Scrapbook page and kind friends.

On Christmas Eve last year, Steve surprised us all by proposing to Gina. He had hidden the ring on the Christmas Tree and hung up the mistletoe in anticipation. He's such a lovely bloke, in fact he's like Mary Poppins, 'practically perfect in every way' lol. Plus he's a FIRE FIGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway this is the page I created to celebrate the event.

The background paper didn't need altering as it was just the right colour and had a minimal pattern. I painted some of the corrugated card Polly gave me and ripped it to fit on the front of a folded A4 sheet. Below is the open 'card'. It holds a few extra photo's which were a bit of a mish mash of colours, so best 'hidden'.

Simply cutting out a couple of leaves from the left over corrugated, adding some flowers and ruching some ribbon seemed to finish it off!

Oh and a couple of Prima gem swirls in black, my favourite colour.

The beautiful art work above was given to me by Sam as a blog giveaway. She had 8 pieces, all different and I was absolutely chuffed with this! It will be displayed ASAP in my craftroom, thanks Sam...........

Another friend, Polly, gave me this lovely cute bird house to alter and I already have an idea in my head, just need time now. How ever did I work all the hours before? Mind you it's all good things I am busy with. Any way, thanks you two, it is VERY much appreciated.

I have started the envelope card tutorial, so keep an eye out for that.

Sue x

Surprise revealed at last

Well here it is the little beauty!!!!!!!!! My very unexpected surprise present from the diamond geeza himself........
I saw this camera advertised on the TV recently and thought it looked brilliant as you can get super duper extra lenses for it too. One of my aims after selling the business and having more time was to get into photography. I need to learn how to take better photo's for my scrapbooking, but in order to do this, have to learn how to get the most out of my camera. Paul thought it would be good to have a new camera to learn with, and this is it!!!!!!!

He also got a carry case and memory card and was totally shell shocked by this lovely gift. Now all I have to do is take it S_L_O_W_L Y_ and learn how to use it. It's got so many features and you all know how slow I am to learn technical stuff. But I'll get there. I'm looking into some kind of course at college if ther is one, if any one out there has any ideas, let me know. I have a friend, Rod who is willing to take my out on a bit of a photography day, so I think I'll start with that.

Anyway, I have loads to blog, but will be doing it bit by bit as I 've been a bit of a socialiser this week and neglected my blog, sorry!!!!!

Sue x

Crafty Individuals design pieces

I've had great fun with the lovely stamps Jean and Malcolm of Crafty Individuals sent me. Firstly I made a card to whet my appetite. The lady image below, (CI-238) is one of a set of four. There are loads of these sets available, including butterflies, flowers, and Christmas and they are so versatile. The card base is a couple of envelopes, altered to create a card with an inside pocket, I taught the technique in my class on Wednesday and I'm hoping to do a tutorial on it soon.


This is the finished project based on 'birds'. The stamps used were all Crafty Individuals numbers, 116, 156, 183, 197, 201, 234, 235, and 237.

It was difficult to take the full thing well, so here it is a bit closer.

Above, using CI 183and 156

CI-234



CI-234

CI-197 and 234. The tiny words are cut from CI 237, a collaged plate with loads of elements, perfect ro stamping onto tissue and adding to projects.

CI-235, floral swirls for the background. The little mini book cover uses CI-234 for the two birds which were stamped onto tissue, stuck onto white card, punched out and added with 3d foam pads to add depth.

This is the inside, CI-201

and that's it for today!

Paul has been off on holidayfor a couple of days so we've continued with the blitz on the house so are off carpet hunting now, yawn yawn yawn............

He came home on Thursday with a very unexpected surprise, I'll tell you more soon,

Sue x

Christmas came early.

The lovely Jean and Malcolm of Crafty Individuals sent me a lovely parcel last week. Eight of their new release stamps, and they are gorgeous as always.

The swirls, ladies and sentiments are just timeless and right up my street. I have a simple card almost finished so will show that maybe later tonight.

I have also started something else using the birds set. Birds are really 'in' at the minute, but birds are not my thing usually, however, I have something in my head to try, we'll see how it works out. The Christmas sleigh stamp has an added bonus of three 'word' stamps in a lovely script. You know how I love words!!!!! They are, a snowflake is a winter's butterfly, snow angel and let it snow. Can't wait to try these out.

Sue x

Hooray, I'm on a Design team!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well how happy am I????
I am absolutely honoured to be a member of a design team, none other than one of my all time favourites, CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS!!!! Those of you who know me will know I just love everything about them. The stamps, images, acetates, slide mounts, image books, background papers and of course Jean and Malcolm themselves.

Here's my first 'design'. You saw some little sneaky peeks yesterday, but due to my exciting news, I wanted to keep it until today.

It's a wall hanging, about 11" square, and in colours I would not usually use, but I quite like them. (Wey hey Sam, NO PINK)!

The blue and green backgrounds were chipboard, painted then overstamped with CI large swirl and crackle background. The black mount is 'almost leather' heated, stamped into using the large swirl again, then painted black. The detail was then highlighted with gold rub-on's.

The tiles started life as beermats. I love the caligraphy stamps, they are so versatile. I used a curtain ring and diamond glaze to highlite the girls face, I've not used this for ages.

I finally used my grungeboard as a slide mount to frame a beautiful acetate angel image, I just love angels.................. The black torn paper is hand made from layers of newspaper, glued, painted, ripped, edged with gold dabbers and 'doodled'.

The heart is hand made and the word was stamped onto tissue, cut out and matted onto card. Bacckground is CI text.

Another grungeboard slide mount, lady and word image on tissue then glued onto card. The butterfly is from one of the images books. Background stamp is the crackle again.

Thanks again Jean and Malcolm for this wonderful opportunity.

Sue x

Little snippets and a BIG BELLY!

Well here's the BIG BELLY!!!! With just six weeks to go, Fayes belly is now a grand 39 inches at it's biggest point, that's ONE METRE!!!!!!! Mind you, in saying that, she's carrying really neatly.

The visit to the midwife yesterday included what will hopefully be the last anti D injection, except of course after delivery. We found that babies head is 3/5th engaged which is good too.

Don't know what I'll be using these for yet, so just a couple of little snippets for now.

These are the beer mats which I gave up on recently, but I decided to do something with them after all, they just would have spoilt the effect of the clear book.

I finally used some grunge board that I've had for aaaaaaaaaaaages, just need to try the grunge paper now.

Well that's it again for today, off to try and use these beermats in some shape or form now, I'll keep you posted.

Sue x

Charity Football match, in memory of Ash (Greeny)

Today was the charity football match held in memory of Abbies boyfriend, Ash, (Greeny), who tragically died on 1st April as the result of a car accident. The proceeds which should hopefully reach £FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS!!!!!!!!! will enable a local child, Brooke and her family to take a much needed holiday to Disneyland, Paris in a few weeks. Brooke has leukaemia, and is receiving treatment at Sheffield Hospital? There will be a write up of the event soon in the local Evening Telegraph, so keep a look out.

It was a beautiful day, weather wise, and there was a fantastic ammount of support. This is part of our 'group'.

And a few of the 'boys'

Faye and Paul on the right, above.

Faye and Ash bought Abbie a charm for her love link bracelet, as a momento of the day. Pink for the little girl, Brooke and a heart to symbolise the love she and Ash shared, how lovely.............

Abbie was a bit emotional, and gave Faye a massive hug.

Abbie is Godmother for baby Harry, Ash's nephew, who was just six weeks old when Ash died. Here he is with Abs, sporting his 'Greeny' football strip, bless him......................

He's coming on so much, seen here again with Abs and my sister Angela.

Sam's spending time with Disney, she loves that dog, and he loves her too as she gives him so many cuddles!!!!!!

Is that Pepsi in the cans, or something a bit stronger?????

Here's one team coming on,

and the other.

This is Les, my Mum and their friends, Pat and Martin, enjoying a drink in the amazing sunshine.

Gina and Mr D,

And Gina lookin lovely, ooooooooooooooh I do love my two girls!!!!!

Abbie, played in the last ten minutes of the game. She was so nervous, bless her, but she did well.

At the end of the day, the raffle was drawn, and you won't believe this, My Mum won a £40 Pettits meat voucher, my sister won a free car valet, Sam won a £10 meat voucher, and I won a £15 Betty Mackenzie voucher which I quickly handed to Faye and Ash to go towards a baby outfit. Local businesses were so very generous by donating these prizes. Also, thanks to anyone who sponsored Abbie, she raised almosst £400 in sponsorship, so thankyou so much.................

Today has been a day of mixed emotions for me and I think many others. It was lovely to be with family and friends, enjoying the sunshine, but so sad to remember we were there because a young life had been lost, and a tiny baby, and her family were suffering the effects of leukaemia. It made me so very grateful for the things I so often take for granted, and I will leave you with a couple of my favourite quotes

TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE

and

DON'T PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY

Sue xxx

My 'Diamond Geeza' and a few cards.

Well, here he is, my 'diamond geeza'. Yeah OK he looks a bit rough and ready, but I have to admit he has been the most loving, caring, hardworking and generous husband anyone could wish for. (aw, bless him).
This photo was taken last July while we were attending the Elusive Images retailer retreat, which was a great weekend spent with Glenda Waterworth, Lynn Robinson-Hunter and the rest of the team.

As you may have guessed, this was the outcome of my 'altered Bazzill' cardstock, which was bright gereen and yellow. It's a shame I don't have a budgie, as it would have been perfect for that!!

The chippie swirl was painted and stippled to make it rough like the stone work,

and the mat was put through the cuttlebug and I added some green acrylic to echo the ivy leaves,

the hand cut circle was sponged to echo the stone work too, and if you believe that you'll believe anything!!!! It was pure coincidence that the papers I painted just seemed to work with this photo, lol.................................................................

The following cards were based on the techniques I taught in class on Wenesday, corrugated card and slide mounts...............This slide mount was simply covered with paper, and the corrugated was painted with Jo Sonja acrylics. Border is by Kelly Panacci and stamp is Hero Arts.

This slide mount was cut on my Wizard, it's one of a set of four and I love them. I heat embossed it and added a Crafty Individuals image, Stampendous 'Friend' stamp, Woodware paper lace and Mark Phillips pearls.

Corrugated was painted with Ranger dabbers, then heat embossed on the raised areas with Woodware Penny Copper. I also embossed around the edge of the slide mount which again holds a C.I. image. The border punch is by Fiskars and worked great on the burgundy velvet paper.

Same old, same old.............................................................with a bit of faux stitching with a Ranger Inkessentials white pen.

And the final card shows one of the cards I actually taught in class on Wednesday.

This little beauty was hanging under the garage guttering in our garden. It's in a right sorry state, filthy and rusty, just how I like 'em, lol. This will be a future project. I haven't got a clue what to do withit yet, but I might paint it PINK and give it to Sam for her garden HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Only kidding Sam!

Sue x