Dearest Friend. . . . . . . . .

Good morning my blogging chums. Hope you are all well.

Well, cor blimey me, did I bump my head (would explain a lot lol!!!), lose two months and wake up in Winter? I have had to go from my Summer flip flops to socks and fluffy slippers as my feet were colder than a penguins chuff! Here's hoping for an Indian Summer in September.

Bank holiday Monday was very busy at work and I'm doing extra and altered hours this week to cover some leave so spare a thought for lil' ol' moi having to do two late shifts on the trot, with 20.15 finishes, boo hoo! This means I won't be able to get over to John's this week to nosey at admire his craft space.

Now, that brings me to today's card. I made this card for John as a kinda "welcome back to Blighty" card and gave it to him on our first meet up. I did ask him if he would mind me showing it on my blog at some point and he was very happy for me to do so.

I was a bit worried it may look a bit girlie for him but our John's a modern man and was fine with the pink bows (they are duskier in real life). Some of you eagle eyed folk may have spotted it above his desk in his craft space photos.

It is a pressure making a card for someone who makes them so excellently themselves.

Ingredients

Cream card for base and top

PMD Ruby Red card

First Edition Love Letters 6x6 paper

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents

Sissix Square dies

That Special Touch Elegance mask

Dusky pink satin ribbon

Crafters Companion sentiment stamp

Bundled Sage DI

Done with different layers for dimension and interest.

Jenny, I thought you would be in crafty heaven in Kent with Christine Emberson and Oyster Stamps.

Lydia, the Spa Circuit stopped having part of it as a public road around 2000 but I hope you weren't speeding around there lol!

Jackie and Karen, what a can of worms eh? I too thought it was a silly racing incident but Lewis is really milking this one; even the team are saying he's taken Nico's explanation out of context.

Well, that's it for today folks. Thank you kindly for your comments on my birdcage card. The Hobbycutz laser cuts are very good and very inexpensive and I do enjoy using them.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week, whatever you are up to.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Pokey Tool, Wherefore Art Thou? . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. I'm hoping we haven't seen the last of Summer with these downpours that are forecast. Its Nesta's 60th birthday tomorrow (and no she won't thank me for telling you that) and I am taking her out for the day. May have to revert to Plan B if its going to be wet (not sure what Plan B is yet either lol!!!)

Firstly, a warm welcome to Mary Ellen, follower number 49. Hope you will stop by again and please leave a comment if you have time as its nice to here from you all. Also, "hi" to Pamellia and thank you for your comment. Pamellia has a blog and makes some gorgeous cards.

Well, didn't I have a crisis on Tuesday. Got up early as I had a sympathy card to make and get in the post but could I find my bloomin pokey tool? Could I eck!!!

I had drawers out, boxes out, stuff off shelves and went through my bin with a fine tooth comb (not pleasant when I discovered Mr D had been throwing his ear cleaning cotton buds in there rather than the bathroom bin eeewww!!! and no, he won't be doing that again!!!)

I didn't realise how much I use it until I couldn't find it. A new one had to be bought. Luckily, we had a new delivery of them at work a couple of days before so off I went, to get a new one.

Then, yesterday morning, I decided to clean the blinds in my craft room, which are in front of one of the desks, when what do I find? Yep, you guessed it. . . . . . . . Lord Lucan and Shergar! Lol, only joshing, they weren't that dusty hahaha!!!

Mrs Pokey had obviously rolled off the desk at some point and wrapped herself around one of the cords.

So now, I have 2 to lose in future.

Now, today's card is one I made for my sister's birthday in June. I seem to remember someone (possibly John) had done one similarish with cut out hexagons at the time so I held this back.

Ingredients

A5 sized white card base

Pink PMD card

First Edition Love Letters 6x6 pad

Pink pigment ink

SB Butterflies

Pink bling

Sort of CAS. I'm trying to get over my fear of too much white space on cards. I have done a couple recently where I have had to restrain myself from filling a gap.

Well, whatever you are up to today folks, hope you have fun and sun.

Be good and hold onto those pesky pokeys!

TTFN

Ang x

New Arrival. . . . . . .But Not Another Striplet

Good morning friends, Romans and crafters! Hope all is good in your neck of The Pond.

What beautiful weather we have been having but don't get excited John, you know it won't last in the UK! 

Thanks for your comments on here and on Sue's blog about my being lucky to be pulled (steady !!!) in the comment game.Sue is kindly sending me some stamps so I'm waiting with bated breath.

I haven't emailed her about the Sharp Striplet as I don't like to bother her with it. From now on, when I use it, I will wear a fluorescent jacket for Health and Safety purposes hahaha! Seriously, I have actually sandpapered the offending edge so its taken the razor finish off it lol!

Someone did suggest I let Mr D loose on it with a file. If I had, it would have been a Broken Glass Striplet as he doesn't do DIY. I wouldn't let him file my nails let alone a Striplet!

Now, back to the card. I did mention a few weeks ago about doing a baby card as Nesta's niece had a liitle girl. Well, finally, here it is.

I apologise for the dark pic. Didn't realise it was quite so dark and of course the card is long gone so I couldn't re-snap it.

Ingredients

A5 size cream card for base

Raspberry PMD card

First Edition Love Letters 8x8 pad

Docrafts New Arrival topper

Pink satin ribbon

Pink bling

Kaisercraft and Crafters Companion sentiment stamps

Victorian Velvet DI

Nothing fancy schmancy (no die cutting involved at all) but I thought it looked quite pretty to welcome little Anya to the World (mind you, what a World sometimes eh?)

Well, that's me folks for today. enjoy the sunshine, which hopefully is on all of you and special get well wishes to Ita and Hazel's lad, Christopher. 

Hoping to meet up with our John at the end of the week for a darn good catch up.

Be good!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Hobbycutz Challenge 54. . . . . . . . .Pink!

Good morning all you lovely folk. Hope you are in fine fettle and if not, chin up! (or in my case, its chins lol!)

I have to say, dear Ita, I could have cried when I read your comment. Nobody has ever said I bring sunshine to their heart (or any other part of their body for that matter) and it was such a lovely thing for you to say, especially as you're not a well girlie. I try and throw in a little humour to break up my wittering or I'm sure you would all be feeding your hands into your Grand Caliburs to keep awake hahaha!

Anyhoo, back to business as its challenge time at Hobbycutz again. Number 54 is "Pink", chosen by Valou and sponsored by Aurora Wings. Kobie at Hobbycutz still has some DT spots up for grabs so if you would like to be on the DT, please have a look at the sticky on the blog and contact Kobie.

Ingredients

A5 white base card

Pink PMD card

Paper from First Edition Love Letters pad (8x8)

Swirls from Hobbycutz

SB Bitty Blossoms 

SB Matting Basics A

Crafters Companion Vintage Floral Sentiments stamp

Dusky pink satin ribbon (Sanctuary Beads 50p for 25 yrds. . . . .bargain. More colours featuring in a Pond near you soon)

Aged Mahogany DI

Victorian Velvet DI

Versamark pen

White detail E/powder

I used the Versamark pen and white EP to edge the Love Letters paper as I wanted a contrast against the layer below. I tried using white gel pen but it wasn't bold enough.

I used the Aged Mahogany DI to sponge over the Hobbycutz swirls to give them a pink tinge.

Well that's today's creation. Hope you like it and that you will pop over to Hobbycutz to see what the other guys (including our Wendywoo) have created. Why not join in the challenge or apply for the DT too?

As always, thank you for your time and comments. Welcome back Jenny.

Hope the Scottish Posse have got improved weather now. If not, our Lesley has said she's got an airbrush so I'm sure that she won't mind setting up a spray tan booth. . . . . . .I fancy a bit of Tea Dye with a dash of Wild Honey for the Summer. . . . . .I think that antiques guy on the box goes for Rusty Hinge lol!!!

Christine, you know me, any excuse for a bit of "stripping" which reminds me, Lesley, does that airbrush get rid of wrinkles?

On that note, have a good week and play nicely.

TTFN 

Ang x