h3.post-title font-family: 'Bad Script', cursive

Sunday 28 February 2010

Polly

This weeks Kraftin' Kimmie's blog challenge is to use buttons and Bows. I chose to try out my new Polly (from Elaine at Quixotic Paperie) stamp for this and some Basic Grey Scarlett's Letter papers. The frame is cut from Miri card using my Heritage cartridge and the Cricut. Then lots of ribbon, blossoms and buttons. I love these cheeky new stamps.

One for the Boys

Billy Blyth

There is a challenge to make something for the boys over on the Quixotic Challenge Blog this week.

So I got the Pro markers out again and some Bo Bunny paper scraps from a layout I am working on. The stamp is Bily Blyth, one of the gorgeously quirky Moonlight Whispers designs for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps by Canadian artist Annie Rodrigue.

Tulip Yellow and Baby Pink

What a wet and windy day out there. I'm glad I don't need to go out today and I have some time to sit and craft. Here is a card I made last night. The Passion for Pro marker's blog challenge this week (40) is using Tulip Yellow and Baby Pink, plus stitching.


I used these two colours together with several other pink and yellow shades, cool greys, and some browns. The papers are from Daisy D's and the card is from Craftwork Cards. The ribbon, button and blossom are from my stash. I machine stitched the borders in a variety of stitches.

Anita gave me the two stamped images from her collection, I coloured the girl and the three sweet tins with the Pro markers the cut the images out. I sat the girl to the two stacked tins and used the chocolate box as a stopper for the easel.

If the sun shines tomorrow I will take a better photo.

Hope you are all home and dry. Thanks for looking, lovely to read your comments.

Saturday 27 February 2010

Orford

52 Walks With My Camera in 2010 - Week 8 - Orford

We have had a very busy week since returning from Leeds University and last week's walk. I am a day late posting a walk for this week. However I'm thrilled to be able to report that Catherine was offered a conditional place following her interview.

The weather was lovely and sunny this morning and as storms are forecast for tomorrow we made the most of the good weather. We drove to
Orford for the Country Market and got some food, before taking a walk through Orford down to the river before lunch.

This delightful craft shop has been selling basket ware for many years.



We walked through the church grounds.


We headed off down the main street towards the river, plenty of doorways, gates and entrances for this week's challenge.





Some interesting huts on the riverfront.





The riverfront itself.



Then back to the Jolly Sailor for lunch by the lovely warm fire.




Log - 52 Walks with My Camera in 2010 so far: 1. Bexleyheath 2. Woodbridge 3 Hall Place 4. Chislehurst 5. Bluewater 6. Theatre Land 7. Leeds University 8. Orford

Monday 22 February 2010

Wheelies!

Wheeled message cards

A set of wheeled message cards I made for publication in Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine a while back and thought I would share with you today. I used lots of Bazzill card stock and Basic Grey Two Scoops papers and stickers.




Here is how to make a basic wheeled message card. Once you have tried this you can adapt the sizes, and shapes of the apertures as you please.

Finished card size cm 15x10cm

1. Cut card to measure 30x15cm, score and fold 10 cm in from each end to make a double fold card.

2. Punch a 1” hole centrally in from the top of the card. Punch a semi circle over the right hand fold (with the centre 5cm down from the top of the card).

3. In a contrasting card, draw and cut a circle with a 10cm diameter.

4. Working from the inside mark a point on the centre panel, 5cm in from the top and both sides. Pierce a hole through this point and attach the circle to the inside of the card with a brad (using the hole in the circle made by the compass). Stick the right panel to the centre panel, avoiding getting any adhesive on the wheel.

5. Add the words to the circle through the hole in the card, keep turning to add more greetings. Now you can decorate the outside of the card.

Sunday 21 February 2010

Bert and Bertha Banks

This is my layout using the March Scrapaholix Kit. The papers are from Basic Grey's 'Origins' collection. The kit contains two sheets of double sided patterned paper and four sheets of card stock in three colours. The technique is using self adhesive 'Pearls Perles'.

The layout is inspired by the artistic work of Lynn Biermann although it came out quite different in the end.

In addition to the kit I used several flower punches, a Technique Tuesday template, chalk inks, a border punch,brads and eyelets. The swirls an title were cut using the Cricut.



My journalling is hidden, not because it's a secret but because the layout is already busy and there is lots I wanted to record. I cut a length of card and finished one end to be the same shape as the surround. I added a yellow brad and some ribbon so it can be pulled out easily to read:

"I was recently given this old photograph of my Auntie Bertha's wedding, and although it has not survived well, I treasure it just the same. I was quite young when Auntie Bertha came to live across the road from us in Beckenham. I had never met her before but she soon became a big part of our lives and was always very good to my brother, sister and me. Sadly she died soon after I left home to start my nurse training. I remember Bertha looking like the woman on the far right of the photo, who I assume is her mother!

Bertha was the wife of my Great Uncle Bert and they had lived the other side of the town before he died, so I'm not sure why I had never met them before. I have been trying to find out more about them and my whole family tree. I don't know her date of birth or her maiden name, but I have asked lots of questions through Genes Reunited. Bertha and Bert never had children.



Bert was my Great Uncle and his real name was George Herbert Banks. He was born in 1904. He was the brother of my grandfather, Charles Maddison Banks. I'm guessing the two people on the left of the photo are his parents (my great grandparents), Florence Maddison (b.1864) and Charles Banks (b.1871)."

Saturday 20 February 2010

Buttons and Bows

Pro marker Challenge - Week 39.


This week's challenge on the Pro marker blog is to make a card incorporating buttons and bows. So I played with the left overs from my February Scrapaholix kit, then added lace, buttons and ribbon. Found these cute little heart shaped buttons and fortunately had four of them. Linda let me play with her new Martha Stewart (EK Success) deep border punch (thanks Linda). I used a stamped Miss Anya image and of course my pro markers!

Friday 19 February 2010

Guitar Dream Come True

Scrapaholix February 2010 Kit


This month the kit was made up of Upsydaisy Designs Papers from the Enchanted Line, together with card stock and the technique is using Grafix Rub-Onz Transfer Film. I added some blossoms, Sandylion rubons, gems and Perfect Pearls. I used the Cricut for Emily's name.

When Emily first wanted to have guitar lessons we purchased a Guitar kit locally to see how she got on. Having paid for lessons in other instruments over the years between the three children, only to find the enthusiasm did not last! However she stuck at the guitar lessons and eventually we helped her to buy the Luna she really wanted. She still treasures this guitar and plays it frequently.

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Marks in Time

While waiting for Catherine in the university grounds today I found this exhibition called 'Marks in Time' explaining the history of Marks and Spencer. Fascinating to see the old staff uniforms and the fashions they produced over the last 125 years.
The photos are from Google.

Greetings from Leeds

52 Walks with my Camera in 2010 - Leeds University - Week 7

Greetings from Leeds University, I'm sitting at my lap top in a cafe in the university, waiting for Catherine to come out of her audition and interview. I had planned to go off somewhere for the day, but we were taken on a tour before the interviews, then had lunch. Catherine was then taken off for her bit and at 2pm they wanted to talk to all the parents. She won't be free until about 4pm.

So after lunch I took my camera for a walk around the university grounds, where there is a lot of building work going on. It is a very dull day and was very misty this morning, but here are a few of my shots:

A typical picture of uni life.
A mix of the old ....... and the new. This is the faculty where Catherine is right now!











The pink labels hanging on the pink coat hangers in this tree are something to do with rag week.

When Catherine finishes, we have the 223 mile drive home to look forward to. We have to go home today as she has another interview/auditon tomorrow.

Log - 52 Walks with My Camera in 2010 so far: 1. Bexleyheath 2. Woodbridge 3 Hall Place 4. Chislehurst 5. Bluewater 6. Theatre Land 7. Leeds University

Blue, Blue and More Blue


I'm late posing the cards I made for this challenge, and they were made in good time too! However thought I would still share the photos of these two girlie's. The Pro marker challenge for last week was to use Aegean, sky blue and cool aqua colour combination. I coloured two Miss Anya stamps and added then to some papers I have had stored away for a long time.


Next weeks challenge is to use buttons and bows with the pro markers.

Sunday 14 February 2010

Happy Valentine's Day

Following yesterday's workshop I decided to try another easel card. I used the Craftwork Cards, card, card candy and papers. Then I thought I would experiment with my new Cricut cartridge, 'Paisley'. This was purchased from Jill a Cardinal Colours last weekend. This cart was used for the toad and the toadstool. I used my 'Designer's Calendar' cart, for the 'Valentine's Day' greeting, this also from Jill's super shop. The stamped greeting inside the card, which also holds up the easel, is a Stampin'Up stamp from the 'Unfrogettable' set.

Saturday 13 February 2010

Craftwork Cards Workshop

Today Linda, Jill an I went to Horley, to a Craftwork Cards Workshop run by Julie Hickey.

We had a great morning making cards without interruption from the normal Saturday routine at home. We came away with four cards, lots of ideas a some card making supplies from the shop.

This first card is simple in design but very effective and I think I will be working on variations of this theme. Lots of different sized punched circles and card candy in pink. The trunk was cut from a template drawn by Julie.




This next card used two of these elegant shaped oblongs, lots of card candy and these lovely retro flowers and a butterfly.


This third card uses this delicious lime coloured card, the photo does not do the colour justice. The flowers are made from five small hearts, a button and some ribbon.


The next card is an easel card. I have been meaning to try this since seeing all the stunning cards made by Anita. I had even printed out some instructions from another site ready to try this, but not had time to do so. So thanks Julie for getting me started. These last two photos show the card open and closed.


Thanks to Julie for another great class and to Linda and Jill for their company. I got home in plenty of time to get Emily to the post office to send off her short story and references to Nottingham University for her interview on Friday. Then we went to Gravesend for her appointment with the osteopath. When she was finished we had time for a little girly shopping and I treated her to some new clothes.

Friday 12 February 2010

A Walk Through Theatre Land

52 Walks with my Camera 2010 - Theatre Land, China Town and Charing Cross Road - Week 6




Catherine and I went to see Priscilla - Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre last night. We had a lovely Italian meal in a restaurant opposite the theatre, then went for a walk as we were early for the theatre ad meeting up with the others. The photo below shows Catherine outside The Palace Theatre.




We walked through China Town and took a photo of the delicious goodies on display in this shop window. Then we took photos of photos of the Chinese lanterns.



We still had a little time so we wandered into Charing Cross Road and the world of book shops. I was telling Catherine about the book '84 Charing Cross Road', by Helene Hanff, I enjoyed reading some years ago. I remember the film of the book too, starring Anthony Hopkins. We had a good look round Foyles and took this picture of the window display. I remember the special trip to London to buy the books I needed for my nurse training many years ago.


Then we met up with the others in the theatre for a great evening's entertainment, I can certainly recommend the show - it's great fun.

Log - 52 Walks with My Camera in 2010 so far: 1. Bexleyheath 2. Woodbridge 3 Hall Place 4. Chislehurst 5. Bluewater 6. Theatre Land

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Kimmie's Birthday Sketch Challenge

Over on the Kraftin' Kimmie Korner blog, Kimmie has set up a birthday challenge using a sketch to make a card.

I used my 'Posy' stamp (from Elaine at Quixotic Paperie), more Paper Salon papers and my Promarkers to create this card: