A little experiment

I managed to steal a little time in my Crafty Corner this afternoon, and with no urgent cards to be made, other than my July ATC, I decided to have a play. I have been thinking about buying some digital images for my card making but have been a bit concerned. Then I remembered that some time ago, I signed up and got a couple of free downloads from Mo's Digital Pencil, so I printed one off, coloured it in and then sat and scratched my head! I struggled big time with this! The hardest bit for me was how to cut out the image. I quite like how the card turned out in the end, but it took hours! What do you think?


I also made a set of four ATCs for the July swap (I hope that Karen doesn't see this before she receives it, but I don't think she looks at my blog!) How lovely it would be to be going to America on holiday, especially Florida! Sunshine, days of fun, fun, fun and craft shops - sigh. In my dreams!


Carole x

Happy Anniversary

I've been a very naughty blogger - sorry :o( There is a reason for this - I haven't done any crafting for a whole week! It's strange, I do a whole working week of crafting then nothing. Feast/famine kind of thing!

Anyway, I still haven't done any this week, but had forgotten that I hadn't shared with you the anniversary card that I made for Phil. 20th July was our 19th wedding anniversary, Phil took the day off work and we spent a lovely day in Bath and had a delicious lunch at Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant. As wedding anniversaries go, it was fab!

Here is the card that I made for Phil:



and here is the card that he made for me!


His card even had a cute pop up heart, and I loved it! Thanks Lip x


I am sincerely hoping to craft this week, and think that it may be possible as we had some good news on Friday that Alex has been offered the job that she applied for at Moors Valley Country park! She starts tomorrow, and DS has arranged to go to his friend's house, so Crafty Corner watch out, here I come!!!

Carole x

Union Jacks!

I didn't know that I would do any crafting today, but this idea was buzzing around in my head and just had to be done, you know how it is! It was partly inspired by my cross stitch which is almost finished now, and partly by a not dissimilar project in Papercraft Inspirations.

There are still a couple more bits to do on my cross stitch - faux blanket stitch around the outside and a little outlining of the red bits and then some herringbone kind of stitches round the white bits (but I'm not sure that I will do those, I think they might actually be a stitch too far, but we'll see!)


As soon as the idea popped up, I knew that I wanted to have a go with my Basic Grey Boxer papers, and I must say that they are perfect for these cards. May have to have a go using some more pastel type papers ...

Got a busy start to my week so not sure when I will get back into my Crafty Corner, but hopefully it won't be too long!

Carole x

I did it!

I did it! I crafted for five consecutive days! I could quite get used to it too!

I didn't really know what I was going to create today, but then I had a look through the August issue of Papercraft Inspirations that my hubby got me yesterday (bless him) and was inspired! On my list of things to do was make a card for my nephew Felix who will be 4 at the beginning of August. I saw this toothy chap and decided to have a go!


I had a play with my new Smooch Spritz as I didn't have any green glitter card, and I'm delighted with the result! As he is a crocodile and they have lumpy skin it didn't matter that amongst the mist there were one or two splats, but I'll have to practise for when I don't want the splats! The teeth were also a right fiddle, but worth it! Hope you like him Felix!

Then, from the same magazine, and whilst I was on a roll, I made this little card, which I am delighted with! Another male card to add to my repertoire!


Afterwards, whilst rummaging through my stash, I realised that I don't actually own many double sided papers with which to make more pinwheels. I found this piece of paper, but I really only like the pink/gold side, but it works quite well for a pinwheel. So, I made four little cards - notecard kind of cards, the kind that are good to have in your box for thank yous or thinking of yous.


Enjoy your weekend whatever you are up to! I am so excited to be going to see the professional dancers from Strictly Come Dancing tomorrow at the Bournemouth International Centre, an anniversary treat. I love Strictly, so have been looking forward to this for months!

Carole x

p.s. Been having a nightmare uploading my photos today - they were all the wrong way round no matter what I did - never had that before. Luckily, hubby managed to work some jiggery pokery and ta dah! photos round the right way and here is my post!

My crafty week continues

I hadn't been sure that I would get a chance to craft today, but it's amazing what a bit of determination can do! After a somewhat blowy dog walk in the forest, I came home and after changing, headed straight into my Crafty Corner. I got on well with a set of three cards, so that they only needed a few finishing touches when I got home after taking DS to his orthodontic appointment.

I decided on my usual style (and surprised myself at how much I am liking orange at the moment, or is it just these papers?!) and because I hadn't used any brown paper for a couple of days and was missing it :o)




Then, you know how it is, as everything was still out, I had a go at something that I had been wanting to try for ages and never got around to - and I LOVE pinwheels/windmills!!! I shall be making more of these that's for sure! Tomorrow maybe ....!


Carole x

Gentle Giant

I've done it! Another Scrapbook page! And a lovely lunch out with a friend! The wet dog walk this morning wasn't so good, but my day improved dramatically after that.

It was only fair that I had to treat Ollie the same as Tilly, and so he was the subject of my new LO. I have used Basic Grey Granola papers and vintage buttons from my stash, along with a gorgeous blue glitter button from my Foof a la buttons.


Tomorrow won't be quite so easy to craft due to DS having an orthodontic appointment, but I'm hoping to make at least a card ... and am still giving much thought to having a go at jewellery making (maybe that's why I have managed to do two LO's because I have been thinking about something else entirely!)

Carole x

Puppy Powers!

At one point today - the point where I was struggling with my computer to get it to print any pictures - I thought that I was going to fail in my intention to do a little crafting every day this week. However, once my son got home from school and helped me, I did a scrapbook page! Most unlike me to just get my stash out and scrap, normally I mentally plan a LO for ages and ages.

Here it is:



I think the expression "Puppy Powers" originally came from the cartoon Scooby Doo and was to do with Scooby's nephew Scrappy Doo (how appropriate for a scrapbook page then!) It's something that we say often to Tilly when we look at her and think how cute she still is even though she's 3 1/2 now!


Now I've put myself under pressure to do another layout as I must treat both dogs equally (and I've already done two Morris layouts and he's only 6 months old).

Still hoping to craft again tomorrow, although my day is split by being a lady who lunches!

Carole x

Chef's Apron

It is my aim to try and do a little crafting every day this week, even if I only make one card per day! This is possible because DD has unexpectedly gone to spend the week being spoilt rotten by her Nan (my Mum - hi Mum if you're reading this!!!) We dropped her off on our way home from our nephew's Christening yesterday, which was a lovely day.

So, I had a busy morning dog walking and food shopping (ugh!) then after a spot of lunch I headed into the Crafty Corner and made a card. Just one (how unlike me!) However it is a unique kind of a card, so one is fine! The fact that I am rather pleased with how it turned out is also good!


It is for my cousin James (no, really?) who is a Chef, for his birthday in August. I find men's cards so difficult, so whilst wondering what would be appropriate for James I came up with the idea of an apron. I also made a couple of kitchen utensils, a wooden spoon and a spatula and popped them in the apron pocket along with a little sentiment ticket. I did contemplate digging out my sewing machine and actually sewing the pocket on, but that seemed like a lot of effort for one card - I also think that once I start sewing on my cards, I might become a little addicted!


Carole x

Peace and Quiet

I've had peace and quiet here today, and I've made the most of it! I've been crafting! Well, it was too hot to do much else! I managed five cards today, and inspired by my little chook yesterday, he featured heavily!



I also remembered to take a pic of my cross stitch to show - the diagonal red crosses are really tricky, I've really got to concentrate due to all the fractional stitches, but the vertical and horizonal lines are easy! I did it the other way round to make life easier - backstitch first so that I can just fill in the three different reds. I hate it when the back stitching/outlining cuts a stitch and half is inside the line and half outside (OK, I know, that is a bit OCD!)


Enjoy the weekend!

Carole x

I've missed this little fella ...

I've had a lovely crafty afternoon! I made seven cards in total, but I shall share two of them with you today.


I've missed this little chap!!! I must admit, knowing that at least four of my friends, and readers of my blog have also bought this die, that I would have seen more of him! I was quite looking forward to seeing how everyone else would use him, but he is quite elusive it seems! He is quite fiddly to assemble (especially with longer nails as I have at the moment as I am intending to paint them for my nephew's christening on Sunday) but the fiddle is worth it - I still think that it is my favourite ever die (so far anyway!!!)

My cross stitching is also coming on well, but I forgot to take a photo, so shall show you that next time!

Carole x

It's all Sue's fault!

Alex and I were in Waitrose this morning and as I passed the flowers, I remembered that Sue Bubbles had been looking for a little plant with cream bell flowers. So I wandered over to check it out for her, and found nothing even vaguely resembling cream bell flowers. BUT, I did find this dear little Gerbera, all unloved and reduced to 49p. Bless. So, I brought it home complete with its wilting flowers (although I did check that there were new buds underneath the leaves), gave it a good water, and now it is as good as new! Even the wilting flowers are not sad anymore! If only they had watered it, they could still have charged the original £4.99! A bargain! Thanks Sue ...

Carole x

p.s. Really hoping to get into my Crafty Corner this week ...

An afternoon of crafting!

Hooray! I snuck into my Crafty Corner this afternoon and had a lovely time! I made six cards! I can only share my set of four as the other two are anniversary cards, one for our lovely friends Natalie and Steve (who came for dinner last weekend!) and the other for my lovely hubby (had to say that in case he pops onto my blog!!!) I will show you those after the happy events!


The other four I made were again using up colours that I'm not particularly fond of (orange) although I do like the papers (Bloom & Grow MME) - four because I had to cut that many flowers out for the layers!!! I can't help myself! I am really pleased with how these turned out, and it felt great to get back to being creative.



Not sure when I'll get back into my Crafty Corner as we have a busy weekend ahead - tomorrow Alex and I are off to see "Eclipse" - OMG can't wait! Then I have been asked to make 60 cupcakes for my friend Louise's husband's surprise 50th birthday party on Sunday. I plan on making them Sunday morning so that they are as fresh as they can be!

Here's how the cross stitching is progressing:


Enjoy your weekend!

Carole x