Good morning and it is a lot warmer today.  The forecast for Derby is showers with thunder but certainly higher temperatures which will suit Christiana.

It is only a quick post today as I have all and saundry coming to the kitchen today and a snag list as long as your arm.  It wouldnt be too bad but Paul has had to go into work so I have to deal with it alone, yikes.  I will have to have a coffee or two before folk arrive.

Yesterday was a day painting and looking at some swaps to take to Telford.  We did go out to eat and I think that may be the last time but I am not counting my chickens before they hatch.

Here are the cards that I made for Sophia and Katerinas birthday.  These are my daughters and they were 25 years old on Sunday.

These were created using the large alphabet dies, stamping with floral stamps and colouring them in with just 3 colours.  Yes only 3, I was so tempted to add more but I am learning that less is more.
The cards were posted out and received in just 4 days, that is the fastest post to Cyprus yet and they loved them.  I cant wait to see the girls as it feels such a long time since we were together.  I am planning to go out in a few weeks because....I can.

Today I am finishing off a few cards and generally keeping out of the way of the kitchen fitters.  Thanks for having a read and have a terrific Tuesday x




Product List

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

[110755]

Large Letters Framelits Dies

[141712]

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

[140490]

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

[144083]

Berry Burst A4 Cardstock

[144249]

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

[126973]

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

[131173]

Bank Holiday Monday

Good morning and welcome not only a new week but a new month already.  Dont they just fly by?
I hope you had a good weekend.  Ours was spent painting the kitchen and having meals out, it wont be long before I start to compile a book - Eating out in Derby.

Lots of lovely folk had birthdays over the weekend.  I shall start the week by sharing the card that I made for Brother in Law.

And a bit of a close up

I think it was a bit dusty by the time he got it but he didnt mind.  I had a set of stamps in my stash and used Stampin' Up! card and colours to finish it all off.  He was very pleased with it, despite his team not doing so well on Friday night (Derby County).  I am very happy to show folks how to make this card, just get in touch and we can arrange a date.

I have to go and get some train tickets this morning for my weekend away and grab a few bits from the shop.  Then it is back to painting the kitchen before the builders, plumbers, electrician and kitchen fitters turn up tomorrow.  Thank you for having a read and I wish you a very happy Bank Holiday Monday xx




Product List

Basic Black A4 Card Stock

[121688]

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

[140490]

Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers

[131261]

Aqua Painters

[103954]

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

[110755]

Day one of the rest of my life

Good morning today is the very first day of my retirement and what a day it is going to be.  Despite the weather we are going to Victoria Tea Room for lunch with Mum and Dad, it is Easter after all.  The first time Christiana has been in England during Easter.  It isnt as elaborate as Cyprus but we shall try and do something special each day.

Just look at this lovely egg that Sheila made for us.  Thank you so much. She has used the wonderful Tag Top Punch which is just so useful for many different things.

I cant tell you what amazing friends I have, I do feel truly blessed.

The kitchen is coming along nicely and despite a few hiccups which need to be addressed, I am sure it will be fantastic when it is finished.  One good piece of news is that we now have a sink whoop whoop.  No more using the bathroom sink nor the bath to rinse pots through.  That is a great advantage.  Washing is still being done at mums but on Tuesday, we should have all the electrics up and running.

Stamperettes has started.  If you havent yet passed on your order can you let me have it as soon as possible please.  I think this is so exciting.  The hostesses have been drawn and I shall be sending out an email to everyone who is in this series.  If you would like to find out more about the Stamperettes, do get in touch.

Here is a recent card made for the Anniversary of Rob and Nat.

I do like this stamp, it is a very old one and used quite often.  All the card and ink used were from Stampin' Up!

Right then, off to start my day and it is my bedroom that is getting the once over as well as to start the painting of the ceiling and the walls.....must go and buy the paint.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a great day.  Tracey x

Product List

Tag Topper Scalloped Punch

[133324]

Very Vanilla A4 Thick Cardstock

[144238]

Early Espresso A4 Card Stock

[121686]

Tuesdays Twitter

 Good morning and whilst it is a bit wet in Derby, it isnt cold.  Rain is forecast on and off all day but we dont mind that.

Yesterday was very good at the hospital, the doctor explained so much to us and we went away feeling a lot better about Christiana condition.

Here is another swap card to share with you, which I think is lovely.  I will certainly take part in another swap, I just have to find one now.  If you know of any, please let me know.

Did you know that there is just 1 DAY left to join the Stamperettes.  This is where 10 folk agree to spend £15 per month for 10 months on Stampin' Up! goodies.  During these 10 months, each person will be a virtual hostess and get at least an additional £15 to spend.  Of course, on top of this you get all the catalogues FREE, all the occasional brochures FREE and the use of The Craft Room to hold your own Stampin' Up! party if you want to, each and every month.  There will also be a few little freebies included with each order during this series if you supply your own bag when collecting goodies.  It isnt very often you get something for nothing.

ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT to grab yourself a bargain or two with Stampin' Up! Sale a Bration.  FREE goodies for every £45 you spend on products.  If that wasnt enough if you wanted to join Stampin' Up! for the cost of £99 you get

• £130 worth of SU goodies that you pick yourself
• Choose an additional TWO stamp sets up to the value of £45 each
• FREE delivery of all products to your door

A great offer and if you need more information or help please, do get in touch.

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT before I retire.  It will be a weight off my shoulders not to have to think about going to work anymore and who knows what may lay ahead. 

Right, I had best get a wiggle on or the day will pass by without me.  Thanks for having a read and if you would like more information about anything Stampin' Up! why not call in this evening or tomorrow morning.  Tracey x

Good Morning Monday

Good morning and what a lovely morning I am expecting it to be, weather wise.

Yesterday was also nice, so good that we went to Darley Park for an hour with Christiana in the wheelchair.  Some of those hills are a bit steep lol but what a view.

We have been out to a mexican this weekend and boy was it good.  I only had the plain chicken fajitas and it was lovely.  Christiana and Paul enjoyed theirs too.  Yesterday it was a good proper Sunday lunch with ALL the veg plus a few more bits at Mum and Dads.  Meals this week are just about sorted out as well, which is always good when you don't have cooking facilities.

We are off to see the Consultant today, for Christiana.  Not sure how long our appointment will be but we do know that when we get home, the kitchen fitters will be here, installing the units, well I do hope that they will be.

Here is a card that I received recently in a swap I took part in.  It has been created on watercolour card with a few stamps and is stunning in real life.  Thank you Jayne.

Off to start our day, quite a lot to do as and when we can.  Have a lovely Monday and thank you for taking the time to have a read.  Tracey x

Truly Tailored Monday

Good morning, I hope everyone had a good weekend.  We had a bit more snow, quite a bit of ice and most plans scuppered but never mind. 

This week we shall be having a Truly Tailored week.  Truly Tailored is a stamp set with matching papers, ribbon, punch, buttons etc. in the Spring/Summer Catalogue and it is fantastic for mens cards.

Here is a card that was made by a fellow crafter using the set. 

I received this as part of a swap I did recently and it is lovely.  I hope to share more cards with you over the week.  And to end the week we shall have a crafty night using this set, as well as others.  There are just a couple of spaces available if you fancy crafting on Friday night. Please get in touch if you do.

ONLY 12 DAYS of Sale a Bration left.  There is still time to hold your own crafty get together in The Craft Room, still time to get your hands on some of the wonderful free items, still time to join my growing team and get lots of benefits and still time to pop over, have a cuppa and a crafty chat. 

The kitchen now has a new floor whoop whoop. The plumber came on Thursday and on Friday when I saw the radiators I mentioned to the builder that I thought they were too big.  I was correct so now the plumber has to come back today and sort them.  Along with him, the electrician is coming, the kitchen man is coming as well as the kitchen fitter so it is going to be a busy day.  I shall not be staying in the craft room, I hope to be included in all these conversations with the different chappies so that I know what is going on. 

Right, I best get in that shower, put cups in the conservatory and go and get the craft room warm.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful day.  Tracey x

Embossing part 2

Good morning, a wet start to the day but at least the blue bin men came this morning.  Due to the snow two weeks ago we havent seen them for 4 weeks.

We had a bit more bad news with the kitchen.  Not only do the floor boards have woodworm but so do the joists, yikes.  Rob, my brother in law is Rentokil in the area so he popped over to have a look for me.  We have the common wood furniture woodworm and he explained how it all works, yaks....I will not go into detail.  Unfortunately we have to have new joists and this will add more time on to the building works so the chappies are going to come in on Saturday to catch up.

I spent time in and out of the craft room doing a bit of this and a bit of that but the day went by really quickly.  Christiana had a pj day, again.  She isnt feeling the best but she doesnt know why.  Hopefully a bit of fresh air later will help.  We are off to the TB clinic today to see what they say about my dormant TB which I have been told is called Latent TB.

As mentioned earlier in the week, we had an embossing day and these are the folders that we embossed with, stamped with and coloured.  Some lovely backgrounds were created.

Here you can see the difference between the embossed and debossed side being coloured in with the sponge roller.

Some embossing folders that we didnt colour, just showing the correct way of putting them in a big shot, with the SU logo showing and the hinged end first.

 The folder was gently rubbed over with Old Olive Ink.  When it went through the machine a sponge was used on the leaves and it shows up the outlines a lot clearer.

 Again as well as the plain embossed folder, using the sponger brayer you can create a lovely background either inking the embossed or debossed side.

 This was one of Debbies word dies, showing how not to colour in as you get the mirror image but if you gently use a roller rather than dabbing ink onto the folder, it looks very nice.

 This shows how to stamp another image onto the embossing folders before running them through the big shot and the effect that you can have.

 

There are only another couple of weeks left of the Sale a Bration, if you would like to have a Stampin' Up! party or go to the next Stampin' Up! class, please do let me know.

I had best do a bit of pottering while I can.  Thanks for having a read and have a wonderful weekend.  Tracey x

Embossing

Good morning and another bright start to the day.  Yesterday we had a few hours out, visiting sis, another meal out and Christiana had her hair cut.  Todays plans are to go to Morrisons for lunch and then a day in the craft room really.

The kitchen works are coming on well, with the exception of wood worm.  We have wood worm throughout the floor so we have to change that.  The builders are very tidy and clean up all the time and so very polite.  Once they left last night I went to wash the pots but no hot water???  Christiana said that she was feeling rather cold so I put the heating on but nothing happened. oh oh.  We didnt have hot water nor heating so I had to call the builders back.  Within half an hour they were here, checking everything putting the pressure back up on the boiler, checked every radiator in the house and within the hour of calling them it was all up and running again, phew.

 We had an embossing day earlier this week, trying our hands at different types of embossing and a lovely day was had by all.  Not everything worked but you dont know until you try.

This was using a glue pen, adding embossing powder and heating up.  

The embossing buddy was used on one of the pieces but not the other, we dont think it made much difference

 Here we tried using the old technique of using a tumble dry anti static wipe rather than the embossing buddy and as you can see, the anti static wipes no longer work.

 This was a trial and failure.  We did a bit of resist embossing, by using a stamp and versamark onto a card and heat setting it with clear embossing powder.  which worked.  We covered it with ink, which worked and then splashed water on it followed by embossing powder, this bit didnt heat up, but we tried

 Lots of different embossing powders and glue pens here, where they all worked.

 We got all the colours wrong on this try.  We used 4 different colours with this techique and I think it worked apart from the fact that the colours were not correct.

 A very thick embossing powder which worked perfectly

 A bit of resist heat embossing here, and coloured with the sponge brayer, worked perfectly

We also played with embossing folders but I will share those results in a couple of days.

The next Monday Play Day will be in April and we shall make boxes and bags. 

Well thanks for having a read today, I shall do a few chores before nipping off to Morrisons.  Washing of the pots is a bit of a chore but I am thankfull that we have the bathroom to do it in, even if it does take well over an hour.  It is all worth it, I am sure.  Tracey x
Product List

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Embossing Buddy

[103083]

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109131]

Basic Black A4 Card Stock

[121688]

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

Touches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[143251]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Embossing Buddy

[103083]

Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109129]

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109130]

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109131]

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109132]

Fine-Tip Glue Pen

[138309]