Seasons Greetings Nesta. . . . . . . . . . .

Happy 3 days after Christmas everyone! Hope that you are all well and had a wonderful Christmas.

Well, after getting more intimate with a turkey than a vet would've been, creating the EEC washing up mountain (thank goodness for dishwashers. . . . .no, not Mr D) and snacking on all manner of rubbish, the bank balance has gone down and the waist measurement has gone up!!!

Thank you for your wonderful festive comments and I hope those of you enduring the snow and the seriously minus temperature figures, stay safe and warm indoors, cuddled up to your Grand Caliburs.

Now, today's card is Nesta's card from us. As you can see, I got quite taken with the banner greeting lol!

Nesta loves her flowers and has some spectacular specimen hollies which is why I went with this design,

Ingredients

Cream base card (8x8) 

Gold mirror card 

Soft gold card (Lime Tree)

Ruby red card (PMD)

Dark green card (PMD)

Marianne poinsettias

Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish

Sue Wilson Snowflake embossing folder

Versamark

Burgundy mica powder (sentiment)

Anitas 3D Gloss (on holly leaves)

Pearls coloured with gold Krylon

Red bling berries

You can just about pick up the glossy leaves. Never used this product before but its very good and quite cheap too.

Well, Nesta was very happy so that's good for me.

Before I waddle off (not just the duck connection, its the way I actually move after the excesses of the festivities hahaha!!!) I just wanted to put a shout out for a couple of the gals who have been MIA in case they are managing to paddle but not comment.

Jackie D, have you found a new home yet? Hope all is well with you and your Mum. Norah, I'm not sure what has happened chuck but I know you're missed over at Sue's too.

I know that there are lots of you that do come for a paddle (well, from what I can tell from my stats) and perhaps don't have time to comment but I appreciate you taking the time to look.

And for those who leave comments, I thank you from the heart of my bottom for your encouragement and making me smile.

Enjoy the last few days of 2014.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . Karen has kindly said I can show her lovely card so I will get it photographed and on in the New Year as I have a DT card for HoC that is due next.

So Here it is. . . . . . .Merry Christmas!!!

Good morning everyone. Hope you're all set for the festivities or you're fast running out of time.

Thank you Elaine (nattyboots) for your duck saying. It did make me smile. And blimey, I've not looked at Pinterest before but I'm really flattered that you have a board for "Ang's cards" on there. It looks fab so thank you so much for thinking my bits and bobs are worthy of pinning.

Now, I have decided to post today, rather than tomorrow, as you will all have more exciting things to do than come a paddling. . . . . . .and quite right too!!! 

I will be working this afternoon and Boxing Day morning but off for New Year. . . . . . . . . . Wonder how that stocktake went. . . . . ?

I am, with permission, showing Mr D's Christmas card, which was a labour of love and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

The centre panel is woven from red and gold satin ribbon (oooh yes, it did take some time to do) but I think it was worth it. 

This is the back of the frame. . . . . . 

The red snowflake card is from a Hunkydory Christmas set I bought a couple of years ago (I did in fact buy 2 big sets only to discover Spellbinders a month later. I am trying to use the sets rather than them going to waste). Didn't have a square die large enough so had to hand cut the aperture. I only wish now, that  I had run my gold Krylon pen around the inside edge, but hey ho.

Ingredients

Cream card base (8x8) (Ross Card)

Gold mirror card

Red mirror card

Hunkydory red snowflake card (and round sentiment)

Soft gold card (Lime Tree)

Red and Gold satin ribbon 

Hobbycutz Snowflakes (coloured with gold Krylon pen)

SB Snowflake Pendants

Red bling

Docrafts "Husband" stamp

I know that its not going to be everyone's cup of Earl Grey but Mr D was genuinely thrilled with it so that'll do for me. 

Its been a tough few weeks, with work issues, some sad news about a couple of friends I used to work with, lost two earrings (one a honeymoon pressie from Mr D and the other a special birthday pressie from Nesta. . . . . . . .both since found after much banshee like wailing), Mr D lost his wedding ring and now (with comedy timing) my cooker oven has decided to pack in (thank the Lord for halogen ovens) but thank you all for making me smile with your thoughtful comments.

And though its all upsetting at the time and tears get shed, it puts things in perspective when you switch on the news and see some of the tragic events that have happened during the last couple of weeks.

Its times like Christmas when we should make those special memories with loved ones that will always make us smile. And when I see what sadness others are having to endure, it makes me hug my loved ones just that little bit tighter.

Yuletide felicitations to you all my dear paddling chums. Enjoy your time with those you love.

TTFN

Ang x

Festive Trio. . . . . . .

Good morning my paddling chums. Hope you are all well or if not, a sincere get well soon.

A big thank you from Mr D for his birthday wishes. He was very chuffed that he was mentioned in dispatches. He had a lovely day despite the disappointment of not going away. He loves a full English (that's a cooked breakfast for my overseas chums) so I took him to a local carvery that does a buffet breakfast and he tucked in with gusto (I could almost hear his arteries groaning when he munched the fried bread (ewwww!!!). Its not something I cook very often so he enjoyed it.

Thank you all, too, for your lovely supportive comments about my work issues. Its taken the enthusiasm I had for the job and squashed it.

There was a mention of changing my shifts again for next week to which I offered to save them the trouble, by offering to hand in my notice. . . . . .no further mention made!

Still, I had to stifle a very wide grin, when it dawned on them that next week, the other experienced girl is on leave and there is the annual stock take on what will now be one of my none working days. So, the only bods in on my section are the supervisor (one of the ones who changed my rota) and a new girl who only started this week; to do a stocktake of 3 departments.

I was asked, through muffled tones, if I would go in for overtime for that day. . . . . .well, you can guess what my answer was. . . . . . . still stifling that grin. . . . . . .

Anyhoo, enough of that, and I'd like to welcome to Debs, one of my new team mates at MAWTT. I'm looking forward to joining the girls in a couple of weeks.

Now today, I'm sharing some quickie batch cards I made for Christmas. I was getting pushed for time and needed some less involved ones to keep me going so made a few repeats of each. Although they are foam padded, they still come under the 5mm for postage.

Ingredients

White Card (Lime Tree)

Green, ruby red and red card (PMD)

Gold mirror card (C & C)

SB Snowflake Pendant 2013

X-Cut circle die

Card-io Festive Fir Cones stamp set

Bebunni embossing folder

Hobbycraft corner punch

Sentiments CE and Dovecraft (I think)

Inks, Memento Dew drops, Versamark

Gold mica

Gold Krylon pen

Anita's 3D Gloss (on the holly leaves)

Dozy duck that I am, I forgot to take close ups. . . . .doh!!!

Before I waddle off, I wanted to mention, I received some fantastic creations recently. 

Of course, there were Wendy's fab pins and John gave me a beautiful notebook that had started plain but had been "John-ed" (yes, I still love jotting things down with pen and paper)

I'm not showing it as I'm not sure if its a project he will be doing at some stage and I haven't managed to catch up with him since he came back from his break in Spain.

I also received two stunning cards through the post. The first was from the lovely Karen (Karenlotty). Karen doesn't have a blog (but should if the card she sent is anything to go by) and I wouldn't put it on here without her permission (still waiting on a reply for that Karen lol). Karen, its fab so many, many thanks.

Then, I received another beauty, from Pamellia. Now as Pamellia has featured my gift on her blog, I can refer you to it here to see it photographed a lot better than I could to do it justice. The tactileness (yes, I made that word up) of this card is amazing. I had to stop Mr D touching it all over (steady!!!)

This gal is going places (Nantucket maybe, eh Pamellia?). . . . . well, crafty ones I think.

Well that's me, off to enjoy a homemade Snowball (I'm scheduling this on Friday evening, not hitting the alcohol at 6am, hahaha!)   so thank you if you've managed to get to the end of this without nodding off, otherwise "WAKE UP!!!!!!"

Have a great weekend and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . .just checked. . . . .yep, I'm still stifling that grin. . . . .

  

Happy Birthday 2014 Mr Duck! . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is fandabydozey (apologies for that Krankies moment).

A huge welcome to Dana Joy, Judith, Sue B and Hazel (Didos). Thank you ladies for coming for a paddle. Its lovely to have you visit and I shall pop by to visit you soon. 

Anyhoo, yes, today is my beloved Mr Duck's birthday. I won't say how old to spare his blushes lol!!! I used to laugh at the expression "soulmate" but he really is mine (You are all either going "Ahhhh" or sticking your fingers down your throat aren't you???!!!???)

We were going to go away for a few days. I had booked time off round my shifts and all was good until this weekend when, by text message, I'm informed that my shifts have changed, yet again, from this week (I think that's 6 times now in the last few weeks!!!). . . . . . . . what about my leave and us going away? Tough, apparently!!!

Mr D wants me to quit and I'm very tempted. We are so angry and upset but enough of that as its been the source of sadness for the last couple of days (hence the gap in my blog posts) and today should be happy.

Those who have been paddling for a while may remember that Mr D's favourite colour is red so, I try and make it the main colour theme on his cards.

Now, this is tri-fold card made from a whole sheet of A3 card.

And yes, it wasn't until afterwards that I realised I would have to make an envelope to fit lol!!!

Ingredients

A3 sheet white card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Red PMD card

Sue Wilson Bevelled Glass Striplet

X-Cut Alphabet die

CE sentiment stamp

Black satin ribbon

Black bling

I cut the front aperture with my GC by doing all the folds to make it fit, then adding a layer of card between the top and middle layer. This meant that the front cut completely, and the middle and bottom layers had a nice embossed rectangle on each, which helped frame the lettering and sentiment (Hope that makes sense).

Mr D has given me his blessing to put this on at a time where some of you will be seeing this before him. Hope that he and you like it. You all know how tricksy fellas cards can be.

We shall hopefully have a nice day together, off to buy a new wedding ring for Mr D (that's another tale of woe to add to the expanding list we've had recently).

Before I pootle off, a little announcement. You may have noticed a new addition to my sidebar. I am really flattered to have been invited to join the DT at Moving Along With The Times. I shall be officially starting from January so look forward to new challenges and fun. Would be lovely to see some of you joining in too.

Hope you all have a good day. Thank you, as always, for the time you take to leave your much appreciated comments.

TTFN

Ang x

Butterfly Thank You. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning my paddling chums. Hope you are all ok and not wind/rain lashed or under 2m of snow.

It has been a little gusty at The Pond (and not just remnants from last weekend's vindaloo). There's been a bit of rain but on the whole, blue skies (mind you, at time of typing, I think we're due an overnight deluge). 

I like to get washing out when there's a bit of a breeze but I don't like to risk me smalls when there's a chance of them ending up in another postcode (Sue, you still haven't returned that thong lol!).

Before I disappear on an underwear tangent, I would like to welcome Linda and D- to our happy band. Thank you for jumping in ladies and hope you will visit often.

So glad you liked my pouch (no, I'm not back on underwear again, I mean my last post). Kelly was pleased with it.

Now, today's card was born out of wanting to use a recent purchase of SB Diamond dies and also deciding that I should start using my rediculously large First Edition paper collection that has drifted into SABLE (Stash Aquired Beyond Life Expectancy. . . . . . a Darnellism) realms!

Ingredients

Cream card (Ross)

Black card (PMD)

First Edition 6x6 Noir et Chic paper

SB Classic Diamonds

SB Iron Work Motifs (the black die cut "hugging" the sentiment

SB Fancy Framed Tags One (the oval centre)

SB Butterflies (2 sets)

Splodgeaway Butterfly Masks (used to emboss)

Black bling and pearls

I am making some headway into the Christmas cards (I know, its getting late) but work and some sad news I've had about some friends recently, all pull me physically and mentally away from my craft room. 

On the upside, I had a fab afternoon at John's last Thursday with himself and Wendy (Spanish Crafter). We all exchanged gifts, some crafty some edible and lots of chatting and laughing. 

Look at what Wendy made for me. . . . . . .

Her beautiful pins. I said that she should start selling them again as they are magnificent. Here is the link for them. . . . . Wendy's Pins. And, they are a great price too. I have also put a link on my side bar.

I also had a bit of a Vicar of Dibley Christmas 1996 moment. . . . . . . . 

Mr D and I had some, friends also visiting from Spain, that we were going out with for a meal on Thursday night. Wendy and I weren't sure what the plan was about food with John so I had a good breakfast before I went.

Mid afternoon, John suggested going out for lunch so I thought I could just have a sandwich but we went to a Harvester and now, they don't do snack type things like they used to.

And where do you think me and Mr D were booked in with friends that evening????? Yup, you guessed it but I hadn't the heart to say anything to John and Wendy en route so I had what I thought would be the smallest thing on the menu but I couldn't finish it.

Fast forward 8pm. Still feeling full, I'm at another Harvester ordering grilled chicken breast and jacket spud (how bland can you get) and thankfully, there were no sprouts involved!!! Could hardly move when we left there.

Spent most of the night in and out of bed (you get my drift) and you could've played the drum beat from In The Air Tonight on my stomach, it was that taut.

Had to be out early to the airport sale at the NEC on the Friday morning and Nesta had to drive so I could sprawl in the passenger seat. Then, we were meeting some old work colleagues for lunch at a Thai restaurant. . . . . .didn't I just need that! It was a small red curry, unfinished, then nothing else until Saturday afternoon.

Never again!!!!!!!

Well, after you all thinking "greedy/daft Duck!" I shall sign off by saying . . . . . .

TTFN

Ang x

Festive Ticket Gift Pouch. . . . . . . . .

Good afternoon everyone. Hope this finds you well. 

A quickie today as my original scheduled post decided not to go live and when I then tried to re-publish, it removed the photos !!! (perhaps Blogger has turned into a craft critic and decided the card wasn't up to much hahaha!!!)

So I've bought in something festive off the subs bench, that hopefully Blogger (and you) will like.

Now, I was asked by Kelly, the charity shop manager, if I could make something to hold some tickets she had bought for her brothers family for Christmas.

Thinking cap went on and this is what I came up with.

The front flap and back are the blue pearl card scored in half, with the squiggle shape hand cut with scissors.

I used white hammered card for the "pocket" to give the appearance of snowy ground (please run with me on that one lol!!!)

Moon, snowdrifts and frosty branches courtesy of a double sided adhesive circle/quickie glue pen and white iridescent glitter.

Ingredients

White PMD hammered card

Peacock Blue pearl card (Lime Tree)

Black PMD card

Inkylicious stamps

Robert Addams sleigh die set

X-cut circle die

Black Archival ink

Quickie glue pen

Iridescent glitters

Red bling for Rudolph

Did my best to line up the top stamping to match the bottom. Its another that really twinkles in real life. The flap sticks down with a bit of foam pad that I have partially de-stickied (a technical term) so it doesn't stick fast.

And of course, I had to pretty up the envelope to pop it in.

I am trying to catch up with my blog visits as I was out all day Thursday (met up with Wendy and John. . . . . .more on the next post. . . . . .and evening out with some more friends over from Spain) all day Friday (Morning, airport sale with Nesta, then long lunch with more friends and evening out with friends from Spain again) Saturday, round to Nesta before she headed off on her hols (she should be on a beach in Goa as I speak!!!) shopping and catching up with housework. 

Today was going to be chill day but have ended up trying to sort this out and do some extra washing. Then its back to work tomorrow (yuk a doodle doo!!!).

Will make sure I'm up to date on visiting you by the end of the day.

Ita, lovely to see you back. Hope you're back home now.

Tina, thanks for popping by. Still pop by to visit you but still can't comment (same with Debs Artliff and Claire)

Norah, I don't have time to read comments on Sue's blog but did pick up during my scrolling, that you may be poorly??? If so, hope that you feel better soon chuck.

Hope your Sunday is more restful.

See you soon.

TTFN

Ang x

Warmest Wishes. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well and warm. I don't mind it being nippy if the Sun is shining but I hate dull damp days. . . . . .plays havoc with me feathers lol!!!

Thank you for your lovely comments on my Blog Hop card. The Hop runs until the15th so you still have time to join in and even enter a card. There are loads of lovely prizes to win.

I have started making inroads into my Christmas cards as I don't know about time flying, its more like time going at warp factor 6. . . . . . .if I give her any more, she will definitely blow lol!!! (sorry to any Trekkies out there). I also have Mr D's birthday a week before Christmas too so its all go.

Now, this one I have kept quite CAS as I wanted it to be all about the woven ribbon. I saw something similar at the NEC and decided to put my spin on it.

The bauble is cut from the card front and the aperture is filled with the woven ribbon from behind like so. . . . . . .

I just used double sided tape around the edges to stick the ribbon.

To give it a bit of depth, I padded this out with a cotton wool pad, like so. . . . . . . . . .

I then topped this with another A5 piece of white card to hide the gubbins. 

The red bauble frame is foam padded to give even more depth.

Ingredients

White Lime Tree card 

Red PMD card 

SB Heirloom Ornaments 2010

Docrafts Snowflake ribbon

Red satin ribbon

Red bling

Probably looks more fiddley than it is but I've been playing with some more in the same vein.

Well, I'm off to John's today to meet up with him and Wendy (Spanish Crafter) armed with Thank Crunchie its Friday, even though its Thursday lol!

So, warmest wishes to each and everyone of you too and see you again, soon

TTFN

Ang x

House of Cards End of Term Blog Hop

Good afternoon one and all. Welcome to The Pond and also to the House of Cards Blog Hop.
Please read on and see how you can take part. Also, welcome to Kim. Thank you for following my ramblings. I shall pop by your blog when I get 5 mins.

Now. . . . . . . . Here we go to the fun. . . . . .  . . 

Hi friends!  Can you believe we've come to the end of our third term at House of Cards?!  We are saying a fond farewell to some of our DT members and feel so grateful to those staying on.  To say goodbye and thank you, we're celebrating with a blog hop!  This hop will run FROM DECEMBER 1ST AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH DECEMBER 15TH AT NOON CST,  ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and we've got a gorgeous photo inspiration for your crafting enjoyment! 

Here's our photo inspiration~

You should have arrived here from Judy's blog.  If you haven't, and you'd like to hop with us, please make sure you start there and continue through the whole thing for the most chances to win!  Speaking of winning, we have some amazing sponsors!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

Our team will be using a variety of products

from these amazing companies!

Daydream Designs
Prize: $20 to their digital store

Deedee's Digis
Prize: Gift Card to the online store.

Eclectic Anthology
Prize: $50 gift voucher to the shop.

Great Impressions
Prize: Prize Package with 5 Stamps

Paper Sweeties
Prize: $20 gift voucher to the shop.

Stitchy Bear
Prize: $10 gift voucher to the shop.

I used the beautiful Aged Aqua papers from Eclectic Anthology for the background behind the reindeer and for the circle surrounding it. I printed them on gloss photo paper so they have a lovely sheen in real life. I edged the inner and outer edge of the circle with my copper Krylon pen. I'm not a glitter gal but the reindeer has been sprinkled with some iridescent glitter to give it a bit of Christmas glam. Its a shame the pic doesn't pick up the sparkle.

The outer circle is sponged with Peacock Feathers DI, stamped with "Merry" and edged with my silver Krylon pen. The bottom layer is brown Lidl card with Versamark stamped Inkylicious snowflakes, brushed with silver mica powder. Some silver satin ribbon, an SB Snowflake and some teal bling from John complete the look.

I Hope that you like my interpretation of the photo inspiration and that you will have a hop around the rest of our talented DT and even better, please enter a card. We would love to see what wonderful cards you come up with.

Elaine (nattyboots) and anyone else without a blog, you can still enter a card by emailing a photo of it to Mynn at House of Cards (her email is on the "contact" button on the HoC blog) and she can work some technical magic to put it in the challenge.

Remember, there are some fabulous prizes on offer just for leaving a comment on our blogs.

Now get to hoppin'!  Your next stop is Pat's blog.  Don't forget to link up a project with us after completing the hop for an extra chance to win a mystery prize from one of our fabulous sponsors, too!

Have a great time folks and best of luck in the challenge and in the comment draws.

TTFN
Ang x

Have