Friday 31 July 2009

NEW CARDS













Meanwhile back at the office - made a few cards.
Was tinkering with some of the images I found the other day. I love re-making things, they look so different with a few bits and bobs added.
Keep your fingers crossed for the weekend weather for me - I am at Bowness on the lake front Saturday and Sunday
Yours
kitten XXXX

Thursday 30 July 2009

NEW TOYS

Just check out the top address bar - finally, FINALLY - got my logo in the address bar.
- How long have I had a blog? - How long have I been trying? Nuff said.
I could create the file - I could get it in the right format (.ico) - then I got stuck finding a place to host it. All the 'how tos' said Google pages or the Yahoo one - both of which have now discontinued. Nothing I could find would just do what I wanted without all sort of other stuff. Finally found one - uploaded it - put in the blog html head - BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. Then I deleted it, by accident, messing about ((((and forgot who I had hosted it with)))). So started again. Then I found a site the would pick it up from my hard drive, convert it AND do all the complicated bit.
Now I have one - yeah
Yours
kitten XXXX


Wednesday 29 July 2009

NEW CARDS



I do like the new Daisy and Dandelion stuff. Not much of a one for 'cutie' stuff, but the dogs and the teddies are very usable.
Cute little set of cards (stamped multi-colour capachino and clear embossed, then water coloured body and cap, h2os 'fur' and glittered), matted gold mirri and set on red card - A7 size: with matching gift tags, gold organza ribbon ties. All tied up with gold organza ribbon.


Yours

kitten XXXX

Tuesday 28 July 2009

LIFE

Gosh - what a day! Have you had all that rain? Has been coming down in torrents today - don't know how that much rain stays up there!!
I have been 'trying' to clean the living room floor today - note the 'trying'. We have a solid oak floor downstairs with a big rug in the living room, so it doesn't need a lot of attention, but every year (about this time) I have a really good go at it. The theory being that I can take the rug outside and give it a good beating - it's silk not wool. Then I can give the floor a good wash and polish. That's the theory. Never works to plan.
Well I can't take the rug out, so I thought I would just do half the room at a time. Princelet's away so I have the time. No matter how many times I wash and rinse - and rinse - and rinse - there is STILL animal fur when I put the polish on. It's the same when I paint a wall - one of them always brushes past and leaves their trademark.
Well half the floor is 'clean' (better say washed) and polished - going to have a go at dry cleaning the rug tomorrow. Any advice on stopping gutty little fidget from trying to eat the foam?
Yours
kitten XXXX


Sunday 26 July 2009

CHALLENGE


This week the theme is tags - perfect introduction for my new wrap-so-dy cards

Tag with a verse tucked into a pocket


Yours

P XXXX

STAMPING

I really love watercolour stamping. I recently picked up a letter box stamp and today did my first attempt with it.


I like it - the old goat says it looks like it's underwater.




Yours

P XXXX

SLEEP

I went to bed at 8pm last night - and got up for lunch today. Must have been tired!
The house is so quiet - princelet has gone off to cadet camp for 2 weeks. He only went this morning and I miss him already!
Yours
P XXXX

Friday 24 July 2009

CATCHING UP

I have spent all day - yes all day - making envelopes.
It's all very well coming up with these cute little size cards - but you can't get envelopes for them. Searched everywhere for a C7 size - seems totally silly that you can't get them - it's a standard size. I could not get the 4" square to work - so I totally remade the template. Ended up cutting down the pile of paper I had already cut out for those to make a pile for the shaped gift cards, which are smaller - and they are so pretty.
I now have 4 of these tiddler size cards so I thought I would build up a bit of a stock. I still have some 3" x 6" to do, but I have a few the other sizes to fall back on.
Yours
P XXXX


Thursday 23 July 2009

STUDY DAY



We have been doing watercolour stamping today.

I love watercolour stamping.

This one is a new stamp - it's a plain door, and the pots are separate stamps. All the little flowers and foliage are all separate little stamps. I have to admit - the door stamp and I came home together. I have a couple of pot stamps and I am going to try them out with different seasons. Thinking Christmas - 2 tiny trees and some holly with berries, wreath on the door.

Got a bit to prepare for the weekend show, then I can play.

Yours

P XXXX

Monday 20 July 2009

PLAYING

I have a big box with loads of saved card fronts that I have collected over the years. There are all sorts of things in there:-
  • I was given one of these big sample books of wedding stationary to scavenge - so there bits from that
  • several Christmas bits and bobs that have caught my eye over the years
  • people donate any really different cards that they get sent because they know I will give them a good home
  • pretty images I come across that might be useful
  • scraps of paper with sketches and notes or copies of layouts I have liked.

Every so often (well every year or two) I sit and have a rummage through. It's amazing what memories it brings back - and what I find that I can use again. You see things differently every time - depends what you are working on I suppose, and what techniques are the current favorites. I have found a couple of gorgeous silk and satin church images that I am going to work up into wedding cards, a couple of elegant winter scenes to do some winter cards with, and several patterns to make into small card toppers.

- - - And I had a lovely afternoon - resting

Yours
P XXXX


Sunday 19 July 2009

NEW CARDS



Still not really recovered after last weekend. Seem to have slept most of the afternoons this week. Home this weekend though - the old goat is in a field at a Classic Cars show - and it's pretty black out there.


I LOVE my new inventions. Both my favorite things together - working with papers and calligraphy. I have done about half a dozen of these now, and am collecting little verses for some more.

Yours
P XXXX

Friday 17 July 2009

NEW IDEA

Leave me alone with a dodgy Internet connection for a couple of days - and you KNOW I will get up to mischief


New card range idea

I saw a photo of this 3 fold pocket - so I thought make it A5 size - after I roughed one up - too wide - took an inch out of the width (hay - another odd side to make an envelope for) - had to fiddle with the curve so you could see the tag. Cover in really pretty paper and add flowers, frills and fancies.




Slide in a tag - just the right size to scribe a short poem - and so we have a new range of sentiment cards.

Not sure what to call them. Hugs in a card - wrapped in love - need a catchy title.

Dead chuffed with myself

Yours

P XXXX

Tuesday 14 July 2009

NEW SITE

Check this out
Yours
P XXXX


NEW IDEA


Have been tinkering with the new Persia cuttlebug set - love it. It is very fussy and detailed, so watch it if you are a 'clean' lines person.
Made some little note cards in a tiny carrier (stocking fillers for Crispmouse). The card fronts are embossed and sanded, matted mirri gold, with a couple of gold leaves from the die cuts in the set and also embossed, glued on flat.
I am really into tiny little note cards at the moment - I am going to do a couple of boys ones tomorrow.
Yours

P XXXX

DAY OFF

Yeasterday was my day off. Did a bit of tinkering, but slept most of it.
In the church office now with fidget, after that it will be another very quiet day. So need lots of rest after the weekend.
Yours
P XXXX


Sunday 12 July 2009

SHOWS

Well I am home guys!!!!
Not updated the shop yet - still sorting it all out in my head. Funny old weekend really - quite long days, not used to staying late - we normally sneek off about 4ish. Had some hamper guys next to me (http://www.morecambebayhampers.co.uk/) and these guys the other (http://www.jennybellceramics.com/) and a chap that created models out of coal (bought a tiny kitten - well I would, wouldn't I?) in the front of me. Saturday took a while to get going - the hamper guys were busy (food always does well), but the rest of us did not really get going until lunch time. A couple of people I knew stopped for a chat - and I went to see the flower arrangements - - soo out of this world, just amazing.
Sunday was much quieter but for a couple of highlights - a dear old American dog training friend was passing (with her cute pug) so we had a good old natter (and snuggle) to catch up AND someone gave me a present. A lady I had chatted to on Saturday brought me her mum's nib pens that she used to do all the village sales notices and stuff with - how fantastic is that? I love to have old craft stuff that has been loved and used. They are poster nibs and a bit wider than anything I have, they need a good clean and sharpening (on-one knows that you have to sharpen dip nibs occasionally), but I am itching with ideas to use them.
Packed up a bit early at 4 today - and got told off for being 'unprofessional'. ME, b****y cheek, I was so up-set - I had stood there all day working my butt off and I was in pain, all I wanted to do was go home and rest - and I got moaned at. I was really upset I can tell you, don't think we will go there again.
I am going to have a few days rest - can't believe princelet is home tomorrow - ALREADY. Got my new pens to play with and my new embossing folders from Cuddlybuddly so I will show you what I get up to.
Yours
P XXXX


Friday 10 July 2009

NEW IDEA

I have sold several note card sets, but never really hit on 'that' way of doing it. I wanted to try a purse theme and this time I think I have cracked it.

I wanted to be able to get it all out of one really good quality 12" double sided sheet so it all matched. The cards are A6 size - quite small and cute, and you get 4 out of an A4 sheet. All you need is extra bits for the centre decal (cuttlebug embossed) and to mat the card papers.

I am going to work on something similar in a mini carrier.




Yours

P XXXX

Thursday 9 July 2009

STUDY DAY



I was playing with Barbara Gray's latest project.

She really does make you work for it. This month was teabag folding. You know? Those pretty little patterned squares?? She makes you cut the squares - then stamp them - after that you get to fold them and make the shape. Mind you it does mean that all the colours/shades work together. The background is brayered, and although you can't see it in the scan, the middle frame is faintly shaded with the brown and heavily stamped on the reverse so that it on;y just shows on the front.

Yours
P XXXX

CUTTLEBUG

PSSSST - cuddleybuddly have got the new cuttlebug folders £3.75 (that's really good) in stock ready waiting.
I have 2 on the way
Yours
P XXXX


Wednesday 8 July 2009

CHALLENGE

The theme for the challenge this week is - BUTTONS


So here is mine - a gent's card for a change




Yours


P XXXX

SCRAP BOOK PAGE



Playing with scrapbook pages today. Not done any scrapbooking for ages - I really need to do more. I have just got some absolutely gorgeous new papers, trouble is they are so pretty you want to show them off.
This one is a text print (text is HUGE at the moment), with several antique looking papers. Nothing is matted and it's all kept very simple


This is a beautiful flower - I did not want to cover it up. The photo is matted and set over a co-ordinating shabby blue paper, embossed with flowers and sanded. The flower theme is continued with silk and paper flowers.




Yours
P XXXX

Monday 6 July 2009

NEW CARDS







Been home alone - the old goat was in Keswick all day - painting a giant. No I'm not sure either - but I expect it will become clear soon!
So fidget and I have been in the office playing with my new inktense pencils - well I played, fidget napped in his bed. I bought this set of stamps for a garden centre customer that I make their gift voucher cards for. Not really used them for anything else but I always need ideas for gents' cards


Yours
P XXXX

Sunday 5 July 2009

SHOWS

Have been at a dog agility dog show all weekend. Gosh that fresh air - totally shattered now!!

I have trained dogs for years, but had to stop serious training last year - just too un-well. Still got contacts so we go along to several of the local heats in agility, obedience,and (sometimes) fly-ball. The old goat does pooch sketches - dogs doing their favorite things. It's ever so popular, people queue all day and he never stops. I took a small table and a few cards along - I do several dog themed ones especially for the dog shows, and I did sell several.

I took the palace guard dog on Saturday - and he was soo good. He has been going to all sorts of shows since he was almost a year old and he is nearly 5 now, so he's an old hand at it. Neither of us are 'match fit', so we just watched the world go by.

Today I took fidget - his first time out. He did very well considering! I don't think He could quite get his head round all those dogs running about but not playing with him. We mooched about quite a lot so we didn't get in the way of the old goat.

I have caught the sun a bit n my neck and the backs of my hands. I did have sun cream on, but I guess my lower arms are always showing - never thought of that. I have a couple of nasty mosquito bites too.

Desperate to go to bed now and it's not even 8 o'clock.

Yours
P XXXX

Friday 3 July 2009

NEW CARDS

It's hopeless - I can't be on holiday - got too many toys to play with! I am so lucky - I love what I do, and I never seem to run out of ideas.



Today, I needed to make a few sympathy cards and I have a gorgeous swirly cross stamp that I picked up with this in mind.

The card stock already has the background on it, which I always find hard to use up, but with the simpleness of just the 2 plain matted squares looks really pretty. The cross is embossed and gently shaded with H2Os, matted and raised.





Yours

P XXXX

Thursday 2 July 2009

NEWS

I have HUGE news.
Yes, I know I am supposed to be on holiday - but you have to hear.
H2Os are staying in business!!
In't it great?? I have just received my order - waited 3 months for them to make the order. They have been over whelmed with support from all around the world and are still catching up on the back orders. Several companies have baled them out and they are staying in business!
Everything is still 40% off until the 12th July - but be aware that if you order it will take at lease 2 months - and check the exchange rate, it was a much better deal when I paid and not sure how it's doing now.
Sooo excited - new colour list on my site - with several new gorgeous colours
Spoilt kitten now!
Yours
P XXXX