MIAM

MIAM

Sunday 31 March 2013

A Load of Old Scallops!

Predictable I know....but what else could I use for a title when this week Less Is More have the theme of Scallops?  I tried to think outside of the box for this challenge to  produce a fantastically original card but ideas eluded me on this occasion so this is what I created.



I used Memory Box's Huckleberry Branch stamp inked with Memento's Pistachio and Olive Grove.  I coloured the berries with Versacolour Seashell on a fine paintbrush and used a Salmon pearl pen on a few for dimension, the sentiment is by Inkylicious.  It's not quite as clean and simple as my usual entries but I hope it still fits the brief.


I'm also linking to Dutch Dare Card Challenge- CAS

I'm working at Gatwick throughout this four day Easter break and during my duties yesterday as I glanced at the check-in desks emblazoned with 'Happy Holidays' I was overcome with a feeling of extreme annoyance.  What happened to 'Happy Easter'???   Are we too frightened these days to admit that although multicultural, we are a predominantly Christian country. Should we worry that we might offend someone of another faith??  Personally, I am not in least bit religious but this really pissed me off, we are in danger of losing our national identity.  What next, no mention of Christmas?  Do you agree with me or do you have a different point of view, I'd like to know what you think.  Maybe I'm just turning into a grumpy old woman?

I'm on night shift tonight so going to get organised for that now and then try to catch a few zzz's before I go.  Have a great Easter weekend.

ttfn x


Tuesday 26 March 2013

Needles and Pins

I'm going great guns with the crochet and so far have done this many granny squares,



I can tell you're impressed.  But rummaging around in my bag for my ever elusive wool needle was getting on my wick, what I needed was a needle case. I thought 'how hard can it be to make one?' and after some researching on the interweb I went for it with some scraps of felt and buttons I had lying around in my craft room.



The stitching is about as straight as a dogs hind leg (I'm useless without a stripe in the fabric to follow) but apart from that I don't think it's too shabby so I'm linking to Lakota's Ta Dah Tuesday.




I've a busy time this week, today I saw an old friend for a long overdue catch-up. We met in Costa's, blimey the prices!  Won't be going there again in a hurry.  Tomorrow I'm meeting more friends for lunch in Prezzo (got a money- off voucher!) and Thursday it's Stitch and Bitch followed by a pub lunch with Dad and the rellies.  The weather continues to be arctic and it's all folk are talking about.  Must go and do some housework now, maybe charging around with the hoover will warm me up.

ttfn
xx

Monday 25 March 2013

Beady Eyed

Stap me vitals! I just can't believe how long this winter is dragging on.  The temperature here down south has not crept above zero for a few days now and snow is ever present in the air.  What's a girl to do on her days off but stay in the warm and craft.

This week's challenge from Less Is More is USE BEADS!  Blimey, not the easiest or most popular of challenges judging by the comments I've read but after scraping together the few measly beads I've had in my stash since time began, I thought I'd give it a crack.


 I scored a border around the card and made the owl with various punched circles, I added a computer generated sentiment and 'beady' eyes.  


Changing the subject completely now, here are last weeks chazza scores.

  Tea towel 1981 75p
 (completely on the wonk but didn't notice in the shop as it was folded in half on a hanger.) 


Scarf 75p


I've got a crafty idea for something else later, so if all goes to plan I may have another creation to show you tomorrow.  Can you stand the excitement?

xx   

Thursday 21 March 2013

Just Snaps

Photography has been neglected of late but I've taken a few snaps inspired by the March list on Photo-A-Day.


Faceless Self-Portrait




Signs




Clean (very apt today as new washer arrived)





I'm hoping to be re-enthused with photography next month when I'm going to visit The National Theatre to see Norman Parkinson's 'A Century of Style'.
Really looking forward to this.

It's been another sodding cold day again, when oh when is spring going to turn up?  Any guesses?
xx


Tuesday 19 March 2013

In The Frame

Last night I caught up on some card making with this latest one for LIM's current challenge,  Frame It.

Simplicity itself, the aperature was cut with nesties and I sponged a background for the Wetland stamp (Memory Box) and the bird. (Inkylicious)
The sentiment, the same as last week's is by Penny Black.



Also linking to 

4 Crafty Chicks-Clean & Simple
Ta Dah Tuesday

I had to dash to Currys yesterday after Dad examined my washing machine which had been making one hell of a racket and pronounced it terminal.  Three hundred and fifty quid later (I also bought a small freezer)  and my laundry woes are sorted, just as well they can deliver this week as I came home to this mess earlier.


Bad Prudy, the throw on the sofa is now covered with little muddy footprints! I think she is feeling reckless today as she has also been  eyeballing a neighbours cat who had the temerity to stray into our garden. 'How very dare it!'  I must say it wasn't at all fazed by Prue, who soon got bored when there was no reaction and climbed down from the shed roof rather sheepishly.  




I scoured a few chazza's this morning, there was not much to be had but I did find a scarf and a vintage tea-towel which I'll show you next time.

Ta ra.
x


   

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Ta Dah!

I unexpectedly found I had time on my hands yesterday due to my lunch out with friends being cancelled because of the weather.  I had all manner of stuff that needed doing,....change my BT tariff, tackle the ironing, prepare meals for work days, clean the oven... but did I do any of this? No, I made a card instead.


I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

CAS-ual Friday - Colour Blocks
Addicted to CAS - Wings  


The punched Woodware butterflies were embossed in a Cuttlebug embossing border and arranged around some Liquid Pearl dots to give movement.  The scalloped border was punched and the sentiment is from SU.

We've snow and biting winds here in Sussex so I've stayed at home today and completed a project I've been meaning to do since last summer when I found an old slate roof tile on my holidays in Cornwall.

 take one old, knackered but clean slate tile



 print out your door numbers on the computer

 


carefully cut out the numbers and arrange on slate tile



  stencil around numbers with a white chinagraph pencil 







carefully fill in numbers with oil-based paint




 plonk outside your front door and hope Postie will not continue to deliver No.45's mail.

 


I'm rather pleased with it and linking to Lakota's Ta Dah Tuesday.

Let's hope there's no more snow between now and 5am tomorrow when I'll be leaving for work, brrrrrr.
x















Sunday 10 March 2013

Spots And Stripes Are No Delight

I should have known this weeks LIM card challenge was going to be a bit of a bugger when it took me about half an hour to find the piece of sequin waste that I intended to use as a mask.  Where was it..?  on the bloody floor!  It must have been there under my desk for ages, it explains my blog name you understand.

Chrissie and Jen decided to give us a tough one this week 'ONE LAYER, SPOTS and STRIPES' and as I don't have any spotty or stripy stamps or embossing folders, this uninspiring creation is all I could manage!  I nearly didn't blog it but after all the sodding effort that went into making it I'm jolly well going to.


 discarded efforts


For the dry embossed stripes I used my newly purchased Hougie Board for the first time.  I was rather disappointed with this product. I found the 'lip' that you butt the card up to wasn't deep enough and the card kept sliding over it when I was scoring. Also the scoring tool that comes with it is crap and my own embossing tool ensured much better results.  Has anyone else found these problems with it?  To complete the card I used a sentiment from Penny Black.

Last night I watched Made in Dagenham on BBC2 which is based on the true story of female Ford factory workers fighting for equal pay in the late 1960's.  I didn't catch this film when it was released and as I was only six years old when it all happened didn't know much about it. As is often the case with such films, historically it was not entirely accurate but nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed this feel-good film which boasted a strong cast.  I loved the fab fashions which looked pretty authentic to me and the 60's soundtrack.


I thought spring had sprung last week but sure enough rain and cold temperatures have returned.  I'm longing to get out and about snapping but for now here are a few inside shots.


Today of course is Mothering Sunday and Mum is much in my thoughts.  This is the second Mother's Day that she has been gone and it still feels strange not to be making a special card or taking her out for lunch. 

If you're seeing your mum today, enjoy it.

x


Monday 4 March 2013

What A Lot I've Got

Saturday saw the Sue's x 2, Eunice and I off to Farnborough for the annual Make It show.  We arrived about midday and shopped for an hour and a half when we paused for a spot of lunch.

 
Afterwards we grabbed our bags and got back to the crafty business of shopping.  It was a good show, very spacious and although there were plenty of shoppers there was still enough room to move around the stands freely.  
There were some great demo's and this lady at Inkylicious displayed some stunning work, her stamps were excellent value so I had to buy quite a few!




Whoops!  I did come home with rather more than was on my list...but never mind hey?  As Eunice kept reminding me, I don't smoke or drink (...much!) so I can afford to treat myself now and again! But maybe I should have waited until after my car's MOT, which is due next week, before I had a spend up?

 
I did enjoy splashing out on this little lot and will get hours of enjoyment from it so I've decided that I'm not going to feel guilty.

Here's my latest creation using the Oriental Blossom set from Card-io which I'm entering in two challenges this week.

Less Is More-Colour Challenge

and CAS On Sunday-Happy Birthday 



I must admit that this card has been unashamedly CASed from a beauty that I saw at the show. Mine comes nowhere near the standard of that one but I'm blaming time constraints this time.  I've been out today to an auction house to view lots as I'm after a small cupboard to house crockery and kitchen stuff.  I won't be able to make the auction on Wednesday due to the tedious business of work so I left a bid, lets hope it's successful.  After our rummaging at the auction house NM and I went for a mahoosive pub lunch in the pretty village of Warnham and a stroll afterwards which probably worked off about 1% of the calories consumed!

Back to work tomorrow, (pulls sad face) until next time then. 
x