My little Valentine project

Hi everyone,
I have reached the finish, well almost. I still have to write the little lovenotes to my DH. I'll get him to write one to me too.
I'll show some pictures from the beginning of the project, well at least when I remembered to.

Remember this is an empty chocolate box, originally black. I painted it white and added some champagne gold colour. Here 's my craft desk. I'm using K&Co paper and some Crafty secret stuff.

Some punched cardstock flowers, card is from Papermania. I used GlimmerMist on the flowers and some of the diecuts.

Here 's the work in progress. I use an old parcel box to spray in, -keeps my bathtub clean now-...

I even sprayed on the lace to make it look old.

The finished box.

Top view with the Cricut cut.

What 's inside; the surprise gift to us as a couple: a tag mini album.

I hope you don't mind me making this quite a long post. Not usually my habbit, so please bare with me.

This is the first page of the tag album. The cartridged used are Plantin Schoolbook and A Child's Year.

Tag 1(back) and 2. The front and back of each tag is decorated. I'll take them off the bookring to be able to photograph them better.

The back of tag 2 has a mini envelope with a little notecard where I will write a lovenote to my DH.

Tag 3 with another diecut.

That' s the back of Tag 3. I painted some Prima flowers gold and glittered them.

Tag 4.

The back of tag 4 with notecard.

Tag 5 with my DH on his bicycle. I stamped a sentiment and gold embossed it, but it didn't come out very well. I used the same stamp on the back of the tag. The stamps are 99p and from G Studio.

The label is also cut with A Child's Year. I forgot to mention that the vintage paper is from Provocraft and comes in a 12x12 stack.

Tag 6 with more stamping and embossing. All the stickers are by Crafty Secrets. The little heart button was mine when I was 3. My mom had knitted a little red cardigan for me and it had a whole row of thes buttons, which I now own thanks to my mom. Keep her in mind 'cause she's back in the hospital for another heart operation.  I love you, mom.

The back of tag 6.

Last Tag 7 with my sweetie.

The end. The little embellishment group on the left are 2 buttons a rose , a leaf and a ribbon attached to a safety pin. I then put everything back together on the bookring.

Thanks for looking and I'm posting this on the BBTB2 blog for a Valentine chalenge with purple and on Flutter By Wednesdays challenge #93 embossing and butterfly, angel and fairies as I 've used it all on my project. Actually my angels are cherubs. Take care everyone. Bye.

First scrapbook pages - summer 2004

Hello,
Got a late shift coming up today plus a ward meeting so got to start a bit earlier then usual. So just this quick post of something I've had for a while.
After so many months, I have finally decided to post my very first holiday layouts. Before I had a real scrapbook album, I used to decorate ordinary photoalbums. I used to stick the photos in or mat them. Decorated with punches and journaling, but I never had the challenge of doing a 12x 12 page. These pages date a few years ago, but they still bring happy memories.

This is the first page of my album. I just used some scraps from a tourist brochure that I picked up on the boat from Zeebrugge, Belgium to Rosyth, Scotland. The title is made with Fimo and I traced with red gel pen our roadtrip.
We took our car over on the boat and I hired an inside cabin, because it was a night trip. It was quite a luxurious cabin with a spacious bathroom, we even had 4 beds. Although it was July, it wasn't really that warm, but we were lucky, on our 16 day trip we had only 2 days rain and then it poured...

Here 2 pictures taken on the boat and again a scrap from a brochure. The paper is K&Co Cut N Paste, actually I had originally made this page on different scrapbook paper that I bought in Belgium, but after moving to the UK, I found prettier ones and ripped the photos of the old sheet. As the years go by I know there's now nice paper available over there too. I added some stamping on the postcard and journalled on the little note. I even kept the boarding ticket and stitched on it.

The morning of our arrival, passing under the Forth Bridge. I used my Cricut for the letters and some little stamps to create a border effect and a journalling tag.. I think they are by Royal & Langnickel and were only 99p.
I might upload the whole album. I quite like the idea of a blog, since my laptop broke down last summer and I lost whatever I had on the C drive. I didn't realise a laptop will only last 6-7 years, especially because I only used mine as a desk computer. Now I'm planning to save everything on an external harddisk and upload more onto my blog.

Sneak peek

Aha, you thought I was gone...
I'm in the middle of a project that I'm creating for the BBTB2 challenge; something for Valentine and something with purple. First I thought "purple for Valentine?"... I do love purple for my clothing but not for Valentine. Oh dear! But then I started digging out some stuff I had lying around and a little light went up...
Aha... So this project is a bit more work then usual, so I give you only a little sneak peek. I can tell you it's a box with something inside... Not telling what is going to be inside yet. Patience....

Although my purple in the picture looks blue, it is in fact real purple combined with lilac to soften it down. Some distressing, some glimmer mist,....lalalalala.... Not telling you anymore, just keep in touch. Ciao.
PS: I 've reloaded the picture in previous post as the background was too blue and didn't do my card justice.

Tons of Fun

What a busy week it has been. First week back to work and I'm already exhausted.
I was glad to have the weekend off and I had tons of fun yesterday making this card. I didn't manage to get a very good picture though. It kept turning out a bit blue in the background, even when I put it in the window. Winterlight... I love these cheeky fellowes. like they had all the honey...

Supplies: Whoop-de-doo from GSD Studio paper, Prima flowers, BG button, rub-on from K&Co Raspberry collection, MS punch, Nesties and my sewing machine. The stamp is woodmounted from Stamps Happen.
I'm off to make something for BBTB2 if I manage, because we're going to go shopping in town too.

Fall in love with me

My first Valentine card for 2010.

I made this one with the valentine cuts from the Cricut "A Child's Year cart, the card + overlay, the girl and dog and the rose heart. I also used some glitter, Stickles and liquid pearls together with some embossing, paper roses, pearls, lace and some inking. The sentiment is from DCWV text paper, punched out with a tag punch from Fiskars.

This time no stamping, just a little scrapcard with limited colours. Loving this cartridge. I hope they 'll do a challenge with this one on BBTB2 soon.

PS: Just noticed they are using the cart on this weeks challenge. It was posted 6 hours earlier than my post. Oh my God! I just used the cut minus the shift key. As I can't find any indication of it having to be the boy and girl cut, I 'm entering mine too. If work and time allows, I might enter a second one this week with the cut everyone seems to have used in the DT. This is fun!
PS2: Entered this one on "A Spoon full of Sugar" challenge too, as you had to have "hearts on your card". Happy Valentine, my dear.

Rock the farm

Hi there,

I've been crafting my Sunday away. Tomorrow is back to work. Managed to shake off the bugs.

I used this cute stamp from TGF, she's fun to colour. I had to use some paper from BG Offbeat, I thought all the pears and apples and turnips worked well with the farm theme. I cut some ducks from the "A childs' Year" cartridge. Some fun designs on there!

I 've used a lot of different craft goodies on this one, I even got out my sewing machine again. Phew!

I kept the inside nice and simple, but added some stitching. All the duckies are layered 3 to 4 times to give them extra dimension. I'm going to upload this one to my TGF Gallery.

Have a nice week!

Butterfly kisses

I'm starting to long for a bit of color and warmth. I know it's not yet spring, but with this exceptional cold weather we 're experiencing, I just yearn for some warm sunshine.
The forecast for Sunday and Monday is more snow, I just hope not for the South of England. Although they say it's less cold when it snows. Hmm... Sorry, I just don't take the cold very well.
I've cheered myself up a bit by making this next card. Just had to use oranges, yellows and greens. Haha!
I've added my card to the Gallery at the Greeting Farm  http://www.thegreetingfarm.com/galleria/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=837
and have joined for their first Saturday Sketch Challenge and on the Flutter by Wednesdays Challenge as you have to make something with "NEW" and butterflies, fairies and angels. Don't have the last 2, so made something with Butterflies.

It's another new Anya stamp from The Greeting Farm -out of my Christmas stocking-, the butterfly and hummingbird are from Artemio -a Belgian breed, hihi-. I forgot to mention the flower and the leaves, also from the same set. I stamped the white cardstock first with different colors of Distress Ink. The butterflies and bird are just stamped in one color and cut out, then I added some glitter and pearls. The rub-ons are from Doodlebug, the patterned paper is from BG Offbeat collection. I've added some Spiced Cider Blingz to the paper roses and some brown polka dot ribbon around the card.
I'm still experimenting with my Copic colouring. I've seen some lovely Manga colouring on You Tube. I wish I could colour that way. It was a girl with a kitten in her arms. Beautifully done!
Something from the homefront; my mom needs to have another coronary op on Monday and I'm already worried sick about her. I can't go over yet. I just pray that she isn't scared and all goes well with her. So terrible that I live so far. I wish I could find a way so she could live with me.

2 Challenges in one

Boy, did I enjoy this one!
I wanted to play on 2 challenges at once. This is my entry for BBTB2 and the Copic Colour Challenge.
Now I just hope I can link them properly.

Supplies: Miss Anya Dressy Greeting Farm stamp, Graphically Speaking cart, Swirl embossing folder Cuttlebug, DCWV Spring Glitter stack, Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist, MS border punches, Carla Craft corner punch, scalloped oval Nestabilities.

3 cute dolly nurses

Hi,
I finished my next set of cards. Made them in notecard size of 9 x 9 cm, so I was happy to make 3 in one go.
The paper is from June Bug by BG, stamps are Crafty Secrets Feeling Yucky and Making Memories Passport. They were fun and easy to make.
Hope you like them.

Maybe another view is better;

Sorry you are ill

Winter is beautiful in it's own way.
I look outside this morning and the frost is in the air, on the trees and bushes, on the ground,... It gives the whole scenery a shabby chic look.
I do love it, although I hate the cold and what it brings. I'm still not 100%, the GP gave me Doxycyclin yesterday, after a week Amoxycillin. Hope that will do the trick. I'm still very short of breath, a lot of coughing and tiredness. I'll be home for another week. I 've already broken my record. I 've not been off work for a week before, usually back after 2-3 days. The last time when I had pneumonia, I was still in Belgium and studying. Seems like in another life...
Yesterday I fiddled this card together, between lying in the sofa and dozing off -was going to watch QVC, scrapbooking with Rosemary Merry-. Didn't see much of it, got a shock when I realised DH had finished work. Enough with the babbel.
This is my interpretation for Kazan's Sketch 43 on 2S4Y.

Supplies: AC and DCWV cardstock, Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Vintage Brand Rosebud ink from Ranger, K&Co paper scrap, Copics, Crafty Secrets Feeling Yucky stamp set, Passport stamp set from Making Memories, Cuttlebug embossing folder and Nestabilities, Xcut large corner rounder punch, white Brilliance ink, vintage blue button, pink buttons from Autumn Leaves, DMC embroidery thread, yellow satin ribbon, card cut with Plantin Schoolbook. I used 3D dots to adhere the little stamped images.
Thanks for looking, hope you enjoy the card. Feel free to leave a comment to tell me what you think.
Have a nice day.

Happy Birthday, my love!

I made a birthday card for my dear man. He's turning 47 on Wednesday. Oh, yeah!

I had to make this very "young" card for him and because he still feels like "the animal" -wink, wink-, it had to be a lion.

I used several carts to get all the cuts. Plantin Schoolbook for the grass and hills and numbers, Doodlecharms for the sun and tree, animal Kingdom for the lion and the sentiments, Graphically Speaking for the clouds.

I used K&Co paper and the Cut'N Paste stack, cardstock is from Papermania and Coordinations. The inside is stamped with Hero Arts sentiment stamps in Midnight Blue. I also distressed a few edges and shapes with Tim Holz inks. I used Woodware scalloped circle punches to create a backdrop on the inside of the card.

I'm quite sure that he will find it funny. I just hope he doesn't peek on my blog before his birthday. Sometimes he will have a look on his job during his break, but I hope this time he'll be playing games with his colleagues.
Love you, my sweetheart.

First Tilda for 2010 - One of a kind

Goodmorning,
I wrestled this little card together. I'm still feeling under the weather, but a least I can sit and do something.
I joined 2 stamps to form a scene. I wanted to keep the colors soft and mellow, so it's turned out with quite some pink and rosey accents.

Supplies: Black Memento ink, Hero Arts sentiment stamp, Storybook cartridge for the frame and swirls, medaillion and heart shapes on the inside of the card, heart punch, Deco Art Metallics Champagne Gold paint, Papermania and American Crafts cardstock, paper from Marianne Design and K&CO, lace is vintage, satin roses and pink bow from stash, paper flowers from Marianne Design, felt and organza flower from Making Memories, pearls from Papermania, pearl and sand Glimmer Mist, Plantin Schoolbook cartridge to cut labels for the sentiment, tea dye Distress ink.

This time I decided to also decorate the inside of the card. I had done so much to the front, I could not leave the inside bare.
I really enjoyed making this one. Hope you like it as much, thanks for looking.

Goodbye 2009

Hello on the last evening of  2009,

We are having a quite time. I 've been struck with pneumonia and this is actually the first day that I manage to do something. I 'm on Amoxicillin 1500mg and I think it's starting to work. Although not at night, I 'm giving my other half sleepless nights. Oh, dear.
I 'll keep this short, just a card and a few of my favourite Christmas decorations.

The stamp is from Stamps Happen, cute little birdies. Maybe you feel stuffed like them now. The frame is cut with Storybook cartridge, some flowers from Marianne Design, paper from K&Co Que Sera Sera, rub-on sentiment from Wild Raspberry. I added some Glimmer Mist and pearls from Papermania, sequins from the Beadshoppe and brads from Making Memories. Colored with Copics and some Distress ink.

These ornaments are from glass and are made in Poland and Germany, only the last one is made in China. I love snowmen and have collected quite a few. It's a shame that they all will have to go in hibernation again. Sigh, until next year. Happy New Year everyone and good health. Yeah...

Below zero

Just another card for you to see, before I leave you to start the Christmas cooking.

I punched a window through the card and now I have a spinning circle. The stamp is Dutch by Marianne Design. I colored with Copics and Shimmerz and added liquid applique and flowersoft for dimension. The sentiments and big snowflake are cut with the Cricut, Graphically Speaking cart.

This is the other view. I wish the punch would have reached further, but it couldn't. I like trying different things so I'll think of something else. Maybe with my Nestabilities next time.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Love Always

I have a little card to share with you.
I love the colors and shine to it.
I started with the Doodlecharms heart shape and the shadow, which I sprayed with Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist and embossed in the Cuttlebug.
Then I used the bird and crown from the Crafty Secrets stamp set and colored with Blingz. The crown is silver embossed.
Then some Prima and Petaloo flowers sprayed with Sand and Pearl Glimmer. Some punched branches and hearts sprayed with Olive Vine and Vintage Pink, some Autumn Leaves's buttons, some Distress ink on the paper and frame edges and a sentiment stamp from Hero Arts.

The papers are Basic Grey Porcelain and MakingMemories Ledger paper.

Just add a blue polka dot satin ribbon, et voila, c'est fini.

Love, love. love it. Thanks for looking.

Two snowfriends

Haha, maybe the last of all my Christmas card makings. Yet I do not know for sure.
Let's see; 2 jolly cards made with the limited edition snowfriends cartridge and some lovely paper from My Minds Eye.

I added a sentiment from the JustRite set and I used Nestabilities to cut out the image part to get a 3D effect. The cardstock is from American Crafts and Coordinations.

On this little man I added the mouth with black gel pen. I also used Martha Stewart border punches and some ribbon.

Hope you like it. I 'm off to bed, it was my first day back to work and I didn't sleep very well the night before. Woke up at 2 am with a drilling headache and I didn't manage to fall asleep again after the painkillers. I'm worrying way to much about my work, a good thing I've got my hobby.

Collecting Sea Shells

So I fancied something different to making Christmas cards. Although I've got 2 more snowmen cards to show, I needed a break from all the wintery stuff. I bought this sweet stamp from Hobbycraft on Friday, but only managed to finish the card now. As my mom is here, she too wanted to try her hand at making a card. Only, she needs a lot of help because of artritis in her hands and she can't decide. Too overwhelmed by the pretty papers and colors etc...LOL.

Supplies: Paper Bonbon Doodlebug boutique assortment, MakingMemories Ledger paper, Coordinations blue card, American Crafts white card, Prima flowers and pearls, John Lewis's lace, rose from stash, Storybook for the frame and Stretch your imagination cartridge for the shells, Copics, Nestabilities circle die, Stickles Star Dust, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl, Sand, Creme de Chocolat, Distress Ink in Tea Dye.

The inside of the card is decorated with Doodlebug paper and Martha Stewart Doily lace punch and some sea shells. The little girl stamp is from Stamps Happen.
Thank you for looking and have a good week.

Merry Christmas with A Child's Year

Goodmorning,
What a frosty start of the day. Black ice everywhere. Tricky business to get the shopping done, but it's back to work tomorrow, so it's got to be done.
I made a card with the "a Child's Year" cartridge and it's another one for Christmas.

Supplies: My Mind's Eye paper, Coordinations cardstock, corner punch from supply, 3D foam pads, Anita's silver outline sticker.

A Christmas card for my sister

Sad news; Borders is in administration. Our favourite bookstore. That's where I get my American Craft magazines from. It's a shame. All we have left is Waterstones and they don't do mags. WHSmith does Cards and Scrapbook trends, but it's not the same. Borders also had Martha Stewart magazines and other American home decor mags. I will miss them. My DH was really down when he discovered the news. No more browsing in the guitar mags for him. Poor man.
I 've got some new cartridges. One is A Child's Year and although I find the images beautiful, it is quite a challenge to use as they are just silhouettes. I decided to make a large card for my sis. Hope she will like it.

I used chalks and Shimmerz to colour the image. The white cardstock is from American Crafts and is really good quality. The stamp is from JustRite, I used Nestabilities to cut it out. The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye. I also used Swiss dots embossing folder an Martha stewart Doily lace punch. The pink ribbon is from Paperchase.

I sprayed Pearl Glimmer Mist over the top to make it shine and afix the chalk, which really worked. I tried to give them eyes too. Don't think that worked out like I wanted it. I used 3-D dots to adhere the image to the base. And off they go, rumpapapum, rumpapa rum,...

Happy Birthday cards

Hi,
I'm back. My, what a cold day! Just been to town with mum so she could by herself some new clothes. What a chore. she's got such a small size -even 8 is to big-, it's so difficult to find anything that fits.
Well we're back in the warmth again.

Let's show you 2 cards I made for my stash. I used A Child's Year cart for the coffee cup die. I cut it in white card and coloured it with Sand and Creme de Chocolat Glimmer Mist.

I used DCWV paper, Inkadinkado stamps, felt, paper and organza flowers, velvet ribbon and flower brad from MakingMemories, white flower from Hero Arts, Copic markers, Liquid Pearls and Stickles, Nestabilities, organza ribbon from Joy! Crafts.

Baby, it's cold outside

Hello again,

I know, it's been a while. Work is getting more and more stressfull.
We still can't find the staff. I had the job offer on my blog, but took it down after some time. After all, it is a hobby blog and it is up to Fresenius to do the right thing to recruit.
But I will mention it again, might be someone out there desperate for a job. Although I hope all of you are fine. This is not really a time you want to be job hunting. Any RN's after full-time or part-time employment and you want to try something new or you have renal background? Contact me, leave a comment under this post. I will get back to you. Our nurses will provide you training and mentoring on the job, I am a nurse and mentor myself. My unit is Chandlers Ford dialysis unit and you can also check it on the Fresenius careers website http://www.freseniuscareers.co.uk/jobs/workingforus.aspx.
I will be more than happy to answer your questions here if you like.

On to my cards now. I've got another Christmas one. I used a lot of glimmer and shimmer, it's Christmas at last. I made this square card and a little gift card holder.

Supplies: Whiff of Joy stamp, patterned paper from Search Press, cardstock from Coordinations, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Shimmerz and Blingz, Stickles and Glitz it! glitter, Sakura gelpens, Prima and Hero Arts flowers, Making Memories brad, Nestabilities, Graphically Speaking cart for the Cricut, ribbon from Joy! Crafts.

I have one week annual leave and my mother has come over to stay with us until Boxing Day. It will be nice to spend Christmas together at last. It's been a few years since we've had that.

Today we had our first snow of the year. It didn't stay, but it was fun to see.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. I'll be posting more, so stay tuned.

Brrr...

Hi there,

The first of December and we wake up to a really frosty morning. I have a card to match the weather.

Supplies: K&Co paper, Tim Holz Distress ink pads in 6 colors -the only ones I have-, waterbrush, Nestabilities, Cricut Graphically Speaking cart for the snowflakes and the sentiment, Prima Hortensia, Basic Grey brad, Making Memories ribbon, Glitz It glitter, Stickles, Mint Shimmerz, Flowersoft, McGill punch, Martha Stewart border punch, stamp is Snoesjes by Marianne Design, ink: Memento.

The whole image was colored just using distress ink pads and a waterbrush. Although I have only 6 colors, I think the result turned out great. On the close up you can see that I also colored the sentiment with the ink and glittered it.
Thanks for visiting, have a nice day.