Long time no see

Surprise!

First of all, sincere apologies for my absence. 2012 was a very mixed year for me. My mojo went awol & it's been very hard for me to be creative. Last summer, I celebrated a milestone birthday, which was brilliant - I had a fantastic time partying with family & friends. I'd also put my foot down & insisted on a holiday (since we hadn't had a holiday in 7 years - so we did something I've wanted to do for many,  many years and went on a Kenyan safari. My youngest two came with me while my eldest opted to house/dog/cat sit. We had an absolutely amazing time, and I would so love to go again - though Tanzania inc Ngorongoro crater would be my choice next time.

Then it all went downhill

Ten days after coming home, I became ill. It started with the worst sore throat I've ever had, then proper flu-like symptoms, temperature, a constant, severe, dry cough, severe breathlessness, severe nightsweats - the works. I was tested for Malaria ( thankfully negative), after a week I was given antibiotics as I'd developed a chest infection. My heart rate was very fast, with chest pains, & I ended up in hospital for a day. No one seemed to know what was wrong with me. I've still got extreme fatigue, muscle pains, headaches, and intermittent blurred vision (making cards is hard when my eyesight is bad - & it's making me low), plus I've had episodes of dropping things, and one day wasn't able to hold a pen. 

I haven't been well enough to work since September, and I've had enough of feeling ill. I've been referred to the neurologists at the hospital, but the first available appointment isn't until April - I hope they know what's wrong with me. For now, I have to rest (don't I know it if I do too much, even meeting friends for coffee tires me out), that means no reading, sudoku, tv etc, I can listen to music, and watch the world go by, surprisingly (because I don't feel great), I'm not bored. When I'm feeling better, I hope to get back into blogging & blog hopping For now, I'm not able to spend much time on the pc, so I do what I have to, but not much else :-(

Anyway, it is my neighbour's 50th today, he's a retained firefighter - & loves to play cricket, so this is what I came up with for him.

I thought this great Kenny K image would be the ideal one for him, I found some paper in my stash with what would pass for cricket balls, so made a border out of them. I inked up a gears embossing folder & embossed some cardstock, then used distress inks to add more depth, finishing with swiping a black soot distress pad over the raised areas of the cogs, and inking up the edge of the image.

The image was coloured with Flexmarkers, & I used a silver Promarker for the reflective parts of the uniform. The raised "cog" is actually punched using a SU flower punch, then inked & triple embossed - I pierced a hole in it prior to embossing it so that I could use the brad to attach it.

Sentiments were punched out using SU punches

Tfl, and for any comments you may wish to leave.

Did I succeed in the challenge I was set?

Last night I was asked if I could make a nappy cake. I've made a few of these, but then I was told that the person wanted the nappy cake made to resemble a pram! Well, my first port of call was Google, then I watched a video on You Tube (where would we be without modern technology these days)

This was my first attempt at a pram shaped nappy cake. I'm not terribly happy with the corners, there are safety pins securing the blanket, but I don't want to risk damaging the blanket by securing it more tightly either. 

There is a sock either side of the rabbit, tucked under the arms.

I hope the lady who asked for it likes what I've made - if not, I must hope that it sells at the Christmas fayre I'm hoping to have a table at

Tfl, & for any comments you may care to leave

Purple & Silver wedding

I recently made a card which a colleague saw & then asked me to make her a similar one

First Edition designer paper, silver & purple mirri card. Embossing folders used for lower half of card & on 1 heart. Ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, EK success punch (from Craft Obsessions) used on spine area 

Detail of hearts. Promarker used to colour pearls. Ribbon (cut from clothes) coloured with Promarker. 

(Apologies for reflection of my hand)

Most flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, stems twisted around a cocktail stick

Tfl, & for any comments you may care to leave

Old Time Dance

I've been doing a spot of scrapbooking recently, and have finally uploaded some of the photos from my camera. I don't have many photos of my family, but my uncle kindly gave me a couple which I copied in order to scrap them. 

This page is of my Grandma & Grandpa who were Old Time Dance champions. They were renowned for their skill and taught many pupils in Wiltshire and the surrounding area.

The layout I followed had a vintage theme which fitted perfectly with the age of this photo. All papers and embellishments used are by Stampin' Up. I also made a small pocket to put some hidden journalling in. 

The seam binding ribbons were made using a fab tutorial by Jo Dumbleton, her video tutorial can be found on this page

Tfl, & for any comments you may care to leave. Until next time..........

It's been a long time

Sorry for my prolonged absence, I have been lacking inspiration on a grand scale, so gave myself a break in the hope that I would be inspired again soon. Work is getting in the way when I do have an idea, & by the time I get home, I'm often too exhausted to do anything much. I'm hoping to get back to blogging on a more regular basis again now though. 

I'm starting to upload the cards I have made over the last few months, nothing fancy, it's been more of a case of "I have to make a card - oh help, what can I do?" lol

I made this card for a very talented cardmaker's 21st, you can find Natalie's inspirational blog here

Gorgeous papers by Bo Bunny (I do love Bo Bunny papers) & I chose these specifically for the door & the keys on them.Strip of musical notes paper from stash, coloured with Distress Inks. Kenny K image coloured with Promarkers. Mat cut with nesties, stamped image cut out with nesties, using "out of the frame" technique, a tutorial can be found here.

Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts 

Ribbon was given to me by a friend (shoulder ribbon from some clothes she'd bought)

The key is from a necklace I bought in a shop which had a number of keys in it, & I confess they were the only reason I bought the necklace lol.

Must go now as I have to make a card for my nephew - his birthday is tomorrow! (oops)

Tfl, & for any comments you may care to leave

Pearl anniversary

I wanted to make an anniversary card for a friend & her husband who are celebrating their pearl anniversary. Sandra loves to use pearls on her creations, so that was another reason why they were an essential element in this card.

Papers are Basic Grey, with a wooden heart & ticket was made from a stamp & die set by die-namics (you can find the set here). Papermania pearls

Image is by Lily of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers.

Tfl, & for any comments you may care to leave

Field of wheat

Whilst surfing the net the other day, I came across a You Tube tutorial which inspired me to make this card. I made the card several days after watching the tutorial, so didn't follow the tutorial faithfully, but instead used it as a source of inspiration

Items used for the card:

Coated cardstock. Hero Arts stamp Silhouette Grass 55316

Stampin Up inks in: So Saffron, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, and Chocolate Chip. Versafine black ink, White gel pen for highlights on the wheat. Black gel pen for birds.

Ribbon donated to me by a friend (cut from her clothes lol)

Closer detail of the card

This will be for my sister's birthday 

(I'm fairly confident she won't see this before her birthday as she is so busy lol)

Tfl, & for any comments you may care to leave.