The One That Got Away. . . . . . . . .

Good morning paddling chums. Hope you are all well.

I'm busy at this end working extra days to cover my boss's holiday and its bloomin hard work, especially when a child pees on the shop floor and the Mother just drags it very quickly from the shop, without bothering to tell me. I was somewhat suspicious of the speed of exit so went to investigate at the back of the shop and found the offending puddle.

Accidents happen but to just clear off without telling me is out of order. . . . . . . . mind you, I'm assuming it was the child, perhaps it was the mother lol!!!

Now, today's offering is entitled so, as this was the card that I did as a sample for John's stamp shows but it couldn't go on telly as the die I had used for the flowers was not available on C&C at that time.

I tried to capture the sheen from the mica that I used on the panel. . . . . . . . 

Ingredients

White card

Orange card (Lidl)

Yellow card (Lidl)

John Lockwood's Daffodil Burst stamp 

HC Sunkissed Fleur die (for the daffodils)

SB Carnation Creations (leaf die only)

A Striplet outer edge die (to cut the recess the panel sits in)

TST Elegance mask (embossed under daffodil panel)

White embossing powder

Versamark 

Yellow and orange mica

Sentiment from John's Cherry Blossom set

Orange bling

Sorry that the embossing didn't show up very well on the top photo but you can see it better above.

Its a shame it didn't get its 15 minutes of fame lol!!!

Had a lovely time at CE Towers last Thursday with John and his ladies and was a very naughty girl as I bought 3 of Sue's new Christmas dies (Bad Duck!!!) I also bought a few other things (very bad Duck!!!).

Back there again on Thursday for one of Sue's demo sessions (repeat, I must not spend more, I must not spend more. . . . . .) They were originally 1 hour sessions but have been extended to 2 hours, yippeeeeeee!!! I have met Sue a couple of times socially but never seen her demo live so I'm so excited. Any of you ladies going?

Before I tootle off, I think it was Jane who asked about the difference between commenting and following. If you click on the followers button, my blog will appear on your reading list so when I publish a new post, it will appear on your reading list straightaway. Commenting just means you can leave a comment on anyones blog but you will have to look for updates yourself. Hope that makes sense. Also, when us bloggers have little giveaways for various milestones (like my 100 followers recently) it tends to be for followers only.

Well, that's me off to put my feet up (its Sunday evening and I'm scheduling) as I have done Friday, Saturday and today at work. Got today, as you're reading off then back at it again until Thursday so apologies if I fall behind with any comments again.

Hope you don't mind daffodils in June and that this week treats you kindly.

TTFN

Ang x

MAWTT Challenge. . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are well and to those who are not, I send happy vibes.

Lesley, I think I read somewhere that you have been in hospital. Hope its nothing serious chuck.

I must apologise for some of the delays in getting comments on peeps blogs but Blogger has been very temperamental of late. I lost my entire reading list and then my dashboard, which sent me into panic as I thought me doodahs had gawn into cyberspace. 

Also, it used to be just Wendy's (Spanish Crafter) blog I had to access from my phone but now Jacquie, Jenny and Kate's have followed suit so its been testing lol!!!

Thank you to my HoC boss Mynn who has pushed the followers button.

Also, the lovely Mr D has pulled a name from the bowl for my 100 up paddle prize and the winner is . . . . . . . .drumroll . . . . . . .Nattyboots!!! 

Congratulations Elaine and thank you to everyone who has supported this little corner of Blogland. Elaine, please email my chum John at lockers@live.co.uk and he will pass your email on to me to get in touch with you (Im in a Duck Protection Program so don't publicly show my email address lol!)

Now today's card is my DT creation for this weeks MAWTT Challenge, as set by Emily and the theme is . . . . . . .Sewing !!! Please pop over and have a peek at what my teamies have created and why not have a go yourselves.

As most folk who have been paddling for a while will know, I can't sew for toffee so it was an "eeeeeek" moment but then, inspired by our lovely Janice of Created by Jan (the other Janices are lovely too, by the way lol!!!) who does amazing stitched cards, I thought "give a stitched card a go"

Ingredients

Ivory card

Gold mirror card

Stitch-a-Circle Puppy (free pattern) from www.stitchingcards.com

Gold thread

Couture Creations Swiss Dots embossing folder

Black bling

Gold Bling

I only had gold or silver thread that seemed suitable so I went with a gold dawgie. It was great fun to do so Janice, you may have got me started on something lol!!!

I hope you don't mind the lack of sentiment but I keep changing my mind about where he will be heading and for what occasion hahaha! (I may keep him as he is cute lol!)

Hope some of you may join in the challenge as it would be great to see some familiar names. . . . . Janice, there's no excuse as you are the card stitching queen lol!!!

Well, when this goes live, I shall be John's glamorous (???) assistant at CE Towers for his latest workshop. No doubt he will be all tanned and fresh faced next to me, still using concealer and BB cream. . . . . . .perhaps I should just give in and use Polyfiller and creosote and have done with it (would probably be cheaper than Nivea and Touche Eclat!!!).

Will try and be a more frequent blogger, Blogger and work permitting as I am doing extra days next week to cover my boss, who is on leave. . . . . .will need a holiday myself after doing the extra lol!!!

Enjoy the rest of the week.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . I think it was Maureen who asked what "CAS" meant in relation to a card. It means Clean And Simple, so quite plain and minimal embellishment. Sorry for the delay in replying.

And Karen, the buddleja is made up of loads of punched out tiny individual flowers (a Tonic punch) stuck to foam pads that I have made a long domed shape with first. Click here to see another and close ups.

Last but not least, yes Jenny, I did watch Rush and I did enjoy the GP even though just highlights. Can't wait for Silverstone!

Oldies for Friday. . . . . . . . .

Good morning my paddling chums. What a glorious few days of weather we have had.

Hope its been lovely where you are (I'm guessing you folks in Spain and other exotic climes will definitely be basking in the warm stuff)

We have another Wendy who has kindly clicked the "follow" button so welcome to Wendy Thompson and thanks for following the fun.

I also believe congratulations are in order for our Norah, who, if I've read correctly, has become a Grandma. Good wishes to you and your family chuck and of course wee Harry!

Thought today, I would feature the very first 3 cards I blogged when I started 2 years ago, as part of the Oldie for Friday funfest.

I don't think they look too bad (she says looking squint eyed between her fingers) but I hope I've moved along in my crafting journey (sorry, that's a bit X Factor isn't it hahaha!)

I still love the buddleja and have made various versions over the years 

As you see, there is still a definite floral theme running through my repertoire lol!

Don't forget to leave a comment on my last post  if you are a follower, by Sunday 21st June at 12pm BST for a chance to win a thank you prize.

Here's wishing you all a happy and sunny weekend.

TTFN

Ang x 

Cherry Blossom With Love. . . . . . .And a Prize for Grabs

Good morning dear blogging chums. Hope everyone is as well as can be. 

I'm pretty much over my poxation. Still got a bit of a cough from the ones that got on my chest and still having a daily touch up (steady !!!) with concealer, though not with a trowel now.

Been doing extra days at work as my boss has been covering another shop so I shall be enjoying a day off today.

Now before I chunter on about me card, a warm welcome to Wendy Atkinson and thank you for following us in The Pond and in celebration of reaching over 100 followers I am going to be sending one lovely follower, what I call a Paddle Prize. 

All I ask is that you are a follower and that you kindly leave a comment on this post by 21st June 12 noon BST if you want your name to go in the hat (well, bowl really). Then, the handsome Mr D will pull a name and I shall pop a thank you gift in the post.

Today's card is the last of my cards that I made as samples for John Lockwood's Create and Craft shows (well, actually, there is one more but it didn't make it on the show)

I used the large square frame stamp from John's Cherry Blossom Elements set and stamped it in black archival ink on ivory card. I then lined up the oval die, from the SB Filigree Delight set, to cut out a nice portion of the stamped flowers. I then dotted each flower centre with black PVA pearls (and the "i" of With)

Ingredients 

Ivory card

Black card

SB Filigree Delight die set

John Lockwood's Cherry Blossom Elements stamps (flowers and sentiment)

Black Archival ink

Black satin ribbon

Ivory Pearls

Cosmic Shimmer Black PVA Pearls

Hougie Board (to score the lines within which the ribbon sits)

I think that this one has an oriental feel to it, even though it is quite CAS (well, for me hahaha!!!)

Before I leave you to enjoy your Monday, I would like to thank everyone for your much appreciated support of my little patch of Blogland. It would be very boring paddling without you all.

Hope this week brings you all health and happiness.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . For those ladies who asked how I did a circular sentiment on my computer for my last card, I have Microsoft Works on my laptop that has a feature called "Word Art" within the word processor. This allows you to make your text different shapes.

Moving Along With the Time Challenge. . . . . . . .And 100 Not Out!!!

Good morning everyone. How's it hanging? Okey dokey I hope?

Well, thanks to Babs and Cara I have reached the dizzy heights of 101 followers. . . . . . .hurrah!!! Welcome to you both and thank you for joining in the fun!!!

I have a Paddle Prize to send so keep your eyes out on the next post for further information.

Now, today's card is my DT card for this weeks MAWTT challenge, hosted by Gail and the theme is "To the happy couple" Just to clarify guys, I am on the design teams for MAWTT and House of Cards and not entering their challenges.

Hope you can join in as it would be lovely to see some of you talented folk enter.

Fortunately, I had the exact card already made for Julie and Andy's wedding and here it is. I tried various angles for the lighting to try and capture the mica but I think I was fighting a losing battle with the top photo lol!!!

I kept the colour theme to the wedding colours (I knew it was ivory and pale pink involved) and I used the Cygnus Gemini again, as per the evening acceptance card, to tie it all together. It was quite tricksy to line it up to form a square border on a single sheet of card but I like how it turned out. John's gorgeous rose bud stamp, covered in a lovely champagne coloured mica, encircles the centrepiece spot on. And, you just knew I had to get a Bitty Blossom or 3 in on the act lol!!!

Ingredients 

Ivory card 

Sue Wilson Cygnus Gemini die

Sissix Square dies

X-cut Circle die

SB Bitty Blossoms

SB Jewelled Swirls and Accents

SB Blossom Three

John Lockwood Rose Bud Elements stamp

Versamark

Champagne Mica

CE bling heart

Spun Sugar DI (all pink card is actually ivory coloured with DI)

Cosmic Shimmer pale lilac PVA Pearls (come out pale pink)

Computer generated sentiment

It was one of those rare moments I stand back from a card and think "yup, that's just what I wanted!" rather than "eeeee, that'll do" lol!!!

I didn't photograph the box that housed it as I left it quite plain with a little pink satin ribbon.

By all accounts, the happy couple loved it. Haven't had time to catch up with them yet and to see the photos.

Had a lovely belated birthday day out yesterday with Nesta, taking in a couple of garden centres, followed by lunch at once of our favourite Indian restaurants, where we were joined by John for a munch. Fun, food and frivolity!!! what every day should involve!

Thank you again for all of your wonderful comments. . . . . . and Patricia, I probably would have attracted less stares if I had grown a beard to cover the spots hahaha!!! (that Conchita thingy on Eurovision has made it fashionable now lol!!)

Hope you can join in the challenge over at MAWTT but please pop over and see what my team mates have created this week.

Enjoy the rest of your week and don't forget to check out my next post for details about my Paddle Prize.

TTFN

Ang x

Evening Acceptance. . . . . . . . .

Good morning blogging chums. Hope you are all well? To poor Jacquie, who I know is not a well girlie, mega get well wishes chuck.

I did go back to work on Tuesday but as suspected, my boss kept me behind the scenes so I didn't scare off the customers (Well, I was more scabby than Mrs Scab of Scabsville !!!). 

So, I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom (something I've been itching, pun intended lol, to do since I started there) and also tidied the tagging/steaming room.

Consequently, I went home exhausted as I did too much too soon. Luckily, I wasn't back in until Friday and as the concealer was now able to be deployed in copious amounts (think like plastering a wall), I was in the shop so more able to pace myself. I never imagined how bad Chicken Pox could be in an adult.

Now, one of the sad consequences of my poxation was that I had sent the above but then we couldn't attend.

Nesta's niece and her fella were getting married and myself and Mr D had been invited to the evening do with this lovely invite. . . . . . . . 

So, I decided to make an acceptance, in the same vein but not as an a direct copy.

Ingredients 

White linen card (PMD)

Sue Wilson Gemini Cygnus die

CE crocheted ribbon

Pink satin ribbon

CE heart gem

Cosmic Shimmer Pastel Lilac PVA Pearls (they come out baby pink)

Computer generated sentiment

I felt so sad that we couldn't go as I've known Julie since she was knee high to a grasshopper but I was in full throttle fever in bed, with swollen joints, wondering what was wrong with me (the spots hadn't appeared at that point).

Fortunately, I had already made the wedding card so that was able to be delivered to the happy couple. That will be on my next post, if you can pop back later in the week folks.

Well, that's me for today. Here's hoping that this week is kind to you all.

TTFN

Ang x

House of Cards Blog Hop. . . . . . . . . .

Good afternoon dear blogging chums. Hope this finds you well.

I am feeling better. The itching has subsided and I should be back at work tomorrow or Wednesday as the infectious stage is over. Will be behind the scenes for a few days as my face is very badly marked and its impossible to effectively Touche Eclat a scab (Yes, I have tried lol!!!)

I don't feel on top form but I would rather be making myself useful at work than vegetating here. Sorry I haven't been giving more updates but didn't want to overdose you on spots as that would be enough to make you all start itching lol!

I would like to thank you again for all for your kind comments and advice, every one appreciated and to those lovely girlies who have cheered me behind the scenes with cards and  kind words, you have been an absolute tonic (no crafty pun intended lol!!!) and I'm truly grateful.

The birthday last Thurs was different but compared to what some poor souls in this world are going through, I have no real reason to moan. I shall do as some of you suggested. . . . .if its good enough for Her Maj, a second birthday will do for me, as long as I don't have to add yet another year on lol!

Now, its time for our blog hop at House of Cards to celebrate the end of our third term and we have some fantastic sponsors so I hope you can all join in the fun.

Ingredients

White card

Eclectic Anthology Berry Delicious paper from our sponsors

SB Reflective Moment die

John Lockwood Cherry Blossom Elements stamps

Stampin Up Morning Meadow "Happy Birthday"

Docrafts "Sister"

Fuchsia satin ribbon

Comic Shimmer Pastel Rose PVA Pearls

Memento Rose Bud and Pear Tart inks

Antique Linen THDI

Black Archival ink

Green heart bling

I chose to use the Eclectic Anthology paper for my DT card as I thought they were stunning. I love my First Edition pads but these are fabulous too.

Apologies for any blips but some of the fingers were still a bit sore when I was putting this together (a combination of the spots on finger tips and swollen joints that have been a complication)

I hope you can all go a hopping and see what the other gals have come up with and hopefully, win a prize.

Here are the hopping details,

 the photo inspiration, the list of our brilliant sponsors 

with their kindly donated prizes and the list of us DT members and the hopping order . . . . . 

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!  You should have arrived here from Monika.  This hop will run FROM June 1ST AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH June 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~

So, are you ready to get hopping?!  Yep, it's time, but first we've got some fabulous sponsors to share with you!  Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prizes are hidden and we'll be doing random drawings from the blogs where they are hiding! :)  After you're done, make a creation to share with us here, too, for another chance to win!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

Our team will be using a variety of products

from these amazing companies!

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

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

Great Impressions
Prize: Prize Package

Here are the stamps you could win!

(Three total--flower, leaf, and sentiment)

Inspired By Stamping

Prize: Gift Card to Store

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

And now, here's your hop order~

 House of Cards Challenge Blog

Mynn
Sue

Barbara

Cohenna

Cornelia

Daen'Ys

Dana

Donna N.

Donna T.

Emily

Gracie

Judy

Katy

Lilian

Linda

Merethe

Michele
Monika

Mrs Duck

Pat

Rocky

Ruza

Tammy

Toni

Now get to hoppin'!  Your next stop is Pat !  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!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

So, go for it folks and best of luck to everyone.

Happy hopping!!!

TTFN

Ang x