Birthday Ellie

I actually managed to forget to put this one on here!  Seriously!  I put it on the Aud Sentiments Blog - but forgot to put it here!  Sigh!  

This image was from Bugaboo - fabulous! Talk about a quick card!  No colouring and the background cut using my eclips.  Little bit of embossing and job done!

Love it when it is as easy as this!  Especially when life is busy!

OK - one more post to come today....then I am up to date...I think!

Rx

Crochet Wreath

In the evenings I crochet blankets...nice and simple, no pattern, just do it while you watch tv.

I have looked at Attic 24 website quite a lot - love the colours she uses - and have done a few bright blankets because of her.  

At the moment I am crocheting a mistake....it is grey, with purple stripes, but mainly grey.  It will be a lovely blanket and will go with our lounge beautifully, but its grey!  I like the bright colours and I miss the bright colours.  So I thought I would have a break and crochet a wreath that I saw on Attic 24.  

I am going to add some more flowers to it - but still try and keep them just in the same area - not all over.....

I have gone back to the grey blanket for the time being, but when I needed another colour blast I will add to the flowers

Thanks for coming over - to the many, many late posts!!!!

Ruthie x

Scary Mary....

Josh needed a card for a 13 year old's birthday recently - he assured me she likes zombies and the like....so I grabbed for this image from Delicious Doodles - who do the best scary images!

Poor Becca - I so hope she does like zombies - what if she really likes unicorns and fluffy bunnies???

Architectural Papercutting!

I know I said I had missed a few projects - but this is crazy!......

I have been playing around with papercutting and thought I would have a go at the architectural style as well as plain lettering and pics....  

Ok - these two aren't architectural, but I was getting in the swing....

Here you go - these are architectural....

That's Paris done - how about a bit of London?....

These are not my designs - there is a wonderful website that gives the patterns away for free!!!  Yep, just so you can have a play...

And of course, a little house.....because a man's home is his castle!  

And still more overdue posts to come......

Sooooo behind!....

Oh my goodness me - I have had some issues with my hands - I have developed cubital tunnel syndrome. Its like carpel tunnel, but a different nerve is affected. You know when you hit your "Funny Bone"? Your arm, hand and fingers go numb and tingly, then they hurt? Well thats the cubital nerve....its not nice! The good news is - it seems to have settled down, so I have been able to catch up with my crafting! YAY! So - one overdue DT piece coming up, and one challenge entry for Simply Betty!

The one above is my overdue DT entry for AudSentiments!  I turned this simple rose into a cut design - it looks like it is printed, but its not, its cut out with a scalpel.  Very relaxing to do!

And the one below is my challenge entry - SPIKA the evil mermaid.  Betty very kindly gives us an image to play with and this month we got a choice of naughty or nice mermaid....the only catch was that if you chose the naughty one you had to do evil theme, and the nice was a cutsie theme!  

I am hoping that evil still includes glitter!!!!  I can't wait to use this image again - she is soooo sexy!  I can just see her in reds and blacks! 

So, those are my two pieces - couple more posts due soon.......

thanks for hanging in there - I know I'm not being very regular at the moment! 

Ruthie x

Whoopsie!

I am very, very lucky to be on the AudSentiments DT - I am sure if I tried out for it now I wouldn't get in as there is so much amazing talent out there now!  But that last statement is not a call for comments saying "no you are fabulous" etc etc!!!  So, one of my roles on the team is to put up the weekly post, which I duly did yesterday.  I was just sat here now and realised I hadn't put up my OWN post on this blog!  Whoopsie!

 

The theme over at Auds is SUMMER!  You just need to create a summery project or card and make sure you include an appropriate sentiment.  This time we are sponsored by Stamp and Create.

 

I made my project using my Sizzix Eclips machine - I took it to our craft club at Rainham Library a few weeks ago and realised how little I used it, so decided I would try and use it more.....

 

 

I cut everything (except the "sand") out using the machine.  The face was even drawn on by the machine too!  So much fun!

 

Oh - see that blue sky?  How lovely!  Shame its not like that today!

 

Please pop over and enter the challenge if you get a chance!

 

Ruthie x

Simply Betty Challenge

Every month Betty is very generous and gives away an image to use in a challenge.  I haven't been able to do the challenge for a few months now (time!) but I saw this image and just knew I had to use her! She is called Summer and the challenge is to create your own background. 

I have never done a background without stamps or somesuch, so this WAS a challenge!  I did the clouds on the mat, and also did leaves on the layer down.  The clouds on the mat were done using copics and a mask, and the leaves were done with chalks and a mask.

Took the photo on top of the guinea pig hutch, but the sun has virtually bleached out the leaf background!  But can you see the blue sky?  Gorgeous!

And, of course, the obligatory closeup!  She was a gem to colour!

So there you go - thanks for popping by - I really need to get on with a blog giveaway soon - am sure I have a reason to celebrate!

Ruthie x

AudSentiments DT CALL!

Oh Yes! A DT call over at AudSentiments, coupled with an Anything goes challenge!  We are going to be busy!

Excuse the hurried post, but it is gone midnight and I am up for work in less than 6 hours!  Eeeeep!

Image bugaboo - first time doing a background with all the dots - nice result but gosh, so many dots!  

No one can say I am keeping you hanging around now can they - go on then, off with you over to AudSentiments to get your entry in! How could you NOT want to get one of these positions???

Ruthie x

Best Friends....

A really quick post up.....

 

Over at AudSentiments we have a challenge to use the word FRIEND on a card....

 

 

 

 

Cute image or what????

 

Thanks for stopping by......oh - and take a peek at aud sentiments next week - we have a dt call coming up...shhhhhhhh! x

Papercutting

I have been having a little play around with paper cutting recently - that's with a scalpel, not my wonderful eclips. 

 I cut the one above for my brother's birthday - he has lots of Queens on his walls! 

And this one is a Paper Panda design, but I did cut it and am quite pleased with how it turned out!

Thanks for popping by and don't forget our Aud Sentiments blog hop!

Ruthie x

Aud Sentiments Happy Birthday

Wow!  Three years old!!!  Seriously, who can imagine that?

Now, hopefully, you have arrived to me from Mel's blog - wasn't her creation gorgeous?  Phew, hard act to follow!....

If you didn't come here from Mel, then why not pop over to AudSentiments and find out all the information about our birthday celebrations?

So here is my card....the image was from My Heart Pieces....and I cut out the frame and lace edge with sizzix eclips machine - gotta love that!  The cut files were from Lettering Delights (oblong frame) and SVG Cuts (crochet edging).  

Regulation close up of image!  I did enjoy colouring this one - just such a gorgeous image! 

Now, you are on your way again - short but sweet visit!  Your next stop is Sandra's blog....WAIT!!!  Don't forget to leave me a comment to be in with a chance of the prize!  .....Ok, now you can go hop along! 

thanks so much for popping by....Ruthie x

Aud Sentiments - for a guy!

I know, I know...bad blogger, naughty blogger!!!!  I just seem to be really busy at the moment - have taken on a new horse, learning sign language,  started craft club at work, mum, full time work etc etc etc.  Mad!  AND those are all just excuses really because I am pretty certain I could squeeze the crafting in if I want to!  MOJO, where are you????

I couldn't refuse the chance to join in with this challenge though!  I LOVE Bugaboo!  The challenge over at AudSentiments is to make something for a guy and include a sentiment.

 I wanted to showcase the images completely!  BUT I was also aware that posting them on my blog as individual cards might allow the images to be copied.  So, I just took the pics as you see them.  Each of them use different images and I just wanted some quick and easy cards as standbys!  I quite like them uncoloured - I think it shows just how easy it is to use Bugaboo images, no fuss, no bother!  

Anyhow - thanks for not deserting me completely and popping by!  I have been doing some papercutting, so will post up images for that in a while!

Ruthie x

EASTER!

No, not yet.....but it is over at AudSentiments!  Our challenge this time is to use an Easter Sentiment.

I live on the Essex/London borders - quite close to Romford and Brentwood! Yep - The Only Way is Essex is alive and well over here!  Luckily, the weather has been chilly, so we have been spared an excess of ORANGE SKIN!   So, as homage to my surroundings - I thought I would use some lovely bright orange on the flowers and of course....the sentiment!

And a nice close up  on the bunnykins - he makes me smile so much!  I just loved colouring him!

So, if you want to bring out your hidden Essex - or just join in with our Easter Challenge (which has nothing to do with Essex really!) then pop over to Aud Sentiments!

Look forward to catching up with you over there x

Show us your inside.....

Lol - don't panic...we don't really want to see anything gross!  Over at AudSentiments the challenge is to show us the sentiment on the inside of your card.  We were sponsored by Rick St Dennis. 

And here is the inside....yes, a bit predictable!  

And a close-up on the image - I really enjoyed doing this monochrome colouring!

Thanks for popping over!

Rx

Paper Cutting

I have long been a fan of the wonderful PaperPanda.  She does the most incredible papercuts by hand.  So, methinks, I wonder if I could do that....

Turns out...I can!  With lots of Panda help!  Panda does a "Trainee Panda" kit, so of, course, I just HAD to have it!  The design above is one of the ones that came with the kit!  Also in the kits is a scalpel, cutting mat, starter designs - and the all important "Trainee Panda" badge - without which you cannot possibly cut anything!!!

There is also a facebook challenge to create and cut your own design with the theme of your favourite book.....here it is.....

Yep,  my own design and handcut....but then I wondered if my machine couldn't just do this so much quicker - and save my arthritic hands (have had child arthritis, so still have issues with certain things!)....

It did take a bit of fiddling to find the right paper - the poster paper used for the handcut was just toooooooo fragile.  So I moved onto copier paper weight - that wasn't quite right (by "quite right" read "complete mess") - then I grabbed some very lightweight card - think its about 150gsm...maybe...ish!

Here are the two side-by-side - handcut on the left.  Little fluffy bit at the bottom left of the photo is Popcorn Cat!

The machine cut one is the one above....

Close ups - left hand side are the machines, right hand side are the hand cuts.

So not really a huge amount in it.  I was very impressed that the eclips managed to cut it out at all (once I had got the settings sorted).  

So there ya go....lots of fun!

thanks for popping by today x

Aud Sentiments ADULT!

Lol - did that title make you come take a look?  Over at Aud Sentiments our challenge is to create and ADULT Valentines' card.  We have been sponsored by Sassy Stamps - so sexy!

This is my first attempt at colouring Black Hair - I asked my son's friend what colour to use!

I am so chuffed how it came out!  And surprised too!

Just have to hope Hubby doesn't see this on my blog before he gets it in real life!  ..... the card!

Rx

Birthday scientist

 Another image from Simply Betty - gone a bit mad on these!  

This was for Tony's birthday and lots of fun to colour.

Chuffed at how this one turned out!  Better than the last post!

Thanks for popping by today....Rx

Simply Betty Steampunk - oh dear!

The good and the bad - and the downright ugly!  

I decided to join in with another facebook challenge over at Simply Betty - so I got the image and set about deciding what to do with it.  

Hmmmm methinks - Steampunk....bet I have some bits on eclips cartridges I can cut out to go with this.  Dig, dig, dig...yep, a card front with cogs, and some clock hands, and a spooky fence....perfect!  So I duly cut them out - and they were gorgeous.

Then I coloured in the image - I loved doing her hair and think it came out well.

Then I tried to put it all together....oh dearie me....what a disaster!  Ready to look?....

Well, never say that I only put up the good stuff! 

Thanks for popping by - at least you had a giggle! 

Rx