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

Good morning all you lovely folk. Sincere apologies for turning down the heating in The Pond. I was a bit premature there for some of you gals but its back on again so off with the Ugg boots (Patricia) and get your toes back in the water lol!!!

Thank you for lovely comments on my previous post. As always, they are gratefully appreciated.

Now, today's post is my DT make for MAWTT and this week, The Boss Lady Hazel (Didos) has given us a recipe as follows;

                                                             Take 1 digi image 

                                                         Add 2 patterned papers

                                                          Add 3 embellishments

                                                      And finally a touch of glitter

Hope you can pop over to have a look at what the rest of my DT colleagues have done and it would be lovely to see you enter the challenge.

I don't do digi, as most of you know, so I set about finding a nice image that didn't need colouring. I saw this lovely image on http://createwithtlc-createwithtlc.blogspot.co.uk of a Victorian lady.

The first thing that popped into my head (Having shifted thoughts of cheese flavoured snacks to one side lol!!!) was to create the scene of a photo, hanging in a frame, on some old fashioned wallpaper. . . . . . . . .you're probably wishing I stuck with cheesy poofs now hahaha!!!

I wanted the frame to be substantial so, don't laugh, I made it out of. . . . . . funky foam!!!

I had a job lot of the stuff from when I worked at the place where the deer and the antelope play so I cut the Spellbinders Reflective Moment die twice out of brown funky foam and glued them together, just to add more depth.

I then rubbed CE Vintage Green gilding wax over the top and then brushed a bronzy coloured mica over the top of that.

Added a few prods with the pokey tool for that vintage woodworm effect (lol!!!) and that was that. Pretty cool I thought, for a bit of foam.

Ingredients  

Cream card base (A5)

Digi Image

First Edition Isabelle 8x8 pad (for both papers) 

3 embellishments - 2x bronze pearls and brown satin ribbon

The glitter is encapsulated in the paper (see picture above)

Vintage Photo distress ink (gently swiped across the digi to give it a sepia tone)

Spellbinders Reflective Moment die

Brown funky foam

CE Vintage Green gilding wax 

Bronze mica

Acetate

The beauty of the foam is that the card is still quite light. 

Hope you like the result of my overactive imagination hahaha!!!

Oooh, have to say as well, junior plates for the GC. . . . . . .Love em! Cant believe I didnt bother getting them previously as they are marvellous.

Meeting Nesta for breakfast this morning at a local cafe that does a lovely small full English. She's off to sunny Spain at the end of next week so we have a couple of things planned before she grabs her castanets (steady. . . . . .!!!)

No more handbags spotted yet. Probably just as well as I have a real thing for them. I am ashamed to admit, I am a label snob with my handbags but apart from my crafting (and Kickers boots/shoes) they are my only guilty pleasure.

Well, that's me for today folks but just to spoil you, I'm back tomorrow with House of Cards hahaha!!!

Have a great day and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . .Maureen I forgot to say, I only know of Sterling Moss from F1 history books, hahaha!!!

Lily Bouquet. . . . . . .

Good morning lovely people. Hope that this finds you well. I have turned down the heating in The Pond now as its warmed up considerably now (times are hard). If its still a bit nippy around the nethers, just let me know and I'll crank it up a notch.

I just realised, I sailed right past my 2 year Bloggerversary on 6th April. . . . . . yes, its only 2 years guys. . . . . it just seems a lot longer to you hahaha!!!

I was going to mark the occasion with a little Paddle Prize but as I'm now only 3 short of 100 followers, I shall hang on and lets see if we can trap entice 3 new friends to join us (I know there's a few of you come to paddle anonymously) and a will send out a better PP.

I'm enjoying a couple of days off following a busy few days. I'm enjoying the job at the moment but it is hard work physically, so keeping me fit and a fair bit of paperwork, keeping me fit mentally lol!!!

Mind you, there are perks to getting first dibs on things like a fabulous cuddly Shaun The Sheep and a black leather handbag with a scottie dog emblem (you know what I mean gals!!!). 

Thank you for your lovely comments on my pendants. Someone asked when I had made them. The ones on the photo were made about 2 years ago but I have made them since. I used to do car boots with my jewellery, quite successfully, to the point where I couldn't really keep up with replenishing my stock at times lol!!!

A couple of you mentioned about buying them but I'm happy to sort out a tutorial if anyone is interested as they are quite easy to make if you have a bit of time. . . . . . . . just let me know if that's something you would like me to do.

Now, today's card is one I had to send to a friend whose Dad recently passed away.

I had made one very similar to send to a blog chum a couple of months ago but I didn't photograph or blog that one as, obviously, that particular lady visits my blog and I just thought it wasn't right to publish it.

I liked what I had made and half remembered what I had done so made this version for my friend. I apologise for the darkness of the photos but it was one of those "need to post that day" moments so it was Russian Roulette with the lighting.

Ingredients 

White card

SB Tiger Lilies

Couture Creations Compassionate embossing folder

Distress inks

Pink satin ribbon

CE sentiment

Pink bling

Not much in the way of ingredients but I like to keep these cards quite minimal.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that the week ahead is kind to you.

I'll be back later in the week with my DT cards for MAWTT and House of Cards.

TTFN

Ang x

Oldie for Friday. . . . . . . .

Good morning my paddling chums. Hope you have all manage to enjoy some of the sunshine these past few days.

Sorry I have been missing for a few days but work of various descriptions has taken over and on my day off yesterday, I was helping John Lockwood out at his workshop at Creative Expressions in Kettering. It was a busy but extremely fun day.

Thank you for your kind words about my yodelling. The voice is almost back to normal now. Mr D has a tear in his eye. . . . . . . a tear of joy I'm sure!!! 

Didn't need to make many hand gestures. I thought Pamellia's sign suggestion was the way to go, though I added a fourth that I can't print on a family blog, but it rhymed with tugger boff hahaha!!!

Today, I'm joining in with Patricia and the other gals with Oldie for Friday and decided to go with a spot of my jewellery.

I don't think I've shown these before but apologies if I have. Patricia and Hazel will probably recognise them as I gave one to them a couple of years ago to sell for the hospital cancer unit that they support.

They are made from Swarovski Crystals (my crystal of choice) and seed beads and I pop them on silver plated chains.

Its a fairly quick and easy design to bead and gives a pretty result. . . . . .love the sparkle of a Swarovski.

Just a couple of messages. . . . . . 

Maureen, Sterling Moss? Someone is showing their age lol!!!

Val, I hope it was the cheek on Frank Ifield's face you kissed?

Jackie, F1 schedule has been handed over to my boss, lol!!!

Margaret, nice to see you back, especially when you have been through so much lately.

Well, that's me. After a full day with John, I've got 2 full days at the shop, so I'll be fit for nowt by Sunday (no stamina these days lol!!!)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

TTFN

Ang x

Crazy Daisies. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope that this finds your tickety very boo. My voice has now evolved to a cross between Norman Collier and Frank Ifield. In fact, if I speak for long enough, dogs appear on my doorstep lol!!!

Firstly, I extend a very warm welcome to Anneke who has kindly pressed the follow button. Only another 3 to go to 100 lovely followers and I have a super paddle prize to send when we hit those dizzy heights.

Donna, you be careful in that snow

Jenny all dittys gratefully received chuck.

Elaine, me, write a book? Yikes! Well, I suppose I could make it available on the NHS as a cure for insomnia hahaha!

Now, today's card was born just out of having a play with John Lockwood's Daisy Corner Elements stamp set.

I made a mask for each of the three flowers I used and just went on a stamping frenzy.

I stamped the daisies in Memento London Fog as I thought black may be too harsh. I then coloured the centres in black to make them stand out.

The sentiment from the stamp set, is recessed into the card.

Ingredients 

White card (6x6)

Orange and black card (Lidl)

John Lockwood Daisy Corner Elements stamps

Card-io stamps (the butterflies)

X-cut circle die

Memento Dew Drop inks

Staedler Tri Plus Fineliners

Royal and Langnickel Watercolour Pencils

Pound shop felt tips (just being honest lol!!!)

Hope that I have managed to do my matey's stamps some justice, as you all know I am not a colourist by any stretch of the imagination.

I popped in on John at his demo day at Daisy's Jewels and Crafts (rather appropriately) yesterday, where he was doing his thang with Hels Sheridan and Pauline Wheeler. He is there again today if anyone is in the vicinity.

Well, its another day let loose at the shop on my own. I guess they figured I didn't manage to destroy the place last Tuesday, so they'd give me another chance to do it today hahaha!!!

This was bad rota-ing by my manager as its a live F1 GP from Bahrain this afternoon, and I shall therefore be having to drive like Lewis Hamilton to get home after closing time so I don't miss too much of the race. . . . . . . . . . . only joking if any of you fine people happen to belong to the local constabulary!

Should be interesting at work if my voice is no better. . . . . Lord help anyone who comes in with a hearing aid, they'll think the battery is on the blink lol!!! I may have to resort to hand gestures. . . . . . I bet you can guess a couple of them already hahaha!!!

Anyhoo, enjoy your Sunday folks and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Moving Along With the Times Challenge. . . . . Not a Square Card

Good morning fellow paddlers. . . . . . .is it warm enough for you yet? 

What a super day we had yesterday here, especially as it was a day off. Thank you for your kind words (and misplaced confidence hahaha!) and fortunately, I didnt wreck the shop. It took 20 minutes longer than usual to get out the door but the till balanced and so did the paperwork so a big sigh of relief all round.

Mind you, some of the things I could say about some things that folk bring in. . . . .but, you may be eating breakfast lol!

Now today's card is my DT offering for MAWTT and this challenge, as chosen by Kelly is. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . anything but a square card.

Therefore, I decided to make a circular card. . . . . . . 

Ingredients 

White card (Lime Tree)

Pink Card (PMD)

First Edition Floral Pavilion 8x8 paper pad (behind the aperture)

X-Cut Extra Large Circles

SB Medallion 1

SB Carnation Creations

SB Jewel Flowers and Flourishes (flourishes and leaves)

Tonic flower punch

Couture Creations Bouquet embossing folder

Wendy's Pins

Various distress inks

CE Vintage Green gilding wax

Pink satin ribbon

I hope that you can pop over and have a look at what my team mates have designed for your inspiration and also, why not join in!

I hope that you like my circular offering. I did enjoy making it.

Lydia, I used to have shopping delivered when I worked full time but I've got it down to an hour round Tesco (other supermarkets are available lol!) I can live with that so I can manhandle me own plums. . . . . .ahem!

Also, Happy Birthday to you. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Jackie, I wont dare ask how you had imagined me to be lol!

Anne, I always stamp the flowers first then fill in with the foliage. Don't know if this helps with the randomness.

And welcome back to those of you who have been away for holidays or for being busy bees.

Had the start of a sore throat last night but that's developed into sniffs and a very passible Norman Collier impression. Triffffffic!

Another day off for me today, hurrah, so I shall be getting intimate with Mr Muscle and the vacuum cleaner. . . . . . .steady, its just housework guys, lol!

Wishing you all a happy day.

TTFN

Ang x

Spring Has Sprung. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Here's hoping all is well with you and yours.

Had yesterday off and today as well so feeling a little more normal after all the extra days and hours. Tomorrow, I am being let loose on my own for the first time (my boss is taking the day off) so if any of you are watching Midlands Today tomorrow evening and hear of a woman having a breakdown in a charity shop, that'll be me, hahaha!!!

Thank you all so much about your comments on my recessed flower cards. I wanted to do something that I hadn't seen done before as I guess we all like to have a sort of signature thing.

Nice to see some new names back and I hope the familiar ones who are missing are ok.

Kate chuck, so hope you and Alastair are getting better.

Lesley, the hair is nearly waist length if I straighten it but it's a mass of curls, a cross between Kelly Hoppen and Wurzel Gummidge lol!!!

Jackie, my moment of glory featured on the CE blog on 2nd April.

Karen, I tend to use Lidl paper, which is 135gsm, for doing my Bitty Blossoms. It comes in the same colours as the card but you get 50 sheets in the pack. Anything over 200gsm I find too thick. 

Now, I must apologise for the picture above. It was a card I made to send to my cousin in Malaysia and it had to go in the post pronto and I had forgotten to photograph it. I, therefore, had to make do with the lighting available at 7.30am that morning.

As it was travelling a distance, I made it flat and by cutting the aperture, it kept the weight under 20g (clever or tight. . . . . . you decide lol!!!)

Ingredients   

White pre-scalloped card blank (6x6)

SB Medallion 4 (outer edge for aperture)

John Lockwood Daisy Corner Stamps 

Card-io Mum's Garden Stamps

Woodware sentiment stamp

Selection of Memento Dew Drop inks

Simple but great for batch making or posting cheaply.

I have mentioned to John about him designing some sets of smaller floral stamps as I do love using the tiny ones. He did seem quite keen on the idea so fingers crossed.

If you don't mind, I'm showing a couple of pics from the garden as it looked so pretty in the sunshine yesterday.

Evergreen Clematis (Apple Blossom)

Tulips (Monsella)

Camellia (Donation)

Forsythia (variety unknown)

Mr and Mrs B the resident blackbirds are taking mouthfuls of grapes from the bird table so there are obviously babies in the nest. Hopefully, they will do well this year and the spiteful magpies won't upset them again.

Well, off to meet Nesta at 8.30 at a local cafe for breakfast and a catch up, then shopping, then hopefully a spot of crafting. . . . . . . .then a yoga and meditation session to try and calm myself for tomorrows solo flight hahaha!!!(Don't worry, I won't be attempting to get my foot behind my neck, although I know it will fit in my mouth at times, lol!!!)

Keep everything crossed for me folks, that everything goes smoothly tomorrow. . . . . . send positive vibes please.

Well, if I don't lock myself in or raise the shop to the ground, I'll see you later in the week lol!!!

Be good

TTFN

Ang x

Cream and Black. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope this finds you well and full of the joys of Spring.

 What wonderful weather we have had the last few days. No heating on in this house for about a week now and there's been lines of washing bobbing in the breeze and Sun.. . . . . ahhh, its the simple things in life eh?

Still chasing my tail with work this week but apparently, will be on my normal hours from next week. . . . . . . . phew!!! Lesley, I used to volunteer in an RSPCA charity shop but now I work for a children's charity so I'm hoping they won't be letting me loose with any animals lol!!! (mind you they are both noisy, make a mess and cost you a fortune so not dissimilar hahaha!!!)

 I have been shattered and some of you will notice the silly times I have commented on some of your blogs because I have nodded off in my chair, then woken up at about 11.30pm lol!!!

So my chums, this will be short and sweet again ("Hurrah" I hear you all chorus) 

Now, today's card was the result of another play with the exquisite Cygnus Gemini die, which I cut twice on the edge (once with the cutting edge) and then cut a duplicate in black to create a shadow.

Ingredients  

Cream card (Ross)

Black card (PMD)

SB Bitty Blossoms 

SB Matting Basics A & B (for the aperture in which the roses sit & the frame around it)

SW Cygnus Gemini

Hobbycraft border stamp (stamped repeatedly as its only about an inch & a half long)

Aly's Inky Fingers sentiment

Black Archival ink pad

The top layer is raised so that the roses sit in a recessed aperture.

I shall use this for one of my friends birthday's. Its good to build up a bit of a stock with being busy at the moment.

Anyhoo, that's me having to run and rustle up some sausage pasta for tea (yes, I'm scheduling) and may have to give my hair a blast with the dryer as its still a bit damp from washing (those who have met me will know how long my hair is and I normally let it dry naturally)

So, I shall bid you adieu for now and wish you warm weather to go with your warm hearts.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Happy Easter From the Ducks. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well this fine Easter morning.

Just wanted to stop by and wish you all and your families a happy and peaceful Easter and thank you for your continued support at The Pond.

Thank you all for your comments on the new job. Too early to know about enjoying it at the moment as there has been lots of hours in front of the computer training (with a few techno hiccups) and long hours my first week and this week will be the same too.

Hasn't helped that I haven't been sleeping well either with Mr D's snorty sniffles, a remnant of his flu/cold. Lucky to get 5 hours per night at the minute.

In fact, I did not get up until 9am today, which is not like me at all, hence my lateness posting this as I had to get washing sorted and and my ablutions lol!!!

I also hadn't realised I had won the inaugural CE Blog Challenge until some of you left messages lol! I am thrilled with that honour.

Anyhoo, once again, apologies if I have missed anyone's blogs this week as it has been a struggle to keep on top of visiting. Next week may be the same, I'm afraid but hopefully, I will be on a more even keel when I am on my contracted hours.

Help yourself to an egg from my basket below (made with the same die as Patricia's lovely creation here and its lined with acetate). There are plenty in there of mini creme eggs and full size (though I think they have shrunk somewhat!!!). Just don't leave the wrappers lying about as I like to keep a tidy pond lol!!!

Have a very Happy Easter and see you again as soon as I can.

TTFN

Ang x

Moving Along With the Times Challenge. . . . . . Colour Theme

Good morning, its me again, just when you thought it was safe to blog lol!!!

Also, I've noticed that this is my 250th post. . . . . and they hoped said it wouldnt last hahaha!

Today its another DT card as its time for another challenge at MAWTT and the theme, as chosen by our head honcho Hazel (Didos) is this. . . . . . . 

                         Make your creation predominantly in your Birthstone Colour.

Hope you're able to go take a peek at my team mates creations here and it would be lovely to see some familiar names joining in.

Now, the reason my card is greener than a leprechauns longjohns is because I'm a May baby so my predominant colour is green.

I did wonder how I could make such a big splash of green look good but I'm quite pleased with the result.

Its an 8x8 as I wanted to use my new SB Lonely Hearts die (another similar to a Striplet) to make a panel by cutting it 3 times in a row (can anyone see a row of 3 "crabs" along the top with their pincers in the air?. . . . . .No? Just me then, lol!!!)

When I glued the cut out piece to the paler green card, I ran it through the GC as I would if using a mask to emboss. This has two purposes, in that it helps to stick the 2 pieces together and also the paler green card embosses slightly through the cut out piece. You can probably see it on this next photo a bit better. . . . . . . . 

Ingredients 

Cream Card (Ross)

Green card (Lidl)

Green paper (Lidl - its 135gsm & complements the card packs) for bottom green layers

SB Lonely Hearts die

SB Fancy Tags 3 (cut one of the dies 3 times and glued together to form a circle)

SB Peony dies

X-Cut circle die

Cuttlebug Kassies Brocade embossing folder

Hobbycraft sentiment

Cottage Ivy Memento Dew Drop ink

Pearls

Cream organza ribbon

If green is not your thing, I'm sure it would look ok in another colour (may try that one out actually lol!!) 

That's me for today and don't worry, you'll have a few days reprieve before I'm back again hahaha!!!

Im still trying to catch up with commenting but time keeps running away with me and Im at work for the next 3 full days so I will be pushed again. I will do my best so Im sorry Im behind.

Have a Happy Good Friday tomorrow and enjoy the hot cross buns (ummmmmm!)

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps

PS. . . Maureen, I won't ban you unless you say something bad about Jenson Button lol!