My Life's Ingredients

Christmas cards … mmmh… being a paper crafter you’d think I’ll make my cards and then send them to friends and families. Well… I did… in the past. But it all got overboard with having to send cards to family friends that I haven’t seen in ages or maybe haven’t even met and only sent cards because they send some to us. Tit for tat and all that. Hand made cards were usually kept for best friends, crop friends and close family. People you’d think who’d treasure them. Then Royal Mail decided to put up postage to a stupid height for cards (first the overseas cards went, then even the UK ones were cut down). And once the Hobbits arrived I totally cut down. This year there will be only cards for Crop friends and my best Friend Sharon. Oh, and maybe some neighbours.  However, my family is getting some nice e-cards from Jacqui Lawson . And most friends usually just do the Social Networking Christmas greetings nowadays anyway.   I do like getting cards, but I don’t really do the tit...

Today is Father’s Day, and because Doug is effectively already a dad – we just have to wait a little longer – I decided to get him a little present and card from me and the twins.   I started the card yesterday at the crop but didn’t have the right stamps for the tag (and it needed adjusting due to the “bespoke” text anyway) – and the fact that I only managed to finish one Thank you card yesterday has nothing to do with that. LOL. As for the present – we saw this book at the Twin Group meeting in June, and Doug’s borrowed it. I had a quick look and ordered for him online, and told him off for reading the book – he thought it was due to being a bit superstitious. But here you go … the present and card for the father-to-be… (absolutely funny book about babies … just like any electrical manual etc.). Stamps are all from Dimension Fourth Ltd ( F1 car and Flags - Doug LOVES F1 &), I also used one of the Spellbinder tags. Everything is embossed in “Blueberry Regular”...

… posting a lot of crafty stuff lately – well, no wonder … I’ve hardly done anything. :o However, I’ve managed to make some cards and even took photos! So here they are… ;) That’s the card I made for my inlaws’ Ruby Wedding anniversary – Wording is from Dimension Fourth (last year’s renewal gift) and the stamp … huh … I think I got that one way back from Rebekah at Stamper’s Grove (before she sold the business). Stamped on red card, layered with gold.     The card to the right is the belated birthday card I made for my best friend, Sharon . :) The stamp is from one of the monthly Stamp kits from Dimension Fourth. Embossed in Dusky rose I think … from Stamper’s Grove years ago. :) I’ve done a couple more cards I’m sure, but can’t find the photos (IF I’ve taken any of them! :o) ). Hoping to get more crafts done soon, but with workout plan (doing something cardio-related nearly every day of the week!) and work and Christmas prep etc … you know what that ...

Not much, but I've been doing it! ;) Sharon's belated birthday card - one of my new "Whiff of Joy" stamps: Whiff of joy stamp "Fall Willow holding baby Turkey" Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dots" Cuttlebug Cut & Emboss Starter pack (included in Cuttlebug machine purchase) Ribbon Patterned Paper: Then her "New Job" card...: Prima flowers Bitmap courtesy Microsoft A tag for the latest "One Stamp Swap" (Pam's Indian Stamps): Stazon Gold Acrylic paint dabber Beadazzle Ribbon Gloo And then the CJ entry I have been procrastinating about for the last 4 (!!!) months! Apologies to the girlies at Dani's forum (life and all that getting in the way!). This is the one with the theme "Moments of Love". I am planning on doing the entry for the "Where I live" CJ this week. I have of course also been doing the Chinese Whispers (still got 1 to do) and will post the...

That's apparently today... ;) And while my migraine decided to disagree with the weather change outside (woke up with stinking "tight band" headaches and am still not 100%) I hope I will at least manage one card today. :)  Had a look at Dani's Forum where they have an online crop just for cards, and the talented Ladies have a lot of nice cards there. :D So - if you're a card maker, make a card today on World Card Making Day. :)  

Here they are... first of all, a birthday card for my BIL: Supplies: Diecut & emboss "Football & Tee" Cuttlebug, PP (unknown) with black ink distressed, card (Woodware?), "Happy Birthday" stamp (producer unknown) Another Birthday card, this time for Anja from the CJ group - belated birthday. Supplies: card (Woodware?) ,"Partygirlabella" (Stampingbella), Cuttlebug Border "Just my type", Promarkers, Stamp from Autumn Leaves And last but not least my MIL's Mother's Day Card - the fact that the Brits celebrate this day in March has caused some confusion and early/late cards being issued to MIL, my mom and my stepmom respectively in the beginning of my relationship with DH. ;) Supplies: Card (Woodware?, PP (unknown), Cuttlebug "Love Language", CS Bazzill Got the Cuttlebug "Love Language" a week ago and I just LOVE it!! :) It's great.. the little heart embossing folder and the diecuts. GREAT! Shame I cannot post...

It's helping me soooo much with the Christmas card production!! :D Mostly using the embossing folders (this year sticking to the snow flurry one and the Baubles ) and some of the small embossing ones ( Christmas and Winter Jelly ) .... LUVVERLY!! :D Have even managed to get some more done at the crop (nearly enough for all the crop ladies) - we had our Christmas Crop with lots of good food and Secret Santas. I had a blast ... shame I couldn't take photos (resuming my role as Santa again) but hope to get some from Yvonne and Heather. :) Sooo... below are some of the cards I made at the crop ... probably will post a slide show later this week once I've done all of them. The stamps are the "snowbunnybella" (one of the Bella Stamps I bought at the Stempelmeer (Germany) in December), the "Wreathabella" (thanks Sharon !! LOVE her!!) and the main stamp of the latest Project Kit from Dimension Fourth (big baubles). All put together on card stock with som...

My FIL's birthday card (now that he got it). :) It's from the "Making Cards - Cards for men" special issue and I quite like it. :) Took me about 45 mins to do the whole thing though. Not sure why I am always taking so long to do stuff, even CARDS!!! :o Oh, and I have booked 2 classes at Stamper's Grove again (haven't taken part in classes for 2 years now!) - one being the "Cuttlebug Christmas" and the other is the "Bind it all Calendar". REALLY looking forward to do them! :)

I actually managed to make the 3 birthday cards I planned to do. And I made 2 with one of my first 2 Magnolia stamps (Tilda in autumn wind). Usually I thought I wouldn't like them, because of the angel wings, but they grow on me!! :) So here they are - also managed to do them all (apart from the baby cards which are a couple of months old but I think I never showed them on here) using a sketch from "A Spoon Full of Sugar" - just left out the sentiment. Wanted to emboss the dragon but couldn't find my heating gun!!! :o So hopefully I am able to find it the next 2 days... :o Rubber stamp: unknown, ink: ColorBox pigment brush pad Silver, Bronze & Antique Pewter, background & ribbon: DCWV Far East pad. Rubber stamp : Magnolia Creations " HO07 Tilda i blåsväder / Windy Tilda " , ink : Versa Color Black, ribbon: unknown, flowers: Rebecca's Scrapbook Stash (Boomin Blossoms Kit), brads: HOTP Personal Shopper kit, background papers: DCWV ...

as it seems. At least not for myself. I usually get some stuff done in the kitchen (like washing up, emptying and filling the dishwasher, put on a wash, hang up washing, cook dinner and prepare much work lunches). But do I get done anything crafty? Do I EVER!! :( So I am planning to take up my dinner and make the 3 birthday cards I have been trying to do for AGES! 2 belated birthdays and one still to come. Also plan on preparing my recipe cards for the Christmas Cupcake/Muffin Recipe Swap on UKS . Let's hope I'll get at least the birthday cards done, eh? Probably spend too much time on the PC/laptop ... and I believe with the craft area still being a mess (YES, I KNOW!!!! :o) ) it doesn't really get me in a crafty mood. Won't be able to clear out the room before October though, with Britbowl and my annual trip down to London looming... :o AND we've got our Awards Night for the Junior and Senior Wolves the first weekend in October ... and I have to think of someth...

Can't believe it ... another kit I like is finished now, and Rebecca is closing her business!! :( If you like blooms - go and have a looksie at her website as she's got a closing sale on. Here's my last "Booming Blossoms" kit ... gorgeous colours, yummie flowers, great add-ons. Rebecca, hope you'll get lots of family time and can relax ... your kits were FABULOUS! Now I just have to start using them more. ;) Like on this card I made as a thank you for one of our doctors who's leaving the practice (the usual 1-2 year stint thing for younger docs ... :( )

I actually got some scrapping and card making done in the last couple of weeks! SHOCK, HORROR!! ;) And hope I'll get more done soon, but with the Wolves Senior AND Junior season already on, I doubt there will be much time. :o So here it goes ... I've done a WOLVES layout again!! After scrapping at crops only Wolves photos in 2003/04 I haven't touched them much since 2006 I think. But I am planning o n d oing more on that subject, probably starting with this year's photos and w ork my way back to 2004. I s till have to add the jour nalling and the 2nd part of the title (Liz from the crop didn't have her Lollipop Number Dies with her in May) but will get that done soon. :) Then I've been preparing a blank wedding LO for a member of Dani's Forum in Germany - it's agreed in a little group of ladies who are in the same Circle Journal. :) We all kept it to the same colour scheme with beige as the background and then either green or dark red as contras t....

Right, gone missing a little... LOL. Lots of things on my mind, and the annual frenzy of getting Player Applications done and dusted is just peaking ... We've got a pre-season game on the 15th and have to have our rookies all registered by then. The "Vets" from last year are fortunately registered until end of March. Have been clearing DH's computer corner a little just now ... should have started in my corner, but somehow it's easier to clean for others first, isn't it? :D Will try to make a little in-road today in my corner though. And finally... here's the Mother's day card for my MIL ... I've been switching off my big PC every time before I went onto the laptop, so never had the chance to do anything. It's actually the "Pansy & Daisy Wreath" (SFL 34034) from Rubberstamp Tapestry and it's the first time I actually used it like they show it on the Craft shows. :D Quite fun actually, just need more ink pads. *LOL* Update on ...

Finally managed to finish my CJ "Mein Lieblingsrezept" (my favourite recipe) for the CJ group at Dani's Forum . Due to the headaches it took me a little longer to finish it, but at least it's going in the post tomorrow. Looking forward to doing yet another German CJ. I've also got a picture from the Mother's Day Card I made for my MIL. Used the Pansy Set of the Rubberstamp Tapestry stamps - the first time I actually used them in that way. LOVELY! ETA - no connection to main PC just now ... will load the photo tomorrow. :D