The end of a long week...

Finally Friday. It seems like it's been a very long week. Hubby was away from home Tuesday to Wednesday on business. Stayed over night in Napier. The phone never stopped ringing for him as his Mum is not at all well and everyone was worried. His sister from London rang.
Wednesday evening I went out for a long walk with the Walking Group from gym. We did around 5ks in 55 mins - up some rather long steep hills and now my knee is rather painful. Have had to put a support on it. Enjoyed the walk and talk we do as a group even though we now leave after the sun has gone down. So far in 6 weeks we have not had a rainy night at all.
Good news though was Wednesday I got the cuttlebug back - like new..... so as you can see I have managed a couple of cards using it. I bought new nesties yesterday - plain and scalloped long rectangles. For the blue card I used the plain rectangles which I cut and embossed. I had stamped the image from Helen's Stampin Up! set so cut round it. Not sure what sentiment I will use on this one. If I use a Hero Arts one, I post it into the "manly" challenge as the colours are male orientated.
The second card is for a lady at work who has a friend having a little girl shortly. I used some stickers from the $2 shop which are lovely and glittery. I cut the 2nd to largest oval scallop and put the sticker on. I stamped Congratulations from a HA set and used a verse from my American Greetings creatacard CD. I often use the verses from this programme and PrintMaster 15 - another computer generated cardmaking programme.
Yesterday I was going to take the day off as the carpet layer was coming. Had applied for 1/2 days annual leave and was going to use up some of my extra hours I have made up.... but as usual - best laid plans etc etc.... Work decided to announce the changes to the work streams yesterday. So I had the morning off and had to be in at work at 1.00pm for a confrence call and then to announce to my staff what work we will be doing.... 2 1/2 hours - then I decided that I would head home - via the stamp shop of course.... that when I got my new nesties, plus a few other bits and pieces. Got one of the Fiskars finger cutters. Quite easy to use.
Thanks to all of you who are visiting and leaving me such lovely comments. Wishing you all a great weekend

Sketch and Stash Challenge /HA Manly Challenge

Tonight I am home alone and with nothing decent on the TV, I decided to have a go at HA Manly challenge this week. Obviously the challenge is to make a male card - so I had a go. I decided that I would incorporate the sketch from Sketch and Stash Challenge as well. I really liked the sketch but as it had two flowers on it, wasn't too sure. But decided to have a go with some black/brown and white flowers.
The card stock is called Nutmeg and is probably a bit browner than the photo shows. The black background has been embossed with Devine Swirls Cuttlebug folder, a piece that I had done quite some time ago and had forgotten I had ( that's my old neglected item). My new things is the branch stamp from a new Hero Arts set - Sparkle clear From our House. I haven't used this stamp before. The three eyelets are also a forgotten item as I found them while looking for the flowers to put on this card. I really like how this turned out. I do find male cards a bit harder to do. I also like this sketch - but think for my next male card will use buttons instead of flowers. I have a male birthday card to do as a commission from someone at work, so have started to get some ideas.

Well it's time for me to head off to bed - busy day tomorrow at work. Thanks for calling by, take care.

Saturday stamping.

What a great day I had yesterday - stamping with some lovely ladies. I went to Lei's place and meet with Sandie, Helen and Glenda. We started with a cuppa and a chat, then it was down to work... Helen and Sandie are working on making some cards to sell at Helen's work. They have a craft afternoon where staff are allow to sell their stuff - a portion of the proceeds goes to charity. What a great employer. We had a great day of sharing ideas, stamps, templates etc, stopping for a wonderful shared lunch. Finally packed up just on 4.15. I completed 2 cards but got bits and bobs done for quite a few more. Stamped off some images, used Lei's CB to try out my new dies. Helen had some new Stampin' Up! sets and ink pads so we all made a similar card but in different colours. I did mine in greens. The stamps are very delicate looking. They are from a set called Pocket Shilhouttes. Inside of the card I put a white piece with some of the same green as the bottom of the outside. I loved the little sayings " Friend to Friend" and " thinking of you" I think I'll be getting this set as it is so lovely.
I also managed to finally finish off the cityscape card above. I started this at a class using the Jumbo Roller. I had stamped the image but not got round to colouring or putting it all together. Was pleased with the results. Nice and bright looking.

I also got a template from the ladies on how to make a gift box for putting a set of cards in. So last night had a go. ( forgive the photos - not enough light - but it gives the idea) I used some patterned paper on the front of the box and stamped " spread sushine" on it. For the cards inside I used the same paper in both the yellow and a green to make two of each card. Very simple cards but nice to give as a gift set for someone. This set will be for my friend Sue - just because I know she'll like them. I also will make some generic birthday card sets to sell at my work.

Today I haven't done any cards as we went to help Emma with some more painting... well I supervised anyway.... The house is really coming along. Emma also presented me with a beautifully decorated folder for helping to plan for the wedding. It has different tabs for things like guest lists, timetable for the planning. Sept next year I can start looking for my outfit!!!! ( this has been organised by a Planner!!! - that is her profession -l Town Planner - )
Well this is a long post so thanks for stopping by and enjoy your week

Finally Friday

I haven't been creative much this last half of the week. SIL got her results back and not great news. Incurable - has only been given 1 1/2 to 3 years..... so lots of coming to terms with the news in the household. Haven't felt a lot like doing much.
However tomorrow I am going to join some of the ladies I have meet through my local stamp shop club day. This lovely group of ladies - Helen, Sandie, Lei, Sue, Janet and Glenda usually meet once a month at each other's places, to stamp and share and they have kindly invited me to join them. So I've packed up my stuff...(wish I could take it all.... but just have to guess what I'll need) and am ready to head off around 10.30 tomorrow for a day of stamping. Maybe gets some inspiration from them all as we share our stamps. I am taking my CB folders and dies, and nesties with me - even though it will be Monday or Tuesday before my CB is back from the manufacturers... all repaired and ready to go again. I have been naughty and bought 2 more nesties ( scallopped heart and a square set) on the internet, which should be here to tomorrow or Monday- can't wait to get back into using it. It certainly helps add that little something to the card. - if not a large something to my credit card!!!!

Anyway that's about it from me for tonight. Thanks for stopping by.

BTW one of my internet friends, Anne, has a lovely giveway on her blog. Go visit her as she has the most amazing photos that she makes into cards, magnets and other items. They are for sale on her blog as well.

Sketch and Stash Challenge plus Daisy May challenge

Today felt much better so off to work... even managed to go to the gym on the way home!!!
Got home to find Kieran ( my darling son) had organised the dinner. He has his uni-tech day on a Tuesday and gets home first. This gave time to put together a card - using one of the images I stamped and coloured yesterday. I had used my watercolour pen with some Tombow pens. I scribbled the ink onto my acrylic block and picked up the colours from there.
I liked this sketch at Sketch and Stash Challenge site so this is my entry. The new item is the stamp - first time I have used it ( Penny Black 1448F Garden Gossip purchased from Stampzone) , from my stash is the ribbon and I used a scrap of black card to cut a scallop edging. The flower was cut out from a piece of gift wrap- put a brad through it. I haven't decided on a sentiment yet... make a horizontal greeting so some sort.....
PS have also entered this card into the Daisy May Monday Challenge. This is a really cute site with some lovely designers. This weeks challenge is Summer flowers and colours

Well I think I have time to try another card as I coloured in three images of the little hedgehog last night as well as two of a set of three presents.

Thanks for stopping by....

Sick day Monday

Yesterday I woke feeling very unwell - rather lethargic and generally icky feeling. So decided a day at home was the order of the day..... sleep in till around 9.00am then did a bit of surfing... found Tim Holtz's site where there are a heap of great video's on lots of techniques. And then found this site - Stamp TV. Lots of video's as well as projects and link to blogs with tips and techniques. All in all an interesting day. After having another nap mid morning I felt much better and managed to make a card to send to my niece in Australia. the central image had been on another card I had made but didn't like much so I recycled it and reused it. I decided to use the Card Positioning systems sketch #116 as my start point. A bit better but still not one of my best. However I know Debbie will like it. After dinner I stamped some Penny black images and coloured them in.

While I was sleeping the concrete truck arrived and the drive has been laid...... yeah.... but still can't drive on it till Saturday afternoon. Something to do with the fact it is exposed aggrercate and that takes longer to set than normal concrete. Can't wait till things are back to normal round here. Just need to get the upstairs carpet laid and then that's it for a while ( I hope)

Debbies Blog Candy

Hi - a wet Sunday afternoon and I have just been trolling round my favourite blogs and came across this amazing give away - Debbie's blog candy. Go visit and see for yourself. I had been visiting Chris Millars blog - enjoying her creations so pop in there as well. It has been a good afternoon for blog hopping and I've seen so many inspirational cards etc I have so many ideas jumping round my head. Maybe it is a good thing we are going out to a Pot Luck dinner this evening. It is a group we belong to through church called Family Groups - . We are a group of about 16 families and we try to meet once a month for an outing, or dinner, or some other group activity. Not every one can come every time, but it is a great group to belong to. Time to go and start my contribution for the dinner - a red Thai chicken curry.
Thanks for visiting.

PS - just back at 9.30pm from dinner.... about 14 of us were there for the meal.... all the most scrumptious food. Nice company and a good catch up with some people we haven't seen for a while.

Penny Black Challenge -

Thought I'd do the Penny Black Challenge no 48 - but when I went back to look - I had the wrong week.... last weeks challenge was Black & White and one more colour.... I had made this card for a colleague at work for his birthday coming up next week. Used the same stamp as I did for my paisley dots, but this time in red. I used a Penny Black Happy birthday stamp for the sentiment. Still, was pleased with the result although the photo didn't turn out the best. As I do most of my crafting and card making at night, my photos are not always the sharpest.