Rudolph Day - May 2015

Hello there

The best laid plans and all that.......

This past month has gone at such a pace that I completely forgot about getting cards ready for 25th of the month.  So Monday afternoon I sat down and made some cards and ruled that as many of the parts had to come out of my Christmas basket of shame.  Let me tell you this basket is overflowing with Snippets, embellishments, ribbons, and all manner of Christmas things.  It really needs to be cleared and so I have made the decision that if there is anything left in there by September then I will be giving them to my neighbour for the Brownies.  Some of the stuff is so old and it is time to get rid of.

I completed seven on Monday which I thought was good going for me, and on Tuesday evening I completed another three which means that for the first time this year I managed to complete my target of ten per month!!!  Yeay!!!!!!

So here they all are....

Using Dreamweaver stencil, stencil paste and microbeads onto black cardstock (I did this last year but never used it) I then cut around the image and mounted it with a lot of glue onto the glitter cardstock Snippet (having put it under a heavy book overnight to make the glue stick).  I wrapped silver twin, tied a Snippet of recycled ribbon and tied on two bells (from Christmas crackers) and mounted it all onto a card which came from a kit from QVC many years ago.

Chipboard from chit pads used in work using Tim Holtz die borrowed from buddy and inked with Festive Berries DI, brushed with Kiwi Perfect Pearls and then stamped with Tim Holtz flourish stamp.  Snippets of patterned papers and Poinsettia cut from TH die with brad in the centre.  All mounted onto card, some faux stitching and another completed.

The background piece was made as a mock up for a Christmas Album two years ago.  I chopped it up to make this panel.  Susan Wilson (NBUS) die cut with Snippets and layered.  Some ribbon to tie a double bow.  Hero Arts stamp for the sentiment and mounted on a Snippet and pearls added.  No 2 completed.

Background paper Bo Bunny and just enough to paper two cards.  Punched the corner with Martha Stewart punch and added some faux stitching.  The Trees were stamped with Stampin Up stamp (NBUS yet had it for ages) and then punched.  The trunks and pot were from the same set.  Embossed with clear embossing powder.  Sentiment stamp is TH.  XCut die cuts, again from Snippets. All stamping is Pine Needles DI. Added some shimmery die cut stars (SSS) and a teeny bow.

Same details as above, but I chomped the corners with Memory Keepers chomper.

 

This background piece is soooo old I am not sure it was even this century when I bought it!  I found a piece of kraft card looking lonely so I cut it in half, chomped the corners and punched a hole using my SU 1/2" punch.  I took another Snippet and punched a 3/4" punch and made a hole ring thingie.  Stamped a TH stamp and then ran it through the B/S with an embossing folder.  Die cut some stars with a K&Co Snippet added it on then added schtickles.  The rosette was taken off one of my Tags and I added another punched circle.  I took my TH chit chat stickers, ribbon and another for the tin.

 

Similar to the last one, only I used a different Snippet. 

And now for the recycling of my Christmas Tags. I used a freebie piece for the background (I think it is Docrafts), chomped the corners and then added the Tag, having first of all added a TH word card underneath.  I took the original paper bow off as it had got bashed in the basket and replaced it with a punchboard bow with a button in the centre. 

 

 

I tried putting this tag onto a background piece but nothing worked.  Whatever I used didn't work so I just plonked it onto the kraft card, chomped the corners and added faux stitching.

And last but not least here is my last card for today.  Thanks for sticking with me so far.  Another I made for the Funkie Junkie Tags Challenge.  This is pretty heavy so it will be a hand-delivered to the recipient.  Only thing I have added is a Snowflake die cut from the Snippets basket and a word card from Tim Holtz.

 

I thought I would share a photo of my lickle Dobby.  Does he look comfy or what?  Bless him.  Some of you may know he has been poorly having had a fall down our stairs, but he is slowly getting better and in the last few days he has been more of his usual self.  Only thing is we now have to carry him down the stairs to save him straining his shoulder joints.

 

Right then.  That is it from me.  Thank you for sticking with me.  Off to join Mo at the Rudolph Day Challenge, Miss Di at the Snippets Playground (Miss is away at the moment on a school reunion so I am guessing there is some mischief going on behind the bike shed with the usual suspects), Cuttlebug Mania as there is plenty of bling on these, and I am joining Hazel at Hazelnuts.

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Hettie

Rudolph Day - April Edition

Hello Peeps

Its the end of April already? Really? How did that happen?

Time I joined in with Mo for this month's Rudolph Day post. Sorry I am a little late, but I was away in Harrogate for a long weekend and unfortunately the WiFi at the hotel we stayed at wasn't up to the job, so I had to leave it til I came home. Great weekend though and Fergus had a great time too!

Right... onto my cards I am sharing ...

 First up is one of my Funkie Junkie Christmas tags, slightly modified so that it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to post, mounted onto a card which was stamped with my Tim Holtz stamp and embossed with WOW embossing powder. I added some Sue Wilson corner flourishes and stars.

 Number two is another FJ tag mounted onto a Snippet of black and white paper and I used another Snippet to cut a MB and Spellbinders die cut which I inked with Versamark and embossed with sparkly embossing powder.

And finally, this Bo Bunny piece was left over from my Christmas Album and I didn't want to cut it. I mounted it onto another piece left over from my C Album and adhered these onto a square card. I cu another MB border from a Snippet.

The piece of lace was taken off another tag, as was the K&Co sentiment and rosette so they all got adhered on this card. I inked the edges of the card, added some sparkly gems and card finished.

Three more cards for the box!

And seeing as I mentioned Fergus...here is a photo of the boy at Bettys Tea Room in Harrogate on Saturday...

Off to join Mo at the Rudolph Day and also my Playmates at the Snippets Playground.

Thanks for calling by.

Hettie

Tea on Tuesday...Shhhh! Don't tell Bleubeard I am laTe!!

Hello there!

I hope you are all having a lovely day today.  I am late joining in on Tea on Tuesday with Elizabeth tonight but never mine ey!  I have a special new cup tonight too...

Don't you just love that cup?  I know I do.  It has a "lock" facility on it so that if you knock it over it doesn't spill and also as it has a lid on it I don't get any more of those little squares floating in the top of my tea.  You know exactly what I mean don't you?!!

For any of you who have visited my blog round about now in previous years, you will know that I usually make some sort of sewing/quilting gift for our Quilting Group's Annual Summer Lunch.  This year I decided I would upcycle a Christmas gift box which I bought some time ago but have never got round to using (on account that I usually forget where they are at the crucial time!). 

A little close up to show you what I have done.  The mannekin, button and spools are TH die cuts which I used some chipboard from the back of a book, inked with Walnut Stain DI and then smooshed over with Treasure Gold Wax. I die cut some honeycomb and adhered that on to the mannekin.  Whilst that was drying I cut a piece of cream cardstock and stamped it with TH, Papermania, and two unknown stamps (some of them NBUS!).  I then took some Snippets of cream cardstock and inked the tiny scissors and spool stamp that you can see.     I then gathered up some embellies including the Rosette (from the Snippets tin), peg, buttons, tatted lace (my Mum) a bit of lace, an old tape measure, the last snippet of the netting and some buttons.  I just basically fiddled with them until I was happy.

And here is the inside of the lid.  Again I stamped a piece of cream card to make a background and then added a stamping of a House Mouse and some embellies.  The "Hand Stitched" label was from a label on a journal I received at Christmas.  I just tucked it in to hide the word "journal"!  All the paper lace was retrieved from my Snippets tin and all ribbon used other than the tape ribbon round the outside was all from the Snippets basket.  

And here is round the outside.  I hate to think how long I have had some of the bits I have used for this box.  Some are VVOS!   I have stamped around the top of the box.  I was a bit worried because the ink wasn't drying particularly quickly and it had smudged and I was thinking of covering it, but actually I like it like that.

Right that is enough waffle from me tonight.  Off to see Elizabeth and the other Tea on Tuesday group to see what is occuring.  I am also taking this down to the Snippets Playground. Not sure I could have made this box without using Snippets!

Edit:  Elizabeth asked us last week to go back to our favourite post. I have chosen THIS one as it was one whereby I shared a glass of vino!  Somehow Elizabeth seemed to know I would be the first to share wine!   It also shares the poem that was written at a journal class I had attended...

So Cheers everyone!

Before I go I just want to say Hi and Thanks to my new followers.  It is lovely to see you.

See ya round and thanks for visiting.

Hettie

What? A Wedding Card with Chikkins and Cows? You are not Serious!!

Hello there!

Whoosh that is another weekend just flown by.  I am sure weekend hours  go quicker than workday hours or is it me?  I hope you all had a good one.  I managed to do a mix of crafting, housework, gardening, injuring myself and a lickle more crafting, so not a bad one for me.

Now down to business.  A friend of mine asked me to make a wedding card for a member of her family who was a farmer.  My lickle brain went working overtime trying to think of something to do that would fit the brief. 

Penny Black to the rescue...

A little bit of masking with post-its was required along with thorough cleaning of stamp in between stamps. I also had to get the stamper-ma-jiggey fing.   This was the second attempt.  The first attempt left me with two girls...not good for a straight marriage! LOL!  The image was coloured using Copics.

I cut some ivy, shaped it, attached it and then used some Distress Stickles to give it a lickle sparkle.  The border is made using some of the papers left over from my wedding album, and punched using my EK Success punch, and finished with pearls.

It is an easel card.  Been a while since I made one of these  The wedding bells were also from my Wedding Album papers.  The heart strip punched using EK Success. 

Here is some detail of the bottom layer.  Doilies cut using Tonic die.  The "Celebrate" was given to me by one of the girls in work who thought I may like to use it.  I hung on to it waiting for the right project.  Be assured the blue band is straight but the photo is slightly wonkey!

And here is the envelope.  I had to make the whole card as it is slightly too long to use standard sized cards which meant I had to make an envelope to fit.  

Ann was very pleased with my card.  She said something really nice that the reason she likes my cards is that they are nothing like the ones in the shops.  I think she got that right on this one!  Let's hope the happy couple like it too.

I am off down the Snippets Playground now to see what is occuring.  Have a great week everyone. 

I am also linking this up with Penny Black as they are looking for punches and die cuts this month!  Woo hoo!

Hettie

What? Rudolph Day again? So soon?

Hello there Peeps

After having a very busy and sociable weekend I have had to knuckle down this morning and make some Rudolph Day cards to join in with my Mate's Challenge.  So without further delay...

 This card has been made entirely from recycled cards.  The purple background is a card that was sent to me some time ago, so I cut it down to make the background for this card.  The silver card is from a Christmas card I received last year and kept it as I knew it would come in for a background this year.

The same image but this time mounted on a VOS card base and I added a Memory Box wreath cut from some glitter card and using a Snippet of white I cut out the sentiment.  I must check this as it looks slightly wonky but I am sure it didn't when I made it.  Looking closer the card itself has not exactly been photographed straight!  Oops!

And for a bonus here is Mr Wise Owl.  I just love this image.  All of today's images are Penny Black and were all very kindly stamped for me on Saturday.  Thank you.  These are now featuring on my Wish List.  Is it just me or does the Wish List get longer and not shorter?

I am liking this Owl a lot.  

Now these cards feature some Snippets too, so as well as entering them into this month's Rudolph Day challenge I am also taking them along to the Snippets Playground.  

Some of you may know that Miss and I went on a jolly on Saturday.  I can report that we were both good girls and played nicely, no tugging of pigtails of any sort.  Miss even got a photo of me...

I cannot believe how tidy I am for a change!  Can you see my camera there?  I only took one photo of the day!  I am kicking myself now!

Anyhoo, see ya over the Playground!

Hettie

Scrapbooking Tuesday - T on Tuesday - T stands for FirsT FlighT!

Hello there 

Do you know what?  I totally forgot last night that today was Tuesday!!  I know!  Just smile at me sweetly and walk away - I know!

So today is still Tuesday and a day when I share a scrapbooking project and also join in with my friends over at Elizabeth's blog for a cuppa and a look at some nice stuff on T on Tuesday!  

So without further ado, here is today's project and my cuppa....

Now I know I have shared some of this project before some time ago, but there is one distinct difference......it is FINISHED!!  Here is a little side on view with a better view of my cup and the layers on the album....

And here is my cup.  Another Sophie Allerton, not sure if you have seen this before?  Apologies if you have but these are my favourites!

I know Elizabeth will like to know a little of how this album came about and I do hope she approves.  The pages inside are actually made from recycled paper carrier bags in which the lunches for our partners used to arrive - six of them.  I asked the girls on our Reception at work to keep for me (the clean ones anyway) and I snipped off the handles, folded the ends over and fastened the bottoms of them using Laura Denison's "stack the deck" method of attachment.   The covers were rescued from a pile of books that were being thrown out as they were out of date.  The book they were on was very heavy so I saved four in all, one each for Lesley and I to make these books and the other two for weighing down card to which I had glued on covers so that they dry flat!

Rather than give you a blow by blow account of all the pictures and inserts, I have made a collagey thingemyjig for you to look at.  Just blow it up to get a closer look!  I would get the owner's consent before you try blowing up your puter though!

I am not going to bore you with all the details, only to tell you that there are die cuts galore, some which were sent to me, Tim Holtz, stampings, Sizzix, Cottage Crafts, Memory Box, lace, McGall, Stampin Up, Martha Stewart, Bazzill, Papermania, recycled chipboard for the birdcage, bits left over from other projects and Snippets galore.  Tee Hee!  I am skipping over to the Snippets Playground too!

I enjoyed making this book as it does hold some very happy memories of me and the Hubster in the early 90s, including my first ever flight.  

Thank you for calling by.

Hettie

It is time for Rudolph Day!!

Hello there!

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.  I was off to my Quilting Group today and there was a great buzz as we were preparing for our Exhibition which will take place in June.  If you are in South Wales on 6th or 7th June, please pop in.  I would love to meet you.  And of course you get to see some quilts from talented quilters.....and me!!

Rightio.  Onto today's subject matter.  Rudolph Day!  Yep - the 25th of the month has come round again!!  I swear these months are coming round quicker!  For those who are new to my blog, (where have you been?) on or around 25th of the month I take part in my Buddy's Rudolph Day where we make Christmas cards or similar, which means that when it comes to later on in the year we have got a head start for Christmas cards.  

So here is No. 1.......

No. 2....

No. 3.....

No. 4....

AND......No. 5!!!!

Wahoo!  Now the Rules state 2 cards must be made but I decided to make and show you 5 today.  Ooo I need to alter my tally on the sidebar!

Now if you are thinking you have seen these before, you are having a bit of deja vue, then you are completely right.  These are tags I made for the Funkie Junkie Christmas Tags Challenge in 2012!  I decided it was time they were used, so I mounted them onto cards using strong dsst, with some Christmas papers and some MB Holly die cuts using Snippets.  You know I like a bit of recycling! 

Can you believe that Puggles was sat next to no. 3 until I pressed the button on the camera?  He is sooooo shy!  

Well, I am off to share this with my Buddy Sandra.  I cannot share it with the Snippets Playground as Miss has shut the gates - boo hoo!  It is the weekend and not a school night!  Hurrumph!

Thanks for calling by.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend whatever you are doing.

Hettie

Happy Mother's Day

Hello

What a glorious day we have had here in Sunny Wales.  Quite warm too!

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers whether you be "mother" to people or the fur and feather kind.  I had some lovely flowers in a jug, a new Boofle and a card from Dobby and the Girls.  Funny, not sure who wrote the card, but the writing looked familiar!  I popped down to see my Mum and Dad today along with my homemade "card".  Not exactly a card but a box.  A match box recycled....

And here is a close up.....

I well and truly hit the Snippets Box to make this.  The large white flowers and the small "peony/roses" were made using Sizzix dies. I don't mind telling you that the roses were a bit of a PITA!  Each petal is cut individually and has to be shaped and attached individually!  

And a longways shot.

I also made one for MIL who just rung me to say thanks.  I had to giggle as she asked why Mr Hettie was going to work so early.  I then reminded her that she ought to put her clock forward!  

The butterflies are K&Co and the little paper flowers with yellow dots are all Hero Arts and are VOS indeed.  I used Tonic dies as well as Signature Dies - Ivy.  Some Snippets of lace, a Papermania stamp, Liquid Pearls and Cordinations card, Tim Holtz Adore ticket and knob for the drawer. 

  

As I mentioned earlier this contains Snippets so I am popping into the Snippets Playground.  The Butterfly Challenge this week is for Yellow so I am fluttering by there too!

Thanks for calling by.  I am hoping now the pressure is off to get my quilt finished I can get around to seeing you more often now.

Hugs

Hettie