Travel Blog

Dear all

With only 12 days until we leave of our round the world 'Gap year' I have finally managed to set up a little blog which Dean & I will be posting bits of our journey to update you all!!

http://deanosontour.blogspot.com/

The name is inspired by the cricket fraturity that we travel with who imaginatively came up with the name Mrs Deano on my first tour (partner's name being Dean !!), which has sort of stuck & we are now known as 'the Deano's'  - I didn't say it was clever!

Please feel free to come and leave a comment or two on our travels. It will be great to hear what's happening with you guys.

Thanks for looking

Hugs

On the move

Dear all

We now have some limited access to email, which gives me an opportunity to update everyone with our news.

The house is nearly finished, just a bit of snagging and the floors to put down then we can move back in. Its so exciting to finally have a move date and I can't wait to put all of my bits and pieces back in their new homes.

The sort of bad news it that I won't be able to get my craft room up and running cos guess what we are off again, but this time around the world!! We leave on the 12th September bound for the far East with all sorts of adventures planned for the following 11 months. So with bitter sweet anticipation I will be stroking everything reverently before packing my craft stuff up in the loft (well the remaining stash after my mother had raided it!!).

We are going to set up an adjacent Blog which we will use a a travel journal. As soon as I have pulled my finger out I will let you know the link!

Catch you soon

Hugs

Dino Saw................

Back again

Found a bit of time to do another card tonight and went from complete girly pinks to male neutrals not that you should really stereotype colours I know quite a few men that wear pink (shirts!).

The house renovations are moving along nicely and we now have the new roof going on the old house and the new extension. Inside the rewire is complete and all the plastering is well underway so now I get all the nice tasks of picking light fittings and bathroom tiles etc.

Anyway the card tonight is once again covering  a number of really fabulous challenges:

Fridays Sketchers - Sketch
Colour Create - Khaki/Aqua/Brown/Cream with an additional requirement of circles (oops missed this one!!)
Secret crafter - metal
Stampin for the weekend - A card for a male

This image is one from Woodware and has been coloured with distress inks onto suede paper which gives a very lovely texture. The papers are from an old pad had from BG and all the colours really suit masculine cards. I embossed a piece of scrap card to look like metal and added some ribbon from Stamping Up  and a little metal charm to finish it off.

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Say it with Flowers

Hi Everyone

Very quick post as I couldn't resist making a card tonight as there were some fantastic challenges around.
LOTV -Sketch
Cute Card Thursday -Someone special
Just Magnolia - One for the Girls
Basic Grey - Punch it
A Spoonful of Sugar -Cute & Girly
Papertake weekly - Say it with Flowers
Penny Black - Flowers

Phew told you I was inspired!!!

I just love this new Tilda and I know I went a little mad with the flowers, which I also glimmer misted but ho hum they are very cute that way.

Recipe: Stamps: Sentiments x2 penny Black Salutations, Midsummer Tilda from magnolia. Papers:  Basic Grey - Sugared. Martha Stewart Lever Border Punch - Lace Doily. Flowers fromWild Orchid. Card Candy from Craftwork Cards. Ribbon from stash & stickles all over!

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Friendship

Hi Everyone

Last card for this week as I am finding it too hard to craft when back from work as I am having to spend over 4 hours each day commuting which is a bit of a killer. the building work is coming along. I now have a couple of walls missing, the new extension walls are now built and the first fix new electrics have been done in the old house. Not bad for one week!

So anyway back to today's card. This is another male card (I'm getting there!) and uses some old BG Design papers I have had for ages. I have also managed to fit it into three challenges:

Fridays sketchers - Sketch
Penny Black - Punches
Secret Crafter - Friendship

I thought this stamp really fitted the bill especially the accompanying sentiment.I coloured it with copics, but managed to avoid my customary stickles frenzy! However I couldn't leave it too plain so out came the MS punch!

Recipe: Stamp: Flyaway from Penny Black coloured with copics.Papers: Basic grey from my stash, and Bazzill in red and blue.. Ribbon from stash.

As always thanks for looking

Hugs

Thankyou

Evening Everyone

Three days in a row, don't go into shock, I did say I would be scheduling some postings!

Todays card follows three challenges:
Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Creative Inspirations - Easel Card
ABC - T is for thankyou

I just had to use my new Magnolias again, and actually ended up using the same Tilda longing stamp as she seemed to lend herself  to these lovely papers from My Minds Eye called Life Stories.

I had to slightly tweak the sketch and add some flowers as I managed to drop an ink pad onto the bottom of the card! However I rather like it this way so another one of those happy accidents we all have once in a  while!

A close up showing the inside of the card with a cute little message fom Hero arts

Recipe: Stamps: Tilda Longing Magnolia, Message Hero Arts. Papers: My Minds Eye - Life Stories. Punch Martha Stewart double hearts. Flowers Prima Painterly Petals Hydrangeas - Rose. Diamante & ribbon from stash

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Do Something different

Hi all

Don't worry this is real! Two post in two days! I am making use of the broadband so am scheduling a few post for the rest of the week as well.

The weather has continued to be good here although it didn't really matter as I have been crafting all day!
So anyway today's card is a bit of a departure for me as I used an 8x8 card for the first time and then using a pair of scalloped scissors (another first) converted it in to a circular card (a triple first!). It all fitted in nicely with a few challenges namely:

Cupcake Craft - Don't be square
Mojo Monday - Sketch
Lily of the Valley - Here comes Summer
Simon Says Stamp - Buttons, Bows & Bling
Papertake Weekly - Do something different.

I used this very cute stamp from LOTV called lazy afternoon and seemed so apt for a summer theme. The papers were the Bobunny Flutter butter papers and a few scraps from the bottom of my craft bag. All the papers have been distressed using vintage photo ink. I made a faux button from a small scrap of paper and some Diamond Glaze and used it to represent the sun. Here is a close up:

Recipe: Stamps: LOTV - Lazy afternoon coloured with copics. Papers: Bobunny Flutter butter breeze, Flutter butter cutouts & stickers. Die cuts - Scalloped circles - Nestabilities, Martha Stewart - Punch Around The Page Edge Punch.  - Loops. Ribbon and glass beads from stash

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Told you I'd be back!

Hi everyone

I hope you are having a great long weekend. I escaped the madness of our temporary new home to spend 5 hours fighting my way up to Lancashire for a weekend with the parents and of course a bit of crafting. My mum has been lucky and managed to persuade my father to do a loft conversion (Well he and a friend) and make a hobby room, which has just been finished and you have to agree it looks fab.

There is another desk for my father and loads of space for books etc. Today the sun just poured in above (unlike you unlucky souls in the south!) and I finally managed to put ink to rubber!

I was pretty much spoilt for choice today so managed a few challenges along the way:

Truly Scrumptious - Sketch with added requirement to make a hidden message

Totally Gorjuss - In stitches

Stamptacular Sunday -'Sew' Special

A Spoon Full of Sugar - 3D something

I used my newly arrived spring collection from Magnolia and some very pretty papers from craftwork cards that managed to fall into my basket at a show.

To complete the recipe from TS I added a secret message to the tab and hid it under the image. All the images have been coloured with a mix of watercolour pencils and distressed inks and then raised on silicon. I just love this little frog and the cute message which all came in the pack.  

Here is a close up which also shows the faux stitching around the tag.

So I hope to get some more cards make over the next couple of days, but am not sure when they will be posted as I we don't have broadband at the flat so am currently using anyone who will let me!

Have a fab weekend everyone and hope to do a little blog hopping soon and leave some messages..... promise!.

Thanks for looking

Hugs

All moved on..

Hi All

Its been a while, but we finally moved last weekend and I  managed to sneak quite a bit of crafty stuff into our temporary home so hopefully I will be able to dive back in soon. Not being able to craft has been worse than when I gave up smoking as I find it always relaxes me no matter how tough the day. Plus its been hell  seeing all the new goodies pouring into my fav shops and having to resist temptation when I have so many other bits and pieces to order for the house. The builder starts on Monday so we are doing our final sweep of the house this weekend, which makes a great change to packing boxes - How did I manage to accumulate so much stuff!!

I have 15 weeks in our little flat and then we move back to our place and my new craft room! Can't wait!
So bear with me a little longer and I will have something to show soon.....

Hugs

Changes

Hi Everyone
As you may have noticed my last post mentioned that I would be back with some cards, which I duly made and photographed. However some person(s) of unmentionable names not to be published on my blog, kindly broke into and ransacked the house. AGHHHHH ***** !! Despite all the locks and other protection it all came down to them crowbarring the patio door off which probably took longer to do than they spent in the house, but the upshot was that I then had to spend the next week sorting out the aftermath! Apart from a bit of cash and all my jewelley they only took my SD card (with all my card photos on)! They left the laptop, my lovely camera and all the other nice electrical items hanging around the house which would have been less emotional and replaceable- typical!
Of course to top it off this had to happen just as we were about to go on holiday so the last three weeks have been spent half way around the world getting over the intrusion and all the associated madness.
So no cards for a while and it will be a while longer yet I'm afraid as I have also just started a new job (yeah!!!) and to top it off we are just about to have tons of work done on the house so I will have to pack all my crafting stuff away. However there is a plus as some of this work is going to yield a brand new (shiny!) craft room - whoop whoop!! Please keep checking as I will post (intermittantly) little bits and pieces.
Thanks for visiting and I hope to be back as soon as I can catch my breath!

Hugs

Hello

Hi all

Sorry to have been on the missing list, but I have been very hectic with interviews and have been spending far too much time doing a schedule of works for a huuuuge renovation we are having on the house Not a room will escape the builders works so the schedule was, to say the least, very long.  However Dean did find time to whisk me off to the New Forest for a lovely weekend of walking & long lazy lunches bliss!

If you are ever in Fritham do try out this tiny little pub its serves the most amazing lunches but the menu doesn't include sandwiches or chips!! Thankfully  there are some fab walks about to walk off all the excesses afterwards.

Walking in the northern reaches of the forest

Some of the resident ponies near our hotel in Brockenhurst

Back with some cards later in the week

Ciao

Love is in the air

Hi Everyone

Todays card is another of the fabulous quilt cards inspired by the multi talented Jane Gill.

I thought I would enter it for the challenge on Stamptacular Sunday which is another seasonally apt theme of Love.The images have all been stamped in Momento and coloured with Copics.

A close up of a the front .

And another angle.......

Recipe: Stamps: Hero Clear stamps - Love many Ways, Magnolia sentiment. Papers: Papermania.

Thanks for looking
Hugs

Spots and dots, Buttons and bows

Hi all

Still cold and trying to snow at every opportunity, but at least the ground is too wet for it to stick! I got fed up of all the dull weather and treated myself to some flowers so now the house is full of tulips, daffodils and Hyacinths. Spring is here according to my house!!
Tonights card is another multi challenge for:

Truely Scrumptious - Sketch
Cute Card Thursday - Spots and Dots
Lily of the Valley - Valentines
Secret Crafter - Monochrome and white

This card uses another of my recently acquired new stamps from LOTV and is aptly called Rosie Posy. I have coloured her with Copics and added some stickles for good measure. The button is another one from my grandmothers button box. Apologies for the washed out photo, my camera doesn't seem to like night time photography! or is that a bad crafter blames her tools.............

Recipe: Stamps: LOTV - Rosie Posy, Sentiment from Magnolia. Papers: My Minds Eye - Be loved Beautiful Branches double sided paper. Flower, Ribbon and cord from stash

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Marlene's Sketch

Hi Everyone
Today I was down at Crafts U Love with the uber talented Kim Piggott where we made a tag card - well I nearly made one as there is so much involved in one of her cards it is impossible for a slow coach like me to finish in two hours!

So todays challenge card had to be a simple one! I used the sketch over on the Sugar Bowl by the lovely Marlene. The layout instantly had me reaching for their lovely cherub stamp and I coloured it with distresssed inks, divided it into four and then put crackle accents over top. Its the first time I have tried this and I am quite pleased with the result as the distressed inks didn't carry as much as I expected but has given a bit of an aged effect. The added requirement was to use lace and I used this fabulous cotton lace from Crafts U Love.

A close up of the crackle accents

Recipe: Stamps: Cherub from Funky Kits, Sentiment Great Flourish from Hero Arts. Papers: Basic Grey Bittersweet - Almond toffee. Flowers from Wild Orchid crafts.

Thanks for looking
Hugs

Be Loved

Hi Everyone

Back again with my challenge card for the day! But first I have to say a big OMG to the weather! What is going on I have roses buding in the front garden all waiting for spring yet it has been snowing all afternoon! Luckily its not been settling or we would have been in trouble as I am off to see the very talented Kim Piggott tomorrow and I would have been upset to have missed that!

So back to my card which was for the following:

A Spoonful of Sugar - Sketch
Simon Says Stamp - Photo Inspiration of a red roses in a garden
Whiff of Joy - Love
Stampin for the Weekend - Valentine
I used the very cute Melinda from Whiff of joy which I paper pieced and coloured with Antique Linen distressed inks. I used some more of the 'Be Loved' papers from My Minds Eye which are such a great colour combo and make such a nice change to use from the seasonal pinks and reds. The shapes were all die cut using my nesties and edged with Vintage Photo Distressed inks.

Recipe: Stamps: Whiff of joy Melinda blowing kisses, Stamping Up Circle of friends. Papers: My Minds Eye Be Loved  - Fond flowers, Affectionate flowers, Smitten Stripes. Nesties Scalloped, plain rectangles and hearts. Pearls and ribbon from stash finished off with Diamond Stickles!

Thanks for looking
Hugs

Mr & Mrs

Hi Everyone

I thought I would post a 'just for fun' card here this morning prior to doing my challlenge , but then realised I could enter this at Stamptacular Sunday. For this week’s challenge you need to create a card or project that shows someone special in your life just how much you love them. If you do it without using any hearts you are entered twice in the draw. I have loads of weddings coming up this year and each every one of these couples are special to me! I had also not inked this simply irresistable new LOTV stamp that I received over a week ago and I just love it- Gasp! not sure how I managed to resist a whole week before inking this beauty! LOL. Don't they just look so grown up!

I made another easel card as I think these always look special and it allowed me to showcase these fabulous new 'Delish' papers that I found on The Scrapbook Company.  The very lovely Debs was ever so helpful and my order arrived promptly the next day. Watch out for some cute menu cards and bling brads that managed to find their way into my basket as well - oops!!

A little close up showing the little couple whihc I coloured with Distressed inks and H20's and finished off with some liquid pearls. The flowers from Prima and Wild Orchid Crafts were glimmer misted prior to adding. This was inspired by the very lovely Kim Piggott who I met last week.

Recipe: Stamps: Wedding couple - Lily of the Valley, Sentiments - Hero Arts Two Hearts Wedding & Whiff of Joy General sayings. Papers: Delish High Tea Colllection and Coordinations. Nesties circle and scalloped circle, Martha Stewart - Punch Around The Page Punch Set - Scallop 3-Dot & Frond branch. Flowers from Prima and Wild Orchid crafts. Ribbon and brads from Papermania. Pin from stash

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Love Actually

Hi Everyone

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. Mine has just flown by as I was working on Saturday, but I did manage to fit in a bit of me time today and made this card using the fab sketch on Mojo Monday The lovely colour combo of pink and cream over on Creative Inspirations and finally, used the theme of 'Love Actually' over on Papertake Weekly

I used this incredibly cute image from Belles and Whistles which is aptly named Sweet Love and had been sitting on my table just waiting to be inked up! I coloured them with Copics and then chalked the edges of the image in a pearlised pink to give an impression of soft focus, which I really like. As the light is still not good its not easy to see that I have used a heart embossing folder and a MS loop punch to add some additional texture.

Here is the romantic close up!

Recipe: Stamps: Sweet Love from Belles and Whistles, Sentiment from Crafts and Me, Hearts  from Hero Arts. Papers: Imaginisce - Perfectly Posh Fancy Hearts, Bazzill bling birthstone - June. Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Heart Blocks, Martha Stewart - Punch Around The Page Edge Punch - Loops. Ribbon from stash and lashings of stardust stickles.

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Sir Stampalot Challenge

Hi all

I hope you have checked out the Sir Stampalot challenge and blog hop at Floral Fantasies. Brenda has all the details on her blog

The Challenge and blog hop will run for two weeks closing at midnight GMT on 13th February 2010. The challenge theme is:

"MOVING"

The blog hop also has letters on each site which you collect and then re-arrange to make a phrase.

There are some superb prizes on offer. So what are you waiting for?

I'm off to 'hop'
See you tomorrow
Hugs

Hugs Cuddles & Kisses

Hi Everyone

Back again this time with my proper posting!

My card today is another valentine's card, but I have managed to use one of my new LOTV stamps. This one is called bunny in love and although it is not one from the latest release I have been coverting it for a while.

I managed to tweak everything again so I could get this into 4 challenges:

Cupcake challenge - Four legged and furry

Papertake weekly - Sketch

Colour Create - Soft Pink, Soft Blue, White & Silver

Secret Crafter - Hearts

I am just loving this paper from Imaginisce. Its really good for romantic cards and the colours are bright and modern.

Recipe: Stamps: LOTV - Bunny. in Love, Sentiment - do-crafts. Papers: Imaginisce Perfectly Posh Paper - Painted Stripes, Bazzill bling - Sugar daddy. Nesties Scalloped and plain large circles, ribbon from stash & oodles of stardust stickles

Thanks for looking
Hugs

Loving wishes

Hi all

This was supposed to be a scheduled post yesterday , but whoops I pressed the wrong button when I was rushing so following a bit of tweaking you get two for the price of one today!
Well today certainly seems to have turned the corner when it comes to the weather. We have had fabulous blue skies all weekend and until we went outside it could have been mistaken for spring - Brrrr!! On Saturday I was at the Glitter Pot at another sumptuous Jane Gill class where we made some fabulous cards using her new Now and Forever set from Woodware . It was great to see all the usual suspects and catch up as many of us hadn't seen each other for over a month due to all the snow. On Sunday I took advantage of the great light and Dean being out at nets and had a little play with a load of new bits and pieces that have made their way to me over the last few weeks - I blame all the cabin fever from the snow!

So todays card uses the stamps from the Magnolia winter set which arrived a couple of weeks ago.
I also used the quilt card template, which has become a firm favourite following Jane Gills great demo last year. Thanks Jane, I really can't stop using this as it is so adaptable, addictive but mostly very relaxing to sit and fold in front of the TV at night!

I have also managed to cover off three challenges:

A Spoonful of sugar - Freestyle
ABC - Masking
Creative Inspirations - Feminine

The Tilda and the candlestick have been stamped onto the masked piano and coloured with copics. I then stamped and coloured another tilda and mounted her over the edge of the quilt to give her some depth.

On the second quilt I have used the Elegant heart and once again stamped another image, coloured it with copics, embossed the back and mounted it with pinflair glue.

A close up just to show that the stickles are back on my desk!

Recipe: Stamps: Magnolia - Noble Tilda, Elegant Heart, Champagne & Candelabra, Loving wishes, Janes Script. Papers: Bazzill basics, Papermania signature linen. Stardust stickles....

Thanks for looking
Hugs