Hi All.  Wow, it's been a busy old time recently.  Work's been mad, and it's been pretty busy at home.  I did find time to make a couple of anniversary cards using the fab Mixed Bunch stamp set and matching punch from Stampin' Up.  I love these so much and will be using them lots (as soon as I get a bit more free time).  I stamped one of the images in Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango and Real Red, then punched them out.  I then punched them in matching card stock.  I gave the stamped flowers a little but of a curl before I stuck them to the matching punched flowers.  I stuck a thin piece of ribbon around the middle of the card before I attached the flowers.  I couldn't decide which order to have the flowers, so I did one of each.  The centres of the flowers are Candi coloured with matching markers.  The sentiment is from a set by Paula Pascual.

One of these cards is for an old college friend who has been married 20 years.  I was a bridesmaid at her wedding and I had only just started going out with Mark.  It doesn't seem possible that so much time has gone by.

Talking of time passing quickly, my little boy was 13 on Thursday.  It doesn't seem 5 minutes ago that he looked like this.

And now he looks like this (complete with a bruised nose, from being bashed in the face by a tennis racquet!).  He had a lovely birthday, and was very happy with his Nintendo 3DS and a huge pile of books.  We went out for a lovely meal, and then had a big family party yesterday.

I made him a mini album instead of a card, which I will share with you soon, just haven't got round to photographing it yet.

We've also had to help him choose his options in readiness for Year 9 in September.  His school start their options courses a year earlier than most schools.  That was also hard to believe, he seems too young to be making these choices, although I am impressed by his mature approach to choosing his subjects.

We were blessed yesterday, for Edward's party, with the weather.  I know we shouldn't complain, but does it have to be this hot?!  My poor little Chloe, she doesn't know what to do with herself in the heat.  She has even gone off her food, which is virtually unheard of!!

Well, that's me for tonight.  Thanks for dropping by and I really do appreciate your kind comments.  Look after yourselves in this heat, and take care.

Michelle x

Anniversary Card

Hi all, hope you are having a pleasant Saturday.  I have been at my scrapbooking crop today and have had a thoroughly lovely time.  I went without any plan whatsoever, but did manage to complete a layout (in between chatting, drinking coffee and eating cake!). Emily's scrapbook is coming on slowly, but I am confident it will be finished on time.  I'm planning to get so much done at my retreat at the end of August.

As promised, here is the card I made for my sister's wedding anniversary.  I am particularly pleased with this one.

I stamped the text image from the Charming set by SU in Blushing Bride, then stamped the flower (also from Charming) over the top in Concord Crush.  I stuck it to a rectangle of Blushing Bride textured cardstock that I had already torn to size.  This card stock looks great torn, I really like the texture.  I then made a ribbon effect from Concord Crush pattered DSP and stuck it to the card.  I added the stamped element  using 3D foam pads.  I finished it off with a sentiment from Paula Pascual's All Year Round set, mounted on Blushing Bride.

I really like the subtlety of the Charming set and I am enjoying using my Stampin' Up products.  I joined a Stampers 6 club back in January run by Vicky Hayes (check it out here ) and I thoroughly recommend it.  Vicky is so inspirational, and really supportive, and she always pops a little something extra in your parcel.  My final month is June and I will be the hostess - I can't wait!

Well, that's me done for now.  As always, I really appreciate your kind comments.

Michelle x

Happy Birthday Maria

Hi!  I'm just popping in quickly tonight to show you the card I made for my sister's birthday which is today.  It's also her wedding anniversary, but I'll share that card with you another time.

This card is a little bit different to my usual style, but I am very pleased with it. I covered the card with Pear Pizzazz textured card stock.  I added a strip of striped DSP, also in Pear Pizzazz, having cut a fancy edge on one side.  I punched out some Concord Crush plain card stock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, then added a few flourishes from the same card stock (using a Memory Box die).

I stamped the dotted frame from the Four Frames set in Concord Crush and punched it out with the Decorative Label punch.  I added a sentiment from Create a Cupcake in Pear Pizzazz.

What do you think?

Thanks for dropping by.  I really appreciate your comments.  Hope you have all been having a good week.

Take care

Michelle x

Fish and Chip Babies

I can't remember if I mentioned that I have been knitting some little baby jumpers and beanie hats for Fish and Chip babies, so forgive me if I already have.  I originally saw a plea for help with making these jumpers here at Dawny P's blog and just had to give it a go.  I'm no knitter by any means but have managed to make three sets.  My mum on the other hand is a demon knitter and she has made nine sets.  The parcel is already to send off, so I thought I would share with you the card I have sent to Dawny with the jumpers, and a picture of the jumpers I have made (although apologies that the photo is of poor quality - the light is rubbish!).

The card is made from pale green Bazzil cardstock, and the patterned paper is some that I had in my stock.  I made the flower from a new die and embellished it with Candi - nice and simple.

My jumpers are quite subdued, dark colours,  My mum's (sorry no photo) are bright - apple green, orange, saffron, purple etc - gorgeous!

Hope you are having a good week.  I'm a bit under the weather unfortunately - bit of a stomach bug, but am over the worst of it now.  Back to work tomorrow I guess.

Take care.

M x

Birthday Cupcake

I hope you are all enjoying your Bank Holiday weekend.  It was nice yesterday, to think that there was still another day until I had to go back to work.

It's been a productive weekend without being manic.  I've fiddled about with craft stuff, Mark's pottered about in the garden, we've done the ironing. We've even managed to get a few jobs done, a little bit of shopping too, and in an hour or so I'm off to the opticians for an overdue eye test.

Here is one of the cards I have made over the weekend.  It's for a daughter of a friend, whose birthday is tomorrow.  I've used the Create a Cupcake stamps and the Cupcake Builder punch from Stampin' Up - I love these, so easy to use and cute with it.  The colours I have chosen are Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo.  The dots across the card are stamped with one of the Borderlines stamps (also SU).  I added a little bit of bling to the ribbon around the cupcake and Bob's your uncle!!  I love this card!  You know when you just get that feeling that you've made a good one.  It hasn't happened a lot recently, so I am thrilled that this one has worked.  Hope you like it too.

Well, the crafting stash is calling.  Must not keep flicking through the Stampin' Up catalogue - must make cards!!!!

Thanks for dropping by.  Have a good day.

Michelle x