Christmas "Break "

Sorry for not being around much ,my weekly post went right out the window! ...the intention was there but fate got in the way. I've had a varied few weeks but all for the wrong reasons. Firstly I fell over and fractured a small bone in my wrist (lucky my left so can still write etc and go to work) a few days later we where on the way for a picnic and had a car accident, luckily neither of us where badly injured although DH did get whiplash and had a long trip to A+E he is ok...his beloved car didn't make it though and no picnic!.So for him new car hunting is now in full swing. Lastly I spent 4 days with excruciating toothache as couldn't get to the dentist,finally did Monday morning I now have one tooth less a large bill and now an infection.(best that I'm avoided at work.....as a bit grumpy...I do dislike tooth pain) Hopefully as they say things happen in threes so that should be it for a while now and many many people have a lot worse to deal with in life in the scale of things its nothing.

It has put most crafting on hold as is difficult do with one fully working hand and one not so good therefore I'm sharing a card I made for a friends granddaughter.She left the design to me and in the end I made two 8x8 cards,the one below and one in a similar style using the same stamp but coloured in lilacs and silver.tThis is the one she chose to have below.

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21st birthday card

The influence for the design is Annamarie Design cards, I love her style and technique, her cards and projects are so beautiful I wish I could replicate them but I don't have the skills or expertise to do so. I used a Gorjuss stamp from a set of four I got some time ago and have never used. I though the clock was apt for a 21st and decorated it with Annamarie Design card,stamps and embellishments lots of various die cut flowers and swirls and other additions as shown below I really went to town.

21st -close up 

It was one of the first and few 8x8 cards I've completed the size always seems a bit daunting at first ,I definitely prefer smaller cards. I'm hoping to be back to full capacity soon and resume my plan of weekly posts and my Christmas card making which is going ok or was should I say!.I hope your week is going well and I am still been keeping my eye on my favourite sites although I have messed up my blogger /chrome (just a bit but) that's another story and hopefully DD will sort that out when she visits this weekend .I should leave technology alone !...we dont get on.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting. 

Big hugs Andrea x 

floral corner- close up

I used the following items:

Annamarie designs-8x8 card blank

blue and white cardstock 

blue felt- die cut roses

Gorjuss stamp- coloured copics and promarkers

Annamarie designs-to my wonderful  granddaughter and 21st birthday stamp

Annamarie designs-blue checked card

blue spotty card

spellbinders elegant labels die

die cut English roses 

die cut pin-wheel roses

butterfly punch

flourish die

die cut flowers-Arianna blooms

Arianna lace die -lace petal

embellishments used :

pearl chain

Annamarie designs- blue pearl sprays 

Annamarie designs-blue flower buds 

buttons key charm

pearls

21st and star confetti 

heart pin  

lace 

blue ribbon

organza ribbon

glitter

I would  like to take part in the following challenges :

Crafty Catz challenge#293-Special occasions

Crafty Ribbon Challenge #126  Happy Birthday

Southern Girls Challenge- layer it up 

TODO and christmas cards continues

well I have not  quite  managed a weekly post but better late than never!I have now had my eagerly awaited TODO for almost two weeks now,I haven't had the opportunity yet to use all of the features and thought I would share how I'm getting on so far.The letter-pressing and hot foiling I am saving for when I have more time.

The verdict so far is pretty good. I'm still getting used to all the plates being clear. My biggest negative so far is how easy the plates get marked and start to bend which is, I'm advised normal,but alas as I'm a bit OCD they look messy, its going to take some getting used   

I have several times now had my cutting side facing the wrong way onto the wrong plate,again I'm not used to having the die facing up when I die cut, I now have  several christmas designs well and truly etched on to my A base plate!. its very easy to use and effortless to turn; also if its is wrong height it just pushes the plates away, then you just reverse back, turn up the dial and away you go. 

I have had no problems with most of my dies, the one that I have had difficulty in cutting was a large spellbinders rectangle die, I think the die has been damaged some how as it is not totally flat so all sides are touching the plates at the same time. I had to try it at several different number to get it to cut all sides. The combination I finally used was the A and D then added the C plate which is used for embossing and letter pressing.

I am keeping a record of what dies cut at what number, the plate combination and card stock I used, as they do vary slightly. I have still to try with all my different card stocks and will keep you posted as to how I get on.

                                                           Christmas Wishes 

Back to christmas cards, I'm doing well now nearly finished card 5 it feels good I've had to rearrange my craft room set up to get all my Christmas stash to hand, it is not quite right yet, so work in progress continues and my desk area is in a bit of a mess. Here is one on my latest cards, 

I think this is a great christmas colour very rich and warming.The stamp was a Tiddly Inks magazine freebie set last year from Quick Cards and I've had a great time colouring the sweet images which includes some penguins! I've taken my colour inspiration from the burgundy with grey stars backing paper(another magazine freebie this time from Making Cards)and used grey pearl card for the snowflakes(die was another magazine freebie) and a snowflake border.

Got to go now as I have a pile of ironing that awaits as well as the rest of the housework,hopefully my next visit will be sooner.Thanks for visiting and happy crafting I hope you enjoy what's left of the weekend... hugs Andrea x

I used the following items:-

6x6 base card

grey pearl cardstock Annamarie Designs

stamp-Tiddly Inks set from Quick Cards Magazine, coloured Copics/Promarkers

circle die

snowflake die

snowflake border die

star die

Embellishments used:-

sentiment stamp-embossed wow red glitter powder 

organza ribbon,gross grain ribbon

punched snowflakes ( white pearl card)

gems ,snowflake charm and buttons

glamour dust glitter

silver pen -faux stitching

sentiment 

I would like to take part in the following challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge #160 Buttons and Bows 
Sister Act Challenge #120 Anything goes 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday-Challenge 99-Anything goes add a twist - Glitter

Christmas Card Making Has Commenced

Hiya two weeks in a row I’ve made it so I’m doing well and on track with my goal.I have a Christmas card to show this week and I’m now almost finished my second,I’ve been a slow starter but getting into the mood now. 

My die cutting machine(Grand Calibur) went kaput last night,it’s been dodgy for a while, not cutting properly, making strange noises and was getting very difficult to turn sometimes.The handle snapped,this was a replacement, as the first one did the same a few months after I bought it. I was considering getting either a new die cutting machine or a brother scan and cut for my birthday/Christmas. This has now made my mind up for me .  

My DH has very very kindly purchased me the new TODO which should be here in the next day or two...I’m very excited. He has also kindly said I can use it straight away although is disappointed that I won't have a big pressie for birthday/Christmas when it comes but I’m more than happy with this.I have said I won't use the hot foiling until my birthday in November, but I cant make Christmas cards without a die cutting machine! I’d have no snowflakes or poinsettias and that will never do :-).

For today's card I haven't used any patterned papers although I have embossed the card using a mask its difficult to see. I used a sentiment stamp for the focal point which is stamped in red ink and embossed with clear gloss embossing powder ... although its not quite a CAS card either with so many flowers...I got a bit carried away! I've decided to make a mix this year of stamped /coloured cards and more simple CAS cards. I have seen so many great examples the last few weeks on blogs and pintrest that I'm overwhelmed with ideas.

I would like to take part in the following challenges-
FabnFunky- Challenge 269-No patterned papers 
TTCRD  Challenge August 4th -Anything Goes
Inky Chicks Challenge #54-Use a Metal Embellishment 

I've used the following products -
white 6x6 base card
red and white card stock
white vellum ( poinsettia flower)
dies and stamps used-
Heartfelt Creations christmas sentiment stamp
Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry stamps coloured with Copics
Heartfelt Creations ornamental add on- Holly Berry die 
Spellbinders poinsettia die
Justrite poinsettia stamp( pearl white embossing powder)
Spellbinders shaped square die 
Spellbinders scalloped square die
embossing -openwork mask 
embellishments 
pearls 
Metal snowflake charm
mini metal christmas bells
various paper,felt and mulberry flowers  

I hope you are having good week and getting lots of crafty time. Thanks for visiting its very much appreciated,I hope to be back again soon hugs Andrea x 

What do you say?

Its been some time since my last post, actually about 10 months, it doesn't seem that long.What do I say?

Pretend I was never away and resume as before? give a long account of what's happened in this time or just say well life and events happen and blogger took a back seat. For the last few months I've restarted visiting favourite sites and keeping an eye on what's been happening in blog land; its been impossible not to as I feel a connection, even though its a community of relative strangers its for me been a positive experience.I couldn't find the courage(not sure that's the correct word) to write that first post.

I still make cards although not as often as I would like and still keep in contact with a few people I've met along the way. So how do I move on? Well set my goals small and build on them. 

I wont be posting as often as I used too, I hope at least weekly. Instead of just visiting sites as I have been doing leave a comment and say hello and then I take it from there.Its good to be back and hopefully this time its for good. I've posted a card made quite some time ago  that I hope will make someone smile. 

I hope life has been kind to you and all is well. Thanks for reading  Andrea x  

just to say- hi :-)