I Missed Her Most!

I've been keeping an eye on three of my grandchildren while my daughter took a break with some friends of hers. I've made this card for the kids to give her when she gets back (today - hurrah) although I think I'm the one who missed her most as I've been the one running back and forth between here and hers and doing all the things she'd normally be doing for them.

So - the image is stamped from a couple of Stampscape unmounted stamps, the turquoise is from a Kaleidascope ink pad and the pale pink is Spun Sugar Distress ink. I used the same Spun Sugar for the back image - how different it looks on a different card - and then stamped the palm frond with Worn Lipstick DI - I also sprayed it with a pearl mica spray. The sentiment was computer generated - black seam binding - another find from my mum's seamstress days, and some sparkly peel offs I've had for yonks.

This is my DT card for Rainbow Lady's challenge this week which is 'Tuturquoise and Pink' - in honour of Bermuda. I had to ask Rainbow Lady about the colours as they don't appear on the Bermuda flag but apparently the sky is turquoise and the sand pink. How beautiful.

I do hope you'll be able to join us this week. We love to see all your entries.

Thank you for visiting today.

Beryl xx

Inky Tag (and fingers)

Rainbow Lady's challenge this week is 'Lets Get Inky'.

Well I certainly have -  and I've got to go out tonight so I'll probably end up using bleach on my hands.

After several attempts going in the bin - each one totally different from the others, I settled on making a tag - if it goes on a card at some stage it will have to be an 8 x 8 or an A5 card coz I just went for it without measuring. For the background I used Radiant Rain Colour concentrates Sky and Yellow Rose. I know - where's the yellow? Well as I had forgotten, and was reminded when I was blending - yellow and blue make green. Brilliant - I don't have a green and now I don't have to buy one. I'll have to see what other colours I can come up with mixing the 5 colours I've got.

The main stamp is a Clarity one and the feint script (I used Stone Grey Stazon) is Old French Writing by Hero Arts. A couple of butterflies from a Cardio set and some inking through some sequin waste to finish off. Then I painted over the whole tag with Paper Artsy Metallic Glaze.

The two colours of ribbon were some cream grosgrain coloured with Promarkers, the button and flower from my stash.

I hope you'll come and join in this week. Sales of bleach could go up this week - unless someone can tell me a better way of cleaning inky hands.

Thanks very much for visiting today.

Beryl xx

Fairy-tage

This week the challenge on Rainbow Lady's blog is - 'age' - as in decoupage, pyramage, trinitage or any other 'age' you can think of in the spirit of the challenge. Not old age, new age or similar.lol

 I've chosen decoupage. The fairy image I've had for yonks and is a Stanzbogen die cut. The ivy leaves are a Sheena Douglas design from when she worked with Creative Expressions, coloured with Pro Markers. The bp is from the Essence of Nature cd by Artylicious and the sentiment stamp is by Inkylicious. Ribbon from my stash and the card brass embossed round the edge.

We are sponsored this week by Pinflair so I do hope you come and join in.

As the background for the fairy was done with my Pan Pastels (very basic but I'm just starting with them) I'm also entering this card in the Pan Pastel challenge this week - which is Anything Goes.

Thank you for visiting today.

Beryl xx



Memories

I don't have very many photos of my family, only or two of my dad and not many more of my mum. So as Rainbow Lady's challenge this week is 'Memories' I thought I'd make a start on putting some of them together for my kids to have. They say you get to look like your mum - that's fine as long as I don't feel the need to wear a shapeless shift and grow a wedge haircut!
I used Craft Artist to make the page and it's in an 8 x 8 format so my printer will be able to cope when I finally get round to printing some pages out and putting them in an album. Don't anybody hold your breath for that though - got to find an 8 x 8 album first.
Hope you'll be able to join in. Memories can mean so many different things - I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something AND we are sponsored by the lovely Joanna Sheen this week.
Thanks for visiting.
Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #202

I was chuffed to bits the other week when our lovely Cynthia asked me to join the Design Team for her weekly challenge over on Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog. Just the incentive I needed to get my crafting juices flowing again - at least - that's the plan. Sadly the place is available because one of the current DT members, Jen, has to retire from the team at the moment - but she will be joining in the challenges when she can.
This challenge is sponsired by Laura from That's Crafty who is giving away at set of Dyan Reaveley stamps.
So this is my first week - and the challenge is - On the Street Where you Live. I made the background for this card in Craft Artist. The houses and bushes are Chocolate Baroque stamps, coloured with Promarkers.
The extra bits like the words and the green 'verge' were also done in Craft Artist and stuck on after. I wasn't sure what the card was going to be but my daughter was staying the weekend, saw it on my desk and said could she have it for a new home card - so I had to finish it off quickly for her to take home. It's an 8 x 8 so I hope she's going to hand it over and not post it!
I do hope you'll join in the challenge this week - the challenge subject could mean all sorts of things.
Thanks very much for visiting today.
Beryl xx

Red, Whitish and Blue

The challenge from Rainbow Lady this week is for 'St Georges day, Patriotic or British.'
I've chosen to go with the colours of the Union Flag for this one. I used elements from Craft Artist to make the card and the oval plaque is from a set of pre coloured sheets by Crafty Ann.
The internet is being a right pain for me at the moment - I have to get on line when I can, this morning I was awake just after 5 so did my blog catch up then - the first time I'd managed it since Friday.
Hope you are all having better luck than me.
Thanks for visiting today.
Beryl xx

A Little Bit Shabby

I can't quite get the hang of 'shabby'. I've distressed to edges of the bp and inked it but it still doesn't look that shabby to me. Perhaps I should have kicked it around the garden a bit before posting it on here. Anyhow - I made this card for Rainbow Lady's Challenge - 'Celebrate with a Touch of Vintage'.It's Rainbow Lady's 200th challenge this week so do try to join in. The bp is from a pack of paper I got when I first watched Create and Craft - several years ago now and I've still got quite a lot left. The image - which is my vintage bit is from Joanna Sheen's ATC Assistant - and because it's from a cd I thought it would fit in quite nicely with The CD Sunday Challenge 'Ring a Roses'. Ribbon and flower from my stash, the 'stalk' is a Marianne die and the computer generated text sits on a Wizard die cut ribbon slider.

Thank you for visiting today. The sun's got round the front now so I'd best plant some of the stuff I brought with me from the last house.



He's got more eggs than me....

Well Zumba was great although I'm not sure a body my age should even be attempting some of the moves. So here I sit, with my feet up and with a cup of hot chocolate, bringing you my second post of the day. Shock horror - I know!

For some reason I didn't have to make as many Easter cards this year.lol. This being single does have some advantages you know.

This is one I made for my son and his family featuring Tatty Teddy. My daughter in law loves teddies so it's for her mainly.

The bp and image are both from a Taddy Teddy CD and the flowers made using my Nellie Snellen dies. The stem is a Sissix flourish die and the sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering it into Rainbow Lady's Challenge this week which is 'Happy Easter'.

Even if you don't normally make Easter cards - it's a good reason to make at least one so you can enter the challenge which is sponsored by Joanna Sheen this week.

I have to sing the praises of Joanna and her company - I ordered myself a Big Shot yesterday afternoon - and it arrived at 9 this morning. Hows that for service. Guess what I was playing with instead of doing housey stuff today.

Thanks very much for visiting.

Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #198

Rainbow Lady's Challenge this week is 'Butterflies.' There's so much scope with a theme like this so why don't you pop ocver there and join in. This is an 8 x 8 card. Both bp's are from Artylicious and the lattice is a Cheery Lynn Die. The background is my first attempt with Pan Pastels. Very simple and took far less time than everything else (especially the bow!).

The butterflies are made from some more Artylicious papers using a Marth Stewart punch. The black flower in the corner is by Prima.

Thanks very much for visiting today.



Rainbow Lady's Challenge 197

This card I'm entering into Rainbow Lady's challenge - House And Home. It's the first chance I've had to use this stamp set by Chocolate Baroque - even though I've had it ages. The image is coloured with Pro Markers and the bp is from a K and Co. paper pad. The sentiment is from a Rubbadubbadoo set and the lattice is a Cuttlebug die.Oh - and I used my new nesties (Wonky Squares) which I got at the NEC on Saturday. So - today I've finished off one card, done a little gardening and made another card with no interruptions. Things are looking up I think.

Thanks very much for visiting today.

Beryl xx

Here I Go Again

I'm off again tomorrow - this time to stay with my neice Terrie so we can go to Sheena Douglass' workshop in Milton Keynes on Sunday. I won't be back till the middle of next week but I didn't want to miss

Rainbow Lady's challenge this week - especially as I was lucky enough to win the Joanna Sheen voucher on her challenge last week. I had to make a few Easter cards before I went so am entering this one into the current week's challenge - 'Springtime'.

The Sarah Kay image was stamped and sent to me by my friend Martha and I coloured it with Promarkers. The background stamp is from Sheena Doulgass' Busy Doing Nothing set and I used watercolour marker pens to ink it. Sentment - computer generated and ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for calling by. I'm off now to pack ready for an early start to the train station in the morning.

Beryl xx

A Little of What You Fancy....

This card is my entry for Rainbow Lady's challenge this week - 'Lilac Wine'. No lilac the flower on here but the colour fits I think. The image is a Rubber Romance image given to me by blog buddy Jane of Jem's Crafting Blog. It's coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment was also a gift from Jane but was to big for the card so I used the phrase and typed it in my new favourite font - Sandscript. The bp is from a Crafty Individuals pad and the borders also a gift from a crafty friend - Martha in the States.
Thanks very much for visiting today. Hope you are all enjoying this lovely weather.
Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady Goes to the Movies

Rainbow Lady's challenge this week is 'A Night at the Movies'. Now I know these little fellows aren't scary but when I looked at the finished card 'The Birds' just popped into my head - so into the challenge it goes.

The stamps are from Creative Expressions, coloured with Promarkers and the bp is from Joanna Sheens Fashion Boutique CD. Not a lot else to say about it really.

Thanks very much for visiting today. Hopefully I'll manage my usual catch up on Tuesday evening (unless it pours with rain and then you may see me call by before then.)

Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge # 145

Just managed time to enter Rainbow Lady's challenge this week before off on my travels again. Tomorrow I'm going to stay with my daughter in Stoke on Trent and we are going to the NEC together on Saturday. I'll probably stay in Stoke a few days after too. This week the challenge is 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon'. Well - it's not exactly tied - but it is there. I've used an image from Joanna Sheen's RHS CD and a computer generated sentiment. The pale green swirls in the background are by Creative Expressions and are a Sheena Douglass design. Said ribbon and pearls from my stash.

Thanks for visiting today. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled on Saturday in case any of you are there.

Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady's challlenge #142

Rainbow Lady's challenge this week is - 'Masked Ball for Mardi Gras' so I thought I'd use this Judikins Mask stamp that doesn't get to see the light of day very often.  I stamped the mask with Versafine Onyx Black and embossed with Sheena's WOW powder - Pearl Violet. I then used a mixture of H2O's and CosmicShimmers to colour - added some fibres and mounted on to the card with sticky pads. The bp is from a graphicus guild pack - the Harlequin is also a Judikins stamp and the sentiment stamp is from Docrafts. Pearls in the corner from my stash.
Thanks very much for visiting today. After I've caught up with some e mails I'll try to catch up with the blogs. Just need a spare day or two for that then.
Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #140

This week Rainbow Lady's challenge is to use something from a CD. I have used my Ooh La La Shoes in Bloom CD again for the image - ribbon from my stash, the small piece of bp is from The Paper Factory CD and the large piece of bp is one of Crafty Ann's Abstract Pastel Collection.

That's about it really. Oh - the sentiment is a Personal Impressions clear stamp.
Thanks very much for visiting.
I'm of now to do some inserts before the pile of waiting cards get any bigger.
Beryl xx

For My Lovely Daughter

I made this card for my youngest daughter who will be 40 this year. Where have all those years gone?

As it's got the word 'Love' on it I thought I'd enter it into a couple of challenges. I don't 'do' Valetine cards so this is the closest I'll get to the theme. Rainbow Lady's challenge this week is 'It's All About Love' and I am also entering Crafty Ann's challenge 'Love is in the Air'. I haven't managed to enter Crafty Ann's challenge for ages so she'll probably get a bit of a surprise.

It's an 8 x 8 card and the image is one on Sheena Douglass' Sketchy stamps - coloured with watercolour pencils. The matt behind it is made with a Martha Stewart punch - the swirl a Marianne die and the sentiment plate Nesties.

The bp is Funky Fairy distressed swirls and the flower is made from scrunched up circles of mulberry paper. The butterfly is actually a filigree silver brooch that belonged to my mother. As I've never worn it I have decided to pass it on to my daughter before it gets mislaid somewhere. The white organza ribbon was coloured with a Pro marker and the navy circles/card candy where punched from a small part of a Wizard die.

As you can see by the shadows on the card - the sun is shining, but it's not turned out as warm as I thought it would this morning.

Thanks very much for visiting today. Have a good weekend.

Beryl xx



Easter meets Christmas

Two cards today. The first is for Rainbow Lady's challenge 'Year of the Rabbit' celebrating the Chinese New Year. My card is more of an Easter card but it's got the rabbit. The image and the lovely bp are from a MCS free download  - the trellis border a Marth Stewart punch and the flower is made from a selection of my flower punches and a Sissiz die for the stem. The pot is just a scrap of card cut to shape and scored to make the rim.
The second card is for this week's Bah Humbug challenge - 'Buttons and Bows'. The snowman image is from Serif Craft Artist and I've given him buttons for his buttons - if that makes sense. The snowflake backing is a piece of vellum over a piece of white paper. I folded the vellum top and bottom to fit the paper and stuck it with DS tape. Not brads needed. The buttons and ribbon are from my stash. It all looks a bit pale I'm afraid. Well - it is quite pale but with the poor daylight here today it looks even paler.
Thanks very much for visiting today.
Beryl xx

Rainbow Lady's challenge #137

This week's challenge from Rainbow Lady is 'Beary Good'. Any type of project you like as long as there's a bear on it somewhere.

This is another card that didn't end up as planned. It was going to be a 5 x 5, but the image - stamped with Hobby Art stamps and coloured with Lyra watercolours - was larger than expected when placed on a 5 x 5 . The bp is from a Graphicus Guild pack and the flowers made partly from some of the bp, some white paper coloured with the same blue as in the image and another piece from 'somewhere?'. Butterfly punched with a Martha Stewart punch, pearls and ribbon from my stash.

I'm now going to have another go at getting round to visit some blogs. I tried yesterday but the Internet alternately either didn't load the pages properly or went dead slow and then finally ground to a halt. Wish me better luck this afternoon.

Thanks very much for visiting.

Beryl xx

Plaid and Crackers (not edible)

Can't believe it's a week since I visited blog world. The time has flown this week. This kitchen is finished - almost everything is back in it's place and this room is beginning to look like someone lives here again.
The first card today is for Rainbow Lady's challenge which this week is to celebrate Burn's Night and the topic is 'Highland Fling'. The idea is to incorporate something 'Scottish' in your creation. The plaid bp is from Crafters Companion and the Scottie dog is a stamp given to me by Terrie quite a while ago now. Sorry - I don't know the make. I added some ribbon from my stash and a couple of nestie die cuts. The faux brads in the corner were cut from black card using part of a flower set of Wizard dies.
The second card is for this week's Bah Humbug challenge - 'Crackers'. This cracker stamp is one from a set of Cute Companion stamps and the bp is the other half of the sheet on the card above. The crackers and mice are coloured with Promarkers and the peel offs round the border coloured using peel off marker pens.
Thanks very much for visiting today. Hope to get some time for blog hopping this evening.
Beryl xx