LET THE LITTLE FOLK IN...

Read an article in a craft magazine about fairy doors.... yep. Apparently in Ann Arbor in the States, they are quite common and have come about due to the urbanisation forcing the fairies to venture into homes and offices. How splendid is that?

Lil G was quite excited by this and a bit upset when I told her that the only fairies we seem to get here are garden ones.... (I know, but she's 5!). Not happy with that.

So when she gets home from school tonight (she has a dinner date with her boyfriend, Toby, first) (yes, I know..) she'll find that the little folks have moved in.

It's only made from a bit of cardboard, painted and bits added, but I think she'll like it. xx

I LOVE OUR POSTIE!!!

... and I don't say that very often cos he's a bit of a one, most of the time. But today, he brought lots of luvverly pressies!! Yay!!

I got this card from my very clever friend Hunnybunny. The colours are so pretty and the words are brilliant. And she's done the distressing nicely, it just all works so well and it's one of the nicest cards I've seen for ages. AND it was chock full of lovely stamped images for me to play with!!!

Thank you, hunny!! xx

And the postie also brough me this. It's one of the those books of photos that you make yourself and add your own words.

It is, of course, a Little Book of Georgia. It's about 30 pages of photos of the little devil (we used to call her Little Noggin, but Andy has now renamed her 'Beelzenog') and it's fab. Been waiting all week for it and it's even better than I thought. She looks so cute - and they say the camera never lies!! Yeah, right.....

AND he brought me my latest CraftStamper magazine, too!! Don't know what to do first - aarrrggghhh!!!

Hope you're all having a fab day xx

HOW TO LOOK GOOD DISTRESSED.....

Some of my lovely friends over at the Docrafts site have asked me how I get that 'distressed' look. I was actually quite offended until I realised they meant my cards......

So I thought I'd have a go at a bit of a tutorial:
You will need:

The thing to be distressed

Ink

Cotton buds

Cocktail stick

Scrap paper (or inking mat)

Sponge (TIP I used the foam that my brads came on)

1. Lightly dab the ink pad with the sponge. Using small circular movements, work from the scrap inwards to the card.

2. When it's done, turn it over and do the other side.

3. Carefully put tiny rips all around the edges.

4. Wet your finger and carefully roll the rips around a cocktail stick.

5. Dab the cotton bud into the ink and apply it all around the very edges, including the rips. I use a darker ink for this.

Done.

Apologies for the appalling layout - really struggling with this blog. xx

NOT REALLY SURE...

... about this one, to be honest. It had to be A5 size and I don't do so well with the bigger cards. I prefer working with 5 x 5's. Anyway, it's for a lovely couple who have had the most horrendous year - he has been diagnosed with cancer and they lost their son just after New Year - and it's just to say that folks are thinking of them.

The music score is roughly stamped in green/gold (though you can't tell on the pic) and the letters are American Thickers. Oh, and I added some lovely new Prima flowers I got yesterday.

I can't decide if I like it, but the others do, so I'm outnumbered.

In other news, Lil G is back at school this week and is coming home completely wrecked and VERY stroppy! We appear to have aged 7 years in 2 days and are now acting like a teenager, slamming doors and yelling.... But this year, she's discovered that now she has to work ALL day and it's been a bit of shock to the system. I haven't had the heart to tell her that this is it now for the next 12 years!! xxx

I HATE THESE CARDS

Yay, Lil G's back to school tomorrow - wwhhheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Sorry.

Anyway, have to make three different Sympathy cards - they're going to the same family - and I've had absolutely no mojo at all these last few days. I was really chuffed with my 25th card, but I think it used up all my inspiration! I made three and hated them all. Then, for some reason - and it might have been hubby's idea (I hate that, too) - I made this one. And I think it's okay.

We had hundreds of these when Dad was killed and I hated them. I hate making them, too. But that's one down. I hope it's suitable.

It's simple Cuttlebug corners and the wording was done in WordArt.

TFL xx

A LOVELY TREAT

Morning all. A bit fog-bound here in the rural Lincolnshire, so not going far today. Yesterday there were huge dust clouds cos the farmers were desperately harvesting before today's expected storms, so visibility has been pretty poor recently!! Good excuse for staying in all day and crafting!

Anyway, my very great mate Tracey (check out her blog, cos she makes some amazing cards) has given me this award. I am really chuffed to get it from her because her opinion really counts to me. So thanks, chick!

I got this award sometime ago, so I'm not going to pass it on personally - and I struggled like mad then to find blogs who didn't already have it! So instead, if you don't have it already, please consider it passed on to you. There are so many talented people out there whose blogs are inspirational for a myriad of reasons. Hugs xx

HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY!

Made this for a very special couple - can't tell you who in case they read this - who are celebrating their Silver Wedding next week. I don't know them very well, but they have suffered such awful tragedy in their life and I wanted to make them something a bit different.

So I've decided to move away from my usual formal style for this occasion and go to the shabby chic that I've developed a real passion for!

I really enjoy making this style, with lots of different textures and a bit of bling - gotta love white and green pearls! - and string!

I hope it conveys the message that I wish them all the happiness in the world and good things for their future.

Thanks for looking xxx

A CHRISTENING CARD - A FIRST FOR ME

Made this for a commission. Never made one before and spent ages trying to find images and layouts for inspiration. Eventually a lovely lady on DoCrafts suggested this and I quite like the final version!

I used the trusty X-Cut Shape Cutter doodah for the 'porthole' and a lovely little pin (with guard, before you all shout at me!) stuck through the bow.

Found a sweet verse: "A child to enjoy is a gift from above, to be Christened and cherished and brought up with love", although my personal favourite (but then I do have mental issues!) is "First he's born, grown up and wed, gets a pension, then he's dead". Made me chortle a LOT, but apparently it's not that suitable for a Christening card. TFL xx

ANOTHER SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Blimey, get me, trying lots of new stuff!! My very talented friend Emma tried to explain to me how to get the 'distressed' look - (I mean on the cards, not on me... I have that sorted LOL!) on the edges of paper, etc. So I bought a load of cotton buds and some Versamark and started trashing lots of bits of paper.

Mum asked me to make a card for my aged aunt, a sort of "just to say hi" card, so I thought I'd have a go at being distressed. And believe you me, I am very distressed having spent several hours on this!

I quite like the end result - providing no one looks too closely! - but the ink doesn't come off your fingers for ages! TFL x

IT'S TAKEN ME ALL DAY, BUT IT'S DONE...

Hope everyone is having a jolly Bank Holiday weekend?
I spent the day making this for my best girlfriend's 40th next weekend. We met in 6th form and have been firm friends ever since. She's tall, slim, blonde, pretty (hate her) and a language teacher. She and her hubby own a motorbike shop, so the image inside is quite perfect.

Wish I could say that this was all my own idea, but if I'm honest, it's totally poached from one done by the very talented (if a bit peculiar) Dawny P. So thank you very much, chick.

I did it slightly differently but still made is a card-in-a-card thing.

The papers are from Pink Petticoat and the image is one I got in a swap but I believe is from StampingBella. It's covered in little sayings about being 40 - like "You should by now be able to say 'uranus' without giggling" and so on (I can't, for the record!).

It took me ages to line up the holes on the left and then hunt for the last remaining green eyelet I had which dropped to the floor and disappeared for a while. Then I spent ages choosing the right colours for her bike and leathers.

I think I like it. I do like the papers and I love the idea, but not sure it all fits togther the way I saw it in my head this morning!! We'll see. xx

BIT OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE...

... with this one. Don't usually use this type of paper, but I really like this one. And I had another go and 'edging' the image and papers.

The paper is BasicGrey's Gypsy (I think! I threw away the strip that had that info... duh!), matted onto Bazzill green cardstock.

I stamped the flourish and sentiment and added a couple of pearls for a bit of bling, really.

It's for my niece's 17th birthday next weekend. I think it just about strikes the right tone!

I hope she likes it!! xx

ANOTHER WELSH WEDDING CARD

For the same wedding as the other one, but this one is from the mother of the bride - no pressure!!!

The red/gold card I cut into inchies - well actually 2-inchies - and edged with gold leaf. The letters were done in Word - Romantik font - really big and then coloured in with watercolour pencils and gold ink.

The whole lot was then matted onto matt gold mirri card and I stuck a red ribbon (which does actually match, but it's an appalling photo) and bow to the side.

The wording (which means something really nice in Welsh) was printed in Poor Richard font in gold, straight onto the cardstock, which is cream-ish.

I'm quite chuffed with it, actually. The mother of the bride also pointed out that the B and G, which are actually their intials, could also stand for Bride and Groom, which is a nice if unintentional touch!

I hope they like it! TFL x

A TREAT IN THE POST

Well it's been chucking it down all day and it's bloomin' miserable, so it was a real treat to come home and find a lovely pressie on the doormat!

It's from my very lovely and talented friend Tracey and it's chock full of stamped images and die cuts - yay!!

There's a section for me and a section for Lil G, and how thrilled is she that Tracey sent some just for her???

We love the colours and the flowers. Thank you so much xxxx Oh, and thank you so much for sharing the pics, too, cos my camera is playing up!! x

A RIGHT PAIR!

Just wanted to show off a couple of image wallets I made for my good friends, Tracey and Emma.

Lil G chose the papers and ribbons and helped with the sticking - clever girlie.

I bought a stash of papers the other day, many of them in a sale at my local craft shop - about the only time I shop there cos it's pretty expensive otherwise.

And I got to use my X-Cut Shape Cutter thingies to round all the edges - yay me!

Thank you for the photos, girls, cos I forgot...duh!

TFL x

ALL CHANGE!

Yep, not been happy with the look of me blog, so went back and changed it. Tried a few templates, but I really like this one best. Let me know what you think? Is it easy to read, what with the dots?? xxx

A LOVELY SURPRISE...

Had another wonderful day - NOT! - apart from the brilliant award from Sue, of course - so I was really touched when I found this on the doormat from my very lovely and talented friend, Emma. Then I looked on her blog and found what she'd written there and, for a change, I had happy tears. Thank you, babe. It's beautiful. Lil G was very impressed, particularly cos it's purple!! xxxx

I LOVE YOUR BLOG

This award has been doing the rounds just lately and I think it's a great one to get. So how chuffed am I to get this from one of my many sources of inspiration, the lovely Sue Lesley?!

The rules of this award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you have nominated.

There are so many blogs out there that Lil G and I hop around all the time, it's hard to choose, but at least I get to pick 7 ! Most of the blogs I visit already have this, so, as usual, it's hard to find enough who don't. Lil G and I have put our heads together on this one....

1. To Tracey - for making brilliant cards and being a great mate.

2. To Gina - for being an inspiration in every sense of the word.

3. To Vicky - for not only being a good friend, but also because her altered bags are amazing and she needs a bit of confidence to get out there and promote them!

4. To Auntie Piggy Wiggy - for making Lil G howl with laughter and for making excellent cards. Oh, and for being a fellow top nutter.

5. To Debbie - for always having something interesting to read and amazing to look at.

6. To Janet - for being so flippin talented that she now has her own range of fantastic stamps!

7. To Natalie - for always having something on her blog to make you go "ooooh, that's pretty!"

So that's that. And if we didn't include and you don't already have it, please consider this passed onto you as well - and thanks to you all for your inspiration!

xxxx

WHO'S A CLEVER GIRL, THEN?

My very talented God-daughter has just passed her driving test!! 1ST TIME, TOO!!! So I made her this. It's a very simple card using Pink Petticoat's "Dad's Taxi" set, lightly coloured with Whispers and set with a few sparkles. She's a very unfussy type, so I hope she likes it. TFL xx

GOOD FRIENDS ARE PRECIOUS

Isn't that true? I got this beautiful card from my very good friend Vicky, along with some brilliant stamped images to play with! Thank you xxxxx

SPECTACULAR IN SPECTACLES!!

Well, here we are... following on from the "Joke's On Me" post... here is my fabulous baby girl proudly sporting some very fine purple glasses, along with her very purple glasses case. You look "fabulous, darling"!! xxxx