Having some peace

It's a quiet day, no visitors, OH is golfing and I have time to craft and watch some TV.  Been leap blogging, some great blogs and talent..  Loving seeing some of the variety and ideas out there, it's amazing what people come up with.  Also doing some LIM comments, although there are so many entries, I feel a bit inadequate.  I try to do at least 20 comment from throughout the list, and I would love to do more but there are so many wonderful ones to choose from.  This week it's a bit of a free choice but with a congrats of thank you theme.  I've done 2:

This is my "reader "stamp.  In red stazon, and I wanted her to be in a garden, but that defeats the LIM/CAS approach, so I went for an abstract trellis from My Mind's eye Wild asparagus stamps. I put the congrats on a curve and paper pricked the border.  Thought it would suit a graduate.

 This is embossed with a GG board and the stamp is MME Wild asparagus again.  I added some white peel offs tot the bottom and round the frame.
Off to do more comments.
Catcha later

Howay the lads

We had a barbecue yesterday, it was a bit chilly but good fun. I thought I'd let you meet the lads:  Lad number one, my fly catching OH, Bobby.  He says he wasn't asleep.

And these are my adopted lads (belong to my sister, but she always had to share!)

Blitz and Combat. little Shih Tzu's. Sausage scroungers and burger nappers.

And considering this is a crafting blog, a card.  Polka doodles card and sweet stickers.

Catcha later.  Time for leap blogging.

And did those feet....

I was only intending to watch the frock and then do some housework and crafting, but I didn't.  Sat glued until the end of the ceremony.  It was sweet, happy and uplifting and ceremoniusly english.  Where else? Got to admit, it was something to be proud of in a land that's got some worrying social probs.  But it wasn't the day for that.
I did get some crafting done though, fancied a challenge with a difference, so opted for a recycling (For Fun Challenge)and a something not normally used for crafting (Paper Play challenge) and Daring Cardmakers Royal theme. This was in the well of my car, which is in desperate need of a clean out (plan for Monday).  It's air freshener wrapping,

And I turned it into this, although I must admit I am not a fan of rodents, even those sporting the Union flag.

So, recycled air freshener wrapper, not normally used for crafting, plus accessorize stickers, paper pieced mouse from the Tatty Button range.  He's called Pip.  Some tricolour ribbon, red white and blue, not french and a bubble sticker. I am sure I'll get out of this Britannia phase soon, probably when I play Polkadoodles on Sunday
Barbecue day tomorrow, I've got a Key Lime Pie and trifle to make.
Catcha later.

The sun has gone

This is a sweet romantic one, using Forever Friends paper and Lili of the Valley image.  For Little Claire's animals challenge and Sketch and Stash (Sketch 7) free choice.

And card 2 is for Less is more Off centre, using Accessorize paper and stickers.

Where does the day go?

I thought I would have loads of time to craft today, but I honestly don't know where the days gone.  Well I do, shopping, cleaning, washing etc.  But it's now tea time and I have to cook, have a bath and wash hair, unpack, and the list goes on.  I finished a couple of cards off though and did manage to do a bit of leap blogging, which I enjoy.  Some talent out there.
So I made this with some Faye Whittaker decoupage I won in a comp.  I had to cut it out, and really enjoyed getting back to some basic decoupage again.  It's for the Allsorts challenge and The Crafty calendar challenge, which is April showers.  It reminded me of being on the beach after a rain shower and feeling that sense of refreshment after the heat, and the image isn't over summery.  For me it's about getting to the beach as quickly as possible because the sun is out and tolerating the odd shower, which is what we have to do in the North East.  However, the image is also more Deauville than Seaton Carew, so I added the ribbon francais.

It's Craftwork cards paper, little clouds and stripes, with an embossed dotty border.  French ribbon and a sentiment which says especially for you.  I've gossy accented the ribbons and added flower soft to the hat band.  It's back to basics but very clean and crisp.
Catcha later

God for Harry,England and Saint George

I made these cards as there's such a range of Cool Britannia stuff around at the mo.  I must admit, I love national culture, it's something to take pride in.  I love going to other countires and seeing their art, their style and the quirks that give them a national identity.  And I feel the same about England: OH and me spent the evening in Hexham, had dinner with friends and wandered round the park.  It had a bowling green and bandstand and an ice cream seller.  There are antique shops, an independent bookseller and beautiful florists. Oooh and bumped into Tim Healey (Benidorm and Auf Wiedersehen Pet). We travelled home over the north pennines and onto the Durham moors, so little traffic, sun and sheep and peace and quiet.  A lovely St Georges day, great englishness and just a pleasant day.
Anyway, I made these cards and put them on the Do Crafts gallery, and they didn't get any comments.  I think the cute cards definitely attract the attention , but sometimes I fancy a bit of a change.  But I like them and so they are going onto the old blog too as an antidote to popular taste in cards at the mo.
They were made using some great stickers from Accessorize, some papers chains from the same and some Craftwork Cards papers.  I'm going to send them as belated Easter cards, just in time for the Royal wedding.

Catcha later.

That'll be the day

That I admit that I like musicals.  I was brought up on them, my Mam and Dad loved them: I was named after Kathy in the Student Prince.  You name it, I was encouraged to love it: My Fair Lady, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sound of Music.  And rock and roll... my parents era,.  Would I truly admit to really enjoying them.  Nope: so when my OH suggested we go to London to see a couple of musicals, particularly as Samantha would like them I was more focused on how I would fit in Harrods, museums, Westminster Abbey etc.  But we saw Mamma Mia and Wicked and I loved them.
So last night when our neighbour offer us tickets to Buddy, I was quite enthusiastic but not so up for the rock and roll.

But, who was up dancing and jiving at the finale and got totally taken up in the atmosphere.  Yes, my friends you guessed it: so not cool but very happy.  Great songs and production.  I loved it.
My sis has asked me to make a new baby card, so this is dedicated to Peggy Sue (if you knew), although she is actually called Mia

So this is made from Nitwit papers, with Nitwit lamb decoupage, a bit satin bow, button and Paula Pascual stamps. I like the fact it's not overly pink (can't do everything sis asks, so I combined it with an olivey green card to layer onto). It's sweet but not too sickly.  I enjoyed making it, I've been too focused on challenges lately and I need to do these but fit in making cards I want to make too.  So this fits the bill.
Off to Hexham tomorrow so might take a Jar!
I am going to have a cuppa and watch Ms Bibby
Catcha later.