Gone All Contemporary. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is good with you and yours.

It's back to work for me this morning, possibly for a rest, lol, as I haven't had much down time in my few days off. Didn't get through my chores list as others got added to it along the way (ain't it always the way?).

Thank you for your fab comments and good wishes for our anniversary and the card. Hello to Marie and Marci. Nice to have you with us ladies.

Well, yes it was an interesting trip with John but I can assure you, the guy doesn't need a manager (especially me hahaha!) as he is very astute. My role is more that of groupie/roadie so I will make sure that his diva requests for his dressing room are adhered to. . . . . .fridge full of Pepsi Max and cheese, teal cushions, Robson and Jerome on the stereo and two live swans. . . . . . . you know the kinda thing lol!!! Seriously, I was very chuffed to go along for some moral support.

Now, today's card is one that Nesta asked me to make for her brother in law's birthday. You may remember the elephant card I made him last year (if not it's here) I knew I was never going to top that one for him (apparently, it's still on their mantelpiece to this day) so, as he likes elephants, I decided to go with a contemporary looking Lord Ganesh for him (Lord Ganesh is the elephant god and is auspicious to put on a card for Hindus). I also managed to incorporate the Om symbol as his headgear as that too is a good thing to include.

It's a very simple card, except for having to hand draw the design (and there were a few different sketches I can tell you lol!!!). Its just layers in black and cream, edged (carefully-ish) with my lovely Krylon Gold Leaf pen

Ingredients

Cream card base A5 in size

Black PMD card

Krylon Gold Leaf pen

Pearls coloured with the Krylon pen

I enjoyed doing something different but it's a bit nervy when you're doing it for someone else. I'm assured it was very well received and is likely to be keeping last years company on the mantel for a while yet. I'm also loving black and gold as a combo at the minute too.

Well, here's hoping for a quiet Monday at work. With all the Christmas stock making an appearance (yes, I know we are still only in September lol!!!) its going to be busy with popping it out but its nice to see what I'm going to buy lol!!!.

Have a great week folks, whatever you have planned, and. . . . . . . . . be good!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Happy Anniversary Mr D. . . . . . . .last month lol!!!

Good morning one and all. As always, I hope you and yours are well. Once again, apologies if it seems I'm late to your blogs. Blogger is being pain again and I've had my reading list disappear then my entire dashboard!!! It took nearly 30 mins just upload these pics, when its usually seconds. I promise, I will catch up.

Welcome too to my latest follower. Blogger is not telling me who you are but I'm glad you have joined in the fun.

And yes, before I go any further, I hold my hands up, guilty as charged mi'lud, as John let the cat out of the bag, I confess, I did go to C&C with him last Thursday, as most of you sussed (as last Thursday I had told you I spent the day with John) and obviously why we didn't get a whole heap of crafting done lol!!

I was sworn to secrecy and although I can yapp for Britain, I'm discreet. Its for John to make his own announcements but I am very privileged to have been able to accompany him on part of his crafting journey (Gosh, that sounds a bit X Factor doesn't it so please refrain from sticking your fingers too far down your throat hahaha!!!) The boys done good, as they say.

Now, after posting Patricia and John's anniversary card, I realised that I hadn't, in fact, posted the anniversary card I made for Mr Duck last month.

To remedy that, I've popped it on today.

It had to have red (Mr D's favourite colour so what's a girl to do?)

Ingredients

White card (A3 cut down to size)

The BGS (Bevelled Glass Striplet)

SB Labels 28

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 3

Crafts Too heart embossing folder

Crafters Companion sentiment stamps

Docrafts relative and occasion stamps

Fiskars heart stamp (its one of those continuous thingys but I used it flat)

Red pigment ink

Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

Black Archival ink

Red bling

Mr D was very happy with it, as I recall, so all was well with the world. 

Well, my few days off are rapidly coming to an end. I have been hard at chores (I like to give everywhere a Spring then Autumn clean) and prepping the garden for bedtime. I did take time out for lunch with Nesta yesterday and today I'm hoping to actually get some crafting done. . . . .hurrah!!! and put my feet up. . . . . . hurrah!!!

Hope you all have a happy Friday and weekend ahead. Ita, if you're reading, hope the hospital is going well this time chuck.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Golden Wedding. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is good with you and you're enjoying a bit of September sunshine. One of the jobs on my list was the garden so I was out there yesterday cutting things back ready for winter.

Thank you for your kind comments on Anya's box frame. I think it will have a photo of her 21st in there by the time I get to hand it over hahaha!!! 

Before I forget, Pamellia, The Singapore GP is the Formula 1 motor racing, of which I am an avid fan.

Kate, I'm so glad I had gone incommunicado when the GP highlights started otherwise if I had read your comment at the time you posted it, I would have only been part way through the highlights program and you told me who had won hahaha! Would have then taken you across my knee in the Harvester in November lol!!! Wendy, thank you for not telling me lol!!!

Now, today's card I made and sent to our Patricia and her hubby John for their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the weekend. A few weeks ago, Patricia mentioned in conversation about this momentous occasion being in September. As I didn't know what date in September, I quickly made this card to get in the post to mark the happy event (if I had realised I had more time, I would have made a better job of it lol!!!).

I would have been happy to not show this on the blog if Patricia preferred to keep it private but she was happy for me to show it after the special day.

Ingredients

Cream card base A5 in size

More cream card

Gold mirror card

The Striplet

HC Delicate Asters dies

Sissix Heart dies

Kassies Brocade embossing folder

Krylon Gold Leaf Pen

Habico sentiment

Papermania embossing powder

Ribbon

Pearls

I feel very lucky to be able to call Patricia a friend and just didn't want this wonderful milestone to pass without my sending something.

Hope you saw Patricia and John's wedding snaps on her blog. What a handsome and happy pair they made and still do!!! Congratulations again to you both.

Well, that's me folks, except to say to those who met John at the weekend, see I told you he didn't bite lol!!!

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Hobbycutz Challenge 66. . . . . .Not a Card

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Today its time for a new Hobbycutz Challenge which has been chosen by our Wendy and its. . . . .Not A Card. Our sponsors this week are A Day For Daisies.

A little while ago I showed a card I made for Nesta's niece after she had a baby girl (peek here if you want to see it). Well, this is the pressie I made for little Anya.

Its a 8x8 pink box frame and the filigree section is foam mounted so a photo sits inside (I didn't include the photo as obviously she's not my little un and you have to be careful these days)

I didn't want to make it babyish as I would like to think she would want to keep it (or her parents anyway) just changing the photo as she grows. I did stamp her date of birth on it but in a subtle way.

Ingredients

Pink 8x8 box frame from The Range

White card

Pink PMD card

Hobbycutz Butterflies (Versamarked and mica'ed)

SB Spiral Blossom One

SB Foliage

SB Filigree Delight

X Cut Alphabet dies

Tonic flower punch

Card-io Rose Garden and Mum's Garden stamps

Distress Inks

Bling

I was very pleased with how this turned out but I have yet to hand it over as I've had clashing schedules with Anya's Mum and Dad. I did meet up with them at Nesta's party and had a cuddle with Anya (and promptly handed her back when she started to squawk. . . . . . .obviously no volume switch fitted lol!!!)

Lastly, a little gift tag to accompany it made with one of the sponsor images called Little Dancer. Don't laugh at my colouring lol!!!

Hope you fancy joining in the challenge. Would be lovely to see some familiar names in the entries.

Before I forget, a couple of you ladies asked about how I got my bracket borders straight on Dave's get well card. Sorry to disappoint but I just lined them up by eye and hoped for the best lol! I usually have more issues if I start measuring and trying to be too precise.

Had a great day with John on Thursday. The craft cave is a treasure trove but I didnt pinch anything, just borrowed a stamp (with permission) and a couple of bits of bling.

We actually did more chatting and cooking than crafting and had a real laugh.

Ita, sorry, I didn't take any notes; I'm not a gal who kisses and tells hahaha!

Have a great Sunday folks. Singapore GP for me today but sadly, only highlights so have to keep away from the news or anything that will give away the result lol!

TTFN

Ang x

All The Best. . . . . . . . .

Good morning my little blogging chums. Hope you are all happy. To the Scottish Posse, best of luck today. Be careful though, if its "Yes" you may need immigration clearance to get to the NEC in November lol!!! I can just see Patricia brandishing a pokey tool if they won't let her at the craft goodies hahaha!

Thanks for the lovely comments on my HOC card and gift box. Have to say, I was grateful for that particular photo inspiration so that I could use that paper. . . . . .its one that would have stayed in the pad for a very long time,otherwise, as its not one of my favourites (much as I love First Edition pads (34 at last count, is that bad?), there are odd papers within the pads that I'm not keen on).

Now, today's card is the get well card sent to our pal who had the heart attack last week. I think some of you may have thought Dave is a young fella. I'm not venturing an opinion on whether 60 is young (I'm not that daft lol!!!) but that's what he is and although a manly ex army, he's not been the fittest of guys in the last few years so I think this was a warning shot across his bows, so to speak. He's doing well at the moment bless him.

Ingredients
White card base A5 in size
Navy Blue PMD card
Jus Cutz A4 Rectangles
SB A2 Bracket Borders
SB Classic Ovals
SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (the moustache shaped die(I'm sure that there is a more technical name for it lol!!!)
Crafters Companion sentiment
3mm white pearls in corners(just had to as it looked bear without lol!!!)
Versamark
White detail embossing powder

That's quite a list for a simple looking card eh? There is quite a bit of depth to the card as the layers are recessed in the centre. . . . . . . . it was deep enough to attract a large letter postage, eeek!

I know I couldn't resist the pearled corners but they are only tiny ones and I still think that the card looks "butch" enough, just lol!!!

Allrighty, got a few days off and a list of jobs that could fill a roll of wallpaper but today I'm off to John's to play in his craft cave. I think he has had one of those detector things fitted on the door that will bleep if I try and half inch anything hahaha!!!

Hope you have a super day whatever you are up to.

TTFN

Ang x 

House of Cards September Challenge. . . . .Photo Inspiration

Good afternoon everyone. Hope you are all well.

Glad you liked my latest Striplet offering. Its still one of my favourite dies.

Now today's offering is my DT creation for House of Cards September Challenge and we hope you will join in by taking your inspiration from the following photo. . . . . . . . . 

Soon as I saw it, I thought of a particular First Edition pad I had, Family Ties. As it was a 12x12 pad, I had extra paper left to make a matching gift box too.

Ingredients

White A5 card base

Orange Lidl card

First Edition Family Ties 12x12 pad

SB Decorative Labels 8

SB Labels 28

SB Matting Basics A

Crafters Companion sentiment

Bundled Sage DI

Yellow satin ribbon

Bling

Don't forget to pop over to House of Cards to check out the challenge.

Before I skidaddle, wasn't it great to see our John's fabulous cards alongside Sue Wilson's on C&C at the weekend? Well done John and well deserved. He's going to have a fab time demoing at Ally Pally this coming weekend.

Hope this is the start of a wonderful week for all of you.

TTFN

Ang x

Boho Chic Meets The Striplet. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Are we all ready for the weekend? I'm at work today but as its usually busy, the time passes quickly. Luckily, I still get to see a couple of Sue Wilson's shows today, yippee! (and all of tomorrows, double yippee!)

Thank you for your kind comments on my sympathy card. I'll show the other one I photographed  soon. I'm going to use that poor lily die on a happier card as its a shame to keep it just for sad occasions. 

Now, today's card was an overdue play with my lovely Striplet.

A very simple layered up card using cream and black card with a piece of First Edition Boho Chic paper with The Striplet cut out of it.

This paper has a lovely clear embossed effect pattern on it, which you can just see on the next photo.

Ingredients

Cream A5 card base

Black PMD card

Boho Chic 8x8 paper pad 

The Striplet

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (the leaf die)

Sissix Squares

Hobbycraft sentiment stamp

Lovely pattern, you can just see.

Well, enjoy your weekend with Sue Wilson. Haven't broken the news to Mr D as yet but soon as he sees the remote control welded to my chair, he will no doubt roll his eyes and go and mow the lawn lol!!!

Have a great weekend folks.

TTFN

Ang x

One of Those Cards. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone, their freezers and other kitchen appliances are well. Its an expensive business this home owning mularky eh?

Before I forget, I must apologise if I seem to be missing from your blogs. For some reason, with some, I can get on to the blog but it won't publish the comment (my Mrs Duck ID missing underneath) and my Reading List keeps disappearing. Its getting quite frustrating but please be assured, I haven't forgotten you, I am trying to comment lol!

Thank you for your kind comments on my card for the fellas. Have had to do another fella card yesterday as a get well card. Unfortunately, one of Mr D's friends, who is also one of his colleagues has suffered a heart attack (seems to be a lot of it about lately). He seems to be on the mend but it was a bit of a worry. Never made a get well card for a guy before (particularly one who is ex army and wouldn't appreciate any fru fru!) but I shall show it to you all soon.

Now, today's card was going to be a 21st card I made for my one of my workmates and then the next post was going to be the gift box given with it. However, John has pipped me to the post with his card yesterday so Roxy's card is on hold.

Sadly, recently I've had to make those cards we don't like to make as 3 of my friends have lost parents. One card, I didn't photograph as it had to go straight in the post and my camera wasn't charged.

This is one of the cards. I like to try and keep them simple and uncluttered and I knew that the SB Lily die would come in handy for these occasions. Thought that The Striplet should make another appearance too.

I inked through the die with DIs and added teeny weeny bling to the centres.

Ingredients

White card base A5 in size

Extra white card

The Striplet

SB Tiger Lily die

Pink satin ribbon

Distress inks

Kaisercraft sentiment stamp

Bling

You always just hope that your words can give a bit of comfort at a terribly sad time.

On that cheerful note, lol, I shall tootle off and hopefully enjoy a peaceful shift at work.

Have a great day yourself folks.

TTFN

Ang x

Hobbycutz Challenge 64. . . . . . . .One for the Boys

Good morning, good morning, its great to stay up late, good morning, good morning to you !!!

Love Singin' in the Rain. . . . . .well, the film rather than literally hahaha!

Hope you are all well and having a nice weekend. Had Friday, yesterday and today off and Italian GP this weekend so guess whose a happy duckie! MInd you, I have been up to my eyes in catching up with chores, so not really a rest but at least all of the windows, inside and out are gleaming and curtains washed too. Lots more done too so hoping for a bit of chill time today.

Thanks for the comments on my feathers. For those of you with masks still in packets, its time for them to come out to play lol!

Now, today's card is my DT creation for Hobbycutz Challenge 64, One for the Boys. This was chosen by mixamatoasties and is sponsored by The Paper Shelter.

Hope you can pop over and have a look at what the DT have come up with and if you have time would love to see you enter the challenge. There have been a few issues with the challenges going live but it should definitely be there on time today.

Don't we all love making cards for the guys. . . . . . .hears whistling wind and sees tumble weed rolling in front of me lol!

As I've used a fishing and golf theme recently, I thought it time to go for cricket. This is another of my trusty Docrafts sporty toppers, mounted onto an embossed layer and "framed" with Hobbycutz fab laser cuts. These were just coloured with a navy permanent marker pen.

Ingredients

White A5 size base card

Red PMD card

Navy PMD card

Hobbycutz corner laser cuts

Docrafts cricket topper

Docrafts Happy Birthday embossing folder

White gel pen (just to highlight the Happy Birthday)

Simple to put together but still a useful one for the fellas methinks.

Well, I should be tucking into my toast and jam shortly. Nesta's Dad had some pears hanging over from his neighbours tree so I made some pear and raspberry jam last week, yummmmm. 

Its nearly time for my annual, green tomato chutney, hot lime pickle, pickled onions, mincemeat and pickled red cabbage marathon. I've got my saucepans and jam jars doing stretches and limbering up as we speak. . . . . suppose I should be doing a bit of limbering myself as well lol!!!

Then a whirl of red blooded men, heat, passion and thrills. . . . . . . . . .no, not an afternoon with Mr Duck (or in the words of the great Meatloaf, I would be all revved up and no place to go hahaha!) but live F1, hurrah! Hopefully, Lewis and Nico will play nicely today.

Have a great Sunday folks and hope the coming week is kind to you all.

TTFN

Ang x

Peacock Feathers. . . . . . .Its All About the Bird!!!

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all being good and feeling well.

Happy smiles from me, got a couple of days off work, hurrah !!! Got some jobs need doing around the house, no hurrah !!!

As usual, big thanks for your lovely comments on my two Peace cards. I've been experimenting with something else different with the die so watch this Pond!!!

It has been mega busy recently and with another colleague having leave soon and another moving to another department its going to be manic, especially on the run up to the C word! if there was ever a time for a sunkissed beach, lapping waves and a pina colada with brolly, its now lol !!!

Now, today's card is one I have held back as our John showed one using this mask a little while ago. We both bought it from the recent craft show and I wasn't about to show mine too close to his lol !!! On that note, big congrats to my buddy for his well deserved call up to CEDT. May God bless you and all who craft with you !!!

Its quite a simple card using different shades of mica to colour the feathers.

You can just about see the sheen on this pic. I basically embossed the card with the mask, then Versamarked through the mask. I then sprinkled teal, lilac and blue mica in various spots over the feathers, then brushed the mica over the card. This gives a nice graduated colour.

Ingredients

White card base cut to 6x6

Peacock blue pearl card (Limetree Crafts)

That Special Touch Peacock Feathers Mask

Peacock Feathers DI 

SB Grate Works die

Teal bling (from John)

Mei Flower teal satin ribbon

Crafters Companion sentiment

Versamark

Mica powders (from ebay)

Hope it tickles rather than ruffles your feathers hahaha!!! 

A little tip for when stamping with distress inks. I find that the image quality when stamping with these can be hit and miss so I apply Versamark to the stamp first. Then I apply the distress ink on top and I find that you get much crisper images/lettering. Sorry if that's a grannys sucking eggs thing that you all knew already.

Just a couple of messages. . . . . . . . 

Kate and Karen, I think Krylon pens are American and they can be difficult to get hold of but I got mine from Inkylicious. Sam, they are great pens, aren't they?

Hello to Carol (inkyfingers) and Marci. Thank you so much for your visits and comments.

Well, that's enough from me for today so take care all and have a good day, whatever you are up to.

TTFN

Ang x

Another Piece of Peace. . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. Hope its all hanging well today. 

Thank you for your best wishes for my shift on Sunday. It was busy but otherwise uneventful. I certainly did not need to call on any madras based repellent hahaha!!!

Hello to Sam. Thank you for popping by again and leaving a comment.

Now, today I'm just slipping in a quickie (behave!!!) as Its the second card I mentioned, using Sue's "Peace" die. The two pieces of Peace (try saying that after a pint of Vimto lol!!!) are spaced slightly wider on this one and I decided to go all dramatic with it, in black and gold.

Ingredients

Black PMD card

Gold mirror card (C&C)

Sue Wilson "Peace" die

SB Tapestry die (centre portion cut out)

X-Cut Extra Large Circle die set

Crafters Companion sentiment stamp

Black archival ink

Krylon Gold Leaf pen (used around the edge of the Peace cuts and to colour the bling)

I've tried to angle the card so that the dreaded mirror card glare didn't happen but there's a little flicker, for which I apologise. 

I am in love with the Krylon pen. I know they are not cheap but its fabulous. I'm seriously thinking of investing in the silver and copper too.

Anyhoo, all this chat won't get the lady a baby as my lovely Mum used to say (think it may have been some sort of Malaysian saying that's got lost in translation lol!!!).

At the charity shop today so no need to "madras up" last night as no sign of fisticuffs in there usually.

Have a good day chaps, whatever you are up to.

TTFN

Ang x