Twins 50th Birthday Cards

Good evening to all my friends and  lovely followers and apologies for taking so long since my last post. Firstly I would like to welcome my new follower Elizabeth Thank you for following my blog and I hope you continue to enjoy my posts.

My cards today are a commission I have made for a friend. They are for her twin nieces who are 50 soon. I was asked for the design of the pink card I made a while ago and  she wanted them the same but in different colours. She suggested yellow and  blue but my pearlescent paper was very gold looking not yellow at all so I decide to use lavender instead.

These are the two cards and  matching boxes.

 

 



 

 

 

The Matching Boxes

 

 

 

 

 

 Card Recipe

A4 Regency embossing folder came with my Ebosser

Pearlescent paper Anita's

White card from stash

Heartfelt Creations Aster Die

Happy birthday die cut from ebay

Butterflies Martha Stewart punch Michaels USA

Pearl trim from Whitby Crafts

Pearls from Stash

 Sewing Machine and  White topstitch thread

8x8 cards Craftwork cards

8x8 boxes Stella Crafts

 

I have got some cards made but unfortunately cannot post them yet and also I'm doing stuff on the wedding invites at  the same time. spent a while sourcing all the products things change when you want craft stuff in large quantities. I'm getting there and I 've got some stuff on order . I had a great day on Sunday went to Ross Papercraft Show at Sunderland. with my friend Barbara I think it was the best Ross show I've been to lots of demos Phil from Create and Craft was there and of course got some great bargains. I picked up some nice card and lots of lovely embellishments.

 

Hope that you are all doing Ok and having a good week with lots of crafting. I hope to get some done tomorrow. fingers crossed.

 

Thanks for all your great comments on my recent post I really have appreciated them Love Carole x

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Austin Mini Cooper Man Card my 100th post

 Good afternoon to all my lovely friends and followers and a special welcome to my new follower on Google + Emma. I've finally gotten round to doing this post the weekend seems to have passed me by and I did do a lot of crafting but some of it was commissions that I cannot post at present. The card I'm posting today is a man card yes a man card. I made it a few weeks ago not decided on a recipient yet but have a few male birthdays coming up. The stamp is a one I've used before but it does make a good man card especially if they like cars or have ever owned an old style mini.

 

Card Recipe

8x8 Card Craftwork Cards

Papers from my stash think the checked was from a magazine

Red card and Kraft card from Ross paper craft show

Mini stamps Papermania painted with distress inks the small mini covered in glossy accents

Silver embossing powder around the image

Red mesh trim Live and  Love Crafts

La La Land Banner die

Card Candi Craftwork Cards

Charm and twine from my stash

Silver peel off letters on banner from craft shop in Whitby ages ago.

 

 

I hope that you enjoy this card as I know we all really love making men cards !!  I hope you all had a lovely weekend doing what you enjoy and so sorry for those of you back at work I used to hate the first day back after holidays awful.

 

I hope to get something else done to post later in the week . Thank you all for the lovely comments you have left on my last couple of cards it means a lot to me.  Finally just to say to Debra hope you are going along Ok and that you feeling better very soon I miss your lovely cards.

  

Enjoy the rest of the week I'm doing appeals all day tomorrow but hope to go card hunting on Friday to get the right colour for the wedding invites I am doing.

 

I've just realised as posted that this is my 100th post on my blog. Wow that's a milestone .

 

 



 

 

 

 

Happy Easter

Good morning to all my lovely friends and  followers and a special welcome to my three new followers Sharon, Carole and Julie. Welcome to my Blog and I hope you enjoy my posts and  being a part of The Things I Love. I've had quite a busy week doing some prep work for the Wedding Invitations so have not had much time to do my crafting. My post today is a bit different its a stitched card I did when we were away in the Peak District in March. Its a gorgeous pattern from Stitching Cards . I've mounted it onto a card and added some simple embellishments Well for me they are !!!

 

 

 

 

Card Recipe

8x6 Deckle edge cream card Hobby Craft

Pattern Stitching Cards http://www.stitchingcards.com/

Thread Anchor Marlitt Gold, Bronze and  Green

Border bronze peel offs

Green card Bazzil

Spellbinder die

Computer generated sentiment

Daffodil flowers from my local store Boyes

Pearls Kanban

 

 

I hope that you all have a great Easter weekend I've not got a lot planned except a bit of gardening and a hairdressers appointment on Saturday. I don't like the Bank Holidays much as everywhere is always so busy. I also need a hat for a Wedding in May so may try and get an appointment at the hire place I've used before. I'm also trying to get all my commissions done so I can get them out of the way before I need to start the Wedding invitations.

I'm out with my girlfriends tonight so that should be lovely its the first time this year we've all managed to get together. So lots of chat and glasses of wine I think.

 

This post has taken ages Blogger was really having an off day with my photos !!

 

Enjoy the weekend and  all that lovely chocolate and  goodies on Easter Sunday.

 

I'm entering this in Crafting by Designs Anything goes Challenge http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/april-anything-goes-challenge-continues.html

 

 



 

 





Golden Wedding Card and Box

Good morning everyone I hope that all my lovely friends and followers are doing well.Sending Special Get Well wishes to my follower Debra who is not too good at the moment hope you are getting a little better every day.
I've had quite a busy week at the weekend my cousins son and his fiancée asked if I would do the wedding invites for their December wedding Its going to be on the 22nd December which just happens to be my birthday isn't that lovely. So most of the week I've been sourcing products to make the samples of the design they like its going OK no doubt in time they will appear on my blog.
The card today is a Golden Wedding card and is a commission. I used some lovely Ruby Rock It paper called Arcadia for the backing and used a computer sentiment. I want to thank my follower Pam for the inspiration for the beaded flowers and the sentiment design.

 

 

The paper is a very pale gold but not shown up that well in the photo although the other elements have. Strange how some things don't like the camera.

Card Recipe

8x8 card Craftwork Cards

Ruby Rock It Paper Strikes Garden Centre Stokesley

Gold Mirra card my stash

Spellbinders Floral Oval die

Marianne die

Lace Dainty Crafts Washington

Flowers Wild Orchid Craft and the Hobby House

Organza flowers my local store Boyes

Gold beads from my stash

Viva Pearl Pen Gold

8x8 Box Stella Crafts

 

 

I'm doing some more work on the wedding invite samples later and also have a few more commissions to finish so after my Thai Chi class this afternoon I'll be crafting.

 

Enjoy the rest of the week and special thank you for all the lovely comments you have all left recently they do make my crafting so worth while. Love Carole x

 

 



 

 



 

 



Christmas Paper Piecing in April

Good morning everyone I feel so much better today the sun is actually shining here first time this week!! I hope that all my lovely friends and followers are well. Today I'm posting a couple of cards  that I made on Thursday at my Craft Group . We did paper piecing something I've not done before and made these two gorgeous backgrounds I added them to the Kraft Card and decorated them in a CAS style.

 

They are very different to my normal style of cards but I thought they looked good. .

 

Card Recipe

6x6 Kraft Card from Craftwork Cards

Papers Kaiser craft from the Craft Group

Cream card from the Craft Group

Burgundy card from my stash

Cream Sentiment Craftwork Cards

Round sentiment Whimsy Stamps

Small round sentiment LOTV

Berries, Leaves, Twine and Charm from my stash

 

 

I hope you enjoy this post its nice to do different sometimes you can see I was a Change Manager in a previous life !! Hope you all have a great weekend I'm meeting up with my two cousins this evening for a meal so looking forward to that as one of my cousins is moving to Inverness to be closer to his sons.

 

I'm entering this in Crafty Little Fairies Challenge Vintage/Shabby Chic http://craftylittlefairieschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ and Crafting by Designs Anything Goes http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/april-anything-goes-challenge.html

 

 



 

Amazing Asters Birthday Card

Good morning to all my lovely friend and  followers. Today my post is one of my commission cards its for a 75th Birthday. I've used the  Delicate Aster die I bought not long ago and  its in a fairly classic style. I hope you like it.

 

 



 

 

 

This is the matching box

 

Card Recipe

Blank 8x8 scalloped card Craftwork Cards ( I won't be using these for much longer as they've now stopped selling this size such a pity)

Anita's Pearlescent paper and Tim Holtz card

Embossed background using a Craftwell Regency A4 folder came with my ebosser machine.

Happy Birthday die from ebay

Delicate Aster die Heartfelt Creations

Pearl Ribbon Trim Whitby Crafts

Butterfly Punch Martha Stewart from Michaels USA

Small oval pearls from my stash

75 die loaned very kindly by my friend from Craft Group Veronica

8x8 box from Stella Crafts

Sewing Machine and white topstitch thread

 

 

This is a similar design to the  one I made for my Birthday Blog post back in February but I got some lovely comments so decide to do something similar again I choose this shell pink it looks so pretty. Those Asters just look so stunning. Unfortunately as its such a dark day here today my photo is not a bright as I would have liked.

 

I'm going to Whitby this afternoon for my Gluten Free fish and  chip fix thought I'd go before the  school Easter hols start next week.

 

Thank you all for the  lovely comments you have left recently they are always so encouraging. Enjoy the rest of the week and make time to craft as I love your great posts.

 

I'm entering this into The Shabby Tearoom Challenge Pretty in Pink http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 



 

 

 

 



 



Easter Chicks

Good morning to all my lovely Friends and Followers I  hope you have had a good week I've been very busy catching up on some jobs after being away but also lots of appointments to attend and a funeral.
Anyway enough of that first I wanted to post a couple of photos I took while out walking last week
hope you enjoy them the  weather was certainly nicer than it is today

 

Bakewell River, Bridge and  Ducks

 

 

 

Walking down into Hartington

 

 

The card I'm posting today is another Easter card made using Easter Sweeties from LOTV this stamp is so cute I love those little chicks they made me smile even when I was painting them.

 

 

 

Card Recipe

6x6 card Craftwork Cards

LOTV stamp Easter Sweeties painted with distress inks

Papers from a magazine

Organza flower ribbon from my stash

Flowers WOC and  My local store Boyes

Card Bazzil and Tim Holtz

Gems from my stash

Sentiment half of a freebie sentiment from Netty's Cards See my sidebar.

 

 

I also want to tell you all I got Top 3 in Crafty Sentiments Designs with my Easter Card I posted earlier in the week so pleased about that. Also want to say well done to my follower Rebecca who won daily candy over at LOTV .

 

One of my other followers Debra was in hospital on Wednesday so sending you Love and Hugs hope you are better very soon

 

I hope that you all have  good weekend looks like the weather is going to be good so I've got plants to put in the garden so that's my Sunday filled up.

 

I'm entering this into A Creative Romance Challenge Spring Flowers http://acreativeromance.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 



 

 



 

Easter Card

Good morning to all my friends and followers. I didn't  post any thing last week as I was away on holiday walking in the  Peak District. We had a great week weather was good except for Tuesday when it poured so did some retail therapy instead of walking. The cottage we stayed at in Monyash has no WiFi so I'm way behind on comments so will get up to date with all your posts during the week. I can see you have all been busy creating beautiful things.

My card this morning is an Easter card that I made before I went away. I used the LOTV Summer Church and their new papers Baskets and Bunnies its a really lovely paper pad gorgeous colours.

 

 

Card Recipe

6x6 card Craftwork Cards

Papers Baskets and  Bunnies LOTV

Stamp LOTV Summer Church painted with Distress Inks

Spellbinder die

Doily WOC

Flowers Hobby Craft and small daffodils my local store Boyes

Lambs,twine and lace from a Making Memories trims kit I won last year from Jacque's Sweet Stuff Sunday

Heart button Whitby Crafts

Blue card Tim Holtz

Cloud cut by hand and inked on edges

Sentiment computer generated

 

 

Hope you enjoy my card and are having a good weekend the weather is certainly a  lot nicer. I'm going now to sort the washing out put the case away and catch up on post and  jobs well seen holiday over.

 

I'll be back later in the week with another card and will post a couple of photos I took while out walking.

 

 

I'm entering this in LOTV  Monthly Challenge Bingo Diagonal Line Flowers Lace Doily http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html Whimsy Stamps Easter Bunnies Chicks etc. http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/challenge-69-easter-bunnies-chicks-etc.html Crafty Sentiments Design All about Spring http://craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/its-all-about-spring-and-blog-hop.html  Graph it Challenge Spring Pastelshttp://graphitmarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/wk-12-springtime-pastels-graphit-colour.html and Crafty Little Fairies Down on the Farmhttp://craftylittlefairieschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/down-on-farm.html Live and Love Crafts March Challenge Earthy Easter http://liveandlovecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/challenge-21-earthy-easter.html

 

Before I go I have been having problems with Anonymous comments so  have limited my comments to Google accounts only for the time being. If this causes any issues for anyone please email me at carole.pollard@ntlworld.com and I will change my access to allow you to comment

 



 

 



Flowersoft

Good morning to all my lovely friends and  followers. First I want to tell you about my really lucky week . Firstly I won some Candy in one of my followers Mags Birthday Candy. Secondly I won second winner in Whimsy Stamps Challenge blog with my Love card I have won some Digi stamps .Then yesterday I found out I had won the Wednesday candy at LOTV. !! Its just amazing I think I might buy a lottery ticket tonight although I think four in a row is pushing it a bit !!

Now about my card I made this Flowersoft card at my Craft Group on Thursday and added some flowers and a sentiment when I got home Its ages since I used Flowersoft and I am still not certain its for me but this card looks quite nice and felt it suited a New home Card Just need someone to move house now.

 

 

Card Recipe

Blank 6x6 scalloped card Craftwork Cards

Image and Flowersoft Sweet Pea from my Craft Group

Card and  papers Craft Group

Lace and  ribbon from my stash

Flowers WOC and my stash

Sentiment LOTV

Glass butterfly from a gift shop in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh

 

 

Not my normal type of card but quite enjoyed making it.

 

Hope that you all enjoy a great weekend and that the weather stays nice. I'm now just waiting for the postie to arrive with my goodies such a lucky girl .

 

 



 

 





Things with Wings

Hello to all my fantastic friends and followers I have something a bit different today. In January I was a spotlight winner in the Crafting by Designs Birthday Card Challenge.  The lovely Doris from Crafting by Designs contacted me and asked if I'd be a guest designer for the launch of their Things with Wings Challenge on the 12th March 2014 Its launched at midnight on the 12th EST USA time .http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/things-with-wings.html

This is the card I've made it took me a while to decide on the design although I selected my stamp fairly quickly as it was one I had jut purchased in the  LOTV sale.

 

Card Recipe

Blank 6x6 and  shaped flower cards Craftwork Cards

Stamp Lili of  the Valley Bumble Bee Fairy and  I've painted her with Ranger Distress Inks

Spellbinder Die Floral oval

Papers from my stash

Yellow and  Blue Card Tim Holtz

Lace from Dainty Crafts Washington

Ribbon from stash

Flowers Wild Orchid Craft and  my local craft store Boyes

Viva pearl pen ivory

Sentiment computer generated

Butterflies Martha Stewart punch

Glamour Dust on Fairy Wings

Pearl heart slider from WOC

You're Lovely sentiment Lili of the Valley Pretty Grungy sentiments Good Times

Sewing machine and  white topstitch thread

 Bumble Bee Charm craft shop in Whitby

Links for most of these suppliers can be found on my sidebar

 

 

 My proud Guest Designer Badge

 

I hope you enjoy this card and I want to thank Doris for asking me to make a card as A Guest Designer what an honour.

 

 

I hope you all are having a great week and enjoying this gorgeous weather we are having .

 

Thank you all for the great comments you have left recently I really do appreciate the time you take to comment on my Blog posts Hugs Carole x

 I'm entering this in Wild Orchid Challenges Wings and Things http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/and  Deep Ocean Challenge Lace and Pearlshttp://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/challenge-73-lace-and-pearls.html

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruby Wedding

Good morning to all my friends and followers. Today's post is a commission. My friend Margaret asked me to make a Ruby Wedding card for her to take to Ireland on Wednesday she is going for the celebrations for her cousins Ruby Wedding on the 17th .

I decided to use a LOTV stamp filigree heart its embossed with cranberry embossing powder and  lightly painted with Copic and  Pro marker pens. I've done this a few times in gold for golden wedding cards but this is the first time I've added colour to the image.

 



 

 

 

This is the box for the card

 

 

 

 

Card Recipe

Blank 8x8 card Craftwork cards

Burgundy Card Ross paper craft show

Embossed card from craft show

White card Tim Holtz core donations

Stamp LOTV Filigree heart embossed with cranberry embossing powder

Painted with Copic and  Promarker pens

Spellbinder die

Tattered Lace die cuts Rose corner from eBay

Memory Box bow and heart die

Flowers WOC

Pearl trim, love charm and  ribbon from my stash

Heart punch to make computer generated sentiment

8x8 box from Stella Crafts
Sewing machine white top stitch thread

 

 

My friend is coming over to collect the card this afternoon so I hoping she likes it.

 

I hope you are all enjoying a great weekend we are busy changing over our Fridge/freezer in the garage so lots of defrosting and storing in our other small chest freezer. It will be worth it though as it has been playing up for a while . So not a very exciting weekend. I will do some crafting this afternoon as hubby will be watching his football team on the telly.

I'm entering this in LOTV monthly challenge Crafty Bingo Top Line Ribbon Pearls Flowers http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge.html and Crafting by Designs Monthly Challenge Anything Goes http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.co.uk/


 

 



 

 

 

Beside the Seaside

Good morning to  all my lovely friends and  followers. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments you have all made on my last post they are lovely. Also today I want to welcome my latest blog follower Natalia so glad you have started to follow my blog and  I hope you enjoy my posts. I know Natalia's work its fab as she is one of my Buddies on the docrafts blog.

We just came back yesterday from a couple of days in Whitby stayed at a lovely place called The Marine on the harbour and  this is a photo I took yesterday morning from our small balcony what a view we just wished it was warmer to sit out with a glass of wine. Never mind the reason we went was for the Jazz night and we had a great evening. I'm sure this will be added to our return list for the future.

 

  

 

My card today is one I made a few weeks ago at my craft group. We had planned to do encaustic art that day but it was cancelled so we made things from the stash in the Craft Group cupboard. I selected this decoupage image and  some matching papers and  made this man card. I only realised when I got home that the image is actually St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay not far from me and a place I visited a lot as a child searching for winkles with my Dad very happy days!!

 

I think its turned out Ok as men cards go never my favourites.

 

 

 

Card Recipe

Blank 5x7 card Craft Group

Papers from my Craft Group

Grey Metallic thread DMC from Craft Group

Card from my craft bag think Ross paper craft show

Small round Sentiment LOTV calendars

Happy Birthday sentiment Pink Gem Designs

Buttons free in a magazine

Twine from my stash

Ships wheel charm Whitby Crafts

 

 

I hope you enjoy these seaside images today and that you all have a great weekend. Hopefully I will be back over the weekend with a Ruby Wedding card commission I am just finishing .

 



 

 



 





We have a Winner and a Prize card

Good morning to all my friends and  followers I have just had the draw for the winner of my Birthday blog candy supervised by my husband to ensure fair play. We even sounded a fanfare as he drew the  number. The lucky winner is 

Number one Debra Kenworthy

 

Debra if you e-mail me carole.pollard@ntlworld.com with your address I'll get the goodies in the post to you. Thank you to all my followers who joined in I was a little disappointed with the response but the people who matter to me all joined in and you are all my winners for the constant support you give to my blog and my cards.

Now for my post today still in prize mode this is  a card made with a stamp I won just before Christmas on Jacques Sweet Stuff Sunday blog. Its a Whimsy stamp called Friendship is the Greatest Gift a gorgeous title. I've made it into a winter birthday card so hope you all like it.

 

 

 

Card Recipe

Blank Card Craftwork cards

Papers a free Docrafts pad from a magazine

Stamp Whimsy stamps painted with distress inks

Red lace from the Quilt show at the  NEC Birmingham its French lace and  lovely

Banner die La La Land

Heart sentiment made with heart punch and a sentiment stamp not sure of the make may have been a freebie from a magazine

Flowers all Wild Orchid Craft

Card Tim Holtz and Red card from my stash

Glamour dust on image

 

 

Enjoy your weekend and enjoy this great weather we seem to be having. We are going to Northallerton later I'm going to the Art Shop to invest in a decent watercolour paint brush and  might go in the craft shop as well. Can a duck swim !!



 

 



 

 

 



1st Blog Birthday

This Candy post will stay at the  top of my blog until the 28th February . For new posts please scroll down. Thank you Carole x

Good morning everyone the weather must know its my blog birthday as the sun is shining brightly today gorgeous.
The first part of my post today is a small selection of candy I have I've put together as a thank you for the support I have had from Blog Land for my cards and projects over the last year. I have blogged with some  great followers and friends during the year and I even got to meet some of you. The inspiration from your comments is so lovely and  they make the time I spend crafting so worthwhile.

 

 

To be in with a chance to win the candy simple rules apply follow my blog, leave a comment  on this post and put a link back to my Birthday Candy on your own blog.. My husband will draw the winner from the comments posted by 12noon on the 28th February. Thanks for taking part and  good luck.

 

 

Birthday Card

 

 I couldn't celebrate a birthday without a card so this is the card I have just made using my new Heartfelt Creations Delicate Aster die I've been looking at this die for ages and finally got it. I want to thank one of my followers Pam who uses this die a lot on her amazing cards and I have taken the inspiration for this card from her work Thank you so much Pam.

 

 

 

 

 

Card Recipe

8x8 card Craftwork cards

Embossed card from craft show

Pearlescent papers Anita's cards

Tim Holtz white card distressed on edges and  stitched with white topstitch thread

Happy Birthday die from eBay

Marianne die

Heartfelt Creations Delicate Aster Die

Ribbon from my stash

Kanban pearls

 

 

Well quite a long post today cannot believe I've posted 86 times and put one tutorial onto my Blog in a year I've come a long way since the very frustrating day I spent setting it up. It has been worth it though as I do enjoy the crafty friendships it brings.

 

Finally just want to send my love to my friend Val who is being very brave and doing her first holiday in Lynton in Devon. Well done you enjoy yourself.

 

 

Enjoy the rest of the week what ever you have  planned make sure you do some nice things and  make time for crafting  Carole x

 



 

 

 



First CAS Card

Good morning to all my lovely friends and  followers and a Happy St David's Day . Firstly I want to thank you all for the lovely comments you have all left on my last few posts they are a delight and  make me feel so happy. Secondly I would like to welcome Kevin my latest follower thank you for following my blog Kevin   I hope you enjoy my posts.

My card today is a CAS (clean and simple) card not my usual style at all but I was given this stamp before Christmas from some craft items sent to our craft group from a lady who had too much craft stuff  I personally didn't think that was possible you just get more boxes but it seems her boxes were taking over the house. Anyway the stamp is a Bebunni from Crafters Companion and  its a very simple stamp so thought I'd give it a go I also noticed Crafters Companion were running a CAS challenge so that spurred me on.

 

 

Card Recipe

Blank 5x5 card Craftwork cards embossed with dots embossing folder

Spellbinder scalloped and  circle dies

Tim Holtz core'dinations card

Stamp Crafters Companion Bebunni

Painted with Pro marker and Copic pens

Neenah smooth stamping card

Twine from docrafts

Pearls Kanban

 

 

Hope you enjoy my CAS card and enjoy the rest of the week the weather is good so I'm catching up on jobs in the house as am out later in the week.

 

I'm entering this in Crafters Companion CAS challenge http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/blog/crafterscompetition/2014/02/february-2014-challenge-clean-simple-cas/

 

Have great week  and enjoy whatever you plan to do.