Thursday 28 March 2013

Easter cards and Thank you


A quick post today before work and most importantly a very big thank you to the kind words, support and encouragement I’ve  had  from some very lovely and kind hearted people about my current work stresses ,It is very heart warming to know that someone else is thinking about you and I know its not permanent and could be a lot worse as it is for many  people whether that be health or life issues. And in many other ways I am so very fortunate with the life I currently have and don’t take that for granted. I really appreciate this and was overwhelmed by the kindness shown to me. ..So a big thanks you to those wonderful individuals.
Happy Easter to you

 Close up flowers and swirl
Tilda and bunny rabbit -cute 

Almost Easter and wont have the time  to make all the cads I need, I  thought I would but maybe next year; the ones I have made I’m pleased with. I went to town with the die cuts on this one. This is such a cute Tilda stamp I can see me using it year after year. My only regret is the flowers on the top right of the card they would have looked better and more balanced if nearer the corner but I didn't realise this until it was too late and they were stuck fast!  The papers are magazine freebies and the die cuts are listed below..I Love the wooden butterfly its a little darker than I wanted but as I don’t have any paint to lighten it first over all I'm happy. Still no news on my grand calibur hopefully it will be returned before I have the time for more card making next. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend and get plenty of crafty time. Don’t eat too much chocolate is this possible! Thanks for visiting and lots of hugs…  Andrea x 

I used the following
White 6x6 scalloped base card
Cream Floral and pink paper- magazine freebies
Green pink and cream card for layering and die cuts
Tilda with bunny coloured Pro markers and copics and dots added with white pen
Cream/floral doily behind Tilda-magazine freebie
Various flowers –local craft store
Organza ribbon bow
Wooden Butterfly –coloured copics and spots added white pen
Die cut free sentiment-edged with lace
Die cuts used-

Challenges I'd Like to take part in 


  




Wednesday 27 March 2013

WOYWW 199


Wow another week has passed again which means its that time to share with everyone what’s happening in my little crafty corner of the world .Happy WOYWW, if you haven’t heard of it before go visit the fabulous and talented host Julia at the Stamping Ground and join in the fun sharing your crafty creations. No card making since the weekend...Sorry…but lots of preparation did take place. I'm quickly running out of time though and still have 2 Easter cards to make ! My Grand Calibur also broke last week  (shock…the handle shaft snapped and is off to be replaced/ repaired) I didn't realise how much I relied on it until I don't have it, luckily I always do some extra bits and have some card plans /ideas already together as don’t know when it will be back! I did get some of my holiday photo's from Lapland posted earlier in the this week (see previous post if interested)but no card making at all. Unfortunately work is not getting any better and won't for at least the next 3 months, Next month and next week will probably be the most difficult;and if I can survive this and the stress that its causing ,keeping me awake in the wee small hours things will be ok. This does mean my free time will be very limited; I still plan to post when I can but it won’t be as often unfortunately so may not be around every week.
all set to start 

long view- lots of bits 
You can just see a pink, green and cream Easter card that I  finished at the at the weekend, its very OTT but I’m pleased with it generally,. 
I plan to post this next, other than that lots of bits but no action. Hopefully I  will get some time Friday morning before work or Saturday all going well .Have a fab WOYWW and will visit soon, thanks for stopping by lots of  hugs Andrea x





Monday 25 March 2013

Lapland Ice hotel and trip photos


Today’s post doesn't have a card but as promised photos of our recent trip to Lapland didn't realise just quite how many photographs I had taken over 400 and we where only away 4 days!thankfully I haven’t posted them all but it is a photo heavy and long post !

It was amazing our first day /night was at the Abisko tourist centre and Aurora Sky station which is renowned worldwide for its unique geography and climate for clear skies and seeing the northern lights. The plan was to spend the evening at the top of the mountain watching the northern lights, unfortunately what started as a beautiful clear night turned to snow, cloud and mist however it was still quite an experience going up a ski lift at 10 pm at night in the pitch black, We set off with a beautiful starry sky and  a 20 minute walk to the Aurora sky station where thankful they provided snow suits for the ski lift and summit which took a further 25 minutes ,Unfortunately the higher we got the mistier and wetter it was becoming ,the temperature was at least -30 and  keeping our faces warm in the freezing winds on the way up was difficult but a must ...brrrr,
Abisko centre with Mountain in background(white track is ski lift cant see the one above this !) 
taken early morning

Wrapped up and ready to go-The Aurora sky station -Ski lift in the background

 At the top of the sky station there was a café/restaurant and viewing platform we had hot chocolate keeping warm by the log fire and joined in the conversation with other visitors but no northern light’s, still had 3 days to go and was an amazing place it was unfortunate you couldn't see anything though due to the mist and snow! Nevertheless I’m still pleased we did it, although the ski lift on the way down was scary!
Next day it was off to the ice hotel.The weather changed from overcast and cloudy to clear blue skies. We had an amazing few days here,Our first night was our cold room nightwe where fortunate enough to have an art room; all of which are designed by different artists and individually named .Ours was Rain of Memories . We had  a guided tour of hotel and a survival talk to ensure we all knew how to survive the night at -5 in an a ice room and bed !!.
Memories of rain- room we slept in
Our cosy bed ! 
one of the other amazing rooms 
It was a beautiful clear night and to top it all we got to see the northern lights. For about 1.5 hrs. the sky danced with colour, although what the eye sees is very different to photographs we decided not to photograph it as you sped so much time trying to get the perfect shot you don’t enjoy what you’re watching and miss out in a way.  I was amazed at just how much of the sky it covered and how slowly it moved,so a perfect evening and then one of the best sleeps I ever had ,although in a room at -5 with outside temperatures at -30  getting up during the night to go outside then in again to get to the loo was interesting !  
Ice hotel Entrance right  and chapel to left of photo
inside ice hotel and chandelier 
We spent the days exploring the hotel and surroundings and  had various excursions, walked across the frozen lake and generally had an amazing time , We went on a husky ride and tried ice sculpting ( I will stick to card making as 3 dimensional is not my thing I’ve found out !) .
Ice bar- cold but tasty!
Sculptor at work …not!
Some sculptures on display( not mine !!)-river in background 
there was an excellent guided tour all about how the hotel came about and is made each year. How that the ice is actually harvested from the river from the previous winter and stored to make each years new individual designed hotel and art rooms  .We were also lucky enough to see the start of the harvesting for next years hotel begin …We just happened to be in the right place at the right time and watched as the first block of ice was cut from the river and lifted out. 
First Ice block being harvested for next years hotel 

carefully does it !
There was a handful of visitors watching and we all let out a cheer as the first piece was  carefully and skilfully cut and  lifted out  swapped over to the forklift and carried away ready to start the journey for next years hotel. 
Amazing huskies
Traditional Tepee -where we stopped for coffee


The husky ride was awesome with 12 dogs pulling each sledge. We travelled over the frozen river, across land and onto a lake where we stopped at a traditional tepee for hot coffee and cake before heading back it was one of the highlights of the holiday for me and I’m not a lover of speed but that was amazing and we where so lucky with the weather which was perfect blue skies and sunshine .
 Frozen river- with lots of husky tracks visible
Frozen river- view from church below 
Pretty church -we visited at other side of river bank

Wrapped up warm- our walk on the frozen river
Ice heart art on hotel site  
It was definitely a trip I will never forget and unlikely to do ever again.  If you get the opportunity it s so worth it to see an amazing part of the world, amazing hotel /resort and wonderfully friendly staff it couldn't have been any better! I hope you enjoy my photos and thanks for visiting Andrea x 















Thursday 21 March 2013

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Wednesday 20 March 2013

Easter Card And My Second Post of The Day


Two posts in one day my I've impressed myself ..this is my first ever completed Easter card, I don’t have that many for family and friends to make so can enjoy putting them together,there are some I will need to purchase as I can’t find any religious stamps to use that I need for some individuals. I’ve went to town with the colours and the die cut flowers on this card, it’s quite a busy card but I’m happy with overall result. The cute little wooden bird on the branch was a bargain buy from my local craft shop; I think you may be seeing more of them!  I used spiced marmalade distress ink to colour it, and then embossed it with clear embossing powder. I was surprised at how bright it is as I was expecting the colour to be duller/ lighter.. I’m getting used to using the heat gun now and not so scared of it!!! it may even be becoming one of my favourite tools.
My next post will definitely be some photos of my fab trip to the Ice hotel and Lapland in Sweden as promised ,be warned though it will likely be photo heavy! Thanks for visiting,..hugs Andrea x 

Happy Easter  


close up flowers  

I used the following
White 6x6 base card
White, orange and green card for layering and die cuts
Papers- multi floral and orange pattern- both magazine freebies
Die cut English roses and leaves- Marianne Creatable- card used as above
Die cut flowers and branch -Marianne Creatable- card used as above
Die cut leaves - card used as above
Die cut swirl Die-Namics - card used as above
Die cut bird –Die-Namics- card used as above
Die cut border edge – Nellie Snellen- card used as above
Digi sentiment- die cut circle and layered with petite scalloped circle- card as above
From stash
White lace
Organza  ribbon and bow
Orange gem
Wooden bird embellishment -coloured and heat embossed


 sweet bird

I would like to take part in the following challenges







WOYWW 198


Happy WOYWW and its good to be back! It feels like I’ve not been around for ages but it was only 1 week I missed! Having had such a busy time at work before our long weekend away to Lapland (post with photos will follow later in week in was fab!) and then straight back to work, there was just no time for blogging or card making .I’ve made up for that since Sunday and have finished two cards  and now working on the third. 
Why don’t you go the Stamping Ground and meet the wonderful host Julia …it would be great if you too joined in sharing your crafty goings on with us nosey creative lot! , .I coloured quite a few stamps a couple of weeks ago and over the last couple of days have been putting them together with some papers and bits so all I need to do now is make the cards. I find this an easier way to work as it takes me forever to put a card together from scratch due to being so indecisive!.I plan to do another post today of my first finished Easter card .Its supposed to be a short and sweet post…. sorry Julia will try harder next week!off on a little blog hop to see what everyone has been up too and keep out of trouble, I hope you have a wonderful week and again happy WOYWW  thanks for visiting ,hugs Andrea x

work in progress

production line 


Monday 18 March 2013

Thank-You Card and amazing trip!


It seems like an age since I last posted ! Last week was a very busy at work; and it was back to the world of reality having had a wonderful time away last weekend in Swedish Lapland and at the Ice Hotel we returned on Tuesday night and then it was straight back to work. After a very busy week at work I finally got to make a quick card last night for a friend. I will do separate post with photos of our trip during the week and hope to do some Scrapbook pages too (that’s the plan anyway) it was amazing, it got as cold as -29! One night and the day time temperature varied between -10 and -20 +. We where so fortunate and had clear blue skies and sunshine all but one day, it was absolutely stunning and where so wrapped up and snug other than a cold face you’d never know it was that cold. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, and even better still we where lucky enough to see the Northern Lights… it couldn't have got any better.


Frozen river Torne (river used to make ice hotel)

Back to the card I kept it simple as much as I could!... as its for hubby to give to a colleague. The cute bunny stamp was a freebie set from months ago that came with a magazine as is the floral backing paper and the two flowers together. The flowers where part of a Nit Wit paper Kit and stamp set that I got with one of the very first craft magazines I ever bought. They all seem to work well together. So a few buttons, ribbon, punched flowers, die cut swirl a sentiment that I embossed and we have a finished card ... I think it’s the quickest I’ve made yet! I Hope you have had a good week and lots of crafty time to enjoy. Thanks for visiting its really appreciated and I hope you have a great week, hugs Andrea X.
Thank you card

Cute Bunny 


Close up 

I used the following-
5.5x5.5 cm pearlescent cream- base card
Brown and beige papers-Dovecraft  for layering and punched flowers
Floral paper -Webster’s Pages (magazine freebie) -layered with beige as above 
Striped paper - Dovecraft Tea Party 6x6 pack- layered with beige as above 
Die cut oval Bunny coloured Promarkers and Copics
Die cut scalloped oval-behind stamped oval
Die cut swirl-Die-Namics
Die cut sentiment-Die-Namics -embossed gold
From stash
Beige Ribbon
Brown Buttons
Punched flower using same brown and beige papers

Challenges I would like to take part in-





Friday 8 March 2013

Mothers Day


Good morning, a short post this morning as I've a busy day ahead.This card is for a special friend of ours for mother’s day that I finished last night. My mums card is already posted and was a card I finished some time ago. 
I don’t usually do a blog post again till Sunday but we are off on a exciting long weekend break later today and flying from Heathrow; so we have a long drive ahead today also. We are off to the Ice Hotel in Lapland so I’ve posted this now as I won’t be back until next Tuesday evening. I printed several of these fab free floral digi stamps from birdscard.com which I coloured last weekend and I've decided to use this  pretty daffodil one; there are some fab images and they are all free,you should go check it out. I went for quite a bold colour scheme as I've  coloured the flowers brightly. I’m happy with how it turned out and I hope she likes it. Happy Mothering Sunday to everyone and have a wonderful weekend …be back next week… hugs Andrea x    
Mothers Day Card 

Close Up

Decorated Box
I used the following-
6x6 Square base card
Yellow /blue card stock for matting/layering
Die cut oval with digi stamp coloured promarkers/ copics
Die cut scalloped oval silver mirror card  
Various fabric and satin Flowers and leaves (local craft shop)
Lace and ribbon
Wooden heart inked Copic and spayed with iridescent glitter spray
Silver Embossed stamped sentiment( sorry not sure where from ) -die cut square
Craft stash-
white Lace, blue satin ribbon and yellow organza bow
Gems,punched butterflies and acrylic Flower embellishment on bow 
Box decorated using -
Card stock as above -die cut asters, butterfly, swirl and label 
Glitter,silver candi, gems and ribbon from stash 
Sentiment-magazine freebie