A blog for cooking and crafts

Friday 29 November 2013

ATDML Photo Scavenger Hunt - November





I enjoyed last month's challenge so much, I thought I would do it again!

The seven photos required for November are:
  • Fire / firework
  • A reflection
  • Home Comforts
  • View from a Window
  • Sign of the Season
  • Favourite Drink
  • Something you are thankful for

Fire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I decided on a candle flame ..... wow, it was hard to photograph!  I wanted to take a picture of the whole candle holder, which is a dragon breathing life down into the candle ....... but all pictures with the whole object in, just had a blaze of light rather than a distinct flame.  So I had to settle for the flame and the base of the holder :-)

Reflection











Another difficult one to take!  My three decorated Ikea mirrors, with reflections of my cookbooks, me - or most of me, I seem to have cut off the top of my head - and some craft books on another bookshelf.

Home comforts











My knitted sampler square blanket .... it's quite well knitted, but not so well sewn together, that's the part I struggle with :-)  Lovely and snuggly though!

View from a Window











This is a view of a window, through another window ..... my car door window, to be precise.  I should add that I was stopped at traffic lights at the time :-)  Not as good a picture of the Christmas display as I would have liked, but not enough time to take another one.

Sign of the Season











Drifts of leaves under their trees ......

Favourite Drink













Red wine!  Well, really what else am I going to put....... LOL.  Doesn't have to be this specific brand, I'm happy with most things....... :-)


Something you are thankful for











My now usable craft room - I was drowning in stuff and could barely turn around.  So I took everything out .... and then put some of it back!  The result is a space where I can actually work :-)  Not to mention that I now have a much clearer idea of what I have got. 
During the course of this upheaval, I dropped a stepladder on my foot - ouch!  I nearly used a picture of my badly bruised toes, as I was very thankful that they weren't broken, but it was not a pretty sight, so you are spared that gruesome experience :-)
 
Looking forward to next month's prompts!






 
 

Thursday 28 November 2013

"Bee" Christmas card



One of my work colleagues asked if I could make a bee themed Christmas card for her daughter :-)  Well, I like a challenge.......!
I bought two Molly Blooms stamps, one of a bee on its own and the other of a hive hanging on a branch.  The main stamp had to have its leaves masked off so I could overstamp holly leaves in their place - that was fiddly......  The holly leaves are from a Woodware stamp set.
Usually, I avoid colouring in images, as I'm not that good at it!  But I have found some pens I really get on with, so gave it a go and I am quite pleased with the results.
I came up with "deck the hive with boughs of holly" as the sentiment, my colleague liked it so I went ahead and computer generated it, die-cut it with a Dienamics tag die.
The shaped card base is die-cut from an existing card blank, using Nesties Grand Labels Four, the smallest one of that set.  I tried something which I have been meaning to have a go at for ages - I inked inside the shape whilst still inside the die, it gives a really nice effect and reduces the rather wide spacing between the two Nestie shapes.
I forgot to photograph it before I handed it over, so had to beg it back and take a photo on my desk at work!  My colleague is very pleased with it ...... and has asked if I can now make a horse themed card for her other daughter!!! 
Well, I like a challenge ...... :-)
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Monday 4 November 2013

Flower Cluster birthday card



This card 'christens' a new sentiment stamp, used the same day as I bought it - unheard of!  I took a sheet of 6" paper from a pad (Authentique) for the background and stamped the sentiment (Hobby Art) in teal.  Then I stamped the script flowers in the same colour (Craft Stamper freebie stamp), cut out and inked the edges.  They were arranged in three layers, one flat to the card, one on 1mm foam squares and the third on 2mm foam.

I die-cut a swirly flourish (Memory Box), cut it in half, tucked the pieces behind the flowers.  Then I used a Martha Stewart punch for the fronds and tucked those behind too.  Pearls in the corners to finish :-)

This is one of my favourite stamps for cards (yes, even though it's a flower!), if I ever lose it I will be in trouble!
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Friday 1 November 2013

52 Cards Challenge - week 41



The prompt for week 41 is to use something with points - I have gone for these pointy sentiment banners!

The Christmas card is done with Basic Grey 'Wassail' from the 6" paper pad.  I think the stamp might be Penny Black, stamped and embossed in gold with the baubles coloured in red.  The sentiment banners are die-cut (Dienamics).

The steampunk birthday card is ny favourite :-)  Using a 6" pad again, Graphic 45 'Steampunk Spells', I took the plain side of one of the more Hallowe'en-y papers and stamped the swirly gear image in black versafine.  This stamp is either Stampendous or Hero Arts ...... :-)  Then I inked up two small parts of the stamp in versafine Toffee and cut them out to go over the blank.  The clock stamp is from Technique Tuesday, again stamped in Toffee and placed over a similar shape on the black image.  Some black ribbon and the sentiment banners finish it off.
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