Well it's about time...

That I update this old blog.

Now that my craft studio that is really 'the posh shed at the bottom of the garden' is oh so nearly finished, I truly am trying to get back onto crafting in a major way. And at the moment that's not so easy.

You see, when there's a cosy fire with a cat hell bent on sitting on your knee in the house and the craft studio is at least a 30 second walk away in the freezing cold with an equally freezing interior for at least 10 minutes until the electric radiator warms the air, it takes the will power of the strongest person to make it out and up there.

However, up there I will, and I'm sure it will be easier in the summer with lighter evenings and the like.

'Till then I'll share with you some of my most recent projects (probably made a good few months ago) that have never made it onto my blog. I'll share one every other day for the next few days. Space 'em out. You know, make them go further...

 I made this card for one of my friends at the local drama group that I'm a member of. Obviously she wanted a special card for a special birthday and I think she thought this fitted the bill perfectly. I made the pink flowers and stems with a die and added paper flowers. The frame was die cut from Core'diations Whitewash paper and sanded back to add definition. I created the text on my computer. of course I had to make a box to fit this card in which I made with my Scorepal.

So, still sat here in front of the real fire with a cat sat on my arm whilst I TRY and type, don't think I'm going to make it up there tonight. It being past 11pm and all...Maybe tomorrow. 

The Simple Pleasures of Father's Day!

Hi there,

How are you today? No, really?

It seems now's the time for making Father's Day cards judging by all the challenges out there centred towards this theme. And a good job too, seeing as I need a few of them! Thing is, even though I've been setting challenges for a few years now, I'm stumped. I have made three cards using different challenges. What's the etiquette when it comes to posting these cards. Do YOU normally put each card on a separate post, or all in one post? This time I'm going to put all three on one post as some of the challenges, relating to all the cards expire tonight

{are you keeping up with this}

so I would appreciate your advice.

The first card is this one...

Which I'm entering into the following challenges...

• I ♥ Promarkers {sketch}
• Tuesday Throwdown #52 {animal}
• Designed 2 Delight {Masculine + no flowers}
• Here come the boys challenge #3 {Father's Day/Hubby/Partner}
• Easy Craft Projects Challenge #39{For Dad}
• Crafting for all Seasons #2 {Father's Day}

I got the papers quite recently and loved the combination of fawn {or beige} and burgundy. The stamp {Whipper Snapper}I've had for ages and this is the first time I've got to use it. I really enjoyed blending my Promarkers to colour the image, and surprisingly I loved doing the hand stitching. I created the Greeting on my computer using the cookies and cream font.

The next card is for my Dad's Birthday...

Which I'm entering into the following Challenges...

• Sketch Saturday #148 
• Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT # 31 {males}
• One Stop Craft Challenge #134 {Texture}
• Designed 2 Delight {Masculine + No Flowers}
• Easy Craft Projects Challenge #39{For Dad}

I really love this image, it just reminds me of my Dad with Joseph on a walk. My Dad wears a hat just like that! I stamped the Tin Can Mail stamp with Walnut Stain Distress inks and blended with a water brush. The button is from the stash of vintage buttons I stumbled upon in Oxfam. The texture is provided be the embossed blue cardstock, the textured background cardstock, and of course the button. I stamped the Happy Birthday repeat onto patterned paper and I think it looks really effective. I made the greeting on my laptop with the Travelling Typewriter font. 

I'm entering this final card, probably my favourite of the lot, which is for my Father in Law...

Into these challenges...

• I ♥ to Stamp {sketch, although I don't know if it qualifies as it doesn't have a stamped image!}I used this sketch...

• Designed 2 Delight {Masculine + No Flowers}
• Easy Craft Projects Challenge #39{For Dad}
• One Stop Craft Challenge #134 {Texture}
• Here come the boys challenge #3 {Father's Day/Hubby/Partner}

I really have a thing for retro and the 1950's at the moment! I found these FREE vintage printables on Tip Junkie , How gorgeous are they??! There are 6 different designs altogether. The papers are from Die Cuts with a View Green  Stack. I coloured the white Core'dinations cardstock and twill with Old Paper and Walnut Stain Distress inks to achieve the same shade as the image. The circle is again hand stitched. I find this very therapeutic. The greeting is made by the travelling typewriter font.

Anyhoo, I hope you've enjoyed looking at my cards as much as I did making them. I'd like to say THANK YOU to all the challenge setters, I've had a BLAST!

Textured presents...

Good Morning!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the inclement weather we seem to be having! Yesterday was one of those days {here, anyway} where it just couldn't seem to make it's mind up as to what it was going to do...one minute glorious sunshine, the next torrential rain. Ah well, it keeps my washing on its toes!

I hope you'll be pleased to hear that I've been busy in the evenings coming up with some more FREE digi images for your delectation, the next one to be released on Monday 12th June. Don't forget I still have the challenge running to use the last free digital image on a project, and this finishes on Monday 12th June. See *here* for more details.

Today I thought I'd share a card I made Ooo, almost a year ago now for the Letterpress Hour on Ideal World/Create and Craft. I still love this piece of kit and get it out whenever I can. I'll have to show you my business cards I made with help of this little beauty.

The papers are from Papermania Henbury Lane, and I hand drawn a little border around the edge too. 

I've inked up the plates as usual using pink letterpress ink, but then instead of using letterpress paper {or card as I would call it} I have used core'dinations cardstock to get that linen effect. You don't really get the debossed effect that you'd usually get when using the correct cardstock however. I love it!

Anyhoo, be back soon with some cards I've made over the past couple of days!