Camping

I know you are very shocked, that I have posted 3 times

within one week!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend, as it was not

so hot. In fact, it was very grey most of both days here.

This is just a quick card for the average male! Lol!!

Rather plain and simple and quite quick to make.

It was a stamp I have had for a very long time and

it comes out when I can't think what to do!

Coloured with Copics, as they are much quicker than 

painting with Distress Inks.

I did put a coat of Glossy Accents on the windows

and the lights.

Well this is a quick post!!

I hope you have got over the shock and I even have another 

one in 'Draft'!!! If I remember to finish it!!

I can hear pots in the kitchen been moved about!

He can't even cook a boiled egg, so I think

I am just being reminded that it is nearly dinner time!!Lol!!

Thank you for your lovely messages on my last

post. I do so love reading them.

I also enjoy reading your blogs and seeing 

the amazing pieces of artwork you have posted.

Big hugs,

Carol 

xxxx

Thanks Kath!

Firstly I must welcome my new follower, Christine.

I hope you like what you see on my blog. 

I would love to join your blog but I cannot find a link.

Thank you Kath for this amazing Hunkydory kit!!

I just had to put aside all my projects on my desk,

that I have just prepped with Gesso,  

ready to be decorated.

As I just had to make at least one card from this kit.

Here it is!!

I was very good and followed the instructions!! Lol!!

I even used the acetate thet was in the kit too!

I can make around 200 cards with this kit!!

Perfect for my Charity Care Homes too.

However, I had to put a ribbon bow on it,

rather than the paper one supplied.

I also added a silver edge around all the elements,

using a Pilot silver pen.

I also added 3 butterflies from the 'waste card'

and added Nuvo Crystal Drops on their bodies. 

I saved one piece of the Decoupage flowers 

and put it on the envelope.

I also added some Stickles on the butterflies 

and the centres of the flowers.

As usual, not visible in the pictures!!

I think these few days of hot weather we are

having is our Summer!!

The thunder storm we had on Tuesday night was

amazing!! It woke both of us at around 4am!!

Just loved watching the lightning.

Keep cool and safe in this weather, if you

cannot take it.

Thank you for popping into my blog and 

leaving me, your much appreciated comments.

I will always visit your blogs and message you too.

Big hugs,

Carol

xxxx

Ahoy Me Hearties!!

Firstly, I must say a massive THANK YOU

to Kath, who sent me an amazing prize,

from just leaving her a message on her blog.

So generous of her!!! 

Another new adventure for me!!

A bit of recycling!

The boat was a gift to me, from my friend Lorraine,

 who thought I could do something with it.

I gave it a bit of a new paint job and made the pirate flag.

Then came the pirate!!

I used a Kathryn Sturrock mould but one of the most fiddly to use.

Patience is needed but well worth it, as it has great detail.

I had great fun doing it and I will take it with me

 to my next Craft Fair.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.

As you know, I really appreciate having friends that leave

me lovely messages and they are all treasured.

I will of course, visit your blogs and leave a message for you.

Enjoy our lovely Summer weather we are having at the moment.

I just love it but hubby doesn't!!

Big hugs,

Carol 

xxxx

What a Hoot!!

Another unused Woodware stamp!!

Not really very happy with this card. I used a different

Watercolour 300gsm card. It is smooth as I like it

but I can't put as much water on it as I can with Langton card.

Therefore it was difficult to blend the DI inks.

I have had a very hectic week this week too!!

Everyday doing something home or away!!

I had my friend from West Sussex here, from Friday until

this morning. It was so lovely to see her and gave her the 

haircut she needed!!

On Saturday, (yesterday) we went out to Framlingham with 

another of my friends. A gorgeous, pretty village.

We went to The Castle On The Hill, the one that

Ed Sheeran sings about. He lives in this village.

Didn't bump into him though!!

We get on so well together, as we have the same

silly sense of humour. So had a lot of fun and loads

of laughing. Even when the rain came down on us!

Have a lovely week and thank you for stopping by

my little blog. 

If you leave me a message that are really appreciated and loved, 

I will leave you a message on your blog too.

Big hugs,

Carol

xxxx

Back Again

Another unused stamp!!

A Woodware stamp purchased some time ago!!

I coloured it with my Zig Pens that were given to me

from Sandy, that had The Craft Barn.

So a big thank you Sandy, they are great to colour with.

We have just returned from holiday number 2!

A week in The Cotswolds

Not as good as holiday number 1 in May,

a week in The Yorkshire Dales.

The highlight was meeting up with the two daughters

of a very old friend. Their Mum, Josie and I had a very close

friendship and she sadly passed away 17 years ago, aged 54 years.

I sat with her through her final hours.

Debbie, the eldest one, drove for 3 hours from her home in 

Sussex to her sister, Karen in Wiltshire!! 

The next day she drove them, for just under 2 hours up to

meet up with me in The Cotswolds!

We had 5 hours of chatting over a long lunch!!

Some tears about losing their Mum and a lot 

of laughter about what we got up to in our younger days!!

It was so lovely to see them.

Josie and I had the same sense of humour.

I was driving us one day, from a craft show in Brighton,

home to the village we lived in West Sussex.

We were laughing so much I had to stop in a lay by,

as I couldn't see the road through the laughter tears!!

I have so many happy memories of our times together.

This photo I took in Bourton-on-the-Water in The Cotswolds.

It was a lovely day and we sat on a bench along side this river.

Then we could not believe our eyes. The whole area

was taken over by Chinese groups of Tourists. 

I know we were tourists, but there was only 2 of us.

There were hundreds of the Chinese and that is not an exaggeration!!

They just took over the village so we left.

 I hope to get back to posting a bit more often.

I have been catching up with your blogs over the last few days.

So thank you for the messages on my last post.

I had scheduled it so it appeared that we were at home!

Hope I haven't bored you with this post.

I will return comments to those that I receive 

 on my blog. 

I do so love reading them and they certainly give me a lift!

Big hugs,

Carol

xxxx

Poppy

Firstly, I must thank you all for the lovely messages you left me

on my last post. 

It wasn't an easy thing to do, to step down from WW.

It was a long time on the same team. 

I have been busy making cards for the Care Homes.

I just take in 2 whole racks full of new designs and swap them over, 

for the ones that are leftovers.

I bought this Stamping Bella stamp called Poppy, at the 

Craft Show at Thetford, last February. 

This is the first stamping with it!!

I don't usually like faceless images, but I do like their stamps.

I coloured her with Copics. 

The background was from a paper pad from Hobbycraft.

I ran it through an embossing folder that was free

with a magazine. I have no idea which one!!

I haven't used embossing folders for ages. I am 

determined to use them a bit more. 

I grounded her with a touch of grass, a few flicks with a pen!

Very technical...not!!

I took these 2 photos of an area in my garden at the

end of May. 

I had just dead headed the Cape Daisy, cutting off 154 dead heads!!

Four days later I cut off 241 dead heads!!!

And it is still in full flower and will be, right through the summer.

That is when we get a summer!!

This was another corner and yes that is another Cape Daisy.

I have 3 of them in the border.

They are a but thuggish, but I just cut them back a bit. 

The good thing is that they are evergreen, so less weeding to do!!

Well I am now off to do a bit more dead heading. I find

it quite relaxing and love watching the bees. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my little blog

and I love to read your lovely messages.

Everyone is appreciated. 

Big hugs,

Carol 

XXXXX

Fairy Swing

All change!!

Get a cup of coffee or tea, to keep awake!!

A lot of text I am afraid!!

There are a few changes for my crafting life,

starting now!!

One decision was very difficult, which was to step 

down from the fabulous Winter Wonderland Design Team.

I had been on the team for 4 1/2 years. 

Since my first card appeared on the their blog,

 on 2nd January 2015!!

So I thought it was time for a change!

……………………………...

What actually prompted me to step down now, is

that I have joined forces with my friend Lorraine.

  I have been tutoring her for around a year.

She has got to the stage now, that she 

has reached selling quality. I was happy to join with her

on the selling side. She is very much a perfectionist,

as I also try to be. 

Along with the similar sense of humour!!

We always have great fun when we are together,

even though she is rather poorly at the moment.

I have, for around 12 years, sold my cards and craft makes

for Charities, for people that have dementia.

Lorraine's Mother is now in a Nursing Home, after

being cared for at home by her family, for many years.

Her Mother has Alzheimers and needed special care.

My Mother also had Alzheimers many years ago.

My eldest Sister was diagnosed with it too, over a year ago.

I told Lorraine where I sell my cards in Residential and

Nursing Homes, that are Charities. 

She took some cards to where her Mother is living 

and was surprised how many she sold.

We are now, along with our own outlets, supplying

  another outlet together that we approached

and we were accepted straight away.

So we now have many cards to make for Craft Fairs,

as well as our outlets. 

To raise as much money as we can for the Charities.

………………………………..

My Hubby and I did have a short break, 7 days, 

spent wandering around The Yorkshire Dales.

We did The Moors last year, so had to do the other side

of the county this year. As last year, the weather was perfect.

Thanks to Marianne, giving us a few areas to visit.

See photos below.

First is not The Dales it's my latest Clay make!!

A swinging Fairy and no moulds for this one.

OOps!! I made her body, hair wings and dress 

but forgot to make her any knickers!!!

We went on a Canal Narrow Boat.

We were the only people on it!!

It was on The Leeds and Liverpool Canal .

 Just one of over a hundred photos!!

Well that's it!! Hope you weren't too bored!!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments.

They are all read and appreciated.

I will always return the compliment to you that do so.

There is a new Winter Wonderland Challenge

starting today, so pop over there to join

in the fun, for a great prize draw.

They also have a DT call out running.

Have a lovely weekend.

Big hugs,

Carol

xxxxx

Whimsy

Morning all!! 

Yes another post in one week!!

And not a piece of clay anywhere!!

I couldn't resist this very cute Whimsy Fairy at the

Thetford Craft Show and she was a bargain!

I stamped her onto watercolour card and used

Distress Inks to colour her with.

Just a quick, simple design and you can't

even see the glitter on her wings!

A few dotted Nuvo Crystal Drops around her.

Thank you for taking the time to pop in and 

thank you for the lovely comments you leave me.

They are all read and treasured.

Big hugs,

Carol 

xxxx

Princess

 My little Princess hanger.

Another very simple make.

I use Tongue and Groove wood for my hangers now.

They have a wood cutter in Homebase, so I had them 

cut to my measurement and straight! (Sorry hubby!!)

When I got home, out came my heavy duty knife

and I cut off the tongues!!! Ouch!!Lol!!

I then glued them into the grooves!!

Then husband drilled the holes. Job done!

Then the fun started!

 I made the Princess out of my paper clay and 
left her to dry overnight.

I mixed the clay with colours, so I didn't have to 
paint all of her.

I made the paper background with Distress Inks

and then glued it onto the wood.

I edged it with my Gold Gilding Wax.....Love the smell of it!!!
I  also put some G Wax on her hair as hi-lights.

I cut the letters with a die and added the paper flowers

 and clay leaves. 

The middle rose is actually a dark rose but looks red in photo!

Just a quick post, so you won't get bored!

Thanks for your lovely comments on my last post.

Hope you will leave me a couple on this one.

That way I know you have popped in for a look!!

Big hugs,

Carol 

xxxxx

Cheers At Winter Wonderland

Welcome to our May Challenge at 

Winter Wonderland.

An easy theme this month, which is 

Anything But A Square Card!!

I chose a 5" x 7" card for this brilliant image,

donated by our generous Sponsor,

Bugaboo Stamps

She is 

JJXmas Cheer and available HERE

I love this fun image and she was so easy to colour.

I used my Copics to colour her with.

I think I will make a couple more cards for members 

of my family!!

So pop over to the Winter Wonderland blog

and add your cards, to be in with a chance

of winning a generous prize.

Christmas cards only please. 

Please read the rules carefully on the challenge page.

Good luck and thank you for visiting my blog.

Big hugs,

Carol

xxxx