Birthday Wishes

Hello .... 
I've been reading your blogs and hearing all about CHA going on in Chicago ...  I can't even begin to imagine what this must be like to a crafter ... nor do I know if I could cope with so much delightful goodness on offer ... but I really hope that those of you who are attending have a wonderful time ... I love to look at the photos when they are posted .. I feel like I am looking at my friends holiday snaps! 
Today I needed to make a quick card for my husbands Daughter in Law .. . Thank goodness for Two Peas
and grateful thanks to Vinnie Pearce for This  gorgeous {FREE} mini kit .....

I absolutely adore this little kit, the colours, the banner ... 

There are butterflies in this kit but I chose to use the butterflies from the Flutterbies set by Hero Arts ... one of my favourites ...

Till soon my friends .. enjoy your weekend

Ros

Glittered and shabby ...

I've been playing about again this afternoon ... I saw that Just Us Girls are having a challenge using a template .. hmm.. I have lots of templates, but I often go on to adjust or adapt or invent even. What to do? ... Well, to be honest all the templates were worth doing but I had a burning desire to make another bird house ... 
A shabby place with a 'straw' roof ... 

... lace and buttons and bows ....

glittered and distressed ......

My template was for a tiny wee house so I altered it ... I used raffia for the roof ... glued it and stitched it gosh was my room a mess! 

But I got it out of my system ... so I'm off for now ...

Thank you for all your lovely comments ... you're the best blog friends ever!

Ros

Checking out my mojo

 I thought I'd try and make something yesterday ... trying to get back into the swing of things after being non too well ... my sleep routine seems to have been upended and I have a problem of now trying to co-ordinate my inspiration with my alertness ... maybe I will become a midnight crafter yet!! 

So I put together this little card for the new challenge at the Shabby Tea Room "One Two Three" that's one ribbon, two buttons and three punches or dies ...

It's kind of hard to see the 3D butterfly in these pictures but I promise you it's there .. This really just used up a lot of my bits and pieces and I think I like it's mellowness.

Hope you are enjoying your day 

Till soon

Ros

Garden mail

Hello everyone ... I am on the mend and so very grateful for your kind wishes, your prayers and your cyber hugs! It means a lot ....


Today of course is the start of another City Crafter Challenge ..Garden Mail ... my very first attempt at setting a challenge and the DT have done me proud .. please check out their lovely creations.
The picture of course comes courtesy of Leslie A Creative Mint ... she does the most beautiful and inspiring work .. you really should go and have a look ... no crafter could be short of inspiration seeing her photographs ...


On to my project...

I have a passion for old envelopes, writing, postcards ... you name it! and I've had this paper - part of an Ephemera pack - for the longest time, not wanting to use it but just look at it .. weird girl that I am .. now combined with the lavender, lilac and white ... it looks even better ...

The little white flowers are stamped on, flower stickers and jewels added together with some pretty organza flowers ......

I couldn't stop there I had to make a bookmark too .... and a little acetate cover to protect it ..

Well that's me for now ... Many Congratulations to of all our winners at City Crafters .. and a big thank you to all of you who enter and make it such fun ...

Till soon

Keep safe

Ros

Be back soon .......

I have nothing to share with you today I'm afraid ..... I've been laid up for a few days with an illness so I am feeling very tired and depleted, but popping in to read my favourite blogs and see all your wonderful creations is therapeutic in itself. I was therefore very uplifted to see that I had won a 'Terrific Top 3" award over at the Shabby Tea Room ... Thank you so much! I am proud to display my new badge. I hope I get the chance to enter this weeks' challenge too .... I have grown so much since I started blogging and entering these challenges ... using colours and styles that previously were foreign to me ... making so many lovely friends who really brighten my day and share my love of creating ... Bless you all.


I will be back with you tomorrow for a brand new challenge over at City Crafters ... A challenge I will be setting .. my very first ever! So I hope you will come and join us.


Till soon


Ros

Sunshine.....

Would you believe that the sun is finally shining here in Liverpool? Oh how good it is ... and I have spent the day with my friend, trawling along the shops at Penny Lane and stopping at street cafes for the odd coffee ... 
I have a little something to share .... Hands up if you remember This card? ... well I added a few bits ....

I decide to frame it ... painted the frame first ....

... added some flowers, leaves and ribbon .... a word transfer .....

And there it is .... (sorry this is a bit blurry)

So that's me for today ... have a great weekend everyone

Ros

Thoughts

When there are long lonely hours ... when thoughts creep in univited, unwelcome ... I turn to my crafting ...

Today marks the start of another challenge over at the Play Date Cafe and the colours are so earthy, they so fit my mood .... 

There is such an simple elegance about these colours and that is reflected in the picture I think ....

This is my interpretation ..... I'm not sure that the embossing on the black card shows up too well .... hard to photograph especially with the rain still clouding the skies ......

At least the sparkle from the 'stickles' is visible on this image "wisps" from Pink Petticoat ... background paper is Vinnie Pearce "Art Corners" ......

Till soon

Ros

Rainy day crafting

The rain here has still not let up at all ... sometimes it is so heavy and loud I can hardly hear! But I find something comforting and soothing in rainfall especially when I am tucked up in bed ... and I love the fresh scent after a downpour ... 
Still, it has kept me indoors and given me time to create and try new colour schemes ... away from my comfort zone of soft tones ...  using the sort of colours I don't usually turn to ...
Having seen the challenge at Embellish Magazine and this photo ...

I am inspired ...  I have been to Mijas, and it is such a pretty place ....  it also gave me a chance to play with my new Nestabilities and Waltzing Mouse stamps ...

Aren't they lovely ... I first saw them when the talented Mona Pendleton of Cupcake Creations showed them on her blog ..  "Thanks" Mona ...

I decided to make a little gift set ...

A card and cute decorated tin of sweeties ( candy) ....

My papers are a mix of digital papers from Pink Petticoat and stripe paper from Basic Grey ... my little flowers are made from tissue paper ( using my nesties) and a little flower from my stash placed in the centre. Ribbon, pearls and ric rac all from my stash .... Yes ... I actually had bright orange in my hoard!

Thank you for all your lovely comments and also to all of you who sent well wishes and words of encouragement during my times of despair ... I can today report that at least my health is much better - my doctor told me this morning that my cholesterol level has come down by half and is now perfect !! She said she doesn't know what I have done or have been doing .. but to keep doing it ... such is the pleasure of creating .......

Till soon

Ros

My busy Hands

This is my 2nd post today - details of the City Crafters Challenge are in my first post ... just scroll on down.

I told you I had been busy ... my mind whirling with thoughts and inspiration, and you gotta just go with the flow sometimes ...  I saw this beautiful picture - the inspiration for The Shabby Tea Room Challenge

So last night I sat and created this little hanging piece ....

I started with chipboard from an album and painted and glittered the edges then added a background of Websters pages and  a vintage postcard .... Little handmade roses mixed with leaves, twigs and flowers from my stash ...  see the little eggs in my birds nest? I had so much fun making this ... Do you like?

I have just finished another project so will share with you soon ....

keep safe

Ros

Tuesday Challenge at CCCB

Hello .. Good morning to you all ...
Well it's Tuesday again and hat means the start of another City Crafter Challenge ... Congratulations to all the winners of last weeks' challenge ... please have a look at their lovely creations if you get the time ...
This week Linda is hosting the challenge and it's a sketch challenge - the DT have given you some great examples - hop over and check out their blogs too .......

 You can use any colours your little heart desires just enjoy! We all look forward to seeing your beautiful creations ... AND ... there is a prize up for grabs!

This is my card based on the sketch ... had to add a butterfly and bow ... that's just me ... normally I would vary my colours but I kinda liked this combination ...

Aren't those little flowers sweet? ... wanna know where they came from? ... Ikea ... Yes honestly!

I pick things up from everywhere ... someone sees a cutlery tray ... I see wall art! I look at everything from and arty angle .. my husband often says "Ok .. I can see your mind working ... what are you seeing now?" 

I'll leave you to get cracking and just tell you that my fingers have been busy ... and I have a little something to share with you later ... 

Till soon

Ros

Something different

Hi there ...
How was your weekend? .... It is still raining here in Liverpool - been raining off and on for days though it is very warm today ... Of course we have a hose pipe ban due to the reservoirs being low(!!??) thus we are grateful for the rain to keep the flowers going and also it means I don't have to get out there and do the watering!!
I just hope that we get at least a couple of warm summer evenings when we can actually have dinner outdoors ... I love that .. the glow of  candlelight ... the sweet scent of honeysuckle and flock ... and the last few birds singing their melodious nighttime serenade ... ahhh ..
Of course being indoors means I spend more time crafting and I have been quite busy, and this afternoon I decided to use up some more scraps .....

A couple of bookmarks .... made a few of these lately .....

They are double thickness - so quite strong and the back layer also covers the stitching .... also I thought it a good idea to have somewhere to write the books you have read etc., 

Because they have embellishments on I decided to make a clear cover for each of them too ....

I'm hoping that you can make out these little covers ... they are just CD/DVD covers that I cut and machine stitched down the sides and Voila!  ...  clean protected bookmarks. 

They are such fun to make too.

I received my new spellbinders nesties today and I am looking forwards to trying them out together with my stamps from Waltzing Mouse ... So many ideas, such little time ....

Till soon, keep safe

Ros

Graduation ...

It is graduation time here in the U.K. for many students and amongst them is one of my male colleagues from our Philosophy group ... who graduated with a first! Well done Tony ... we are so pleased for you.
I know that once he is a fully qualified teacher .. his students will have one of the best.
It took me ages to make this card ....

 My sewing machine was just misbehaving and destroyed my first 2 efforts ... I promise you that it had nothing to do with my late night at the Golf Club Barbecue ... nor the few glasses of wine ... honestly.
The sentiment is true to the teachings of Practical Philosophy ... and I know he will appreciate it ... It's  a digital from Tina Chambers ... Digital papers from Vinnie Pearce as it the digital script on the Kraft CS.
Mortar board and tassel I made ....
I have a few projects in my head and some on the go so I'm off....... But a quick reminder .. You still have a few days to get your project in for this weeks City Crafters Challenge with a great prize to be won ...


Thanks to all of you for your comments ... I do appreciate them


Till soon


Ros

Christmas in July?

Hi there ... just popping in with a little Christmas card I made for The Shabby Tea Room challenge ... 

Last year I made so many Christmas cards I can't tell you! ... I never wanted to see another ... Then I got my Christmas things out today .. still seems like only a week ago since we had Christmas!

Still I enjoyed playing about ... 

I love shabby style Christmas cards ... always makes Christmas seem special... like days gone by....

Have a lovely weekend everyone.......

Ros

Sweet Little Lilac....

This morning I have a little card to share which I made for the Play Date Cafe challenge ... This is the inspiration photo .....

A beautiful Lupin all fresh and dewy ... the colours are bold and striking, which for some reason gave me a little trouble - maybe I  find soft colours easier .. anyway this is my card ....

My image is a digital Hero Arts image - Vintage Skyland Birds ... 

It is ironic that I am posting these lilac and purple colours as I have just discovered that last nights storm took out my beautiful fragrant lilac bush. It was just about to bloom and having only been planted late last year, as a tiny little thing ... it survived a bitter winter of snow and ice. I looked at it only yesterday with admiration and the kind of pride a mother gets to see her child flourish ...  I love all living things and to see something you have nurtured thrive is a joy ... right now I am so sad .....

Till soon

Ros

2nd Post today...Oriental maybe??

Just felt the need to try something else today ... I saw the new sketch at 2Sketches4 You

And this incredible colour challenge ....

at Off The Wall Craftiness ... Thanks to kirsty for directing me there .....

This is my card .....

Seems to have an Oriental feel I think ... I never know what is going to turn out when my hands play and  an image starts to form in my mind .....

We have been having very heavy rain and thunderstorms lately and I am all over the house trying to take pictures of my cards that truly reflect the colours ... driving me insane!!

If you missed my first post today - please scroll down....

Ros

Feelin' shabby...

Not me... my crafting mood ......
I got some lovely images this week from Cassiecreations Etsy shop ... how I love the lovely collage sheets she does ....
Anyway, being vintage images and so pretty ... I decided to make a card for the Moxie Fab World Vintage/Shabby challenge .... the DT team have done some absolutely delicious cards ... 

I'm not sure if I am good at this style ... I love to play and 'pretty' things up .... a mixture of papers here Basic Grey, MF, Papermania, a chipboard butterfly all glittered up ... note paper, buttons, flower, brad and lace from my stash... oh so gorgeous scrunched ribbon and some little stamped butterflies.. and that lovely image from Etsy.

I also have a couple of  "Thank You" cards to share ... my Philosophy class finished on Tuesday for the summer break ... so I made one card for my tutor and one for the very kind gentleman who supplies us with tea and biscuits during the break ....

Trying out that Kraft CS again......

Till soon keep safe....

Ros

My London....

Good morning everyone! 
It's Tuesday and you know what that means... City Crafters Challenge day.. Yay!!
This week's theme is London ...  you can either make something based on the city, or pick the colours red white and Blue... or use English /England Rose as your theme ...
 The talented Dana Gustafson is Guest Designer this week and there is a fabulous prize up for grabs ... The DT team have given you some lovely inspiration along with this gorgeous picture from
 Happy Loves Rosie

So what are you waiting for? Get to it!

I know that London has probably millions of visitors each year and hat better way to store all those little bus tickets, entry tickets and bits and bobs for your scrapbook than an envelope....

Mine is decorated on both sides... stitching, lace, buttons, a rubon, felt heart and glittered heart together with MF stickers, ribbon and pearls.... and of course my handmade roses....... all glittered up....

The papers and images are digital.....

I have a scrapbook with pages of London that this will fit into nicely. You see though I am a Liverpool girl ... a "Scouser" ... my parents and my brothers are all Londoners. My Grandmother (who was Swiss)  and my Grandfather (French) ... were Hoteliers for most of their lives in London. I never knew my Grandfather, but as a child I spent every summer and every Christmas with my brothers and our Mom in London in my Grandmother's hotel .. in Russell Square . These were the happiest times ever! and every memory is etched on my heart ..... Even to this day my brothers and I reminisce ... each memory so clear in their minds ... for it was their "happy' place too.

I could tell so many stories of the fun my Mom had in her youth ... how I was nearly an American! She had so many American servicemen proposing to her during the war years ... I still have her photo album full of pictures from those days ... I often wonder what happened to all those guys ... 

I kept up a tradition and went back each year ... though there was no longer any family in London - the Hotel still stands - and each visit warmed my heart - the woman in me longed to take a trip back in time. 

I took my son when he was young and we did all the touristy things .... then one day I said farewell and chose to keep my memories in my heart .... 

A special treat ...

Here ya' go... my Grandparents with my Mom and her Brother (yep, he was in the US Army... long story ... mixed up family!!) .... on the steps of the hotel obviously during war time.

Till soon

Ros