Happy Birthday Lynne

Today is my friend Lynne's 50th birthday and this is for her.

We are going to a surprise party this evening organised by her children. Lynne hope you've had a wonderful day and I'm really looking forward to seeing you tonight. I think maybe you know something is going on, but what a lovely surprise to see your friends turn up.

The card has been completely digitally designed using papers and elements that I am starting to collect. June I hope you like, see I am learning....... I have added some glitter and a flower and that's it.

Happy weekend everyone and thankyou for stopping by.

Luv Brenda xxxxx

Sunday morning up-date
Hi Lynne - I know you are going to read this. It was fabulous seeing you again last night and it was a wonderful party. Your children are a credit to you, they made everyone feel welcome and were excellent hosts looking after us so well. It was an emotional evening for you, seeing us all arrive, but it was lovely having us all together and I feel proud to be part of that friendship. I am so glad you had a good day - you deserve it - and now some lovely memories to look back on. Have a great chilled day today and enjoy your Chinese later. Hope there isn't too much clearing up to do. My special thanks to Laura, she is a great organiser - must take after you then eh? See you on the 6th, take care. B xxx

MAWTT challenge 63 Christmas Easel Card

Well folks it's Thursday again and time for a new challenge at Moving Along with the Times. This week Shell has chosen the theme of Christmas and we have Crafty Sentiments sponsoring us this week. The DT got some lovely Christmas digi images to play with, pop along to the main blog and take a look at their fab creations. I used the snowman couple.

I decided to try my hand at an easel card as I haven't done one for a long time and also keep to my favourite style - vintage. The backing papers are from Crafty Sentiments but I did change the colours a bit by using Photoshop Elements.

The frame is a Spellbinders die and edged with picket fence distress crackle paint to make it look a bit like snow, the image was edge stamped using a TH snowflake stamp. I used DIs to colour the image and added some glitter. The ticket I purchased from Sentiments 4 You and the other bits I found in my collection of Christmas papers and bits and pieces. I have used stickles round the DPs and the ticket.

As I visit other blogs it seems many of you are well on your way to getting your Christmas cards finished, I have only done 3 - still got a long way to go.

Enjoy your Thursday and hopefully some crafting somewhere during the day. I hope to later on.
Take care - luv Brenda xxxx



Challenges to have fun with -
Sketch Saturday - Where I followed their sketch for this week.
CES - Christmas easel card
Our Creative Corner - Fun with folds
Aly's Sunday challenge - Sparkly / glittery
Craft Your Passion - Easel Card
ABC Challenge - Distressing
Crafts and Me - Easels

OMG 2 wins

Good evening to one and all,

I just had to post my wins for this week. I can't believe there are two of them.

My book cover {all pink and blue shabby chic style} won at Crafts and Me Challenges for their gems and sparkle challenge last week. The prize is a cute set of lovebird stamps.

Then my card of Debbie's rainbow snail, posted on Sunday for the OSAAT Autism Challenge, won at Pear Tree Designs for their animal theme challenge last week. My prize for that is 3 digis from the store, a goody bag to come in the post and a GDT spot for 4 weeks. So I am well pleased to get so many goodies and to play along in 4 extra challenges for the next month.

I thought I would also post this photo of Tinder, one of my two cats, he loves to get into boxes, bins and of course bags. I put this on the floor the other evening and as quick as a flash he got in it.

Hope your week is going well. Thankyou to everyone who pops by and leaves me lovely messages. I love signing in and reading them all. I am trying to keep getting round everyone but work is getting busier and I am taking Mum away for a week again soon, so there is less time at the moment. Stay with me, it will all calm down again nearer Christmas.

Take care. Luv B xxxx

OSAAT challenge 30 - Autism charity challenge

Here are two cards from me today for this very special charity challenge. The purpose is to raise awareness of how autism can affect people and what special people they are. When I was a headteacher I had a special unit for children with speech and language difficulties and many of these children were on the autistic spectrum. Each of them had their own problems to overcome but what was so wonderful was seeing them learn and make progress and be part of the mainstream classes. Stitchy, the organisers at OSAAT and DT members want to support the autism charity and raise awareness of it. This is particularly for a special little boy called Cameron. We are challenging you to make a special "Rainbow Themed" card - Anything goes type of challenge, but must have a rainbow or the colors of a rainbow in your creation. The reason for this Rainbow challenge is in honor of a very special little guy named Cameron.  If you click on his name, you can read his story...Go over to the main OSAAT blog and see more of what it is about and check out everyone's gorgeous creations. The creators have all made a special digi for us to use just for today's challenge. Thank you in advance to all that take part in this very special challenge - have fun & good luck!!!




We have 10 GREAT PRIZES FOR 10 equally great WINNERS...and that is only at the main blog...

Prize #1 is all 5 of Stitchy Stamps New Release Stamps

Prize #2 is all 5 of Beary Dust's New Release Stamps

Prize #3 is a package from Craftbrulee

Prize #4 is a package from Rod & Carol At Hobbyhabitat

Prize #5 is a package from I Am Roses

Prize #6 is 3 New Release Stamps

Prize #7 is 3 New Release Stamps

Prize #8 is 3 New Release Stamps

Prize #9 is 3 New Release Stamps

Prize #10 is 2 New Release Paper Packs and A Sentiment Sheet

We will also have ONE child winner....who will win ONE PRIZE of THE 3 NEW KIDS KORNER RELEASE STAMPS
 
 

Here is my card and this one was fun to colour up and was created by Sally - go check out the store and see what is available. I kept to rainbow colours which you can see are reflected in the shell, I love the sentiment that goes with it. The flowers I made by stamping on some red paper, cutting out some crinkly circles that I drew roughly on the back, crumpling the paper into small balls, then opening each layer and fixing them together with a brad. The papers are from the Shabby Princess.

This image is by Robyns Fetish and I thought lent itself to being a male card. I make so few of them and need to have some in my box, so this was a good opportunity. It was difficult to photo and folds back on itself. I used only two DIs and found some rainbow paper in a card stack. I added lots of ephemera and bits that fitted in with the bicycle theme and even used a download of the music and words of that famous song.

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do,

I'm half crazy all for the love of you.

It won't be a stylish marriage,

I can't afford a carriage.

But you'll look sweet, on the seat

Of a bicycle made for two.

I have left a space to put in a message and/or sentiment.

Hope you enjoy our special challenge today.

Luv B xxx

Challenges to have fun with -

Our Creative Corner - Fun with folds (second card)

Totally Papercrafts - Lets go dotty (first card)

A spoonful of sugar - Animal (first card)

Digital Tuesday - Spots and stripes (first card)

Pear Tree Designs - Animals (first card)

Oooh La La - Stripes (first card)

Crafty Creations - Transportation (second card)

Compendium of Curiosities week 13

Wow here we are with another week of Linda's CCC and already we are up to week 13. How can that be????

I just loved making grungepaper flowers this week to go on (yet another) book cover. Follow the instructions on P.65 of the master's book and you too can make them. I have added glitter. distress stickles, distress crackle paint, DIs and some of the TH vintage shabby papers. Yey I think they turned out really well especially with some glitzy brads in the middle of them.

Now this book cover is a secret, so I can't tell you what it's for or who it's for, but it will be a special present when it is finished. I have used papers from the Shabby Princess (and these are amazing free downloads that I told you about some weeks ago)  and other bits of goodies from various boxes around my craft room. The flower paper is from the Papermania Rose Garden stack. The music paper with the butterflies on is one of my digital collage creations. There's some lace, flowers, punched leaves, silver frame (Dawn Bibby's), glass glintz and a bluebird for happiness. The ticket is my own, I added freebie swirls in photoshop elements. There I think I've covered it all. Just gotta make the pages now. The idea is to do board pages with lots of secret hideaways for journalling and photos to be added at a later date.

Mmmmm with this shabby chic look I can't wait to get started.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Luv B xxx

Challenges to have fun with
Studio L3 - Grungepaper flowers
Ink on my fingers - All kinds of everything
Your next stamp - Anything goes  (I have stamped round the edges and clear embossed, you can probably only just make that out)
Flutterby Wednesday - Use pink with a butterfly, angel or fairy
Creative Inspiration - Lace and sparkle
Crafts and Me - Gems and sparkle (I am counting the middle of the flowers as gems - do pearls count??)
Flourish Timeless Tuesday Challenge - Use tickets
Everybody Art Challenge - Handmade Flowers
Craft your passion - Lace and flower
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Distress it (I have distress inked the edges using spun sugar and vintage photo)
Bunny Zoes - Vintage
Tha Stamp Man - Distress
Lexi's Creations - Flower Power

It's not my birthday BUT .......

Hey, I won a prize, even though it's not my birthday (see post below to understand that comment, hehe).

Coco with roses, which was my MAWTT challenge card last week, won at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog and I get to choose some digital goodies, including papers, coloured image and 2 x digital images. Wow that's alot isn't it? What a great prize to have.

I just had to post these photos after all the starting school things I have made recently. Ella's first day in her new school uniform. She certainly seems happy about it and by all accounts she has enjoyed it. I shall see her tonight and she can tell me all about it. I can't wait.

Outside the school gate, having had a good day.

All 3 of my gorgeous girls.

Maddison (the youngest) started nursery this week as well. She walked in, turned round and said 'Bye Mummy' and she's only 2, bless her. Becca is at secondary school and chooses her options for GCSEs at the end of the year. Oh my!!!!!!

We are having a celebration dinner tonight, so I am looking forward to seeing the whole family together. Maddie didn't want a big gathering, so we are all going to see Ditrty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre in London in October. That should be fun.

Have a good evening.

Luv B xxxx

Happy Birthday Maddie

It's the 10th September and it's Maddie's 30th Birthday, I can't believe those years have gone by so quickly - I don't think she can either. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE - LUV YA.

I also need to say happy birthday to my Mum who is 81 today, what a lovely present she had in 1980 when Maddie was born. It's also Malcome's birthday, cousin to Ken and Vicky's birthday, who is the daughter of some very good friends of ours. In fact I have 9 birthdays this month, it just so happens 4 of them are today!!!!

Well here is Maddie's finished book. I posted the front cover on Sunday, this is now the rest of it.
The inside cover and first page, grunged, stamped and collage.

The next page distressed and stamped. The following section is an envelope also distress etc in which she can put receipts etc.

The other side of the envelope.

The inside back cover.

The very back cover.

Showing the inside pages altogether.

and of course it is ......

I hope she likes it. Don't forget she is the girl with a degree in graphic design and can be very critical -

in a nice way of course.

I have to say I am very pleased with it, so that's something.

Happy birthday if you have a birthday too today.

Take care. Luv B xxxx

MAWTT challenge 63 Starting/back to school

Good Thursday morning to you, I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Today, being Thursday, is the new challenge for MAWTT, we had some amazing entries for my stitching challenge and it was very difficult to choose a winner, but Tracy was the overall winner and her entry was fabulous.

My good friend Lisa is hosting the challenge this week and she has given us a great sketch to use and the theme of starting or back to school. This week we are sponsored by Sharon Duncan.

"Sharon Duncan has been designing Craft CDs since 2002. The Store was started in 2006 and has grown rapidly since then. She has over 80 CDs now available. Sharon is frequently seen on Create and Craft and Ideal World.  The store now has loads instore from inkpads, CDs to The Latest Gorjuss Girls Decoupage. There is also a great range of Prima Flowers, Toppers even Craft essentials like glue and double sided sticky tapes. Pop over to see what is available. Post and Packaging is free in the U.K."

Sharon is offering £20.00 to spend in her store to the lucky winner. So it's well worth a look to see what you can do to enter this great challenge.
Well I'm sure it won't have slipped your mind that Ella started school this week and I have already given her a card and a notebook, but today, although I have used the same image (because these all link together as a set of 3 things), I have made a memories book for Bev, my daughter-in-law and Ella's Mum. I turned Lisa's sketch on the side to make the front cover and used the same techniques with the DIs as I did on Ella's book. I made the frame using Nestabilities and added the glitter, I have also used stickles in places. I have a great tip for when you are adding glitter to something like this frame, run it through your Big Shot or Cuttlebug when the glitter is on and this helps it stick firmly to the glue so that it doesn't come off. It works a treat.

Inside there are some blank full and half pages for Bev to write on and stick things in and I have left her to embellish it as she loves to craft and make things, I have also added some sticky pages for her to add some photos. I went into Farnborough and found a photo album in the Pound Shop with the tacky boards that have film over them. So for only £1, I have put in 6 photo pages which gives space for 12 photographs. I was pleased with that idea and I still have some left for another project.

I hope you will come and join us in the challenge this week.

I am, posting the finished book I have made for Maddie tomorrow as it will be her 30th birthday. (I am really into using my Bind It All at the moment).

I am also doing a card making session for some people who live in the sheltered accommodation where my Mum lives, so that will be interesting. I must try and remember to take my camera with me and put it on my prep list.

Have a great end to the week. See you again tomorrow.

Luv B xxx

Challenges to have fun with -
The Creative Card Crew - Back to school
Tuesday Taggers - Books
The Pink Elephant - Back to school
Oh Alice - Shine and sparkle
Crazy 4 Challenges - Books
Fussy and Fancy - Back to school

Compendium of Curiosities week 12 Chipped Enamel

What a strange Sunday it is, bits of rain, then the sun tries to break through, high cloud, heavy cloud and humid in a way, but not hot.Well that's the English weather for you.

I have at last made my piece for the CCC at Studio L3, and Linda is now 1/3 of the way through the series, can you believe it?

This is a book cover for a notebook I am making for my daughters 30th birthday this week - (I can't believe my baby is this age already...... makes me feel so old.....). Anyhow I can only show you the cover at the moment as the rest is still to finish. I have the back cover made and the owire cut, but I want to make something of the inside covers and add a grungepaper tag to it. So still some to do.

For this particular challenge though I only need to show you this part, as it's the chipped enamel technique that this shows with the letter M. I have a tin of metal items from We R Memory Keepers and this was an ideal piece to experiment on. If you would like to know how to do it, turn to page 44 of The Compendium of Curiosities, Tim's book, it's a great one to try, so simple yet so effective to create some dimension.

I covered the boards with a DP from a stack, used DIs over the edges and then stamped in some places. I added a strip down the side with grunged edges and made a tag holder. I used a free image of an angel from the Graphic Fairy, cos that's what Maddie is. I used techniques I practised at Hel's workshop last week on the tag and added some buttons and stars, cos again that's what she is. A little bit of music paper and a little bit of sparkle and now I am happy with it.

I will show you the finished book later in the week, but for now enjoy the rest of Sunday and have a fun week.

Luv B xxxx

Challenges to have fun with -
Studio L3 - Chipped enamel
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Vintage
Think Ink 28 - Distressed out
Donna's Den - Layers
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Layers
The Creative Cottage - Celebrations
Stampavie - Anything but a card
Penny's Paper-Crafty - Birthday
Crazy 4 challenge - Books
Our Creative Corner - Letters or numbers
Stamptacular Sunday - Distress it

Starting School

Good morning everyone.

Just a short post today as I have got lots to make for DTs over the next few days, plus I'm making another book for someone special, more about that later in the week ..... and a  friend has asked me to make two of the little notebooks for her grandaughters (my first commission eh????).

So I managed to get this card finished, but actually it's far too big to make into an ordinary card, so I have left it as a board and made a stand to put it on.

This is to go with the little note book I posted yesterday for my grandaughter Ella. I used the same image and found some DPs that fitted perfectly with school things on.

Have a great weekend, hope you are getting the lovely weather.

Luv B xxx

Challenges  - haven't looked yet, but might get time later.