Mum. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning my lovely blogging chums. Hope everyone is well.

I have been on the hunt for a Nutella and peanut butter blondie recipe to match that divine brownie I had at the NEC. Sue J, you a have a real treat on your doorstep there!

I have had a little play with my new goodies from the show. Lesley, sorry to disappoint chuck but the die is not a Striplet, its one of the new SB dies called Interlocking Love. It does more embossing and de-bossing than cutting. 

I think I'm just getting a bit more fussy about what I buy as I think I am already getting to SABLE (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy) proportions, hahaha!

Now, I apologise for today's picture heavy post as I wanted to capture all angles lol!!!

I never got to make my darling Mum a Mother's Day card, other than when I was a child, so my close friends have never asked me to make one, as they know it would be difficult (in a sadness way) for me.

However, Janet, one of the ladies I used to volunteer with has been having a particularly bad time recently, with her own health issues and having her parents move into residential care (her Dad has dementia and her Mum, who was her Dad's carer, had a fall and broke her leg)

We have kept in touch and she asked me if I would make her Mum a Mother's Day card.

I hadn't the heart to say no so that was my random act of kindness for that day lol!!!

I asked what card she would like and she said "flowers and blue" a bit odd, blue flowers, but blue is her Mum's favourite colour.

Well, thought I may as well push the boat out and make a matching box too. 

Interestingly, all 4 of the different flower styles are made from the same die set, HC Sunkissed Fleur. How versatile is that!

Ingredients

White card

Blue textured pearl card

HC Sunkissed Fleur (for all of the different shaped flowers)

SB Jewel Flowers and Flourishes (only the flourishes!)

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (just the foliage)

SB Labels 28

Couture Creations Swiss Dots A4 embossing folder

Papermania "Mum" stamps

CE Dazzler

MeiFlower satin ribbon

Blue curling ribbon

Wendy's Pins

Various blue inks

Bling & pearls

Paper twine (for the flower stamens)

I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out with blue flowers, but I was very pleased with it. It was difficult at times too as I couldn't help wishing I was making one for my own Mum (a few teary moments!!!)

Janet was over the moon and reported that her Mum was thrilled so some good and happiness came from it, which makes me a happy bunny.

Lovely to see you back Norah. You paddle when you can chuck. I'm grateful to everyone who stops by as I know commenting is time consuming.

That's all for me today folks. Have a great day and be good.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . . My thoughts are with the families of the lost souls from the German Wings flight. So tragic.

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

Memories of Summer. . . . . .

Good morning all you lovely folk, how's it hanging today? A spring in your step and happiness in your heart, I hope.

Well..............in the words of the great Brucie, didn't he do well (I can hear you all trying to do the impression lol!!!) John was fabulous ont telly and soon got into his crafting stride. So chuffed for him. 

I had to watch on that app thingy and the picture quality isn't great (like watching through vellum lol!) 

I met up with John yesterday morning as Julia Watts was demoing at my local craft shop so we met up for a chat. 

Have to say, Julia seemed very nice as I managed to have a chat with her before the audience arrived. She had some lovely samples.

One of the ladies got all excited when she found out John was coming along (don't worry, no underwear was thrown lol!!!) and another recognised him when he came in so that's 3 of us in the Warwickshire Branch of the JND Fan Club hahaha!!!

Before I forget, hello and thank you Sandy, Kvencel and Marian. Hope you can pop by again soon.

Also, I'm glad my destructions on John's card made sense. I know they were more Blue Peter than Create and Craft hahaha!

And, with regard to my last card the roses don't take too long. I use a lower GSM card so they are not too stiff, which means I can cut 2 or 3 at a time. They then just take me about a minute each to roll, tweak and glue, I have invested in a little glue gun which speeds up the process too.

Now, back to today's offering. Part 4 of my CEDT application. One of the required subjects was "Memories of Summer" and this was my interpretation.

I know in this country, we have to have a good memory to remember Summer lol!, but my first thought was "flowers" so that was what I went with.

Ingredients

White card

Lilac PMD card

Pink PMD card

SB Scalloped Ovals

SB Fancy Lattice

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (Fuchsia leaves)

HC Delicate Asters 

Britannia Medium Rose die (for fuchsias)

Tonic and Docrafts flower punches

Card-io English Rose and Mum's Garden Majestix stamp sets

CE sentiment stamp

Black archival ink

Distress Inks

Paper twine and seed beads (for stamens and seed pods on fuchsias)

CE white silky crush ribbon 

Bling

Gosh, what a list lol!!!

I just wanted to make it look like a flower adorned trellis with the stamping forming a floral backdrop. The greens are also more sage in real life.

I know it may be a bit of a Marmite card and it won't be everyone's cup of Typhoo (and no, today's post is not being sponsored by Tesco lol!!!) but I really enjoyed making it.

Well, that's me for today. Enjoy your Sunday and as always, be good!

TTFN

Ang x

Ps. . . . . Norah, you've given me a bit of an idea chuck. Thanks for that. Stay tuned!

Pps. . . . Ita dear. Glad I could help with the GC handle but not sure I'm best to advise on your treatment. Best to be guided by your doctor and your family honey.We dont want you back where you were last year.

Thinking of You Again. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Are we all happy and well? I hope so.

I will probably be up when this goes live, watching the qualifying for the Japanese GP (yes, I am potty lol!!!) Will be even pottier tomorrow getting up to watch the GP itself, then I'm at work (had to swap shifts)

Thank you again for your truly lovely comments on my last card. I know you shouldn't have favourites but I do have a soft spot for that card. 

Anne, I think it was you who asked where to get a Krylon pen from. I got mine from Inkylicious at the GBCF in August but they do mail order. Ebay is the only other UK source I found when I was looking. I'm going to get the silver and copper pens too as I'm smitten lol!!!

Now, today's card is the other one of the sympathy cards I had to send last month so the Tiger Lily die made another appearance.

I used the mask, to emboss, with the centre die in situ to keep the nice embossed edge of the die too and some extra foliage from an SB set.

Ingredients

White card base A5 in size

SB Majestic Labels 25

SB Tiger Lily 

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (for extra foliage)

That Special Touch Moroccan Mask

Distress Inks

White satin ribbon

Bling

Like I said before, I like to keep these cards fairly uncluttered but, hopefully with a bit of understated elegance.

Just a couple of sponsor messages. . . . . . .

Ita, you make the hospital sound like a fancy hotel but I'm sure you would still rather be at home. Fingers crossed for healthier days for you chuck.

Jackie, my goodness, you don't let the grass grow. You concentrate on getting yourself sorted and pop by when you can. We'll keep your place warm for you lol!!!

Well, that's it from The Pond today. Have a fantabulous weekend and enjoy the last of the warmish weather as we seem set for cooler temps next week.

TTFN

Ang x

All The Best. . . . . . . . .

Good morning my little blogging chums. Hope you are all happy. To the Scottish Posse, best of luck today. Be careful though, if its "Yes" you may need immigration clearance to get to the NEC in November lol!!! I can just see Patricia brandishing a pokey tool if they won't let her at the craft goodies hahaha!

Thanks for the lovely comments on my HOC card and gift box. Have to say, I was grateful for that particular photo inspiration so that I could use that paper. . . . . .its one that would have stayed in the pad for a very long time,otherwise, as its not one of my favourites (much as I love First Edition pads (34 at last count, is that bad?), there are odd papers within the pads that I'm not keen on).

Now, today's card is the get well card sent to our pal who had the heart attack last week. I think some of you may have thought Dave is a young fella. I'm not venturing an opinion on whether 60 is young (I'm not that daft lol!!!) but that's what he is and although a manly ex army, he's not been the fittest of guys in the last few years so I think this was a warning shot across his bows, so to speak. He's doing well at the moment bless him.

Ingredients
White card base A5 in size
Navy Blue PMD card
Jus Cutz A4 Rectangles
SB A2 Bracket Borders
SB Classic Ovals
SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (the moustache shaped die(I'm sure that there is a more technical name for it lol!!!)
Crafters Companion sentiment
3mm white pearls in corners(just had to as it looked bear without lol!!!)
Versamark
White detail embossing powder

That's quite a list for a simple looking card eh? There is quite a bit of depth to the card as the layers are recessed in the centre. . . . . . . . it was deep enough to attract a large letter postage, eeek!

I know I couldn't resist the pearled corners but they are only tiny ones and I still think that the card looks "butch" enough, just lol!!!

Allrighty, got a few days off and a list of jobs that could fill a roll of wallpaper but today I'm off to John's to play in his craft cave. I think he has had one of those detector things fitted on the door that will bleep if I try and half inch anything hahaha!!!

Hope you have a super day whatever you are up to.

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

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