Anniversary Pandas

The card I'm sharing today was made using a Party Paws Digikit CD by Crafters Companion.  The layout was planned using Craft Artist and then the elements were separated out and printed so that the card could be made in the usual way - I quite like this way of using the graphics programme and combining it with more conventional card making techniques. The only thing which wasn't on the CD is the Spellbinders scalloped circle but I did print out a piece of card using a colour from the background so that it would match nicely.

I hope you all have a good weekend with some nice weather - today started off bright and sunny but definitely looking a bit dodgy now.

Occupational Therapy

I can definitely recommend spending time immersed in crafts of some kind as an excellent way of keeping the mind off any aches and pains and of course it beats just sitting quietly and resting because there is an end result.  I made several cards and also printed some decoupage sheets so that I could sit in the warm yesterday cutting them out (it was really cold here).  Today is a beautiful sunny day and thanks to a kind friend who volunteered to drive me I've been to my patchwork group meeting where of course I received lots of advice such as 'taking more water with it' and so on!!

The card I'm sharing today was made using one of the flowers from Chocolate Baroque Punky Flowers set although this is more a fantasy flower than steampunk style (I'm not sure Steampunk style would fit for a sympathy card).  Image was coloured with Polychromos pencils on watercolour paper and has been cut out using a Sizzix (Stampin'Up) die.Backing paper is by Prima the the smaller piece is from the scrap box.

Another Literary Challenge

The challenge at Make My Monday this week is another literary one, this time the book is Jane Eyre.  Luckily we have been given a book cover as well as a brief outline of the story for inspiration and as you know I don't 'do' worthy literature so I've taken the book cover as my theme.  I realised when I was checking my box of cards that I was very short of Sympathy cards and I do like to keep a few to hand, hoping they won't be needed too often, so it is a case of 'two birds with one stone' today.  Backing paper is from Prima Script pad, the embossed panel is heavy watercolour paper embossed using a Cuttlebug folder which had been inked with Distress ink.  The cameo is a very old die from Quickcutz and is mounted onto a piece of black card embossed using a Sizzix oval tag folder (Stampin' Up).  Words produced on the computer and layered onto punched ovals (also SU).

I'm still nursing my injuries but as long as I'm careful not to make any sudden movements or bend down too often the aches and pains are bearable.  I'm still sporting a purple chin though and I guess that will turn all shades before it fades away.  Thanks for the good wishes and advice given in varous comments - much appreciated.I think another day of occupational therapy in the craft room might be advisable today.

Pretty Flowers

The stamp used here is one of a set of freebies given away with a recent magazine and I do try hard to resist buying these but every now and then the stamps look so useful that I succumb.This card was made up using bits and pieces of paper and card mainly from the scraps boxes; sentiment was a wood mounted stamp from ages ago and the butterflies were stamped and punched using a set from Stampin' Up which came my way at a wonderful Extravaganza day. Border strip is an EK Success punch.  These designs are so easy to colour (I used alcohol pens) so good for quick and easy cards.

I'm planning a quiet day in the craft room today - nothing too strenuous as I'm all aches and pains after having had a little mishap yesterday when I tripped on an uneven pavement and landed flat on my face - my chin seems to have come off worst.  Believe me purple Desperate Dan is not a good look and also my ribs are feeling very sore on one side - probably landed on my handbag which I carry over that shoulder!!  Fortunately there was no one around to witness my stupidity so I picked myself up and carried on.

Home to Nest

I have to confess to being tempted to buy this set of tiny birdhouse stamps from the new Papermania Home to Nest range and they really are quite tiny especially the birds which are smaller than my small fingernail so I will have to be careful that I don't drop any of them into my waste bin - don't ask.  It happens!!  The colouring was done with Promarkers and Copics; background paper was from my stash overstamped with Tall Trees from Chocolate Baroque; Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder was used (inked with Distress Ink) for one of the layers and I punched a strip of daisies and the other bits and pieces from scrap pieces of matching card.  The daisy border is a punch from EK Success.