NBUS Christmas Stamp....Yippee!! and Rudolph Day

Greetings!

It is Santa's Head Elf here sharing with you a NBUS Christmas Stamp on this auspicious day.  Why auspicious?  Because it is the last Rudolph Day before the Big One!!!!  

So to kick this Rudolph Day off here is my first card....

Isn't that stamp just gorgeous!! My lovely friend from over the water sent it to me.  You know who you are.  MWAH!!  It is by Stampenduous and is called Fireside Ivy.  I actually got the inspiration to Viv and I hope I have done her card justice!

So what I did was to stamp it on a background card with Versamark and embossed it with white WOW embossing powder.  I did the same again on some vellum.  Then I took my oval die and cut out the middle of the vellum piece before placing it over the top of the background card and securing it with brads.  I then mounted the whole thing onto the card, added some faux stitching with my Sharpies white chalk pen and added some ribbon with a little stamped tag (Hero Arts stamp).

Now what do you suppose I did with the vellum centres that were cut out?  Yep, like a good little Santa Elf I cut some more ovals from plain card and tied them together to make tags for my parcels.  How is that for recycling my Snippets?

Right that is all from me.  I must get busy as the Chief Elf (i.e. the chap in the red suit) keeps going on about deadlines etc.  He is a bit tetchy right now!!

Off to share this with my buddy Mo and of course my other buddy Parsnip down at the Snippets Playground.  

Thanks for calling by.  Will pop over later once I have done my dance class.

Hettie

Oo la lah!!

Hello there

How are we all doing?  I hope you have not been washed away with all this rain we have had in the last two days.  My wellies are wearing out and I will need to ask Santa for a new pair for Christmas!

I wanted to show you a card I made for my niece recently for her birthday.  As you can tell from the photos it was a beautiful sunny morning when I took the photos before handing it to my sister for when she returned home from Geneva.....

Lots of stencilling, inking, stamping, die cutting, spritzing, flicking and embellies....

The Eiffel Tower is a new die which I bought some time ago in a sale..

I inked up a Snippet to make the sentiment here...

Aren't these embellies gorgeous?  The key is a Kaisercraft one which again was NBUS bought for me as a birthday pressie - MWAH - you know who you are....

The lower one is a TH embellie bought eons ago!

And of course I needed an envelope that would take the tower...

......courtesy of my We R Memory Keepers board.

Off to join in the fun in the Snippets Playground.  Got me souwester on and my wellies...who wants to come puddle jumping with me?

Hugs

Hettie

Mummy and Daddy's Diamond Anniversary

Hello my Lovelies!

 

My Wonderful parents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary a couple of weeks ago and I had a little spark of an idea for the card I wanted to make.  When I saw my lovely Buddy's card for her friend's 25th I just knew it was the right idea.  So without further ado here is the card I made for my parents..... 

This photo is one of my favourites of their wedding.  I scanned it from the little album that were given to their parents.  I have my Grandad's album...lucky me!!

 

A close up of the sparkly die cuts.  Can you tell I had great fun making this card?

 

Side view with another photo.  The box base I cut using my Silhouette so that I could have fancy edges.

 

And now one showing the happy Lovebirds cutting their cake.  I am telling you, I have never used so many blingies on one card!!

 

Top view.  I wanted to ensure that the bits looked as good from the front as the back so I adhered another shape to the back. 

I used a few Snippets and had to raid the Christmas Snippets basket as I ran out of the silver.  Luckily I managed to find a few more bits.

Here is the card folded.

 

And now the other folded side.

 

This card took me several hours to make and all the time I was giggling as it was so much fun.  My parents loved it and my Dad, ever the engineer kept looking to see how I made it!!

 

I am going to sneak this into the Butterfly Challenge - K is for Knot...well the were tying the knot after all!!

 

I am also going to skip over to the Cuttlemania Challenge as there isn't a square in sight!!

 

Off to the Snippets Playground now to have a play and see if there is any choklit behind the bike shed!!  See you there!!

 

Hettie

WOYWW 316 - Sat at the Sewing Desk today....

Hello there!!

Now let us see if I have internet for more than five minutes today shall we?

Hello there and Welcome to One and All to my Humble desk today.  Today is Wednesday and I am joining in on WOYWW!!  Today I am viewing life from the Sewing Desk!!  

 What happened was....... I spotted a Pin on Pinterest...... I am having too many of those moments aren't you?  Well, going back to my story, I saw a Pin and Pinned it.  Then I had the opportunity to order more Sizzix dies for the quilting group I belong to and chose some that I wanted including a triangle.  Well, a week last Sunday (15th), when I had nothing better to do I decided to play with the triangle die so that I can show other members of the group a way of using the die and a quilt was born.

 Do you like my new mug?  I love it.  It was a birthday present from my buddie and it is perfect for preventing threads and pins landing in my tea!  For the eagle eyed among you, yes I am using Christmas fabrics!!

After just 9 days I have made 43 blocks!! This quilting malarky is addictive and FUN!!  Here are some of the blocks waiting to be sewn together.  I will share the finished quilt top when it is all stitched together which will hopefully be before Saturday (I want to take it to quilting).

Well that is it from my desk today except to show you a pic of the two WOYWWers I was lucky enough to meet up with on Monday....

Yes, our very own Wispo and Twiglet.  They are as lovely IRL as I hoped.  Can you believe they dragged me kicking and screaming into a fabric shop?  Yep, I really did not want to go in there!!  Thank you ladies.  

I have a photo of someone else at my desk from recent weeks, and fear not I will share that with you again....that camera is not handy and I am losing the will to live to download the photo to my computer and blog!!

Off to join the WOYWWers minus the Leader Julia as she is of on her jolly holidays.  You would think she would invite us wouldn't you!

Catch you later!!

Hettie

Happy Birthday Steph...

Hello there

 

How ya doing Folks?

 

Now we are finally having what we can call a summer, though there are some intermittent dull days mixed in.  At least on those days we can leave the watering to nature!!

 

I want to share a birthday card I made for a good friend a little while ago...

I used my lovely Artistic Stamper stamps and a mixture of Distress Inks including Antique Linen, Peeled paint and Gathered twigs as well as Potting Shed Archival ink.  For the marigolds I coloured them in with Copics.

The base paper is some which I received as a freebie from Prima.  Most of the pieces were from the Snippets drawers and the leaves die cuts were from my Tin of Shame.  A little piece of ribbon to finish it off and I am now taking this down to the Snippets Playground.  I am also going to share this with the Artistic Outpost Challenge too. 

 

Thanks for calling by. 

 

Hettie

Rudolph Day - May 2015

Hello there

The best laid plans and all that.......

This past month has gone at such a pace that I completely forgot about getting cards ready for 25th of the month.  So Monday afternoon I sat down and made some cards and ruled that as many of the parts had to come out of my Christmas basket of shame.  Let me tell you this basket is overflowing with Snippets, embellishments, ribbons, and all manner of Christmas things.  It really needs to be cleared and so I have made the decision that if there is anything left in there by September then I will be giving them to my neighbour for the Brownies.  Some of the stuff is so old and it is time to get rid of.

I completed seven on Monday which I thought was good going for me, and on Tuesday evening I completed another three which means that for the first time this year I managed to complete my target of ten per month!!!  Yeay!!!!!!

So here they all are....

Using Dreamweaver stencil, stencil paste and microbeads onto black cardstock (I did this last year but never used it) I then cut around the image and mounted it with a lot of glue onto the glitter cardstock Snippet (having put it under a heavy book overnight to make the glue stick).  I wrapped silver twin, tied a Snippet of recycled ribbon and tied on two bells (from Christmas crackers) and mounted it all onto a card which came from a kit from QVC many years ago.

Chipboard from chit pads used in work using Tim Holtz die borrowed from buddy and inked with Festive Berries DI, brushed with Kiwi Perfect Pearls and then stamped with Tim Holtz flourish stamp.  Snippets of patterned papers and Poinsettia cut from TH die with brad in the centre.  All mounted onto card, some faux stitching and another completed.

The background piece was made as a mock up for a Christmas Album two years ago.  I chopped it up to make this panel.  Susan Wilson (NBUS) die cut with Snippets and layered.  Some ribbon to tie a double bow.  Hero Arts stamp for the sentiment and mounted on a Snippet and pearls added.  No 2 completed.

Background paper Bo Bunny and just enough to paper two cards.  Punched the corner with Martha Stewart punch and added some faux stitching.  The Trees were stamped with Stampin Up stamp (NBUS yet had it for ages) and then punched.  The trunks and pot were from the same set.  Embossed with clear embossing powder.  Sentiment stamp is TH.  XCut die cuts, again from Snippets. All stamping is Pine Needles DI. Added some shimmery die cut stars (SSS) and a teeny bow.

Same details as above, but I chomped the corners with Memory Keepers chomper.

 

This background piece is soooo old I am not sure it was even this century when I bought it!  I found a piece of kraft card looking lonely so I cut it in half, chomped the corners and punched a hole using my SU 1/2" punch.  I took another Snippet and punched a 3/4" punch and made a hole ring thingie.  Stamped a TH stamp and then ran it through the B/S with an embossing folder.  Die cut some stars with a K&Co Snippet added it on then added schtickles.  The rosette was taken off one of my Tags and I added another punched circle.  I took my TH chit chat stickers, ribbon and another for the tin.

 

Similar to the last one, only I used a different Snippet. 

And now for the recycling of my Christmas Tags. I used a freebie piece for the background (I think it is Docrafts), chomped the corners and then added the Tag, having first of all added a TH word card underneath.  I took the original paper bow off as it had got bashed in the basket and replaced it with a punchboard bow with a button in the centre. 

 

 

I tried putting this tag onto a background piece but nothing worked.  Whatever I used didn't work so I just plonked it onto the kraft card, chomped the corners and added faux stitching.

And last but not least here is my last card for today.  Thanks for sticking with me so far.  Another I made for the Funkie Junkie Tags Challenge.  This is pretty heavy so it will be a hand-delivered to the recipient.  Only thing I have added is a Snowflake die cut from the Snippets basket and a word card from Tim Holtz.

 

I thought I would share a photo of my lickle Dobby.  Does he look comfy or what?  Bless him.  Some of you may know he has been poorly having had a fall down our stairs, but he is slowly getting better and in the last few days he has been more of his usual self.  Only thing is we now have to carry him down the stairs to save him straining his shoulder joints.

 

Right then.  That is it from me.  Thank you for sticking with me.  Off to join Mo at the Rudolph Day Challenge, Miss Di at the Snippets Playground (Miss is away at the moment on a school reunion so I am guessing there is some mischief going on behind the bike shed with the usual suspects), Cuttlebug Mania as there is plenty of bling on these, and I am joining Hazel at Hazelnuts.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Hettie

Happy Birthday Mo...

Hello 

Gosh did you hear that noise last night?  It was a loud whoosh as the weekend just skated past!!  It was a good weekend at Chez Hettie but very quick.  Anyone know where that shiny thing in the sky has gone?

I have been meaning to share this card I made a little while ago for a certain friend of mine.  It took a fair while to get to the recipient so didn't share when I meant to.  

Background was made from swooshing some DIs onto my craft mat (can't for the life of me remember what colours exactly but if you need to know I will try and remember a little harder).  Then I sprayed some water and dabbed the card into it drying, and repeating.  

After the background was dry I took one of the colours and my favourite Tim Holtz stamp and stamped it.  The Sentiment is Hero Arts and was NBUS at the time!

Next flowers.  Now I know this person really likes flowers so cut several layers using a Sizzix die.  Coloured with more DIs before drawing "veins" in with Copics.   The camera has made the veins look quite stark but IRL they were a little muted.  

Out came my moulding mat and I set about making three different flowers just by moulding them differently in each  case.  I liked the look, though the card tried to split into layers so I must remember not to use that particular card again for this.  Some leaves which I coloured again with DI (Mowed Lawn - funny how I remember this one!) and then set about adhering the flowers to the background.

One envelope to match and I was ready to post the card over the water.

I used Snippets on this card so off to join the Snippets Playground.  

Have a great week, and if anyone sees the yellow shiny thing please put it back in the sky.

Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

Happy Birthday Jackie...

Hello there

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend. The weather here at Chez Hettie has been wonderful and I have enjoyed a great weekend, involving meeting with friends and spending quality time with Mr Hettie.

 

As the weather was so nice Mr Hettie wanted to open up the hives. Mine first and they were pretty happy to let us have a good look. However when it came to us looking at Mr Hettie's bees, they decided that enough was enough and stung me through my jeans. I am sorry to say that I am still suffering with my right thigh burning, swollen and with a very large blister forming.  I had about 8 stings in that one.  Little critters!

 

Right then, onto today's post. I recently dipped my toe into the world of Brushes. My excuse is that I am going on a workshop soon where we can use them and wanted to make a card for my friend Jackie ...

I Spritzer some paper and used two blue shades of brushos and I sprayed water in my mini mister with some white perfect pearls. I hope you can see the shimmer. I then ran the paper, once dried, through my die cutter with Sizzix hexagon die, as Jackie is a quilting friend.

I used Snippets to make the tag and flowers using TH dies and flourish using Tonic die. I stamped a SU image on the tag with DI and used a McGill punch to make the little flowers.

 

Some pearls, Hero Arts HB sentiment and I was finished. Jackie was pleased with it and surprised to learn I had made it.

 

Thanks for calling by. Off to join the Snippets Playground. Hopefully there will be some chocolate left. I am also joining Cuttlebug Mania as they are looking for tags.  Have a great week.

 

Hugs

 

Hettie

Scrapbook layout...Hurrah!! Tea On Tuesday. Flutterbies!

Hello there!

Brrrr!  My craft room has been shut up all day and with no heating on it sure is cold when I come in!!  What we do for the love of our art ey!

Last night I finished off a layout that I started on Sunday, my first in months!!  So I am sharing it today with my trusty morning cup of Glengettie tea....

 What? You want to see the layout?  Oh! Go on then!!

Not the best shot for some reason as my camera has obviously focused on something.  I cannot take the photo now as it is too dark and the colours will be pants.

Some small close ups for you..

 And now one of  my favourite photos of the day...soooo long ago.  You see I love my headdress.  When I got married tiaras were just coming in and everywhere I went with my Mum to try dresses on the assistants kept insisting I had a tiara but as far as I was concerned, I had lots of those as a girl in my dress up box and so I wanted a grown up headdress.  I got my way, as you can see, even if the stroppy assistant had to order it in specially as the one in the shop had some pearls missing and it was grubby!!  I only planned to have one wedding and so I was having it my way!

I have to say, the upload of this post has taken so long thanks to BT that my tea has now changed to hot chocolate.  Over an hour just to upload the photos.  I hope you like them!

Off to link up with Elizabeth at Tea (or cocoa) on Tuesday as well as Mrs A for the Butterfly Challenge as it is a Valentine theme, and as usual the Snippets Playground as there are Snippets galore in here.  The rub on "You are my everything" is positively ancient and one of the last ones on the sheet so definately some VOS!! I am also joining the Cuttlebug Mania challenge as they are looking for I heart you.  I think this might count!!  I have used lots of die cuts on this layout. If you want to know about anything specific (I lost the will to live and list everything with this internet), ask away!

I shall now be resetting the internet and possibly shoving it somewhere so will be calling by later after that has been done and I have stopped chewing my desk!! 

Thanks for calling by!

Hettie

My Favourite Five Christmas Cards

Hello There!

I know I am a day or so late, but Seasons Greetings to you all.  I hope your Christmas has been  jolly and fun. 

I was just wandering around in Blogland and came across a certain Mistress of the Keys of the Snippets Playground's post where she shared five of her favourite cards with Debby of A Scrapjourney.  So I thought I would join in with this one as I have shared one or two Christmas cards with you over the year. (I have some more which are still on the camera but I will get to those in the next week or so).

So here they are in no particular order...

This owl is adorable and was stamped for me by Miss Di when we were at the WOYWW Crop all those months ago.

This was made using my Spellbinders Bauble die and matching stamps which I bought when I won a voucher from a certain Darnell Lady on her inaugural NBUS Challenge.

Made as part of the Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge which were going so well until I fell victim to the nasty Sinus Infection and then horrid cold straight after!

This one was made using my lovely new Penny Black stamp I bought on my Jolly Holiday over the pond.  

And I could not resist popping this one in, again made using my bauble dies and Tim Holtz stamp which was a NBUS despite having it for several ahem! years!!

I do have another card which would also count as a favourite but I haven't shared it yet as I only finished it on Christmas Eve to give to my Honeybun but I will share that probably tomorrow.

Thanks Debby for hosting this one.  I have enjoyed looking back at my cards again.  No doubt I will pick some of these ideas and recreate for Christmas 2015!!

If I don't see you before may I wish all of you a Happy and Healthy 2015! (I have given up with the "prosperous" bit as we are all crafters who like to buy new toys!!)  Thank you for being a visitor whether it be regular or irregular, or as a Follower.  It has been lovely to read all your comments.  I greatly appreciate them.

Hugs

Hettie