October done, well all but one

This card is the last of the friend's birthdays that I need to do for October. Hadn't got a clue what to do for the card. Inspiration started with one of the new Cuttlebug embossing border folders called Just My Type which I had highlighted with Sakura pens. But it wasn't until I got an email from Stiching Cards showing off a new set of designs that everything fell into place. Just fell in love with the designs and had to have them.

The backing paper is based on a tartan called Sakura - the Japanese word for Cherry Blossom - which I think the cuttlebug border looks like. For the threads for the stitching just used regular DMC floss, matching them to the colours on the backing paper, but trying to stay true to the 'Rennie Macintosh' colour themes. The brown cardstock comes from the K&Company Designer Paper set by Amy Butler called Sola.

I really love the designs inspired by 'Charles Rennie Macintosh' as I think his designs are timeless. A couple of years ago, using my other crafting love, cross-stitch, did a firescreen, which I got framed as a picture.

October Cards - Half Way There

Woke up this morning to a lovely surprise, a blog award from one of my crafting buddies, Liz in her 'Wee Scottish Corner'. Thanks Liz for thinking I was worthy of an award.

Got cracking this morning and now half way there to getting the cards I need to do for October birthdays done. Have to be organised as 'long suffering husband' and me are heading off for our silver wedding anniversary holidays to the far east in the middle of September and the day we get back to Awali have got daughter coming out for her holidays.

This first one, is for a friend to plays golf. The backing paper is from the Crafters Companion Mens Collection CD and mounted the image and sentitment on navy blue cardstock.

This one is for his daughter who will be 16 a couple of weeks before his birthday. The pink backing paper is from Fred-She-Said freebie plain papers. Rollered black ink on the embossing folder before running it through 'My Bug' and then mounted it onto black card stock. The black happy birthday banner on the bottom of the right hand piece is just gift wrap ribbon and finished off the card with gold peel offs.

Half way through the third and final birthday card that I need for October. Hopefully will have it finished tomorrow, so watch this space.

September put to bed!!!!

Why do I try and make plans!!!!!!! You would think I would have learnt by now.

As I was settling down to a morning of cardmaking, I got a phone call inviting me to play mahjong with some of my girlfriends here in Awali along with a bite of lunch. Having played well on Sunday and hoping my luck was still with me, said yes.

However before I went out, managed to get one card made and it meant that I was able to tick off all September's cards I needed for September. This final one was an anniversary card for my nephew and his wife.

With the last few anniversary cards that I have done being along the romantic line thought I would try something totally different. So ended up with this one. Apart from the card base, all the cardstock came from a K&Company Designer Paper set by Amy Butler called Sola. For the flower, I used one of the new cuttlebug embossing Border folders called 'Border with Love' and higlighting it with pink and brown chalks and stamped the sentiment in pink.

Fingers crossed tomorrow I will be able to make a start on October's cards. Only four to do, three for friends and the fourth one for my 'long suffering' husband for our wedding anniversary - 25th years. Oh boy do I need some inspiration for that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to get ahead!

This first card was a quick one I did yesterday for a friend who passed her driving test, which I would say would be no mean feat out here. The image I used isn't far short of how some people drive out here. Delivered it to her today and she was chuffed to bits with it.

Then I had to settle down to get a couple of cards done for birthdays in September. The first one is a friend's 40th birthday. The backing papers and kimono decoupage are from Lis.Christiansen. Finished off the card with a ribbon and chinese charm.

The final card for today is one for my eldest daughter's birthday and loves a cocktail. The template for the cocktail glass card is from Shirley, a fellow imag-e-nationer. The backing paper was a freebie from Artymiss for signing up for their newsletter.

On A Roll!!!!!

Much as I hate doing male cards, thought I would knuckle down today and make some, to have ready. Was really surprised that I managed to get four done.

These first two are done using the same elements. Backing paper from Crafters Companion Masculine CD. For the topper I inked one of the folders from the Happy Birthday Embossing Set before running it through the 'Bug', then matted it onto chocolate brown and gold card stock. Finished the cards off with some sporting peel-offs. For the golf bag one, just coloured it in with a Whispers pen, to get the darker shades, just coloured the area a few more times.

For the next one, used a backing paper and topper from Crafty-Jak's CD3, altering the image into a rubic's cube and backing it onto olive green card stock.

For my last effort for today, used Allegro embossing folder on gold cardstock. Decoupaged the image and mounted it on chocolate brown card stoch and finished it off with a happy birthday peel-off.

After the weekend

Well after managing to do fairly decent scrapbook page, well I thought so, decided to have a bash at another one. The photos in this one are more recent. Taken when Billy and I were at Trader Vics for a lunch and a couple of cocktails on his birthday. It is a lovely place and so are the cocktails. We sat in the conservatory looking out over the little lagoon, really tranquil.

Haven't made any cards for a couple of days. Spent most of Sunday working on invitations for a party we are having in November to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary.

Today thought spent a wee while tinkering about getting a card made for a friend's son who passed his A-levels and is heading to university. For the embossing on the right hand side of the card, used a techinque called Ink-embossing using a cuttlebug embossing folder.

Tried something new

Although only ever done one scrapbooking project before, I thought I would make a scrapbook album of Billy and my nights out at big functions.

So today took the plunge and made a start. Starting with the first big function we went to after we arrived in Bahrain in 2006. It was the annual Octoberfest in Bahrain. Wasn't I glad that I had kept the door tickets along with the beer & wine price list and have included them on the page.

Decided to keep the price list on the top, so that it could be opened and be read.

This was my first scrapbooking project, which I went to a class for. It was a birthday present for a good friend's 70th birthday and whose passions in life are his family and Harley Davidson motorbikes. Saw the pack of 12x12 Harley Davidson papers and knew that I had to do something with them.

Couldn't not do a card today, so decided to do my take on Jak's Mr & Mrs image, which she posted in her Kitchen on Monday 11th. I only hope that Jak approves of my interpretation.

A good start to the week

Well pleased with myself today, managed to get three cards done.

Enjoyed doing the Flowering Vine from StitchingCards so much decided to have go at another one of their freebies. This time, the butterfly and combined it with flowers and backing papers from Fred-She-Said. Stitched the butterfly on a piece of card, on which I printed the same backing paper and stitched using DMC Variegated Threads. Added a bit of back-stitching to the butterfly just to define it a bit more then cut round close of the back-stitching.

This next one used just matting and layer. The backing paper is again one of Fred-She-Said freebie papers. Mounted the image, Sporty Chick, on plain white card, with tabs using the same white card, off cuts of the backing paper and colouring the peel-offs to match.

The last one for today is the Curvy Card using the curvy card template from WS-Designs. The Daisy is Sizzix Bigz Daisy #2 die and trimmed the card with black gift wrapping ribbon and added a double tag topped off with a 21st peel-off.

Thanks for having a look.

The weekend is almost over

Thursday started off with a mini disaster, the washing machine flooding the laundry room, just as I was heading out to my weekly game of Canasta, but after that it was plain sailing all the way. Got a card done on in the afternoon, another anniversary one, a bit of a rush job, but it was well accepted. The 'Message of Love' image is from Bev's Decoupage Two CD.

My curiosity got the better of me after seeing Jak's stitching card, so thought I would have a bash myself. Decided on the Flowering Vine, a freebie on StitchingCards, found the thread in my cross stitching stash and found it quite relaxing to do.

Out here in Bahrain, the weekend is Friday and Saturday. So with Friday being the equivalent of a UK Sunday it was out for Friday Lunch with friends. Then today had to go into town and sort out my mobile phone. Recently changed from being pre-paid to being on a contract. On the pre-paid system I could call both locally and internationally, however when I changed to the contract the dumb salesman guy didn't tell me that I had to ask to have international calls and roaming added on to my contract. Anyway it's sorted now and all ready for heading away to the Far East in September.

Some more candy

On my wanderings again, have found some more candy. If you would a bit have a wander over to Elina's.

If Elina's candy doesn't stop your craving have a look at Gisela's as well as meholder for
a bit more.

Blog Candy

While having a wander in Bev's place, to admire her cards spotted she had some lovely candy to donate to some poor soul. Hope the poor soul is me. But if not me, then it could be you. All you have to do is pop in and see Bev before the Saturday 9th of August at 6pm.

A Better Day Today

Was dreading today after yesterday's goings ons but things seemed to go a lot smoother, so maybe yesterday was a one off. Lets hope so.

Stayed indoors today, as it was too hot to sit out. Didn't want to end up like a grease spot. Billy was saying when he came home from work that at 7 this morning, the heat index at work [how hot it feels when you combine the air temperature with the humidity. Today heat index was 123F or 50.5C. The actual temperature air temperature was about 38C

Have finally managed to upload my efforts over the last two days. The first one is yesterday's effort. A diamond fold card for a friend who has gone in to get her veins done. The front diamond is just printed using a every day word processing programme. Trimmed the two plain back pieces edged with a gold border peel-off and dotted a few floral peel-offs

This next one is an anniversary card. Used one of the new cuttlebug borders from the 'Border With Love' set in the middle and then matted the image that I have called 'Lovers Kiss' and a poem of 'Love is...' then layered onto the card base. Finished off the card with a wee bow.

The final one for today, is one a christmas one. Yes I have said the dreaded word. Stamped the snowmen and chalked the scraves, the ribbon on the top hats, carrot nose and blue highlights. Used Whisper pens to colour in the holly on the top hats and hightlighted the red berry with Sakura Crystal Laquer. Mounted it on a place blue matt mirri card then mounted that on Bo Bunny's Back to Backs Homespun Holly. All mounted on a sheet of blue backing paper.

Things can only get better

Why do I never listen to my Mum, never plan your day on a Monday as it normally goes pear-shaped. Had great plans, was going to spend the day making cards, hoping to get a batch of christmas cards, a wedding anniversary card and a get well one made.

How many did I get made, just one and here it is, well it should be. Oh well. Looks like Tuesday is going to be as good a day as Monday!!!!!!!!! But maybe not as I don't seem to be only one who is having problems uploading photos according to Bloggers Help Group.

My Very First Post

Have finally taken the plunge and got myself a blog. Hope I have done it right and you will drop by regularly for a wander through my room or just a chat.

You might wonder about the view of my 'Palace'. Well a long story, but the short verison is that this view, or various other views of Eileen Donan Castle, have always featured in a house where I have lived for as long as I can remember. Thanks Dad.

Thanks for looking.