Anna Griffin. . . . . . . The Sequel

Good morning my blogging chums. Hope your hatches are battened. Its been a bit windy at The Pond (and no vindaloo in sight!!!). I think, as you are reading this, the may actually be snow here. . . . . and I will be scraping it off Shaun (the car) to get to work first thing.

A quicky today, as its been busy here and that pesky time thief has stolen some hours from me again, dang nabbit!!! Thankfully, the sore throat has gone but I am still getting moments where I lose my voice and feel a little hoarse (that's hoarse not horse before anyone calls the RSPCA lol!!!)

Now this is the second card I made with the Anna Griffin die. Honestly, the last one was not time consuming. It was just the die cut out 3 times and then, as someone said, a bit of jigsaw work.

This time I cut the white layer as a hinged card and then cut the die again in lilac and stuck it on top as a shadow effect, with the other die cuts layered on top.

Ingredients 

White card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Lilac card (PMD)

First Edition New Bloom 6x6 paper

Anna Griffin Flourish Emblem die

SB Decorative labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 2

Dovecrafts sentiment stamp

Lilac bling

Now I know that this won't be for everyone, as its quite busy but I made it for my niece's birthday and I made it with her tastes in mind (she did love it).

Must tootle off now as lots to do.

Hope no one has any problems with this latest weather front but take care anyhoo folks.

TTFN

Ang x

Here's One I Made Earlier. . . . . . .And Forgot!

Good morning all my dear blogging chums. Hope all is well and calm in your bit of the planet.

I'm at work today, boo hiss but off tomorrow, hurrah!!!

Thank you for your comments on my MAWTT DT card. On that note . . . . . . . . . . . .

Click on the pic to take you to the blog and see how to join our super design team!

Now, today's card I made a little while ago as my first play with my, then new, Anna Griffin die, and I saved it to the wrong file on my laptop, then promptly forgot about it lol!!!

It was only seeing something Sue Wilson had done a few days ago that reminded me about it, and I finally found the pics, after going through my files.

Ingredients 

White Card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Purple and lilac card (PMD)

Anna Griffin Flourish Emblem die

Hobbycraft sentiment

Lilac bling

I love how this die lends itself to swapping the bits about and it cuts like a dream. I cut the die from the actual card front and saved the fall outs. I then cut it again from purple and also lilac card.

I then stuck another piece of white card, with a piece of double sided adhesive sheet behind the aperture on the card front and popped in the different coloured die cuts/fall outs to make the pattern.

Not a complicated card but sometimes uncomplicated is good lol!!!

I have made another card with this pretty die so I will try to remember to show that next time.

Meanwhile, be good and hopefully you will come visit next time.

TTFN

Ang x

Moving Along With the Times Challenge. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all ok and safe and warm.

Its been very brrrrrrrrrr here and there are times my feet have been colder than a penguin's chuff !!!

I must welcome 2 new followers, Sandra and sadly, Blogger is not telling me who the other is (bad Blogger!) I notice that there are some new ladies who have kindly left comments so if the other is one of you, thank you and hope you can pop by again soon.

Now today its time for another challenge at MAWTT  and this weeks challenge has been set by my team mate Debs and it is. . . . . . . . . Button It !!!

So, lets see all of your fabulous creations using buttons.

Those of you who have been paddling at The Pond for a while, you will know that buttons are not my thing so even though I'm on the DT, it is a challenge for me too lol!!!

I decided to go down the route of using them as the centres of some flowers so I plumped for the HC Delicate Asters.

Ingredients 

White base card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Lime green and dark green PMD card

Green Lidl card

HC Delicate Asters

That Special Touch Delicate border masks x2 (to emboss the pattern on the card)

Papermania buttons

Green teeny bling

Memento Dew Drop Bamboo Leaves ink pad

Crafters Companion sentiment

I cut the medium aster die at equal intervals out of the strip of lime green card and the smaller one out of 3 pieces of Lidl green card. I then lined them up and stuck them under the lime strip. This was foam padded on top of a dark green strip, beneath the white embossed layer.

It would be lovely to see some of you join in the challenge but please pop had have a look here at what us DT gals have come up with.

My voice is back (bad luck Mr D lol!) but my throat is still sore, but, bizzarrely only on the right hand side when I swallow. 

I thought it was hilarious that some of you thought my F1 dates were holidays I had coming up. Oh, if only lol! Think if I get as far as Silverstone on my hols, I'll be lucky lol!

Well, tttthats all folks. See you soon.

TTFN

Ang x

Die Cut Fridge Magnets. . . . . . .and a Sneaky Christmas Card.

Good morning one and all. I hope this finds you well. I have been doing a very convincing Norman Collier impression for the last few days.

I haven't got a cold but had a sore throat, that developed into an equally impressive Frank Ifield impression, then Marcel Marceau and now the current Norman, with a silly cough.

Mr D has been walking around with a smile. . . . . . .can't think why ;-)

First things first, a big welcome to Carole who has kindly become paddler No 80. Very kind of you and much appreciated.

Nothing really, as of typing, to report about any of the neighbours. We used to call Flash, Sooty as the vehicle he used to have was similar to the Sooty Mobile (for those who remember. . . . . . I still have my Sooty glove puppet, that sits on my bed post, ahhhhhh).

He was out scraping Mrs Flash's car at the weekend in his own dressing gown, hairy legged, with Crocs on his feet and one of those trapper hats on his head but to be honest, thats reasonably normal for him.

Now today, I'm showing a few of the fridge magnets I have made by die cutting some magnetic sheets.

Coloured black and topped with stamped red funky foam, offset and stuck to the magnet 

I bought a load of Polaroid magnetic sheets from one of the pound shops to store my dies on (2 A4 sheets in each pack for £1 rather than expensive ones I had seen on C & C). The good thing with these ones is that they are white on one side (you can run them through a printer as well) so I usually write the name of the die on that side.

This also means, they are thin enough to die cut and you can use inks or what ever you fancy to decorate them.

One of the SB Medallions coloured in silver metallic Promarker

You can also make cards using these and then the recipient can use them on their fridge.

One of the SB Les Paps coloured in gold Krylon pen

My current favourite is. . . . . . . . . . . .  

Spellbinders A2 Filigree Delight cut from the magnetic sheet and also from a sheet of one of my favourite First Edition Pads (Neroli) and yes, I was finiky enough to position the die on the paper so that the pattern lined up lol!!! I then simply glued the paper to the metallic sheet.

Mr D wanted to remain anonymous so I've swapped his picture for a Tesco voucher lol!!!

Just wanted to show something different you can do with dies. . . . . . . think of all the flourishes and frames you can use.

Hope that these may be of interest to you all but if not, here's a card to make up for all the magnet shots. . . . . . . . . .

Its a Christmas card I made for Mr D to send his bosses (the car was requested because of his job). I am trying to use some of my Hunkydory stash and this decoupage and sentiment were part of it. Mind you, I do think it looks nice set on some snowflake embossed soft gold card and teamed with some gold and copper ribbon.

Well, that's me. Hope you can join me for my next offering which will be my second DT card for MAWTT.

Til then, be good!

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . . the puddy tat is our dear departed Sam. She's been gone 8 years but we still miss her terribly.

Another Bloomin Christmas Card and Mrs B's Banner. . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone is safe and sound after this spell of Baby Weather (wet and windy) and for those unfortunate enough to have snow. I hope that this is the worst that Winter has to throw at us.

I must apologise for not being too swift around the blogs this week. I'm all behind (in more ways than one after the excesses of yuletide lol!) but shall be caught up by today, hopefully. Sometimes real life creeps up and mugs you of time.

Thankfully, there has been no repeat of Flash (definitely not saviour of the Universe from what I saw . . . . . . . . . .apologies to non Queen fans who didn't get that lol!)

He is a bit strange anyway, occasionally putting his bins out in his wife's dressing gown and slippers (well, we had assumed they were the wife's as they are both pink and fluffy. . . . . . . . .that's the dressing gown and slippers, not what I saw the other day hahaha!!!)

Now today, is rather picture heavy so maybe get a cuppa, snack or possibly a sleeping bag.

First up is another Christmas card I'm afraid (I did warn that I still had some to come).

This was what was going to Mr D's brother and girlfriend until he decided he wanted the relation details on the card. 

I had a play with different colour mica again with the fab Docrafts stamp and recessed the sentiment for something different. I think it was Margaret who asked about mica? its a pigment powder that you can brush over inks to give a lovely sheen or you can mix it with water and paint with it and well, allsorts really. it comes in different colours and  got my sets off eBay. Here, I used gold, copper and silver mica brushed over the stamped image (stamped in Versamark)

Ingredients 

Cream card base (Ross Card)

Soft gold card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Docrafts Home for Christmas 6x6 stamp

SB A2 Matting Basics B

Versamark

Gold, copper and silver mica

Silver satin ribbon

Gold teeny bling

Now, time for some pics for Mrs B to show how I do my banners (apologies for the picture quality but I had to use the camera on my phone and the light wasn't great). . . . . . . . 

I start with the top layer, cut to size and with its sentiment as above. . . . . . . then

I cut the "V" into the end as above . . . . . . . . . . . . .then

I stick this to the next layer with the margins I want at the left hand side and the bottom (make sure that the bottom layer is cut straight at the side and bottom). . . . . . . .then

I trim the top margin, to match the side and bottom, with my guillotine so you end up with the above. . . . . . . . . then

I cut the "V" out of the bottom layer to finish it off.

You do the same with any subsequent layers you wish to add.

I hope that makes sense Mrs B. I'm sure that there are better ways of doing it but this is what works for me.

I will keep my die cut fridge magnets until my next post now otherwise you will be losing conciousness at the length of this post lol!!!

Till then, be good and as Sgt Esterhaus would say, "Lets be careful out there"

TTFN

Ang x

Especially For You. . . . . .and Karenlotty Too !

Good morning friends, Romans, Ducks! Lovely to have you all pop by. 

Norah, its definitely not "oh no" chuck. . . . .its lovely to have you back and I hope you managed to get your bits dry lol!

Welcome to Janice and Chang Alison. Lovely of you both to come and paddle, especially this time of year lol!

Thank you for your extremely kind comments on my first MAWTT DT card. I think I shall be tinkering with a few more gatefold style cards in future. 

Now today's card is residing across the Atlantic. I had made this as a thank you for the lovely Pamellia (click here to see her enchanting blog) and John then did something similar so I've held it back for a few weeks. However, Pamellia has kindly shown it on her blog so I thought it was time for an airing on here.

I had been playing with the mica so the stamped frames are stamped with Versamark and dusted with mica and the sentiment was done the opposite way. . . . . . . . .I Versamarked and mica-ed the entire centre panel, then stamped with Versamark to "lift" the mica off the card (if that makes sense).The inner and outer edges of the frames are edged with the Krylon.

Ingredients

White card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Cuttlebug Kassie's Brocade embossing folder

Sissix Square dies

SB Fancy Tags Two

Creative Expressions Garden Frame stamp

Crafters Companion sentiment

Gold Krylon Pen (just had to on a card going to Pamellia lol!!!)

Versamark pad

Mica in various shades of pink

Lilac bling

And now, over to Karen (Karenlotty). . . . . . . . . . 

Karen was the winner of my last Pond Prize, part of which was a pad of Docrafts papers. Karen kindly made this card for me, using some of the paper, along with sending a lovely note.

Karen's inspiration for this card was Sue Wilson and as Karen doesn't have a blog (yet!) I asked if I could show this fantastic gift on here.

So come on Karen, time to set that blog up. . . . .  lovely to see your email entry at House of Cards Challenge and thank you for sending this super card to me.

Before I forget, Karen asked on my last post where I get my teeny tiny bling from. I buy packs of Dovecraft teeny weeny bling from a stall called "Every Crafts a Pound" at the NEC (No prizes for guessing how much a pack is lol!!!). Its £2.99 a pack everywhere else I've seen it so I make sure I stock up at the NEC. They do have a website but I think the postage is £4.95 per order. 

I hope when I get up today, I won't be greeted with the same sight as yesterday morning. I drew the curtains in one of the front bedrooms, only to see the chap across the road opening his blinds. . . . . . . . . stark naked!!! Seemingly not noticing me, he then had an almighty stretch and stood for a moment surveying his front garden (that isn't a euphemism, he was actually looking at his garden).

Sadly, he is no adonis. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I certainly wouldn't want to be beholding that in my eye every morning (not that there was too much to behold!!!) He was lucky he didn't let go of the cord of the blinds or that would have been an interesting visit to A&E!!!

Anyhoo, hope this week is kind to you all, with no flashing neighbours and no getting stuck in electric chairs lol!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Next time. . . . . . Mrs B's banners and die cut fridge magnets!

Moving Along With the Times Challenge. . . . . . .

Good morning dear blogging chums. Hope everyone is good. My head is better, thank you. As for work, I'm playing that one by ear! 

A big splashy welcome to The Pond to Rocky, Lilian and Valerie. Thanks for following the fun ladies.

Now, today's card is my very first DT card for Moving Along With the Times Challenge    (MAWTT).  I was kindly invited by Hazel (Didos) to join the team before Christmas and here is the first challenge of 2015. Hope you can all pop along and have a peek at what my talented team mates (including our Wendy) have created and even better, if you can join in.

               This challenge, as chosen by Carole, is a photo/colour inspiration . . . . .

And I went for both, the flower in the picture and some of the colours too.

Peachy shades are not usually my cup of char but I did quite like the way the colours look on the finished card.

I decided to try something different (for me) with a gatefold card (a sheet of A4) with an aperture cut from the centre, going up a size on the top layer.

Ingredients

Cream base card (Ross)

Rich cream linen card (PMD)

Biscuit card (Lidl)

Peach card (Lidl)

Brown card (Lidl)

SB Labels 28

SB Ivy (D-lite) love it!!!

HC Delicate Asters

Docrafts flower punch

Tonic flower punch

Couture Creations Compassionate embossing folder

Distress inks (Bundled Sage, Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Victorian Velvet)

Memento Dew Drop inks (Bamboo Leaves, Rich Cocoa)

Crafters Companion sentiment

Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Golden Green gilding wax (Thank you John!)

Copper Krylon pen

Pearls and bling

Phew. . . . . . . . . that's quite a list!

This is the first outing for the Ivy die and I'm in love with it. Each leaf is a separate die and you get 2 different stems as well. Its a shame you can't really pick up the sheen from the gilding wax (boy, does that stuff whiff!).

Well, I hope that you all like my first MAWTT DT post. I look forward to having fun with the rest of the challenges to come.

I am also entering this into Darnell's NBUS challenge No 3 (as I've used my Ivy for the first time)

And Try it on Tuesday's my favourite things challenge as my favourite things to use are dies and particularly flower dies.

 Just a couple of messages before I waddle off (still have Christmas weight to shift lol!!!).

Mrs B, I will do some pics, of how I do the banner, for next week.

Elaine (nattyboots) enjoy your travels, hopefully somewhere warmer than here.

Sue & Sue, great news about the NEC. Will the ASBO be expired by then lol!!!

To everyone who has tried the Thank Crunchie its Friday recipe, glad you have enjoyed it and apologies to your dentists (mind you, the dentists will be happy as it will be funding their yachts!!!)

And as always, thank you for your kind visits and comments. Back in a few days with a pic of Karen's (karenlotty) terrific card.

TTFN

Ang x

Jolly Holly. . . . . . . .

Good morning everybody. Hope you're all ok? As I'm typing (Sunday evening) I have a banging headache (bad day at work. . . . . . more on that another day lol) so its short and sweet today I'm afraid but I didn't want to not post something for you.

And. . . . . . .apologies, I'm still getting through the Christmas cards!

Now, today's card is one I made for Mr D's brother and his other half. Mr D did suggest putting "fiancee" instead of partner as a joke but as they are not engaged, I don't think they would have seen the funny side. 

I had made another card (to be shown soon) that was a lot more effort but then Mr D decided it should say "brother and partner" on the card, which wouldn't fit on the original (Hazel, I soooo know where you were coming from last night but you don't expect the fussy customers to come from your own household lol!!!).

So, at extremely short notice, I had to come up with something else and apologies for the photo as I had to snap it at night so it could go in the post first thing the following morning.

Ingredients

White card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Dark green card (PMD)

BeBunni Snowflakes embossing folder (I only embossed the top 2/3 of the card)

Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish die

Red bling for berries

Anita's 3D Gloss (on holly leaves)

Docrafts Sentiment stamps 

Silver Krylon pen

A simple card, I know, but it was going in the post so I didn't want to go too mad. I am loving this particular holly die as it cuts like a dream.

Did have to laugh at "Hot tubgate". A white plastic "gazebo" had been erected, with fairy lights and balloons to house the glorified paddling pool. Bet their pals were disappointed (or relieved to be honest) as you would have struggled to get two adults in it. New Years Day winds shook the "gazebo" from its anchoring and its still rolling about in their back garden as we speak.

Thank goodness it didn't take flight whilst the scantily clad twits were bearing their assets as I would have brought up me celebratory Snowball and trifle!

On that note, I will now go and rest my weary head.

Will be back next time with my first DT card for Moving Along With The Times. Hope you can join me then.

TTFN

Ang x

House of Cards January 2015 Challenge. . . . . . .

Good afternoon all of my wonderful blogging chums and a huge Happy New Year to each and everyone of you and all of your families. Myself and Mr D hope that 2015 is kind to you.

Welcome on the first day of this New Year to the first House of Cards Challenge of 2015 and we have this photo and title as inspiration for you. . . . . . . . 

                                                         Use glitter and/or colours

I am staying on this fabulous DT for my third term (they dont seem to be fed up with me yet lol!)It would be fabulous if you could pop over and have a look at my fab team mates creations and super fabulous if you can join in.

Now, I know that you're probably thinking "save me from yet more Christmas cards!!!" but the colours and glitter just shouted "Christmas card" to me (and advance apologies as I still have a couple of Christmas cards to feature before I'm done lol!!!) 

Thought I would colour coordinate my text this year for something different too so hopefully you can still read the colours I pick.

As you can see, I've been at the mica again.

Ingredients 

White card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Peacock Blue pearl card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Silver mirror card 

Sue Wilson Snowflake embossing folder (sorry Pamellia. . . buy, buy, buy lol!!!)

SB Snowflake Pendant 2013

Docrafts Home for Christmas 6x6 stamp

Versamark

Mica in silver and shades of blue

Blue satin ribbon (MeiFlower)

CE Dazzler (thank you John)

Dark blue glitter (round edge of top layer)

Hunkydory sentiment

Yes, I did enjoy playing with the ribbon bow on this (sorry Lydia).

There are some fantastic challenges lined up for 2015 so hope that you can join in at House of Cards.

Before I leave you to your Bond film, second turkey and sprout dinner in a week and the last of the After Eights, just a few messages for my sponsors. . . . . . . .

Mrs B, the way I do the banners is to cut the top layer then stick it to the next one and trim the sides with my guillotine and the tail end, by eye, with scissors. Can show a piccy on a future post if it would help more?

Ros, PMD is Papermill Direct. They are a paper mill in The Lakes that make fab card and paper. 

To the ladies who said they look but don't always have time comment or have had problems commenting, thank you anyway for have a peek at my dabblings. It is nice to get comments but I'm more than happy that folk take the time just to look.

I hope you enjoyed whatever way you saw the New Year in (even if it was tucked up in bed). As this is scheduled, I'm hoping that I didn't manage to get arrested for turning my hosepipe on the new neighbours who warned us they were going to be having a noisy hot tub party. Having seen some of their pals, I'm not looking forward to seeing any of them gyrating, half naked around the back garden from my window.

Mind you, at time of typing, its started to rain and is rather windy (tee hee!!!). I did say to Mr D that I was going to pop round in just my towel, flippers and goggles and say "Am I too early?" but he didn't think they would see the funny side.

Time for a Prosecco so I can stick the cork in my ears!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Hot tub update. . . . . . . . . .wasn't a hot tub, it was a 2ft deep paddling pool!  Didn't use the hose pipe but did pop round at 2am to tell them, politely, to turn the noise down.