                                                      HERE

Take care. Love and hugs. Brenda xxx

First MAWTT DT card

Hi Everyone

It's so great to be able to post my first card as a design team (DT) member for 'Moving Along With The Times' (MAWTT). I have had an incredible week getting to know new people and what the expectations are of working with a new team -  and what lovely people they are, so helpful and kind. Thanks girls for making it an easy transition.

So here it is using the fantastic sketch created by Hazel.

I still want to use challenges to stretch me and take me outside my comfort zone at times so I have used the theme of fairies for Gingersnap Creations, a rub on 'Happy Birthday' sentiment for the Creative Belli challenge, stitching to link with the Crafty Creation challenge, the colours raspberry, aqua, kraft and white for the Play Date Cafe and embossing for La la Land.

The image is from the Cemerony Share blog and is soo cute, the colours fitted well for the theme today.  I have used a Spellbinders pendant called Fleur De Lis, to frame it. The DPs are ones I have organised into a box and not kept a note of where they come from, I shall have to try and be more careful so that I keep the same make together. The flowers I made using the Nellie Snellen punch with embosser and the stamen punch. I used DI worn lipstick and tattered rose on them to give them a more weathered, vintage look. I had to include a butterfly and a bird as they seem to almost be my trade marks on many of my cards.

Other supplies
Distress inks - Broken China, Worn Lipstick and Vintage Photo
Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Twinkles
Stickles - Star Dust
Distress Stickles - Tattered Rose
Glossy Accents
Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen (on the stamens)

Have a wonderful day, not long before the weekend and Ella is having her 4th birthday party. I will be there.

Take care. Luv and hugs.  Brenda xxxx


Challenge List
Gingersnap Creations - Fairies
Creative Belli #93 - Rub-Ons
Crafty Creations #72 - It's  a stitch up
La La Lands #43 - Embossing

IoW photos

I promised some photos from last weekend. I haven't had a chance to go through them all yet but here are a few. Lisa hope you like the ones of PINK.

Me, my friend Yvonne and hubby Ken.

PINK arrives!!

You can just see how she gets on stage.

She tumbles above the crowd. (It looks as though there are two of her because the photo shows the big screen in the background as well.

Paul McCartney headlined.

LOL B xxx

New Blog Layout

I am just playing with a new layout at the moment as if I haven't got enought to do!!!!
It may stay like this for a while, it may not. But just so that you don't think you are in the wrong place. I am a person of change - nothing stays the same for too long with me.
LOL B xxxx

MAWTT DT Team

I just can't believe it. I find buried in all my emails from the weekend an email inviting me to be a DT member for Moving Along With The Times (MAWTT), how amazing is that? I am so excited to be on another team and this will certainly keep me busy. Thanks girls I am really looking forward to getting to know you all and finding out how it all works.
I'll keep you all posted with developments.
Happy Monday.
LOL Bxxxx

Isle of Wight Music Festival 2010

As for the weekend at the Isle of Wight Music Festival - well what can I say!!!!

Friday started OK - music not bad, Mr Hudson was very good as were the Doves, but Florence and the Machine were disappointing and we didn't stay to watch Jay-Z (not our style of music) but apparently he was very good. We finished off by going to see Suzie Quatro but didn't stay long, she didn't seem to have her old spark.

 Saturday improved greatly. A new band (to us) we liked were Detroit Social Club. Old 60's and 70's star Melanie was accompanied by her son and daughter and was great, even though I didn't listen to alot of her stuff when I was younger (showing my age here!!). Paloma faith was just amazing - love her voice and she did a good show. Vampire Weekend were really good to listen to - I enjoyed their Paul Simon Graceland's style. Biffy Cliro were a real rock band and I enjoyed listening to them too. Debby Harry of Blondie still has all the old sex appeal and rocked the crowd with well known favourites.

On Sunday we saw a band called the Coronas that were quite good, Suzanne Vega was not a crowd puller, the Courteeners were good as were Friendly Fires. Then came Spandau Ballet, Yvonne and I got quite near the front to watch them and they were brilliant - just loved by the audience and got a real rousing welcome from everyone. Their old favourites True and Gold were sung really loudly by the crowd. The Editors were next and Ken like listening to them. But the last 2 acts stole the whole weekend. PINK was just amazing - what a show and what a voice. She wowed the crowd with her entrance - lifted in a box by a crane over the roof of the stage and then dropped from a great height to the floor. The theme of carnival fitted it beautifully and she had the whole place enthralled the whole time. For her finale she was in a waist hoist and soared and tumbled above the crowd to the excitement of everyone. How could Paul McCartney follow that??? We thought it would be impossible. But we thought wrong. He too was just amazing, singing old Beatles numbers, songs from Wings, ballads, pop and rock. He played numerous guitars and the piano and nearly lost his voice towards the end. His stage set with background films and graphics were very poignant at times with John Lennon and George Harrison part of them, he also referred to them a great deal. The crowd just loved Paul and the band and the age range was incredible from the real youngsters to us oldies (and older still). Everyone stood and sang with him and he did 3 encores - it seemed no-one wanted it to finish and he played for over 2 hours. What an end to the weekend. The weather was brilliant until we went home and then it started to rain, but once in the car and on our way to the ferry and then home it really didn't matter. Although I must say I felt sorry for those who were camping. So if you fancy joining us next year, we shall be going again, it would be lovely to see you.

I will try and post some photos when I get a chance. Also have a look at the Absolute Radio web site to see and hear music and interviews - you'll hear us all singing along with the stars.

Take care, enjoy what you are doing.

LOL Bxxx

OSAAT DT here we come

Just a short post to say a big thankyou to everyone at One Stitch At A Time (OSAAT). I am sooooo pleased and excited to be joining the new team and looking forward to my new and first DT challenge. I have already started to make new friends so I am sure we will all have great fun.
Stay with me everyone and join in.

Have a lovely day and a great week.

Luv B xxxxx

Shell card a winner

Wey hey, I had to put up a third post today as my shell card won the beach theme challenge at Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog. I am so pleased to be rewarded in this way, and I get to choose $10 worth of goodies from Simon Says Stamp - so I have chosen the Tim Holtz 'Nostalgic' Tissue Tape.

I shall love playing with it when it arrives. Thanks to everyone at Creative Inspirations and Natalie for emailing me all the info.

Bye for now.

Luv and hugs. Brenda xxxx

Miss Sparkle 2

Hi there.
This is the second of my Miss Sparkles and this time I have gone for the vintage distressed look.

The promarkers I have used are Ivory, Blush, Dusky Pink and Pastel Pink for the cheeks. The dress includes Pumpkin, Honeycomb, Peach and Burnt Orange. The wings include Azure, Denim, Powder Blue and Pastel Blue. The head-dress has Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Tan and Shale.

To achieve the sparkly look I have used Broken China Distress Stickles on the wings, Cosmic Shimmer Autumn Twinkles on the head-dress and Sakura pumpkin coloured Gelly Roll glitter pen on the stamens.

I am not so happy with the face this time, the colours seem to have bled in with the photocopy ink, and what annoys me is I am using the real Epson inks and not the look alike ones. Anyone know how I can stop this please?

I really like the Nellie Snellen embossing floral punches and have used them on both cards 1 and 2. On this one I have used them with bought ones (no name on the box I am afraid). I have included my usual butterfly and bird, both cut out and covered with glossy accents. I edged the scalloped die-cut with clear crackle paint and rubbed in Interference Blue Pefect Pearls. The edge of the circle die-cut was distressed with Vitage Photo DI. The flourish is TH Swirly. I also tried something completely different again on this card. I had a frame downloaded on my computer, so I printed it onto the DP as part of the background. Backing papers were edged with Star Dust Stickles and Frosted Lace sprinkled with glitter.

Well that's my second sample for the OSAAT DT call. Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend when it arrives, the weather looks quite promising for the festival, so fingers crossed.

Luv and hugs. Brenda xxxxx

Challenge List
A Spoonfull of Sugar #107 - Floral Delights
Tuesday Taggers - All that Blooms
Everybody Art #94 - Things with Wings
The Crazy Challenge - Distress It
Pollycraft Challenge - Ribbon and bling
Corrosive Challenge #67 - Die Cuts
Bee Crafty #31 - Bloomin Marvellous
Stamp, scrap, doodle #43 - Handmade Embellishments
Stamp Something - Digis