Welcome


Hello, my name is Dionne and I have been crafting for a very long time. As a very young child my mother tried to teach me to knit, it was a disaster. However, it must have sparked an interest in making things and, partly to prove that I was not totally useless and partly because I really wanted to make things, I taught myself to crochet. Over the years I have developed a love of cross stitch and all types of paper craft ..... I eventually even taught myself to knit.


I am married to a very understanding man, thank goodness, because I spend all my time either crafting, thinking about crafting or talking about crafting. I am hopeless at housework and dinner is often late!


Thank you for visiting my blog.


Dionne

Friday 19 June 2015

Anchors Aweigh

I have been having so much fun the last few weeks with Stampin Up's 'The Open Sea' stamp set,  Here is another card made from the set.


As before I started by creating my own backing paper by using my Night of Navy ink pad to make a wash, I also added a few smudges with the ink. Once it was dry I took two of the stamps from the set and, using Cherry Cobbler, I stamped a random pattern.  I took a tongue of Cherry Cobbler card for the centre and a disc of white card to stamp  an anchor.  Finally, I added some flat backed gems and a sentiment. 

Have a great weekend.

Dionne

Thursday 18 June 2015

Splice the Mainbrace


I am a lot later than normal this post.  The last 24 hours have been 'interesting', I had a new washing machine delivered yesterday morning and thought life would be easier if I paid the extra to have the men disconnect the old machine and connect up the new one.  I was just about to make dinner when I heard a gushing of water coming from the next room.  Yep, it was the new washing machine, I was just in time to see the hose leave the pipe.  By the time I had turned the water off at the mains stopcock under the kitchen sink both rooms were flooded.

Two very good friends came to my rescue and helped clean up the mess and then they took me home with them for the night as I was unable to find a plumber who would come out at that time of night.  All's well as ends well though, a plumber has been, the carpets are all dry and I am back home.  Thank goodness for such good friends, I am so lucky.

The current Crafty Boots Challenge is Father's Day or Masculine Projects.  Today I have a very quick card to share with you.


The ship stamp comes from Stampin Up's 'The Open Sea' stamp set, I stamped the boat on a circle of white paper.  I covered a card with some red and blue card before attaching the image of the ship and the sentiment.

Here's hoping for a less eventful day tomorrow.


Dionne

Wednesday 17 June 2015

Bobbing Along


I hope you are well today.  We have been having some work done on the house and today is the first day I have not had to get up early to let the workmen in, so instead I had to get up early to wait for a new washing machine to be delivered.

I should like to share with you today another of the masculine cards I have been making for the current Crafty Boots Challenge.


Once again this card features 'The Open Sea' stamp set from Stampin' Up, you are going to see quite a lot of this set this week. I started by creating my own backing paper by using my Pool Party ink pad to make a wash, I added a few splatters here and there. Once it was dry I took two of the stamps from the set and, using Night of Navy ink, I stamped a random pattern. I cut the blue 'wave' from some Night of Navy cardstock.  Next I stamped the boat on a circle of white paper and distressed the edges a little before of setting it onto a second circle, this time made of silver mirri.  Finally I added a pre-made sentiment from Kanban Crafts and a few flat backed gems.

Have a great day.


Dionne

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Button, button, who's got the button?

I have often wondered where the phrase 'Button, button, who's got the button?' came from.  So when it popped into my head just now I Googled it and discovered it is a children's game.  You hide a button on one of the children and then everyone guesses who has the button.  Simple really.

This button card  is another of my catch-up posts, you may have seen this card several weeks ago during the Crafty Boots Sketch Challenge.




I normally say a few words about how I made a card, but in truth, I think it is probably obvious.  However, if I am wrong, please ask.


Dionne






Monday 15 June 2015

Something for Sir?

Hi

I am sorry, I know I am so behind with my posting, I am surprized that search parties have not been sent out to check that I am still alive.  I have lots of cards to share with you, my problem has been getting on line to post them.

So, a quick catch-up.  Over at Crafty Boots Challenges the current theme is Father's Day or, if you prefer, masculine cards and projects.  This theme takes me seriously out of my comfort zone, I don't know what it is, but I just cannot do masculine cards.

Sadly I no longer have a father to send a Father's Day card to, however, I do have a lot of male friends and relatives, and I am sure they would all appreciate birthday cards that are a bit more macho .... so here goes!


This card features Stampin Up's 'The Open Sea' stamp set.  I started by creating my own backing paper by using my Night of Navy ink pad to make a wash.  Once it was dry I took two of the stamps from the set and, using Cherry Cobbler, I stamped a random pattern.  I made a second wash with Pool Party and stamped it with a third stamp from the set and Night of Navy - well, I had it out!  More stamping, but this time onto white paper and, to complete the look, a pre-made sentiment.

Whilst I have been missing in action, my amazing Crafty Boots team mates have been making some fabulous cards, but don't take my word for it, take a look for yourself.


Dionne

Monday 1 June 2015

Cabochon Parade

Welcome back, I hope that you had a wonderful weekend.  It was cold and wet here but I hope that the new month will bring a change in the weather.

I was reminded yesterday that 29 years ago a cousin married and the weather was much the same on that day.  The weather the day they married may have been a lot better but it must have been a good omen because they are still  very happy and recently became grandparents.  Congratulations to everyone concerned.


We have reached the mid point of the current challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges, which is a sketch challenge. There are one or two additional rules for our sketch challenge:
  • you can rotate the sketch and you can re size the elements if you wish. 
  • do not move the elements around too much, the original sketch layout should still be recognisable. 
  • you can use any materials you like to make anything you like, for example, a card, a box top, a gift bag, a scrapbook page, an ATC, an inchie, etc. Just as long as the original sketch design is obvious in whatever you make.


I have an Artist Trading Card to share with you today.  The base of the card is made from blue glitter card.  The cabochons are different sizes, different colours and some are clear whilst others pearl like, but they are all brads - the larger ones came from Wild Orchid Crafts (not sure where I got the smaller ones).  The remind me of polished stones on the bed of a flowing river, tossed about until the are smooth and shinny.  

There are two very talented Guest Designers joining the Crafty Boots team today, make sure you see their fabulous cards, along with those made by the rest of the team, and perhaps visit their blogs.


Dionne