Thank You Cards

Hello  Peeps

Just going through my posts and realised I had not posted these little cards on to my blog, despite posting the photographs ready.  These were made to send to family and friends to say Thanks for my Birthday presents last month.  Made with my lovely set of Mixed Bunch SU stamps and punch.  The stamps were a very special pressie from my very good friend.  You know who you are Honey!  Love them.  Thank you again.

I only had a limited amount of the purple card so could only make a few.  The cards were cut with a Sizzix die.  Flowers punched out of the coloured card, then flower stamped and punched with the smaller flowers making a background.

I used the Purple Archival ink and Barn Door for the red.  I cannot remember what make the Thank You stamp is but if I can figure it out, I will let you know.  Just ask if you really want to know. 

Is it me, or are peeps finding they cannot use foam pads like they used to or else the postage goes up by quite a large hike?

Don't forget to pop back on Wednesday and Thursday to take part in the British Blog Hop.  There is some awesome ladies taking part in it over two days!    Click HERE for more details if you want to have a little taste of what is to come!

TTFN and thanks for popping by to see me!

Hugs

Hettie

Hello - This Is Me! My Mojo Monthly Challenge

Hello Peeps

If you pop over to the lovely Sarah La De Dah's blog at the moment, you will find that this month she has interviewed herself and is talking about her background and what has inspired her.  A very interesting lady indeed with a beautiful beautiful baby girl Ruby who was born recently.

Sarah has asked us this month to make something that reflects "Your style".  Well, I had to think hard about this Challenge.  What is my style?  Regular followers to my blog will know that I am a bit like a butterfly going from project to project.  I scrapbook, I love to make mini albums, I make cards.  But when I questioned Hubby for ideas, he pointed out that I also like to take the usual and turn them into something unusual.  So he brought home a wooden artist's model and said "do your stuff to this"!!  Now! that was a challenge if ever there was one!!

I named her Catriona.  Here is Catriona with her tights, pink shoes and pants on!  I wasn't going to show her naked now was I?!!  Funny enough, I was recently at a talk by the lovely Ann Rippon, who said you should always dress your doll starting at her pants, because everyone who picks the dolls up always look up their skirts.  She wasn't wrong!

And here she is fully dressed.   She is the Me I would like to be.  Tall, perfectly proportioned, wears pink and white, does tea with her friends, sews, gardens, sings, talks to the animals, is never seen without her pearls.  Not really me at all  (unless you count me talking to my chickens!).  

Here she is from the side.  You can see spools of ribbon on her base and some of those birdies she likes to talk to.  You can also see her flower (Tim Holtz and brad) in her hair.  

And here is the right side of her with more spools of ribbon.

And the back of her, more birdies and her lovely lacey top she is wearing today.

The base from the back.

The back of her close up.

The beady eyed amongst you may have spotted that her pinnie-on is three Tim Holtz bird cages cut, joined together and inverted.  The ribbons are woven through the holes at the base of the cage. I trimmed the top piece of the bird cages and die cut (Sizzix) hearts and attached.

And here are Catriona's beads and now you can see her lacey top.  A single piece of lace which I wrapped around her torso.  I then cut two more pieces, stitched together into tubes (by hand) and then attached these to the body of the top.  The heart pearl necklace came from a charm on a Primark necklace and the chain was the safety chain section of the same chain.  I often find some of Primark's necklaces do have some lovely charms for crafting with!

And here you can see how I made her skirt and pettiecoat.  I cut a piece of Bo Bunny double sides patterned paper and punched one edge with a Martha Stewart punch.  Then using my Score-it scorer, I scored at every 1/4", folded with valleys and mountains and then punched each flap with my Crop-a-dile to thread the ribbon through.  I turned the remaining paper over and cut another piece, again scoring it at 1/4" and I then cut a lace piece from a Tim Holtz/Sizzix die, attached this to the pink pettiecoat and then attached the pettiecoat to the skirt.  That red tape has really done a great job of keeping these together.  I also inked the pleats of the skirt to add a little definition.

Here you can see the flower, which is a Tim Holtz metal one, painted with white Acrylic Dabber (Ranger) and a brad popped in to the centre and adhered to Catriona's head.  You can also see the ribbons which are holding the skirt and pettiecoat on.  

And now you can see a close up of the base with some more spools of ribbon and Prima flowers.  

I thank you for being so patient in reading all the way to this point, but I wanted you to see as much of Catriona as I could show.  She was soo much fun to dress with paper and lace and Tim Holtz products.  

As the Simon Says Stamp Challenge is "Hey Girl" and they are offering $50 of goodies to the winner, I shall be entering Catriona there too!

I will also be bringing Catriona down to the Snippets Playground today as her lace, ribbon and paper lace are all from the Snippets box.  Please do not take her to the Duck Pond as I would hate for her dress to become ruined!

I would also like to thank Eileen for becoming my newest Follower.  Thank you.  

TTFN

Hettie

P.S.  My friend Nicola of Sunshine Reflections has a Blog Hop on Wednesday in which I will be taking part.  Please pop over to Nicola's blog and see the talented peeps that are taking part.  Oh yes, and me!! 

Friday Funny

Sorry I am a bit late for today folks but been a bit under the weather the last two days so wasn't feeling very funny.  So here it is......

The Naked Cowboy   A Sheriff in a small town in Wyoming walks out in the street and sees a blond haired cowboy coming toward him with nothing on but his cowboy hat, his gun and his boots.     He arrests him for indecent exposure.     As he is locking him up, he asks 'Why in the world are you walking around like this?'     The cowboy says, 'Well it's like this Sheriff, I was in this bar down the road and this pretty little red head asks me to go out to her motor home with her. So I did.     We go inside and she pulls off her top and asks me to pull off my shirt.... So I did.     Then she pulls off her skirt and asks me to pull off my pants...... So I did.   Then she pulls off her panties and asks me to pull off my shorts.... So I did.   Then she gets on the bed and looks at me kind of sexy and says, 'Now go to town cowboy. €'   'And here I am.'   Son of a Gun. Blond Men do exist!   First time I have ever seen a Blond Man Joke ! Just about to watch the opening of the Olympics ceremony as Di says there are to be chickens on there!  Can't let mine in to watch but maybe I will record it on my laptop for them to see tomorrow! Enjoy it as it is probably the last time the UK will host them in our lifetime!  Hugs Hettie

Holiday in Rome

Hello Peeps

My blogging friend Victoria mentioned a Scrapbooking Challenge on Addicted to Stamps blog on a recent post so I just had to pop along to see what it is all about.  This is a monthly challenge and this month the theme is "Holiday".  

This particular photograph has been waiting desperately to be scrapbooked and it is one of my favourite photos of our trip to Rome last year.  Let's see what you think....

It is one of the most complete buildings left at the Forum and is the Basilica of Antoninus and Faustina and was built about 141 (presume AD but I couldn't find out precisely.  What is 282 years when it is that old!)

An olive branch across the bottom of the page.  We actually saw some olive trees growing on the hill at the Forum, as well as orange trees fruiting!  The Life sentiment is from my Darkroom Door Prague 2 set, cut with Labels 4 Nestie and stamped with SU flourish in Faded Jeans DI.

Some Tim Holtz tissue tape over the top of a stamping of a tile stamp, also by Tim Holtz, which stamping was sprinkled with some Pewter Perfect Pearls. as were all tile stamping.  The scalloped circle is from my latest Nesties set and the small label is cut with a Quickutz die. Rome was stamped with stamps, but I cannot remember what make as I have had them that long!  The camera stamp was sent by my lovely friend Karen in Canada.  Thanks again! I knew it would be used soon!

The stripey paper is Pink Paislee and was already edged like this.  The background paper is Wild Asparagus which I stamped with my favourite flourish stamp and Walnut Stain.  I gutted the centre of the brown background paper in order to make the mount of the photo.  The large label is Tim Holtz die, Tim Holtz Postcard stamp, date stamp from Ryman and the same stamps used for Perfect as Rome.  

Ribbon is by East of India bought only on Saturday!  Both the globe and the vine were made with my Silhouette cutter.  The globe was printed then cut while the vine was cut, sprayed with a mixture of Colourwash and reinker with perfect pearls.  The Olives were coloured with a mix of Aged Mahogany and Black Soot DI.  The heart was cut with Sizzix die and stamped with SU flourish.

Thanks for staying with me.  I hadn't realised how much "stuff" I had used on this layout!  It is no wonder my desk ends up in soo much of a mess when I am creating a layout!! No chance of me ever being able to scrapbook at any of my super tidy friends' desks is there?

Why not join in the Challenge.  Link your layout HERE.  You have until 19 August to join in.  And Big Thanks to Victoria for introducing me to this Challenge!  Even if you do not like scrapbooking there are other challenges on the site which you may like to join in with!

Please don't forget to sign in to the Visitor's Book so I know you have been.

Hugs

Hettie

Happy Rudolph Day

Hello Peeps

Sorry I am late tonight but it was the last episode of the current NCIS series!  Oooo!  Want to see the next series now but am going to have to wait!  

Anyhoos!  Happy Rudolph Day to you all!  Only four more RDs left before the Big One!  Scarey!!

Here is card number one for you.....

I actually made two of these, similar but with different papers.  The other one was not very photogenic I am afraid.  The background paper I have had for soooo long and what was left was in the bottom of my Christmas paper box so I cut it up and now have none left.  All the other papers used were snippets too so I will be joining in at the Playground with these.

And here is card number 2 for you to see.....

This card is a little different in making it up.  The Silver Christmas Tree was actually cut out of one of last year's Christmas cards which was sent to us.  I stamped my lovely new Darkroom Door Christmas trees directly on the card with Black Soot DI and sprinkled some schparkly embossing powder, added the silver tree with foam pads and tied a little ribbon around to add a little texture to the card.  The Peace on Earth was also in my Darkroom Door set, stamped with Black Soot and schparkly embossing powder and mounted on a little piece of black card.

So some recycling and use of snippets and I have three more cards ready for Christmas. 

Fancy joining us with the Rudolph Day?  Just make a Christmas card and link it HERE in the next week and your name will be put into the draw for a set of stamps.

Thanks for looking and please leave a comment so I know you have been.  Love comments.

Hugs

Hettie

Grunge goes Pretty - CC2C Challenge 14

Hello Peeps

Tonight I am sharing with you my piece for the Compendium of Curiosities II Challenge.  The Lovely Linda asked us to turn to page 39 of Vol 2 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities book and follow the instructions which involve glassine and alcohol inks.  I cannot share the technique with you so you will have to purchase the book!  This week the Challenge is sponsored by the lovely people at The Funky Junkie Boutique! There is a prize of $25 worth of goodies!

Here you can see where I have used the glassine, mixing it with pretty papers to make a flower to go on a box.

Some beading too, as well as some pearls around the scalloped circle.  

And here is what is going inside the box, to give to my Quilting Group as a raffle prize for our Annual Summer Hope Lunch.  I have been making raffle prizes for a few years now and usually my raffle prize goes first.  Let us hope this prize goes down well with the Group.

Don't forget you have time to join in the Challenge as it doesn't close until Thursday.  

Thanks for looking and please leave me a comment so I know you have been. 

See you all soon.

Hettie

More Blue Cards - Birthday Cards

Hello Peeps

I thought I would show you the other two cards which I made for my friend, so you can see the choice Ann had to pick a card from. Unfortunately I did not take one of the second card on its own so here is number 3....

This is more my style with layers, punching, stamping, ribbon and of course...as anyone who pops by regularly will know.......butterflies!

Again, a Penny Black stamp was used, as well as embossing folder which my neighbour's daughter bought me by way of thank you for making her Wedding Guest Book last September.

Here are the three cards together.  The centre card (no 2) was made using my lovely new Mixed Bunch Stampin Up set. 

So, any idea which card Ann chose or which you would choose?  No prizes for guessing, I just want to know what you think. If you would like to know I have put the result on the bottom of this post in teeny tiny writing!

Thanks for popping in.  Nice to see you again. Please do not forget to sign in the Visitor's Book!

Hugs

Hettie

Answer:  Card 1 though card 3 was very close to being chosen!

The Groom - Scrapbook Layout

Hello Peeps

I hope you are all having the same beautiful weather this weekend as we are having in South Wales.  About time too I might add!

Simon Says Stamps says No Rules this week, so I thought I would actually get around to scrapbooking this photo which, as some of you WOYWWers will know has been on my desk for a little while!  And, a lucky winner over at Simon Says Stamp will get to win $25 $50! of vouchers to spend on new goodies!  Woohoo!

The photo is of my Father-in-Law taken on his Wedding Day to my Mum-in-Law!  He looks a bit of a crooner don't you think?

I cut the Birdcage with grungepaper and then inked with Walnut Stain and used a mixture of Distress embossing powder and bronze embossing powder on there.  I did the same for the edging under the photograph and the birdie.  The flower is part of the Stampin Up set Mixed Bunch.  The leaves were "acquired" from my good buddie using a punch, but I am not sure which!  As I say I "acquired" them!  Thanks!  I knew they would come in handy at some point!

Papers used are MME and Tim Holtz as well as some Snippets from my stash.  The little Love tag is a 7 Gypsies tag which I have had for a while ( I bought them eons ago if truth be told!).  The Love is a Stampin Up set, Pennant Parade.

The Title is from Basic Grey, inked to change the colour and mounted on a Stampin Up Everything Eleanor stamp and cut out.  The sentiment is from the TPC Studios stamp set which my lovely friend brought back from America last August for me, and is cut out using Nesties Labels 4. 

Thanks for looking and please leave me a comment so I know you have been.  Don't forget to pop over to the Simon Says Stamp challenge and look at some of the other amazing work which has been done!  And, as this layout contains some Snippets I am also entering it nice and early for the Snippets over at the Pixie's place.  Does anyone know if the icecream van is over at the Playground today?  I am still desperate for an Oyster shell and no-one seems to make them any more!

Hugs

Hettie

P.S.  Don't forget the sun tan lotion if you are going outside.  We have not been used to sunny weather in the UK so we need protecting!

Friday Funny

COWBOY TOMBSTONE

Headstone of Russell J. Larsen in the Logan City Cemetery , Logan Utah .

I wonder if he died knowing he'd won the 'Coolest Headstone' contest?

Here are his five rules for a man's happy life.

FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW FOR A HAPPY LIFE:

1. It's important to have a woman who helps at home, cooks from time to time, cleans up, and contributes to the finances.

2. It's important to have a woman who can make you laugh.

3. It's important to have a woman who you can trust, and doesn't lie to you.

4. It's important to have a woman who is good in bed, and likes to be with you.

5. It's very, very important that these four women do not know each other or you could end up dead like me.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I hear the yellow UFO thingey is supposed to be making an appearance!

TTFN

Hettie

Another Step Card - Blues

Good Evening Fellow Bloggers

Don't look now Ethel but we have blue skies outside and a big yellow UFO hovering around, and rumour has it that we are going to see a lot more of the yellow thingey over the next few weeks!  And furthermore, we may even be able to leave our wellies and brollies at home too!  WOW!

Anyhoos, down to business.  You may have seen my green chicken step card the other day.  Well here is a step card which I made for my friend Ann to give to her friend.  Yes.  A commission!  The brief was for a card with flowers, the colour blue and suitable for an 85year old lady.  I made three cards and this is card no. 1.  When I have shown you all three, you can tell me which one you thought my friend picked for her friend.  No prize just the thrill of knowing you have similar taste to Ann!

Yes.  I know.  It doesn't have 85 on it but I am never sure whether people actually want it on there, so I was pretty canny and cut out some different styles of 85 with my trusty Quickutz and took my pokey tool and sticker maker tool so that I could put them on if requested.  As it was Ann told me that her friend wanted no reminding of her being 85 so they were left off!

Thank you for looking and please let me know what you think of this card.  I will tell you know that there were a few ********s and *****s when I was making this card because it was a different size to the instructions.  Aha! You think.  Just add the difference on here and there.  Well, I made a paper version first then cut a card and guess what?  It did not work.  So I played around with the card until I got that OK, measured it and then cut another one up.  Guess what again?  It needed further tweaking.  Hence this card took three card blanks just to make one.  Though I have to be honest, I do like the bigger format as it gives scope to use slightly bigger stamps such as this one!  

Off to my local Crafting Club tonight.  We don't do an awful lot other than chin wag, have a nosey at what everyone else is doing, explain what I am doing and then drink coffee and eat cookies.  Mind you, last month someone had some knitting patterns that they were giving away.  Some were for little people and some were original 1950s jumpers which I snaffled up.  Now I just have to find some 3ply wool in colours other than white or cream!  

Please leave me a comment and I will see you later when I come home!

TTFN

Hugs

Hettie

Snippets Card

Hello Peeps

I came across a draft post which I had done some time ago, meaning to show you this card I made.  It was made just as I was undertaking the Creative Chemistry workshop with Mr Holtz and it is one of the techniques which we did on the course. 

I am not sure who I sent it to, but I must have been waiting for it to be received before I posted it and guess it must have been received by now.  Or maybe she told me it had been received.  I am losing the plot I think!

I hope you like it.  The technique is brushless watercolour and I made several of these at the same time as I loved the effect and colourway.  

Thanks for looking and please leave me a comment.  I LOVE comments!

Mrs Overall of the Playground fame has asked me to link this card to the Snippets Playground - oops!  I have been told!  It is a Snippets card after all I s'pose!!

TTFN

Hettie

CC2C - Spritz and Flick Distress

Hello Fellow Bloggers

The Lovely Linda over at Studio L3 has asked this week to see our Spritz and Flick Distress technique (try saying that when you have had a few!) which can be found on page 42 of the new Compendium of Curiosities II book by Mr Tim Holtz.  This week the lovely guys at Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring the Challenge with a chance to win $25 worth of vouchers.  I have just realised this is Challenge no. 13 - maybe I will be lucky!

Here is my take on the subject... 

I got an idea into my head of numbers.  How they surround every little aspect of our lives and how many stamps/stamp sets I have which have numbers in them. 

I have to say though that I never seem to be able to do this technique like the Man himself can.  Let me show you what I mean...

You see, when I flick I tend to only get little droplets and not the lovely big droppers that you see Mr Holtz achieve.  However, undeterred I decided to try a different way of playing with the water to see if I could improve it, and I think I have managed it a little better in this piece......

What I did was to let the water seep through my fingers and then give a little shake to my hand and it gave much bigger droplets.  

And so as not to waste the piece of card I had just inked up I decided to turn it into a card.  

As well as Linda's Challenge I am also entering the card into these Challenges too:-

Snippets with Di - all papers are from the (recently sorted) Snippets box

Craft Hazelnut - wants to see stars this week.

Thanks for popping over and please do not forget to leave me a comment.

TTFN

Hettie