Shiny Happy Crafters..............

Good morning blogging chums. Hope all is calm in your bit of the world. 

I'm back to work today (boo hoo!) and doing extra days this week too (boo hoo hoo!) so with friends funeral on Thursday, its not going to be the best of weeks.

I was due to visit John last Wednesday for a catch up, exchange of Christmas pressies (yes, it had been that long) and possibly helping him prep for his Hotjohnda shows (yes, the channel has been re-named as he was on so many times last week lol!!!). However, during a chat on the phone the day before, his sniffing and coughing alerted me to the fact that he was not a well boy.

Now, friend he may be, but a germ ridden one at that, so I said I wasn't going to risk catching the lurgy by visiting and ending up spending the rest of my holiday in bed with tissues up my nostrils, sucking a Fisherman's Friend (they are throat sweets for those not familiar with the UK lozenge market and thinking I had an unusual cold remedy). But, as I had some of the stamps and dies he was using, I made some samples for John for the show to help.

These (and the Christmas pressies) were exchanged in a wet layby on the A4600 as John was en route to the studios so I dread to think what the parked up truckers thought as we ooohed and ahhhed over the bags and waving cards about (at arms length to keep away from the lurgy).

Now,this is one of the samples I made for John and a couple of you noticed its TV appearance.

Ingredients

Cream card base

Black card

John Lockwood Daffodil Burst stamp

SW striplet outer edge die

Acetate

CE double sided sticky sheet

Double sided tape

Gilding Flakes (a random box of mixed leftovers)

Ranger black archival ink

Teeny gold bling

Krylon Gold Leaf pen

I do this slightly differently to John and Sue but John did actually demo it my way on his last show. I stamp the acetate, let the ink dry for a bit, then stick the sticky sheet on top of the inked image. I find by doing this, the ink stays sharper as its, in effect, stuck to the acetate so it cant smudge or fade off.

I then peel the backing off the other side of the sheet and pop the flakes on. The acetate piece is recessed so to add a touch more flaking to the edges of the next layer, I just ran some double sided tape around the edge and gilded that.

A run around the bottom black layer with the gold Krylon pen finished it off.

Hope you managed to see John's brilliant shows. I will be featuring my other samples over the coming blog posts.

Right, busy week so onwards........................

TTFN

Ang x

John's Stamps Part IV. . . . . . . .and MAWTT Challenge

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all in fine fettle?

Thank you for your comments and concern about my wrist. It just kinda buckled when I leaned on it so I think I strained something. Its still not 100% but its better than it was. I'm still trying to rest it when I can and have been careful at work (it certainly would have been more difficult in my old job).

Unfortunately, this has meant I have not been able to do my DT card for MAWTT this week so Hazel(Didos) has kindly given me a sicknote.

I hope that you will still pop over and join in with the challenge as they are getting fruity. . . . . . see, that's got your attention now lol!!!

Please click on the above after 9am to see what my teamies have been up to and to join in the fruity fun.

Now today's creation is card number 4 card from John's stamp shows. Don't worry, I only did 72 samples. . . . . . just joshing folks lol!!!

Of course, I had to try and get my favourite Striplet in on the act so I cut it around the edge of some lilac card but only half the die.

The centrepiece of John's glorious stamps was recessed into the centre of this 8x8 card.

Ingredients 

Ivory Card

Purple card

Lilac card

John Lockwood's Rosebud Elements stamps (frame and sentiment)

Sue Wilson's Embroidered Striplet

Versamark

Purple mica

Memento Dew Drop Sweet Plum ink

I'm hoping to do something similar for a wedding card due a week on Saturday. Hopefully the wrist will improve by this weekend so I can get it done.

I had a sympathy card to send to a friend this week and had to, shamefully . . . . . . . . buy a card (ooooh, that hurt to say). I bought it from work so at least it benefits a charity but apologies to the lady concerned and for my writing which looked like an epileptic spider had done the foxtrot across the card.

Well, thhhhhats all folks, except to say, thank you to some new names for kindly leaving comments. Hope you can visit again soon.

Take care all and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

On Your Wedding Day. . . . . . .

Good morning, one and all. Hope this finds you well. A bit chillier in these here parts and for the Scottish Posse, I bet its nippy round the Trossachs! (have to say, my Trossachs need an extra layer at this time of year lol!!!).

Hopefully, Blogger behaves and this post goes live when it should today.

A warm welcome to the Pond to Margaret. Nice to have you come paddle with us. Also, hello to some new names on the comments. Thank you for stopping by and hope you can visit again soon.

Glad you all liked my first Christmas card (sorry Janice, it is the one and only at the moment) and my bow experiment.

Now, today's card is one I mad for Nesta to give to her niece for wedding part two at the end of October. As always with her niece, the colour scheme was purple and gold, so I ran with this.

Ingredients

Cream card 

PMD purple card

Gold mirror card

The Striplet

Sissix Squares

Hobbycraft heart punch

Versamark

Gold mica powder

Pearls

I used The Striplet around the edge, only cutting half which is a little tricksy, especially going round corners but worth it, I think. My, did I have to cut some small foam pads to raise it above the gold layer.

The card was, apparently, well received so you can't ask for more.

I have been eyeing Sue's new Striplets but I have actually bought 3 of the new Spellbinders Borders that operate like a Striplet. Soon as I get 5 minutes (New shifts again!!!) to play, I shall.

I haven't forgotten about the choccy peanut recipe. I will check if it's available on line to refer you by link (its a Nigella so I don't want to get sued for putting it on here)

For any of you who live near the NEC you may be interested to know about the World Duty Free Airport Sale in December. They have it every year and you can get some corking bargains on perfumes, handbags, cosmetics etc. Just visit the NEC website, register and print off your tickets. Its free to get in and so is the parking. To give you an idea of the savings, I've bought Radley handbags for £30 and perfume sets with RRPs of £90 for £25.

Anyhoo, that's me for today. Til next time, be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Thanks Ever So Much. . . . . .200, Not Out!

Good morning everyone. I hope, if you have hatches, they are well and truly battened down. The remnants of Hurricane Gonzo (or whatever its called) have certainly battered my poor garden and launched the top of next doors soil pipe onto their kitchen roof!!!

I did take advantage yesterday with a line of washing, that fortunately didn't blow into another postal code, lol !!!

Nesta's niece has her English wedding on Thursday (the Hindu ceremony was in August. . . . . remember the bangle box I made? (click here for a reminder) in a gazebo in the grounds of a hotel. Could well be a gazebo in the River Avon at this rate!!! 

I am so pleased to welcome two new followers to The Pond, Kim and June. So lovely to have your company ladies. 

This has now taken me to 60 lovely followers. I was going to do a little pressie at 50 followers but it seemed to scoot past quite quickly but as this is also my 200th blog post (and they said, or hoped, it wouldn't last lol!!!) I will get Mr Duck to draw a name from the hat, well bowl, and I will send the lucky person a gift to commemorate the momentous occasion.

All you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment on this post before midnight (GMT) on Saturday 25th October. Good luck and thank you all for your support.

Now, back to the card. Its my final card from my CEDT application and possibly my favourite.

There was a happy accident with this card. After I inked the edges of The Striplet layer, I glued it to the layer underneath and decided to run it through the GC to make sure it stuck properly.

I forgot, that the effect that has, is to push the die cut layer into the layer below in a kinda embossing effect. Half way through the GC, it dawned on me and it was a real, what Mr Duck calls, squeaky bum moment until it had gone all the way through.

Well, I was delighted with the effect (seemed to remember John having a similar thing happen with a patchwork card). You can sort of see the effect on this snap. . . . . .

Ingredients

Cream card

Pink card

The Striplet

SB Bitty Blossoms

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (centre piece stamped with sentiment)

Sissix Squares

CE sentiment stamp

Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar DI s

Pink satin ribbon

Pearl

Pink bling

I know I've channel set my roses again but I thought it looked pretty.

As the card says, "Thanks ever so much" and that's to all of you who support my little blogging meanderings and for your lovely encouraging comments. As has been said, there's always next year so onwards and upwards.

So remember all, to be in the draw for a thank you pressie, please ensure that you are a follower and you leave a comment by Saturday night. . . . . . . .this is where I hope I don't suddenly get a new follower from the MIR Space Station; imagine the postage lol!!!

Before I waddle off again, how great to see our John on the box again so soon. I think it was a bit last minute but he has really settled into it and the show with Martyn raised a laugh or two (yes, that was my email that got read out and no I have never met Martyn at the NEC or anywhere, and no, my hair is NOT "reddish" or "strawberry" thank you very much John! lol!)

Right, enough of me. Enjoy the rest of your week and time to behave as our Patricia is back from Drayton Manor.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . .I,  like others, have been having Blogger issues, mainly a disappearing reading list. So, if I'm late getting to your blog, I humbly apologise. x

House of Cards October Challenge. . . . . . . .Use a die or punch

Good afternoon everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours.

An official welcome to The Pond to Norah. Thank you for your lovely comments and for clicking the followers button. I know you have had a lot of sadness recently so thank you for taking time to pop by. Also, a warm welcome to Sandy who has kindly joined our happy band. Thank you also to Sheila and Jackie Trinder for your visits too. Hope you will come for a paddle again soon. The more the merrier!

I want to thank you all for the wonderful and supportive comments you left on my last post. Its heart warming to get such encouragement when you're feeling a bit down and that's why I know how lucky I am to have such fabulous blog chums. You are appreciated, every single one of you!

Now, today's creation is another of the cards I submitted as part of my CEDT application and I thought it just right to show for my DT offering for House of Cards October Challenge. This month, the theme is use a die or punch. I hope that you can all pop along and have a look at what my lovely team mates have come up with and it would be marvellous to see some of you enter. I've seen some of the gorgeous things you do with dies folks, so give it a go!

Sorry its another gold and black number (though it does look more like kraft card on this pic lol!!!) but as you will see from my last post, I swapped that card over from the original one I had planned to show. I promise it will be the last black and gold for a while lol!!!

Its a single piece of soft gold card with an offset fold and The Striplet cut from it 3 times, once at one end and twice at the other (remembering to turn the card over so that the front of the die cut is facing the front on both portions)

Also, if you were thinking that it looks longer than The Striplet, I did extend the pattern so your eyes are not deceiving you lol!!!

There is a piece of black card behind the front page and I cut The Striplet again but in a place where it would form a shadow behind the front gold cut., so essentially, there's a solid black background, a shadowed black background, then see through when the three are lined up together (you can probably see this best on the top picture)

Ingredients

Soft gold card (Lime Tree)

Black PMD card

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 2

The Striplet

CE sentiment

Papermania black bling

Black satin ribbon

CE dazzler coloured gold with my Krylon pen

Black archival ink pad

Versamark pad

Clear embossing powder

I was really pleased with how this came out and its one of Mr Duck's favourites (bless him, he did get me a beautiful bouquet to cheer me up last week, he does surprise me at times lol!!! There was also a tub of chocolates, but he ate most of them!. . . . . I would have bet on that outcome lol!!!)

As I said, hope you can join us at House of Cards. Would be great to see some familiar names.

Until next time, take care.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . Karenlotty, sorry chuck but Blogger is not letting me add extra pics to this post (I had already scheduled these ones before I said I would pop on pics of how I did John's card). I will pop them on at the same time as I do my next post, so hope that's ok. x

Golden Wedding. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is good with you and you're enjoying a bit of September sunshine. One of the jobs on my list was the garden so I was out there yesterday cutting things back ready for winter.

Thank you for your kind comments on Anya's box frame. I think it will have a photo of her 21st in there by the time I get to hand it over hahaha!!! 

Before I forget, Pamellia, The Singapore GP is the Formula 1 motor racing, of which I am an avid fan.

Kate, I'm so glad I had gone incommunicado when the GP highlights started otherwise if I had read your comment at the time you posted it, I would have only been part way through the highlights program and you told me who had won hahaha! Would have then taken you across my knee in the Harvester in November lol!!! Wendy, thank you for not telling me lol!!!

Now, today's card I made and sent to our Patricia and her hubby John for their Golden Wedding Anniversary at the weekend. A few weeks ago, Patricia mentioned in conversation about this momentous occasion being in September. As I didn't know what date in September, I quickly made this card to get in the post to mark the happy event (if I had realised I had more time, I would have made a better job of it lol!!!).

I would have been happy to not show this on the blog if Patricia preferred to keep it private but she was happy for me to show it after the special day.

Ingredients

Cream card base A5 in size

More cream card

Gold mirror card

The Striplet

HC Delicate Asters dies

Sissix Heart dies

Kassies Brocade embossing folder

Krylon Gold Leaf Pen

Habico sentiment

Papermania embossing powder

Ribbon

Pearls

I feel very lucky to be able to call Patricia a friend and just didn't want this wonderful milestone to pass without my sending something.

Hope you saw Patricia and John's wedding snaps on her blog. What a handsome and happy pair they made and still do!!! Congratulations again to you both.

Well, that's me folks, except to say to those who met John at the weekend, see I told you he didn't bite lol!!!

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Boho Chic Meets The Striplet. . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Are we all ready for the weekend? I'm at work today but as its usually busy, the time passes quickly. Luckily, I still get to see a couple of Sue Wilson's shows today, yippee! (and all of tomorrows, double yippee!)

Thank you for your kind comments on my sympathy card. I'll show the other one I photographed  soon. I'm going to use that poor lily die on a happier card as its a shame to keep it just for sad occasions. 

Now, today's card was an overdue play with my lovely Striplet.

A very simple layered up card using cream and black card with a piece of First Edition Boho Chic paper with The Striplet cut out of it.

This paper has a lovely clear embossed effect pattern on it, which you can just see on the next photo.

Ingredients

Cream A5 card base

Black PMD card

Boho Chic 8x8 paper pad 

The Striplet

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (the leaf die)

Sissix Squares

Hobbycraft sentiment stamp

Lovely pattern, you can just see.

Well, enjoy your weekend with Sue Wilson. Haven't broken the news to Mr D as yet but soon as he sees the remote control welded to my chair, he will no doubt roll his eyes and go and mow the lawn lol!!!

Have a great weekend folks.

TTFN

Ang x

One of Those Cards. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone, their freezers and other kitchen appliances are well. Its an expensive business this home owning mularky eh?

Before I forget, I must apologise if I seem to be missing from your blogs. For some reason, with some, I can get on to the blog but it won't publish the comment (my Mrs Duck ID missing underneath) and my Reading List keeps disappearing. Its getting quite frustrating but please be assured, I haven't forgotten you, I am trying to comment lol!

Thank you for your kind comments on my card for the fellas. Have had to do another fella card yesterday as a get well card. Unfortunately, one of Mr D's friends, who is also one of his colleagues has suffered a heart attack (seems to be a lot of it about lately). He seems to be on the mend but it was a bit of a worry. Never made a get well card for a guy before (particularly one who is ex army and wouldn't appreciate any fru fru!) but I shall show it to you all soon.

Now, today's card was going to be a 21st card I made for my one of my workmates and then the next post was going to be the gift box given with it. However, John has pipped me to the post with his card yesterday so Roxy's card is on hold.

Sadly, recently I've had to make those cards we don't like to make as 3 of my friends have lost parents. One card, I didn't photograph as it had to go straight in the post and my camera wasn't charged.

This is one of the cards. I like to try and keep them simple and uncluttered and I knew that the SB Lily die would come in handy for these occasions. Thought that The Striplet should make another appearance too.

I inked through the die with DIs and added teeny weeny bling to the centres.

Ingredients

White card base A5 in size

Extra white card

The Striplet

SB Tiger Lily die

Pink satin ribbon

Distress inks

Kaisercraft sentiment stamp

Bling

You always just hope that your words can give a bit of comfort at a terribly sad time.

On that cheerful note, lol, I shall tootle off and hopefully enjoy a peaceful shift at work.

Have a great day yourself folks.

TTFN

Ang x

Bangle Box. . . . . . . .

Good morning my little Duckadees, I do hope this finds you well.

Thank you, as always for your lovely comments, always encouraging and always appreciated.

Nesta did love the gift bag but I think she was more interested in the contents lol!!! For my overseas chums, Cadburys Chocolate Buttons are milk thin chocolate discs, about the size of an average button, that melt very nicely on the tongue.

Whilst we are on a Nesta theme, I thought I would show you the bangle box that I made for Nesta to give her niece for the blessing last weekend.

She had asked a male friend to find an A4 size purple box (as she didn't want to bother me) but he hadn't much sense of urgency and so I was seconded at the last minute.

As part of a Hindu blessing, the bride has to be presented with saris and bangles from various relatives. These were the ones Nesta was handing over.

A beautiful array of colours but the box had to be A4 and sturdy and the lid had to be cut away in areas to show off the bangles.

Fortunately, I had kept some purple cardboard boxes that had housed some card I had ordered from C & C ages ago, so I made a sturdy base for the box (it wasn't big enough to make the entire box from)

I then used some PMD A3 purple card to cover this and make the sides deeper.

I then popped a doubled over piece of the cardboard down the centre to stop the bangles moving in the box.

The lid was also made from purple PMD card out of which I cut rectangles, squares and the wonderful Striplet and backed with acetate. 

It meant that you could see just enough of the bangles  inside.

I also used a Hobbycraft punch around the edge of the lid and backed the aperture with gold card (you can see this on the very top photo)

I apologise for the picture heavy post but I was rather pleased with how this turned out and apparantly, it drew some admiring glances from Nestas family and the blessing guests, some of whom just handed over bangles in clear plastic bags.

One last snap. . . . . . . . . .

That's it now, I promise, before you overdose on bangles and boxes photos lol!!!

The official wedding is in October so I have an order for the wedding card for then.

Charity shop for me today. At least some little cherub won't have gone smooshing a cerise pink pigment ink pad on several paper pads, some wooden stamps and 2 pots of Modge Podge in there. . . . . . . .yes, that was yesterday's delight at work.

Whatever you're up to this week, enjoy!!!

TTFN

Ang x

Nesta's 60th Birthday. . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely folk. Hope you are all well. Ita, great to read that you are out of hospital. Hope that you will feel better for being at home.

Its been a busy few days at The Pond. Did some extra hours at work last week as the owner was in for a visit, then out for the day with Nesta on Friday for her 60th, then mine and Mr D's wedding anniversary on Saturday. . . . . . . .its all go!!!

By the way, Gail hope you and hubby had a wonderful day on Saturday celebrating your anniversary too.

As for Pokeytoolgate, I did say to Mr Duck "Would you kindly refrain from putting your cotton buds in my bin". . . . . . . . Well, I forget the exact conversation but I think it was something similar lol! I suppose I should be grateful he hadn't been using my pokey tool to clean his ears. One thing did surprise me, for someone with apparently clean ears, he never hears me (unless its "Do you want some pudding? or "whose is that £5 note?")

Now, I must apologise for the very picture heavy post as its Nesta's card and box in various poses (just be grateful that I've saved the gift bag for another day lol!)

Yes, I was sad enough that pattern on the box lined up with the pattern on the card below.

The card packs flat into the box but then is 3D when standing. . . . . .its about 7"x 7"

The centre portion is suspended with jewellery illusion line and has the same "60" panel on all three sides.

Ingredients

White card

The Striplet

SB Fancy Tags Three

SB Classic Ovals

Sissix Square dies

X Cut Circle die

Card-io Rose stamps

Docrafts Number and sentiment stamps

Inkylicious sentiment stamp

Distress Inks

White embossing powder

Sanctuary Beads satin ribbons

Pink bling

Acetate (for lid of box)

Illusion cord

                                                         The inside base of the box.

Once again, apologies for all the pictures. Nesta loved it and I must admit, I was pleased with the way it turned out. 

Nesta has also asked me to thank you all for your kind birthday wishes. The gal may be 60 but she only looks 40. . . . .its sickening lol!!! Wish I could show a snap but she still wants to be anonymous (to protect the innocent).

Next post will be the matching gift bag housing 60 packets of chocolate buttons!!!

Til then, be good.

TTFN

Ang x