We're all going on a ....................................

........................................... Crafting Holiday!!!!!

Hello and Happy Bank Holiday everyone. It's been a very miserable start to it here in my neck of the woods with rain almost all day yesterday but today has been pleasant if a little windy. Tomorrow should be a bit warmer though so we'll see.

Well, as I said in the title, I'm going away for a few days next week and here's the best bit, I'm going with my three Craft Stamping Quartet buddies. A few months ago we decided to arrange our own little mini crafting retreat. Elaine found us a couple of very reasonably priced cottages on a farm in Bedford for four nights. It's just about central for us all to get to and we've worked out an itinerary to include a couple of fairly big projects and a few smaller ones where we will share tips and techniques with each other. We're also going to spend one day at a workshop with Linda Elbourne at LBCrafts. Ooooh, I can't wait for that one as I'm a big fan of Linda's work. How much of our projects we manage to get done remains to be seen as we could well spend a lot of time chatting and laughing as the four of us rarely manage to all be together at the same time.

The only problem with organising our retreat has been trying to decide what and how much of my craft stash to take. I seem to be taking everything but the kitchen sink but I'm convinced that the one stamp or inkpad that I decide to leave behind is bound to end up being the one I really, really need, Lol!

Anyway, before I tootle off down the M1 I thought I ought to show you something I made recently just so you don't think I've dropped off the face of the earth, Lol!


This simple card was made using a Nestie label die to cut out the base card, making sure that the top edge just overlapped the fold. I used a stamp from the Elusive Images Glorious Spring plate and inked the image up using Marvy markers so that I could colour each bit of the image individually. I deliberately kept the ink patchy on the hare and coloured the flowers infront of him after stamping the image as they are in the negative on the stamp. I then blended a little Distress Ink round the edges of the card and stamped the little quote which is from the same themeplate.



There are some lovely springtime stamps on this plate including pussy willow branches and primroses and it makes a change to have a hares instead of a rabbits too.

This next card was made using another Elusive Images set of stamps called Patchwork Butterfly. One of the stamps is a huge beautiful butterfly image plus a couple of smaller ones but for this card I decided to use this lovely flowery image.


I stamped the image onto glossy cardstock and then watercoloured the flowers, etc. I mounted this onto some Bazzil cardstock which I had run through a Cuttlebug embossing folder and gently wiped over with ink on Cut'n'Dry. I dry embossed some lines on my Scor Pal and stamped some flourishes down the side from the same stamp plate.


The sentiment is yet another EI stamp and I love that loopy font.

Well, as I said, I'm off on a jaunt on Tuesday but something happened today that nearly put paid to my trip. I tripped over my backdoor step and crashed onto my knees and into our patio table, hitting my right eye on the edge of the table. I've ended up with a lovely shiner, cut eyebrow and very bruised knee to go away with!!! It could have been very much worse though. At the very least I cannot understand how my glasses are still in one piece but I'm so glad they are as I would have been struggling all week with my old ones.

Anyway, have a really good week everyone and I hope I manage to finish one of our projects next week to show you when I get back. As always, I thank you for your visits and especially appreciate the time you take to leave a comment.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

A Birthday Gift and my 1st Challenge Entry.

Hello Everyone,

First of all can I just say a thankyou to those who left lovely messages on my last post written when I had a nasty cold virus. Although it knocked me for six last week, I was much improved by the weekend and just have a bit of a lingering cough now. Oh yes, and all the jobs to catch up on that didn't get done while I was feeling yucky.


My project today is one of those jobs but I have to say, the pleasantest one, unlike the stack of ironing, Lol! My lovely DIL asked me to decorate a box for her to fill memories for her mum's 50th birthday so this is what I came up with.


I was going to give you a blow by blow of how I've done it but decided I really didn't want to bore you all to tears so instead, I'm just going to give you the photos and if there is anything you would like to ask about what I've used or how I've done something, please just leave me a comment and I'll answer if I can. I'd just like to mention that the bird and cage was kindly sent to me by a lovely American blogging friend, Suzz, and you really should give her wonderful inspiration filled blog a visit, or three!


The roses I made from metal and the blue butterflies are punched from black card with a Martha Stewart punch and then embossed with Moonglow Peacock EP.

I distressed the edges of the side panels before touching them with gold Pentouch.


All the tiny butterflies from the Marth Stewart pop up border I dabbed with Versamark and a little embossing powder and used them to decorate here and there.

I'm taking the box to my DIL later this afternoon so I do hope she and her mum are going to like it.

AND, I've decided to enter this project as my very first challenge entry. I don't normally get time for them but I think this one fits the requirements of The Sir Stampalot Challenge for May which is Butterflies and Blooms and I certainly have plenty of those in here, Lol. The prize they are offering this month is absolutely awesome so I thought I'd have a go. Mind you that's if I can get the linking back to me bit right, Errrr!

Well, I'm off to take the dog for a walk before I pick my little granddaughter up at 4.30. Oooh, it is nice to see a bit of sunshine again and without it being freezing too. I hope you're all having a good day (even if it involves work).

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Feeling a bit sorry for myself!

Hi everyone, it's been a lovely sunny day here but still quite cold unless it's just me. I woke up in the night on Sunday with a really painful throat and it has developed over the week into the worst cough and cold I've had in years, hence the 'feeling a bit sorry for myself'. I had plans for a mega catchup both of housework (sorry to use bad language) and crafting projects but I've done neither and think I'm going back to the settee with my cuddly blanket and the dog for company, when I've done this post. Hubby's away tonight so I can be miserable in peace, Lol!

I wanted to do this post though because it was my birthday last week and this year I got four lovely handmade cards which I wanted to share with you because they are all totally different but all absolutely beautiful. The first three are from my Craft Stamping Quartet friends and I can't believe the amount of time and effort they have put into these gorgeous cards.

This beauty is from Jo


Look at the gorgeous warm colours and the lovely background inking on the base card and on the tag.


This wonderfully classy card is from Judith and had a boxelope to match.


Look at the beautiful chiffon flower she made.


And this stunner is from Elaine.


I can't believe the work she has put into this. It would take me months.


Finally this one is especially dear to my heart because it was made by my daughter Jenna. I'm really proud of it because she has hardly any crafting equipment and has had no tuition or experience with stamping at all. She was a bit annoyed because she hadn't got any smooth card so of course the image wasn't as clear as she would like but I think she has done brilliantly. What you can't see in the photos is the detail on the images. Because she didn't have any embossing powder or a heat gun (she has now I've given her my spare) she has used Glossy Accents to highlight some of the design and has also gone round other parts with a very fine black pen to highlight it. I thought it was a very effective idea and I can see I'm going to have some family competition when she's picked up a bit more expertise.


I love that Elusive Images sentiment.


It was so lovely to receive these handmade cards and they mean an awful lot to me so thankyou girls.

Hugs (virtual ones so you don't catch my cold, Lol)
Lesley Xx

She Who Must Be Obeyed - CSQ Project

Well, even though the weather has been downright horrible I hope you have all managed to do something you like this weekend. I've had a pretty busy weekend with my 2 year old granddaughter to stay from Friday evening until Sunday evening while her Mummy and Daddy had a few 'grown up' outings, the first since Isabella was born. Then today my lovely brother who I haven't seen since Christmas, called in unexpectedly so I really didn't think I was going to manage to finish my April project for my shared blog. The project chosen by my friend Judith for inspiration from April's Craft Stamper magazine was 'Wood You Believe It?' by Helen Chilton. I've always loved Helen's work but this one surprised me a little because the colours were softer than Helen normally uses.


However, once I got to it this evening it all flowed together nicely and I've just finished the post over on our Craft Stamping Quartet blog. I thoroughly enjoyed making this project and it has been my favourite so far. I was particularly pleased as I managed to incorporate my newest set of stamps from Elusive Images called Royal Fleur de Lis and I'm totally pleased with how it's turned out.


If you're interested in the 'how to' and more detailed pictures please pop over to the other blog.

Well, it's back to normal tomorrow for a few weeks. Lets hope the weather behaves itself by at least staying dry for the next Bank Holiday. Have a good week everyone and thanks for visiting.

Hugs
Lesley Xx