Just one to share

Hi Everyone!

I'm such a bad blogger at the moment I know - forgive me? It's been a very stressful 6 weeks or so since I moved back from Bristol to home. I started my new job and then we went into a run of 21 days without a break (thanks to all the bank holidays) with lots of activities and entertainments at the historic property I work at. So between that and still looking for a permenant job i've been exhausted and spent more nights then I care to think of laid up with a headache.

However, I did finally get round to making a couple of cards in the last week I thought I'd share. The first is this one, I love this little guy and so glad I finally got him on a trip for some supplies on Monday. I've made this card really simple as I wanted to let the image speak.

 

I kept this card really simple and only mounted him once on pale brown paper stock and added a couple of candy pips top and bottom. The image is watercoloured.

I made this for an old work friend whose moving into a new house (rented) with a friend, so I felt a 'New Home' card wasn't 100% accurate or appropriate so the inside of this card reads I hope your new abode treats you well and that many happy hours of laughter, love and friendship are made and remembered here'.

Well as i'm not up to speed on any challenge blogs at the moment, this isn't being entered for anything - I just thought I'd share.

I'll be back later in the week with the other cards, I just need to finish mounting them and taking photos!

Take care and happy crafting xx

PLEASE READ!

Morning all,

Just a quick post to share some very upsetting news with you all and I do this because in all likelihood you could be affected too.

There are a number of individuals who are trying to profit from your creativity and breaching your intellectual copyright! how are they doing this you ask? simple - they are selling CD's with card designs which have been taken directly from blogs and google searches - in some cases they've even left the watermarks on them and they're still trying to claim that all the work on there is their own!

 Docrafters are setting up a forum for people to post if they've had a card copied. Aparently this person has done this before. She told a docraft forum member that she has permission from the card makers to use the photos!!!

I found out about the issue via Mo's Digital Facebook Page so please go read more over there and if you feel as strongly as I do that someone is profiting from your creativity then please sign up here and if you see any of these types of CD's on ebay - report them!

This is theft - pure and simple and it shouldn't be allowed to slide!

Crafters are kind people who are happy to share and inspire others - which is how it should be, but no-one should be making money off our goodwill.

I hope you'll all help to close these schemes down.

Thanks

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