WaltzingMouse ...

Hi everyone ... I hope you are all well

 ... This time next week I will be sitting by a pool on the island of Majorca ... and I have lots to do before then but I took a little time out to make a CAS card for this weeks' challenge at WaltzingMouse based on this sketch 

This card is for a friend ...

I say simple ... but it took ages to stitch those little hearts ... and a few goes too!

I drew two lines behind the hearts and stitched across the lines just to give a little definition ...

I love CAS as much as I love vintage and shabby ... and in most cases .. it takes me just as long to make

Which do you prefer? ... I have also been playing with my new Tim Holtz distress stains ... I'll post a card tomorrow of my first attempt ... 

Have a lovely day ...

till soon

~ Ros ~

Birds of a feather .... CCCB

Good morning ... did you enjoy your day yesterday?? I hope so ...

Today I am back with the new challenge at City Crafter Challenge blog which has been set for us by sweet Kirsty ... and it's "Birds of a Feather" .... which means you can make a card, tag, ATC ... or even a project ... as long as it features something related to birds ... such a lovely challenge and our Guest Designer this week is Nadia a very talented lady ... please check out her blog ...

As always we have a prize on offer and our generous sponsor this week is Linda Nitahara 

Right ... on to the challenge and my project ... (I actually did 2 things) first I altered a birdcage  

This was quick and easy to do ... the cage is in fact a candle holder which only cost a few pounds ...

The flowers on the base are a mix of plastic and material flowers and the main stem of leaves and flowers is actually one of those circle decorations that goes around a candlestick ... I always keep everything like this and when I change my decor ... these things are always put to good use

See what my little robin is guarding? ... yep her nest and eggs (left overs from Easter and some feathers in there for good measure) ...

The nest and base flowers have been glued into place... as has the robin and the top arrangement is held in place with fine craft wire ... 

Next I made a card ...

MF Papers for the background ... the bird is a digital from Vinnie Pearce ... printed and fussy cut ... the tag is made from another digital image from Etsy ... ribbons lace and roses from my stash 

That paper even has a birdie poem on it ... tweet!

I really enjoyed this challenge (Thanks Kirsty) ... and I hope I have given you some inspiration ... hop over to the blog for more eye candy ... and come and join us this week 

Have a great day

Till soon

~ Ros ~ 

Jingle Belles Card 27 ...

Good morning ...

It's a beautiful hot and sunny day here in the UK ... I know it's not set to last but we are enjoying it whilst we can ...

I have my 27th card completed for the Jingle Belles challenge which this week is all about Stars and Stripes ... because of course you lovely people from the USA are celebrating Independence Day... so 

HAPPY 4TH JULY!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful fun filled day ... 

This week we can either use stars or stripes or both ... I went with both ...

The papers I think are Papermania ... I'm not sure ... the little deer is Websters Pages (digital) ... printed and fussy cut together with a vintage image from the web ...  ribbon, wooden glittery star, twine and paper lace are from my stash ...

I'm off to Pilates now ... so have yourselves a happy day ... each day should be a celebration don't you think?

Keep safe

~ Ros ~

Dress for the Tea Room ....

Hello sweet friends ...

Thanks so much for your prayers and wishes for my previous post ... sometimes life is hard but no one ever said it would be easy did they? And God doesn't give explanations ... only promises ...

I had a busy day yesterday preparing for my club ... decided we would make little albums so I cut and prepared 20 albums ... sorted lots embellishments and cut lots of papers ... It took most of the day and then I sorted my bag out ... the one I use to carry all the things to club ... I found that someone had put an open glue in there and it took me ages to tidy and clean everything ... they like to be helpful bless them ... so it was no hardship ... unfortunately due to a day of strikes here ... a lot of the members in residential homes couldn't come ... no buses to pick them up and no support workers ... but those that did come had a wonderful time and made some beautiful albums ...

I finally found some time to create a card just because ... and I see that the Shabby Tea Room have a challenge using your favourite papers and embellishments ... so I think this qualifies for that ... I adore Melissa Frances papers and thanks to Stella I have a pad of them which is now slowly diminishing ...

So here is my little creation ...

When I saw these little ballerinas ... I knew I wanted to make a dress ... like ballerinas wear ... soft and floaty ... as a child I always wanted one of these ...  I love soft materials, sparkles and lace .. I stamped the dress form from a stamp set by Crafty Secrets ... paper pieced the top using MF paper ... and made a skirt with some sequined organza ... I love to add stitching to my projects and that is there too .... even on the dress bodice 

The little rose I made from some pretty soft pink ribbon ... so there we are ... my little creation for today

Have a lovely weekend my friends 

Till soon

~ Ros ~ 

With Sympathy ...

Hello sweet friends ...

I don't seem to have stopped working lately ... my Hubby and I are going away shortly so I had quite a bit of stuff to clear before I go ... DT projects and the like ... and projects for Thursday Club ... I need the break I can tell you ... I have been worrying about my sweet brother who is going through a really rough time ... this has affected his health and sometimes the frustration of not being able to do anything is incredibly draining ... I am using all my teaching of Philosophy to get by ... But last week my brother's friend lost his son ... a tragedy in itself ... but I know it brought back sad memories for my brother who also lost his son ... I made this little card for his friend 

The funeral is today ... my thoughts are with them ...

My heart goes out to them ... and to my brother and SIL and to all of you who have suffered such tragedies

If you have a prayer to spare ... can you offer one for my brother please?

Till soon

~ Ros ~

Happy Mail

Hi There ... 

I have been trying all day to post this ... Blogger has been having an off day I think ... 

Yesterday I got some Happy Mail  ... you may remember that we had a challenge at CCCB for ATC's and anyone who entered could also join in the 'swap' ... we were all given a partner and we then send our ATC plus a vintage gift to our partner ... I was paired with Marion who is popularly known as "Tante Kathe" and Marion won a spotlight award for her beautiful ATC ... so I was thrilled to receive it in the post along with some lovely braid, vintage pictures of pretty ladies, pearls and a beautiful handmade card 

and I promise you ... that little ATC is quite stunning IRL ...

Thank you so much Marion ... I am very grateful ... and thanks to Kirsty for organising this 'Swap'


Have a lovely evening ... 


~ Ros ~