Happy Bank Holiday

Hi everyone,
Just a quickie.  No crafty post I'm afraid today - sorry.  Everything is going in boxes (sigh!). 
Started packing up the craft room yesterday.  OMG! why do I have sooo much stuff! (Oh dear, I sound like the other half).  Because I NEED it I suppose.  It's only when you have to pack it all away, that you realise just how much of a stash you have.  I'm finding things I'd forgotten I had, it's great!
I just wanted to say a big Thank You to everyone for your lovely comments about my recent news.  I'm so thrilled and excited about becoming a member on the Design Team's for Craftwork Cards and Indigo Blu you wouldn't believe.  I'm really looking forward to starting my first assignments and creating alongside so many other talented Designers.
Well done to all the other new members too - we're going to make a fab team!
Ah well, gotta dash, empty boxes are calling. 
Enjoy the Bank Holiday
Bye for now

Linda 

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On the move

Hi everyone,
Quick update ......
Well we made a trip to the new house this morning, with a fully loaded car.  Had a good look around, at least the place isn't too bad, just a bit of dust here and there.  Stopped off for lunch on the way back, at a lovely little coffee shop up by Laxey Wheel.  It's a beautiful day over here and it was really pretty down there by the river, busy too.
After lunch we loaded the car again and made another trip.  Did some shopping on the way back, we needed a new fridge and kettle etc. (boring household stuff). But look what else I managed to find ..........

more ribbons .....

Ribbons!  I couldn't resist these. I was amazed that Stephen didn't protest more when I suggested calling in the shop.  I could have stayed there all afternoon but thought best not, things to do and all that.
Now we've just time for a quick cup of tea, then it's the football later.  I think this is the most relaxed we've been whilest moving house.
Ah well, best get back.  I suppose I can pack some more boxes before the kick off!

Linda

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Whoop! Whoop! again

Happy weekend everyone,
Just a quick post from me today, before we get stuck in to moving boxes.  We're off to pick up the keys very shortly, but before we go I want to share a bit of news with you all.
Again, those of you with a keen eye may have noticed another new addition on my side bar.  I'm really thrilled to say I've been chosen to become a member of the Design Team over at Craftwork Cards - whoopee!!  It's a fabulous papercraft company, and I've been using their great products as long as I've been crafting. I love them all. (They're also responsible for organising one of my favourite craft shows - the GNPE over in Harrogate).  Check out their website and see exactly what I mean www.craftworkcards.co.uk
Over the last few weeks I've been working on lots of projects, both to send off to Julie, and those for Indigo Blu, and I couldn't say a word.   I did hint in a couple of posts that I was working on stuff I couldn't show yet, and that "hopefully all would be revealed" and now it has.  I'm so pleased.   I'll post some of the samples that I did, on here, over the next few weeks.  First they'll be showcased here on the Craftwork Cards blog over the next week or so, along with fabulous samples from the other new Design Team members.  
There will be a lot more cards and various projects appearing over the coming months featuring Craftwork Cards, and Indigo Blu.   I can't wait to get started.  It's a real privilege to be able to work with such top quality products and spend my time doing what I love most.  I just hope that I can do them all justice.

Anyway, gotta dash.  Have a fab weekend whatever you're doing.  Mine's going to be busy!
See you soon

Linda

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Second time today

Hello there,

Back again.  Just a short post this afternnoon as I really must get some serious packing done.  I'm starting in the kitchen today and it's going to be a BIG job. Lots of cupboards to empty, and clean, then there's the oven, but we won't go there just yet!   So I thought I'd have my crafty fix before going in there.
Here's my Less Is More challenge entry.  It's Week 65 and it's Sketches. LIM Blog Challenge  Pop over and see what all the LIMettes have come up with this week.  We had two to choose from ...


          
                                                                    
Nice simple sketches, lots of white space on the finished card. Love it!

What's a sketch?  It's a crafty term used to describe a card/scrapbook layout.  It gives inspiration/ideas on how to build up your design.  There's loads out there to choose from or, take the time and design your own.  Always keep a record of them then you can go back and use them time and time again.
Here's my LIM entry ....

I decided to go for a girly look this week, and used one of my favourite 'Tilda' stamps from Magnolia.  I think she is soooo cute.  She's been coloured using Copic pens and the white freckles added with a gel pen.  The background was done with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and a hand cut cloud stencil. You can just about see it in the photograph.

I like the way it looks like she's looking through a window at you, just stood 'thinking of you'.  The sentiment and the card she's layered onto are both from SU,  Perfect Plum cardstock, and the stamps are Curly Cute.
Hope you like her, I think she's sweet.

Well,  that's going to have to be it from me for this week.  Unless I can squeeeeeze another crafty session in, you never know.   Anyway I'll say have a lovely weekend everyone and I'll try and keep you posted on events next week.
Thanks for looking.
Bye for now

Linda

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May already.

Good morning everyone,
Where is this year going?  I can't believe we've had 4 months already.  I'll be making Christmas cards next (oops, have I just used the dreaded 'c' word).

First off I'd like to say welcome to my latest followers.  It's so nice to know that you guys actually read and like to keep up to date with what I put on here. Thank you, it's much appreciated.

This week is just as chaotic as ever but, even though we move in 12 days, (and we're over in the UK for 3 and a bit of those - eeek!), I've managed to fit some craft time in.
Have all you Stampin' Up! fans seen the new Summer Mini Catalogue yet?  I was lucky enough to be invited to a launch night on Tuesday which I just had to attend (time off from packing).  I got to see the new cattie and play with some of the new products. All I can say is I want the lot!! The new stamp sets are gorgeous, the new tools are fab and the new papers, fabric, ribbons etc., are yummee .....  wait till you see them.  I'm lucky, I have 2 SU demonstrators, there's my good friend Sally-Jo over in the UK, check out her Blog stampin-sally-jo for great inspiration and details of products etc.  And,  I've also met Kirstie over here on the island, visit her FB page for more inspiration and ideas Kirstie's Facebook page.  I get a double helping of SU - yeah!  The other half isn't too happy though -  it costs him twice as much!!
I had a lovely evening and everybody there made a card using the new Up, Up and Away stamp set, which is so cute.

We did a bit of everything, stamping, embossing, paper tearing, punching and there was even cake!! What more can you ask for.

I've even managed to get a couple of Blog challenge entries done, with a whole day to spare.   This is the first one.  It's for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge PBSC.
This week's theme is May Day! with Spring themed cards.  As always there's only one rule ......  you must use at least one Penny Black image, large sentiment or stickeroo.
Here's my take on the challenge

Now I don't normally do frogs.  In fact, I don't like real ones, and I mean I DON'T LIKE FROGS!!!
One night, a few years ago a friend of ours came round and when I opened the door he said "there's a frog on the doorstep - no wait, it's in the hall"  There it was, large as life, hopping down my hallway, and it was huge.  Well you can imagine my reaction, Stephen said it was like something out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon.  I set off down the hall and ended up stood on a chair, screaming, in the kitchen.  This poor frog must have wondered what was going on - the kid's certainly did.  Eventually, after everyone had had a good giggle at me, Stephen put it back outside.  I can't help it, frogs just make me shiver. If I see one when we're out I literally can't move until it's gone - silly or what!  Saying that, I do enjoy eating frogs legs in a restaurant - they really do taste like chicken!
Anyway, back to the card.  I used the PB 'Jump for Joy' stamp (3702J) for the main image and coloured him using Copic pens. He was then cut out and embossed using Nestabilities, and inked around the edge with Distress Ink.   The rosette behind was made from 2 strips of Bo Bunny 'Love Bandit' paper, cut at 2 inches x 12, scored and concertina folded, then joined together to form the rosette. I also decided to add another layer to the flower for dimension, and a bit of glitter of course.

I made the easel card from a 6x6 card blank, scored and folded the front in half, and cut a semi-circle from the top half to make the easel part. A bit different from your standard easel card, but I like it. (This was a trick I picked up from the lovely Melanie Heaton)

The papers, again are from the 'Love Bandit' range layered with some 'Blush' Bo Bunny Double Dot paper. I like the green and pink together, very pretty for spring and summer.  I attached and ruched some matching ribbon and added a smaller image to make my stopper to hold up the easel.  The little guy was stamped from the PB 'Toadily' clear set and coloured with Copics again.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I used my Nesties to cut and layer these and then doodled around the edges. 
Even though I don't like frogs, these PB stamps are really cute.  At least these don't hop down my hallway!

Thanks for looking, and thank you to everyone who left me comments last week, I really appreciate you all  popping by.

See you later.

Linda

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