Welcome Baby

I seem to be going through a phase of using Kraft card for my card bases at the moment, I hadn't even realised I was doing it until my daughter was looking at today's card and said to me - you seem very fond of that brown stuff (non-crafter LOL!), you're using it a lot lately.

So here's the card she was looking at, it's a baby boy card using Jolly the Jiraffe from Teddy Bo and some of that brown stuff hehe!

Image - JOLLY_001 - Coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Baby Mine Boy digital scrap kit - Just so Scrappy outlet store

X-cut Scalloped Rectangle die

X-cut Border Punch - Scallops

X-cut palm punch - circle large

Ribbon, dummy, polka dot buttons and pearls - Meiflower

Thanks for stopping by,

hugs,

Colette xx

Boy with Gifts

This will be my last "proper" post before Christmas, although I have added a few scheduled posts as I have so many Christmas cards made that I haven't yet blogged, and I wanted to showcase at least a few of them.

There is a lot going on here at the moment, my Father in law is very ill now, and the Macmillan nurses who are looking after him have told us they think that he has at most a couple of weeks left, but more probably only a couple of days, so you can imagine how awful each and every day is for the family.

They are all spending as much time as possible with their dad, my hubby is at work during the day (luckily he works only 10 minutes away from home so can get to his dad's quickly if needed) so is going around each evening and his two sisters are there for most of the day.

My daughter Meg, who idolises her grandad, is heartbroken that she can't visit him to say goodbye, but with George being upstairs in bed and Meg being totally reliant on a wheelchair and because of her condition not even able to be carried up the stairs, it's not an option. She can't even speak to him on the telephone as he can barely talk and doesn't know who you are even when he does.

It's probably very selfish of me, but I am glad that she can't see him this way as I don't want her last memories of her grandad to be of the way he is now, - it was only a couple of weeks ago that she was at their house having her Sunday dinner with Grandma and Grandad (she normally goes every other Sunday), Grandad was up sitting in his chair and still quite well at this point and I would prefer her to remember him like that.

OK enough of the doom and gloom, that's not what you came here for, today I have a couple of cards to show you made with exactly the same image, papers and embellishments, but just laid out differently.

I design my cards in Photoshop, bringing in the papers, cropping them to size and then laying them out exactly as I want them to be on the finished card, once happy with the design I arrange the papers and image on an A4 sheet of paper (depending on the design sometimes I need a couple of sheets), print, cut and put together, adding any embellishments as I go along.

For this particular card everything fitted on one A4 sheet, but when I was printing out the design there was a problem with the printer and I ended up with a smudge of ink where there shouldn't have been any, so I re-printed the sheet, which came out perfectly the second time.

It seemed a shame to waste a sheet of printing so I decided I would find a way of getting around the smudge and make two cards.

The first version of the card is made from the perfect print, and is laid out exactly as originally planned.

Image - Boy with presents digi - Lee Holland Etsy Store - Coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Jolly Days Digital Scrap kit - Just So Scrappy

Circle Sentiment - made by me

Lifestyle nesting circles die

Marianne Craftables die - CR1212 Ticket and Tags

Tonic geared punch - Diamond Scalloped border

Ribbon, metallic cord, stick on pearls and green jingle bells - Meiflower

This second card was made with the reject print - the ink smudge was close to the image so I decided to cut around the image leaving a narrow border - that way I could still use the image but get rid of the smudge. I cut out the papers and played around with them until I was happy with the layout and then made up the card, substituting Kraft card for the red I'd used previously.

All details same as above.

There will be a few more scheduled posts up until Christmas, but depending on how things go I am not sure when I will be back after that, so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

and to anyone out there who is going through the same sort of thing as we are here, I would like to leave you with these words from one of my all time favourite Eagle's songs.

I wish you peace when the cold winds blow 

Warmed by the fire's glow 

I wish you comfort in the lonely time 

And arms to hold you when you ache inside 

I wish you hope when things are bad 

Kind words when times are sad 

I wish you shelter from the raging wind 

Cooling waters at the fever's end 

I wish you peace when times are hard 

The light to guide you through the dark 

And when storms are high and your dreams are low 

I wish you the strength to let love grow, 

I wish you the strength to let love flow, 

I wish you peace when times are hard 

A light to guide you through the dark 

And when storms are high and your dreams are low 

I wish you the strength to let love grow.

Hugs,

Colette xx

Teddy Bo Friday!

I missed Teddy Bo Tuesday this week as I have been really busy, mainly having murder with the local hospital, over a pair of shoes for Meg.

12 months ago she had casts made of her feet to send off to a company in Germany to make her some new shoes (we can't buy shoes for her as her feet are tiny (she's 23 and her feet are smaller than my 8 year old grandsons), and really oddly shaped). Although she doesn't need the shoes for walking or standing, she suffers from really bad circulation and her feet are always freezing, last winter she had to wear fleecy bed socks over her socks whenever we went out, just for an extra layer of warmth, she also has severe osteoporosis in her feet and legs as she has never walked or put weight through them, so the shoes are protection against knocks which could result in broken bones - anyway, here we are 12 months and a number of phone calls to the hospital later - heading into another winter - and Meg still doesn't have any shoes to wear.

It turns out that the company in Germany are saying they have never received an order, and the hospital are saying they have sent the order twice (which seems odd as Meg has only had casts made once), so we now have an appointment for Monday for Meg to be re-assessed, which probably means she will be going through another Winter wearing bed socks!

Sorry about the rant, here's my card.

IMAGE - Oli_008 - coloured in Photoshop

PAPERS - Big Top - Just So Scrappy

Lifestyle circle dies

Grosgrain ribbon, waxed cord, spotty button and stick on pearls - Meiflower

Thanks for dropping in,

hugs,

Colette xx

Oli the Ephelump

You may remember Oli the ephelump from the Teddy Bo family, well he has had a bit of a make-over and is back again, after losing a little weight, and going to the gym to get a more streamlined physique LOL!

He has also managed to get himself a friend, of the female variety, called Molly who you can find HERE on Tuesday's post.

IMAGE - Oli_002 - coloured in photoshop

PAPERS and WORDART - Doodle Doo Digital Scrap Kit - Just So Scrappy

BUTTON and CORD - Meiflower

I also have a Teddy Bea card I made using one of the trio of tabs from last weeks release.

IMAGE - Trio

PAPERS and ALPHABET - Sisters digital scrap kit - Just so scrappy

Flower soft for pompom

Lifestyle Edge it dies for top and bottom border

Gems, bow and satin rose trio - Meiflower

Pop over to the Teddy Bo blog and take a look at the wonderful inspiration from some of the other DT members.

Furry Friday

Hi, I'm back with another Teddy Bo card today, I managed to get two cards made with the new images this week, so after posting one on Tuesday I thought I would pop the other one on today.

IMAGE - Teddy Trio (this is one of three images in the set) - Coloured in Photoshop

PAPERS, STARS - Brothers Digital Scrap kit - Just so Scrappy

BUTTONS AND RIBBON - Meiflower

Thanks for dropping in,

hugs,

Colette xx

Grip it and Rip it!

I just don't seem to have any time to do much these days, there is lots going on here, including Meg starting a 2 year course (providing she likes it!) on Monday. You wouldn't believe the amount of  phone calls and emails (including taking and sending pics of her toilet chair) backwards and forwards from the company running the course about Meg's toileting needs. I am not complaining as they are trying really hard to get everything sorted out so that she will be comfortable and happy when she is there, but if I've explained something once I have explained it a thousand times (slight exaggeration LOL!). The course is from 9am until 3pm three days a week, and Eric and I are now actually going in with her on Monday morning to show them how to manage her needs and get her back comfortably in her wheelchair - if she is not in right, she is not a happy bunny. 

Most of the cards I post these days seem to be made up from kits or without any coloured images on them, I have been doing quite a bit of colouring, honestly, I just haven't found the time to get them made up into cards, with DT work, childminding and getting Meg sorted for Monday.

Hopefully once Meg is settled things will calm down a bit and I can get some cards made with my coloured images.

Anyway enough of all that, I have a card to show you, that once again uses a pre-coloured image. It's a Sassy Cheryl illustration called Grip it and Rip it Max which is available from Paper Creator, and I think it's quite a cute image for a young boy.

Image - Grip it and Rip it Max - Sassy Cheryl at Paper Creator

Papers, big star and arrow - Feeling Blue digital scrap kit - Crazy 4 Monograms

Stars - X-cut punches

Buttons and cord - Meiflower

I printed the image twice and layered the second with foam pads, and also doodled a double line around the edge of the image just to add a little something extra.

Enjoy the weekend,

hugs,

Colette xx

Hoot hoot, give it a kick!

Now I know that title probably has you totally confused, but it's just a little play on the names of the Paper Creator card kits I used for today's cards. I am late posting them, because I've had a very busy day clearing out my craft room - what a job! and how on earth did I accumulate so much stuff? 

My lovely hubby also took me to Ikea this evening to buy some more storage, so hopefully when I've had a big sort out and put everything back it will all have a place to call home and I will be more organised (some hope LOL!!!)

I've had to clear it out because we are having a new boiler fitted and of course it's tucked into a corner of my room, so it has forced me - ahem!- given me the perfect opportunity to clear it out, sort it out, move it around and tidy it up, and it's amazing the amount of things (usually dies in my case, hehe!) you find that you had forgotten you even had.

Anyway enough of all that and on to today's cards

This one is from the Curved Front Aperture card Mega bundle, which contains 10 card kits and is on offer for only £5 at the moment. I just happened to have the Nitwits What a hoot collection that the kit was designed with, so printed out a flower from the kit to add to the top of the card.

This Kick It 6x6 card kit is very easy to put together and ideal for boys of all ages.

I just added some polka dot buttons and ribbon in one of the local team colours and a fab football shirt charm from Meiflower.  

Have a lovely weekend,

hugs,

Colette xx

All at Sea!

That title explains exactly how I feel at the moment  LOL! as well as having a reference to today's cards.

I still don't know if I'm coming or going, although I am beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, and if that is not already enough cliche's for you then I'll give you one more - I think the end is in sight haha!

Just finished twenty one card samples for Crafty Devils (14 of which are Christmas cards) using some of the new Papermania goodies and Hobby house toppers, so lots more blogging to be done, and we are still only about halfway through the wedding invitations!

Today I have a couple of nautical themed cards for you (see the title does make sense) both suitable for young boys, and both made with kits from Paper Creator.

The first one is Noah's Flipper Pyramage kit which is part of a Mega bundle containing 10 Flipper kits for £7 the only other thing on the card is some gingham ribbon from Meiflower.

The second uses the Sail Away 6 x 6 card kit to which I've added a little wooden boat embellishment I found in my stash, and some ribbon and pearls from Meiflower.

Thanks for stopping by,

have a lovely weekend,

hugs,

Colette xx

Just a little Hello!

A little later than usual, but here is my Saturday Paper Creator card, I forgot to schedule it last night and had a busy day today, but finally found a bit of time to sit and blog.

I love Sassy Cheryl images and have quite a few of her digi stamps in my collection, but I don't often have the time to colour them up so these pre-coloured illustrations from Paper Creator are perfect for getting a quick Sassy fix now and then.

Sassy Cheryl Illustration - Just a little hello - Paper Creator

Papers, letters, corner and stitching - Crazy 4 Monograms Choochoo digital scrap kit

Buttons - Meiflower

Thanks for stopping by,

enjoy the weekend

hugs,

Colette xx 

Men at work!

Here's a couple of cards for boys made using Paper Creator kits. 

I love girly cards with all the sparkle and pretty ribbons and embellishments, but it's just not the same making cards for boys, so these kits are really handy for putting something together that doesn't take too long, looks effective and is perfect for boys.

Here we have one of the kits from the bookmark mega bundle, with matching envelope, Polka dot grosgrain ribbon is from Meiflower

and this one is the Trucker Triple over the edge card, with matching boxelope, gingham button and waxed card are from Meiflower

Today Meg and I are off to see a local amateur dramatic company perform Oliver, my sister-in-law has a small speaking part in it (she's playing a prostitute!) so we are going along to offer our support. It has been on each evening since Wednesday and was sold out most nights and I've heard nothing but good things about it, so am really looking forward to going.

Also I would like to congratulate my nephew Matt on getting a first in his degree (I come from a clever family, don't know what went wrong with me LOL!) I'm not sure exactly what his degree was in, but it's something to do with ophthalmology and he already has a job in a local opticians.

Well done Matt!

Thanks for dropping by today,

hope you have a lovely weekend

hugs,

Colette xx