80th Birthday card

Haven't made a card for a while now and I struggle making them to order but I'm pleased with the way this one turned out.  It's for Mr B's Aunt's 80th and had to be done before we go away next week - also hate working to deadlines and have a very bad habit of leaving everything to the last minute.

Used my latest stamp set, some background papers, scallop die and Antique Linen DI to colour the white card, all finished off with a few little pearls.  Hope she likes it.

New drive coming along fine - should be finished today thank goodness, so in between making cups of tea for the builders I have to make an ATC for tomorrow's stamp club meeting, get my stuff together, make two more birthday cards, do the housework and take the dog for a walk.  Just a normal day then.

The sun is shining here, hope it is where you are.  Have a good weekend - I will.

WOYWW 169

Missed last week - nothing to show, and not that much today if I'm honest.  I have done some playing but it's been a busy weekend as we bought a campervan on Monday.  Not got it yet (3 weeks) and Mr B is not convinced we will get enough use out of it before the winter sets in - how depressing is that statement.  He wanted to wait until spring but I won that argument.

I did manage to visit a craft show on Saturday and treated myself to some new stamps and a few Pan Pastels so have been trying these out.

So that's it for my desk this week, new stamps, pastels and a few backgrounds.  My first attempts weren't too great, using too much, but these are better and they do blend very well.

Prior to getting the camper we are having out drive relaid and extended.  The builder was here yesterday to start and hoped to get the hardcore down this morning - not sure he will make it, just look at the front garden at 8:00 this morning....

....and it's raining even harder now, better get out my wellies.

One consolation brought by the rain is the chance to do a bit of serious desk-hopping, first top is Julia of Stamping ground, our illustrious hostess, why not pop over and while away a couple(?) of hours with us.

Thank goodness it's back!

Mojo, that is.
Haven't stamped for weeks now and was beginning to ask myself if I should put all my stamps on EBay - answer was a resounding 'NOoooooo'.  Mind you, if I did I would be rich, even if they sold for £1 each, I have so many.
So yesterday, out came the stamps and the Distress Inks, white card, blue card and a flip-flap (???) book I made ages ago at our stamp group.  I spent a couple of happy hours measuring the sample and working out how much card I needed to cut and ink up and ended up with blue fingers - again.  Stamps came out today and another couple of hours to finish it.  It's quite complicated to explain so I'l  show you a top view of the book/card/thingy.

The centre is three pieces of 4x8 card folded to make mine gate-folds (2-4-2 inches) and then stuck together on one of the 2 inch sides.  Back is 8x4 scored at 1and half, half, 4, half, 1and half (the half inch sections make the two spines). The 1 and half inch edges are stuck between two more 4x4 pieces to make the front and back.
Here's a look at  the pages.

Front page.

Inside first set.

Second set

Third set

Fourth set.

and the back...

Not content with the piles and piles of stamps I have already I went out today and bought some more.  There is a craft show on in Leigh this weekend so I went with a friend and couldn't resist a few goodies.  One was a bargain (Stampers Anonymous labels, reduced to £12) so I reckon I actually saved money and that's a good thing - isn't it?

What's on my desk Saturday?

I missed WOYWW this week as I hadn't anything to show.  What with getting ready for holidays, recovering from holidays, watching Olympics, recovering from Olympics and being a generally all-round lazy so-and-so crafting hasn't had much of a look in for quite a few weeks.  In fact my inks have probably dried up and my rubber stamps perished it's been that long since I did any stamping.  That's set to change though as I'm determined to get some done this week.

To ease myself in gradually I started a little art doll yesterday and finished her this morning.  Here is my work-tray....

Tatty old needlecase that I made at school, lots of seed beads and the finished doll.  I did some needle-felting to make the body in my favourite blues and greens and this time it was a success.  The first piece I made (see previous post) fell apart  when I took it off the foam block but then it was my first ever.  Good job I don't give up easily.

Here she is in close-up.

I know she only has legs but that's because she is (h)armless - can you tell I love puns?  Mr B thinks she looks creepy but then he has no taste ha ha.

She will be on her way to a good home soon as a little 'thank-you' .  Think I'm going to make another one just for me.

Good to be back - see you Wednesday.

WOYWW 166

I'm late this week, just taken the photo this morning as I wanted to join in having missed joining the last two WOYWW .  Holidays last week and Olympics this have made a big hole in my crafting time.

Bought a felting kit to take with me to Somerset (trying yet another new craft) but it stayed in it's box all week - Q. how can you craft in a houseful of people/children; A. you can't, well, I can't.

Finally got it out yesterday and did my first felting in-between cycling semi-finals and the very, very exciting finals.  How fantastic is Sir Chris Hoy?

Anyway, on with the photos, here's my desk.

Felting kit at centre with my effort on its foam block at the front.  I followed a pattern in the book for a field of poppies but as I didn't have any red wool the flowers are Welsh poppies (gold).  Not finished yet as I have to add another layer of bigger flowers and buds.

Came home to a pile of posts, the best of which was a card from Royal Mail saying a parcel was waiting for me and in the parcel the beautiful quirky art girl from Donna.  When I got my new sewing machine the collection of feet from my old one were redundant and after I offered them to anyone who could use them Donna (Doone) said she would make me an art doll.  There are more photos of her on Donna's blog if you want a closer look.

So cycling is finished so what do I do for my daily 'exercise' now?  Think I'll have to try hockey.

Back home...

...and what a difference a week makes.
This was us (well Mr B, Sorrel and George our eldest Grandchild) last weekend in Somerset in the beach in blazing sunshine.

And this was our cottage - the one on the left - with Thomas.

Beautiful cottage, lovely countryside and weather OK, very busy though - amazing how much chaos reigns when there are three children about.  Thomas gave our cottage three stars and as we were coming away asked if we could go back next year - think the pool, games room and next doors children to play with it had a bit of an impact on him.

Six hour journey home and washing and ironing ever since and now my washer has conked out.  Still thats an excuse to watch even more of the Olympics this week.  Can see all that will be on my desk for this week's WOYWW will be the TV schedule.

Good to be back