Birthday blues..

Please forgive my immodesty, but I think this is my favourite card to date (of mine, that is). It is also a commissioned card for the same lady as the Valentine in the post below.

The colour choices were taken from my brief.. she likes bold reds and turquoise. Don't they work well? I think that combo will reappear on my work in the future!

Oh, yes.. The metal corner that's floating out there on its own? It hides a stamping error!! lol ;o) But I think it works, in spite of its 'oddness'.

White CS from madaboutcards.com, Blue Iris Chalk Eyes ink around the edges, the little dots around the edge are created with a Judikins stamp, 'Field of Sky. Harlequin and script stamps used with Majestic Blue Versafine ink (second stampings). Papermania DP panel cut with Nestabilities Labels #8, decorative metal corners, Sizzlits leaf spray die-cuts with Dark Brown Chalk Eyes ink smudged on the edges of the leaves, roses, twine and beautiful lace from my Dutch friend, Lean.

Hugs....

Roses are red, Violets are blue..

Errr.. I've made a card, and I'll show it to you! lol ;o)

This was commissioned by an old work friend for his wife. I hope he (and she!) likes it! He will be collecting it this evening. (I'm 100% sure she won't see this, so it's OK.) (Oh, and I haven't mis-spelt the name.. there is no 'e' on the end.)

The beautiful DP is from Papermania. Have used Nestabilities Labels #8 and EK Success border punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch and the heart is a die-cut. Quickutz Eliza lettering, Cezanne font for the 'to my darling wife' at the bottom. Rose image from t'internet. Lots of flowers and bling.

XOXOXO

Plunder from Downunder..

Well, not plunder, exactly, as it was in fact a very generous gift, but it rhymed with downunder, which is where it's from! ;o)

Regulars may recall that I was after a stamp that had been discontinued, and I put out an appeal on my blog a few months ago...



Chris, a very generous stamper from Australia, contacted me to offer the one she had in her collection.. much loved, but never inked. We have agreed a swap, but when the stamp arrived, I thought, "That's heavy.. there's more than one stamp in this packet", and just look at what it was wrapped in...


How gorgeous is this? I was blown away. Thank you again, Chris.. I love it!! The photos don't do it justice, I'm afraid. The beautiful work around the sides of the box doesn't show up very well.

Chris' blog is well worth a visit, but I have lost the address!! Have asked Chris to remind me, and then I'll come back and edit this post to tell you, so please do check back in a day or two.

What a blessing, eh? :o)
EDIT: Chris' blog is HERE. You may have to scroll back to the 'older posts' to see some examples of her lovely artwork.
XOXOXO

Petition - Robin Hood Tax on Banks

Yep, politics again, but I make no apology. If it is not of interest to you, then please skip this post, but if you are as outraged as I am by the way ordinary people are being punished for the banks' greed and failures instead of the banks themselves who should be paying for the damage they've caused, then please sign the petition on the links below.

And if you are AMERICAN, please lobby your government to do the same, as our news programmes are telling us that this needs to be a global solution, and the American administration is reluctant for some reason.

I am losing my job next month because the organisation I work for is funded by our local authority and can no longer afford to support us because central government is slashing budgets to pay for bailing out the banks. At 51, in the current climate with so many people unemployed, it's just as well I am a Christian and have faith, or I would have no hope.

It's time to stop punishing ordinary people for the banks' greed and failures.

Please get involved. This is the email I received from 38 Degrees (a campaigning body) about the petition.........

Today we've teamed up with organisations including Comic Relief, the TUC, Friends of the Earth and War on Want to campaign for a simple measure that could make a big difference. We're campaigning for a Robin Hood Bankers Tax, a global tax on high value transactions between banks.

This wouldn't affect high street customers, it's a tax on the sort of risky speculation that caused the banking crisis.

The financial crisis showed us that the global banking system doesn't work properly. Bankers chasing bonuses caused havoc around the world, costing taxpayers billions. We need to make sure this never happens again, and that bankers repay their debts to society.

By working together, we can push politicians to go beyond grand speeches and take real, lasting action.We know that right now UK politicians are desperate to persuade us to vote for them - let's make sure they realise that tackling the problems with banking would be a vote-winner.

Sign the petition to the leaders of the three major parties now: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/Robin-Hood-Bankers-Tax

The tax of just 0.05% will raise hundreds of billions of pounds to fund action against climate change, poverty and other big issues in Britain and around the world.

We know the banks will be speaking up against this idea - thousands of us speaking up in favour will help drown them out. Sign the petition now to leaders of the three biggest political parties, calling on them to support the tax, then please tell your friends.

Last year, by working together we persuaded the chancellor to introduce a windfall tax on bankers' bonuses. Now, we've got a chance to persuade all the parties to take longer-term action to reform banking and raise much-needed cash. Please support the Robin Hood Tax, sign the petition now: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/Robin-Hood-Bankers-Tax

Thanks, chaps. XOXOXO

Still crafting..

This one is recycling the cute image from my Christmas card from Lean showing kittens playing. I adore tabbies.. This pic takes me back to when Tigger and his brother were babies. Sadly, his brother was run over and had to be put down at six months old, but Tigger is still going strong at sixteen and is curled up at my feet as I write.

Not sure what to do with the fluffy bit, yet, Lean, but I'm working on it! lol ;o)

This card also uses a script stamp, my harlequin stamp and an SU 'Friendship' stamp. The CS is coloured with Chalk Eyes peach, bisque and dark brown inks. The leaf sprays are a Sizzlits die.

The next card uses my own dear Gilbert the Ghost image, but recycled from the Christmas card I received from Allison. I have always loved this DP which is taken from a pad of similarly lovely paper, but don't ask me who it's from! Sorry. But anyway, it reminds me of tapestry, and I thought it would make a suitable backdrop for a ghost.. floating down the corridor of an old mansion, perhaps! lol ;o)

Hugs,

Chris xx

More Christmas..

Recycled from the lovely Christmas card Brenda sent me. (Hope that's alright, Brenda! Actually, she's busy with organising the HEEEOOOUUGGEE Sir Stampalot blog candy/hop thing this week, so maybe she won't notice! Tell you what, if you haven't entered.. have a peek on her blog HERE at what they're up to, and keep her even busier for me, OK? Hehe!! ;o)

As well as the lovely stamped image from Brenda's card, I have also used a Cuttlebug holly embossing folder, some Stickles for a touch of sparkle, Woodware holly punch using more of the music paper Lean sent me, and some red tinsel pom-poms.

Hugs,

Chris xx

Free vintage image for you..

It has been a very stressful week, and is not over yet, but until I get chance to show something crafty, here's a freebie for those that want it.

This handsome chap is my Great Grandad, William, in his WWI uniform...


I'm sure most of you know, but for those that don't.. Right click on the picture and select 'Save picture as..', then choose where on your computer you want to save it to, and give it a filename.
This is a family photo, so personal use only, please, and please link back to my blog if you display any creations using it. (And please send me a link, too, so I can come and have a nose!) ;o) If you do take it, please be kind and leave me a comment.
Please do not display the photo itself on your blog, or offer it as a freebie, except by providing a link to this post, and do not offer it for sale in any form.
Many thanks.

XoXoXo

Another Christmas card..

Pretty standard for me. Feel free to ask if you would like any details.

XoXo

Double recycled! lol ;o)

Remember this one? I made it for my daughter but wasn't happy with it, so made her another.

And this one on the right was an incoming Christmas card from Lean that I showed you yesterday.

Have used elements from both cards in the new one below..

That frame is beautiful, and I couldn't wait to re-use it. (Hope you don't mind, Lean!) It was a perfect match for the stamped image from the card I made for my daughter..

Multiple Posts Warning!

To save any confusion, please note that I've been having a catch-up, and there are four new posts below! :o)

XOXOXO

ALMOST new card!

This one almost doesn't have any recycling on it at all.. Almost. You know how when you're stamping you have some old piece of scrap for taking off excess ink, trying out images together, etc? Yes? Well, I quite liked the collagey look of one area on my piece of scrap, so I cut it out and used it! lol ;o) I think that's allowed. It's the grungy bit in the middle...

My fave harlequin stamp again, plus the Hero Arts friendship text (repeat stamped), and Judikins (I think) 'Field of Sky' used randomly around the edges for the dots.. gives a nice, vintage-looking finish. Sizzlits die-cut leaves and a BG button.

Incoming!!!!

SHAMEFULLY, I haven't shown you these before.. They are the handcrafted cards I received from some bloggy buds, and before they get recycled to within an inch of their lives, thought I had better take some pictures for posterity...

This (above) is from Lesley at Paperlicious Delicious.. One of my favouritest people in the whole wide world. Trust her to do something really wacky and different, eh? lol ;o) But I LOVE it!!

This one (above) is from Dutch beauty Lean, from Scrapsels from Lean in Holland. Even with Google Translate (which seems to struggle with Dutch!), I don't understand very much at all of what Lean says, but she seems to understand me, thank goodness, so between her Double Dutch and my loving her work (and her stunning border collie, Misty), we rub along!! lol ;o)

This beaut is from Jules at Always With A Heart. Every card that Jules makes has a heart on it somewhere. Can you spot it on this card? Another lovely and talented lady.

This one (above) is by local friend, Brenda (Floral Fantasies), who is a regular demonstrator at my local stash emporium, Sir Stampalot, and we have met 'in the flesh'. Lovely lady again, and makes cards to die for that her blog just simply does not do justice. They sparkle like jewells in real life. Soooo pretty!

My Gilbert has come back to visit me again! This is from Allison (Allison's Crafty Moments), my talented DT buddy from when I was on the Funky Hand team. Great bunch of gals! Loving the glitter Allison gave his fur trim! (For new visitors who don't know Gilbert, he's my first digistamp.. Gilbert the Ghost. Available free to anyone who asks for a copy.)

Thank you again, ladies, for your beautiful cards. God bless you. :o)

More Recycled Christmas cards!!

Stop yawning in the ranks!! lol ~ Yes, I know, I know.. Surely I must have enough Christmas cards done by now, but you'll just have to get over it, because there are plenty more to come! Hehe!! ;o)

This one is recycling the negative piece of Bazzill cardstock left after punching some fern shapes. I thought they looked vaguely like Christmas trees, so decided to recycle it as a crimbo card! Uses some Paper Pizazz paper by HOTP in the background, and some other piece of something or other with lines on top. Doodled the holly leaves and the edges. Kaleidopunch snowflake and Basic Grey button.

Ahhh, bless!! This one and the next are from the same 'previously used' card. The 'peace' word is a silver metal word embellishment by Making Memories, I think. It has been in my stash for yonks, sans packaging, so I'm guessing. What do you think of super-imposing it over the script underneath? I'm not sure whether it works or not. Decidedly undecided on that one.

Wasn't sure where I was going with this when I started, but quite happy with the outcome. You like?

Recycled Wrapping Paper

I know it doesn't seem like it, as all the images are so different, but the focal images on all these cards are made from offcuts salvaged from the wrapping paper I used for my mum's birthday present.

This one uses a 'Friendship' stamp by Stampin' Up!, and a friendship text stamp by Hero Arts, repeat stamped on kraft CS from Elzybells, using Versafine's Vintage Sepia ink. Not sure how I managed to tie that bow upside down, though. Must have been standing on my head at the time.

I don't like this one, so will probably get re-recycled! lol ;o) Uses that lovely Hero Arts text stamp again, with a Stempleglede border from the Grunge Collection. The image is cut with Nestabilities Labels #8 and the ribbon I picked up at Sir Stampalot recently. The metal word plaque says 'friendship'.

Have used my favourite harlequin stamp in the background, and the Stempelglede border makes another appearance. The 'bloom with abandon' stamp is by Cornish Heritage Farms, stamped directly onto the image in black Stazon.

The green background was one of those 'stamping errors' scraps that's been hanging around for years! Looks cool though, don't you think? I glittered the centre of one of the daisies with yellow Stickles. Martha Stewart butterfly.

Think I've covered everything on this card, except the Prima flower and Ash branch punch, which I think is McGill.

Cat lovers..

Go HERE. You will relate.

Confused? It's OK.. so am I ! ;o)

I hear my blogging five new posts in one go has confused Google, in that the posts are not showing yet on Reader. So.. just to let you know.. below this one, there are five NEW posts for your delight and delectation. Enjoy! lol ;o)

... Aaaand another recycled card...

The image was salvaged from an old card. It had one of the flower heads decoupaged, so have left that on, just inking around the edges and glittering the centre. Had to alter it some more, though, so stamped the harlequins on, using Versafine Onyx Black, but the third stamping. Then stamped the SU stamps 'bloom' and the 'blossom' definition over the top. The butterfly was stamped quite a while ago, and the ink has worn off in the middle, but I quite like the ethereal quality it has now as a result. The pearl sprays are deliberately left like that. I like the way they resemble the catkins (I think that's what they're called).. the little furry buds.. on a pussy willow... if you squint a bit..

Birthday Stripes..

A new one!! Woohoo! Well, OK, the tags and the centre circle are recycled, but - hey - that's not bad, considering how obsessed I have become with reviving old cards that were destined for the local recycling plant.

The swirl die-cut in the middle is a border die.. Sizzix, I think.. and have used SU punches. I think the DP is Basic Grey.. not sure. It has become detached from its pad.

Recycling.. but NOT CHRISTMAS!! :o)

These are really cute, tiny wee cards, using the images cut from the back and insides of the card, mounted on glittery irridesecent pink paper/card.

Cut ellie out, inked around the edges and mounted on 3D pads onto a white card square with a rosebud, bow and a 'with love' sentiment cannibalised from another card. The pink panel is cut from the printed insert of the old card.

The pink 'ribbon' is trimmed from another card and scalloped using Fiskars threading water punch.. added a couple of recycled sentiments, some cord, rosebuds, pearl spray and a Sizzlits leaf spray. Can't make up my mind if this works on black. What do you think?