Friday, August 31, 2012

Oooh La La!

Hello ...
I hope you are all well ... My sweet friends in New Orleans ... I hope you are all safe my thoughts are with you ...

Just a couple of things to share ... Wednesday I had a whole day to just please myself ... DH went on a golfing break and I made some home decor ... 
My Aunt gave me some lovely boxes a while ago and having recently decorated the conservatory (in a sort of french theme)  I covered the boxes to tie in ... the photo is not very good due to the weather conditions ... but this is the result 


The other thing I did was a little wall art ... 
When I am out and about ... If I see things that "just may come in handy" I get them.  Sometime last year whilst in Ikea ... I saw what I think are frosted glass and metal doors ... they were all boxed and about 50p each ... Yep, I thought ... somehow these will come in handy so I bought a few and this is what I turned one of them into


Being glass it is the hardest thing to photograph without getting myself in the shot!


So the shadows you see are me ...
I was going to use the image transfer method ... and not having a laser printer I went to my local Library to ask if their copier was a laser ... after much debate it turned out not to be ... So it had to be plan B ... I printed my image onto Acetate and using scor- tape attached it to the glass ... then cut borders to cover the tape ... It looks quite effective IRL.

I had a great day ... my son and I stayed up till the early hours chatting ... something we don't get to do often enough ... mind you I was so tired yesterday ...

So that's it for today ...

Thanks for stopping by ...

Have a lovely day 

~ Ros ~










Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Back to School

Hello there ...
Can you believe it's mid week already and very nearly the end of August!
Soon the new school term starts here in the UK and it just so happens that challenge this week at Papercraft Star is
Back to School


We are looking for any type of project that reflects school

This week I am the featured designer using digitals from our sponsor The House Across The Bay and I chose to make a little notebook for the sweet little girl who lives next door to me 


Mummy bunny just looks like she is sending her babies right off to school don't you think? 

These are the sheets I used from THATB





The tape paper is from Cosmo cricket and the sweet little buttons ... (yep the ruler, scissors and pencil are buttons) are from my friend Lynnda ... she sent these to me a long time ago and I have held on to them waiting for the right project ... 


... which I think this is


I've seen lots of lovely projects on your blogs recently for teacher gifts and such ... so I'm hoping that you'll join us this week at Papercraft Star and share your wonderful creativity ... If you have a moment take a hop over to the blog and see what the rest of the team have come up with too ... 

Wishing you a beautiful day

~ Ros ~



Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Bake Sale and Bad Weather

Good morning to you ... I hope you are well ...

This weeks challenge at City Crafter is 
"Bake Sale"
brought to us by sweet Kirsty ... with this gorgeous inspiration photo

Use something on your projects relating to baking ... images, recipes, cupcake ... or even a decorated home baked gift will suffice

A while ago I saw this lovely little case in the sales for £2.75


I thought it would make a nice gift for someone who like to make jam 

So this challenge gave me the opportunity to make a card to go with my gift


I tried to keep within the colours of the case as best I could and the style


I used plain white CS and printed the polka dot pattern straight onto it ... The background paper is My Minds Eye ... tape is Cosmo Cricket ... and the red is Core'dinations ...
The image I cut from a piece of Webster Pages (Cherry Pie) 


I've also used stickers from Melissa Frances, October Afternoon and some little chipboard pieces from Jennifer Ellory


This week our Guest Designer is Rebecca Deeprose ... a very talented lady who has been both a winner and spotlight Artist here at City Crafter ... her blog is very inspiring ... go take a look
 Our generous sponsor this week is Pixie Dust Paperie ... who are awarding the challenge winner a total of 10 yards of beautiful crinkle ribbon in 3 different colours! 


So come along and join us for your chance to win

On another note ... 

It's been another wet and wild August bank holiday here ...
There are two major events every August bank holiday in this part of the UK ... 

The Matthew Street Festival ... A musical extravaganza where Liverpool welcomes the world to celebrate in our musical history ... upcoming bands, groups and stars of the musical world put on free concerts ... the city is alive with sounds
Then there is the famous Cream Fields event ... literally held in the fields of Warrington not far from Liverpool ... Another 3 day event of live music ... again people flock from all over to be part of this event
Unfortunately on the first evening the rain came too ... Heavily ...  The Cream fields quickly became awash ... people in tents had a disasterous time as the rain continued until even the major roads flooded ... By Sunday morning it was all over for the annual event ... 

(Cream Fields photo credit)

Monday morning heralded another wet and windy day ... the forecast was not good and it was decided to then close the Matthew Street festival too ...

Typical Bank Holiday in the UK!

Enjoy your day

~ Ros ~
















Friday, August 24, 2012

Just a note ...

It's another sunny day here and I'm feeling a lot better ... Thanks so much for your well wishes ... 
I've been working on some up coming DT projects and took a little time out to make a simple card from some of my scraps ....


and lovely stamp from Kaisercraft ... You know how much I love all things postal ... I so love the internet ... but I really miss receiving real letters ... handwritten thoughts in ink ... Letters that you can just refold, tuck back into the envelope and save to read again and again ...


I have a little note written to me by my Dad ... when I was about 8 or 9 ... it was hastily written on a 'paying in' slip from the post office ... but I will never part with it ... or the envelope it came in ...
It's his handwriting ... a small part of the man that I miss so much ...


Just a note can mean so much ... don't you think?

Enjoy your day

~ Ros ~





Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Holidays

Hello ...
I'm not feeling too good today ... even though it's warm outside ... I'm feeling cold and tired
I probably need a holiday and some relaxation! Which, as it happens is what our challenge at 
Papercraft Star this week is all about. 

Our featured designer using digitals from our sponsor THATB is Sylvia, and as always both she and the rest of the ladies on the DT have created some wonderful inspiration for you ...

I too used digitals from THATB ... to create a whimsical holiday card 


I just love that balloon image ... Not that I would ever take a balloon flight ... I don't do heights! I'm ok in a plane or anything that's closed in ... but a balloon basket ... heck NO!

I used 3 images from #106 and one image from #045 ... with digitals you can alter the sizes and even the shade if you want 


My favourite postcard stamp from Papermania I used on the background ...  and 2 stamps from Eline Huis on the little piece of fabric ... which I attached with a pin by Tim Holtz


two little stickers from my stash just complete my card ...
I guess this is the nearest I'll get to flying away for a while ... how about you?

Please take a minute to visit the blog and check out the inspiration on offer there ... I'm looking forward to seeing your fabulous creations this week ...

Ok ... time for a warm drink and a paracetamol ...

Have a lovely day and thanks so much for stopping by

~ Ros ~











Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Wishi Washi 2

Hi there!
I'm hosting this weeks' challenge over at the City Crafter Challenge Blog today and this week it's all about washi or tissue tape.
I know it's a Big thing out there in the craft world at the moment ... The tape is so easy to make and customise to your own personal requirements ... but if you are not in the mood to make it ... well, there are hundreds of different style out there to choose from.



My challenge to you this week is to use washi or tissue tape on your project ... as much as you want ... but just to make it a little more interesting you can only use 2 other items (not counting your cardstock of course) ... These can be a flower, stamp, DP, bling, image ... you choose ... as long as there are 2 items and washi tape you're in for a shout to win a Guest Design spot at City Crafter!

I went quite simple with my card ... using patterned cardstock


The purple tissue tape I made myself with a few stamps, some tissue paper and self adhesive backing ... the other tape is a Tim Holtz tape


For my 2 embellishments I gathered a piece of lace to make a flower and added this gorgeous brad which matched my tape perfectly ...
And I cut little strips from my tape to make the sentiment too


This week at City Crafter we have a lady who plays regularly along with our challenges and is a previous winner too .... the Talented Tsukikusa 

I can't wait to see what you all come up with ... and I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of my team have created so I'm off to visit the blog ...

Have yourselves a beautiful day ...
Till soon

~ Ros ~





Monday, August 20, 2012

A Rooster?

Hi ... did you have a good weekend? 
I spent yesterday doing jobs that I kept putting off ... you know ... hemming a few things, taking down curtains and giving them a good wash ... I still have so many things that I should do ... but working up the desire to do them ... that's another matter!

Sometime ago I bought this little spoon/tea bag dish


... and each time I looked at it ... I had the desire to make a card ... I have no idea why .. just sometimes things like that spark something in me ... So that's what I was talking about last week when I said I had to go with my creative idea ... nothing big ... I just needed to get this out my system
  I used a rooster image and  the sunflowers from The Graphics Fairy  



I still can't figure out why I needed to do this ... I mean it's not really 'me' ... is it? And who will I send it to?


Maybe one of my brothers ... it will be his birthday in a couple of months ... kind of an "old rooster" Ha!
The lovely wood look paper is a digital by Gennifer Bursett, the mesh was cut on my cameo and the chicken wire overlay I found on the internet ... and you know ... I somehow really like this whimsical card ...
Yep, there's definitely a crazy side to me ... 

I'll be back tomorrow with my DT project for CCCB ... you've still got a little time to enter this weeks' Fabric challenge too if you wish  

Have a great day

~ Ros ~





Saturday, August 18, 2012

Christmas Sparkle

Hello ... how are you?



I finally got my Christmas card made for the challenge at Jingle Belles ... which happens to be a sketch challenge this time 



... designed by Stephanie ...

Well I played with this and I played with that ... then I found this long forgotten about  piece of handmade paper with stars and dots on ... couldn't imagine why I hadn't used it before ... that was until I tried to cut it ... It was nigh on impossible to cut it in a straight line ... it hated the sewing machine and  virtually swallowed my snail tape! I tell you ... it early ended up in the bin several times!


Don't seem to be having much success with my Christmas cards this year ... but I like the image ... it's a digital from Here ... And the sentiment was rescued from a shop bought card


There's some holiday goodies to be won at Jingle Belles ... so if you want to get a head start on your cards ... now's the time ... 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend

~ Ros ~






Friday, August 17, 2012

Fading Summer ...

Looking out my window today it looks like autumn ... the wind is blowing, the skies are heavy with rain and the flowers and trees are on the turn ...
I haven't seen the usual influx of moths and butterflies this year ... probably due to the enormous amount of rain we've had all summer ... a few bees collecting the last of the pollen are still braving the winds ...
 And at least I can still create my paper butterflies ...

I made this card for friends who celebrated their wedding anniversary last week


Background paper from the lovely Astrid who creates these beauties for free ... along with a tag from Jen Allyson's Vintage Findings


I used some scraps from my ever growing stack to add layering ... and tiny beads for the butterfly bodies with some very fine craft wire for the antennae ... fiddly but worth it
... A little close up


If you click to enlarge you may just see the glitter on the doily and the liquid pearls on the paper
These have to be my favourite butterflies


Creatively, I have an idea in my head at the moment and have to follow it through ... is it like that for you?
I know I should be thinking about my card for the challenge at Jingle Belles before time runs out ... but hopefully that will come too ...

Thanks for stopping by ...

Have a beautiful day

~ Ros ~






Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Life's a Circus

Hi there 
I'm here to share my DT project for this weeks challenge at 
Jan has set the challenge of Fair or Carnival ... though I guess my project looks more circus Lol!

Here's your inspiration photo


... and this is my interpretation


I took inspiration from those little tents ... they always seem to have "step right up" alongside the stalls so I printed this ticket from Silhouette America and the little elephant too


The thing is my sweet friend Jan sent me a whole box of lovely things a while back and amongst them was the "Life's a Circus" stamp and I couldn't resist using it with this card ... It just seemed right ... plus it's kinda how I'm feeling right now ... 


Once again my lovely team mates have outdone themselves with their gorgeous creations ... I hope you will take a moment to stop by the blog and check them out ... Jan is our featured designer this week using digitals from our sponsor THATB

So do you like carnivals? ... I used to love the fairground when I was young ... the smells, the music, the squeals and the laughter  .... 
I hope you can find time to join us this week ... we'd love to see your creations

Have a lovely day

~ Ros ~




Tuesday, August 14, 2012

City Crafter Challenge

The days and weeks are flying by ... Here we are ... Tuesday already and time for another challenge at City Crafter Challenge Blog ... hosted for us this week by Cheryl 
Cheryl has chosen ... "That's a Fabrication" ... to use Fabric as part of our project


I had a little 4 draw box that I bought ages ago ... and I really should have photographed it BEFORE I altered it ... so sorry ... I just got carried away
Anyway that's my project for this week ... an altered box


You may be able to see that originally it was a green and white spot on the outside and pink inside


That was before I covered it in self adhesive fabric from Papermania


The hard part was getting those little handles off ... I re-attached them using brads with buttons glued on


It was a happy coincidence that the paper was also fabric related ... and with a few little extras - 
The large reel and pins from my friend June ... 
The ribbon tape from sweet Jan 
Scissors and small reels I bought from Here
image from Crafty Secrets
and buttons from my stash
It all came together to make a sweet little sewing box


June even put a tiny sewing machine charm on her reel

Now our lovely Cheryl will be taking a blog break from City Crafter and we will REALLY miss her ... But this is a very busy time for her so we send our love and very best wishes for the upcoming family wedding... 
That means this week we will be introducing a brand new member to the team ... I'm sure lots of you will know her from her fabulous work ... Welcome to Charlene Cundy of Expressions of Me

Ok, so now it's over to you ... The team at CCCB have lots more inspiration for you and our Guest Designer this week is our winner from Week 117 Catherine
If you would like a chance to win a Guest Design spot ... just link up your entry before 11. 59 pm (EST)
20th August 



Thanks so much for stopping by 
Have a beautiful day

~ Ros ~