It's been a while ......

Good morning everyone,

Yes, it's me ....... I know it's been a while since my last blog post.  Just in case you were thinking I'd given up, closed the craft room door, covered myself in SPF 30 and taken to a sun lounger in the garden (if only!!!!),the answer is no, I haven't.  Tempting as that sounds, I'm afraid I've not had much time for sun worshipping, although I must confess I did spend a couple of hours yesterday in the garden (in the shade of course).  I had the laptop with me, and I was working.
The reason for my absence is ..... I've been writing up 'Step by Steps', lots of them, and now my head hurts!!! There's a batch been done for some of my Indigo Blu Christmas samples, and I've also been busy doing some for one of the sets of Wedding Stationary I made for Kay's Indigo Blu Wedding show on Create and Craft, back in May this year.  Hopefully they will be going into one of the C&C Club Members Magazines ....... ooh!

It's hard work writing instructions, trying to keep things simple.  You know me, I can go on a bit  .......why use four or five words, when you can use twelve, or more!  Anyhow, each set includes pictures as well as words, and each of them have been followed and the cards etc. made, so yes, the Step by Steps do work!  Just one more to go and then they're all finished - yeah!!

I had to take a break though and make some birthday cards.  Bit of a last minute thing, which is nothing new for me!
Actually, I did say I wasn't going to make any cards for this particular birthday boy, but in the end I weakened.  Well, just because he forgot MY birthday, (for a couple of hours anyway) and I DIDN'T get a birthday card ............ I shouldn't hold it against him.   Two wrongs don't make a right and all that.

So ........... Happy Birthday Hubby!!

Nothing fancy I'm afraid...... but hey, at least he's got a card.

The image is from an SU stamp set, from last year, called Feeling Sentimental, and the words are from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Classics #5.  This saying is so true.  I don't think Stephen will ever stop playing,  he's always said he's never going to grow up - bless him!

Not only did I make one card, I made two ........

Again, quick and easy, but it says it all. 
The image is from Penny Black, the stamped words are SU again, and the word 'Dad' has been cut out of paper pieces, from my overflowing 'bit box', using the Tim Holtz Wordplay Die.  The 'd's' are actually 'b's' reversed, they looked better :)

So, the Birthday Boy has had breakfast in bed (just like every other morning), 2 handmade birthday cards, and, we're off out this evening, to one of the top restaurants on the island for dinner. Can't be bad!
No pressie though ........ shame on me!  Well, he can't decide what he wants. What do you get the guy that has everything?  A new computer has been mentioned so I think I'll leave that up to him to sort out.

Well, that's got Wednesday off to a good start.  Back to the craft room now, it's my day to post on the Indigo Blu DT blog, so its time to put the old thinking cap on.   Check it out later to see what I've been up to.

Thanks for popping by, enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

5 days in a row!

Yeah! It's Friday..........

Hi everyone, are you looking forward to the weekend?
I couldn't let today go by without a post,  although I was beginning to wonder what I could put in it. 
I've been struggling to find time to do anything for this weeks Less is More Challenge, but something finally came together.  More luck than anything!

Why are LIM designs so hard to come up with sometimes?  This week wasn't easy at all.
It's Week 86 and it's a RECIPE challenge..........
                           Take 3 Challenges
That means we have to combine 3 past challenges to come up with this weeks design. Hmmm....

I decided I wasn't picking my challenge themes first (because I couldn't decide which ones), I was just going to do something and then see which ones it fit in with - if any.
Luckily there's a few I could go for .....

My 3 are ....
Week 59    Masking
Week 81    Tearing (sort of ...)
Week 76    One Layer - use 3 of something  I've used 3 colours Vintage Sepia and Onyx Black Versafine ink, and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.

I could also have .....
Week 58    Script
Week 7      Masculine
Week 72    Something Shiny (binoculars are glazed with Glossy Accents)

I knew which stamp I wanted to use so that was a start.  It's the 'Torn Paper Window'  from Stampendous.

I found it again when I was looking for something the other week.  It's been in a box for years, and never been stamped! (poor thing).  So I took it and put it on my desk where I could see it.  Finally, this morning it made friends with an ink pad!

I stamped the image in the centre of a 6x6 card using the Vintage Sepia ink.  I made a mask to cover it and over stamped with the Indigo Blu script from 'Sarah's Choice'.  I then made another mask, this time just cutting out the bits that were torn and folded back.  I coloured these using the Tumbled Glass DI and overstamped with one of the clear Hero Arts Dictionary Greetings (the 'Hello' one), this time in the black ink.
Next I made another mask, cutting out the centre only.  Then I spent the next hour or so looking for something to go in the 'torn' space.  In the end the small 'I Spy' stamp from the Indigo Blu 'Grand Tour I' set fit perfectly.  I added a little bit of pale blue colour just behind him and glazed his binocular lenses with Glossy Accents.

I couldn't decide on a sentiment, so in the end just one word was enough.
Another masculine project from me - that's 2 in a row!  Very stange, I don't normally do MEN things.
I just need to upload it onto the LIM site now - the deadline is creeping up fast.

Any of you off to Happy Stampers NW Craft Show at Port Sunlight tomorrow?  If so, enjoy yourselves.  Don't spend too much though, remember there's Harrogate next weekend.  I'm so jealous, as I'm not going to either show (very sad face!!).  Never mind eh!  There's always Birmingham in November.

We are busy tomorrow though, we're entering the Poker Stars Treasure Hunt, which should be fun.  We did this last year, just after we moved to the island, and we came 3rd.  We didn't think this was bad as we'd only been over here a few weeks and knew nothing about the place.  We're going to be aiming higher this year, so wish us luck!

Hope you all have a great weekend, whatever you're up to.
Thanks for popping by.

Linda

x

Happy Birthday Dad!

Morning folks,
Friday again.   The weeks are just flying by!  I'm looking forward to the weekend though, nothing planned this week (makes a change) so we're just going to see what happens.

It's Stephen's Dad's birthday today - Happy Birthday Dad! (don't think he reads my Blog, but you never know, so I'll say it just in case!).
Now you know I don't make a lot of MEN cards - they always prove a bit of a challenge.  So I couldn't exactly go to my card supply and pull one out ready to go in the post.  I had to get my thinking cap on, put aside my pink inks, ribbons and lace (oh no!) and make one.
Here it is .......

Indigo Blu does it again!  I love these stamps, they're great for mens cards.  I used 'Take the Time' (my favourite, favourite set!) for the pocket watch and the cogs (both embossed),  'Grand Tour I' for the air ship (coloured with Distress markers),  Map - background for one of the layers, and the splodge from 'Yorkshire Evening Post' on the backgorund paper.  This is one of those really useful stamps to have in your collection, it's great for backgrounds, or adding that distressed, aged look to a project - I love it!
I used papers from the gorgeous 12x12 Ledger Pad by Prima (the brown square is from my bit box - not sure where that came from), the Weathered Clock, and the wings on the pocketwatch (Tim Holtz Sizzix dies) are cut from Kraft-core cardstock.
The picture isn't brilliant - sorry about that.   The lighting is rubbish in our house, but as I wanted to get the card written and in an envelope ready to go, it was taken about midnight.  Anyway, you can just make out some 'Fran-tage' embossing on there. (If you click on the picture you can see it a little bit better).   This is my current obsession, so no doubt you'll be seeing a lot more.

I've had the powders for a while but hadn't really used them.  After watching Fran last week on C& C I decided to get them out again and play. 
This is what I used .......

They're Embossing Enamels, which give a 'shabby chic', vintage, aged look.  They're a little bit different to your normal embossing powders, they're thicker, chunkier crystals mixed in unique colours to give a worn look.  The one I used on Dad's card was the 'Aged Silver'.
The cogs have been stamped in Versamark then Fran-taged.   Then I've just rubbed the Versamark pad along the bottom corner of the brown layer, sprinkled the Fran-tage on top, but didn't brush off the excess, then heated from underneath.  As the powder starts to melt you can add more on top until you're happy with it.  I think it's a fab effect.
I bought the set because I wanted to try a few of the colours (well I couldn't just get the one pot now could I!)  They do come in bigger, individual pots too. Once these have run out (which won't be long the rate I'm going) I shall be restocking my favourites and more.
I bought mine from The Stamp Man.  It's a great little craft store, fab service too.  They also have FREE P&P on orders over £20, even to the Isle of Man! 
They stock the full Fran-tage range, all the glitters and fragments too - gorgeous!  They also have some fabulous stamps on there, why not take a look.

Speaking of deliveries to the IOM, look what my lovely Postie brought me this morning ......

oooh .......  a box from 'Art From the Heart'.  What could possibly be in there .....

...... my first pieces of the yummy new Christmas Idea-ology from the King of Distress - Tim Holtz!  Can't wait to play with those trees.  I've got my hands on the new Metallic Distress Stains too, and the glitter.  Exciting or what! Just need the new Alterations dies now, and the paper stash, and the trinkets, and the chit chat and ......... best leave it at that I think!
There was also the Daily QVC Delivery (as my other half likes to call them!).  This isn't exactly true anymore, I was the QVC Queen at one point but I don't shop with them that often now.

I do still have to have my skin care fix every now and again.  Well, I need all the help I can get!

On that note I'll say Cheerio!
Thank you so much for popping by, and thanks for all your lovely comments this week.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Crafty hugs from a rather breezy Isle of Man

Linda

x

Thank You

Good morning,
And what a lovely morning it is here on the Isle of Man.  We have blue skies and sunshine - for now!
I'd like to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who regularly reads my blog posts.  I can't quite believe it but as of this week  I've had over 10,000 pageviews on here.  I'm so pleased.
I only started blogging back in January this year, and when I started I had no idea how many people would want to read it, if any, let alone become Followers.  It's great to have you all on board and be able to share my crafting journey with you.  I love reading all the comments you leave, you're all very kind.  I try to visit each and every one of you at some point,  as it's nice to see what you're up to, you're all such a talented bunch!

Today's post is another short and sweet one I'm afraid.  I have a confession to make ....... I haven't been in my craft room since Tuesday, and that was only to tidy my ribbons (not doing that again for a while, it took all afternoon!).  I've been a little busy with Mr Grey - yes, I'm afraid I'm one of the many that's reading this 'naughty' book - well, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I must say I can't put it down.  Even the call of new craft products arriving with each mornings post doesn't have any effect (must be a good book!!).

I do have a card to share with you today. It's another birthday card that I made for my other half.  Again, it was a last minute thing so nothing too complicated  ........

Not my usual sort of thing, but it was a nice quick and easy card to make.  And it suits Stephen perfectly,  as he used to be a professional Poker player until he got this job in the Isle of Man.  Now he works for the biggest online Poker site, and just plays in casinos for fun - if that's what you can call it!!
I will say that I didn't come up with the original idea, I got this from a website, or possibly a blog, but unfortuantely I can't for the life if me think where.  If anyone knows where the design came from please let me know then I can give credit where it's due.

I said it was short and sweet.  I'm off to help a friend unpack in her new home today, so no craft and no book!
I'm hoping to get back in the craft room tomorrow I have some things I need to get started. 
I will be back later though with some of the full pictures of my DT samples I sent off to Craftwork Cards last week.  They were showcased on the CWC Blog yesterday.  If anyone would like to check them out you'll find them here along with great designs from the rest of the DT.

Must dash, see you all again later,

Linda

x

Happy Birthday!!

Good morning everyone,
Happy Tuesday!  Hope you are well.  I haven't spent much time in the old craft room over the weekend - none in fact.  After the mad dash on Friday to get my PB challenge finished, I needed a break.  I just left the mess, closed the door and forgot about it for the Bank Holiday.  4 days of relaxation, and a marathon 'Fringe'-fest.

US TV series

We parked ourselves infront of the TV and watched a full series and a half to bring us virtually up to date.  Well, Stephen wasn't feeling too good anyway and plus the weather wasn't brilliant so it was the best place to be.
We did have one really nice day - Friday was good, glorious in fact.  We went down to the prom in Douglas to the Continental market that was there over the weekend.  It was so busy because it was such a nice day.  Look how blue the sea looks ......

There were lots of stalls selling food, crafts and stuff.  We spent a fortune, ate too much but had a great time.  Went home with lots of yummy things - cakes, German salami, Greek olives, cheese, nuts ........ you get the idea.
As it was just after lunchtime the Liverpool ferry - the Manannan, was coming into the harbour ....

It looked so nice coming in with the sunshine reflecting off it - makes me want to go across to the UK again though.

Oh no ......  another of my little IOM info posts.
The little castle in the middle of the bay, that you can see in the first picture is called the 'Tower of Refuge'. It's one of the best known landmarks of the Isle of Man, and is built on a small reef known as Conister Rocks (also know as St Mary's Isle).
It was built by Sir William Hillary (founder of the RNLI) after several shipwrecks on the rocks, including the wreck of the St George in 1830, in which he himself was involved in the rescue.  He wanted to create a refuge for survivors, until help could get to them.
The tower was completed in 1832 for a cost of approximately £250, and apparently since building the tower and up to the present day, no more ships have hit Conister Rocks.
There's a special underwater cable that lights up the castle at night during the summer months, and it also flies the RNLI flag. The perfect tribute to the man that made it all happen.
If you want to know more, there's a Wiki page here or the Douglas Lifeboat site has more information here

At certain times of the year the tide is so low that you can actually walk across the beach all the way to the tower.  We missed it last time, but if we get the chance again it's something I'd like to do.

Enough IOM info.  Back to crafty stuff.
I had to venture back into the craft room yesterday, another last minute, but very important card to make.  Yes, it's that time of year again - hubby's birthday!!
He always tells me not to bother with a card, but I couldn't let his special day go by without one could I, everyone else gets a card!!
After tidying up last weeks mess this is what I made for him ...... 

Now you all know how much I love making cards for men ......  well, I really enjoyed doing this one.
I used some of my favourite stamps from Indigo Blu (Grand Tour III and Take the Time) ......
 
got all messy with my Distress Inks, and used metal embellies from my Tim Holtz stash.

 

I decorated the inside too.....

I was really pleased with the finished result, and Stephen liked it too when he opened it this morning.  The good thing about this card is I'm not really giving it away as such am I.  I can sort of keep this one.

Anyway, better be off.  Not much crafting is going to get done today I'm afraid.  I have had a couple of nice packages from my lovely postie which are new crafty goodies, BUT the parcel guy came before him this morning.   He brought me  'Mr Grey' (and his fifty shades).  Well, I was feeling a little bit left out as everyone seems to be reading this book, so I'm going to see what all the fuss is about.

Bye for now.

Have a lovely day

Linda

x

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Happy Thursday! (It was still Wednesday when I started this)
Hopefully this will post ok.  I'm having a little trouble with Blogger at the moment -  gremlins in the system I think.  I can't view my post list, or my comments list.  I can't check out my Blog reading list, all I keep getting are these flippin' error codes when I sign in, and I can't find out what to do with them to put things right - aarrgh!!!  I can do without this right now!!!
I know you guys are reading Wednesday's post because I'm getting emails to tell me you've all left comments. Thank you,  however I can't log in to moderate them so I can't publish anything.  Please keep reading and I promise I will get things sorted asap.

Tonights (or rather this mornings) post is my entry for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge PBSC
It's a colour challenge this week and the theme is .......
 
                          Red, White & Blue!
 
Seeing as it's Father's Day on Sunday and I haven't had chance to make any cards yet I thought I'd do two jobs at once.
Here's the result ........

It's VERY red, white and blue, and I think I may have overdone the faux stitching but I haven't got time to start again!
The little guy with the tie is from a Penny Black clear set called 'Bubbly'.  The sentiment's on the same set too.  He was coloured in with Copic pens, cut out and embossed using the Nestabilities Postage Stamp Die and then inked around the edge with the die still in place, with Paris Dusk and Ladybug Memento inks.  This is a great little technique as the white edge gives the impression of another layer being there.
The papers are from one of my favourite ranges -  Bo Bunny Double Dot.  I have 2 boxes for these, one that's for full 12x12 sheets and one that's full of all the cut off bits.  I hate throwing any of these papers away, even the smallest pieces can come in for something.  I had  a good rummage through and managed to find some bits big enough to give me a nice layout, no need to cut into a full sheet.  They're double sided too, dotty on one side, plain on the other, so you can alternate them to get a nice contrast.  I used the plain sides for the bunting and the thin strips - see I really don't throw any of these papers in the bin!
This card is actually going in the post tomorrow, it's being sent across to the UK to my father-in-law.  I hope he likes it.

Well that's it for tonight, I'm off to bed.  Sorry it's a bit of a short post but I'm absolutely shattered, and it is rather late.  Plus everyone else has gone off to bed and left me on my own - awww!
I have another busy craft day planned tomorrow - more Indigo Blu.  I will post some sneak peeks over the weekend.
I'll also have another go at sorting out my Blog problem tomorrow -   Please continue to leave comments as I get them sent in an email before they go on the Blog.

Thanks for popping by.  See you all tomorrow (or should I say later today)

Night Night!

                                              Linda
                                                 x

edit done 20/6  LATE ADDITION
I thought I'd add this in here as it's a Father's Day card.  Stephen had said he wasn't bothered about a card seeing as I was so busy on the run up to Father's Day but I couldn't not make him one could I.  He was out most of the afternoon on Saturday so I took the opportunity and made this for him ....

It was doing using my Cricut - well I needed all the help I could get, I was frazzled by weekend.  I think the saying is off the Wild Card cartridge, and the papers are my favourite BoBunny Double Dot, and an old print design from Magnolia.  I think he appreciated it when Christopher presented him with it.  He wasn't sure how or when I'd had the time to make it though.  xx

I've done it!!

Happy Friday everyone,
Well the final day of the TT was postponed due to bad weather conditions. This means the weekend is going to be all messed up because they'll now run the race tomorrow - great!
I have things to do tomorrow, I need to go shopping!!  And we have Mike's 40th birthday party to get to in the afternoon.  We have to go - I've made him a card. 
Yes, you heard correct.  I've made the 'man' card.  I've been putting it off all week but finally it's done.  What do you think?

I'm quite proud of it actually.  I don't like doing cards for men they're really hard work (the cards are not easy either - lol!) I'm really pleased how this has turned out though.
I must admit the idea has been there all week.  I knew which stamps I wanted to use and the 'time flies' theme was there, I just wasn't sure what to put with it, what colours to use, do I use papers or not, this is for a guy so I can't put ribbons on there, etc., etc., etc.
Once I sat down and got everything together it didn't take that long.  The longest bit has been waiting for the glossy accents to dry on the clock face.
I made the pocket watch first.  The pieces are Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490 Art Parts.  I love these paper board shapes, there's load of different ones you can get and they're perfect for altering whether it be with inks and paint or just covering them with lovely papers.  The only thing is I don't like giving them away - this guy better know how lucky he is!!
I coloured the pieces with Vintage Photo Distress Re-inker then spritzed the frame quite a bit with Biscotti Perfect Pearls.  The stamps I used were from Indigo Blu - one of my favourite stamp ranges. http://www.indigoblu.com/   Check out their website for all the latest stamp designs and much, much more. 
I used the cogs from the 'Take the Time' set and stamped them on the solid pocket watch and embossed with gold.  Once the pieces were completely dry I joined them both together then added one of the Prima wooden clock faces to the centre, you can still see the cogs in the background.  I then covered the face with a layer of glossy accents and left it to dry.

The wings were cut from chipboard with the Tim Holtz Winged Heart Sizzix die.  I used Distress ink to colour the back of the wings and I covered the front with a layer of Flitter Glu, then dipped them into gilding flakes. There's also a little bit on the edges of the number 40 too.

I love using these but they can get everywhere.  You need to be quite firm when brushing off the excess to get a lovely smooth finish.  I have my flakes in a large container, I find it easier, and you don't waste as much because everything just goes back in.  Ooh,  don't forget to wipe any Flitter Glu off your fingers before sticking them into your tub of flakes.   It's strong stuff  and your fingers will end up covered  too.
The background paper is from the new Journal Pad by Prima, and the stripe is a little piece I found in my bit box.  I think it's from My Mind's Eye, Lost and Found range.  I used the stamps again directly onto the paper, same set as before, and Distress Ink around the eges. 
The little tag on the side actually fits into a pocket and is loose so you can pull it out - there's a birthday message on the back.  I stamped the front with the hot air balloon from the Indigo Blu Grand Tour III set, slightly off the edge, and inked around the edges with Vintage Photo DI.  I dropped a little bit of water onto the ink and blotted with a paper towel to give a 'weathered' look.  I thought this was a good spot for the 40 - well it had to go on somewhere, didn't it.
The lettering and the numbers, were all cut with the new Tim Holtz Die - WordPlay,  and you can see that I've also used his Weathered Clock too.
I even decorated the inside ......

Well it looked a bit plain, plus I needed to put extra card on the back so that it will stand up.  There's quite a lot on the front and I don't want it falling over.
Did you spot that I sneaked a bit of vintage seam binding on the front too - well like I mentioned yesterday most of my cards have to have ribbon on somewhere.  At least it's black - very masculine.
I really hope that Mike likes it.  If he doesn't, I'll have it back!!

In case you hadn't guessed I'm a bit of a Timmie fan.  I'd just like to say that one of my previous Blog posts showing my take on one of his 12 Tags has just had 1000 views!!! April post
This is unbelieveable. I've been watching the numbers all week wondering if it would make it, and it has. (anyone would think I've nothing else to do!)  I'm so pleased.  I would never have thought that so many people, from all over, would want to read what I put on these posts. 
I was lucky enough to be one of the 12 winners for the April Tag, and it's since then that all these views have mounted up.  Thanks to everyone for showing an interest, and to all those that left wonderful comments.  I really do appreciate it. 

Phew!  It's been a busy week this week.  Most of what's on my list has got done.  The rest can carry over to next week.  How much time I'll have though, who knows.  I've had the 'C' word (Christmas) mentioned to me - Oh No!  I'll have to go in search of some Christmas spirit - Ho! Ho! Ho! and all that.

Have a lovely weekend.  Hope the weather's kind to you wherever you are.
See you all next week.

Linda

x

Wine and a little bit of Cake

Good morning everyone,
Here I am again, I've had a busy craft week this week, and it's not over yet!
Just want to share a couple of cards today that I've made and sent to very special friends who have had birthdays this week.  Hopefully, the postman will have kept his side of the bargain and delivered them by now.  If not, I hope they're not reading this!!
First off it was our friend Nick's birthday on Monday.  Now I know I was late posting his card, (Sorry Nick!) what with Easter and all that, but, I hope he's received it by now.
I'm not too keen on making cards for guys, I always struggle to come up with a theme. This one wasn't too bad though.
I'm not saying Nick likes the odd bottle of wine or anything but, Nick likes the odd bottle of wine, or two.  We always have a great time when he and his lovely wife Julie come to visit. Good food (Nick always helps me in the kitchen), great wine (we all like a glass or two) and fabulous company.  We don't see them often enough these days, especially since moving to the Isle of Man.
Anyway, here's the card I made for him

I was going for the vintage look - vintage... wine .... never mind!   I went for deep reds and brown shades with a hint of black for my colour scheme, had to really as I'm a red wine lover, anything Italian. Chianti, Barolo, Amarone, and the recently discoverd Montepulciano (think I've spelled that right!). You can't beat a nice glass of red!
The scrapbooking paper was from a lovely old Prima collection and the stamp is Inkadinkadoo.  I love this stamp as it's one of those that looks different depending on what colour of ink you've used.  This time I used Crimson Red Versafine ink and stamped onto cream card, then embossed with clear powder to give it a bit of a shine.  This doesn't show up in the picture I know, but it is there.  I tore the edges and distressed them with Vintage Photo and Barn Door Distress inks.  The sentiment was done on the computer and inked to match.
The seam binding is from SU (Cherry Cobbler) and there's even a cute little cork knotted on there too. Have to be careful with embellishments on men's cards - can't put bows or flowers!

A little bit of stamping was done on the inside too.  I like to decorate the inside instead of putting an insert in. By adding another layer to the inside I think it helps to balance it a little, so that the card doesn't topple over when they stand it on the mantlepiece - not a good look!

 Happy Birthday Nick, hope you had a great day.

The other card I sent this week was to my good friend Susan, whose birthday was Wednesday.  I was ready for this one, I'd made the card a while ago. I was just a little late in buying the gift to go with it.

Susan is one of my lovely crafting buddies across in the UK.  She shares my love of rubber stamping and all things crafty. Shops as much as I do as well!!!   Can't wait to see her again in May, we're off to the Happy Stampers show at Port Sunlight.  Another expensive day out, but lots of fun.
Susan's card was made with the SU Designer Papers range Spice Cake.  I love this range of paper, I think it's the colours that do it for me.
When I made this card and matching tag, I knew exactly who I was going to send it to, just had to wait a little while that's all. The picture makes it look like it's only a small card,  but that's not the case, it's the tag that's BIG! (ususal for me)
Happy Birthday Susan.  Hope you had a fab day. 

Speaking of Spice Cake, this is something I did a couple of weeks ago

I had a great evening, along with a couple of other crafting friends, at a Stampin Up! workshop with the lovely Kirstie, who's an SU demonstrator on the island.  I met Kirstie through Facebook and now I regularly attend her workshops. 
The bag was so easy to decorate.  We cut the shapes from Stampin Up! fabric using the Big Shot machine and dies.  I chose the Spice Cake, but there are other lovely designs to choose from.  The adhesive had already been applied to the  of the fabric before we cut it (you just iron it on with a warm iron and leave it to cool - another fab SU product) then the shapes were just ironed directly onto the bag  - simple but very effective.  I added co-ordinating buttons to the centres of a couple of flowers, and then I stitched two of the matching giant buttons to the handles.

The bag is big enough to hold 12x12 papers so I can see this going to the Craft shows with me.  Very handy indeed.

Well I think that's it from me for today - need to catch up with household stuff now. Boring!!!

Thanks for looking

Linda
x