December Birthday Cards

I couldn't post this until my Mom received it, but now I can. I made this card using a using an image from Digital Two for Tuesday blog and printed it out twice. I coloured them in using ProMarkers. I used Bazzil dotty cardstock and My Minds Eye's papers. The scalloped circle was cut using a Nestabilities die in a Cuttlebug machine, embossed using Snowflake Dots Cuttlebug Folder and then inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. The card was finished off with gingham ribbon and Basic Grey letter stickers.



The next card was for a good friend and was done using Crafty Individual stamp, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Basic Grey papers and Cuttlebug embossing folder. It was finished off with paper flowers, leaves and a button.



The third card was for my brother in law. I always find it hard to make cards for men. I did this one using a Paper Artsy stamps, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tim Holtz die cut, Time Holtz Tissue ribbon, EmbelliScrap swirl shape embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflake Dots folder, ribbon and scraps of paper.

Three more birthday coming up soon in January, so I best be getting on with making some more cards.

Scrapbooking Catch Up

RIMG6125, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Just thought that I'd post some of the Scrapbooking pages I've been working on the last couple of months. I've not done a lot of scrapbooking this year, so to do 3 LOs in a row was an accomplishment. This one is for my dh album from when we was young and on holiday in Cornwall sailing on a friends boat. The LO was done using some very old papers I had, and I don't know what make they are, but they go with the sailing theme. I printed out the poem "I must go down to the sea again" and inked the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink. I used felt and ribbon to do the edging and the title is Basic Grey sticker letters.

The second LO is from when my nephew was born back in 2006. It was done using Cosmo Cricket papers, rub-ons, paper flowers and brads. The title was cut on the Craft-Robo.

The third LO is a simple LO using up scraps of Basic Grey papers, Hero Art stamp, felt flower and a Basic Grey tag with acetate overlay.

SNOW!

Well the UK has been hit with major snow storms and it finally came to London. They are saying it's the worst weather conditions they've had in 23 years. It shut down the a lot of trains and some of the airports. It's not so much the snow, but that it just turns to ice and the UK just isn't very good at getting the roads cleared, never mind the sidewalks (or pavements as they are called here). This is what caused poor Peter's problem. He was walking up the pavement and then slipped on some ice. He put out his hand to catch himself, and has seriously hurt it. He waited for the next day to go to A&E as it was still to dangerous to go at night with so much ice still around. We had another big snow fall, so it made for better walking conditions. So he bundled up and headed for the local hospital. He was seen quiet quickly and the x-rayed his wrist. After looking at the x-ray they couldn't say either way if he has a break or not. So they have given him a splint and a sling and sent him home to rest for 5 to 7 days, unless it doesn't get any better.

Now 5 days after all the snow started we've gone above freezing and have had our typical London rain which has washed most of it away. I'm sure by Monday there will be no evidence it ever snowed. I just hope the trains will be back running on time!

Our 10th Anniversary

IMG_0354, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Last week Peter and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I can believe how quickly the last 10 years have flown by. We weren't able to celebrate on the day as both of us had to work, but we did get away for the day on Saturday. We deiced to go to Kingston-Upon-Thames for the day. We went because on the day after our wedding in Canada while we were driving to Ottawa to get my visa we stayed over night half way in Kingston, Ontario. So we went to see what the England equivalent was like.

The town it's self is much like any other urban city with lots of shops etc.,but running through it is the river Thames and we enjoyed a lovely morning stroll along the banks. We saw several swans, geese and coots. On the river there was a lot of boat activity especially people in long row boats, and along the riverbank there were many channel boats ofter with lots of potted plants growing on them. Part way down the Thames we came to a dock where you can get boat trips. We decided to take a trip to Hampton Court Palace. I was a nice day so we sat out in the bow and enjoyed a leisurely cruise along the river watching all the beautiful riverbank scenery go by.

We got to Hampton Court Palace and decided to have a look around. The palace itself would have taken 3 hours to go through and the boat back left in 2, so we just paid to go into the private gardens instead. The weather had got a bit cloudy, but it was still nice. As the clouds came in I would put my sweater on and then the sun would come out and I'd have to take it off again. In the end I just keep my sweater on cause every time I took it off the clouds would come. After that we had a nice sunny day. We strolled around the gardens enjoying all the water features, birds, manicured trees, sculptures and the few remaining flowers for this time of year. We didn't make it through the whole of the grounds before we had to start thinking about heading back to the boat. We grabbed an ice cream and meandered back to the dock and just made it in time for the boat back to Kingston.

Back in Kingston we went around some of the shops. I was quiet intrigued by one called Candy Cakes. We went inside, but I must admit that the cupcakes they sold did not look appetising at all. They were covered with this thick icing in bright colours that looked almost like play dough. We did however buy a few French Macaron which reminded us of Luxemburgerli we've had from Switzerland. We found a cafe with a few of the river and had a drink and a few of the Macarons. They were enjoyable, but not nearly as nice as Luxemburgerli.

In the evening we drove over to Epsom and meet up with a friend who we haven't seen in a long time and enjoyed a wonderful Italian meal together. We started off with olives and garlic bread, then I had a calzone, Peter a spicy pizza and our friend Geoff had a chicken caesar salad. We finished the meal off with profiteroles filled with ice cream. It was great to catch up with our friend and to share a meal together. Then it was back on the road and heading home after a wonderful day spent together.

More photo's from our day together here

New Camera

Today I received my new Canon Powershot SX210 IS camera. While it was still light out and after it stopped raining. I went into the garden to test it out. Although it does have a macro setting, I can get as close as some of my previous cameras, however as the photo's are 14M I should be able to zoom and crop and still get a good photo. I'll have to play with it a bit more to figure out all the different function this camera does. In the mean time I hope you enjoy some of the photo's I've taken today.

Macro shot of a rose

Macro of a Wild Flower (aka weed)

Smile Detection Mode

Latest Scrapbook pages

Here are a couple of layouts that I've been working on. I finally finished them off today. Together the two LOs will sit side by side to make a double LO. The first LO was done using My Minds Eye papers and Bazzil card stock. The flower embellishment was made with paper scraps and a Stampin' Up scallop punch. The LO was finished off with an acetate flower, buttons and ribbon.



The second LO is done using scraps left over from the first LO and other matching papers. Again I've used the Stampin Up punch and made different sized scallops which I distressed by crumpling up and inking with Tim Holtz distress ink. The LO was finished up with buttons and ribbons.

Happy Father's Day

Digital card I made for my Dad in Canada and send electrically for Father's Day. Done using a free download kit from Millstream Cottage. Wishing all the father's out there a Happy Father's Day.

May Birthday Cards

RIMG5940, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

Today I had a day off, so I've used the time to get caught up with some Birthday cards in May. The first one is for my Father-in-law, who spent his birthday in Cornwall, which gave me a few extra days to get a card made. The image was downloaded from Digital Two for Tuesday and coloured in with Promarkers. I used this weeks sketch from the CPS blog as a base of my layout. I cut out the wave pattern with the CraftRobo and the papers used were from the Basic Grey Wisteria collection. The card was finished off with ribbon and marbled tiles. Inside the card I put the poem "Sea Fever"

"I MUST down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking. I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over."
John Masefield

The second card I made today was for a good friend. The image is my new Wiffs of Joy stamp coloured in with ProMarkers and accented with stickles. I used Crate paper and stamped the background with Sandilion stamps and Distress Ink. The sentimates were printed from the computer. The card was finished off with ribbon and My Minds Eye croched flowers.

Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show

Last week was the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show at Alexander Place in North London. I've gone every year now for the past four years. I was almost tempted not to go this year, just because I already have so much craft things and have not been using them very much, BUT I just couldn't not go this year. So Peter drove me up so I could shop for a couple of hours, while he sat outside in the park in the sunshine reading his book. I think it was the quickest I've ever been around the show, but I had a list of things I wanted and tried to stick to that. I ended up getting a 7 Gypsies photo box frame, 2 Tim Holtz new dies, 1 Tim Holtz mask, more alcohol ink felt pads, Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Spellbinder nestabilities die cuts frames, Basic Grey journalling notes and flowers, 4 packs of ProMarkers in the NEW colour range, Crate Paper collection, 10 sheet of Fancy Pants papers, ribbon, a poky tool (not shown) and a Wiffs of Joy stamp (not shown). I was so excited with all my purchases that I came home and made this card with some of my purchase for a friends birthday.



The stamp image is the new Wiffs of Joy stamp coloured in with the new spring coloured Promarkers and finished off with Ranger Rock Candy Distress Stickels. The frames were cut using the Nestabilities in a Cuttlebug. The papers used are Crate papers edged with gold perfect pearls. The card was finished off with ribbons and a croched flower.

April Cards

At the beginning of April there are quiet a few birthdays that I needed to make cards for. The above was done for a good friends birthday. The image was a free download from Digital Two for Tuesday blog. It was printed on Stampin' Up cardstock and coloured in with ProMarkers. The image was mounted with 3D foam onto card stamped with Crafty Individuals Friends stamp inked with Ranger distress inks. The background on the card stock was done by stamping with embossing ink and then bushing it over with Ranger Perfect Pearls medium in gold. The background paper is Create Paper Static Collection inked with Tim Holtz distress ink. The "Happy Birthday" sentiment was glazed with Sepia Accents to give it a more muted antique look. The card was finished off with ribbon, a Prima paper flower and a brad.


The next card was done for my sister. It was done using another free digital image I downloaded, but I can't remember from where. The image was coloured in with ProMarkers. I just love the way this one turned out only using a couple of colours, but they build up and blend so well it makes it look that I've used more. The papers are My Minds Eye Bloom and Grow collection, and the edges were inked with ProMarkers. The card was finished off with a sisters quote sticker and some ribbon.


The last card is for my brother-in-law. It's always hard to do cards for men. This one I have used a Paper Artsy stamp on top of some cardstock that was blended with Ranger Distress Inks. Then the image was covered with Ranger Rock Candy Crackle paint and left to dry. The background was done using Tim Holtz gear masks that were again inked over with Ranger Distress Inks. The background paper is My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus"Our Family" collection stripe paper. The card was finished off with ribbon with brass rivets and metal establishments inked with Ranger Alcohol Inks.

Back to Scarpbooking

RIMG5631, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

I had a great time on Friday night when some friends came around and we scrapped together. I managed to do this LO of my Great Grandfathers Clog dance group the Eight Lancashire Lads. It was done using Stampin' Up cardstock and Basic Grey Mellow Taper paper. The title was cut using a Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet dies and matted on cardstock. The LO was finished off with ribbon and brads. It took a long time to get back into doing scrapbooking, and although this is a simple LO it wasn't quick to produce. Must have been all the cutting out of the title. In the time it took me to do this one, my friend did 3 LOs.

Earlier in the year I also did this LO of my Mom as a young child. It was done using Bazzill swiss dots cardstock and My Minds Eye BellaBella Bellezo paper and Basic Grey Blush collection paper, felt letter stickers, fabric flowers, brads, ribbon and Hero Arts stamps for the journling. The design was based on a layout in a Scrapbook Trends magazine.

Happy Mother's Day

Today in the UK it's Mother's Day, so I've made this card for my Mother-in-law. Hope she likes it as there is not much blue in it, but her gift is blue so I'm sure it will be OK. LOL My mom will have to wait till May for her card as that's when Mother's day is in Canada.

I've used scraps of different papers I had left over and a free downloaded image that I coloured in with ProMarkers. It was finished with some ribbon and a felt hand stitched heart.

Happy Valentines Day!

For my Beloved! Based on this weeks CPS sketch and made with yet another Mo Manning digital download. As soon as I saw this one I knew I just had to have it and it would make the perfect Valentines Day card. The image was coloured in with ProMarkers and applied with 3d foam. The papers used are Comso Cricket Honey Pie collection. Wishing you all the best for a Happy Valentines Day full of LOVE.

*HUGS* from Mrs Tiggy

1st Brithday

RIMG5596, originally uploaded by Bio-hazar.

I've done this card for a friends little boy's 1st birthday. The image is a digital download from Mo Manning and was coloured in with ProMarkers. The layout is from this weeks Sketch Saturday and again the papers and cut outs are from the Create Mia collection. The "1" was cut using the CraftRobo and was using the font Cosmic Sans. The "Happy Birthdays were added by hand as an afterthought, so they are not 100% positioned right, but I think it does the job. The card was finished off with some buttons.

Another Owl Card

This one is about two weeks over due. I did it for my mother-in-laws birthday. I used that weeks sketch from CPS and another one of my ProMarkers coloured owls from Pink Cat Studios. Papers are from Create Mia collection.

8th Birthday Card

Here is a card that I made tonight for my Nieces birthday on Saturday. In case you can't tell her favourite colour is GREEN. The background is Cosmos Cricket Girl Friday collection "Tuesday" double sided paper. The base card and the "8" are Stampin' Up cardstock. The "8" was cut on a Craft Robo and accented with Rangers Diamond Stickles. The boarder was done using a Fiskars leaf punch. The image was a free download from Mo Manning and was coloured in using ProMarkers. The title was done using K&Co K-ology chipboard Addison Alphabet. The card was finished off with a button tied with floss and ribbon.

CPS 150 - It's A Girl

Another owl card today, this time for a new baby. I've used the Pink Cat Studio digital stamp of "Patches" coloured in with ProMarkers. The layout is from this weeks sketch at CPS. The background paper used is from the Basic Grey Blush collection. The oval and title were cut using a Craft Robo. The card was finished off with Prima Daisies, Papermania adhesive stones, sticker letters and a free sticker from a magazine.

Owl Birthday

Lots of Birthdays in January, so here is another card I've made. This one is also done with a digital image. This time the image came from Pink Cat Studio and is called "Cuddles". I feel in love with the whole owl set, so got them all! I've coloured the image in with my ProMarkers and cut it out. The back ground papers are Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday "Tuesday and Create Paper Static Collection "Reaction" and the card is Bazzil Bling. The blue side bar was embossed with the Cuttlebug Embossing folder "Birds And Swirls" and then was sanded down to show the pattern. I used a Basic Grey clear "leaf" stamp to accent the circle punches and finished the card off with some ribbon and a Basic Grey Wisteria Glass Brad.

Belated Birthday, again!

Well it's been ages since I've blogged. I can't believe this is my first entry for 2010! I'd like to wish everyone lots of Blessings for 2010 and hope you all have a great year. I was so busy before Christmas making cards, that I never even took any photos of all the cards I did. Then I got sick just before Christmas, but I'm feeling a lot better now.

This is another belated birthday card. I haven't started this year off any better than last year, already behind with my cards. This one is done using a wonderful free digital download stamp from Mo Manning. The stamps was printed out onto Stampin' Up card stock and coloured in with ProMarkers. The background was stamped with some wonderful new stamps Basic Grey stamps I got for Christmas (thanks Mom, they finally arrived). I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Broken China and Spiecd Marmalade. The rest of the card was made with Prima Artful Collage Flower, button, left over scarps of paper and ribbon.

Thanks for looking and I hope to be more active!