Happy Easter

The only Easter cards I make are for the grandchildren, so I can slip some money inside to buy chocolate! 

It’s easier than trying to post Easter eggs.

So we have four very similar cards made using up some of my 6x6 papers.  The sentiment was computer generated and printed to match the mats (or as close s I could get). The top two went to the two boys and the bottom two to Roy’s grand nieces.

Pop out card!

I recently had to make a quick card for Roy's great-niece who was just about to be three when she came to our wedding. I had some perfect girly paper from a pad that I had won some time ago, with fairies, princesses and castles, which doesn't get used much as I have all boys!  One sheet of paper for the card front. Then I found some snippets of pale pink card to diecut the letters and number for the front of the card.

For the inside I found a larger snippet and used a SU die for the inside. In case you can't quite see it, it says Happy Birthday

I'm popping over to the Playground with this as snippets have been used. Wonder how the Christmas preparations are going there? 

Lilies

There's not been much card making going on here recently as I have been doing some art workshops and I have so much stuff out there's little room left. So I thought I'd show you some of the pictures I've done - well only the ones that are fit to be seen!

This one was a workshop arranged by Unison Pastels and led by Cathy Pearce. It was only my second time using soft pastels which I love, even though they can be incredibly messy.

In fact I thought I was going to have to buy a new bedroom carpet when I did this one!. The bright orange pastel crumbled and unbeknown to me a tiny bit had got onto my sandals underneath the sole of my foot. Later when I went to shower I walked across a pale green carpet in bare feet - leaving bright orange footprints.Fortunately I managed to get it off with soapy water as I don't think Roy would have been impressed. He did like the picture though and it is now framed and hanging on our bedroom wall.

Australia - Cairns and The Great Barier Reef

 Next stop was Cairns and I have to say it was the town I liked best. Many years ago I had a penfriend in Australia who moved to Cairns when she got married to a doctor. Unfortunately we lost contact years ago and I can't even remember her surname so was unable to look her up. I did meet her in 1970 when she was travelling round Europe and was staying in Ealing. So Jeanette if you should happen to be reading this - get in touch!

 

 View from hotel.

 

Bats flying at dusk and if you enlarge the picture you will see the crescent moon - not like ours at left or right but at the bottom - looked very strange!

Birds in the zoo which is in the dome of the Casino!

 Then a trip to The Great barrier Reef  - this is the pontoon we were on for the day.

 Fishes through the window and Roy snorkelling!

 Coral from the semi-submersible. Not very easy to get a good picture.

Rudolph Day - February

Goodness these Rudolph Days do seem to come round very quickly! I made this card a while ago fortunately, as I've had no time for crafting this week at all.  Well I could have done some this afternoon as Roy went out with a friend for coffee which gave me a much needed break for an hour or so, but instead of crafting I sat and watched Barbara Gray, something I haven't done since he came out of hospital.

Anyway back to the card which was made from the Simon Says Stamp December monthly kit again. 

Tomorrow I'm off to the Make It show so I expect some goodies will fall into my bag! 

A Happy Post!

Last week the physios treating Roy came to do a home visit with him to see how he managed in the house and what aids he might need. It was a successful visit and he managed quite well. I just need to have a second handrail put in to help him with the stairs. So after a follow up meeting with the doctor and other medical staff he's coming home tomorrow!!!

I've been busy making a thank you card for the team which I'll show another day. But thought I'd post another card I made some time ago when I first got the Crazy Bird stamps.

 I coloured him with Spectrum Noir pencils then fussy cut him out( I didn't have the dies then) and mounted him onto some blue backing paper. It doesn't show up very well in the photo but the smile diecut and mat are yellow. As snippets were use I'm going to head over to the Playground to see what's going on there. I've been away too long.

Thank you!

The lovely Darnell has taken the fantastic initiative of organising a blog hop to thank Di who recently celebrated her SEVENTH anniversary as Headmistress of Pixie's Playground, having taken over the beginning of 2012 from the lovely Jules! That's an enormous accomplishment! Not only that, but in addition to the linky for each challenge, Di also offers a generous prize out-of-pocket!

 I have managed to produce a card - in between sneezes, using a die that I won in the Playground.

Not a very good photo I'm afraid. The light is not very good as it is currently snowing again. It wasn't much fun having to go out first thing this morning in it either, but had no choice as Roy had a hospital appointment to see about cataract surgery, and didn't want to put it off. The main roads were OK but our little close wasn't!

The Cruise continued

Next port of call was Arendal, a very pretty place.

We had just docked and were having breakfast when out of the window I saw all these girls appear. They were forma local school and proceeded to give us a delightful welcome by dancing (in the rain) to music from Frozen. I quickly popped out of the restaurant onto deck to get some photos.

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After breakfasr we headed into town and a visit to another church,

Both the churches we visited had these ships suspended from the ceiling and are apparently called votive ships.

fter leaving Arendal we sailed Hardangerfjord  to the waterfall Furebergfossen.

 Next stop was the small town of Eidfjord.

Unfortunately Roy was suffering from the nasty virus so stayed in the cabin. I had a walk around  before visiting the tourist office to claim tax back on our purchases, and came across a row of knitted trees! Apparently when they first appeared they were so popular that they have been replaced every year.

 Our last day was cruising in Lysefjord which was truly spectacular. The photos really don't do it justice.

Next post will be back to crafting.

Another Quick Update!

Still on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. On Saturday Roy's temperature had soared again and he was very muddled and incoherent. Yesterday was better, his temperature had dropped and he was able to speak coherently. Today the hospital had got him out of bed to sit in a chair for a while - although he cannot stand by himself yet - but it must have tired him out as he slept for the whole hour and a half that Fiona and I were there. She has gone home now so I'll be on my own tomorrow - think I'll take a book just in case he's asleep again.
 

Last of the Christmas Cards

It's been a while since I blogged - I blame all this Christmas preparation. The cakes are made, marzipanned and iced, mince pies made, decorations up, a ridiculous amount of shopping done, not a spare inch in the fridge! So time to blog the last of this years Christmas cards.

First off I made a one layer card for the LIM challenge last week but never got round to blogging it or entering the challenge. I used a Clarity stamp, stamped and embossed with white.

 So I adapted it as I wasn't too fond of it as an OLC and gave it a white base, much better I think.

Next up two stepper cards for my grandsons. The toppers were some old Kanban ones from my stash.

Two more cards for Roy's great-nieces, again using some old decoupage sheets and another Kanban topper.

Some tags for all the presents. I can't take credit for the design as they are shamelessly cased from HERE

Next I made seven cards all simiLar for members of the card group I belong to.

I have to say I think these were among my favourites for this year, alongside these ones.

And finally a card made using the Simon Says Stamp December kit. It arrived very late this month, not sure what the PO had been doing with it! The papers in it are gorgeous and I have a few more cards in mind, ready for next year!

Lots of snippets were used to make the tags, nativity cards and fireplacee cards so Im off to join in the festivities at the Playground where not only is ist Christmas but also Di's fourth anniversary and there are lots of prizes to be won.

So that's it from me till after the big day, all that's left is to wish all my readers and bloggy friends

 A Very Happy Christmas!