Thursday, March 31, 2011

My space

Hi sweet friends ...
I thought I'd pop in and share some pictures of my new craft space ... I still have a few shelves to put up over my sewing machine table and a few wall hangings ... but I am almost complete ... 


... So this is entering from the hall way ... as you can see the doors open out into part of the garden 


I have re - covered all my desk tops with fablon ...  I have one for my computer ... one for my sewing machine and one to work on ...


... can you see the pretty wallpaper? 


This is my work desk ... clear at the moment as originally it didn't have a back on as they are intended to go against a wall ... so hubby put the back on and I have re - covered it all ...
You can see some of my storage units behind 


I intend changing the dark wood doors so that everything ties in ... maybe put full doors on ... 


See all my little jars of buttons? just love them 


Looking organised ... (for now!)


My trusty Sizzix has it's own place


Some of my craft work ... the clock doesn't work anymore but I like it and those big boxes with the gorgeous pups on hold all my scrapbook papers


... And this is the view from my chair down to hallway ...

I am loving having this space and I know I am really lucky ... I hope you enjoyed a peek into my world

Till soon

~ Ros ~









Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Twenty little pockets ...

Hello sweet friends ...
We have some rain today which is quite welcome ... the trees are all in bud and shoots are popping up everywhere ... so I for one am quite pleased that they are getting some refreshment ... it's so heartwarming to watch the gardens come back to life ... I am always fascinated at how tiny tender shoots can force their way up through the ground ... a few more weeks and I will be inundated with Forget-Me-Nots ... 
I have been busy preparing for my Thursday group ... it can get quite hard to come up with things for them to do week after week ... especially with their limited abilities ... but their enthusiasm has no limits I am happy to say ... This Sunday here in the UK we celebrate Mother's Day ... Last week they all made cards ... a lot of the group don't have mothers so we are always flexible ... one of my gentlemen crafters ... well, he has a 'thing' for Monkeys and Christmas ... so all year I take Christmas 'bits' and perhaps a picture or two of a monkey ... but he surprised me last week by asking to make a card for the Queen ... actually it was for the Queen  ...  to congratulate Prince William and Kate ... So I cut out a crown shape stuck it to a card and added lots of gems and he addressed it to the Queen .. (well he thinks he did ... ) So as the cards have been made ... this week we are going to do a gift ... a pretty photo frame and a pocket to put it in ... something like this ...


This is my example for them to copy ... 


Of course they will have their own picture ... they won't want one of me and hubby


Everything is ready for them to assemble ... 100+  punched flowers .... 20 frames cut and backed with acetate ... papers cut and printed (MTME digital "Just Perfect") ... and thick card cut and folded ... everything all just waiting inside twenty stitched 'pockets' made from envelopes ...


That pretty stamp was a gift from the lovely Deb Hickman who last year sent two enormous boxes of goodies for us to use ... 
All I need to do now is sort all the glue,  tape and embellishments .. oh and a monkey or two ... a ribbon for Nicola's hair ... (every week without fail she wants a new ribbon) ... something 'crackly' for Michelle to play with ... oh where is my list?

Till soon

~ Ros ~





Tuesday, March 29, 2011

City Crafters ... week 50

Hi there!
It's a party today over at City Crafter Challenge  ... sweet Cheryl is hosting for us and the theme she has chosen is "Celebrate the good times" ... her beautiful daughter comes home soon after being away as a missionary for quite some time ... so Cheryl has chosen that we use a Banner or the word Party this week.
 Here's my card ...


I thought I'd use an unusual sort of banner .. a banner of birds Lol!
and some of this paper was what I had left from my GD spot at Pixie Dust Paperie (our Sponsors this week)
My Little birds are digital ... "Flights of Fancy" all fussy cut


We have the wonderfully talented Olga ... better known as Pastilka as our Guest Designer this week ... please do go and visit her ... her creations are truly amazing!

So come on and join the party and help Cheryl to celebrate the safe return of her lovely daughter... we are looking forward to seeing all your creations ... and if you are looking for inspiration ... why not pop over to City Crafter and check out all the DT work ... 
I'll see you there!

~ Ros ~

Monday, March 28, 2011

Jingle Belles card 13

Good morning my lovely blog friends ... I hope you are well ... 
The sun is shining here again though the last few days have been cold ... but here is a little sign of Spring in my garden ...



The clocks 'sprang' forward this week end too ... so that means the nights get lighter and the days appear longer ... Wonderful! ... More time to create

So this week at Jingle Belles the theme is 'The Holly and the Ivy'... just include some sort of holiday foliage on your card ... so without further ado ... here's my card ...


A scrap piece Websters Pages paper ... a few stickers, lace, and of course holly leaves to which I added a flower and some berries and a white satin bow ...


... and the sweet little 3D bauble is from Stella ..

I'm almost recovered from my painful foot ... and I am so grateful and touched by your warm wishes ... whatever did I do without you all? 
Have a wonderful day

Till soon

~ Ros ~

EDIT ... Don't forget ... there is still time to enter for my GiveAway ... just leave a comment HERE

Friday, March 25, 2011

Sleepless Nights

Hi there!
I hope you are well .... I have been suffering with foot problems these last few days and had two sleepless nights which meant a visit to the doctor this morning and more blood tests ... I am one of these people who seem to suffer from too much uric acid ... and some years ago was hospitalised with kidney stones (really painful!) and now the crystals are depositing in my toe causing arthritis ... (I so love this ageing process!) 
I made a card for the challenge at Waltzing Mouse yesterday and I guess being tired ... rushing to get to club (not wanting to let them down ... even though standing was painful)  I didn't post it before the closing time ... so I will share it anyway ... 

This was the sketch and this is my card


but I think it also fit the challenge of "Pastels and Ribbon" at Delightful Challenges 


This  card is mostly digital from various designers ... but a pretty happy card don't you think?
I hope you have a great day 

Till soon

~ Ros ~





Thursday, March 24, 2011

CR84FN20

Hi there ...
It's a beautiful day here in Liverpool ... for the past couple of days we have had glorious sunshine and lovely warm temperatures ... It gets very cold at night but I can live with that ... Spring is definitely arrived and the birds and butterflies know it ...
 Yesterday I had my computer installed into my 'new' craft room ... which then prompted me to call my server as the system has been so ridiculously slow and as everyone knows ... these calls take forever ... the guy asked me to unscrew the phone line box and complete various tests ... I won't go into detail  ... suffice to say that it is impossible to lie on the floor and unscrew this box whilst holding a phone AND  read things on the computer screen especially when the computer is in another room!  Anyway, an hour later and it was all systems go ...  except by then ... my mojo had gone missing!
 I so needed to make something ... for my assignments ... for my group ... for my sanity! 
 Eventually came up with something for this weeks challenge at CR84FN ... this is the gorgeous inspiration picture ...




... and this is my card ...



The background paper is Core- dinations... the floral paper is Laura Ashley and the deep plum is BG from the Wisteria collection


Everything else is from my stash ...

I'm sooo glad I finally got something done ... I'll share some photos of my 'new' little space soon ...

Before I go I just want to say a Thank you to The Shabby Tea Room for awarding me a Terrific Top Three for my tea party box ... it was a great Birthday bash ...
Have yourselves a wonderful day ...

Till soon

~ Ros ~




Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Cute as a button ...

That's this weeks challenge at City Crafter ... hosted by lovely Linda ... (soon to be Grandma) so what could be more fitting than to make a card or project with a Baby Theme to include Button/s and Bow/s Here's the inspiration picture for you 


Our Guest designer this week is non other than Sandy Ang ... I tell you ... I am in awe of Sandy's projects ... go check out her lovely blog ... she is such a sweet kind hearted lady ... Our sponsor this week is Pixie Dust Paperie ... Have you bought from Pixie Dust? they have lovely goods and the postage is so reasonable even for here in the UK ... well worth a visit ...

So ...  for this weeks' challenge I decided to make something for me ... I apologise now for the pictures ... I found this so hard to photograph especially with the muted colours


I made a cute little folder with a frame 


using of course some buttons ...


... and a bow ... and yes that is my 'baby' ... 



I promise you ... this looks much nicer IRL


Is this any clearer?
It was all constructed from thick card ... covered with paper and embellished ... the frame is another thick piece of card cut and covered and there is some clear acetate providing a window for my picture 
... those cushions my 3 week old is lying on are hideous ... but back then (28yrs ago) I thought they were so nice Lol!
Well I hope that you will join us this week at City crafter Challenge ... and have a look at all the work from the rest of the DT ... we are now only a few weeks away from our 1st Birthday too ... 
Have a wonderful day 
Till soon

~ Ros ~







Sunday, March 20, 2011

Jingle Belles Week 12

Hi there ... 
Can you believe it's almost 3 months since Christmas?? ... Well it's week 12 at Jingle Belles so there we are ... As you know I've been moving my crafting stuff into a  bigger room ... it not only takes a huge effort ... but some getting used to as well ... I still have lots to do ... like re routing my computer and moving some sockets around ... God Bless my wonderful brother who will be undertaking all this for me ... and the same to my Hubby who has decorated my room so prettily in shades of lavender ... but I was able to get in there and make my card for this week's sketch challenge at Jingle Belles ... made me realise that my lighting needs sorting too ... 
So here is the sketch supplied by Allison Fillo of Stampin' When I Can


Once again I went through my box of old Christmas cards ... I like to recycle when I can ... and started by cutting some images out and playing around with them until I came up with this 


I just loved this cute couple ... and yes the card is quite 'red' for me ... but those lovey dovey pups really called for it ...


a little bit of stitching too just to enhance the glittery hearts 


Aren't they sweet? And now I have 12 cards all done ...

Another positive is that this morning the fresh green buds of spring have finally made an appearance on the trees around my garden ... the woodpecker has become a regular visitor here too and because he is quite a messy eater ... the other smaller birds collect on the ground to hoover up after him ... my new room opens out into the garden so I am really going to enjoy it when the summer comes ... 
I'll post some pics when I can ... have a lovely Sunday 
Till soon

~ Ros ~



Saturday, March 19, 2011

If you stop by ....

Hi there ...  I have nothing to post today ... I've been moving into my new craft space these past few days and I am still not quite organised ... But I wanted to post a note to the sweet lady who has a blog called Living Rancho Delux ... unfortunately your blog does not seem to be accepting comments ... I'm not sure you are aware of this so 'Thank You' for your visit and your comment and I hope you get your blog working soon ...
I hope your weekend is sunny and bright my blog friends ... The sun is shining here even though it was  freezing last night!  ... Don't forget that you can still enter for my GiveAway ...
I hope to be back with you soon 

~ Ros ~

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Party Time

Hello sweet blog friends ... I am rushing for time today ... moving things to my new craft room (Yay!) but sorting out takes forever!! And I have club night tonight ... 
But It's party time over at The Shabby Tea Room ... they are celebrate their 1st anniversary and I couldn't let that go without creating a little something to wish them 
"Happy Birthday" and every success for the future ... and as the theme is Party Time I made a cake ... of sorts ... well, it's not actually a cake ... it's more of an altered box and there are lots of pictures so go grab a cup of 'Shabby Tea' and relax ...

Ta da! ... see my little tea party? the table set for two ...


... even a little vase with flowers and a heart 'balloon' ...


... a little pink gingham tablecloth over a doily ... The table is made from a circular piece of card attached to a cardboard spool from some string and then decorated ... and yes I had this tiny little tea service just waiting to be used ... the vase I made from a pen top! 


Of course it wouldn't be a birthday without flowers and a balloon ... the balloon is 2 puffy hearts glued together and wire attached ...


The whole lid lifts up (table and all) to reveal the gift ... well, it had to be tea didn't it?


and just a couple more shots ...


The under table centre is decorated in gold ... covered in ribbon and then a few pearls also are added


and there we are ...
... Happy Birthday The Shabby Tea Room ... I hope you like it

Before I go I want to also say Thank You to sweet blog friend Heather for sending me one of her lovely creations ... 


 to a gal that has been ill for a few weeks this was a ray of Alabama sunshine .. Thanks Heather ...
And finally 
"Happy St Patricks Day" to all you lovely people out there who celebrate this wonderful event ... 
many blessing ... 

Till soon

~ Ros ~








Tuesday, March 15, 2011

City Crafters ... The King and I

Good Morning friends ...
This week at City Crafter Challenge ... we have Kirsty hosting for us and she is taking us to Monte Carlo ... the place fit for any King or Queen ... and with that in mind ... the challenge she has chosen for us, is to create a card or project with a Crown on ... 



so here's my card ...


I went with neutrals for this with a shot of blue  ... The papers are mostly SU (Love Letter) and I printed the crown (a freebie from Crafty Secrets) onto Damask paper from DHD ... a scrap of black lace just happened to fit nicely on that crown ...


Every crown need jewels right? and I had this beautiful big blue one in my stash together with those little ones ... and see that little black crown sitting on my ribbon? ... that came from one of the Pixie Dust kits ... I just used a felt tip pen to make it black then some diamond glaze to add a gloss to it ...


Can you see the insy winsy bit of lace on it too?

And did I mention that at  City Crafter Challenge we have a Guest Designer from the UK ... Carol Quance aka  Alcoholinky ... you won't want to miss her lovely creation or that of the rest of the DT ... so I hope you'll stop by for a visit ...

Till soon






Monday, March 14, 2011

Jingle Belles ... card 11

Good morning my lovely blog friends ... for the first time in over a week I am starting to feel better ... The sun is shining here too and I have a coffee date with some girlfriends later ...
The last few days I haven't even felt like crafting .... but last night I did manage to make a card to keep up with my venture at Jingle Belles  and we are now on to week 11 ... can you believe it? I know come December I will be sooo grateful that I continued with this challenge ... The only downside? ... well all the cards will be different and it will take me AGES to decided what to send to whom ... I'm a ditherer like that ... So this week  we have a colour challenge ... Kraft, White and Pale Blue as per this picture ...



As chosen by Leslie aka The Crooked Stamper ... This is my version ...


My little Ikea reindeer again ... remember I mentioned to you that these were cardboard tree decorations but I carefully split them into 3 and this one I covered in glitter ... my original post is Here
I used MME glitter paper again together with some blue snowflake paper from my stash and some little tree stickers that I've had for years ... 


The white ribbon is from K&Co ... the blue sparkly one along with the sentiment is from my hoard of stuff! So ... eleven down 40 more to go ...

Don't forget to join in my give away by clicking Here 

Have yourselves a wonderful day ... 'see you' tomorrow

~ Ros ~