Passion...........................

Red hot variety ????? actually its a challenge over at Passion for Promarkers. Its their first one and as lover of promarkers I was really pleased to find it - thanks to Sarah who I met of ILWS and she is one of their design team - don't think I have ever spoken to a designer before so lucky me!!. Check out her blog as I love the way she always includes the colours...

The challenge was a free for all with colours and sketch so plenty of variety to work with!. I used an Anya image kindly sent to me by Tricia with papers by the Craftwork at a bargain price form the Art shop in Stroud at 25p - and that was the actual price and not the usually halved price reported back to any non crafter who asks!!

I coloured both flower, rectangle nestie scallop & ribbon with the Maroon marker to try to match (the ribbon was a fluorescent pink!). Buckle is SU hodgepodge and brad is I think doodlebug. The larger flower is one I cut out from the papers and simply bent around my fingers.

Lots of pricking and faux stitching - I love doing this and think it works especially with the stitching on the papers . I mentioned before I like to decorate the inside of cards so repeated the image on the inside.
and created a simple frame with charm from my stash for any type of sentiment. Just now wonder who I can give this too!!!

Colours used were

Cool aqua - it rolled at the last minute - so much for being arty!! plus

Skin: Ivory,Blush,DustyPink

Boots: cool grey 1/3/4

Hair/Bag: Sandstone/Cinnamon/Cocoa

I have to go and buy some more markers as typical for the next challenges I have one of the colours but not the both..... a trip to Swindon me thinks as there is a shop there that stocks them.

Off to iron uniform.... well actually to get it out, look at it, and decide that yes it will be fine if a out a heavy book on it all night......

Dog Days

Just wanted to share a non crafty post. Earlier this year I took my DD (on right) & her friend to Westonbirt Arboretum, which is just down the road form where we live. They were hosting an event "Dog Days" and held a regional heat for Scruffs - the crufts equivalent for non pedigree dogs. We took my MIL dog Buster (most of us in the family apart from one, would love a dog - but we have to make do with being nice uncle aunts & cousins to Buster).

Buster is just one and a super licky, friendly, affectionate dog - but not one you could say was blessed in the intelligence department... as these photos testify!

He didn't quite get the idea of dog agility and wee'd on the post after knocking it over! DD took him around so at this point I turned away and disowned him ....

Had to be helped through - and ye they moved the tube for him and yes DD did crawl through to show him ... all he did however was go around to meet her and lick her nose ....

and finally DD jumped but Buster stopped and stayed there. Some owners got asked would their dogs like to join the local agility club ..... guess you can't make out if we where one of them!!!!

And finally me trying to be arty!!

Enjoy the sun

Dilly x

Day Two Of New Me!

Yes, I have been good and made a few cards today - I know the weather has been beautiful but I am really fair skinned and do the white, red , possibly a bit beige then white again. So have spent a few hours in my garage, watching Britain's got talent and playing craft!!. I now have a number of cards that I can do the automatic posting thingy as I know I have a busy time at work next week!.

I have made my Dad (85!) a card in advance & intend putting in a couple of vouchers for his local garden centre and art shop.

I used SU papers & Stamp with brads from stash & its really annoying me that one of the larger green ones is not equally spaced....... And the card is a "double diamond fold that I saw on SCS here

Off now to unpack the weekly shopping that husband has just done....... wish me luck he has got food that we can

1) eat

2) do something with

3) recognise (he buys all the reduced stuff - we had to have spam fritters and asparagus last Sunday for supper!!!!!)

Hugs

I said I was going to be good

And here is my first card for ages!


I have been nicely reminded about the second challenge over here. There are some lovely cards & inspiration and a really lovely colour choice. I went for;

Card: Bordering blue, vanilla, ruby red, sage thingy ( my age I can't remember!) Chocolate chip
Stamp : A rose is a rose
Ink: Versa mark, sage, hunter green, ruby red & cameo coral

I also have a thing about the inside of cards - so had a go at decorating that as well.

The light in the garage isn't too great but the bush just outside is a ready made card holder. I will have be careful later as this bush had really sharp thorns when the berries come on it. Can you tell I'm no gardener as I have no idea what its called only the scratches!

Hope your day is good

A happy crafter I have a space!!!!!!!

Can't quite believe its been that long since I got along to blogging again. To be honest every time I logged on and looked at my fav blogs & site my lack of actually doing anything blog wise was like the "elephant in the room" !

I've found I spend so much time admiring everyone elses creativity and wishing I could think of things that I never get around to doing anything at all. I compulsively ( and yes it is my disease) want, need and buy lots and lots and lots (if huband reading this - all at remarkably affordable/bargain prices), loving rearrange storage boxes, stroke lots of paper that all I end up doing B***er all.

Had gotten so fed up of myself and my excuse of having no crafting space (everything in afore said storage boxes under bed & in former clothes cupboard(charity shopped clothes to make room for craft items....) that I spent a weekend clearing the garage out. After 8 trips to our local dump - (the man at the wood bin asked me if I wanted a cuppa I was that familiar by the end of the day) and a few happy hours therapeutically smashing former flat pack furniture with a hammer that I finally had a space for a very old and bowed desk that could house some of my craft stuff. I could never call it a studio or a craft room. I simply have a desk in my garage but boy oh boy do I feel lucky. Its a space of my own that admittedly is very cold at night (no heating), I do have to clean every time I use as its soooo dusty (A Victorian Cotswold stone wall) and concrete floor and in

winter I know I will have to bring in my card & paper BUT ITS A SPACE :)))))) that I can leave messy if I want. I have only only photo to share at the mo as the rest of the garage was really awful ( I also keep my tumbling & ironing in there as well ) but will pluck up the courage to take a few more later.

On the top are all my ribbons & flowers in good old Ikea glass jars & the wicker basket hides all my SU stamp sets. Hidden as it has somehow filled up over he last couple of months.... not admitting to number but a lot less than my friend & upline Jane!

From the left some of my more used sizzix dies/Nestabilities/Cuttlebug folders. On the the little shelves ( which are as bendy as they look!) which are all SU related and hold my ribbons/brads/Buttons and the last little hole up there is for O&S (odds & sods!)

On the desk itself the blue draws house my clear stamps, some pen markers then my bday prezzie the ink caddy thingy with gaps to fill, some storage boxes with not sure what t do with stuff but need to hide it away things! My tool box, one side SU & the other all my other essentials of the moment and my lovely scor-pal.

I'll "do" the cupboards later as this is really probably too long a post.

Have decided to "do better" and will be back later & more regularly with a card

Have a lovely day

Dilly

A quickie post today from me as have been preparing for an stall at my local school Indulgence Evening. I would love to come away with a workshop booking as haven't held one yet . I don't work near where I live and all my children have either left school or are at senior school

so don't have a great amount of contacts - but here's hoping - I can't keep buying all the SU stuff myself - my family really do need to eat!!!!. I have used Fun & Fast notes set and make up a little handbag box to fit - I sort of made it up as I went along so don't have any measurements to share - if anyone is interested leave me a message and I will do again

I have prepared some flyers to publicise a workshop at my home making this so will hand them out tonight - Again hope I get some interest .

Better go & wish me luck!!

How bad am I????

I have not blogged for ages and this time its not due to work but I have been having real problems with Blogger. I haven't been able to get to all of my "Dashboard" and parts of it have been un editable ( ok not a real word!) and I have no idea why its now working. My technical expertise has been shaking the computer and slamming the lid occasionally (hope no-one from my IT department reads this......)

Whilst I haven't been blogging I have however become a StampinUp demonstrator and am quite excited. I have bought some stuff but am yet to host a workshop - need to find a friend!!. I have also attended some team training down in Fareham last Saturday and it was a great day. Learned lots, met some nice people, laughed lots, and made some lovely stuff. Thanks to Amanda for great organisation.

As part of the day we where given "homework" and this post is my effort!. We have until tomorrow night to submit so I can't believe that I have completed well before a minute to go.... wish the rest of my life was this organised!!!!

We were given Certain Celery, Whisper White & yellow (not sure of the SU colour) card & some of the lovely So Saffron ribbon from the Mini catalogue and were allowed to card one other colour card only. So no embellies or papers ( which was great as I don't possess any...... yet.....!)

I made a tag card and used Brocade Basic stamp set which I substituted in my SU starter pack and I think its a very versatile set and am loving using it

I also used Close to Cocoa , Certain Celery, & More Mustard ink. I really love the way everything co-ordinates & tones so well. This is fab for someone like me who struggles with colour

I enjoyed doing this and was surprised how quickly it was to do - I just hope that I don't get a "D".......

Have a lovely Sunday.

Dillly x