Simply Less is More # 202

Hi there,

I`m just squeezing in by the skin of my teeth with my card for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which has the title, SNOW. It`s also a one layer card week but this one turned out to be nice and easy.

I`ve used this lovely stamp from Lili of the Valley, James in the snow and coloured him with Promarkers.
I added a touch of Glamour Dust to the trim on his hat and on the snow flakes.
The sentiment is from a Crafters Companion Popcorn stamp set.
Thats it now, anymore Christmas cards will have to be bought ones although I think I`ve got it covered.

Ruby has been a bit unwell this week. She been very tired and grumpy which is a sign that her bloods are low. She was due to visit LGI yesterday afternoon for treatment anyway but when she woke up she had a number of bruises and her gums were bleeding so it was an earlier trip to Leeds than planned. . Poor ruby needed an adult sized bottle of blood and two teenage sized bottles of platelettes. She is now back on form with pink cheeks, talking non stop and on her way home.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 201

Hi there,
We have a fabulous colour challenge this week at Simply Less is More 
 

Perfect for those last minute Christmas cards.

No stamping on this one but you know how much I love my dies. As I still have a few cards to make for Christmas ( I know, last minute as usual) I`m going to make a batch of these ones.
I used a Sizzix die for the star and backed it with some ice blue glitter card.
The `peace` die is from Memory Box, cut from white card.
I`ve added a few clear gems and some silver thread to finish.

Ruby is doing really well at the moment although she isn`t allowed back to school as they have chicken pox and nora virus going around. It`s a shame really because this is a lovely time of year with nativity plays and christmas crafts. The school have sent her a box full of crafting goodies to make her own at home and we have spent lots of time on pinterest looking for ideas for things to make. I`m not sure who is more excited, Ruby or her mum.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 200

Hi,

Yippee, Simply Less is More is celebrating publishing the 200th challenge. Although I have missed a few weeks here and there, I have been entering the challenge since week 1. I`m sure I have Chrissie, Mandi and the girls to thank for the huge improvement ( most of the time) in my card making. I`ve thoroughly enjoyed every single challenge, even the ones that were more challenging than others lol. Here`s to the next 200.

Luckily for me this challenge comes in the week of my Sister in laws birthday so I`m sharing the card I made for her.
Hot pink base card from Papermill Direct.
The image is Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
The sentiment is PC generated and I`ve added some tiny clear gems for sparkle.

Ruby is home from hospital now. She was tranfered from HRI to LGI mid week so they could keep a check on the infection and monitor her progress more closely. It was also thought that her emotional state could be hindering progress and this was borne out by the speed in which she picked up. Anyway she`s a lot better and enjoying being with all the family. Thank you all for the lovely comments and the good wishes.

Thank for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 199

                                                         MISSING
                                     Craft Mojo

                                                 not seen for about 3/4 weeks
                                                 If found please return to this blog


Hi there,
            Well I`m here but my mojo certainly isn`t. I seem to have lost the ability to make a half decent card.
I have tried, I made cards for last week and the week before at Simply Less is More
but they were so pants I didn`t post them. I do wish it would come back. I miss my card making.
I have managed a card for this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More which is titled
                                                       JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
not 100% pleased with this one but this is what I`ve made,

I`ve used a Pink Petticoat 
Tiny Treasures for Christmas image, coloured with Promarkers and cut out with a Tag die from Die-namics.
The papers are from Do Crafts cut and fish tailed with a square nestie.
I`ve added a jingle bell from my stash and some tiny coloured gems here and there.
I`m going to have another go at this one and try to get my placement a bit better. Seems like a good design for batch making if I can get it right.

Ruby was sent home from LGI last week now the chemo is into her system and she has been weaned off the steroids.It`s unbelievable the difference the steroids have made. She gained almost 4 kgs in 5 weeks and it was such a shock to see her. She didn`t look like my Ruby anymore. They have told us that the weight will go almost as quick as it came but the chemo is effecting her leg muscles again which makes it difficult to walk and on friday she developed a high temperature so at the moment she`s in isolation at Hull Royal. Hopefully the blood cultures will come back tomorrow and Ruby can go home and have antibiotics there. She`s having a pretty rough time at the moment but is coping well and, as ever, is cheerful and giving the staff plenty to laugh about.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx
                             

Simply Less Is More # 196

Hello All.
I`ve been a bad blogger again I`m afraid, in fact I`ve been a bad crafter too. Not done any paper crafting for a few days for some reason and last week I didn`t manage a card for the Simply Less is More Challenge at all. I`m back for now though with this weeks colour challenge and it`s a good one,

                                              Non Traditional Christmas Colours....no red or green

I stamped the snowflakes, from Inkadinkdo, in Versacolor heliotrope, orchid and cyan. I added sprinkling of Glamour Dust to add some sparkle.
The sentiment is computer generated but I`m not so keen on the banner now.
If I get the time I might redo it.

Just a quick (ha ha) update on Ruby. At this moment Ruby is in isolation as she has a nasty cough. We are waiting the results of an x ray and hopefully it can be easily treated. Apart from that she is doing remarkably well. There a lot of good positive things to report this week. Two weeks ago a real live Princess visited the childrens oncology ward and Ruby was chosen to meet and greet her. Princess Ghida of Jordan is the chair of a cancer trust and does lots of visits to hospitals.

Ruby wanted to know where her crown was.
Sorry about the pic, I had to pinch it off facebook.

Quite a lot of the kids dressed up for Halloween and spent most of the day terrifying the nursing staff.

Ruby dressed as a pumpkin. Later in the day she had her face painted and wrapped in a sheet pretending to be a ghost.


One thing that her mum was dreading was having to tell Ruby that her hair would fall out again. At the beginning of last week Ruby stated that she was better now her cough had gone so she could go home. Mum decided that this would be the right time to explain that the medicine she had to take would make her feel poorly and that was why Ruby had to stay in the hospital which Ruby accepted and then mum said to her,
" Do you remember last time you were poorly and all your hair feel out?"
Ruby said she did, so mum told her it was going to come out again and Ruby replied,
" Oh great, no tangles and no bobbles. Cool! "
She doesn`t let anything get her down and manages to find a positive in almost anything. The doctors had warned her mum that, because Ruby had already had a full course of chemo quite recently, her hair would come out alot quicker than last time and by friday it was falling out in clumps. It was even falling in her food so by tea time Ruby asked one of the nurses to shave it off. I think she looks beautiful with very short hair.

The chemo Ruby had the last time she was poorly is very toxic and can cause long term heart damage. She had regular heart scans both during and after her treatment. So, because she`s already had so much chemo the consultant requested a slightly different chemo that wasn`t so toxic but is extremely (and I mean ridiculously) expensive, and they were given the go ahead so that`s really good news.

Thanks for staying this long, I know it was a long post :)

Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 194

Hello There,
Once again thank you all for your lovely, supportive comments regarding Ruby. I`m sorry if I didn`t get around to you last week but I`m sure you`ll understand what a trying week it`s been. More later.

This weeks challenge at Simply Less is More is to make a card using LITTLE CREATURES
Well....I had a good root about and found this set of stamps I bought years ago from Creative Expressions ( I think) and only inked up once. Although the stamps are quite a good size, mice are quite small creatures aren`t they?

I started by stamping the two mice then, after masking them I stamped the lamp post. I also made a mask for the lamp so I could sponge the background with decorative chalks.
I coloured the image with Promarkers and added a sentiment from the same set. Unfortunately I caught the edge of the stamp and left a tiny mark so I`ve covered it with a clear gem.

Right, back to Ruby. Last week she had a lumber puncture and a CT scan on her head. There was some concern that she may have a tumour in her nasal passages aswell as she was still having some trouble breathing especially when laying flat. Anyway both sets of results have come back clear so that is a bonus. The steroids seem to be working and her breathing has improved over the last few days but she has ballooned. Her face looks like the moon bless her, she does look healthy but we are aware that it`s the steroids and she will lose weight once the treatment starts.
Because she has already had a full course of Chemo and quite recently, the effects appear alot sooner so she will start to lose her hair almost immediately. Not sure how she`ll deal with that this time but I`m sure we`ll get round it somehow. So this is the start of another 2 year treatment plan which will probably last at least 6 months longer because there`ll be times when treatment is delayed because of infections. By the time it`s finished poor kid will have spent more than half her life having treatment.
 Apart from that Ruby is fine. Loving the attention, making friends with the nursing staff and eating like a horse.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 193

Hello There !

I`d first like to say a very big thank you for all your lovely comments and the support and prayers you`ve sent for Ruby. It means such a lot to us all. More later.

This week it`s the dreaded One Layer Card at Simply Less is More and we are asked to include,
                                                        2 of Something

A pretty basic card really. I`ve used 2 leaves.
A simple panel chalked with yellow, orange and a touch of red to keep with the autumnal theme.
I stamped 2 leaves from Hero Arts, in clear ink and embossed them in detail gold EP.
The sentiment is There She Goes stamped in Black Versafine ink.

Ruby gave us quite a scare last monday when she went to theatre.The doctors were hoping to do a biopsy, a lumber puncture and fit a port in one operation but she stopped breathing under the anaesthetic. My daughter rang in a mad panic because they`d been told Ruby might have to go into intensive care. They`d managed to do the biopsy but had to bring her round quickly because the tumour was blocking her airways.After a couple of very worrying  hours Mum rang back to say that Ruby was back on the ward and chatting away after eating her way through a plate full of fish fingers and chips. Phew!
Doctors decided to give a few days rest and after scanning on friday she was taken back to theatre for the rest of her procedure. She has a T-Cell Lymphoma which I think is a form of Leukemia but we are still waiting for the results from her spinal fluid to see which type it is. Apart from that she is fine. Mum and dad are being as honest as they can with her, answering her questions and she seems to be taking it all on board for now. I think the worse thing for Ruby will be when her hair falls out again but we`ll deal with that when it happens.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 192

Hello there, it`s a thoroughly miserable day today over most of the UK so not a day for getting out and about. What better excuse to stay put and craft.
The challenge over on Simply Less is More this week is a colour one and perfect for this month as it`s title is,
                                                                AUTUMN BOUNTY

I used decorative chalks in red, orange, yellow and green on Papermill White Linen card before cutting it out with a Spellbinders Hexagon die.
I cut a larger hexagon in white and mounted them, one on top the other using foam pads.
The leaf is cut from a X Cut die in dark yellow card and I`ve chalked the edges with orange.
Finished off with a sentiment from There She Goes.

We had some really devastating news over the weekend...Ruby has cancer again. After being cancer free for over a year the evil disease has come back to have another go.I can`t begin to tell you how we`re all feeling but especially her mum & dad who are, understandably, devastated.
Ruby had a really bad, chesty cough for about 3 weeks which didn`t respond to antibiotics or an inhaler so on friday her GP referred her to Hull Royal for an X ray. HRI liased with Leeds General where all her treatment will take place and they admitted her immediately.
It was thought to be a secondary wilms tumour that had settled in her lungs but apparently it`s a new cancer altogether, thought to be caused by the radiation she had for her last treatment, and is in her upper airway and pushing against her lungs but is easily treatable. It just means she has go through all the chemo and the side effects that go with it all over again.
That`s about all I know for now exept they have put her on steroids to control her breathing so they can do a biopsy and a lumber puncture and also to fit a port, which is left in to admit any medication she needs.
Because Ruby was only 3 last time her treatment started she just got on with it and accepted everything that needed doing but now she`s 6 and can remember things she`s a very frightened little girl. I`m sure the staff at LGI will deal with that as they are wonderful there.
So... not a very happy post today, sorry about that.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 191

Hello There,
Well it`s a good week for me this week over at the Simply Less is More Challenge. It`s recipe week and we are asked to make a card using MOSTLY WORDS.
I had decided to make my batches of  Christmas cards for friends and neighbours over the weekend, keeping them simple and using text as the main focal point. Basically all I`ve had to do is put this card together. Simples!

Cuttlebug Snowflake EF on panel.
Words PC generated and cut out with a SB nestie oval die.
Snowflakes, lge Crafters Companion die, two smaller ones punched from pale blue glitter card.
Finished off with a small gem in centre of larger snowflake.

Time permitting I`ll be back during the week but don`t hold your breath. Enjoy whats left of the week end,
Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 190

Hello There,                                                                

We went away for a few days early in the week and I didn`t have time to join in last weeks Simply Less is More Challenge so I was more than ready for this weeks. It`s theme week and this time the title is,

                                                     FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE

After a lot of thought I came up with this,

The ballet shoes are an image I found on Pinterest, coloured with Promarkers and I`ve sprinkled a tiny bit of Glamour dust on them.
The music is a stamp from Hobbycraft, stamped in Versafine Black.
I`ve cut both images out with a tag die from Die- Namics and added a pinkbow.
The sentiment is PC generated with a touch of Lady Ga Ga.

I have two birthdays this week so I`m hoping my mojo holds out long enough to make cards. It`s a bit hit and miss at the moment.
 Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Hello All,                                                                

No card today I`m afraid, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
It seems the media in the UK are somewhat reluctant to advertise this
campaign so my daughter Cheryl and many of the "Oncology Mums"
from Facebook are on a mission to let the world know.
With all the press coverage about Ashya King and what his poor parents have been through, you would think that the news programs would be full of the Gold Ribbon campaign but no, nothing. The This Morning program and Loose Women websites have been bombarded with requests to give it a mention and Holly and Phillip have been sent Gold Ribbons but there hasn`t been any sign of them.
Cancer Research UK only changed their facebook header after protests from parents of children with cancer and infact our local  Cancer Research charity shop are not selling gold Ribbons and the staff were not aware of the  september gold ribbon. Considering the amount of children suffering from this dreadful disease it`s about time more was done to raise awareness.
For instance, did you know that only 4% of the total raised by Cancer Research UK goes towards finding a cure for childhood cancers? In the last 20 years only ONE new treatment has been approved for children with cancer. This is ALL the  cancers that children suffer from and they are numerous.
The fashionable adult cancers i.e. Breast, Ovarian, Cervicle, Testicular & Prostate seem to get all the attention and we cannot deny that they are terrible conditions but surely our children are just as important and deserve equal funding for research and treatment.
All I`m asking is that you lovely lot spread the word. So many children and their families are going through hell every day and many people don`t realise.

Thank you for your time...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 188

Hello there,
First let say a very warm welcome to my latest follower Jane. Thank you for choosing my little blog to follow.

It`s a colour challenge over at Simply Less is More and this weeks colours are;

                          

CHOCOLATE MINT

                         
Mmmm lovely colours but how to use them on a card was a tad baffling. So...when you run out of ideas, make a Christmas card.

I`ve also got a bit greedy and have plain and milk chocolate.
I used dark chocolate card for the base, made a panel from white linen card and rounded one corner.
The tag is made from an offcut of white linen card using a Die-Namics tag die.
I made the banner from Pink Petticoat 
Swiss Dots DP in milk chocolate using the corner of a square nestie to make the fishtail.
I stamped the sentiment, Papermania`s Joyeaux Noel set, in Versacolour Brown ink onto pale green vellum and embossed with clear EP before wrapping it around the tag.
I punched a snowflake from pale green glitter card ( think it should`ve been a bit bigger now) punched a hole in the top of the tag and tied some green twine to it and there you have it.
Definitely a non traditional Christmas card is ever there was one.

There is mention on more than one of the design teams blogs of chocolate goodies like Aero and After Eights which is far too tempting for a chocoholic like me so I`m off to see what I can find in the treat tin.

Edited to add; I got so carried away thinking about chocolate that I forgot to thank the girls for showcasing my sketch week card. So sorry, I`m chuffed to bits.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 187

Hello!
As it`s a 5 saturday month we have a Lucky Dip at the Simply Less is More challenge 
and the theme is BESIDE THE SEA.

I masked and chalked the sand, sea and sky on my panel then stamped the grasses from Inkadinkado in Versafine black ink.
I hand drew the birds ( about as arty as I get I`m afraid) and added a conch shell bead before mounting it on the base card using foam pads.

I can`t say I`m much of a seaside person really, I prefer the countryside but if I could find a nice little quiet cove that no one else knew about, I`d settle for that. I hate the commercialised seaside towns full of amusement arcades and fairground rides. Blimey I`m getting miserable in my old age lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 186

Hi there,
Wow two weeks on the trot, this has to be good. This week at Simply Less is More we have a sketch,

I do love a sketch and this is such a nice simple one.

I`ve gone with Chrissies idea and decided to make a start on my Christmas cards.
I`ve used 6x6 white linen card for the base.
The panel is also linen card which I`ve inked in various shades of blue ink for the sky.
The die cut is Memory Box  and I`ve added some glamour dust along the top and a tiny bit of yellow glitter in the windows.
I stamped a star that went horribly wrong so I`ve had to use a clear gem one over the top. Not too happy about that.
The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with a nestie labels 4 die.

I`ve enjoyed this so much I`m thinking of doing another one, just can`t make up my mind which image to use.


Thanks for popping in... Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 185

Hi there I`m back.
I haven`t felt much like crafting for the past few weeks but decided I needed to get back in the saddle so to speak and what better time than for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge.
The theme this week is ANIMAL. Anything from the animal kingdom will do with plenty of whitespace.

Not alot of `white` space but still CaS enough I hope.
I`ve used this cute little mouse from a Penny Black set, coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
The bright pink of the balloon is almost identical to the pink card irl but looks much brighter on here.
I`ve cut the white panel at an angle then staggered the bottom piece with the sentiment, also from the same set and mounted it with foam pads.
Hopefully now I`ve started I will get back into it and join in more often again.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 182

Hi there

I`m extremely late with my entry for this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More which is Anything Goes.
I think this was a special treat for us as it was Chrissies birthday earlier in the week.
It also happens to be my sons birthday today. He is, as I type, doing a sponsored bike ride from St Helens to Hull in aid of the Steve Prescott Foundation which donates funds to cancer research. The ride was organised and sponsored by his work Arco hdc and some of their customers and there are 20 empoyees involved. They are actually doing the ride over two days so it works out about 73 miles per day so not too bad and then they are doing a lap of honour around the KC stadium when they return tomorrow, hopefully at half time at the rugby match.
My mojo has deserted me once again and I was struggling to come up with a card for him and also for LiM, then I remembered this digi image from Just Inklined. 

and I couldn`t resist.
I`ve coloured it with Promarkers.
Mounted it onto some orange card with foam pads and made a banner with a PC generated sentiment.

My soap opera of a life should come to a conclusion this week. Hopefully things will work out as they should and we can get back to some sort of normality. I`ll keep you posted.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 181

Hi there,

Sorry, it`s been awhile again. We`re having a few problems here on the homefront at the moment. Nothing too serious but they have kept me out of the craftroom for a couple of weeks. Just another drama in the soap opera that is my life lately. Hopefully everything will be sorted in a couple of weeks and I`ll get some positive story lines lol.

So...it`s theme week at Simply Less is More and the theme this time is a song title...Singing in the Rain.
We can use elements of any part of the song, just let our imaginations run. I think this card and particularly the sentiment, sum thing up perfectly at the moment.

I`ve used papers from Docrafts Back to Basics 1V.
The umbrella die is by Die-Namics.
The sentiment is computer generated and I`ve added some tiny clear gems for rain drops.

Speaking of rain drops...we were promised torrential rain and thunder storms for around 5 this morning. Not that it would have bothered me, I love a good thunder storm and I have been awake long before this for weeks, not sleeping very well, so I was quite disappointed when all we got was watery sunshine. We did get a heavy down pour this afternoon but nothing to write home about. I do hope the rest of you in the UK haven`t had the very worst of the storms.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Pixies Crafty Snippets # 132

Good Evening All,
Well we have a beautiful evening here at the moment, warm sunshine with a hint of a breeze, which is a complete contrast to the pounding rain that woke us at 4 this morning. I haven`t seen rain that heavy since the floods of 2007. Luckily it didn`t last long enough to cause any damage I don`t think.
Right, onto my card for this weeks Pixies Crafty Snippets and then I explain why I made it.

The image is Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
The panel that the image is stamped on, the DP and the card for the letters and sentiment are all snippets.

Last saturday (28th June) we held a fundraising event for the Oakley Waterman Foundation which is a charity that provides caravan holidays on a luxury site for the families of children that are suffering  or recovering from serious illness. My grandaughter Ruby, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer over two years ago, was lucky to be given a holiday along with the rest of her family. The caravan is sited in Devon and that is now Ruby`s most favourite place on earth. She is doing wonderfully well by the way and her last scan showed no signs of cancer for which we are more than grateful.
Ben, a friend of Ruby`s dad, heard about this charity and organised the event almost single handed but with some generous donations of a Bouncy Castle and the use of the Community Centre for free.
Unfortunately the weather was appalling, dull and very cold and our City Council had organised the Lord Mayors Parade and a party to celebrate Hull getting City of Culture status in the city centre on the same day so turnout was poor to say the least.
I took some of my cards along and despite lots of positive feedback and some lovely compliments, I only managed to sell 2. However...I met Bens daughter Ellie who is about 8 I think and was desperate to buy one of my cards for her baby cousin Corey just because he`s the best cousin ever and he`s so cute. All I had taken were some new baby cards and some childrens birthday cards. Because she was such a lovely little girl I promised her I would make a card especially for her to give to Corey and this is it.
Sorry, I know that was a long winded way to put it and if you`re still with me...thanks!

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 179

Hi there, I`m back after being MIA for a while. I`ll explain later. First though I`d like to say a big welcome to Rachel. Thank you for following my blog.

 This week at Simply Less is More 
is a colour challenge and it is to use Earth Tones.
I love the rich autumnal colours and couldn`t wait to get stuck in,

The blocks of colour are actually some that I did for watercolour week but didn`t get time to use, so I thought I`d put them to good use today. I`ve sponged the edges and corners with inks to give them some depth and then a slight spray of gold spritzing ink.
The die is Memory Box Flutter Vine cut from some patterned green DP but the pic doesn`t do it justice.
I`ve added some bronze coloured pearls and a sentiment from Waltzing Mouse.

So I haven`t been around much and I apologise for my lack of commenting. There I am sorting, pricing and boxing cards for the summer fayre when a rotten cold bug decided to pay a sudden visit. Then it took up residence in my sinus`s and on my chest and laid me low for over a week. I did manage to do the fayre but it was such a cold miserable day I don`t think I did myself any good really. I`m feeling much better now, just a nasty lingering cough but it`s so tiring. Anyway I`m on the mend so I`ll be posting a bit more often this week.
Not sure how much we raised at the fayre yet but Hull City Council decided to put the Lord Mayors Parade and a free party to celebrate Hull getting City of Culture status on the same day so the turnout was pretty poor. Such a shame because a lot of people had put alot of effort in. I think we`re going to try and organise something else at a later date.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Pixies crafty snippets wk 130

Hi There!

Before I start...Is anyone elses blogger playing up? In the list of all the blogs I follow I`m only getting one at a time. with the `View More` button under it but that doesn`t work. I`ve tried rebooting and gone to another pc but it`s still the same.
So frustrating !!!

Anyway I`m popping in with a couple of cards for the playground over at Pixies Crafty Snippets.

His and Hers Fanciful Feathers.
The bits of card are off cuts from other projects. The panels have been embossed with a Swiss Dots folder and the banner I`ve made by using a corner of a square nestie..
The papers for `hers` are from 2 Crafty Impressions paper packs ( I only know that because I tucked the snippets back inside the packs lol)
The feathers are cut using Fanciful Feathers die from Wplus9.
The Celebrate ( Die-versions) is cut from a very tiny piece of silver glitter card.
I`ve added white Pearl Maker to decorate the feathers and a small heart shaped gem.
`His` papers are from 2 Papermania Capsule packs, a brown one and a very old yellow/orange one.
The Celebrate for this one is from the same snippet as the orange feather.
I`ve used small brown pearls to decorate the feathers.

I must say I was chuffed to bits to see I`d won the gorgeous little duck stamp in last weeks challenge especially after the cufuffle I caused at the duck pond. Thank you Di and thank you all for your lovely comments.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 177

Hi there!
I`m popping in today to share my cards for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which is to
                                                             USE WATERCOLOUR
I had a bit of a moment when I saw this challenge. Anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot paint to save my life. Skirtingboards, door jamb or even a door at a pinch and I`m fine but pictures...no chance. My fingers refuse to do what my brain is telling them so I just don`t do it.
However...after careful consideration, I realised that even I can do a colour wash, so that`s what I did. Not earth shattering or even remotely artistic but it kept me out of mischief for a while. Naturally once I got started I couldn`t stop at one , so I have three cards to share.

I used Luninart Shimmer paints, which leave a lovely sheen, on Papermill Linen card. Although it did curl a bit, it was quite easy to straighten afterwards.
On this one I used a blue in various strengths then picked up a tiny bit of pink here and there. Once dry I spritzed with some blue shimmer mist but it`s difficult to see on the pic.
I stamped my image ( Inkadinkado) in black Versafine and cut out the sentiment in purple card using a Die-namics die.

This one is made the same as above but using different shades and strengths of pink shimmer paints.
Once dry I stamped the text stamp ( IndigoBlu) in Memento Rose bud ink.
Once that was dry I stamed the leaf (Hero Arts) in clear ink and embossed in detail gold EP.
The sentiment is by Flourishes.

This one is done in green shimmer paint with a little yellow added in parts. Over stamped with the text stamp again in Memento Olive grove. Once dry I stamped and embossed the Leaf ( Papertrey inc) in gold EP.
The sentiment ( Penny Black) is cut out in gold card.

Since I`ve made these I thought of loads of other designs and if I get time I might indulge myself. Got quite a busy week ahead getting everything ready for our summer fayre fundraising event ( a great opportunity to get rid of some junk on the bric a brac stall)

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Ooh Baby, Baby.

Hi there,
By heck I`m on a roll this week, don`t know what`s up but I`m enjoying it lol.
But first I`d like to welcome ScrappyMo as my new follower. Thank you for choosing my little blog :-)

I`m here to share a couple of baby cards I made over the weekend. I`m entering them into Pixies snippets challenge to make up for upsetting the playground with my unfortunate comment. I also want to say that to redeem myself I popped along to the local park and bought some duck food this morning. I would send it on for use in the duck pond but on the way home I was mugged by a couple of mallards and a swan. I think it`s called Karma !!!

I`m also entering them into Darnell`s NBUS challenge 

Although for this challenge it`s `Anything Goes`, the emphasis is on friendship and mine are baby cards, my excuse is that you have to pretty friendly to produce a baby AND babies are usually friendly creatures aren`t they?  ( I did say it was an excuse)
Right, I`ll stop waffling and show my cards,

Everything on them is a snippet apart from the base card and the pearls.
All the DP`s are from the snippets box, the white panels are made from the backs of cards that I`ve messed up stamping onto.
The tags are from the strip that is left over after cutting an A4 sheet into a 15x15 square.
The vellum that I`ve stamped on is from sheets that have random bits punched and cut out and the `Baby` die is cut from tiny snippets.
For Darnell`s challenge, my `Never Before Used Stuff` is, the Baby die, although I`ve only owned it for two weeks, and the tag. Now I have used some of the larger tags from this set but this is the first time I`ve used this smaller one. And lastly, the `Welcome` stamp. It`s from a Flourishes set that I`ve had for about 5 years and I`ve never inked that particular stamp before now. I know ...I`m pushing it a bit..

Phew, if you`re still with me and not totally confused, thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Pixies crafty snippets # 129

Hi there,
I`m here today with a card I made for the fund raising box but with Pixies crafty snippets in mind too as I`ve raided the bit box especially.

The DP is by Shabby Princess, the floral one on the base card is actually two pieces joined in the middle.The panel is taken right to the edge so as not to see the join and is adhered to a snippet of grey/blue card that I first punched with a MS punch.
The frame is cut from a snippet of white card, left over when using an A4 sheet to make a 15x15 square card. I`ve used two Nestie Labels 4 dies.
The sentiment is computer generated and the flowers are from my stash but the leaves are from a small scrap of paper printed with Swiss Dots from Pink Petticoat.
Although I always go to my snippet box before resorting to using a new sheet of card or paper, my pile doesn`t seem to be going down much. I have a sneaky feeling that the snippet fairies have been dumping other peoples papers in my box ;-)

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 176

Hello There!

First I`d like to welcome Ileana, my new follower. Thank you for choosing my blog to follow and there is no need to apologise, your english is terrific. 100% better than my Italian :)

The challenge this week at Simply Less is More is One Layer, Off the Edge. Nowhere near as daunting as the last time we had this challenge way back in week 6. I`m hoping my designs have improved with time too.

A fluttering of butterflies trying to escape lol.
I used one of the butterflies from Elusive Images ( now Chocolate Baroque) butterfly set. I masked the bottom one but then gave each of them a tiny bit more space as they reached the top of the card, stamping each one `Off the edge`. Then coloured them using the brightest markers I could find.
I added a bit of chrystal Glamour Dust to their bodies for some sparkle.
The sentiment is a joint effort, Birthday is Layers of Color and Wishes is Flourishes. org.

Well after a few days of glorious warm sunshine, we awoke this morning to cloud and drizzle. Perfect for crafting but not so nice for anyone trying to enjoy the great outdoors.
One thing I`m appreciating more and more since leaving work is being able to spend more time in the garden just watching the birds and wildlife. We have regular visits from Blue Tits, Gold Finches and a pair of Robins and we have a resident field mouse that keeps us amused for hours. We have an old toilet that I`ve planted up which sits in a corner of the garden and Mr Mouse has taken up residency there. He has a burrow which runs from the front of the toilet to the bit where the cistern should sit and he steals bird and fish food and hides it away in there. We also have a small bird house which hangs on the fence quite near the toilet and he climbs the fence to get at the mealworms in fat that I put in ( sounds like something from I`m a Celebrity).
As long as he stays in the garden and doesn`t decide to migrate to the house, I`m quite happy.
I`m sure many of you have much more exciting visitors than us but considering we live right on the edge of an industrial estate, it`s not bad going.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx

The Shabby Tea Room # 222 Lavendar & Lace

Hi There!
Popping by today to share a card I`ve made for this weeks challenge at The Shabby Tea Room which is to use Lavendar & Lace on our cards.
I`ve been promising myself that I`ll join in with alot more challenges now I`m not working but the weeks go by in a flash and all my good intentions go with them. I`m hoping to put that right now and get back to regular entries to TSTR.

I`ve used a topper that the lovely Tracey sent me ages ago from Cardmakers Delights. 
The more solid DP is a piece left over from a set from Kameo cards that I`ve had for years and the floral DP is a download but I can`t remember where from.
I`ve used a small piece of lace from my stash and cut out a doily from a Cheery Lynn designs die.
The flowers are also from my stash and I`ve added a couple of Chloe stems from Memory Box.
The Butterfly is a Martha Stewart Punch and I`ve added some tiny white pearls.

It`s far too hot in the loft today so I`m off to enjoy the sun in the garden for a while. Enjoy your day whatever you`re doing.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 175 take 2

Hi There!
A quick post from me today with another card for this weeks Simply Less is More 
challenge which is to use the Colours in your Bedroom.

I`ve used a duvet cover as my inspiration again for this one which is a faux patchwork pattern.
The papers are all snippets but I haven`t a clue who designed them. I`ve cut them out using a Spellbinders Hexagon die.
The `Smile` die is Penny Black and I`ve added a few tiny pink gems to finish.
I`m also entering this into Di`s Pixies Crafty Snippets 
wk 128.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 175

Hi There!
It`s the first saturday of the month so that can only mean one thing...it`s a colour challenge over at Simply Less is More and this week it`s
                                                THE COLOURS IN YOUR BEDROOM
My bedroom is mainly white with pink accessories, white walls and white wardrobes but it gives me a chance to go mad with the pinks without it looking like a boudoir. Also, I`m not too limited to choice of bed linen. My favourite duvet cover at the moment is white with pastel polka dots on and this gave me the inspiration for my card.

I love the fresh, springlike look of these colours.
I stamped one of the circles from Artemio in Versacolor Cyan, Pink and Memento New Sprout on the parts of the card base that the die cut would lay.
Placed the die cut, Flutter Vine by Memory Box, with foam pads and added my sentiment from Avery Elle Lots of Love set.
I finished off with tiny gems, one of each colour.

We are having a fundraising event at the end of the month and I needed some small quick cards that I can sell cheaply and I think this might just do the trick.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 174 take 3

Hi There,
Considering I`ve spent the majority of my cardmaking life making twee flowery or cute and lacy baby cards, nobody can be more surprised than me at how much I`m enjoying playing with my grunge stamps. Having said that, I hope I`m not coming across as some old bird trying to be young and trendy . My daughter was impressed though...or she could have just been shocked that I even knew what grunge was lol.

I woke up the other morning with an idea running through my head ( now that doesn`t happen very often) so I just went with it and this is the result, `His & Hers Grunge`,

I`ve used the same stamps on both cards although they are not identical.
I used Kaisercraft Stains and Artemio circles stamped in a variety of colours. Made the alpha`s from scrap bits of card  using Die-Namics dies and placed them with foam pads.
The sentiment is computer generated.

Right...I might get my hair dyed green and have some piercings done, get down with the kids and...maybe not.

This is my third entry in this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which is to use more than one stamp, I`ve used 4.
I`m also entering  Pixies Snippets Playground
as I`ve used a tiny bit of my mountain of snippets.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 174 take 2

Hi there!
I`d firstly like to welcome my 2 new followers Kathy K and Diana from Scraps by Diana. Thank you for choosing my blog to follow x

I`m back with another card for this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More which is to use more than one stamp.
Mr Mojo was still sulking somewhere after I`d made yesterdays card so I had a quick trawl through Pinterest to try to kick his bum into gear. It seems to have worked as I`ve made this card and I`m rather pleased with it;

As Fathers day is coming up in the UK I thought I`d get a head start.
I`ve used 5 stamps from the Artemio Circles set stamped in Memento Pear tart, and Versacolor, Cyan, Sand Beige and Brown.
I die cut the letters ( Die-namics) in bright blue, tan and bright green card to match the stamping and placed using foam pads.

We are having beautiful weather in Hull today and after almost a week of constant rain it is most welcome. We decided to make the most of it and head for the seaside for  fish and chips this afternoon. After an hour playing the 2p slider machine ( Tipping Point) and spending the pricely sum of £2.50 each we went for a walk along the sea front and it was rather nippy, so we beat a hasty retreat to sun ourselves in the garden. More rain forecast for tomorrow. I`ve asked Alan to start building an Ark.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 174

Hi There!
It`s a Lucky Dip week at Simply Less is More as it`s the fifth saturday of the month and this weeks challenge calls for us to use                    MORE THAN ONE STAMP

I`ve been treating myself this week and bought some stamps and dies so I`ve put them to use today.

I`ve tried to be cool and trendy but I`m not at all sure if I`ve pulled it off or not, or whether it`s CaS enough lol.
I`ve used Kaisercraft Triangles stamped in Memento Bahama Blue and Stains in Memento Tangelo and Pear tart.
I`ve used a couple of yellow snippets for the banners and cut out ENJOY from Penny Black dies in bright blue card.

I`ve had hubby home all week so this is the first chance I`ve had to get in the craft room all week and now I`m up here Mr Mojo has gone on strike.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 173

Hi There!
Anyone who follows my blog regularly will know just how much I love my dies so you will understand how chuffed I was when I saw this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More was to use a DIE CUT.
This is what I made,

I started by embossing a square onto a 6x6 card base using a square nestie, masked it off then sponged it in very pale pink decorative chalk.
I made the vase by cutting out an oval shape with a nestie, then cutting across the top with another oval to make the opening. I cut  straight across the bottom with scissors for the base, chalked that in pale pink with a little darker pink along the bottom and one side to give it some depth, then ran it through the cuttlebug with a swirl EF.
I cut the foliage, Memory Box Flutter Vine in pale green card and the flowers, also MB Dancing Tulips, in white card. I coloured the flowers with Promarkers and cut the stems to fit the vase.
I slightly curved the vase with a bone folder and used a big blob of silicone glue to adhere it to the card base and slotted in my flowers and foliage while the glue was still pliable.
The word dies are from Britannia Dies cut from white card and adhered with a quickie glue pen.
I`ve got a family birthday coming up next month so I think this will do very nicely.

Not a very nice day today, in fact in feels more like october than nearly june. I`m hoping it`s going to improve soon as I`m sick to death of rain already. I`m sure I`m solar powered.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Second post for Less is More

Hi There!
It will be my daughter and son in laws wedding anniversary at the week end so I thought I`d kill two birds, so to speak, and make another card for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which is flowers.

I`ve been getting messy with this one.
I started off with a square of white card and using various inks and chalks in differing shades of red it became a red square. Once the ink was dry I gave it a quick squirt of gold Do Crafts spritzing ink.
Once that was dry I added some homemade embossing paste dyed red with water colour paint and a sprinkling of gold glitter whilst still wet.
To finish off I cut out a leaf from a Poppy stamps die and trimmed it down a bit, punched two daisies and placed them one over the other and added a gold flat backed pearl to the centre. A small gold heart from a X Cut punch and sentiment from Flourishes Tag Lines.
I`m pleased with how this has turned out and might have another go with a different colour background.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 172

Hi There!
First I`d like to welcome my new follower, thank you for choosing my little blog to follow.

I had full intentions of making my card for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge yesterday. Both the Alans ( husband and son) went down to Wembly to watch Hull City in the FA cup final so I had the day to myself. However, it was far to hot and sunny to be in the loft so I was very lazy and sat in the garden for most of the day. It did give me a chance to come up with some ideas though and I did get a tad carried away and made 3 cards.
The theme for this week is flowers, this is what I came up with,

I did one of those silly quiz things on facebook a couple of weeks ago and apparently if I was a flower I would be a daisy. I must have taken it to heart because I`ve gone daisy mad lol.
For my first card I stamped the background from Paper Smooches Kissables set 1 in orange Versacolor.
The leaf is die cut from a Poppystamps die and adhered using foam pads.
The daisies are punched from white paper and the middles from orange paper.
The sentiment is from Wplus9.

For my second card I stamped the Flourishes Gerbera daisy set and after colouring with markers I cut out a rectangle keeping as many of the flowers in view as possible.
I cut out a larger rectangle in white card and mounted them using foam pads.
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Lines.

Last one and I cut 2 small panels, one slightly larger than the other, rounded the corners off with a corner punch and mounted them one on top of the other using foam pads.
The leaf is again from Poppystamps and the flower is Sizzix Gerbera Daisy die set. I added a brad to the centre of the flower and placed it on the leaf.
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Lines also with rounded corners.

As you can see the weather has been lovely again today giving me the chance to take my pics outside for a change. I`m certainly making the most of it as it`s going to change again in a couple of days, ho hum!

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

A fairy for Megan

Hi There!
Pfffth!  What has happened to the weather? I am so sick of rain, rain and more rain. But...we have been promised that better weather is on the way so fingers crossed. What bit of tan I got on holiday is fading and needs topping up fast.
So, to make up for grey skies I have made a bright and cheerful card for a lady(?) that I used to work with to give to her grandaughter.

I have used the fairy, `on tiptoe` from LOTV and coloured her with markers, then added a bit of glamourdust here and there.
The background DP is Pink Petticoat, Vintage Roses and the strip of DP is Papermania.
I`ve cut out a doily using a Cheery Lynn die.
The flowers are from my stash as are the large pink pearls, the lace and the number 6.
I didn`t have the right shade of pink ribbon for the bow so I coloured some white with a Spectrum Noir pen. Really pleased with how it`s turned out.
The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with a tag punch.
Oh, and I added a small pearl heart too, nearly forgot about that.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

The frugal (cheapskate) way to craft storage

Hi there!
Whether you`re crafting on a budget or would simply sooner spend your hard earned cash on crafty goodies rather than somewhere to keep it all, we all need affordable storage. These are my very cheap, sometimes free options.

These drawers are ace. Even better, they were free. Alan scrounged them for me when a local office was having a refurb. They are perfect for all my A4 card, photo copy paper and coloured paper..
The liitle stacking drawers on top were £1 from Poundland DIY dept, great for buttons and brads.

These clear plastic boxes are also from Poundland and are ideal for keeping my flowers in. I have 4 and because they`re clear I can see at a glance which colour is in which box.

These A4 boxes from `Really Useful Box` are a bit more expensive, 4 for £10 from Doncaster market but they are very strong. I keep all my card and patterned paper snippets in them, again one colour, one box ( more or less)

Ok, so this isn`t pretty but who really cares? There`s only me to look at them. Empty icecream tubs for ribbon and twine. And you get to eat the ice cream first. They are all stacked  in an old vegetable rack that slots neatly away when not in use.

Empty biscuit and sweet tins are a great way to store small items like tubs of embossing powders and glitter.

Last but not least...markers. I used to keep these in old biscuit tins but I got sick of having to rake about to find a particular colour. I toyed with the idea of buying custom made storage but it aint cheap, then I saw someone who used a wooden wine rack. Great idea but they are quite expensive too so I was stumped.
Then the other day whilst rearranging the craft room I hit upon this idea, tried it and it works a treat.
Two old CD racks with compartments made by using thin cd jewel cases. The more of one colour pen you have the bigger the compartment you can make. They sit, singly, on my desk and I go straight to a colour without having to rake about.

I still have to find a better way to store my inks. At the moment they are sitting in a cardboard candle box with compartments but, being cardboard its sagging dangerously now. If anyone can think of a better, very cheap way please let me know.

It would be interesting to hear of your frugal storage tips, the cheaper the better. I`m sure we`d all prefer spending on stamps than boxes.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx