MAWTT September/October Challenge. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Here's hoping all is well with everyone?

Mr D is full of cold so I am desperately trying to avoid catching it.......not sure how successful that endeavour is going to be.

Today its time for another challenge over at MAWTT and Carole has chosen the theme which is to use the following sketch as your inspiration . . . . . . . . .

It was a bit of a head scratcher for me (minding the splinters lol!!!) for what to use for the image as I don't do digis or colouring usually. However, I had decided a while ago to start using some of the lovely paper pads I have rather than just stroking them now and again. So, flicking through my First Edition Bird Song pad, I saw this particular paper and the little flowers reminded me of John's Cherry Blossom stamps (just squint and take my word for it folks lol!!!)

Now, that made me think of stamping them for my image, to go with the paper.

Ingredients

White card

Kiwi pearlised card (Lime Tree Crafts)

First Edition Bird Song paper

SB Classic Ovals dies 

John Lockwood Cherry Blossom Elements stamps (sentiment stamps also by John)

Watercolour pencils (for centre of cherry blossoms)

Embossing folder, I think is Bo Bunny (from a bargain bin)

Black Archival ink

Pink and white ribbon

Teeny bling

I hope that you can join in at MAWTT or at least pop over to see what the other guys on the DT have created for your inspiration.

Now, before I forget, I should qualify what I meant by "dash" on my last post. I didn't mean in a Usain Bolt stylie, but more of a two folk eyeing up the last piece of pork pie at a buffet, kinda hurried walk lol!!!

I met up with Nesta Tuesday for lunch and ventured to the cemetery yesterday as it would have been my dear Mum's birthday. Hopefully meeting John on Friday morning at my local craft shop and another friend for lunch.

I'm trying to build myself up for Saturday as I really want to go to the Great British Craft Festival at Stoneleigh. My stocks of white and cream card are down to single figures and I want to meet up with the lovely Christine. Its only about a 15 minute drive from where I live so I'm determined to go and on my own rather than having to drag Mr D. At least if I don't feel great after a couple of hours, I can just go home. . . . . . . .keep everything crossed for me.

Thank you for the comments on Davey's card. As for mounting the Three Sisters, Davey is a fit chap for his age so I'm sure that the Sisters were more than appreciative of his efforts lol!!!

Live Malaysian GP at the weekend so no lie in for me on Sunday but as they say in my Mum's Homeland, saya sangat teruja dan tidak sadar untuk menonton!!! (basically, I'm excited and cant wait).

Lastly, I'm sending best wishes to Maureen and Elaine. Maureen for your eye check up on Friday. Obviously, when your eyes are fixed, you do realise that folk will then realise the staggering about is due to you being a drunken sailor?

Elaine, sending all good wishes to you, Andrew and the family for the start of his follow up treatment today. Everything is crossed for him.

Be good all.

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.

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

A Taste of the Orient. . . . . . .

Good morning my dear paddling chums. Hope everyone is on top form or as near as they can be. Hello to the new visitors who kindly left a comment on my last post. Hope you can visit again soon. And to my friends who have been missing, I hope you are ok.

A mega thank you to you all for your wonderful comments on my last card and also on my cards being shown on the TV. I started off watching, very excited then at times, I could feel myself going pink and being a bit embarrassed (silly, I know). 

A big thank you to John for his encouragement and for designing these gorgeous stamps as without him creating them, I wouldn't have been able to make these cards. 

As for me appearing on TV, no, not me. I've said before, I've got a great face for radio hahaha!

Now, I know the title of my post makes it look like I'm advertising for the local Chinese takeaway but it relates to the look of today's card. As soon as I saw the Cherry Blossom stamps, my first thought was the beautiful blossom trees in Japan and a sort of Mount Fuji background with the flowers almost silhouetted against it.

This is another of the cards that appeared on the shows and seemed to be very popular, so much so that John demo-ed his take on the technique. I was very surprised as I thought it may look too simple compared to some of John's creations

Lucky John had that fabulous transfer tape to mask off the "mountains" but I'm afraid mine was just low tack masking tape, ripped paper and a die cut circle lol!!!

Ingredients 

White card

Black card

John Lockwood Cherry Blossom Elements Stamps

Spellbinders Classic Oval die (for the sentiment aperture)

Dusty Concord DI

Black Archival Ink

Staedler Triplus Black Fineliner (for colouring in the branches)

I hope you like it and the rest that follow (as there are a few lol!!!). Also I will be using these stamps on many projects as they are a joy to work with and I'm not a stamper lol!!!

I must say thank you to Jackie D for emailing into the show with your lovely comment and Sandra give the bokeh a go. . . . .what's to lose but a piece of card chuck!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

TTFN

Ang x