A Card and a Cushion!

In the past few weeks my card making has taken a back seat while I have been making other things, but I needed a card to give my DH for our Wedding Anniversary which is next week.  Something simple and fairly masculine, I decided to use my Hero Arts Tropical Background stamp and mt new Memory Box Stitched Heart Die. I managed to match the pattern of the stamp and I have raised the heart on foam tape for definition, I have also used a Wink of Stella to make it shimmer.

I am adding this card to the current Wednesday challenge at Simon Says.

I thought I would also share my latest cushion, the material is two more pieces from my scrap bag of fabric that only cost me £5.  That bag was a great buy as I have now made three cushions from it.
See my previous post here!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

No cards, but other crafts!!

Since I have been retired I have been going through all the craft ideas I have pinned from Pinterest and never had the time to make.  This week its been sewing and Applique, I have always loved sewing but never tried Applique also I have never ,made a cushion with piping round it!!

Our local upholstery shop always has a remnants bin and I managed to pick up a bag of scraps for £5 , both these cushions were made using the remnants from the bag although I did have some felt in my box which I used for the pheasants head.

I also watched loads of videos on You Tube for tips on how to make piping and also how to actually attempt the Applique, the internet is amazing I have learnt so much this week.  Here are my two makes and I am thrilled with them both and made for a fraction of the cost of bought ones. Consequently my card making has taken a bit of a back seat for a while, although I will have to get cracking with it as I have a few birthdays coming up.

I hope you all have a great week.

Spring Flowers.

I have been retired a month now and I am loving it!!  I have had time to do all the crafts  and sewing that I have been wanting to do for years and the weather has been fantastic so I have also spent bl

Lots of time in the garden.  I have spent most of the time upcycling my tired and dated bedroom furniture and I am thrilled with the results.

Today the weather has changed and its raining so I have had chance to make a card, I needed to get my card mojo working so after looking online decided to make a card for the Simon Says Wednesday challenge "Clean and Simple"  I dug out these old Hero Arts stamps and played around with some Hero Arts inks and distress inks.  Very simple design but I love this flower image,

I hope to do some catching up and visit some blogs today. Have a great Sunday.

Scraps!!

My scraps basket is getting very full and I have decided its time for a purge!!  I need to tidy up my craft room big time!!  Here is my first card using some scraps and die cuts from my basket, a little

 4 x 4 birthday card.  The background stamp is Hero Arts as is the digital image of the birds. 

I am adding this card to the Simon Says "Birthday" challenge this week.

Its another beautiful day here in Surrey and I am off to sit in the sun for a while, have a great day.

Spring is on its way!!

I had fun playing with some distress ink and the Poppy stamp from Hero Arts today, This card is for the current challenge over at Die Cut Divas "In the garden"  I was inspired to get out my flower dies as I think Spring has arrived in our neck of the woods and all the flowers and trees are coming to life.
I am also entering it in the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "Happy Birthday".

I spotted these lovely Primroses on my walk yesterday a sure sign that the warmer weather is coming.

I love these pretty yellow flowers.

I thought I wouls also show you another of my painting projects, we have had this old dark wood coffee table for years and it definitely needed updating.  I sanded down the top and applied some Danish oil, the grain really looks fantastic and it was hidden under all that dark wood stain!

I then painted it in Annie Sloan chalk paint, my fav new product, so easy to use!!  No piece of furniture is safe in my house now lol!!

A card and a project!!

Just thought I would share this card, I made it for the "Unexpected " challenge at ABNH but I was too late uploading it to add it to the challenge.  Never mind it was fun making it!  Another shaker card with my new Congrats die from Hero Arts.

Here is a close up!

Last Friday I retired  after working as a school Admissions officer for the last 20 years, I will miss my job and all the people and children , but now I have time to try lots of new projects.  My first is to up cycle some furniture , I really enjoyed doing this and have lots more pieces lined up to do.

Here is the before picture although I had already sanded down the top before I remember to take this!!

Here is the after, I used Annie Sloan chalk paint in cream, painted it twice and then distressed it before waxing.  I then treated the top with Danish Oil. I am thrilled with the end result.

Hope you are all enjoying the Easter break.

Thanks card

I need a few Thank You cards for my stash and so I dug out this old Hero Arts background stamp.  I inked and embossed then just added the sentiment and some sequins..

Quick post today as I have lots to do.  Have a great week.

Note Cards.

Happy Mothers Days ladies!!

I have had time to play with my stamps today and created this note card, I plan to make a set of them for a friend.

This card uses some old favorite Hero Arts stamps plus the new Engraved Frame stamp.  The background is created from lots of distress inks water and the Classic Fabric Cling.  The butterflies are from the Antique Engravings set.

This card is for two challenges the Nature Challenge at Hero Arts and the Things That Fly challenge at Simon Says.

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Spring is on the Way!!!

At last its beginning to get warmer and Spring is definitely in the air.  I am looking forward to brighter days and have made this card with Summer in mind. Lots of old Hero Arts favorites here, the lovely Hydrangea stamp and the butterfly from the Antique Engravings set.

This card is for two challenges, the "Nature Challenge" at Hero Arts  and the "Girly Challenge" at Simon Says.

Butterfly Shaker Card.

After seeing Lucy's card on the Hero Arts Blog I was inspired to make another Shaker Card, this time using a Hero Arts Silhouette Butterflies cut file.  I re sized the image and cut from some Bo Bunny paper. The background patterned paper is BasicGrey and the Hello word die is also Hero Arts. 

A simple but effective design! 

I am adding this to the "Nature Challenge" over at the Hero Arts Blog. Also the "Girly" challenge at the Simon Says Wednesday challenge bog.

Yeah its Friday, hope you all have a great weekend!!