"O Holy Night"

Salt Challenge this week is 'O Holy Night', here is the blurb 'it is almost here.the most wonderful time of the year.not just because of the presents and the food and the family time - fun though they are. But because, on this most holy of nights, God comes to us as one of us. Amazing love.' I incorporated the lyrics into my card, using royal purple and touches of gold. This was just one of those cards I kept adding too! Please do look at the lovely design teams contributions, hard work and effort is put in, it is a shame not more people come and see.

Fabric Flowers

Do you remember I said that although I had been busy I was still crafting? well... these are what I have been making. I stumbled across a pattern on the internet and have been merrily making these flower brooches, they are great Christmas sellers too. Most o them are made from off cuts and fabrioc remnants or samples, some out of felt, with buttons for the centre.

I made these for my son's nursery teachers, incorporating colours that I thought would suit them.

This is a better photo....some more recent ones

Back to the Drawing Board

So nice to have a bit of time to sit back at my craft table! Just managed to sneak in making a couple of cards, it was either that or washing up... Hmmm.... let me think?!!!! My overdue Salt challenge, I knocked up this card for last week's topic of 'God is Good', so i used black, red and off white- something bold that gets the message across!

This card is for my Mother in Laws up and coming birthday oh- tomorrow infact! The pearl centres of the flower are to tie in with her present :)

Busy Bee

I am still here! just not here on my blog! Been super busy, hope to come back to blog land soon!

Blue Birds

Keep meaning to load these photos....

The cut out paper is 3d mounted for extra effect!

The second card I used the scraps to make a card for the Daring Card Makers challenge of 'birds'. They are fashionable in the crafting world but can be so versatile, so far I havent tired of my little bird stamps! I used the gorgeous K&Co wild saffron papers, and stuck with the brown and turqouise colour scheme.

Comfort in Christ

This week's SALT challenge "Comfort in Suffering" Suffering in this life is unavoidable but through Christ we have great reason to rejoice, in good times and bad. We can rest in knowing that God has a sovereign purpose both in our troubles and in the comfort that He gives us in them. The theme around my layout is the idea of 'home comforts' so warm textures and a homely feel, I wanted to keep it simple, so that the words, and picture would say it all. The picture is of my son walking under a near by railway bridge, I liked the composition and lighting and thought it highlighted the text that I wanted to use for the layout Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the vally of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Complete Commissions

Feel as if I have been away from my blog for a while, been desperate to get back! But I seem bogged down with other things are the moment, so thought I would share a few recent commissions with you; all slightly different- to keep me on my toes!

12 x 12 Frame for a friend's dad who was celebrating a special birthday, using photos of the family and words which had special meanings. Thanks to Ruth for your craft robo!

A wedding card, which incorporated the wedding colours, this was supposed to be a quirky card- but I dont easily do quirky, so tried to go for a slightly modern feel....?!

I was asked to make 2 books using photos of a school extension and incorporate the childrens drawings and writing. Both reciptitants (woops! recipient I mean- thans for your comment ruth!) would be male- so I avoided the floral route!

Sparkling Snowflake

(the snowflake was 3d mounted - was trying to get that across in this photo!)

Inspired by a recent magazine article about glitter, and with the DCM challenge of 'sparkle and bling' I got out my lovely snowflake stamp- and decorated!!! After I made it I couldn't easily find matchin papers, so walked away and came back to it another day. Finally decided that I would use my trusting ink pad to colour instead, beacuse the snowflake was sobold I didnt want to detract from it- ok am I waffling? let me stop.... :)

Scrap Suprise!

(using felt swirls from my QK)

(my swing card! sentiment swings- not lob sided!)

Whilst attempting to clear my craft table, I decided to make some cards along the way, using whatever bits and bobs I had on my table! This way you not only use up those tip bits (rather than storing them away for a rainy day...) but you end up putting things together that you may not usually!

Why dont you give it a go?- leave me a comment and let me see what you come up with! You might amaze yourself at the results- I know I was!

And here are some cakes I made for a friends baby shower- all thanks to Ruth for her inspirational use of using punches on coloured rice paper!!!

Hazel's Hope

Hazel set the challenge this week for SALT on the topic of HOPE, here is her blurb "We are living in uncertain times, so it's understandable if folk feel that there is no hope. As Christians, we have hope because of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. This hope isn't an airy-fairy 'maybe' for the future, but it is a certainty that we can claim now. In our church we have recently been privileged to hear a series of sermons on hope, which is what prompted me to choose this topic now. On Sunday we sang the song which is on my LO, which I feel sums up our Christian hope: Our confidence is in the Lord The source of our salvation Rest is found in Him alone The Author of creation We will not fear the evil day Because we have a refuge In every circumstance we say Our hope is built on Jesus The verse from Hebrews 6:19 says it much better than I could: 'We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.' We pray that you may have the joy of experiencing this hope for yourself. We would love you to show us your interpretations of this theme. "

What a joy we know as Christians to have hope in the Lord knowing that our faith is secure. Praise him!

Well I was having one of those making sessions, when you start off not with much of an idea, then an idea which changes into something quite differet from your original intention, but hey ho, as long as it works in the end right? All part of the creative process! I made that squigley shape myself! Proud as punch :)

Give with Gratefulness

My turn this week for the SALT challenge "A self explanitory topic this week of GIVE THANKS (with a grateful heart)
Isn't there an abundance of things that we can be grateful to God for?! For starters - sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sin, so that whoever believes in him will not perish eternally in hell, but live with Him forever and ever and ever in heaven- praise God! Ok so it might not be easy to thank God in the hard times, but lets not forget all the blessings he has given to us and be thankful for them! Amen?!"
Punched flower shapes and inners with off cuts, and decorated with cabachon gems, and mini primas with fern leaves. mounted on printed card

Reccommend RAK

I know I used to scratch my head when the letters RAK came up so for those who dont know they stand for Random Act of Kindness. I made this cad for a lady who's husband is going through a difficult time with his health, so I made this card to give her a long with some flowers and Apple and Berry crumble I made, afterwards I realised it fitted the Just Bex Forum challenge perfectly- a recipe of ribbon, circles/dots and 3 of something- dont you just love it when a plan comes together, the lady was pleased to recieve the items and said that she hadnt got a pudding for after there meal tonight! Praise the Lord another plan coming to together perfectly!

The White Stuff

Completed this sinmplae card for the Jut Bex forum of leaving a white space somewhere on your card, most of you know this can be a mean task for me, but I like the way this came out. The big snowflake is a pin, so can be taken off the card and used afterwards.

This card is for a friend who kindly helped with my dreaded tax returns forms! Couldnt have done it without her thank you! She likes hearts so managed to incorporate a little charm to keep her happy :)
Posted some swirls to a fellow blogger, and decided to use some on the card I made for her- enjoy Jilly!

"I get by with a little help from my friends...."

I helped a friend the other day with card making. When going back to basics, you remember how far you yourselfe have come and how much there is to teach! I idn't know where to start!... We managedto produce this card though. All along I wanted to encourage her to make the decisions because it was her card, I was just there to give guidance, she was so pleased with the results. That lovely bird image was on some sheets that a neighbour gave her, which she kindly let me keep (beacuse she has more).
So I was able to use it on this thankyou card, based on the 2sketches4You design. This is winging it's way to canada to say thank you to a friend who kindly sent me a clear bible text stamp - thank you, you know who you are! Sorry if you see the card here first...
These cards are what I managed to produce using the gorgeous text stamp, with my new heidi swapp one- what a great match!

Making an impression

Heat embossing was the challenge this week for Cupcake craft Challenge blog, I made this card the other day and realised it fitted in nicely with the topic :) I used utee and embossing powder to create a layered effect of powder, and pushed the stamp in to make an impression. Used scraps of offcuts which I layered and stamped, and there you have it a simple masculine card.

Bright & Bold

OOh couldn't wait to get stuck into the DCM challenge of bright, I recently bought some floral chipboard and felt (from charity shop) and traced round it to get the shapes of the flowers, I had fun mixing and matching, kept trying to add more to the card,but just didnt look right- so I left it!

"We REST on thee, and in thy name we go"

I know I said this last time, but being on a design team you are made to realise how fast these weeks just fly by before the next challenge comes along!!!
Here is my contribution for this weeks SALT. 'This week the topic I have chosen is rest. Now I am not just talking about the physical act of rest (although that is something I do enjoy LOL!). Jesus talks about rest in Matthew 11:28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.... When I consciously walk through things with God, it is then that experience the REST he is talking about. It is a rest or peace in my heart, even amidst chaos.' (If you havent had a look at this blog please do, even if you dont want to take part it is always worth a look to see how the other design team have interpreted this and other topics). It may look like an ordinary ATC but I like to think there is symbolism behind it. The edging is to represent the storms of life, and the gems are representing tears, yet God stitches us together and where we can find rest in him and assurance of His promises. (thanks to my sisiter Ruth for the tip about using the perforating tool for faux stitching, though I did go a little wonky!). . The full verse is Psalm 62:5 Find rest, Oh my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him

Take Three

Long time no challenge.... well finally found a bit of time to do the DCM mid week challenge, this week follow a sketch, I just noticed there was no needto make 3 cards- buts thats what I did anyway.... I had purchased some new stash recently, hence the surge in mojo I think!

(note the bling on her finger!) (made one in each colour, love this cute giraffe stamp!)
(I kept getting black ink everywhere!)

Burgandy, Buttons & Bows

As I missed my friends wedding, I decided to make her a book to keep special memoried in, using the fuscia pink theme of her wedding. I enjoyed scratching the edges on all the pieces to give a white distressed look. It all begain with the rose photo that I took which I cut into a heart shape, and the rest as they say was history!

Living a Life of Love

Last sunday gone, I celebrated my 6th wedding anniversary, I was so shcked how quicklyit came round! So quick that I was a bit disorganised with making a card, but I managed to do it on time! 6 years is represented by Iron so I set about makingone from scratch! Using utee (ultra thick embossing enamel) I cut the shape of the iron from card and embossed it, the when embossing powderwas still hot i stuck a pen into it to make the holes.