Life is a Journey......

I'm cardmaking a little again now and getting back into the swing of things a bit more.  I'm still not able to use my Cuttlebug and most of my punches, but I'm sure it won't be long before I will be getting back to normal.  Off to see my surgeon tomorrow so hoping he'll be pleased with my recovery so far and gives me the 'all clear' to push myself a little harder.

I've really missed entering the Less is More weekly challenges and as I needed to create a birthday card for a male pal, I thought it would be a great opportunity to try to make the card fit the challenge theme for this week, which is a sketch. 

I used three stamps from a little set which came free with a magazine recently, stamped with Momento and heat embossed with clear embossing powder (sadly the shine doesn't show up on the piccie).  I created the vertical layer using Antique Linen and Bundled Sage Distress Inks, applied using stipple brushes.  I also added just a touch of the Bundled Sage DI around the edges of the base card to distress them very slightly. 

That's it, simple but I am reasonably pleased with the final result.

Thanks for dropping by to see today's project.

and there's more..... !

Today I'm sharing piccies of the other knitting projects I've completed while I've been unwell, there is one more garment that I'm still working on, but these are the ones I've finished so far.

This one is knitted in Aran weight yarn and is the same pattern as the one I inadvertantly knitted in too big a size to fit me so gave to a friend.  The yarn isn't the same as the one I gave to my pal though, that was in a pale blue flecked yarn.  I'm wearing this tunic today and I have to say it's really cosy - perfect for this rather chilly morning.

I had a little of the gorgeous Baby Alpaca yarn left over so knitted these fingerless mittens to use it up.  The pattern was a freebie in a knitting magazine and I also knitted a pair for my Dad who was staying with me over Christmas and just after.  I know he gets cold hands when he's working in his craftroom, so thought they would be ideal to keep his hands warmer but still leave fingers free for crafting !  It's a lovely pattern and takes next to no time to knit up.

The final project for today is the mitred squares I'm knitting up using the pale blue flecked Aran weight yarn left over from the cabled tunic I gave to my pal.  I saw the instructions for knitting mitred squares in a magazine and changed the number of stitches and needle guage to make the size of squares I wanted.  When I've knitted enough, I'll join up the squares into a throw and maybe add a pretty crochet edging to finish it off.  I haven't done mitred work before but it is really easy and gives a great finished look I think.  I shall probably stitch them together in this pattern when I've knitted enough of them.




Just one more knitting project to share with you once I've finished it, I'm starting to do a little cardmaking again, so will have a couple of cards to share with you over the next few days.

This evening hubby and I are meeting up with my lovely crafting pal Kathy who is visiting Plymouth with her hubby.  We are heading off for a meal at a local Chinese restaurant this evening and it promises to be a great evening of catching up and crafty chat !

Thanks for checking out my post today, I hope I haven't bored you with all this knitting!  I think I may be recovering from my knitting 'bug' a little as I don't have a new project in mind for after the current one is completed - gasp !

Anything but Cards !

Since getting sick at the end of November, I haven't been able to do much of my cardmaking and papercrafting, but I have been knitting - lots !! 

I currently have my sixth garment on the go since November and thought I'd share a couple of piccies with you as I've been asked exactly what I'm knitting. 

This is the first jacket I made, I'd previously made one using this pattern in darker colours and liked it so much I thought I'd do another one.

As I had been well and truly bitten by the 'knitting bug' I then bought some gorgeous Baby Alpaca yarn and knitted this longline jumper with an asymetric hemline.  I just loved working with this super soft yarn and it's great to wear as it keeps me warm but not overheated and is remarkably light.  I do plan to knit more garments with this fabulous yarn.

The final project I'm sharing with you today is not quite finished as I need to press the parts before stitching up and knitting the roll collar.  I am still not able to do ironing (shame!!) so can't complete it until I can.  I put the pattern into the picture to show what the finished garment will look like.  The yarn this time is a mixture of Alpaca, Silk and Wool - nice to work with but nowhere near as soft as the Baby Alpaca, although may be a little more hard wearing.







I knitted an Aran weight short sleeved tunic with lots of lovely cabling on the front but when I'd finished it I realised it was far too big for me and should have knitted a smaller size.  So, I gave it to a friend who was delighted with it.  I have knitted myself one now and will share a pic of that another day.

Hope you've enjoyed seeing some different projects today, thanks for dropping by.

My Heart Belongs To You

I've managed to do a little light crafting over the past few days, albeit with limited stash as the bulk of my stuff is still packed away since Christmas and my OH won't let me get at it until I'm 'well' again !!

Today's card is my DT project for the I Love Promarkers blog and our theme for this week's challenge is 'Pink and Purple'.  This week's prize is sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop and I've used a lovely image from them for my card.

The image is coloured with Promarkers and a couple of the very lightest shades of Fleximarkers - I like these for blending.   I used dies by Memory Box and Nellie's Choice to create the hearts and Nellie Snellen punch and emboss sets to punch out the flowers and leaves.  The sentiment was created on my computer and I've added Stardust Stickles in the centres of the flowers, on the filigree and the lace on the bodice of her outfit.

I've enjoyed getting back into my card making and hope to get more projects done in the coming days to share with you.

Thanks for dropping by to check out my latest creation.

Quick Update

I thought I'd post up a quick update as I haven't been around for some time. 

My surgery on 16 December went well and I continue to recover, although much more slowly than I would like and had anticipated !!  I guess that's just me being far too impatient and I do know I have to take things easy for a while.

Sadly I am not yet able to get back to my crafting as I still have to take it easy and not lift anything heavier than a mug of coffee.  I have been doing a lot of knitting though so that has stopped me from going totally stir crazy !!  I've completed a cardigan and two sweaters and have another ready to stitch together, so I've been keeping busy. 

I'm hoping to be reunited with my craft stash soon and get a few projects done to share with you.

Signing off for a while.......

If you've popped in recently, you will probably be aware that I've not been feeling so good for a while.  Well, tomorrow (friday 16 Dec) I go into hospital for surgery and I'll be MIA for at least a few days.

If all goes to plan, I should be home again in the early part of next week and hopefully recovering well by Christmas.  I guess this year I'll be merely 'directing' and 'orchestrating' the preparation and cooking of the family Turkey Dinner rather than cooking it myself !    I'm told I need to take things really easy for at least two weeks, lots of pampering and being looked after.  I'm sure that my Hubby, Dad and Son will do their best to make sure I rest and take it easy !! 

Just in case I don't feel up to being on line much next week, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all A Very Merry Christmas and may you have A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.  

I'd also like to say a special thank you to all my wonderful Followers, I do appreciate you taking time to drop by to check out my projects and thanks for sticking with me throughout 2011.  Also to those who do visit regularly but aren't signed up as an 'official' Follower, thanks so much to you also.

I hope to be well enough to be crafting again in January and I'm looking forward to sharing my projects on here with you again.

Surprise.. Surprise... Happy Birthday Holley ! bet you thought I'd forget ?

Happy Birthday Holley, bet you thought I'd forget my promise made during Vicki's birthday blog hop to make a special card for you ! Well, I didn't. Hope you like it Hun.

I used the beautiful 'Tree Fairy' designed by Amy Brown and is one of the stamps available through Queen Kat Designs. This is a new stamp released for the month of December and I think she's just gorgeous.

I coloured her with Copics, adding some touches of Spica Glitter Pen on her wings. Dotty paper was from my stash and the image is added over a layer of SU! cardstock. The matching lush wide striped ribbon is also from SU! and I created the sentiment on my computer.

Have a great day Holley.

Cute Snowman

Got another of my Christmas cards to share today, I made this one just before I got sick and realised I hadn't posted it up on here yet. 

The basecard is a 4 x 4 ivory pearl card and I stamped and heat embossed this sweet little snowie from a set by Inkadinkado before cutting it out with a nestie.  I then added Distress Ink around the image leaving the centre lighter to highlight the embossed image.

I cut out a few different sized poinsettia flowers from white and silver card and a couple of swirls from some green pearl card.  The smallest flower was punched with a Nellie Snellen punch and emboss set and the centre pearl created using a Waco Pearlmaker Pen.   I added touches of Stickles on the petals to bling it up a bit.  The sentiment is also heat embossed to match the image.

This turned into a sweet little card to add to my stock.  The colour would fit the Simply Less is More challenge this week, but I feel it's a tad too fussy to be classed as CAS

Thanks for dropping by today, I'm still not up to doing any crafting, but at least I have a few ready made projects to share with you in the coming days.

Yet another batch......

Got another little batch of cards I made recently to share today.  I used a Papermania embossing folder, white basecard, Stickles, Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp, Memento Cottage Ivy ink and SU! labels punch.

It's so difficult to photograph white designs and Stickles well, but hopefully you can see the design in this piccie.




Here's a more close up pic which shows the contours of the embossing a little more clearly.


I'm entering this design for the Simply Less is More challenge as it has green on is and it is a CAS design.

Thanks for dropping by today, I'm still not doing any crafting, just getting cards written and other christmas prep which isn't too strenuous !  I hope your preparations for the Big Day are going well.  I have a few more projects which I haven't shared with you yet, so I'll be posting these over the next few days.  I am so looking forward to feeling well enough to craft again.

In Memory of Mike....

Sadly, our dear friend Mike lost his short battle with cancer recently.  I created this card in his memory to send to his family, just to let them know they are in our thoughts at this very sad and difficult time. 

I thought I'd share my design with you, created using stamps by Stamping Up! and Hero Arts.  I do feel the Clean and Simple (CAS) style is ideal for these very difficult cards which most of us, unfortunately, have to send from time to time.

Thanks for dropping by today.