Its A Piece of Peace. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours. Its been a busy week at The Pond with extra hours at work and two late finishes on the trot. . . . . boy, I was shattered. Still, all the running about is good for the weight loss. As I was the only one on my dept for the late, I was up and down more than my now loose trousers lol!!!

Anyhoo, I must welcome some new peeps to The Pond so a big "Hello" to Sally (Sallysbitz2) and Michelle (Messy Barn). Lovely to have your company and thanks for joining us. These ladies have super blogs so if you click on the links, you can go have a peek.

I do have another new follower but cant see who it is I'm afraid. Blogger is being a b****r this week, messing with my reading list and comments, so whoever you are, welcome and I apologise for not being able to thank you personally.

Now, today's card was more of an experimental play with Sue Wilson's new "Peace" die.

As mentioned previously, I took John to Daisy's (my local craft shop) last week. I had introduced John to the owner at the craft show a few weeks ago with a view to getting her to let him do some workshops so I took him to the shop last week so they could have a chat (and I could have a shop lol!!!).

I think it was Lesley who asked what I had bought. Only a border mask, embossing ball tool and the "Peace" die. I did want the "Let it Snow" too but she had sold out, boo hoo!

I wanted the "Peace" die as I could see potential in using it in a different way and this is the result.

Its the die cut out twice and stuck together on the background with the top layers mounted up to cover the lettering. I think it gives a nice swirly backdrop.

Ingredients

White card

PMD purple card

Sue Wilson "Peace" die

SB Fancy Tags Two

Hobbycraft corner punch & sentiment stamp

Purple pigment ink (although it looks blue on here)

Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

I have made another in a similar style but you will have to wait for next time for that one. . . . . . ooooh, the suspense lol!!!

Just a few replies before I waddle orf.

Lydia, in case John didn't reply, the A4 dies are Jus Cutz from Once Upon a Stamp. I think they are £21.99 on their website (they were £15 at the show)

Val, I'm jealous. I was born to live in a warmer climate. Must be my Malaysian genes lol!

Jenny, Kent is obviously a lot larger than I thought lol!

Hello Hanny. In answer to your question, I rub tumble dryer sheets onto the cutting surface of my dies as it makes the card pop very easily out of the die after cutting. I think they are impregnated with some sort of silicon. Hope that answers your question and that you can pop by again soon..

Well, that's me offski. At work again today as my colleague I've been covering isn't back until Monday. 

Last time I did a Sunday was when I got threatened so you can imagine I'm full of enthusiasm hahaha!!! I had a Madras curry last night so it would not be a good idea for anyone to frighten me today. The consequences would be apocalyptic lol!!!

Have a good day yourselves.

TTFN

Ang x

Dearest Friend. . . . . . . . .

Good morning my blogging chums. Hope you are all well.

Well, cor blimey me, did I bump my head (would explain a lot lol!!!), lose two months and wake up in Winter? I have had to go from my Summer flip flops to socks and fluffy slippers as my feet were colder than a penguins chuff! Here's hoping for an Indian Summer in September.

Bank holiday Monday was very busy at work and I'm doing extra and altered hours this week to cover some leave so spare a thought for lil' ol' moi having to do two late shifts on the trot, with 20.15 finishes, boo hoo! This means I won't be able to get over to John's this week to nosey at admire his craft space.

Now, that brings me to today's card. I made this card for John as a kinda "welcome back to Blighty" card and gave it to him on our first meet up. I did ask him if he would mind me showing it on my blog at some point and he was very happy for me to do so.

I was a bit worried it may look a bit girlie for him but our John's a modern man and was fine with the pink bows (they are duskier in real life). Some of you eagle eyed folk may have spotted it above his desk in his craft space photos.

It is a pressure making a card for someone who makes them so excellently themselves.

Ingredients

Cream card for base and top

PMD Ruby Red card

First Edition Love Letters 6x6 paper

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents

Sissix Square dies

That Special Touch Elegance mask

Dusky pink satin ribbon

Crafters Companion sentiment stamp

Bundled Sage DI

Done with different layers for dimension and interest.

Jenny, I thought you would be in crafty heaven in Kent with Christine Emberson and Oyster Stamps.

Lydia, the Spa Circuit stopped having part of it as a public road around 2000 but I hope you weren't speeding around there lol!

Jackie and Karen, what a can of worms eh? I too thought it was a silly racing incident but Lewis is really milking this one; even the team are saying he's taken Nico's explanation out of context.

Well, that's it for today folks. Thank you kindly for your comments on my birdcage card. The Hobbycutz laser cuts are very good and very inexpensive and I do enjoy using them.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week, whatever you are up to.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Hobbycutz Challenge 62. . . . . . . . Don't Use White

Good morning everyone. It's time for another Challenge at Hobbycutz, sponsored by Kenny K and it's my choice this time. . . . . .Don't Use White.

Hope you can pop over and see what the team has come up with and even better, have a go yourselves!

As soon as I got this gorgeous birdcage laser cut from Hobbycutz, I knew exactly what paper I was going to team it with (Bird Song is one of my favourite pads) but I had to go over the white lines, tops of the birdcages and the centres of the flowers with silver Promarker to cover the white bits (steady !!!) Remember, there should be no white.

Ingredients

Cream base card (cut to DL size)

Pink PMD card

First Edition Bird Song 8x8 paper

Hobbycutz birdcage

Crafters Companion sentiment

Black Archival ink

Silver Promarker

Pink Sharpie (for the bird in the Hobbycutz cage)

It would be lovely to see some of you talented folk join in.

Had a lovely morning on Friday with John, taking him to my local craft shop, Daisy's so he's got somewhere else he can go shopping for stash. I have also introduced him to the delights of tumble dryer sheets to rub on his dies. 

We met in a layby again (there's a pattern forming here) but at least it wasn't raining this time.

Lesley, I would love to visit but fear it would be cheaper for me to buy a BSP unless Ryanair has any special offers lol!

Karenlotty, I got the matting basics set B first then quickly realised I would need the other set to get the narrower frames so set A was purchased. I was going to get the 5x7 sets (eventually, pending ebay bargains) but bought the A4 Jus Cutz set instead (as per my GBCF stash post a few days ago).

That's me for today. Looking forward to the Belgian GP at one of my favourite circuits (hark at me, like I've been there hahaha!) Whose your money on Jackie ? I'm thinking Nico as he seems to have a steely look about him after the summer break. . . . . .ok, I'll stop now before I can hear snoring lol!

Hope you have a lovely Sunday and a fab week ahead and thanks for paddling.

TTFN

Ang x

One For the Guys. . . . . . . .

Good morning to you all. Hope this finds you feeling champion (Not the Wonder Horse as the RSPCA would get involved lol!)

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on Nesta's Bangle Box. I really hope her niece keeps it but she is a bit of a fickle creature so goodness knows whether she will. I'd rather not know as I'd be heartbroken if it got binned.

As for Inkpadgate, I didn't see the offending minx daubing it everywhere but there were small fingerprints on a 12x12 First Edition pad (sacrilege and something worthy of capital punishment in my book) so I take heart that the errant parents would have had a lot of cleaning of the little darling and probably its clothing too. 

Sadly, its a regular event when you're working with ink pads, glitter glues and acrylic paints. Maybe if we made them top shelf? (steady, not that kind of top shelf lol!!!).

Now, today's offering is a change from what I was going to show as John featured a mica-ed peacock feathers mask card yesterday and that was what you were going to get from me today. I'm not brave enough to to show it immediately after John's so I'll keep it until you're likely to have forgotten his gem lol! 

This one was made for my brother in law (Mr Duck's brother) who is a very keen golfer (so guess what theme card he gets every year lol?) I have a few sporty Docrafts toppers I keep for the fellas so they do come in handy. I did die cut the topper too to get that nice embossed edge around it, like the frames.

Ingredients

White base card

White and black PMD card

SB A2 Matting Basics A & B

Docrafts Golfer topper

Creative Expressions sentiment stamp

Bundled Sage DI

Black archival ink

Quite straightforward but with the recessed frames to add a bit of dimension.

Mr D's brother was very happy with it. He's a graphic designer so does take a keen interest in my handmade stuff.

Meeting up with our John this morning, so it will be nice to have a catch up.

Hope you have a great start to your weekend, whatever you are doing and thank you, as always, for popping by for a paddle.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps, forgot to say thanks to Lesley for her offer of letting me use her Big Shot Pro. I was actually hinting at John as he's a bit nearer than you lol!

Bangle Box. . . . . . . .

Good morning my little Duckadees, I do hope this finds you well.

Thank you, as always for your lovely comments, always encouraging and always appreciated.

Nesta did love the gift bag but I think she was more interested in the contents lol!!! For my overseas chums, Cadburys Chocolate Buttons are milk thin chocolate discs, about the size of an average button, that melt very nicely on the tongue.

Whilst we are on a Nesta theme, I thought I would show you the bangle box that I made for Nesta to give her niece for the blessing last weekend.

She had asked a male friend to find an A4 size purple box (as she didn't want to bother me) but he hadn't much sense of urgency and so I was seconded at the last minute.

As part of a Hindu blessing, the bride has to be presented with saris and bangles from various relatives. These were the ones Nesta was handing over.

A beautiful array of colours but the box had to be A4 and sturdy and the lid had to be cut away in areas to show off the bangles.

Fortunately, I had kept some purple cardboard boxes that had housed some card I had ordered from C & C ages ago, so I made a sturdy base for the box (it wasn't big enough to make the entire box from)

I then used some PMD A3 purple card to cover this and make the sides deeper.

I then popped a doubled over piece of the cardboard down the centre to stop the bangles moving in the box.

The lid was also made from purple PMD card out of which I cut rectangles, squares and the wonderful Striplet and backed with acetate. 

It meant that you could see just enough of the bangles  inside.

I also used a Hobbycraft punch around the edge of the lid and backed the aperture with gold card (you can see this on the very top photo)

I apologise for the picture heavy post but I was rather pleased with how this turned out and apparantly, it drew some admiring glances from Nestas family and the blessing guests, some of whom just handed over bangles in clear plastic bags.

One last snap. . . . . . . . . .

That's it now, I promise, before you overdose on bangles and boxes photos lol!!!

The official wedding is in October so I have an order for the wedding card for then.

Charity shop for me today. At least some little cherub won't have gone smooshing a cerise pink pigment ink pad on several paper pads, some wooden stamps and 2 pots of Modge Podge in there. . . . . . . .yes, that was yesterday's delight at work.

Whatever you're up to this week, enjoy!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Nesta's Birthday Button Bag. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well. Thank you for your comments on my DT cards and also my last post about the craft show.

I was quite restrained (well, for me anyway) and the big pile in the middle of the picture were envelopes of varying sizes.

Firstly, a warm welcome to The Pond to Merethe Arstein. Merethe doesn't seem to have a blog but thank you so much for following. Hope you can pop by for regular paddles.

Now, Mrs B and Jackie asked about the A4 rectangle dies. They are made by Jus Cutz, bought from Once Upon a Stamp (they do have a website and free postage over £6) and were on a show offer of £15 for the set. . . . . . bargain!!! I think the usual price is £21.99, so still not too bad and they seem to cut ok so far.

The Krylon Gold Leaf Pen I have wanted to treat myself to for ages so I used my usual excuse of "there's no pockets in shrouds" to justify buying it lol!!!

Ann O, the plan for the NEC is to go on the Thursday. The Scottish Posse arrive on Thursday afternoon and go to the show Friday so myself and Christine met them for a meal on Thursday evening, after we had been to the show last year. John (John Next Door) is joining us this year too. Would be lovely if you could make the Thursday, for the show and the meal. Don't know if you follow any of the Scottish Girls as I'm sure they would be happy to meet you for a coffee if you can only do Friday.  Also, Janice take the plunge, do both shows, you know you want to lol!!! (and I promise there is no more secret stash)

Now, today's crafty offering is, as promised, Nesta's gift bag. As you know, my bestest chum was 60 two weeks ago and part of her pressie was 60 bags of her favourite sweets, Cadbury Chocolate Buttons. Like a loon, I decided to make a gift bag to match her card (see here).

First one I made was too small (I seriously underestimated how much room 60 bags of buttons need) and luckily I hadn't stamped it so I will save that for something else.

I apologise for the picture quality but I was literally out of the door before it occurred to me that I hadn't photographed the bloomin thing!!! There are the proper creases down each side.

Its not fancy and filigree as it was way too big to fit through my GC as it took 2 sheets of A3 to make. Now, if only I knew someone with a Big Shot Pro. . . . . . . . . . .

The labour of love was the stamping again. You may have noticed on my new stash snap, I bought another Card-io set, Mum's Garden, so I shall be playing with that in future. They are super little stamp sets and I wish that I could do them more justice.

Ingredients

2 sheets A3 300gsm card (Limetree Crafts)

Card-io Rose Garden stamp set

Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Bundled Sage and Pine Needles DIs

Sage green Staedler fineliner

Pink satin ribbon

Last Sunday, one of Nesta's nieces' was having a Hindu wedding blessing (Bangle box to be featured here shortly) so Nesta's sister turned the evening do into a surprise birthday party for Nesta. I had responsibility for the non-family guest list and for keeping it quiet for the past 9 months. 

She was gobsmacked and totally overwhelmed but a lovely time was had by all. No tales of drunken debauchery I'm afraid (Well, her Dad was there, still going strong at 80).

Well, that's all from The Pond today. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, whatever you're up to. I have work today but never mind. With what's going on in some areas of the world, there's a lot worse places I could be on a Saturday (might think differently after some kid has poured acrylic paint over the floor again, hahaha!!!)

Be good!

TTFN

Ang x

GBCF New Stash. . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope this finds you in good health and good spirits (not the alcoholic ones at this time of day I hope, although some of my creations may look better when enhanced by gin lol!!!)

Thank you for the kind comments on my DT cards. And now you have the third days post in a row (just like buses eh?).

Just a snap of my GBCF purchases today. Didn't think to take pics at the show, doh! Too busy yapping with John and going "Ooooh, look at this" and "Cooooo, look at that"

The day started with collecting breakfast of sausage batches (baps/barms/rolls-delete as appropriate for your area of the UK) from a local cafe. I then met John in a layby off the A46, in torrential rain, in a very ineffective waterproof, trying not to look as if something shifty was going on.
John then followed me to Stoneleigh, where he got to park under cover and I was outside! By the time I got under cover, my hair was plastered to my face and I smelt like wet dog!. . . . . . not the most attractive of looks!
We troffed our brekkie then dashed outside to the exhibition hall.

It was fairly quiet as it had just opened, so we had a good natter and browse without the usual rugby scrum scenes that happen when it gets busy. I introduced John to my local craft shop owner, Wendy (Daisy's Jewels and Crafts) as they had a stall and we picked up the same item to buy lol! (Not for the last time either!)

Met Christine at 12 for coffee and a catch up. Christine's friend had come along as she is thinking of starting to craft and I think we bamboozled the poor lady with some technical talk. It was lovely catching up with Christine as she's a smashing gal.

Back to the stalls again. I was on my own at one point and had just picked up a pack of peel offs to look at when my phone rang. . . . . John! I thought, blimey, he must have some sort of anti peel off device trained on me. I half expected a tannoy saying "Ang, step away from the peel offs" lol!!!

So, laughs had, purchases made and finally left as they were closing the doors. John then gave me some fab holographic card, some Chino shop pearls and gems and one of his gorgeous cards.
Led John back to the M69 then home to get showered, changed and off Nesta's surprise party (More on that later in the week with Nesta's gift bag).

Looking forward to November at the NEC with the Scottish Posse coming down again (but without Elaine, boo hoo) Christine and John and anyone else who wants to join us, the more the merrier!

 Ththththththththat's all folks. See you later in the week.

TTFN
Ang x

Ps. . . . .yes, those rectangle dies in the snap are A4 size!
PPs. . . .there was some acetate purchased too but that's not interesting to photograph lol!

House of Cards August Challenge. . . . . Sketch

Good afternoon, me again. Back with another DT creation but for House of Cards.

The House of Cards August Challenge is to create something using this sketch as your inspiration. . . . . . .

So, hope you fancy giving it a go or that you can pop over to House of Cards to have a peek at what everyone has come up with.

I liked using the plain SB nesties as I often forget how nice they look just simply layered in this way.

Ingredients

White card base A5 size

Navy, turquoise and pale blue PMD card

SB A2 Bracket Borders One

SB Labels Twenty Eight

SB Matting Basics A and B

Papermania flower punch (same as yesterday)

CE sentiment stamp (blog candy from our lovely Jacquie)

Celebrate 2mm turquoise satin cord

Pale blue organza ribbon

Black archival ink

Broken China DI

Dovecraft blue bling

Hope you like today's creation. I have a kinda soft spot for it. Even with the bow, I think you could get away with it for a fella (just, lol!!!)

I'll be back soon, with some tales from Sunday. . . . . . a very eventful day with the craft show all day and in the evening . . . . . . a surprise birthday party for Nesta!!!

Thanks for paddling.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Hobbycutz Challenge 60 . . . . . . .Fancy Folds

Good morning my lovely blogging chums. Hope everyone is well.

This mornings creation is my Hobbycutz DT card for Challenge 60 which is fancy folds as chosen by Craftin' Suzie and sponsored by Iva Nova Chest.

Hope you can pop over and have a look at what my fellow teamies have come up with and why not have a go and enter the challenge.

Before I witter on, thank you so much to Pamellia for becoming my 50th follower. Pamellia hasn't been blogging long but creates some beautiful things, including a gorgeous bird house and her blog is here.

Wasn't sure which way to go with this challege so I decided to have a bit of fun with a spring card (I think that's what they are called as it bounces like its on a spring lol!!!) I haven't made one before so out came the Hougie book for destructions.

They are quite good little cards as they fold flat for posting (always a good thing in my book) May try some Christmas (there, I've said it!!!) cards in this style for a bit of fun.

Ingredients

White card 300gsm

Teal, yellow and lime PMD card

Hobbycutz butterfly

SB Delightful Circles

SB Blossoms Three

SB Fancy Tags Two

SB Fancy Tags Three

SB A2 Matting Basics B

Sissix Squares

Forever Friends embossing folder

Papermania flower punch (Don't know the name as it was unpackaged in the bargain bin at work)

Hobbycraft corner punch

Crafters Companion Sentiment

Black archival ink

Teal pigment ink

Clear embossing powder

Dovecraft green bling

Blimey, what a list for such a small card eh?

Would be lovely to see some of you entering the challenge with some of your super creations.

Off to the GBCF at Stoneleigh today to spend lots of money (its inevitable so why fight it lol???) and meet up with Christine and John.

Well, that's me for today but I'll be back again tomorrow, different Bat Time but same Bat Channel. Hope you can pop by for a paddle again.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Oldie Friday. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone and their pets are ticketyboo.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on Nesta's card. Yes, it was a labour of love stamping all of those roses but she's worth it, bless her. I will show the gift bag next week after my DT postings on Sunday and Monday.

Sorry I'm late in the morning putting this on. I had 2 DT cards to do along with busy couple of days at work, along with other bits and bobs.

John Next Door had suggested I should pop some of my jewellery on as I hadn't done so for a while, so I thought the Oldie Friday spot would be a good place to start.

I made this set for myself. Mr D gave me the pennies to buy the bits as a pressie a couple of years ago as the chain and all the findings are sterling silver and the crystals are Swarovski (I have yet to use any other type of crystal as the quality of Swarovski is magnificent. . . . . bizarrely, I also wear Swarovski Aura perfume too lol!!!)

I think I showed similar in tones of a single colour a while back, that I had made for a stall I had but this is bigger and uses more crystals (the pendant is about 2.5 inches long)

It really does twinkle in the sunlight and does draw comments from folk (good ones thankfully lol!!!)

Hope that you all like the set. Lets face it, I couldn't subject you to another of my Blue Peteresque first card attempts again (well, not for a while anyway hahaha!!!)

Have a good weekend chaps. I've got a busy one with work tomorrow and The Great British Craft Festival on Sunday with Christine Harrop and John Next Door. Its all go !!!

Ooh, and nice to have you back Sandy; you have been missed.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Nesta's 60th Birthday. . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely folk. Hope you are all well. Ita, great to read that you are out of hospital. Hope that you will feel better for being at home.

Its been a busy few days at The Pond. Did some extra hours at work last week as the owner was in for a visit, then out for the day with Nesta on Friday for her 60th, then mine and Mr D's wedding anniversary on Saturday. . . . . . . .its all go!!!

By the way, Gail hope you and hubby had a wonderful day on Saturday celebrating your anniversary too.

As for Pokeytoolgate, I did say to Mr Duck "Would you kindly refrain from putting your cotton buds in my bin". . . . . . . . Well, I forget the exact conversation but I think it was something similar lol! I suppose I should be grateful he hadn't been using my pokey tool to clean his ears. One thing did surprise me, for someone with apparently clean ears, he never hears me (unless its "Do you want some pudding? or "whose is that £5 note?")

Now, I must apologise for the very picture heavy post as its Nesta's card and box in various poses (just be grateful that I've saved the gift bag for another day lol!)

Yes, I was sad enough that pattern on the box lined up with the pattern on the card below.

The card packs flat into the box but then is 3D when standing. . . . . .its about 7"x 7"

The centre portion is suspended with jewellery illusion line and has the same "60" panel on all three sides.

Ingredients

White card

The Striplet

SB Fancy Tags Three

SB Classic Ovals

Sissix Square dies

X Cut Circle die

Card-io Rose stamps

Docrafts Number and sentiment stamps

Inkylicious sentiment stamp

Distress Inks

White embossing powder

Sanctuary Beads satin ribbons

Pink bling

Acetate (for lid of box)

Illusion cord

                                                         The inside base of the box.

Once again, apologies for all the pictures. Nesta loved it and I must admit, I was pleased with the way it turned out. 

Nesta has also asked me to thank you all for your kind birthday wishes. The gal may be 60 but she only looks 40. . . . .its sickening lol!!! Wish I could show a snap but she still wants to be anonymous (to protect the innocent).

Next post will be the matching gift bag housing 60 packets of chocolate buttons!!!

Til then, be good.

TTFN

Ang x