Stamp and Stamp and Stamp

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:34:00 +0000

Helloo...........Ok, I have three more 52Q's to catch up on and then I'm up to date. I'm quite pleased with myself for keeping up with them, even though it has been difficult at times trying to fit some crafting in to my little 'time share' LOL!!

So, here are my two recent tags......................first, "What is my latest Obsession?" Mmmmmm, all I can say is YUM!! LOL!

Secondly, "If I had a free day to do anything, what would I do?"

I used some very old plain coloured card for these two tags. For the latest obsession qu, I used plain thick brown card and punched a few circles using my 1" circle (never? lol) punch. I then added some glossy accents in 2 separate shifts and used these as my pretend choccie buttons. Quite an clever idea for me as I'm hopeless with ideas normally, LOL.

I also noticed, after making the pink tag, that I said I would go to our nearest beach, but I haven't painted any water/sea, nuffink resembling the beach/sea at all, lol, but nevermind, it's in my mind, so that's all that matters..... ha ha LOL!! Plus, the white pen would not write very well on the pink card, though I did persevere, but it didn't come out very bold at all, hope it's legible. :)

Anyway, that's it for now, I hope you like my creations and thank you for popping along. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:43:00 +0000

I seemed to have slipped by the wayside again, lol. Nevermind, I'm back now. I've been able to catch up with a few little projects, but time just isn't on my side lately and I feel I'm constantly battling between work, family life and ME time.

Anyway, I guess that's the way life goes for most of us, it's just how we use our time is the important thing.

So, I've managed to catch up on my 52Q's, I believe I have maybe 2 or 3 (that's including this weekend to complete). I've tried not to faff about too much with them but just feel relaxed about the way I do them instead.

I've also made a birthday card using a very cute little stamp and received my inchies back from the May swap. I have yet to photograph the remainder of the set, so will upload those soon.

Here's one of my 52Q's........

Birthday card..........

May Inchies - The swap was hosted by a lovely member of Bubbly Funk, called Suzie. She was a super host. The theme was black and white, with a hint of red.

I will upload some more photos tomorrow sometime. Thanks lovely peeps for taking a look. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Haven't we been so lucky with the beautiful weather over the past few days? I have to say though that it is a bit too hot for me, so hopefully the next few days are going to be a bit cooler. I'm already beginning to look like a candy stick, lol.

Anyway, I've managed to catch up with 3 of my 52Q's. With quite a few things to catch up on, I didn't know what to start first, lol, but I guess I'll get there in the end.

I've managed to catch up on What makes me ME?, What is the Truth? and What is on your to do list today?

Apologies for the first one on the reverse of the card as I missed off the 's' on 'makes', when I read the title to myself, 'I tounded a bid like hiss', like I had a 'bocked dose' LOL!! Silly me.

Next is What is the Truth, probably not in the right order, but hey ho.

Third one is What is on your to do list today? I used the note paper that I had actually wrote my list on, so thought that would be a good idea. Not happy at all with this one, very plain, very boring. I just ripped it a little bit and even left my doodleys on it, as you do, when making a list, (well, I do hee hee).

I've got a set of triangular ATC's completed and ready to post onto Carol who kindly hosted the swap for us on Bubbly Funk, so will pop a piccy on later this week.

That's it for now, I have a couple of other things that I'm working and planning to work on, so hopefully I can show and tell (ha ha) those soon.

As always, thank you for popping by and leaving a comment. XX

Return from the Bubblies Retreat!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Yes indeed, a week has gone by since I arrived home from my first ever crafting weekend retreat .

Did I have a nice time.....? YES, I had a cracking time, despite being homesick for nearly 3 days LOL!! I was only an hour and three quarters away from home, but nevertheless, I felt dreadfully homesick from the moment I arrived, (Friday 4pmish), up until early Sunday afternoon. Silly really, but I've never been away from home for that long before without Simon and Martyn.

I met some of the lovely bubblies a few times before, but there were a few new bubblies that we had not met, so it was a real pleasure to meet them IRL. Everyone was lovely, everyone made it as cosy and as fun as possible and despite it being a new thing for most of us, everyone seemed to get along nicely and share their stash, ideas and their laughter. It was lovely and despite myself being quiet, I enjoyed myself and it was just lovely and relaxing crafting for most of each day, without having to worry about little ones asking when lunch or tea is ready, or what are you doing now Mum.....LOL.

Our group piccy...................

We had our own chefs on board hee hee, a few of the girls did the cooking and made sure we had a lovely evening meal each night. Think I will hire these for special occasions lol.

Roll on Retreat 2010!!

Here's a few pics of the weekend.................

This is TraceyR's monkee that she won in the raffle. I think he's doing a grand job holding Tracey's retreat planner............don't you? (hee hee).

My creations and tags from each of the bubblies ready to go into my Retreat Planner, (when it's made). Hopefully before May 2010, LOL!!

Aside from the main group pic that we had taken, this one has to be the next best one. It's just simply lovely, and as TraceyR said, it kind of represents our friendship. "Sniff Sniff" LOL.

I haven't taken close up piccies of the things we made yet, so will do that later this week and upload them.

What have I done this weekend.....? Well, not an awful lot really. Have had the continuation of my headache from the retreat weekend, which carried on last week and a bit of this weekend too. I feel it's because I am just over tired, so have tried to rest when I can, but it's not always convenient to do that.

Yesterday, I unpacked my stash from last weekend. What a chore eh lol? Anyway, most of it is done now, so this afternoon I managed to spend an hour and a bit making a very belated birthday card. I managed to finish it after tea and take a piccy before the light faded and just in time before my camera batteries when flat.

So I'm back to work tomorrow :-(( but Simon and Martyn are off all week, lucky things. Hope to be back later this week with the creations from the retreat.

Ooh, nearly forgot......................Karen taught us how to crochet. Well, she tried her darned hardest, aimed with loads and loads of patience too. I think I had my hand up more than anyone else saying.......Karen, Karen, I'm stuck LOL, and this was just after she showed me what to do, as soon as she walked off to go to Tracey, I'd forgotten, then tried to see what Tracey was doing, try it on mine and hope for the best, LOL!! Anyway, I've resorted to ordering a crochet book, so at least I will have something to refer to and work from, hopeless with something new until it 'clicks', then it's the best thing ever, lol.

Bye for now and thanks for popping along and reading my blog. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:28:00 +0000

For Today...

Outside my window........for once, I'm at home and it's the weekend...........so at the moment as I look outside my lounge window, my son has just gone outside and I think he's going to wait for his pals in our garden....

From the learning rooms........More Psychology :-)

I am thankful for.........managing to have the energy and 'mental' strength all day yesterday, to prepare my things for the Bubblies Retreat next weekend.

From the kitchen..........Not long finished eating some peppered ham and salad wraps for tea.

I am wearing.........pale pink cropped linen trousers, with tee shirt and fake crocs LOL (I use them as slippers LOL!!)

I am reading...............Started to read No Second Chance by Harlan Coben. I really do love his novels, I think he has to be my favourite to date........could all change mind LOL.

I am hoping..........I have 1 hour's lunch and usually come home in the car. Though I've decided to see how long it will take for me to walk home for my lunch. So tomorrow I would like to be able to walk home for lunch, within 10-15 minutes, eat my lunch and then hopefully leave 1.45 and be back at work for just before 2pm. Can I do it.....? I hope to walk to work in the morning too, walk home for lunch and back to work, then walk home when I finish for the day.

I am creating.........well, I've just finished my pages in Karen's CJ and have not planned anything else until after I return from the retreat.

I am praying.........for my Mum's health and for her to be seen by a specialist very soon. I'm also praying for a friend, whose Mum has been given very sad news about her health. I pray my friend will be strong for her Mum.

Around the house...........quietness, with the wonderful sound from the birds outside in the back garden.......

One of my favorite things.........When our son comes into our bedroom and flounces on the bed, together with Ozzy our dog and we chatter, chatter and have a giggle, before Martyn goes to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week..........Take Hubby's car in for a new clutch tomorrow.......prepare my clothes and last minute check up of my list for the retreat.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you......

This is Ozzy grabbing the sunshine patch on our landing. It was slowly fading away though whilst he was sat there. He tried to squeeze right up to the wall after this, thinking that's where the sun was going too.............aww, bless his bum, he's soooo daft, LOL!!

Sorry that I don't have anything creative to show you, I still haven't caught up with the 52Q's.....yikes LOL, so I will do those after next week. The retreat has been on my mind a lot over the past couple of months, of which I'm really looking forward to meeting up with everyone, but it's also a long weekend away from my family, something that I hardly, well, maybe once in a blue moon, every do. I shall return to said blog LOL, with photos and crafty makes next week. (I may be back on during the week though, LOL). XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Hellooooo............I should be creating and ticking off what's on my 'to' do' list, but just can't get into the swing of it yet, so I started a card on the weekend, not for any particular reason, (the one that took my hours lol), and finished it earlier tonight, as I had half hour free ME time, ha ha. I stamped the background with the little flower stamps, cut out the middle section, then used it again to matt and layer the other cardstock. It's not for anyone really, just here in case it is needed one day.............

Materials used:-

Inks - Versacube in Boysenberry and Lime
Kaleidacolor in Desert Heat
Bazzill cardstock - Monochromatic in Velvet
Bazzill Orange from the Bling trio (spoiled brat, 24 karat)
Bazzill Limeade
Labels 1 dies
Valencia ribbon
Misc button
Stamps - Denami Design (think they were the hawaii set from Stamp Addicts)

Size of card is approx 5.5" x 5.5"

I also made up a few meals on the weekend, just to save the toil of doing it straight away when I get in from work. I envy the fact that when I wasn't working, I was able to collect my son from school, then start on the tea and it would all be ready for around 5.15 when Simon came in from work. Everything just seems to be rush, rush, rush nowadays and the time goes soo quickly. Nevermind though, I guess it's the way things go...........

So I made corned beef hash. I know there are various ways of making this, but it was lovely and we ate it for tea yesterday and today. Used a large casserole dish, and whereas normally the meal would be divided into 3, I divided it into 6 lol. It was ample served with vegetables and the other half lasted for another 3 meals. I think we all have to economise and try not to eat too much, what with the recession etc, but it's not going to stop me from having an indian on the weekend, LOL, LOL!!!!

I seem to have moments when I will bake (cakes) on the weekend, then do nothing for weeks, then start back on it again. Think it's the satisfaction of knowing we can eat it at the end, lol.

Anyway, on that note, thanks for looking and see you soon. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Helloooo.......It's been a not so sunny Sunday unfortunately, so after a bit of a lay in, (unheard of for a very long time lol), we all got up around 10-15!! I know I certainly needed the extra few hours, ha ha.

I started to think about the last two week's worth of 52Q's, but just didn't get any further than that. I know by now, that this week's will have been announced, so that makes me three weeks behind, nevermind though. I'm going to plan this week, what I need to do for them.

So, I started to make a card, about 2.30 of which I still haven't finished as I didn't really have any particular plan/design to start with, so I took a fair while. I think I left it about 5pm, (I know, I can hear you saying OMG lol) and thought I'd try again next week, if I get the time. I always say walk away and go back to it later on. Doesn't always work for me though, lol.

I did finish off a card I was making for a colleague in work, who did me a very kind deed, so it's basically a 'Thank You' card for her.

Materials:

Hero Arts - Dahlia Blossom stamp
Hero Arts - 'Thank You' Tag stamp
Bazzill Bubblegum cardstock, punched at 2 sides using the Fiskars Threading water punch
Misc - wooden flower (I think though it may have been from Mad About Cards, years ago)
Misc pink mini safety pin
Ribbon - Valencia
Inks - Color Box (Petal Point) Arboretum in Magenta
Marvy Matchables in Orange

I've also popped a couple of pics on of the recent swap I took part in on Bubbly Funk for April. The theme was to have a white background with an image of a bird on it. Need to get started on May's now, lol.

Names in no particular order (LOL!!):-

Hazel, Tracy, Leigh, Nicky S (MHK)

Suzie, TraceyR, Hazel, Karen

Ali, Beth (ME), Nicky S, Paddy

Janice, Carol, Joanne, Gez

Materials used for my bird inchie were:-

Hero Arts Sketched Birds Set - LL1195

Bird - Dove C4691

Inks - Mary-Dee Grueing Blending Blox - Shades of Turquoise on Glossy card

I did another bird for a second set, but have forgotten to photo it, so will do that next week.

There's a few extra photos than I would normally upload, but after going to a car rally a few weeks ago, I took quite a few photos, (have been having a break from photography for a couple of months), so going to the rally seems to have renewed my mojo, lol.

That's all for now and thank you for popping along. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:19:00 +0000

For the few moments I had today, I spent them by visiting a few blogs, (didn't cover them all, will do that tomorrow or on the weekend, hee hee), but I love to visit, comment and just see how clever each person is with their beautiful work. Each one is different and just shows a piece of that person's character. The blogs that I mainly visit are those from my fellow buddies on Bubbly Funk. Always inspiring and always something different each time. You are such lovely people and I'm glad I've had the pleasure of meeting a few of you in real life, and look forward to meeting a few more on the Bubblies Retreat in a few weeks time. I'm blinking nervous about it mind, but excited aswell!!

I just thought I had to say that little piece above, I think I may have had one of my 'moments', lol.

Okay, all I have to show for now is the last two 52Q cards that I've done. I was up to date, but am now 2 weeks behind lol, but nevermind.

Here are weeks 13 and 14.

Wk 13 - Best or worst hairstyle to date.

For a bigger piccy of the little ones above........have a little look here.....

My worst hairstyle was this one.................... for some reason I had a very slight perm, I don't know why as my hair was still relatively curly and wavy, but it went a bit frizzy every now and again, plus it was exaggerated slightly in this piccy as it was a bit windy that day, lol.

I loved my hair during my school days, it was thick, long and I just, well.....loved it, lol. This was taken at my friend's house. She loved Nick Hayward from Haircut 100, anyone remember those..............lol?

I think this has to be my most favourite hairstyle, unfortunately the girl that did it, started a family and I never saw her again and no one has really done it the way I like it. It's not exactly exciting in this photo lol, but it was the cut that I liked, she just seemed to do it right. Ooh, notice the white bag in two of the photos.........? Hee hee, I seemed to take that bag everywhere, lol.

My week 14 was 'What was the last book I read?'

I used a book stamp for this, only just thought of it though at the last minute, lol. I forget the name of the manufacturer, but it's a handy stamp and quite versatile too.

So, that's it for now, I had better hurry up and catch up with the other 52Q's and some of the challenges/competitions over on the Fiskarettes and Bubbly Scrumptious Blogs. Thanks for popping by. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:16:00 +0000

I've been looking and searching in my little craft room for a small tin to decorate/alter for an Altered Tin challenge that Karen put on the Bubbly Scrumptious Blog a few weeks or so ago. For a start, I didn't think that I had one anyway, but I thought I'd look and hopefully one would miraculously appear, lol. Anyway, for a few weeks now I've been looking and searching, but nothing.

When all of a sudden today, (whilst I wasn't thinking about the altered tin challenge), I happened to look over to the window cill in my room, moreso to just gaze out of the window and do more thinking, LOL, when I noticed in the right corner a LITTLE TIN!! I was amazed and wondered why I had not seen it before.

So, I thought right, I am going to use this. By the way though, I did have a tin to alter, (come to think of it), but it was a big lunch box tin and I would have taken 25 years to decorate that, so I left that one alone, LOL.

I decided to use my alcohol inks on this little tin. It's quite tiny, measuring approximately 2.5" (60mm) x 1.5" (38mm) x just over 0.5" (15mm) deep. Apologies if that was toooooo approximate, LOL!!

I used STREAM, WILD PLUM & LETTUCE inks and away I went. I left the inside blank and thought I would take it to work, place it on my desk and use it for change, should I ever need any spare pennies in work. I shall pop a piccy on the Bubbly Scrumptious too.

Here's my altered tin..........................

As for my 52Q's, apart from last sunday's question, I've now managed to finally catch up with the others. I'm glad I decided to keep up with these. I keep thinking of what they will be like to look over at the end of the year, once they are made up into a little (or BIG lol) book.

I also thought today, (I do a lot of thinking lol) that although with my first few cards that I did, I think I may have printed some of the text, it is only recently that I thought (including thinking today LOL), that I would use my own handwriting and try to develop my own style just for these alone. At the end of all of this, they are staying with me and if I do them without making them look too perfect, then they would seem kind of natural and would relate to the weekly question at hand. I don't know, I thought it makes sense to me, but maybe I haven't explained it properly. ;-)

So, here are weeks 11 & 12. I shall pop weeks 13 & 14 on tomorrow.

I used Rhonna Farrer Flourishes on Wk 12 and the owl is from one of the Bubbly Funk Kits a while ago.

Wk 12 - 52Q's

I used an Hero Arts bloom stamp for week 12, together with some dark/light small pink gingham ribbon threaded through a Bazzill Hillary coloured button. I swirled some pink and white spotted ribbon and used it as the stem of the flower.

Wk 12 - 52Q's

Thanks for taking a look. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Following on from the Orange inchies in my last post, I realised later that I forgot to add the 2nd set, so with a bit of luck tomorrow, I can photograph them in good light and pop them on. Sorry bubblies!!

I've made a big effort to catch up with my 52Q cards and just need to make up 2 of them and then take a look at the recent one just gone, (Sunday) and then do that one too. Since being back at work, it's almost impossible here to do anything during the evening, as I either just want to chill out on the net for an hour and just not have to think about concentrating on anything, lol.

So, I won't bore you with all of the 52's that I've caught up with lol, so will just put 2 on for now.

Wk 9 - What was the last brave thing you did?

Wk 10 - Name 5 movies that inspire you creatively

.................well, I could only think of one right now, LOL!!

The story to this film 'Frankie & Johnny' is absolutely beautiful. I love Al Pacino and think he is such a talented actor as well as a bit of a stonk (moreso in his younger day lol), but he'll do for me whatever age LOL. When Frankie & Johnnie go out for the evening on a Saturday night, (and as Al sings it in the film "Saturday night, the loneliest night of the week"), Frankie reluctantly agrees to go out with him to stop him from pestering her and toward the end of the evening, or rather, earlier hours, they stop in the market area at the back of a delivery van, when all of a sudden the van door slides up and there is the most beautiful array of bouquets of flowers, all different colours. You can almost smell them. This part of the film always inspires me to want to create something/anything with lots of colour in. Something almost misted or watercoloured, hence why I made my card based on my translation from this film. :-)) I always cry when I watch this film, but it is worth watching, especially if you like both Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Frankie requests that the radio station plays "Claire de Lune" by Debussy. This is a beautiful piece of music.

I'm really glad I didn't give up, as, once I started to catch up and keep notes of the events/feelings from the stated week dates, I really felt it was worth it's while, as I know I will have lots of mixed feelings when I look back at what has happened over THIS past year, come the end of the year and a lot has happened in my personal life, so hopefully it will be uplifting and both positive too.

I also intended for my blog to include only craft related blogging stories lol, but I guess now and again a couple of other things will pop in. I thought I'd pop a piccy on of Ozzy our yorkshire terrier who has been quite poorly the past month. Thankfully he is much better now and was well enough today to have his annual booster. The vet has been amazing and said she was so pleased with his recovery. Ozzy has a skin problem, which at the moment isn't too bad, in that it doesn't require any treatment. We have to bathe him twice a week for 3 weeks in a special shampoo and just keep monitoring him. He has an eye condition known as 'dry eye'. which means he doesn't have any tear ducts, so has to have ointment applied to his eyes 3-4 times a day for life. Since having this treatment his eyes have been soo sparkly, it's been amazing. I only have to say to him in the morning, "Ozzy, come and have your face and eyes done" and he trots into the kitchen and sits down in front of me. I tell you, it's amazing. He must know that it makes his eyes better, it's quite funny really. He also tilts his head one side, as the ointment applied, then tilts his head the opposite side for the other eye, amazing, LOL!!

So here's a few pics of him taken in our garden.......................Just to highlight why the photo was taken quite a distance away is because the garden has been extended recently and it seems that he has found his little patch and when the sun is shining, he goes out to the same spot and just basks in the sun. So I took the photo from the back door as this is how far away he is from it, plus he looks funny when looking at the photo as you can hardly see him, ha ha. I popped a closer one on too when I zoomed right in.

This photo was taken on Saturday when we went to a local rally up at Brecon. It was a bootiful day, so I made some rolls and off we went.

Hope you've enjoyed the non crafty pics and thanks for popping by and taking a look. XX

PS - Sorry for the waffle. Nearly fell asleep when reading it back to myself, lol. XX

HAPPY EASTER

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Wishing all my online bloggeroo friends a very HAPPY EASTER.

Hope the easter bunny brings you lots of yummy chocolate to make you all fat, LOL!!

So, what's been happening.......?

It was brilliant to finish work on a very rainy Thursday, knowing that I did not have to go back till Wednesday next week, YAY!!

I've not done a scrap of crafting whatsoever though lol, been offline since Thursday too, so have no idea what is happening in blog land or cyber space come to that, LOL!!

I have got a couple of things to show and tell, a card which I made a couple of weeks ago. Now, I seem to remember I made this for a reason, either for a project, challenge (but I know it wasn't for a birthday), but can't for the life of me think what I made this card for. If anyone can decipher why after looking at it, please do tell, LOL.

My reason for making it, was not so much in the image, but for the colour, but I'm still out of ideas.

The materials for this card were:-

Maiden Lady - Stamp (From 'Just for Fun' - approx 5.5" x 4 and a bit)

Stazon - Ultramine. Realised I have had this ink for nearly 6 years and it's still going well.

Blue card

Blue Bazzill

Blue flower & Brads

Navy Blue 1" spot ribbon

Treading water border punch

2 cocktail sticks

I shrunk the maiden lady using white shrink plastic, then punched the border of the card and then threaded the cocktail sticks through the punched holes. Bit tricky, but if your careful it will work okay.

The other show and tell was the ORANGE inchies from the Bubbly Funk swap for March. I loved doing these and did 2 sets, just to make up the shortfall in numbers at that time.

Here's the set with everyone's creations. Thanks girls, these are brill!!

That's all for now, just a quickie tonight. Hope to be back over the weekend with some more. Need to catch up on my 52Q's......................so much to do and so little time. It was too nice to stay in today in this lovely sunshine, so we all went out to watch some rallying and took Ozzy with us. I think he did so much thinking (cos in a strange place), it actually mentally exhausted him and all he's done is sleep since we came home, LOL, Bless!! XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Hellooo, just popping in to say that I shall be posting again on the weekend, (I hope), as I have a few days off from work over the Easter break, AMEN!! Needless to say I STILL have my 52Q's to get on with, but just haven't had the time, unless I pinch half an hour here and there, it's just not easy to do. Big Sigh LOL!!

So I thought I'd have a little go at the Simple Woman's Daybook prompts. These are lovely to read and I'm so glad I came across this blog whilst blog hopping. So..........as I'm in work, I will see how I get on with this........

Outside my window........the traffic has been rather hectic today, but it's starting to slow down now. There is always a car or passer by go by our window, so I never feel alone. :-) Plus, we have a little park (only little) over the road and it's displaying the most beautiful bright yellow tulips in the garden.

I am thankful for.........having a lovely lunch and exchanging lovely chatter with my best friend today. It's always a rush as the lunch hour goes by sooo quickly, but it's soo lovely to catch up and have a laugh.

From the kitchen......hmmmm, well, going according to the kitchen here at work, I can't vouch for an awful lot, lol. Say no more!!

I am reading........My current book, of which I haven't picked up in about 3 weeks is called Vanished by Tess Gerritson. Something very different for me.

I am hoping...............for improved health for my Mum...........

I am creating........Just finished the April Inchies over at Bubbly Funk. Next on my list is.........YES, the 52Q's lol!!

I am hearing.........my colleague coughing like a mountain ram, lol and my phone just rang.

Around the house............few bits and bobs to be tidied up, mostly couple of PS3 games that belong to my Son.

One of my favorite things..........For tonight........changing into my jimjams ASAP and curling up in bed!

A few plans for the rest of the week...........Finish work Thursday for the Easter break and settling down to some crafting and finishing off the few projects that are on my list, lol.

Ooh, I've quite enjoyed this. Hope I haven't bored you with my responses. Thanks for popping by. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:39:00 +0000

I've been trying to catch up on a few crafty makes and managed to complete my week 8 of the 52Q's. This was a fun one to do and quick aswell. I just have 3 more to go now, just wish there was enough time to do it all in.

Week 8 was "What was the last thing that made me laugh?" Here's my card..................

I also managed to do my first creation from Rosie's Colour Combo Challenge - the BG Challenge for week 23 on 21/2/09. Here's the quoted challenge:-

Well its time for another challenge and this time its a colour combo, we would like you to pick one of the following colour combos for your creations (Skin and white card colours are allowed too),Pink and GreenPink and BrownBlue and BrownSo what are you waiting for, pick your favorite combo and get crafting :), but of course not to forget to use at least one item from BasicGrey on your creation.

Here's the card I made................................

Materials used:

BG - Oh Baby Girl! Carlie

Baby Grosgrain - Pink and green stripe

Hero Arts - Graphic Squares - E4083 Set

I stamped up the squares stamps several times in four different colours and embossed them in transparent clear powder. Popped a couple of big blooms on, stamped a message and that was it.

That's about it for now................so exciting, I know, LOL!! Thanks for popping by and taking a peep. XX

Challenged........

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:31:00 +0000

I'm a bit late with one of the DCM challenges, but better late than never eh, LOL? So, I managed to do the GREEN challenge, which was on Friday 13th February. Here is the dare..........

The dare is feeling green. I want to see lots of green on your cards in any shade you like. You could even do a double dare and make a green themed get well card. It's up to you. We can't wait to see what you come up with, and in the meantime here are some cards the DT have made for inspiration.

I really enjoyed making my card for this challenge and enjoyed digging out some old stamps, in fact, the stamps used were my very first purchase when I started stamping. I have no idea where I got them from and haven't seen any like this since. Anyway, here's my take on this challenge.

Another of the challenges that I managed to try was the 'Circle' challenge with DCM announced on Friday 27th February. What I had in mind, compared to what I made, was quite different lol, but I had a bit of fun all the same. Hope you like it. Here's the challenge.......

This week, the title says it all - I want to see lots of circles, you can decide how you use them, whether it be the shape of your card or how you display circular elements within the design and thats it, nice and simple (I hope :-)).

I had fun doing the DCM's, just wish I could make time to do them every week, along with other challenges announced through Bubbly Funk and Bubbly Scrumptious. I guess I will do them as and when, but they are all on my list, hee hee. I'm determined to keep up with the 52Q's, (of which I am 3 weeks behind, lol), together with the Circle Journal on Bubbly Funk. I can't set myself too many projects as I have trouble keeping up with one lol, especially since working, it just doesn't happen!

GREEN card materials:

Misc Stamp

Kaleidacolor - Fresh Greens

Jewelled brad

(Background of centre square was inked with the Kaleidacolor)

CIRCLE card materials:

Hero Art - Concentric Circles stamp

Versafine Black Onyx

Transparent powder

Red sheen card

MM large black metallic brads

Hope to pop by soon and upload some more. Thanks for taking a peep. XX

Happy St David's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Happy St David's Day

Yes, it's St David's Day today and what a glorious day it was for it too. The sun has been shining since I opened my eyes this morning and it's been really lovely all day. Just wish I had the chance to have gone out and taken in the first bit of lovely weather that we've had in months.

Anyhoooo, whilst the sun was shining, I managed to finish off my Wk 7 of the 52Q's, together with a card for someone who hasn't been feeling well lately. I wanted this card to be bright, fun and zesty and to add a bit of sunshine to this special person's life.

Materials used for the flower card:-

Whale of a Punch - Retro flower (EK Success) 2"

Vellum - Orange and lemon

Cardstock - Bumblebee trio and Bubblegum trio & Lily

Hero Arts - Italian Poetry Background stamp - S1832

Hero Arts - Correspondence stamps - LL087

Versa Cube - Opera Pink

Doodlebug buttons - Bubblegum

Marvy Matchables Dye ink pad - #7 orange

Again, I have used old(er) cardstock and stamps for my cards etc, and as for the inks, well, I've had them for nearly 5 years............and they're still inking, LOL! I have found that the more I look through my old stock, it's amazing what you can find, without having to buy new.............but we always do though, don't we, lol?

Thanks for popping by, I appreciate it. XX

Speeding along..........

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:04:00 +0000

That's exactly what I've been doing today, LOL.

My normal pace is to plod along, in my own time, but today I seemed to whizz by quite quickly. Funny how it goes like that, don't you think...? Well, it is for me, lol.

Anyway, I came across a set of 12 'pink' inchies that I had swapped with some of the members on Bubbly Funk. They were all snuggly tucked away in a little clear plastic bag and I thought this is no good, (even though they'd been in there for 2 years, lol), they need to be made up and popped onto a little frame of some sort, so that's what I did.

I wanted to keep them as a set, even though it didn't look quite as right as it does when they are set as a group of 9, but it's okay, I'm quite happy with it, lol.

I measured and cut some sticky backed mount board, then cut a piece of canvas from a roll, painted this with some Deco Art Wild Rose pink acrylic paint. I used a cotton wool ball to apply the paint and just dabbed it all over the canvas, leaving a few white areas. I then placed it over the mount board and stuck it in place.

I stuck each inchie in place and then decided it needed some kind of frame around it, so (after a thinking for a long while, lol), I remembered a site I clicked on ages ago, (if I remember which one it was, I will put the link up) where a heart shaped punch was used to punch 4 hearts (nooo, never?) to use as a frame. So I used the biggest heart punch I had, about 2" and punched out 4 hearts, then scored each one down the centre and added some DST and folded each one around the 4 corners. These alternative photo corners look pretty when used with a scalloped heart punch too, but I haven't got one of those, LOL.

Here's a list of the bubblies who made the inchies.........from left to right:-

Caroline, Di O, Chris, Lynne Clancy

Karen, Rosie, ME, Di W (Crazy Daisy)

Kathy, Sam, Kaz, Chris A

I made 2 other cards today too, so will upload those tomorrow. (Can't get you all excited and fainting all over the place, can I, LOL LOL)?

Thanks for taking a look. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:29:00 +0000

Hellooo..........

I've managed to finish my inchies for the Bubbly Funk inchies swap this month. I am still behind with last weeks prompt though for the 52Q, but I think I have an idea of what I want to put on my card, so will try and do that one night this coming week.

I've received Suzie's journal too, entitled "A circle of darkness". I did not know what to expect before I opened the first page and it's rather an intriguing little journal, so will get my thinking caps on (yes CAPS), I need more for my little brain, and start on it soon, LOL!!

I will upload my inchies (always LIQ (laugh inside quiet) when I say "inchies"), after we have all swapped. I'm looking forward to these too.

So, what I have actually made?

I've made a card for my Mum, a kind of get well/thinking of you card. Thought she would like the birds on it. The lighting is either too dark for me lately, or too BRIGHT, LOL.

Here's the details for the card above:-

Inkadinkado - 97625 Birds Galore (Si got these cheap from Ebay for Xmas). ;-)

Bazzill Dew Drop - Pearlescent Poppy ink pad

Colorbox Chalk - French Blue and Dusty Plum

Hero Arts - Take a Good care greeting stamp set - LL205

Clear detailed embossing powder (transparent) Ooh, I didn't see you there, LOL!!

Stickles diamontes

Scrapbook Walls - Scarlet flowering vine paper - Chatterbox

Bazzill Fourz Blues card

Plus, I've made a little yellow and black themed card too. I scored the yellow card diagonally, though I don't think you can see it so well on the photo. I seem to be going to my old stuff lately, (think I said that in my last post, lol). Amazing what you come across. I started stamping with some old Hero Arts stamps today too, so may finish something and show you soon, that's if you want to see it, ha ha.

Details for this one are:-

Bumblebee Bazzill cardstock

Plain black cardstock

Hero Arts - Take a Good care greetings LL205

Judikins - Daisy Bouquet stamp

Stamp n Stuff clear transparent embossing powder

Yellow/black ribbon

Brads and flowers

Watercolour Lycra crayons & pencils

Well, that's all for now my lovelies. Thank you for taking a peep. XX

Just Because.....

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:17:00 +0000

Helllooo, I made a card yesterday for someone's birthday.

I have noticed that the last one or two creations have been made using older style papers, or rather, papers that I have in my collection which are about 3 years old. I've also picked up the inks and realised, 'hey, these are nearly 5 years old................and still ink, lol'. I was quite surprised to be honest with you. I always keep my inks face down, so as not to dry out and with regard to my papers, well, I really thought I would never use them, plus I think I'm over the stage where I no longer feel awful for 'cutting into' the latest designs, well, maybe I feel a little bit awful for just a little minute LOL!!

I'm definately going to go through my papers and start using the older styles and try to revamp things.

The green card I used for this card was just a plain piece, bought from a multi coloured pack from WH Smith about 4 years ago, nothing special, plus I thought it was quite a funky shade of green too, ha ha.

For this card I used the following materials:

Bazzill Fourz Monochromatic "Great Lakes" (blue)

Mara Mia (Maramia.com) patterned paper

Plain Green card - W H Smith

Text stamp - Elzybells

Nestabilities - Scalloped circles

Fiskars circle cutter for white circle (Nohhhh, LOL)

Crystal sticker elements in blue heart and clear

Pale blue gingham

Flowers

I made another Valentine, or Luuurve card lol, just for the fun of it, using one of my little animal stamps, sooo sweet, plus I don't seem to use these kinds of stamps very much, so thought I'd give them a go.

For this one, I used:

Penny Black - Without You 1915J stamp

Versafine vintage sepia ink

Plain red card (Craft Creations)

Daisy Bucket {love you} stamp which I embossed with a clear powder

Pink Bazzill

Cuttlebug Swirl

Crayola & Karat Aquarell watercolour pencils

Lady Bug brads

Birthday Socks ribbon (Doodlebug, (I think)).

Urban Lilly - Back in Black 'Tease Me' patterned paper.

Phew, that's quite a lot from me.............and in 2 days too, need a rest now, LOL!! Hope you've liked what you've seen and thanks for popping by my blog. XX

Sneek Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:01:00 +0000

The time has arrived for those of us who have joined a new Circle Journal on Bubbly Funk, to send our CJ's on their 'round'. I just need to pop mine into a padded envelope and then post onto Elaine tomorrow. I thought I'd pop a little sneek peek of my front cover and then put some photos on of the rest of it, once the journals have started their journey.

I've called mine "Tranquil Moments" and here's a little peek.......

I've also been quite craftified this weekend, although not spending hours in my little room, but just a couple of hours yesterday and about the same today. Wish I could spend all the weekend doing all the little crafty jobs that need doing, but unfortunately the general house and family duties call.

Yesterday I made a Valentine's Card, (dare I say it, but I bought hubby's LOL). Just have not had the time during the week to make one. The one I made yesterday I will send it to my Mum, 'just because' and why not? For one thing, I know she will be thrilled with it, plus it will cheer her up as she is not good in health.

Materials used:

Nestabilities Labels 1 (2 sizes)

Cuttle Bug Vintage corner dies

Basic Grey - Bittersweet collection - Raspberry Cream

Basic Grey - Brown Bazzil

Brown Gingham

American Crafts ribbon (Pink block squares under the gingham)

Daisy Bucket Designs stamp - Love You

Versafine - Vintage Sepia

Colorbox Chalk - Warm Violet

Heart punch

Little heart button

Fiskars Treading water border punch

I've also done my Wk 6 of the 52Q's. Wk 6's prompt was "If I could do it all again, would I change anything?" This was for last sunday the 8th February.

Again, a lot of thinking done for this one, (too much for my little brain, LOL), but a good question all the same.

Materials used:

Watercolour card, sprayed with Juneberry Wine 02372 Glimmer Mist. It's quite shimmery, but it doesn't show too well on photo though. These sprays are really lovely and I only have one. Do you feel sorry for me.....? LOL!!

Elegant Poppy - F3045 Hero Arts - which was stamped with Versamark and embossed in white

Black and white gingham ribbon

Flowers

Brad

Edge inked with Versacolor cube Boysenberry 26

Computer generated font - Kayleigh in Black

I have some more for tomorrow, so will pop back and upload them then. Need to photo them first. Thanks for popping by and having a look. XX

Catching up!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Yep, I'm catching up with a few crafty things very slowly and thought I'd better pop my week 5 of Emily's 52Q on. I'm doing good so far though, that I've even surprised myself, LOL!

So, Wk 5's question was - How do I feel today? Week 5 was the 1st February. Sorry for quality of late night photography, ha ha.

Despite my feelings at that time, I did think afterwards how colourful my creation was, together with the dash of glitter showing through.

I think that being positive is hard at times, but sometimes in life, we need to be positive in order to keep us focussed and remain calm on the various aspects in our lives!! Positivity also helps us to 'spot' our strengths in certain situations, therefore making us stronger and happier!

Hmmmm...... Happy days to come lol, but thank you for taking a peep and I will be back with one or two more creations soon. XX

Tagged again LOL!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:37:00 +0000

Yes, I've been tagged by Tracey, thank you!! The idea is to blog the fourth photo from your fourth folder in My Pictures. It seems to be over on Bubbly Funk that a food theme could be dawning with these pics, hee hee.

So, here's mine - some strawberries I'd taken a year or so ago, when trying to work out the depth of field with my newish (at the time) camera. I must admit that I became quite addicted to DoF and was forever taken photos LOL. It's not a brilliant DoF, something I've never been able to achieve with my camera, time for an upgrade one day soon.

Nothing crafty to share, but I'm going to make my 4th 52Q card tomorrow, let's hope I'm feeling manically happy and full of beans ha ha.

Thanks for popping by. XX

Crazy Wonderings....

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Firstly, I wanted to thank Gez for 2 awards given to me, gosh it's like being on telly......okay, perhaps it isn't, LOL! I think I may need to pop it on here, I don't know, I'm not used to doing this award thing, so I will have to find out tee hee. Maybe I need to award someone now or answer some questions? I shall pop back on my next post and say a few words about receiving this award.

Anyway, I'm quite surprised at the fact that I'm still keeping up-to-date with Emily's 52Q's!! I really thought that I would start off making the first two weeks, then slowly drift off and not continue anymore, but.....................nope, I'm still doing it and quite pleased with myself too, tee hee.

So, this is my Wk 4 "What do I see when I look in my eyes?" Again, lighting is not good and the flash makes it even worse, so I opted for the help of Mr Levels in PS2, LOL!!

I haven't journalled "a part" of what I see when I look in my eyes, as I felt it was too personal to relay on here, I expect some of you may think like that yourselves and well, there is nothing wrong with that.

So, I've journalled another part of what I see when I look in my eyes. It's kind of crazy, hence the way I've made this card, it's kind of "all over the place", lol.

Recipe for this weeks card's ingredients is:

Basic Grey - Color Me Silly - Giggle cardstock

Bazzill Trio Monochromatic Bahama Blue card

Bazzill Trio Monochromatic Limeade card

Versa Color Cube - 26 Boysenberry ink

Acrylic Paint Dabber in Lettuce

American Crafts square patterned ribbon

Primas

MM Brads

Not sure of the name of the paper/money type silver holder......?

Thanks for popping by and taking a look. XX

Back soon.

Saturday's Saunters

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:24:00 +0000

It's been a kind of leisurely day today, although I seem to have lost the morning as a result, lol. Anyway, I began the afternoon by selecting papers for my forthcoming CJ on Bubbly Funk. I think I may yet decide to change my title and will be putting it all together at the last moment. I really need a few other things in order to start doing my pages, so a little nose on the net later may be the trick, LOL.

So today I made a birthday card, which is well over due, but it's done now and I'm quite pleased with the result.

The ribbon is very pretty and kind of of folded over on each side. I bought it in Valencia last year and wish I'd bought more now, as you do, LOL.

The recipe for this card is as follows:-

Bazzill Orange monochromatic card

DCWV - Floral Prints paper

Colour Box Chalk ink - Amber Clay

Versafine Vintage Sepia

Hero Arts - LL087 - Correspondence Script set

Bazzill monochromatic Bahama Blue brads

and finally pretty ribbon from Valencia

Hope to be back tomorrow with my wk 4 of the 52Q's.

Thanks for popping by and taking the time to have a look. XX

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Do I believe in Fairies............?

Thank you to those who made comments regarding my new banner, really appreciate it. :-))

I've managed to squeeze in some time to finish my week 3 of the 52Q's - Do I believe in Fairies? I don't have anything fairified LOL, hence the best thing I could use from my stamps was my Maiden stamp. I think she's so pretty and looks deep in thought, possibly wondering whether she believes in fairies herself, LOL!! So, I decided to use her, together with a bit of sponging of ink and some glitter. Sorry for the poor quality of pics again, taken at night.

Hope you like her anyway and thanks for looking. XX

I did it!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:54:00 +0000

I'm feeling rather chuffed right now as I've finally managed to create my first ever blog banner. Cor, what a sweat that was, LOL. Karen and Di (links to their blogs are to the right) from Bubbly Funk popped up a set of instructions (tutorial) for a blog banner, so I first decided to try a digi one, hence working from Di's. I shall also try another one tomorrow, that's if it doesn't take another week to do it, LOL. So I just want to say thank you very much Di, even though I did get a little confused going along. I think if you try to do something yourself first it kind of sinks in better than if someone did it for you, IYSWIM? Not that I would turn down anyone's offer of help, but I just find it helps me to try it myself aswell.

So, oooh, I'm so chuffed, I really am.

I don't have anything to show as I haven't had any time to create anything this week, (hence my new title, rather appropriate I thought, LOL).

So, I will try and pop by tomorrow and hopefully show my 3rd week of Emily's 52Q's.

Oh, my hubby thinks that the font needs changing as he read it as "realing now and again!!" Please let me know what you think? I wanted the font bigger, but it only went up to 72. Any tips or advice is appreciated. Thank ewe!

Have a lovely evening and thanks for popping by. XX