On the Fourth Day of December...Day Two of 12 Cards Funkie Junkie Style...

Hello there.

Brr it is mighty cold today in Santa's Workshop!  It is much more seasonal than it has been of late and a bit of a shock to the system after the warm Autumn we experienced.

So on to today's post.  Have you noticed I have a bit of a theme this month yet?  Maybe a big Christian celebration that is coming very soon?  Today I am sharing Tag 2 of Linda at the Funkie Junkie, only mine is a card.....

And this is Linda's tag.which I used for inspiration...

Isn't it gorgeous?  I loved the colours and the idea of a stencil background so I used my TH holly stencil and inked it with Pine Needles DI.  I then stamped a Fa La La La stamp from Hobbycraft (bargain at £3 for the set) with Festive Berries DI.  Rather than mask the berries on I added Liquid Pearls to make the berries 3D.

The bottom of the card was masked off from the stencil and I stamped my Wendi Vecchi stamp with FB DI (the only WV stamp set I own!).  I also used the star stamps from the same WV set.and embossed with gold. Then I had a bit of a dis-arster moment  The card was curling a little and so I decided to give it a little press, only had the iron too hot and the embossing powder melted onto the mat a little.  I quickly added more embossing powder only for it to smudge around the stamped image.  I was going to throw it away then had an Aha moment. I set to and die cut some SSS stars with some gold cardstock and scattered them around.  If I wasn't happy with this I was going to bin it but I actually liked this as it gave the card some depth and layers.  Happy Accidents - gotta love them.  Once this was done I then stamped around the edge with my TH snowflake stamp.  I can see this stamp is going to be well used!

 

I then set to  to finish the card off. I die cut a TH Poinsettia and a PB Believe word (I just used the inner leaves of the Poinsettia and two cut of the larger one).  I then inked with FB DI and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I adhered some holly ribbon where the two designs met, attached the Poinsettia and leaves, Believe and all the stars before deciding it needed something on the corners.

A Eureka moment arrived right on queue and I took some Snippets of the gold card and cut corners with my We R Memory Keepers corner chomper to make photo mounts. You can see the snowflakes here.  Love that stamp.

Right then that is all on this little post.  Thanks for calling by.  Remember that if you wish to join in with Linda's 12 Tags of Christmas click HERE for details.  You have until 21st to get them all complete and it is being sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.  I am sharing this with the Snippets Playground too as there are Snippety Snippets used here!

Hettie

On the Third Day of December.......WOYWW 287

Ahoy there!!

As regular visitors to my blog will know, there is a mad crazy lady called Julia who runs what must be the biggest blog hop in the world* called What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday aka WOYWW, that I occasionally join in on.  It gives bloggers a chance to legally snoop in on someone’s workdesk whether it be the shed, the dining room table, the floor or the garden (though I doubt it in this weather).  Due to working full time and teaching dancing on a Wednesday I am not as regular to this as I would like, but this week my class has been cancelled so here I am.

So without further ado, here is my desk…

Not my usual desk I know.  This is the desk opposite to the one I normally share on which I usually do my cutting of fabric, card and die cutting (mine is usually too full and covered in schtuff for the Big Shot) and of course, sewing.  This is my lovely brand-new-shiny-hardly-a-scratch-on-it Brother sewing machine.  Meet Timmy everyone!  He is my Brother and a bit geeky.  If you are an NCIS fan you will know who he is named after!

I did not realise how poorly sick my old trusty Janome was until I started playing with this beauty.  Timmy purrs instead of chunters!!

Can you see what I am working with right now?  Yep!  Christmas fabrics.  I am making Christmas Infinity scarves right now for Christmas presents.  They are so easy to make, thanks to Pinterest!! Also, a great way to using up those pesky Snippets!

Do you like my mug?  I had it from Laura Ashley years ago and it is huge and I love it!  

Here is mine.  The first thing I made for myself on my Timmy!  The first thing I made ever on my machine is something for my Mum which I shall share with you later.  Whilst I mention my Mum, she is poorly in hospital right now, as is my Mother in Law so if you could remember them in your prayers I would be grateful.  Unfortunately they are 25 miles apart which makes visiting tricky.

Right then.  Here’s what you do now.  You leave me a kind comment below then click HERE and whizz off by the magic of Pixie dust and go to Crazy Lady’s blog and have a good snoop at some other desks.  I cannot guarantee what you will see, (but I guess mine will not be the only one with a Christmas theme) but you will have fun and you are bound to see something that you need to put on your wishlist!

Thanks for your visit.

Hettie

(legal bit here….I don’t know of a bigger blog hop carried out on a regular basis so if you do, please let me know!)

On the Second Day of December....First Card of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style

Hello There

Thank you all so much for visiting me yesterday and leaving me kind comments on my Christmas Album.  Yesterday I got two photographs, one of myself decorating the Office Christmas Tree and one of a colleague putting the Star on top!  I printed them off but they were a little tacky for me to trim and put in the Album so I will do that later today.

Now for today's Christmas offering.  Those of you who have followed me in previous years will know that I usually follow Linda at Funkie Junkie with her 12 Tags of Christmas.  I LOVE doing these tags and often end up incorporating the ideas and techniques into cards.  This year I have decided to do just that...make cards for family members instead of tags.  So here is Tag/Card 1....

There is A LOT of NBUS goodies on here (I actually made this about two weeks ago, but wanted to share them all in December!).  

Here is the Inspiration Tag from Linda's post...

So as you see I have taken quite a few elements from Linda's tag.  The background is TH stencil.  I have also used the same stamp set.  I decided to use my TH Believe stamp.  I think this was the first TH wooden stamp I ever bought.  Believe is my favourite word!  I used a little washi tape around the bottom....you may notice I have a bit of a reindeer thing going on right now!!   You should see my house when it gets decorated up!

I embossed my reindeer and sleigh to make it pop out, after inking it with Archival ink.  I am hoping you can see that I also stamped on top of the card with the snowflake stamp and white twinkly embossing powder.  Believe me it is there!  This dull weather is not condusive to good photography right now.

Inks used are TH DIs Gathered Twigs, Festive berries, Rusty Hinge, Antique Linen and Scattered Straw as well as Archival.  Embossing powders are Wow and my old faithful clear which has been in a different pot so long I have forgotten who's it is!

Now then. Linda's Challenge is open until midnight 21st December.  It is sponsored by the Funky Junkie Boutique.  If you have never had a look at that store you will be in for a real treat let me tell you.  Click HERE and it will take you over to Linda's blog where you can see all the rules and how tos you require, but not before you have left me a comment please!  Just by reading Linda's how-tos you will learn a lot of new tricks and ideas for future projects.

Thank you all for calling by.  I just love reading your comments, so please let me know what you think.  Also, a big Thank You to Kathy for becoming my latest Follower.  I always love new followers too!

Tomorrow I have no dancing class so I shall be joining Julia and WOYWW with another Christmas themed post.

Hettie

On the First Day of December......A New Christmas Album for 2014

Hello there!

Happy 1st December to you all.  Can you believe we are here already?  Where did the last 11 months go then?

As my lovely Friends and Followers may remember, for the last few years I have made Christmas Albums into which I post either a photograph or journalling for each day of December.  This year is no exception....

Here are the front covers of my 2014 Christmas Album.  I have used a pattern from Paper Phenomonon which I purchased around 3 years ago with the intention of making up into an album and so this year this is what I used.  The metal corners are Tim Holtz.

The main papers are MME which I had at a bargain price from Hobbycraft some time last year.  There was a pack and a few odd sheets with no price on.  I asked the assistant how much they were and surprisingly she asked me how much I would be willing to pay.  I told her £5 off the cuff and the Supervisor agreed to my offer!  There were around 12 sheets of doublesided, glittered card, a sheet of tags etc and previously I had paid around £1.50 a sheet!  Tee Hee!

Next I had to think about a closure.  Whilst racking my brain and looking around I remembered I had some clasps from Zutter.  I sprayed the leather with a mix of Red Pepper and Plum Ranger Colourwash, inked around it with some Vintage Stain DI and run it through my B/S with a Tonic embossing folder.  Job done!

The ribbon I bought some time ago from a store in my local town.  It is straight and even only every time I open and shut the album it moves.  I didn't want it stuck down until the front is finished, when I know it will not move!

Now for the inside....

This is the centre of the front with six flap pockets which hold tags.  You will notice that they are not overly decorated yet.  This is because I want to embellish as I go along depending on the photographs/journalling that occur.

Left front inside cover.  A flap which when opened there is another set of pockets.

Right side inside front cover.

Left flap opened which shows the pockets.  Also you can see some of the other papers I have used such as Stampin Up, Basic Gray and Bazzill.  Some of which are Snippets from previous albums.

And here is the central panel...

Punched around with a Martha Stewart punch.  I do hope we get some snow.  The 2014 is a decoration which I have bought and hope to incorporate, but not sure how yet.

And with the flap lifted, more space on which to journal and add photographs on.  

With the tags...

And here is the reverse of the whole album,..I love how shimmery this paper is.  I have also used some Treasure Gold but will add more as I work on this album.

I have used an absolute plethora of papers both new and Snippets from previous years.  I can see some Bo Bunny paper in there too.  Punches used are EK Success (the smaller brown one is NBUS from US), Martha Stewart, Some of the MME paper is from two years ago and was 6x6 paper.  I do like the mix of sizes of the same papers. Corner chomper by We R Memory Keepers.Tan cardstock from The Art Shop and also the chipboard.  The only new thing I bought for this album are the little owl embellishments and the reindeer ones too, which I have not actually used yet, but no doubt will very soon!

Off to share this with the Playground folk as there are a plethora of Snippets used on this album.  I permanently keep a basket of Christmas Snippets so they are easy to find and ready to use.

I thank you for coming over and look forward to reading your comments.

Hettie

x

Friday Funny

A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbour and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started."

Her neighbour asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?"

The little silver haired lady says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster."

Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table.

He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says,

"First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster."

He takes her hand and says, "Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh ................





















"Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."


I am linking with my friend Annie for her Friday Smiles!

Last Rudolph Day of 2014...Tea on Tuesday..

Hello There!

I have a bit of a quandry today...it is Tuesday 25th November.  For those that have visited before you will know that I usually share my Rudolph Day cards with you as well as a Tea on Tuesday, so today is no different and I am going to share both with you.

First of all my drink.  Now I don't drink Coke very often, specially not during the day naked - the drink not me!  Occasionally in the evening with a bit of vodka in maybe but today whilst in a shop I walked past a fridge and fancied a bottle so I reached in and picked one up, as well as paying for it.  It wasn't until I got back to the office that I saw what was on the front of it.  I did smirk as this is pretty appropriate.  So here it is for Tea on Tuesday.

And now for my Rudolph Day cards....

Isn't this Penny Black stamp just the best?  He is beautiful.  This is also his first outing.  I bought him at Absolutely Everything when I was over the pond.  I walked round that shop three times just trying to take everything in and this was the first thing I put in the basket.  Stamped with Ranger Archival ink and stamped onto white card.  I then inked it with Antique Linen DI.  The 25 December was stamped and inked the same with an East of India stamp. The reindeer strips are punched using an EK Success punch.  The Washi tape are from Hobbycraft..  All the words are cut from a Penny Black die twice, adhered together then inked with Festive Berries, as with all the other red embellishments and embossed with WOW embossing powder.

The papers used on all my cards were all to be found on my desk after finishing my C Album.  I say "finished" but it is only the construction that is finished.  

Card 2 - as ordered by Sandra at Stamping for Pleasure...

Here I used some wooden reindeer that I bought from Hobbycraft.  Aren't they deer?  Sorry about the pun!!  I was trying the Coronation Street look with the three flying up the card!!  LOL!!

The star (cut on Sizzix die) was hanging around in my C Basket.   The 25 stamp was cut using my Sizzix die.

I am not sure if you can see the gold shimmer on the cards which is TH Heirloom Gold?  Some of the red backgrounds on the stamp are made with glitter card Snippets by K&Co.  Those papers were expensive but cut beautifully and I tried to get every bit out of them.

Card No. 3...as an extra...

Here I added some TH Tissue tape as well as a die cut from Memory Box which I embossed with WOW Glitter embossing powder.

And Card no 4..just cos I was on a roll...

The background papers include MME, Basic Grey and Bo Bunny.  I thought it would be easier to use the Snippets than put them in the C Basket!

I do love this stamp.

This is Sandra's last Rudolph Day and I would like to say Thank You Sandra for getting this little bit of fun off the ground and ensuring that we have a stash of Christmas cards made before the silly season strikes.  I look forward to continuing next year with Scrappy Mo and I will keep you posted. 

Right...that is enough waffle from me.  Off to join the Rudolph Day, T on Tuesday, Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge and the Snippets Playground with my little makes.  See you around. 

Thanks for calling by.

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