CHAIN GANG

For the past week my hubby and I have been taking advantage of some lovely spring weather and doing some major gardening. We have dismantled a rockery, moved all the rocks, rubble and soil to make way for a few more patio slabs which have now almost doubled the size of the area. The idea is to have less garden to take care of and more space in which to relax! However, as the spring weather has turned to winter gales, sleet and minus degree temperatures again, I have retreated to my craft room once more.

My lovely ATC swapping buddies have been top of my list and I have decided I must make a stack of cards to send out when they send to me.

This set is one of the ones I made over last night and this morning. I found some previously made inked backgrounds and thought they would be just the job for the toppers I had in mind. Grungeboard hearts and wings. I used my Artquest pearl paints on the hearts, my Craftynotions sprays on the wings and a bit of distress ink on both. I tried sewing the wings to the heart but found it really hard so only managed to do one. The other three have 'pretend' sewing on them. The words are stamped on using an archival ink pad. A few 3D foam pads and glossy accents later and these are the end results.

Hope they like them.

MICKEY

Not the best photo, sorry about that, but this is just a bit of fun.

DAISY AND DANDELION

I downloaded a free sample of the new Daisy and Dandelion decoupage kits and made this lovely little card.

I think the new images are really cute and will make some gorgeous cards.

I've been making a few ATCs and cards this week but not managed any scrapbook pages. To be honest, I've been a bit poorly and quite 'down'. Must give myself a good kick and get back on track.

GRUNGE ATC

I just love grungeboard. It's so versatile and easy to work with.

I opened the swirls one and used the backing paper to cover an ATC card picking out some of the swirls design. The butterfly wings are from the same pack which I simply sanded then inked before sticking to the card. A few gems later and a simple card appeared! Quite effective I thought.

MORE DCWV ORIENTAL PAGES

I made these pages last year and wasn't pleased with the outcome. That's when I put the album away. However, I keep having a go and will get there eventually, even though the journalling may take some time to complete.

A DCWV PAGE AND BIRTHDAY CARD PAGE

I keep having a go at pages for our DCWV oriental album, but still have a mental block with them. Still, I'll keep trying.

This other page sits side by side with Toby's pedigree certificate page and shows the gorgeous 18th birthday card he received from our vets. Where they got the card from beats me, but the water colour is Toby down to the last hair! I hope you agree how special it is.

I hope to update my Flickr later today, but I'm sad to say - I have to do some housework - YAK!!!!!

PEDIGREE CERTIFICATE

I've been trying to make this page for ages. Originally I photocopied the contents onto printable acetate and planned to use that, somehow, as a background. It did'nt work! The copy came out quite pale and with the 'Champions' and 'Grand Champions' details being in red ink, the whole thing looked wrong.

So, I decided to simply place it on a lovely page from the K&Co blue awning range, cut around a few of the flowers and keep it in place with a couple of Anna Griffin photo corners.

SYLVIA'S ATCs

I received these amazing cards today and just have to share them with you because I think they are too gorgeous to be kept 'under wraps'.

My lovely friend, Sylvia, is a very clever crafter. Not only can she produce beautiful ATCs, but she is a marvel at quilting, cake decorating, knitting, flower arranging...... in fact, most things. Her paper crafting passion is pergamano. I named her last year, the National peel off queen because if you look closely at the edge of the kitten card you will see how precise the placing of the peel off border is. The colours she uses always compliment the topping and her imaginitive use of ways to attach the vellum amaze me. Look closely at the yellow rose card and you may see that the vellum is neatly sewn onto the card around the punched side. So clever.

I am very lucky to be able to swap cards with Sylvia and now have amassed quite a collection. They are even more special to me because I have no chance of ever trying to make a pergamano card and I just love looking and admiring them.

Thank you Sylvia.

PUNCTUATION

These ATCs are inspired by Tim's Christmas tag no. 5.

I used paint dabbers and grungeboard from his range and the stamps are from Hero Arts.

A bit of fun and I got MESSY!!!

MASKED ATCs

I cut 4 pieces of white card to ATC size, placed them side by side and covered them with a Tim Holtz mask before applying distress ink to them all.

I then simply stamped over each one with a Hero Arts stamp and archival black ink. I stamped the word love 4 times, inked over each with fired brick distress ink and cut them out. They are attached with 3D foam.

All very simple but I think very effective.

I NEED MORE.......

I started out with just one stamp,
and when I bought some more
I decided that a shoe box
would make an ideal store.
then as I added inks and pens
my stamping collection grew
So I bought a roomy plastic crate,
It would last a few years, I knew.
Embossing then became my thing
With powders and heat gun,
Metallics, tinsels, pearls and clear,
I soon had every one.
By now my lovely plastic crate
Was spilling everywhere
And my glitter glue collection
Lay scattered on a chair.
My husband started muttering
And said things had to stop,
So I bought a huge old wardrobe
At the local charity shop.
But after just a little while
I couldn't shut the door
And put shelves up in the spare room
To accommodate yet more!
Our house is now for sale,
Something larger being sought,
By the way, did I show you
The latest stamp I just bought.............


I have had this poem for years and have no idea where it came from. I know all of you out there will be saying 'ouch' I know this person. I just 'broke the camel's back' today and bought a Big Shot. There is absolutely no space in my little workroom for it so I think the combi boiler just has to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PERSIAN FRAGMENT

Another attempt at ATCs using Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas themes.

For these I used distress ink pads, fragments (only have tags though), 4 different stamps and glossy accents. They could be better inked but hey! I'm only a novice.

I hope my ATC pals like them 'cos they're going to get them!!! (thats Sylvia, Barb and Sonia).

SPRING BULBS

I adore spring time. Lengthening days, birds singing, bushes starting to bud. But most of all, I love spring flowers. I have a small garden and a couple of fish ponds. Only a tiny part of the garden is plantable so I rely on pots for summer flowers, but make up for the lack of space with a few spring bulbs here and there.

My second most favourite flower is the snowdrop, (the first being freesia). I've put a few pics on my Flickr if you are interested.