Sweet William and Sweet News. . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely folk. Hope you are well or as well as you can be.

So glad I all gave you a titter last time with the shananaghans at The Pond. I can laugh now but at the time, I did want to help Mr D's throat by massaging it with both hands!!!

He is better now and there has been no repeat of Saturday/Sunday night, I am relieved to report.

I would like to extend a splashy welcome to Beverly who has kindly clicked on the followers button. Its lovely of you to become the 90th in our merry band. I will have to start polishing some Paddle Prizes if I reach the dizzy heights of 100.

Now, today's card is the second in a trio I made, the first one being on my last post here.

Although the flower die is actually called Sweet Christine, I thought that the flowers made up this way, looked similar to Sweet Williams when clustered together (run with me on that one lol!!!)

I then decided to do a CAS ish card with a single stalk of them.

Ingredients

White card

Pink card (PMD)

Cheery Lynn Sweet Christine die

SB Carnation Creations die (for the leaves)

Pink markers (2 shades)

White gel pen.

Distress Inks

Crafters Companion sentiment stamp

Memento Dew Drop Rose Bud ink pad

2mm white pearls

Docrafts glitter enamel dots

The picture doesn't quite show the domed shape of the flower as I put foam pads under the centre of the flower but not at the sides, to add further dimension.

The third in the trio will be here at the weekend so hope you can stop by then to have a peek.

Today, I am off to CE Towers to be John's glamorous assistant at a workshop (Wendy is back in Spain so I've been called off the subs bench lol!!!) I think I'm on tea/coffee duty.

I have the day off as my sweet news, as per the title is that yesterday was my last shift at work.

I handed in my notice last week as I have been offered a job working for a charity, which I have accepted. Those who have been paddling at The Pond for a while will know that, despite the jokes, I did love my job and enjoyed what I did.

The turning point was the end of last year when I had several shift changes in quick succession, which resulted in my having to give up my volunteering at the RSPCA and, just before Christmas, cancelling a break we had planned for Mr D's birthday (I think I had a grumble about it on here)

At that point, I decided to look for something else, applied for 3 jobs and got offered two and that was that.

Its a bit scary but its something new to get my duck bill into. I had a lovely card from everyone at work and there were even tears shed by a couple of my colleagues (probably of joy hahaha!!!)

I won't be starting my new job for a couple of weeks so I have some time off to do an early Spring clean and have a bit of a rest and craft,

Well, that's the news folks. Wish me luck!

TTFN

Ang x

Card, Picture and Cake. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Well, if the forecast was right, we have a very wet day ahead in the UK today. Hopefully, that will mean the deer and the antelope will stay indoors and not make a mess at work lol!!!

I have two new followers so welcome to Trudi (not sure if you may be the nice lady I met at John's demo at Daisy's?) and wilkommen to Dreja. I can't believe its creeping closer to 100 now.Makes me go all goosebumpy!

The arm is still not 100% but improving. I hope I haven't missed commenting on anyone's blog and I apologise for the delay in getting round the blogs but with the comments I have to make for my 2 DTs as well, one handed typing takes its toll hahaha!!!

Had a wonderful afternoon yesterday with Nesta and young Megan at John's demo at Daisy's. Megan bought herself some PVA Pearls and John kindly showed her how to use them. She is only 11 but quite shy and is a fan of John's so she took her box of stash to show him, bless!

Now, on today's card I wanted to just show the elegance of the SB Mary Border Strip so I kept things simple. The SB Border Strip dies are similar to Striplets in that you get 2 dies so you can cut the shape completely or just the aperture, like here. I've had them a while but only had a play recently.

Ingredients

White card

Teal PMD card

SB Mary Border Strip

Stamping Up sentiment (from the Morning Meadow set, a wonderful blog candy from Donna)

Peacock Feathers DI (rubbed onto a piece of white card that's beneath the aperture)

Teal Zeal Memento Dew Drop 

Teal bling (thanks John)

There are actually 3 cards that I made with common threads and this is the first so I hope you will pop by to see the others.

I will just finish with a couple of pics of 2 of Mr D's Valentine pressies from moi. . . . . . . . 

This is a Jeffy Salt print and for those who can't zoom in, its called "Tall, duck and handsome!"

Mr D wants to hang it above his chair (a job for me when my arm is drill friendly again lol!!!)

And . . . . . . . . 

Its a chocolate cake, filled with chocolate buttercream, covered in chocolate ganache, edged with chocolate fingers and topped with crumbled chocolate Flakes.

I know it looks a bit like an optically challenged child aged 2 put it together but I was one armed at the time and to be honest, if its chocolate, Mr D couldn't care less if it resembled a cow pat! In fact, I was allowed a slice 4 fingers wide and he proceeded to demolish the rest within Valentine's Day!

On that greedy note, I shall bid you lovely folk adieu until next time.

Take care and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

6.30am Sunday morning! . . . . . . . . . Well, went to bed last night, Mr D sniffing and coughing every 30 seconds. After an hour of this, I got up and went into the spare room but could hear him still in there so then grabbed the duvet and went downstairs.

After 10 minutes, the ticking of our new clock drove me nuts so that got taken into the kitchen. Finally started to drop off then a noise roused me. Didnt know what it was so tried to sleep again. Then noise again. After this happened 3/4 times I realised it was my auto airfreshner doing its pump thing. . . . . . Grrrrr! That joined the clock as I couldn't be bothered to mess with it to switch it off.

3 times I nearly slid off the sofa as the duvet on leather was like a sled on ice! 

Then, the final straw, 5.30 am the dishwasher whirring into life and the thud of the tablet as dropped out the dishwasher drawer for the wash (its on a timer for Eco 7).

Its been like something out of a comedy sketch and I dont know whether to laugh or cry!

 I'm holding my hands up in surrender now and am just in the chair, wrapped in the duvet watching the sunrise.

And Mr D?. . . . . . . . . Quiet as a bloomin chuch mouse now!!!

Won't work be fun today lol!

Hope you all slept well

x

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

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well and no more falls or bumps and bruises.

My forearm is still sore but the ibruprofen is keeping things manageable (just, lol!!!) for work. Sorry this has meant I am slow around the blogs but I have had lots of DT commenting to do as well, which is not good when typing one handed lol!

Will make sure I get round to everyone today after I get home from work.

Now, today we have another challenge at MAWTT and the theme as chosen by our very own Wendy (alias the Panda) is Pink/lilac and or butterflies. Hope you can pop over to see what the rest of my design team colleagues have done and to enter yourself, perhaps. 

This is my interpretation. The iddybiddy butterflies are the waste from cutting the largest of the SB Butterfly Circles (a few times, thankfully before my arm problem lol!!!). Each butterfly was scored down the middle and glued into the recess of my square frame.

Ingredients

White card

Pink PMD card

SB Butterfly Circles

Sissix Square dies (to cut and to just emboss)

Dovecraft sentiment

Memento Rose Bud ink

Pink bling

Ah well, 48 butterflies later and that was that. hope you like.

Would be lovely to see some of you enter the challenge. . . . . . who doesn't love a butterfly (or 48? Hahaha!!!)

As some of you may know, Wendy is on a mission to use all of her dies. I decided to have a count of mine and had to sit down with some smelling salts. I currently have 87 sets! I dared not count the actual number of dies as some sets have 10 dies.

I'm guessing there are some you with even more (Patricia, step forward lol! We won't tell John) but I hadn't a clue I had that many. If anyone had asked, I would have guessed at 50.

Must start using different ones ti get my pennies worth.

Before I forget, Lesley the 8x8 box frames are £2.99 in store but they are not available on the website. . . . . . . Sorry chuck.

Till next time.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . .still trying to upload Mr D's pressie pic (I'm not up on these tifs and gifs but will get it sorted).

You've Been Framed. . . . . . . The Sequel

Good morning dear blogging chums. Kind thoughts are sent your way.

Firstly, mega congratulations to Mrs B on the safe arrival of your grandson Christopher James. Here's to joyful times ahead.

Also, Happy belated Birthday Val. Hope you had a boogie (Wendy has been spilling the beans lol!)

A warm welcome to The Pond to Nicie. Thank you for joining our merry band.

Well, there was the throat, the tooth now I've strained the muscle in my right forearm. . . . . . .No, my middle name is not "Lucky" if any of you were wondering lol!!!

I had to move a very heavy mirror after the deer and the antelope had been playing (well, wrecking the joint actually) so dosing up on the painkillers for when I'm at work and trying to rest it when I'm not (typing one handed as we speak).

Hopefully that's the three mishaps and that's the end of it. 

Mr D was genuinely delighted with his Valentine card (here) As it has moved up to the third spot on my "Popular Posts" list I'm guessing folk liked looking at here too.

I have taken a photo of one of the pressies I got him but couldn't upload it. Will try again for the next post as it may give you all a titter.

Now, today's frame is the companion one to the last post and was for Alicia. The two girls are 18 and 14 and really loved something decorative to have in their rooms, especially something so different to what they have in Goa.

Ingredients

White box frame 8x8

White card

Lilac and purple card (PMD)

SB Foliage

SB Jewel Flowers and Flourishes

SB Filigree Delight

X Cut Alphabet Die

Britannia Medium Rose Die (for the fuchsias)

Card-io stamps (mainly Mum's Garden)

Paper twine

Distress inks

Bling

This was my favourite of the two as I love lilac and purple and I adore fuchsias. Again, the filigree frame is foam mounted and this time left open to the side so that a photo can be slid in.

(I did include a piece of card with each frame, that had been cut to the size of the photo that would fit)

In answer to the question, yes I did get the box frames from work. There are various sizes but I do like the 8x8.

Well, hope you liked this one. I do like my florals so maybe I should make one for myself. I have another baby one to get done this week for one of the girls at work who has had a little girl (wait til you see the name on that one lol!!!) Should be interesting one handed hahaha!!!

Have a good week my dear chums.

TTFN

Ang x

You've Been Framed. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. Hope this finds everyone ticketyboo. Tooth and throat are ok now . They were unrelated as the filling cracked on the tooth and I was straight to the dentist, whereas the throat problems started nearly a month ago. I'm back at the dentist today but just the hygienist. I may get her to shave a bit off as the new filling is slightly high on the bite.

You made me laugh with some of your suggestions for remedies so thank you for that.

Welcome to another new follower Gail. Thank you for coming for a paddle. Will have to start thinking about another paddle prize if I can hit the dizzy heights of 100 lol !!!

For those of you who don't know and asked, I work on the Arts and Crafts (and Gifts and Gallery too) section of a large store (where the deer and the antelope play if that's a clue lol!). Its not too bad in the week but Sunday can be a nightmare when the ankle biters are on the loose!

Now, today's creation is one of a pair. Nesta (for newbies, she is my bezzie mate known as Nesta Vipers. . . . . she prefers to remain anonymous as she's wanted on Crimewatch lol!) went to Goa before Christmas and whilst she was on her hols she visited some friends and their daughters.

She wanted to take pressies for the girls and asked if I could do some box frames like the one I did for her neice Anya (see here). 

This is the one I made for Andrea. I will show the one I made for Alicia next time.

Ingredients 

Box frame 8x8

White card

Pink card in different shades (PMD)

SB Bitty Blossoms

SB Jewel Flowers and Flourishes

SB Filigree Delight

X Cut Alphabet die

Card-io stamps

Variety of distress inks

Glitter

Bling

Once again, the Filigree Delight is foam mounted and is open at the top so that a photograph can be slotted inside. The flowers are glittered on the edges (as requested by Nesta). The background is stamped with my Card-io stamps, mainly the Rose Garden set.

Apologies for any reflections in the glass.

The sisters both loved them so jobs a good un.

Hope you can pop by to see Alicia's next time.

Busy day today, work this morning, then dentist, then cemetery sadly (would've been my late neice's birthday today).

Hope you all have a good day.

See you soon, same duck time, same duck channel !!!

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . . . Anyone going to the NEC next month ? (Apart from Christine and the 2 Sue's)

All Aboard!...........

Good morning everyone and the best of wishes to all of you.

Thank you so much for your wonderfully supportive comments on my recent posts, well, on all my posts to be honest lol !!! 

A splashing welcome to The Pond to Lena. Thank you for following my crafty ramblings. 

And, excitement. . . . .Jackie D is back! Jackie, we were on the verge of sending out the St Bernard with the brandy. Good luck in your new home and hope your Mum is well.

Well, my sore throat had gone, hurrah !!! to be replaced with a poorly tooth, booooooo !!! So I went from The Bee Gees to Sylvester (or Thylvether at my numbest point) After a filling, I enjoy the challenge of drinking a mug of coffee, whilst trying not to wear it lol !!!

Not sure what finally got rid of the sore throat but I did get some strange looks walking down the street with my neck covered in goose grease and brown paper, chewing glycerine pastilles and with my webbed feet whiffing of Vicks. . . . . . . so thank you for all of your suggestions.

However, after the dentist visit, the throat has started playing up again but think its just down to having my mouth poked and prodded for the best part of an hour. . . . . I can but hope!

Now, today's card is a departure (forgive the pun) from my norm. I made this for a male friend of ours who was going to be on an Alaskan cruise for his birthday. I covertly found out which bit he was cruising and printed off a map of the area to pop on the front, at a jaunty angle.

Do they still shout "Avast behind" on the ships? (probably would if I were on board as I'm sure my behind would be vast after a week of all inclusive buffets)

The background paper and the tags are from the Docrafts All Aboard 12x12 pad and stickers set (a bargain from work).

I had to keep it relatively flat as he was taking the card away with him in his hand luggage to open on his birthday.

I stamped the "Happy Birthday" onto the ticket.

I  took the photographs before I also filled in his particulars on this label, as I didn't think he would appreciate me broadcasting his details to the world. . . . . . . well, the 85 of you that kindly follow me anyway lol !!!

It made a change to do something different from my flowers and frills hee hee !!!

Hope you don't mind me sharing something more simplistic.

I'll be at work this afternoon so please keep everything crossed for me that its a quiet and uneventful shift (I'm sure that they do exist lol !)

Till next time, be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Moving Along With The Times Challenge. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours. Thank you for your wonderful comments on Mr D's Valentine card. Hope he likes it as much as you all did lol!

A big warm welcome to Lynne and Swissie. Thank you for following my crafty witterings. Also, welcome back to Norah, Ita, Val and Michelle.

Today brings another challenge from Moving Along With The Times and this week's theme, as chosen by our beloved leader Hazel (Didos) is PASTELS.

I hope you get chance to pop along and see what my talented team mates have created for your inspiration.

Now, my card came about by looking at some of the fabulous wedding cakes made by the very talented Ron Ben Israel. He does some amazing cakes with flowers cascading down the tiers of the cake and I thought "how can I do that on a card?"

And this is what I came up with. I wanted it to be as dimensional as possible to make it look like a cake.

Ingredients

White card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Cream, lilac and purple Lidl 135gsm paper

SB Bitty Blossoms

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (for the leaves)

Tonic Flower punch

Docrafts Flower punch

That Special Touch Elegance mask (used to emboss the tiers)

Lilac satin ribbon (Mei Flower)

Bundled Sage DI

Pearls

You can really see the dimension on this shot. All I did was bowed each layer as I stuck them down.

This could be used for a wedding card, birthday or christening even. I was really pleased how it came out as it was just as I imagined (a rare occurance lol!!!)

Hope you like it and  can join in the challenge at MAWTT.

Now some messages for my sponsors. . . . .

Mrs B, saw your post on Sue's blog the other day. Hope all goes well with the new grandbaby.

Linda, I use a Grand Calibur myself and the Anna Griffin die cuts like a dream.

Christine, some of my Piggins were gifts so I couldn't part with them either.

Karen, I'm not sure that channel setting the roses protects them when posting, especially if you get a particularly hamfisted postie but it does keep the depth under the 25mm large letter limit.

Anne, I am more than happy for you to take any inspiration I may give and for you to run with it. Its a pleasure to know that you feel inspired by something I've done. Today's card may also be useful for your wedding cards too.

Well, the throat still is not 100%. Haven't tried the goose grease and brown paper that Nurse Harrop suggested but I have been sucking Fisherman's Friends. . . . . . . .they are throat sweets before anyone outside the UK thinks I've been involved in some dodgy home remedy hahaha!

Until next time, take care and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

House of Cards February Challenge. . . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely folk. Hope all is well with you and thank you so much for stopping by.

My throat is still not 100% but there's others worse off so shouldn't really grumble.

We did get snow on Thursday but in the afternoon. It rained really heavily then snowed so I'm surprised it settled but about an inch of it did.

Anyhoo, its time for House of Cards February Challenge and this months challenge is . . . . . . 

Well, in February, its a good theme lol!! Hope you're going to pop and see what the rest of the DT have done and, even better, I hope you can join in.

Now, I am swearing you all to secrecy as this card is Mr Duck's Valentine card. I usually show him what card I'm putting on but obviously not today.

Hands up, it wasn't the swiftest of cards to make with the ribbon woven padded heart (done in a similar fashion to how I did this card here) and the channel set hand made roses (but I have invested in a 2nd set of SB Bitty Blossoms that were £6.00 new on eBay) but its the only Valentine card I make so it may as well be a good un lol!!!

Ingredients 

White card (Lime Tree Crafts)

Red card (PMD)

Red 160gsm card/paper (the Range) for roses

SB Bitty Blossoms

SB Reflective Moment 

Sissix Hearts dies

Embossilicious lattice embossing folder

Personal Impressions sentiment stamp

Memento Dew Drop Lady Bug ink

Black archival ink

Docrafts and Mei Flower satin ribbon

Red bling

Sorry for the picture heavy post but I did love making this and quite a bit of love went into it (all together now. . . . . .ahhhhhhh!!!) Also, on the above photo, I did like the shadows on the embossing and bling (move over David Bailey hahaha!!!)

As you may be able to see on this shot, the top layer is one single piece of card, with just the heart cut out. I just embossed the top, then turned it around and embossed a smaller portion at the bottom, leaving a unembossed section that the sentiment tag sits on.

Well, fingers crossed that Mr D likes it in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for coming to visit. It was lovely to see some folk who haven't been by for a while and some new names too on my last post.

Also, I hope those of you who have pulled muscles and bumped heads and had slips in the snow are rested and better.

Would be fabulous if you get time to visit the House of Cards Challenge.

Keep toasty warm!

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . . .

My little friend is called "Piggin Love". I have quite a collection of Piggins but only the special ones, like this limited edition, are worthy of my dusting time nowadays so the others are safely packed away for now. . . . . . . . . .this is one of my favourites. x