Goodbye Miss Smith

Sadly again, not so long ago we said goodbye to another wonderful teacher from our school, Ms Smith. Whilst she never taught any of my children, she was always up for a chat (and more often than not a laugh) and really was the most wonderful soul. I could not let her go without something small to say thanks and goodbye.

I drew inspiration from a card on Andrea Buckland's blog here (the 2nd card) and came up with this.....

Sadly the dodgy photographics do not do the background justice, but believe me when I say I really learnt a LOT about sponging doing this project....LOL!!! I also sponged the sentiment here....

I teamed it up with one of my co-ordinated butterfly bookmarks......

Hopefully the colours sponged on the background are better shown here.....

And of course the set together.....

Next time I decide to do sooooooooooooo much sponging I need to allow myself a little more time to do it I think....hee hee hee, however, I was very pleased with the result.

Thanks for dropping by.

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Pale Plum (ret), Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla

Ink: (SU) Pink Pirouette, Pretty In Pink, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pale Plum (ret), Perfect Plum

Stamps: (SU) Butterfly Prints, Baroque Motifs, En Francais BGS

Punches, Dies, Embossing: (SU) Butterfly Punch, Bigz Butterfly Die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Other Bits: SU Very Vanilla Gros Grain Ribbon, Ivory 1/2 Pearls fm stash, Pale Plum 3mm Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, sponges!!!!

Lynda xx

Some stiff competition

You may recall sometime back a card that I made for Renee here. Well Miss 6 decided that she wished to make one similar for a friend in her class who was turning 7. She knew it had to be pink and purple (they are afterall typical little girls). She had a little it of help inking up the stamps, but she did all the cutting out and the punching of the butterflies.

I coloured the "7" for her...as ther is a little more ink spread around in this process!!

And of course, any work of art has to be signed by the artist!!! She totally surprised me by doing her name in "running writing" as she still struggles to print well!!! Needless to say, I think I am gunna have to watch my back, there is some stiff competition in the house!!

Stuff Used:

CS:(SU) Almost Amethyst, Whisper White

Ink: (SU) Almost Amethyst, Summer Sun, Pink Passion, Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace

Stamps: (SU) Pick A Petal, Butterfly Prints

Punches: SU Butterfly Punch, Carla Craft CP2 3/4" circle punch

Other bits: Dimensionals, Upkit rainbow "Happy Birthday" stickers, Balsa wood #7 fm Hot Dollar shop.

Lynda xx

A Celebration and a Great Friend

Good morning all. I hope you'll forgive me this little story today, but I feel it is important. On this day, 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Irony of all ironies....it is also.....

....amazing how the universe works........isn't it??? So, today I celebrate another year living with Type 1 diabetes and all the challenges it sets. I have also been given the opportunity of crossing the paths of some amazing and wonderful people.....and this leads me to the story I wish to share with you today.

As most of you know I am a keen netballer and have played with the same core group of girls for as many as 10 years. We have shared our lives through marriages, divorces, engagements and of course babies!! One of the gals - Trish- has 2 kids, Ryan and Renee. Renee comes to see us play occsionally and she has seen me do my BSL's (blood sugar levels) and disconnect myself from my insulin pump before I take the court. I have answered her questions as to why I do what I do and as far as I was aware, all was understood. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when Trish relayed a story to me at netball one night, about an arguement that she had overheard between the kids.

Ryan and Renee were watching TV and the ad came on with Rob Palmer (the chippie fm Better Homes and Gardens who also has Type 1 Diabetes) showing how this kind of BSL monitor was the one he used and recommended. Ryan was disbelieving with some of the claims that Rob Palmer was making. At this point Renee jumped up and said...."Well MY friend Lynda has Diabetes and SHE has to do that all the TIME". She continued to let Ryan know of the way I used my pump...the whole 9 yards. Whilst having a good giggle to ourselves, I was also very touched at Renee's fervour and passion at sticking up for me. I believe deeds like this should be rewarded. Hence, to say thank you to her, I made her this card......

I had not used my Jumbo Outline Alphabet yet, so it was a good opportunity to bust it out!!! Mind you, cutting around all those letters was a challenge at times. I used up a while heap of scrap DP I had accumulated.

I popped the butterflies up on dimensionals so it looked like they were flying.

 

I also did the same to the middle of the flower.

I received a beautiful e mail back from Trish letting me know how much Renee loved the card and how it has been put in a very special place in her room. It was something I was MORE than happy to do.

Thanks for indulging me this special story. As promised...the next couple will be sharing some Christmas cards I have done. Have a great day.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Tea Party DP and Regal Rose DP fm the Designer Paper II series pack.

Ink: (SU) Pink Passion, Almost Amethyst, Pretty In Pink, SWM's in Almost Amethyst and Summer Sun.

Stamps: (SU) Pick A Petal, Wonderful Favourites, Butterfly Prints, Jumbo Outline Alphabet

Punches: (SU) Butterfly Punch, Carla Craft 1/2" Circle to do centre of flower.

Other Bits: Dimensionals, Pink and Purple 1/2 Pearls fm Bizzy Becs.

Lynda xx



To BOLDLY go.....

Hey there everyone.

Now before you think I have gone all sci-fi and gone astray with Capt Kirk....the title refers to this last challenge from Swap Sisters......BOLD BRIGHTS!!

Now the only BB I had really used before was Real Red...and that was for Christmas things...although I discovered I had more of the stamp pads/markers than I thought (which was wonderful!!) This is what we were set....

Now...my first thought was to reach for my sunglasses. After that....I started to think RAINBOW and the seeds of a card were sewn. After a LOT of measuring and calculation, here's what I came up with......

I was happy with the result. I did have to swap Pixie Pink for Pink Passion (but I cleared it with the powers that be first!!) I have left room in the bottom right for a sentiment as I am not sure as to what should go on it. I also made a mental note NOT to cut out too many of the butterfly bodies...as thery are very fiddley!!!! All of the butterflies are popped up on dimensionals to give a 3D feel.

I can't say I will reach for this colour group again, but I sure had fun playing with it. hope you all have a bright and fun-filled kinda day.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Pink Passion, Whisper White

Ink: (SU) Pink Passion and Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun and Only Orange Markers

Stamps: (SU) Butterfly Prints

Punches: (SU) Butterfly Punch

Other bits: Dimensionals.....and a WHOLE lotta measuring....LOL

Lynda xx

Swap Sisters Challenge #7

This week on Swap Sisters, the delightful and always encouraging Michelle set us a technique challenge...Ghosting. Now I for one had never heard of this technique before and thankfully she provided us with a guiding pdf. It involves using Glossy white CS, Versamark and a brayer. Basically you versamark the image you wish to "ghost thru" and then when dry, ink up a brayer and cover the whole piece of card in the ink and let dry. The Versamark will resist the ink and you gently buff the card just to help the image through.

Now I had a wee hiccup this week cause I do not have glossy CS OR a brayer...but Michelle assured me that I could do the same with glossy photo paper and a sponge. So with that in mind, here's my challenge card....

I used the flourish and small flower from the Fresh Cuts set to Ghost and then went over it with Lavender Lace ink. Now in the example given, Michelle also used a background stamp (BGS) before the versamark and it looked a treat. Unfortunately, this was not the case with mine....however...if you squint really hard you may see the Weathered BGS!! There are some 'veins' of colour there I promise....LOL!! The wind also caught the card and I lost a 1/2 pearl...DOH!!

Anyhow....I learnt another technique and through a lot of elbow grease (yes evenly sponging is a great workout) I got a card in for the challenge. Ghosting is fun and perhaps when I have the glossy CS and a brayer I may give it another go!!

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Vellum and Dotti brand hi gloss photo paper

Ink: Versamark, lavendar Lace, Certainly Celery

Stamps: (SU) Fresh Cuts, Weathered BGS, Butterfly Prints, Whimsical Words

Punches: (SU) Butterfly, Large Oval and Scallop Oval

Other bits: Dimensionals and 1/2 pearls fm Bizzy Becs

Lynda xx

New Play Things!!!

On Wednesday the 10th of March I got my much anticipated SAB order. I am looking so much forward to showing you what I came up with using the contents of the magical SU box!!

My delightful daughter (Miss 5) came home very excited from school on Tuesday, bursting with news of a party......that Saturday (13th March). After the interrogation as to who, why, where etc (which BTW she LOST the invitation!!!) I decided I could do this and make a card with one of my new sets. I found this card a couple of months back and fell in love with the colours more than anything. I adapted it to a standard size card and used Butterfly Prints. Here's what I came up with..

I was so very happy with the way this card turned out and I cannot thank Joanne enough for providing the inspiration for it. I think it is perfect for a little girl.

Irony of all ironies....Mast 9 came home with an invitation for a party on the same weekend....and I have fully 2 DAYS notice to come up with that one!!

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP

Ink: (SU) Almost Amethyst

Stamp: (SU) Butterfly Prints

Punches: (SU) Butterfly, Eyelet Border, Designer Label, Carla Craft 1" Circle Punch

Oddments: Lilac 1/2 Pearls fm Bizzy Becs, SU dimensionals and Certainly Celery Ribbon, Silver 6 fm stash

Lynda xx