Get Well Soon George...

Hello there

Wonderful "summer" weather we are having....NOT!!  Come on summer!! 

I was pootling around my blog and found this in my "draft" or should that be "daft" posts so thought I would share it with you.

Not much to say other than I did a little stenciling, picked some papers out of the Snippets drawer and stamped a Cockeral and coloured him in with Copics and a teeny bit of H2Os on the feathers in his tail.

A little bit of string and a heart cut from a previous card and hey presto a card for my friend George who was poorly at the time.

Off to the Snippets Playground with this.  I understand Miss is having a rest (playing hookey to you and me) and Eve is in charge this week!!  I hope she has eyes in the back of her head to keep an eye on all the mischief makers.  You know who you are!!

Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

Happy Mothering Sunday

Hello There! 

Hasn't today been a glorious day weatherwise?  I was lucky enough to spend some time with my Girls today sitting on the bench whilst they had a roam around.  It was lovely to see them enjoying the Spring sunshine and having a rootle around looking for fresh worms.  Mr Hettie kindly cleaned the coup out and just let me enjoy my time with the Girls.  We noticed that Tracey was a little slower than normal and not her usual self, although she did come to me for a cwtch and we had a long chat.  So glad we did as when I went out a little later she had toddled off over the Rainbow Bridge.  She was the last of the first set of rescue hens that we had and we are guessing 5 or 6 years old.  We had her nearly 4 years. Bon voyage Tracey.  We will miss your wonky tail feather and I will miss our cwtches.

Right onto today's post.  I wanted to share with you the Mothering Sunday cards I made for both mine and Mr Hettie's mothers last week...

I made the card using some Bazzill cardstock and then cut the filigree piece using my Silhouette.  This was a NBUS design that I downloaded.   It took me a few attempts as the cardstock was quite thick.  However, persaver is my middle name (amongst others!) and I set the cutter to double cut and it cut it perfick.  

Then I looked to find some patterned paper to cut the butterfly with...I did not want to use the one that was cut with the filigree background.  I managed to find a Snippet of Crafty Individuals card and just about squeezed two butterflies out.  I then took my NBUS Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and punched an extra butterfly for the centre.  Once it was all assembled I took the Liquid Perfect Pearls and applied liberally. 

My Mum loved it so much she asked me if I would make something similar as invitations to their BIG Anniversary later this year.  However, she wants to embroider some butterflies to add in the centre.  I will share those with you when the time comes. 

Now the sharp eyed among you will realise that I have used the same butterfly punch before, however, the punch was totally knackered dull and not cutting properly.  So I hunted around for a while trying to get a good price.  Eventually I found a brand new one on a famous auction site at a bargain price so Paypal helped me out.  I haven't got rid of the old one yet.  Thinking it would make a good paperweight.  Incidentally I have tried every possible remedy to sharpen it.  

Right, one more think I need to do now is to welcome Twinkle Toes as my latest Follower.  Thank you so much.

Off to join in the fun and frolics at the Snippets Playground as well as Darnell's Playhouse and Mrs A's Butterfly Farm.  Cor that is going to be a busy half hour!!

Thanks for calling by.  Please leave me a message so I know you have been.

Hettie

Tour de Chook II - Birthday Cards

Hello There!

Wow another weekend is coming to a close and it is back to work tomorrow.  I am sure they are getting quicker these days.  I hear a little birdie earlier telling me there is only 4 Fridays left until Christmas!  Don't worry I shot it!  We cannot have birdies spreading vicious little rumours like that now can we?

Rightio.  On to today's post.  A friend of mine who I made a Chikkin card earlier this year asked me to make some more for her as she liked them so much so here there are....

A mixture of papers used, most of which were from the Snippets drawer.  I used some leftover from my Mum's Album K&Co on the top card.  The embossed white card was leftover from some cards I made earlier in the year.  I do love this Penny Black stamp which I colour in with my Copics.

These papers I printed on my Silhouette for another project and these bits were waiting in the drawer.  

The Happy Birthday stamp is Hero Arts and the Banner and Flags are Stampin Up.  The Border punch is EK Success.  I hate to think how old the brads are - VOS indeed.

Right then, I am off over to the Snippets Playground to see what everyone has been up to this weekend, if anyone is still up that is.

Have a great week and thanks for calling by.

Hettie

Been sewing again!

Hello there

Thank you all for your kind comments to my post yesterday. I was working on trying to put a few deterrents around the coop and run so hopefully the B..... will get the message and leave my Girls alone.  I can report that all the Girls came out to see me this morning, but they don't stay out if either myself or Hubby are not around.

Now to share something which I hadn't realised until the other day I hadn't posted.  I thought I better do so soon or else it will be totally out of season!

I sometimes find myself spending too long on Pinterest but sometimes I do get to do something I found there.  Like this top...

I found the pattern HERE and downloaded it and printed it out.  It was kinda like a jigsaw having to join all the dots to make the pattern.  Then I remembered this seersucker fabric I bought a looooong time ago to back a quilt, but when I ordered it I didn't realise it was "knobbly" so it wasn't going to work.  So I dug it out and made it up into a top.  I even made my own bias binding....again using a howto on Pinterest HERE!

Here is a little more of the photo with my patio in view.  That seat is a double seater and Hubby an I like to sit on there whilst we let my Girls out to roam the patio.  As a result I cannot put weedkiller on the patio as the Girls like to pick at the greenery.  Any excuse ey?

Well, as both the fabric, pattern and bias binding are all NBUS I am joining in with my mate Darnell in her NBUS Challenge.

Thanks for popping over.

Hugs

Hettie

My Poor Hilda...

Hi there

Sorry I haven't been around much today.  I went out to see to my Girls this morning to find a buzzard had murdered my lovely Hilda.  The Girls have not ventured out of the coop much today and are very nervous of any noise around them.  The buzzard has been seen around and I have been like a nervous wreck.  Such a sad day for us all.

RIP Hilda.  Her time with us was way too short and she was just coming out of her shell and jumping on our laps.  So sad.

Hettie

I Wanna Share a Story...

Hello There.

I want to share a little funny story which is true and happened yesterday.

It was a beautiful sunny day here at Hettie Towers and so I decided to strip the Girls' coop out, scrub it clean, spray it down, leave it to air and then refill with nice fresh fluffy bedding.  Whilst I was doing the housework I let my Girls out to play as luckily they do not wander too far out of sight from me and Mr Hettie.

Now picture the scene if you will...There I was having stripped the coop completely, no floor, no perches and no bunks.  I had sprayed the inside of the bunk and all the removable bits and what do you suppose happened next?

All of the Girls are happily munching through the grass that Mr Hettie had just strimmed, eating snails and generally having a good time, as chickens do...except one.  Always has to be one!  Mrs A in fact!!!

Mrs A suddenly comes into the run and starts making a racket, crouching down and squawking in a way I have not heard before in a fashion that I can only describe as when ladies are needing a wee badly.  She even had crossed eyes!  You guessed it...she wanted to lay her egg. 

Now as I have mentioned, I had stripped the coop, sprayed the coop, scrubbed the coop and rinsed down the coop allowing it to dry and she basically let me know she wasn't happy.  So I reassembled one end of the coop (minus bedding) and shut the lid that end in order that she could do the biz. As she went inside she gave me what can only be described as "a look"!  I left her for a wee while to let her be alone.  She came out some time later feeling much relieved.  

Well, I put a comment on the real Mrs A's blog to this effect and a short while later I received an email with two photos attached.  When I opened the email I roared with laughter and just had to share them with you.  So enjoy!

 Hope you find this funny!

Hettie

I was made to buy this stamp...

Hello there

The weather outside is not good today.  Who has stolen our summer?  I reckon it has gone on its summer holidays!

The title to this post is true...really!  A Playground Buddy sent me an email with a link to a well known auction site and I just had to click on the "buy now" button didn't I!!

So when it arrived I moved things onto the crapalanch pile and set about stamping some images, colouring them and then raided the Snippets box.

I die cut the coloured images with Sizzix oval dies.  I raided the white and cream drawer and cut some background pieces and embossed them using my friend's embossing folder that she had kindly lent me. 

I then grabbed the VOS DCWV cards and then set about looking for some coloured cardstock in the snippets cardstock box.

Some washi tape and I pulled out my SU stamps that a very good Playground friend bought me for my birthday.

And before I knew it I had eight snippets cards made.

Some to send to a few buddies and some to go in my spares box.

I left the insides plain so I can stamp them when I need them!

And there you have it chook!  

Off to take these to the Snippets Playground as only the stamped sheet didn't start the day as a Snippet!  I am also going to join in with Penny Black Saturday Challenge as they are asking for flowers.  Well the frog is holding some isn't he ribbitt ribbitt!  And on Penny Black Allsorts Anything Goes! 

Thanks for calling by.  I hope these images have made you smile!

Hettie

Scrapbook Tuesday - T is for Christmas, and Rudolph Day!

Hello There

What a busy day it is today.  It is Tuesday, so time to join in with a cuppa T with my friend Elizabeth and Bleubeard.  It is also the day when I share a scrapbooking project with you.  AND it is the 25th of the month so thereby Rudolph Day!!

So I would get yourself a cuppa T right now as this is a picture heavy post today.

So to start, here is my scrapbooking project with a cuppa.  As it is Rudolph Day I chose a Christmassey type mug.  Not in your face Christmas, but it is a snowy scene nonetheless.  The cup is of Krtek (aka Little Mole) and was bought in Prague several years ago.  It contains some Twinings Camomile and Spiced Apple tea.  See I am trying to stay on the Christmas theme!  The project is my Christmas Album which I actually finished at the end of January!!  (Hurrah Hurrah) but have not been able to share with you until now....

Album was made by moi from chipboard, cut down, painted and then covered with pretty papers.  I added a die cut of Memory Box flourish, a Tonic flourish, ribbon, TH deer, Papermania owl, wooden Angel and MME Merry Christmas banner.  Once the pages were made I bound them all on my BIA and then decorage.

And now for the edge of the album...

Inside first page.....

Then it opened out like this....

And then this.....

I didn't do them all the same though.  Some I folded and cut and manipulated like so.....

If you are thinking the papers are familiar, I did not buy any new papers for this year's album, choosing instead to use papers that I already had in my collection.  Will someone please polish my halo for me?  There are MME, Basic Grey, DCWV, as well as trimmings from all over the place.  I did use a lot of TH Chit Chat stickers too as they are nice and small.  Please feel free to click on the pictures if you wish to have a closer look too. 

I had to include these picture.  Our Tree, Our Girls, Me wearing a silly had and my mad friend Sian, who after a long time not seeing, we got together again through a mutual friend and Facebook and now see each other on a regular basis!  

New items used on this album are some of the wooden elements, stars, gingerbread men and MC as well as the owl on the cover!  Other than that all the bits are old.

Some more pics. I like to keep the stamps from foreign climes and also this year's current Christmas stamps.  

And finally, our good friends Mandy and Andy usually meet up over Christmas to exchange presents, either at their house or ours.  This year we met at the pictures as we all wanted to see Disney's Frozen and then we came back to ours for tea.  Happy thoughts!  If you are going to the Crop I shall take it there so you can have a closer look.  Unfortunately I cannot credit anyone for the design as I saw something on Youtube and did not make a note of the person who had a similar one.  I say "similar" as I modified mine greatly. 

And now for the Rudolph Day.  My Mate Sandra runs a Rudolph Day challenge for which we are to make two Christmas cards.  Here are mine......

I used another image from the Tin of Shame for the chicken card.  For the poinsettia card I used some new vellum I have bought (mine ran out so valid purchase) and it is beautiful.  I coloured the back of the petals and leaves with Copics.  The ribbon was bought for me by Mandy (above) when they were in US and has been unused until now.  The card is pre-embossed and must be about 5 years old.  I bought them with Angela who passed away nearly 4 years ago!  Not used until now!

Both the Album and the cards contain Snippets so I am skipping down to the Snippets Playground too.  I am sneaking a visit to Hazel's Christmas challenge too! 

Phew!  Thanks for sticking me so long.  Sorry it is a bit of a long post today.  Bet your cup is ready for a refill now!

Thanks for popping by.  

Hettie

Penny Black Snippets Cards...

Hello there Friends

Gosh that weekend went fast - did you hear it as it shot by?  It was a fun fun fun weekend too, which always go quicker! Quilting, Dancing, Crafting and Cooking!  Don't get many of those!

I came across some photos of cards that I have forgotten to share with you, so I thought I would do so now.  The first is for a friend of mine who was having some nasty surgery recently.  He is a dancing friend of many many years and when I saw this stamp it reminde me of a dance called Shepherd's Crook, so I thought it was apt to send to Graham.  I saw him at the Dance on Saturday, still not A1 but getting there, which was lovely to hear.

The second card was a birthday card to a dear friend of mine.  She does not have chickens of her own any more, though she loves all my chicken cards I make and demanded that she had one for her birthday!  Well, her wish was my command.

All papers and trimmings are either Snippets or VOS - or even both.   No idea how long I have had that flower trim - probably out of my Mum's sewing box!  Shhhh!  Don't tell her.

Right, I am off to throw my hat in over at the Snippets Playground. I haven't been there in a few days, nor did I even switch a computer on over the weekend other than to play DVDs in my craft room and print photos for tomorrow's layout.  It is good to get away from the screen now and again!

See ya soon and have a good week.  You'd better wrap up warm as I hear rumours of the four-letter white stuff hitting the UK this week!  Yikes!

Hettie 

Au Revoir Debbie...

Hello My Friends

What a gloriously sunny, but cold, day we are enjoying here today.  I have my window blind in my office pulled right back so I can enjoy the sun's warmth, though it makes it tricky trying to see my screen!

My Buddy in work left the firm last month to join another firm and so I wanted to make her a schpecial card, without any sentiments on there so she could keep out if she liked.  Debbie is also very encouraging about my painting so I knew it would be a painting of sorts.  Knowing she hadn't seen the Fuschia one I did for Miss I decided to creater another.  So here it is.....

I first painted a recycled piece of chipboard, which are actually the backs of our chittie slips in work! with dark red paint and then using the SD technique I painted over with pva and then cream paint to get a crackle effect.  

Then came the fun bit of painting the fuschias and leaves and inking and layering.  I did manage to find a perfick piece of pink card in the Snippets box.

Now Debbie had told me that she wanted something "chickeney" on her leaving card as she loves the fun cards I making using my chicken stamps.  So I added them to the inside....

I also stamped some on the handmade envelope, made using my We Are Memory Keepers envelope maker - love that tool to bits!

And I also stamped her favourite image on the wrapping paper of the small gift I gave to her!

I can report that Debbie was very pleased with the card and it is on her noticeboard in her new office, as well as the paper and envelope!  

As this card included a Snippet I think I will run along to the Snippets Playground and hopefully have a game of hopscotch and maybe even have some mulled wine!  

Thanks for calling by.  I hope to catch up with you later today after the ironing session which is mahoosive!

Hettie

What a Difference...

Hello Friends

Today I thought I would share with you a lesson I have learnt recently in printing photos for a scrapbook layout.

I once had an HP printer which was fabulous at what it did.  It would print good photos no matter what papers were used.  However, the ink cartridges were very costly and we were having issues with the rollers and other niggles,  so it was time we bid it a fond farewell.  It was cheaper to have photos printed either on line or at the local chemist, than use my printer.  I came home from work one day to find a sparkly new Kodak printer which can scan, copy and of course, print photographs.  So we linked it up to the computer and printed off the test photos that came with the start up and yep, they were fine.

A short while later I decided to print some photographs but I could not get good results no matter what I tried and was deeply disappointed and so off to the local chemist I went to get photos processed again.  This was no good at all  So on a Snow day earlier this year I chose a photo, got all the different makes of papers out that I possessed and printed them all with the same photo and this is what transpired....

(Fuji film)

(Lidl)

(Aldi)

(HP)

(Ryman 7 x 5)

(Kodak paper- OK)

(Kodak paper after I calibrated my screen)

 So here is the layout I have made using the final picture....

I used Basic Grey, October Afternoon, We R Memory Keepers and TPC Studios papers.  Martha Stewart punch around the page, Artemio stamps and Spellbinders dies.  I cut the letters on my Cricut and on the word "Chikkin" I used glossy accents adding a little red Hampton Art glitter on there.  The Life card is VOS and includes some handwritten journalling.  

I found some more VOS - very old brads for the centres of the snowflakes and the papers I have had for a long time.  The ribbon was a purchase from last week so a NBUS - I could not resist the barbed wire!  

So moral of today's story, use the right paper in a Kodak machine or you will not get good results!  If anyone has an HP and would like 49 sheets of HP 6x4 paper, Liddle/Aldi paper or Ryman paper let me know!  

Thanks for bearing with me with today's looong post.  

Hettie