Blood Donation Day

Evening All,

Something a little more serious to blog tonight. I promised I'd pass on this link via my blog today in aid of Blood Donation Day, for someone I worked with whilst still at English Heritage. I know she has a very specific reason to call on everyone to do something amazing and donate and so do I.

Over the years I have sat besides my Mom and Brothers as my Dad has undergone open heart surgery twice and 2 hip replacement operations. All 4 procedures required a lot of blood transfusions to make sure he came back to us from these ordeals. As he, and I, are one of the rarest blood groups in the country I know the fear that there may not be enough blood in reserve to be on hand for him, that even a pint too little could be the difference between everything being ok and something going wrong.

In recent years I have had friends and other relatives who have had to undergo lifesaving surgery and on top of all the concerns that spring to mind there is always that small nagging voice that questions whether there is going to be enough blood on hand for them..... have enough strangers given up an hour of their time to help save a life?

Last week I went to give blood at my local session, as I have done ever since I turned 17. I didn't have an appointment - I just walked in to the session and told that there was nearly an hours wait. I didn't mind, it was gratifying to see so many people trying to do their bit. I was disheartened though, about half an hour later, when a young lady declared loudly (after hearing the waiting time) 'I have better things to do then wait for you lot, this is the last time I try to help' and leaving. Don't be that person, don't think that an hour of your time to give a pint of blood is a waste - it isn't!

It's a horrifying statistic that only 4% of the population provides blood for the rest. There are only so many lives that blood can help.

What about those who don't get the blood they need? What about their families?

Take a minute a think. Could you give blood? are you over 17 and healthy? Have you ever thought it's something you'd like to do but had never looked into it further? if so, please take a look at either the Give Blood or Scotblood today, now. Don't put it off. Make an appointment and go.

Please.

Someone like you ensured that I still have a dad today.

Do something amazing. Give Blood.

Thank you.

Crafty Catz - Embossing Challenge

Morning all, is anyone else looking out the window and asking why it has to rain during the day - can't it come over night when I don't have to walk anywhere? Anyway, before I go and get soaked on my way to work I thought I'd share this card with you. I am entering this into Crafty Catz challenge of embossing.

The theme was chosen as a membership challenge entry for my craft magazine - the challenge was to make a wedding invitation (anyone think that everyone has the royal wedding on their minds?)

The hearts are hand cut, the sentiment printed on the computer. The card is all from stock and the gems are from a bag of random bits I picked up at a car boot once. The ribbon is all from stash as are the gems. The embossing folder is a cuttlebug one called  flourishes.

That's everything, thanks for looking and happy crafting x

Quick Card of Thanks

Evening all,  I just wanted to share with you this card I made to send a note of thanks to the team i've had to sadly leave at English Heritage. I was working in the designation team, where we look at buildings for listing and I wanted to make something simple that kind of reflected that and this is what I came up with.

The map in the middle has been layered and then covered with Clear Gloss; I added a couple of small gems and some boarder peel offs in silver to finish the look.

Thanks for looking x

Double Challenge Card

Afternoon Folks! here's another challenge card - can't you tell I've had a week off between jobs? lol! This time the card is for Lili of the Valley who wanted Spring and Sketch N Stash who provided this layout:

The papers are old scraps from a freebie pad, which is much neglected and the flowers are new stash for me. The image is coloured with Promarkers and theres lots of Stickles glitter.

Not actually sure if I like this card or not, think I've been staring at if for to long - thoughts?

Have a good day and happy crafting

Sketch Saturday Challenge Card

And here's another one! this time its for Sketch Saturdays Challenge

This was the perfect excuse to use my new LOTV stamp - and isn't it fabulous? I just adore these little guys! The image is coloured with watercolour pencils and all the papers are from Papermania's pad called Little Cake shop - perfect for this card I think.

I loved making this card, think the layout is brilliant so keep your eye's peeled as I expect this one will appear again soon

Thanks for looking and happy crafting x

Easter Project

Hello again, is everyone looking forward to easter and all that possible chocolate? I know I am!

This project has been inspired by a Spoon Full of Sugar's challenge this week of an Easter Project. Now, I don't know about anyone else but I love making something a little bit different to present my easter gifts in, especially a Cream Egg. And this year, these little cuties are going to be joining the baskets of gifts, I hope you like them!

The pattern has come from a papercraft magazine which I have, as usual tweeked until I was happy with it. The card, paper and ribbon is all from stash.

Thanks for looking!

One for a Special Lady

Morning all! has anyone else been having issues with blogger recently? i've not been able to create a new post for the last couple of days - hence why this is the first of several today!

Anyway, as we all know - Mothering Sunday is this weekend and although I've already made my Mother's day card (see post below) I was asked to make another one for a friend. She wanted it simple, with a flower on it.......so this is what I came up with:

 

The papers are all scaps that I've had for a while. I think the spotty orange came from a pad I got with a cardmaking magazine. The Sunflower is a new stamp I treated myself to and is by papermania and is the same idea as my build a butterfly stamp. the image is coloured with Promarkers and the ribbon is from stash. The sentiment comes from the same pack as the sunflower.

I hope you like it, my friend loved it and hopefully so will her mum - I think it's quite affective, so I'll be making another one to go into store.

I'm entering this card into Creative Inspirations and Allsorts challenges this week, who both have a mother's day theme.

Thanks for looking! happy crafting x