No embossing or die cutting for me

 My Big Shot has died a very squeaky death and I don't know how
I am ever going to manage without it.
The dilemma is do I just replace it or do I buy a bigger one.
And there goes all my Christmas craft money.
So while I decide I am back to colouring images
and making cards that require no embossing or die cutting.
Hence the very simple card I have for you today.

That really is the most beautiful paper that needs no embellishment.

The camera is telling fibs again because the green ribbon is not a bad match.

Am entering this in:

Challenges 4 everybody - Anything goes

Hobby Cutz challenges - Anything goes

That Craft Place challenges -  Anything goes

Hiding in my Craft room - Anything but holiday

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Margaret M

Little Boxes

 2 days of over indulging in such scrummy food
The Salmon was marinated in beetroot made by grandson no.3
Didn't get a chance to take a picture of the Pavlova's
and the rest of the sweets.
All good things must come to an end and it is time to get back to work.
Unfortunately grandson no.1 has been working too hard
and was sick in bed all over Christmas.
Not much fun.

I made several of these boxes and filled them with chocolates to give as present.

You can find a video with instructions  HERE
It is one by the talented Christina Griffiths and can be found on You tube too.
The boxes were made with double sided 12 x 12 paper and the lid
I cut 5 x 5 inches to give it a lace border with a MS around the page punch.
Am entering this in:
Crafty Creations Challenges - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Stamp-n-doodle - Anything goes
Make it Monday - Anything goes

A Happy New Year to you all.



Margaret M

My 5 favorite Christmas Cards

I do hope you all have the most enjoyable Christmas with friends and family
And the very best of health and happiness in 2014.

This was so hard to stop at 5 cards Debby and I am still
debating whether to swop one or two even now.



I love the silver on the purple in this one.

Shabby chic is not my style but it grows on you

This is such a bright and happy card

I just love the pattern paper on this one.

Can not resist the LOTV bunny.


Margaret M

It's been a while

Sorry about that but life took over and there was just no time to craft.
Everything seems to be back on the straight and narrow again now fingers crossed.


I have chosen a sketch  on the Pals Paper Arts blog as it seemed a wonderful way to
use up some of those scraps we all seem to have stacks of.
Also I need so many quick Birthday cards and
this really took no time at all to complete.
You will see my photography has not improved as that panel on the front is not
crooked.

I lined the inside with the left overs to tie it all together.

Am entering this in:

Pals Paper Arts - Sketch

Make it Monday - Anything goes 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and  a very Happy New Year to you all.

Margaret M

It wasn't only my Mojo that was AWOL

My Mojo has been absent without leave and everything
I have tried to do has ended up in the bin for this last week.
As well as that I have crashed the car.  Only a graze really nothing hurt
but my pride and being without the car for 10 days or so.
Having an unblemished record up till now did give us a hire car thank goodness.
Also I have had the second operation on my arm
which was worse than the last as the surgeon had to cut into the scar again.
Enough of my moaning onto the good stuff.

I have enough Christmas cards made now the first time ever
I have not been madly rushing to get them done.
It is all thanks to the wonderful Christmas card Challenges
that are run throughout the year.
Hats off to all of you.

Today I have sort of followed the sketch at 52 CCT

But as I said my Mojo is just not working.

It is made entirely with left overs at least that is one good thing

as my scrap bin is always full.

52CCT - Sketch

Make it Monday- Anything goes

CHNC 2- Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

A classic card

My thoughts today go to all those up in the Blue Mountains who are fighting bushfires.
They include some of Tassies firemen
KEEP SAFE.

The stamp I have used today is so old
It must be one of the very first I ever bought and I still love the script.
It is ages since I last used it so thought it would be good for a classic card.
Haven't used black very much lately either that too is so classical.

Challenges:
House of Cards - Classic and elegant
Tip Top Tuesday - Black White and a splash of colour
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in and for all the lovely comments.


Margaret M

Oh Dear.........

...........this has not photographed well.  For a start the card blank is cream the same
as the centre
and the glitter card a lovely yellow green.

Taken at this angle to reduce the reflection.
The image was stamped with DI Shabby Shutters.
I then distressed around the outside with the same ink and then distressed with scissors
and glittered with crystal stickles.
The same around the music paper. I have never ever done that before.
It is bad enough to cut a lovely piece of card or paper but then
to take a pair of scissors and rough it up........well.
But I was very gentle. LOL
I coloured the rhinestones with GY 23 copic the perfect match for the DI.

And here is the inside.

Challenges:

  52CCT - Bling

Winter Wonderland - Carol singers

Sweet Pea Stampers - Sparkle and shine

Make it Monday - Anything goes

CHNC 2 - Anything goes

Crafty Little Fairies - Christmas in  October

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.

Margaret M

So quick and simple

One of the easiest cards I have ever made
And just what I need at the moment as I have neglected my many
penfriends for so long

The House of Cards want a clean and simple card using their

sketch.

Instead of cutting the DP into 4 Triangles I picked out

one of my Tombows and drew the lines.

Then I also used the Tombow to ink the stamp

and 5 minutes of cutting and sticking down.

Hey Presto.

Challenges:

House of Cards - Clean and simple

Make it Monday - Anything goes

4Crafty Girlz - Anything goes

    

Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.

Margaret M

No Red or Green

This week we have been asked not to use Red or Green.

I have chosen to take out my village stamp again and the Desert sand Memento Ink
and make a monochromatic card .
Although the card looks white it is a yellow cream and
the DP is yellow cream through almost brown.
Really rich autumn colours in fact.
I have matted it onto milk chocolate and then onto the cream
and just added a gold star.
I am sorry you wont get the benefit of the true colours.
Maybe it is just the simplicity but
I really like it and it is not very often I say that about a card.

Challenges:
52 CCT - Colours.
Make it Monday - Anything goes.
Brown sugar - Anything goes
Christmas stamping all year long - Simple Christmas
Crafts to challenge you - Christmas scene


Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.


Margaret M

Have I conquered my fear of brighter colours.........

NO!..... but I had a jolly good try.

How this sheet of DP ever got into my shopping I will never know
I have had it for years taken it out and looked at it and put it back in the too hard basket.
Took a deep breath and plunged in today.
Found the deep purple card all ready and waiting to be used.
The stamp I have never used before but she is so sweet.
Have glitzed and glittered and followed the sketch on
The house of Cards.
Just hope someone out there in Blogland likes it.

Challenges:
The house of Cards - Sketch.
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything goes
Addicted to stamps and more - Anything goes
Cards and More - Sparkle and Bling
Make it Monday - Anything goes


Thanks for dropping in and leaving so many kind thoughts
they are much appreciated.


Margaret M

Star light

I seem to have been having trouble with the internet for a couple of days
every time I want to go somewhere it keeps telling me there is an error
so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
The NBN cable has been a few metres from our front door since early this year
I wish they would hurry up and connect it.

 The first week of the month and 52 CCT  have a sketch for us
plus Crafty Hazelnut has a very blue picture for insiration.
So I have combined the two today.
Now why didn't I edge that banner with the faded jean DI too.
Silly me.
As my DH would say "What else could one expect".
To think I have put up with him for 61 years!!!!!!

And for Ruth just a glimpse of the inside.

Challenges:

52CCT - Sketch
CHNC - Picture inspiration
CHNC 2 - Anything goes.
Make it Monday - Anything goes



Margaret M

Tuesday morning sketch on Friday afternoon

Yes this is the Tuesday morning sketch

And here is my take on it.

The card blank is a grey blue. It has disappeared into the back ground a bit

my fault entirely.

Have no idea what the DP is been in my stash for about 3 years

and was just the right size to use.

Another scrap that has found a good home.

The stamp is a Kaiser one inked with DI Worn Jeans.

The white matt has been embossed with a random diamond pattern folder.

One I have never used before and one of the first I ever bought.

This is turning out to be the confessions of a card making addict.

The butterfly die was a freebee and cut out of white card

that had been sponged with DI Worn Jeans and Wild Honey.

The Orange and Blue were enough to make me cringe so the sponging was very delicate.

You should know by now I am a very pastel person.

The pearls were coloured with Copics.

Here is another view.

Challenges :

Tuesday Morning Sketches -- Sketch

4Krafty Girlz challenge - Anything goes

Crafty Creations challenges - Things with wings
Make it Monday - Anything goes


Thanks for dropping in you are most welcome.


Margaret M

Resist Technique

Alas my month as guest designer
 at 52CCT
is over and here is my last card for the month.
What a lovely group of ladies who have been such a pleasure to work with.
Thank you so much for having me.

When I saw this was a resist technique I knew that I wanted to work with
gloss card but which stamp.
I had stamps spread all over the floor of my craft room.
Honestly I didn't know I owned so many. LOL
It is amazing what you collect over the years.
Eventually I decided on this one which is a Heartfelt Creations flower 2 stamp
that doubles up as a poinsettia and cut with Nesties Blossom 2.
Here are the 3 sections before I pop dotted them together.

It polished up so beautifully. I just had to let it speak for itself on the card.
I am looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.
There were some lovely cards with Christmas trees on them last week.


Challenges:
Make it Monday - Anything goes
CHNC 2 - Anything goes
CHNC - Use 3 main colours


Thanks for dropping in your are most welcome.


Margaret M

PS The stitches are out but the wound is still covered till Monday.
Will I be glad to see the back of this sticky tape.
Still have to go back for more surgery.

Summer Days

Summer days are nearly here at least the days are lengthening
and we have had some warmer weather.
Good to get some of those winter woollies off.

This little LOTV Bear has been waiting for a while now to be used.

I found him this week and thought it was about time I entered another

Ready Teddy Go challenge.

The challenge was Summer days and that DP just reminded me 

of daisies scattered on a lawn.  

The paper was a freebe with an English craft magazine along with

3 Elizabeth Bell stamps.  

Which I felt was a very generous offer.

Have used 4 different shades of Turquoise Bazzill stock.

The flowers leaves and butterfly were all too just sitting waiting to be used.

Don't know why the flowers look off white because they are not.

Ted's nose eyes and the pads on his feet have all

had the 3D treatment and they really shine.

Challenges:

Ready Teddy Go - Summer days

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thank you for dropping in and all the lovely comment you leave.

Margaret M

Sunset over Hobart

This was the sunset last night over Hobart.
The top of Mount Wellington is just to the right of the picture.
I took this outside my back door at around 6 pm.
Behind us is a hill and the windows of the houses all looked as if they
were light but I couldn't get a good picture of that with my camera.

Margaret M

ABC Christmas Challenge

With the ABC Christmas card challenge we could choose
either Christmas stockings or a follow a sketch.
I choose to do the later and all out of left overs.
It is of course another of my lovely Penny Black stamps
and I know exactly who will get this card on December 26th
.

Yes you did read correctly it is tradition in our family to have
our family together on Boxing day.
It all started because I worked in the hospitality industry
and my husband was a cricket curator and December 25th
was the busiest day of the year for both of us.

Challenges :
 CHNC - Stamp stamp stamp
ABC Christmas challenge - Christmas stockings or sketch
CHNC 2 - Anything goes
Make it Monday - Anything goes


Thanks for dropping in.

Margaret M

Christmas Trees

Didn't get the stitches out of my arm this week as I had hoped but fingers
 crossed they will come out on
Monday when I go back to the surgeon again.

My third week as Guest designer with 52 CCT.  This month is going so fast.
Today we are looking for Christmas trees and it looks
as if Tilda is out after dark looking for hers as she is carrying
a lamp so I have made sure I gave her plenty of light by
sponging the background with Wild Honey.
Just love the effect of the DI on gloss card.
The DP comes from Kassaz and I have used the same paper to
cut out the trees with a Marianne die.
I used white flower soft mixed with glitter for the fur around her coat.
Sorry Ruth I didn't make a fancy insert for this card
as I have a lot and I mean a LOT of insert paper
I do put loose leaf inserts in a lot of my cards
and this is one of them.
It has a loose leaf green marble insert decorated with more trees.
Sorry no photo.


Challenges :
Christmas stamping all year long - Anything goes.
CHNC 2 - Anything goes.
Make it Monday - Anything goes.


Thanks for dropping in.


Margaret M   

Recipe for a Christmas card

Yes we have recipes for Christmas cards now..
Take 3 designer papers 2 ribbons and 1 image and a lot of thought.

It doesn't show but this card is glittering.  The ribbon is sparkling and so is the DP
each square is surrounded with glitter.
This Tilda is one of my favorites and my copic was running dry as I was
colouring her dress guess I will have to buy some refills as that is not the only
one drying out now.
Do you know I think I have nearly made my quota of Christmas cards for this year
for the first time ever.

Challenges :
ABC Christmas - Card recipe.
Christmas stamping all year long- Cute and cuddly [ well I think Tilda is ]
CHNC - Cut it out
CHNC 2- Anything goes
Make it Monday - Anything goes.


Thanks for dropping in.



Margaret M

Kraft, Red and White

Thank you so much for all your kind wishes this week.
The arm is doing well although the surgeon did not remove all of the skin cancer
as that would have meant having a skin graft later.
I will just have to go back and have the rest removed in a couple of weeks. YUK

It was a good job that I had my card ready for 52 CCT for this week.

This week is a colour challenge of Kraft, Red and White

Now I didn't have any Kraft card so the Kraft on this card comes courtesy

of a lovely SU lady called Susan.  Thanks Susan. You can find her here.

As I chose to use this lovely stamp from LOTV I felt the white was a

bit too stark just plain so inked the edges with dessert sand

and glittered it.

Now I did this just for you Ruth.  The inside.

I distressed the edges with Dessert sand and then stamped the village scene

also with the same ink.

I felt it was all in keeping with the Victorian Lady on the front.

Challenges:

CHNC 2 - Anything goes.

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Sweet pea stampers - Use Kraft

Crafty creations challenge - Use Kraft

The Glory of Christmas challenge - Anything goes

Thanks for dropping in 

Margaret M