Elements of Style Sunday

Sunday and the day of rest, honest.  What a great weekend we have had so far.  Friday afternoon we drove to Harrogate.  We got up to the M1 island to find out it was closed so it took us an hour to get on on the motorway via another route. Never mind, we still had a good journey up, the weather was lovely and crisp and the views were amazing.  Checked into the hotel and this was waiting for us.  Just look at how each of the tails of the string had been curled, well it would have been rude not to open the box


This is what was inside.


Never have been to Harrogate before, it reminded me of Bath (another place we are re-visiting later this year).  I loved the buildings, the lights on all the trees and the atmosphere, what I didnt love was the freezing cold.  My ears tingled they were so cold.  We had a stroll around the town center, had a drink in a pub that used to be a 'spa' and just soaked it all in.  But not enough time so, we plan on returning, when its a bit warmer.

Saturday we drove to a car showroom and Paul traded in his car for another one, he is like a big kid with a new toy.  Its a lovely car though, pictures will follow tomorrow.  Then we went to Samuel Taylors craft shop which sold mostly wool!!!  Paul very kindly took me to Art from the Heart just a few miles outside Harrogate, somewhere I had been looking forward to going.  All I can say is that they have lots of bits and pieces, a bit TOO different for me but I found a couple of items that I purchased.  I think it would have been a better visit if the staff had been helpful !!!!

Back to last weekend and another of the cards that was made.  This is from the Elements of Style Stamp set.

The main image has had the leaves coloured in using a blender pen and the ink pad.  At our Stamping Saturday the image was run through the big shot which gave it a lovely textured finished, hopefully I can show you one of those later in the week.

Coming back down the motorway yesterday all the signs said

"SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS FOR TOMORROW"

Goodness knows what we are going to get today.  I hope that you all stay safe.  Katerina (youngest) is off to London by coach at 6.45 this morning, that is if I ring her and she gets up.  Thank you for having a read and I hope you have a great day of rest.

Internet is back

YEAH, I have been lost without my internet and you never realised I was missing.
 First of all Paul returned home so he was hogging the computer but he realised that we really do have some problems with it as it has been so slow and then just stopping totally.  Bless him as he has worked so hard to get it all up and running properly and, fingers crossed *whispering* it works okay for now.

So what I have I been up to.  Saturday I did the Stamping Saturday afternoon with Lesley and here are some more photographs. 

 I finally learnt how to download my photos from my i phone camera and then upload them onto blog.  Arent I doing well.

Sunday saw me hobbling around, I do mean hobbling.  Saturday was such a long day and I was standing for quite a while that I really did suffer on Sunday oh and on Monday, a little less Tuesday and today the old legs/knees/feet are a lot better. Even sitting on my craft chair causes pain but enough of that, there are a lot of people out there a lot worse off.

The snow came and went yesterday and we are forecast to have some more today, I just hope that we dont wake up to a white Derby tomorrow.

Now its time to get ready for Crafty Week.  Have you booked on yet?  It starts on Tuesday 19th and finishes on Saturday 23rd.  Quite a lot of places available at the moment but now that I have mentioned it on the blog, places will start to fill up.  Please give me a call on 01332 721877 or drop me a line at tracey.rossos2@hotmail.com to reserve your place. A deposit is required.

Here is one of the five cards that we made on Saturday.  We used the "bark or woodgrain" embossing folder as a stamp, to create a delicate background and the countryside stamp set for the main image.

 It worked lovely with Early Esspreso, crumb cake and very vanilla card.  Hope you like it.

"GONE" my November word is working great.  I have rehomed 4 large plastic boxes, some stamps that I wont be using anymore.  Two cushions that I made for a lovely little girl and boy have been put on their beds and a stash of card cut offs have been given to some children to draw on.  I now have quite a few ££s to purchase more scrapbook items, oh yes, that is what I have decided to use the ££s on.

Thanks for having a read and I do hope you are staying warm on this bitterly cold day.

Stamping Saturday

My word for February seemed to be work on day 1.  Lots of SU brochures, leaflets and other goodies were shared last night at our Derby Dabblers get together.  Although you cant purchase the majority of the items in the brochures, the colour schemes and cards that had been made are wonderful, full of inspiration.  I sold £4 worth of bits which is being saved. Here is a link to Derby Dabblers, please go and have a look at what its all about.

Today is our Stamping Saturday Afternoon, 19 ladies (still one place left, 5 cards, 5 inserts, refreshments, project details etc. for £12).  

As I am rushing around packing boxes, remembering things I have forgotten as well as wondering why I have things I dont need (already got everything but the kitchen sink), here are a few more Sale a Bration Cards. 


In a little more details





Have a lovely day today, the forecast is for sunshine but, the snow is back next week.

A sunny Saturday morning

It was the monthly Derby Dabblers get together last night and I went along and chattered to everyone there, it was lovely and so relaxing. There were 22 of us and its so nice to know that we are all still meeting up after 5 years, I am so pleased it's still going strong. Everyone is very talented and the hints and tips that are passed along are wonderful, I dont think that there is a nicer group of ladies and I feel previlaged to be part of them. There were a few new faces as well last night and I do hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did.

Being at home the last week I have been amazed at how all the flowers in my little garden have started to open up and here are two of my favourites.

This is a little poppy plant which we rescued from Wilkos looking very sorry for itself. It is full of buds and hopefully they will all open up quite soon

and this is a water iris that's in the pond. The buds on this plant always open up for my birthday which creates a lovely splash of colour in the corner of the garden. I did take lots more photographs but I dont want to bore you all with them today

I have been making some cards using the new embossing folders that Stampin' Up! have introduced and I cant stop using the square lattice one. It makes such wonderful backgrounds and Paul asked, can you stamp onto the embossed piece of card. I explained that you wouldn't get a perfect image but, if you stamped first and then ran the image through the square lattice folder it may work. Well I am pleased to say, it did work

Now I just need to find a few more hours in the day to try other things. Here is another card, clean and simple, with the motorcyle stamp and the wonderful ribbon from SU
It's very early in the morning and the temperature is already 14 degrees, it is really warm and stuffy here, maybe a day to do some more work in the garden.

Thanks for having a read and dont forget to leave a comment, please

Flower for all seasons

Tuesday already and my craft room is just about sorted after Saturday. It means I can go and play tonight, yipee.

Have you seen the Flower for all Seasons stamp set on page 46 on the catalogue. I have fallen in love with it. Guess what I am going to be doing this week, having a good old play with this set. At a price of only £10.95 + p+p for 4 stamps, it works out at less than £2.90 per stamp. What do you think about the perfectly co-ordinating thread in the buttons? If you click on the picture you will get a better look.

Have a great evening, whatever you are up to and thanks for having a read

Tracey

We had a lovely evening at the Derby Dabblers Friday night. Liz very patiently showed us how to distress....and it wasn't distressing at all (sorry). A big thank you to Liz to for introducing me to shimmers and letting us use yours. I guess that's something else I need to invest in, okay so dont need to but want to. If there are any other cardmakers or scrapbookers in the Derby area, we would love to see you at one of our monthly get togethers. You dont have to be experienced, just interested.

No card to show you at the minute as I haven't had a lot of inspiration but Ihave been looking on blog, after blog after blog and I think I may have found a little twinkling....something that may inspire me to go and do a bit of playing in the craft room (that ironing is still waiting to be done oops).

Please click on picture to get a larger (and better) view

The Animal Stories and Tall Tales designer papers go so well together that I must go and make a start. Who knows, I may be back later with something to show you.

Have a great Sunday, whatever you are doing
SECOND POST OF THE DAY
Yippee I went and played and made 4 cards, made a mess and feel a lot happier. Not happier cause of the mess but because I found mojo. I dont see how anyone can not love Tall Tale papers and Animal Stories stamp set-sorry, perhaps some people wont like it but then that is what makes us all different, our tastes. I dont want to overload you with all four photos but

I had a whale of a time making this, okay its simple but that's good to start with.

Did you know, perhaps not, but you soon will, the whale stamp is exactly the same size as the whale on the papers, good uh?
I used the new word window punch on this card AND the linen thread on the button is actually coloured with ink, although you cant really tell.
Here are the details of the word window punch

And then I have this one to show you, again its using the Tall Tales paper. The knot in the ribbon was a happy accident.

Guess what I am off to do now, yeap clean the craft room and some ironing.
Sorry about the long posts

Another busy day at work but the day soon passed. Cant believe what the weathers like out there, wet, windy and cold, when is the Summer due to arrive.

Here is a card that I made from the fun fast notes set, clean and simple. Not sure if the colours show up on here but it is goldy. I have been shown one of those little portable photo studio boxes from Maplins so I may have to invest in one.

If at first....

I wanted to use Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie cardstock together for a mans card. This was the first card that I came up with. I thought that the colours go well together but, it just wasnt quite right it was um....couldnt put my finger on it.












So then I decided to change the colours around a little and came up with this one, which I am a lot happier with.













I found some ribbon that I had in my stash, not SU but thought that the colours went well together and this was the card that the ladies at the Co-Op Guild made a couple of weeks ago.








I was going to put the first card in the bin but then I thought that I would share it with you.

Dashing Designer Papers - I will miss these

Dashing Designer papers again mixed with Real Red and Old Olive Print Designers. The candle is another part of my display.

Goodies for my workshop displays

Here are another couple of items from my goodies that I made for all the workshops that I have over the next few weeks.



I first saw a similar soap set on the SU table at Derby Uni which I believe Helen had made. Thought it was a great idea so have done something similar.

I cant believe that the Dashing Designer Series papers are in the retired list as it is one of my favourites. If you would like some of this, which is great for the festive season, please order some soon because, when it has gone, it has gone. Then again with the amount that I have been ordering stocks must already be quite low.

Apologies once more for the quality of the pictures.


A few sweeties in a bag all ready to give out. I cant tell you how hard it was to find green sweets but I managed it in the end.











Recipes

Stamp - Season of Joy
Cardstock - Real Red, Olive Green, Always Artichoke
Papers - Dashing Designer (retired list)
Accessories - Red Gingham, Scallop punches, Circle punches

Work - Home Life Balance

I have been asked to give a talk about work - home life balance and how I achieve working full time, running craft clubs, make my own cards and demo Stampin' Up!

Of course I said yes, in theory I should be up at 6.00a.m., with clothes laid out from the night before, pack up ready in the fridge, a leisurly shower and breakfast, popping breakfast pots into empty dishwasher on my way out and just go to work. Have a nice time for 8 and half hours, come home. Prepare tea with a smile on my face, eat, clean the kitchen and put dishwasher on. Perhaps washing a couple of nights a week and ironing another couple of nights. Sit down around 7ish and make cards and sort out stuff for Stampin Up Demos. Just before going to bed around 10 I should have prepared pack up, emptied dishwasher and got clothes ready for the next day.

Yikes, what have I let myself in for.

Reality is getting up at 6.30ish, quick shower, hunt for clothes. Breakfast in a rush and then make packup. All pots left on side cause dishwasher was on the previous night but no time to empty it. Have a stressful day at work. Come home, get tea on, clean up from morning and get changed. Then eat and clean up again and put dishwasher on. About half 8 panic cause I have a birthday the next day and card isnt made. Find the smallest space left on my table to make a card. Take every box out of craft stash to find what I am looking for, without putting it away (it will still be there tomorrow anyway). Make card and drag myself to bed around 11 knowing that I have an SU party at weekend, and nothing yet prepared. Washing??? Ironing??? Cleaning??? not a chance.



But on a lighter note (in between loading dishwasher and making a cuppa), here is a card which I have made for my daughter who has just set up home in Cyprus.










This is a close up of the image (which is a bit blury...no time for photography lessons) which I have stamped 4 times. The first image was stamped onto whisper white cardstock and then I used the stamp a ma jig to position the two people and the furniture. It was stamped again onto real rose designer paper, rose red card and finally onto so saffron.

I used the same colour brads on the wheels and coloured the furniture in using water crayons and the blenders.




Receipe
Cardstock - Real Read, So Saffron
Stamps - Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Papers - Designer Rose Red
Accessories - Rich Regal Brads, Blender Pens, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin Pastels