Peace On Earth

Hi Everyone,

I am so sorry that I haven't posted for ages. It has been a nightmare here again, as we are having the last of the major ground work done.

We have had our concrete drive and front garden dug up and we are having it block paved, so we can drive straight on instead of having to reverse onto the drive. We then had to reverse 20 metres to the house. That's ok unless we have to swop cars, then it's a pain. So we have saved up our pennies, to have a nice big turning area in the front garden.

Why do builders drink so much tea!Lol!! I am in the kitchen every hour making yet more tea, or being called to look at the next problem they have found! This has now being going on for 4 weeks and still not finished. We hope to be completed by Thursday, subject to the weather.

I have still managed to get out to do my craft markets. It was a bit difficult getting my boxes of stock out to my car, which was parked on my neighbours drive. We have planks of wood from the front door, which is actually on the side of our house. From there they go to the front, across the front towards my neighbours garden and then through her garden to my car!! At 7.30 in the morning, in the rain, it was a bit of an adventure!

I will put some pictures on my next post so you can see for yourself!

I seemed to get little else done as my routine has been turned upside down. I am so used to peace and quiet.

I made this card with one of LOTV stamps from last Christmas. I bought it late so didn't get to use it much last year. I took it to the market I did yesterday and got orders for 2 more and also sold this one. Thank goodness I had taken pictures, as I am hopeless at remembering what I had done!

The base card was cut using the free templates on Lili Of The Valley web site. I then stamped and embossed  large snowflakes on the card, using Versamark clear ink pad and used white Embossing Powder which I had mixed with some crystal glitter.

She was painted with Distress Inks of course. I used Chipped Sapphire for her dress, Tumbled Glass for her wings and the clouds. Peeled paint for the foliage, a wash of Vintage Photo for her hair and the usual for her face, Antique Linen and Tattered Rose.

I used gold Acrylic paint for her Harp and the stars.

I used a dries clear glue and Ultra Fine Crystal glitter on her wings, dress and the clouds. For the berries I used Red Stickles. I cut the main image using Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty-seven and matted it onto gold card cut with Fleur de Lis Squares.

I cut the Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia from heavy weight Vellum. I used Gold Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber on the edges of each petal. I glued it together and used a foam pad to stick it onto the card. I then ran a gold pen around the edge of the card.

Hopefully I will have 'Peasce On Earth' here by the end of the week!Lol!!

Thank you to all of the visitors to my blog, even though I had not updated it for so long. It was so nice to see that you had still taken time to stop by.

Hugs,
Carol S.xx

A Topsy Turvy Time!!

Hi Bloggers,

Well I have had a very busy time the last couple of weeks. Some good things and some not so good.  It ended this last week with a funeral on Thursday and my son's wedding on Friday. A very emotional couple of days.

The funeral was for a very lovely man who was only 59 years old. A very kind man, with a lovely wife and 2 great children who are only 20 and 22, so really needed to still have their Dad in their lives. Life really is sometimes so unfair.

As a contrast, my son's wedding was in a posh country house, 5 star hotel, South Lodge in Horsham. You know the sort of place. Michelin star chef, gourmet food. The sort that you wonder when the rest of the meal is coming, as my ex-brother-in-law said! The weather was kind and it didn't start raining until the photos had just finished being taken. My Granddaughter looked very pretty as a bridesmaid and my 2 year old Grandson was really funny as a page boy. Just as my son was about to say I do, my Grandson started counting in a very loud voice! Everyone laughed including the Registrar.

The card below is using my 'still favourite' Lili Of The Valley Fairy. I coloured her with Distress Inks and mounted her onto white card, cut with a Marianne Creatables Die and inked through with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. The backing paper was from my stash.

The flowers I made using a Woodware Punch that cuts all 5 sizes in one go. I used a ball tool and the back of a mouse mat, running the tool around the centre of each flower to make it curl upwards.

The butterflies are also Marianne Dies but the leaves are a Cheeky Lynn Design Die. The butterflies were coloured with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink.

The sentiment was just stamped onto white card and cut out with a Sizzix Flower Die.

I don't think I will ever get bored using this little fairy and as I sold this card the day after I made it, I think other people agree.

I am still into making Christmas cards and hopefully will get time in a couple of days to post some.

We are having our drive at the front of our house redesigned and laid starting on Wednesday. It badly needs doing and it will be great to be able to drive straight onto it, instead of having to back onto it. It has taken me 3 stressful, frustrating weeks of phone calls, getting designs and quotes and finding the right people to do the job. It is always difficult to get good tradesmen. Keeping fingers crossed it will be great!

Thank you for visiting my blog from wherever you are in this world. I love to see the audience figures. I seem to be quite popular in Russia. Would love to hear from you.

Hugs,

Carol S.xx