Shock and Awe

More like Ooooooooow, so beautiful..................

My eldest took me to see a few wedding dresses she liked.........THEY WERE WHITE!!!!!!!!!.....well , ok Ivory, but for those of you who know Anne, you will understand my shock at a white dress.

Oh but when she tried one of them on....HUGE frog in throat moment......she looked gorgeous......I didn't cry but it was hard.

This was the dress

Mark Lesley wedding dress











Anne wants Teal instead of red.

I felt so honoured to see my daughter standing there in this lovely dress.

Buffy xx

What a wonderful meeting

Joyous day, after corresponding with a lovely lady from Canada for quite some time now, we finally got to meet. She is a card-maker and uses her photograph to create beautiful images

Here is Ann with my son Anthony and my youngest daughter Mawgan, 

(have to say youngest as my eldest now states she is the littlest)

We would not have missed meeting up with Ann for anything, if any of you get the chance please check out her gorgeous photos here:

http://www.ephotozine.com/user/canadiann-118703

They are simply lovely, just like the lady herself.

I can't believe, however, the quantity of food Mawgy and Anth managed to get through whilst we were there.

Back soon

Buffy x

p.s. looking at the photo makes me think I may need to see the optician again, it's a little blurry

Second helpings

I have a second helping for you, it's another colour challenge CR84FN #39

And here is my take on the colour combo

Stamp - LOTV Fairy boquet and free sentiment (from mag)
Wooden Leaves
Promarkers and clear stardust pen
Spellbinder dies

Well it is definately time for bed
TCFN
Buffy x

Colour challenge card

Hello all,
I know I've not been round much but I have been really busy and tired. Work is go go go and trying to climb the loft ladder in the evenings just feels like an attempt at scaling K2.......

But I have gotten stuck in to some long overdue card making
todays card I created using the Colour Q challenge colours

Please excuse the photo, it did not come out to well, I must invest in a better flash....

 

Stamps - SU Unfrogettable

Wooden flowers

Buttons - SU Sweet buttons

Hope you all like it

Back soon

Buffy x

Jet engine in the bedroom

Hello all insomniacs and fellow snore sufferers......lol
It is 03:29 and there is a jet engine grumbling in my bedroom, although it's pretty clear down here in the dining room it is at least slightly muffled.
I would like to apologise for the moan the other day. Some days I wonder how we have stayed together so long, maybe I'm just to dumb.
Sorry I have no knew cards to share with you at the moment, I have been trying to get my bedroom decorated, my son has done his best to help me but he's not really a diy sort of lad.
Think I am just about reaching collapse stage, so I'll have another go at getting some sleep

HUGS

BUFFY XX

Days off No husband

Why is it, when you finally get time-off from work you don't get any time to spend with your husband?
I had booked a table for dinner tonight to celebrate Graham finally getting out of that awful company and starting in his new job, because he said he wasn't having a leaving do. But I had to cancel the booking because he changed his mind.
I guess it was very stupid of me to think he wouldn't prefer to hang out with that mob.
Let's face it...I've spent years trying my very best to make each member of my household feel special whenever they have acheived something or on their birthdays, knowing full well that I would be seriously lucky to get even a birthday card but I still make the effort.
Did you know some husbands still take their wives out on dates?.........It's true, one of Graham's workmates takes his wife out to dinner and the cinema....seriously....every couple of months he takes her out. Lucky cow.
I will in total get one whole day with my husband on the four days I have off, why 1 I hear you ask, simple, you have to discount saturday and sunday morning because he doesn't believe in getting up till midday.
Now I know my dear friend didn't get to see her husband for several months, but I know he showered her in love and spent tons of time with her when he got back.
He wonders why I get a little upset when he has a go because I get miserable when he goes out, but if he stood back and looked at the bigger picture then maybe he could see that he puts more effort and priortiy on his workmates than he does us.

Sorry to be so down, I'm off my moan-box now.

Buffy xx

Paper Anemone

One little thing to share with you all today

 

You may have noticed in my last post that I had used some Lace Doily spellbinder dies, this lovely anemone was also part of the set.

I haven't tried the daisy one yet, but will be back soon to share it with you when I've done it.

(My daughter Mawgan, kindly volunteered her hands for this shot)

Buffy x

Very Busy

Hello all,
what a week! Only three more shifts to go then I get 4 days off..........Then craft-away for an entire day.....Yippee.
I do have one to share with you, I created it for my best friends daughter.

• Flutter by Wednesday - #170 open

 

Stamp - LOTV Fairy Bouquet

Spellbinder - Lace Doily accents

Harlequin ribbon - Pink and Purple

Happy Birthday peel-off

Ink - Mementos, Lulu lavender, Rose bud

Backing paper - Light pink fabric with gold glitter

Glitter - Chameleon

Promarkers

I hope you enjoy my creation

 Buffy x

Another challenges card

Hello again,
Yes I was a busy little bee yestarday and have a triple challenge card to share, the challenges are:

• Colour Create Challenge blog - #78 "Kraft, Red and Cream/White"
• Passion for ProMarkers - #114 "No patterned papers"
• Less is More - #30 "Recipe- combine 3 past challenges"

For the Less is More - 3 past challenges I chose:
Week 9 - touch of red,
Week 12 - Off centre 
Week 25 - buttons or ribbon

I'm very happy with how this turned out, but then I do like simplicity (from time to time)


I adore this stamp, anyone who knows my youngest will probably understand why.








Stamp - Whiff of Joy, Willow writing recipes (symbol of the challenge) and some old sentiment I dug out.
Cream A5 card blank
Papermania - Kraft paper
Red ribbon from stash
Martha Stewart - Doily broader punch
Spellbinders - Deckled rectangles
ProMarkers - Crimson, Red, Tan, Cinnamon, Cool grey 2, Buttercup, Ivory, Blush and Putty
Wooden Cherries embellishment (coloured with promarkers)

Hope you all enjoy my creation

Buffy x

New Quad Challenge Card

Hello Peeps
New card for 4 challenges:

• Charisma Cardz Challenges - #34 "glitter it"
• Dream Valley Challenges - #4 "Zingy" - Lime, Lemon and Orange
• Flutter by Wednesday - #168 "open"
• Hookedoncraft Challenge - #6 "Things with wings"

these were all very interesting challenges and combining them was quite easy, so without further ado:-

Stamps - Lilli of the Valley (Destiny Moon and Dreamy Days Circular sentiments)
Ribbon - Create n Craft, Harlequin Ribbons set
Promarkers - Lime green, Yellow, Sunflower, Honeycomb, Gold plus skin tones.
Paper - Yellow swirl from stash (possibly lemon sorbet from papermania)
Glitter - Chameleon

I am very pleased with how warm and cheery this card turned out.

Back soon

Buffy x

Cards and Chemistry

Hello
Another day at the chemical plant. I have to say I felt slightly lost today?! The chap who was "training" me, succeeded in confusing me. I would prep my samples and when I turned around, they had vanished. This meant I got in a bit of a muddle over whether I had made up the samples or not.
It may seem crazy, but I get a little bit OCD when it comes to my work. Partly because of a terrible incident at uni that resulted in two days worth of experiment being ruined because someone interfered with my glass wear and my experiment got contaminated. Two days of hard graft and great patience, ruined!!!!
Oh well, live and learn as they say, I'm sure tomorrow will be better

Anyway, what we need here is a nice card, so here you go and I hope you like it:

The sentiment is adorable:

"Best friends are like old quilts,

warm & valuable"

On this card I used;-

Paper - Nitwits paper (free from a mag)
Gold mirror card
Lace- just a tiny piece
White gel pen (for faux stitching)

Although the Nitwits paper had faux stitching, it was quite difficult to see, so just a little enhancement to make it pop.

Night night
Buffy xx

New Job

Good evening all

I have a new job.......it's only a temp contract for a few weeks (5-10wks) but I'm back in the lab.
Better still it is only 10 mins from my house. A huge difference from the 60mile round trip I used to do.
So far everyone has been really friendly and I have been told that I'm catching on quite quick
(so not bad considering there are several analysis tests I haven't done since uni).

I shall be back tomorrow with a few cards


Night night for now

Buffy xx

CR84FN colour challenge

Hello again,
CR84FN36 colour challenge were lovely colours

and here is my creation

I've used another Lili of the Valley stamped images from the freebie stack, some yellow gingham paper lurking in my stash, kraft paper for the buttons and backers, harlequin ribbon, papermania lemon sorbet flowers and of course Promarkers.
The buttons are from an Annemarie die set, and the large backer is a spellbinder die











Well, better go make dinner.

A quick Hello to my newest follower Lesley, glad to have you x

Back soon

Buffy xx

Birthday

Hello

I just wanted to share the lovely cards I got for my birthday today

 

Sis-in-law, Husband (didn't he do well), Heather, Jane

Mawgan, Debs (debsgems)

Anne (from craft club)

I'm sure if you are followers of CR84FN you will recognise one of my card from one of the design team (Deborah).

They are all beautiful and I love them.

Thank you all xxxx

Buffy xx

Post man has been

Well................
the postman has just been and it looks like I have 3 birthday cards for tomorrow......yippee.

Not noticed the kids sneak up to the craft room yet, I guess I should go leave out some die-cuts, stamps, ink and card-blanks for them....just in case.

I now have to figure out how to get this little-tikes doll house into my car.......my friends daughter is 3 today and Mawgan has decided to give her the house and dolls. Should keep her busy for hours.

My friend Jane kindly cooked me a chinese on saturday, my birthday dinner.......she even bought a little forever friends cake.....awww. She was kind enough to only put 1 candle on it, although I don't think the correct amount would cause a fire...lol.
I made her a little "Thank you" card, which I shall display when I've uploaded it from my camera.

Back soon

Buffy x

Craft class

Had a lovely evening yestarday. Tracey was running a stampin up class and it was great fun. Although I must remember to take my glasses next time.

This is the first card we made. I loved the sanded stamp we used, it was great. The little plane is perfect. 
As per usual I had to do it slightly differently. Most of the ladies had the stipes at the bottom and the blue at the top, but I didn't want to clog up the stripes with the image and ribbon. 
I know, I'm just being awkward again.

Not sure how easy it is to see, but the plane is decoupaged.







I unfortunately can't remember the name of the stamp set.......typical.
Our second card was lots of fun..........I hope you'll agree

 

A sail boat in a ships wheel. This is a fab card for any age of male. The sailboat stamp looks great all by itself, but the cut-out sails just allow it to pop. We also made a matching tag (forgot to photo that....)

Both stamp sets are from Stampin Up, the papers/card too. I have to admit I really like this cherry cobbler coloured card, but then I really like the soft suede too.............why does life have to have so many choices...LOL

Hope you find these inspiring

Off to do my shopping before I vanish into my craft space.

Be back later with luck

Buffy x

Tea for two

Good morning from soggy Derby, yes it's still raining.......

But, you don't need sunshine when you're a crafter, a day-light bulb does the trick. So let it rain, I have a tumbler dryer and I'm not affraid to use it.....lol

Mawgan and I had a lovely soggy day out in Chesterfield on wednesday......very soggy....but the twisted spire quite fascinated her and she stopped complaining about the rain and just kept started going on about why doesn't someone repair it, are people allowed in the church or has health & safety banned them......
It comes to something when a 10yr old asks about the Health & Safety Bullies (as she puts it)

As you can see a little grey and dreary, but what a fascinating sight.
I deliberately got the wall in the shot to give the full impact of how wonky the spire is.











I had made a card for The Shabby Tea Room challenge "Tea for two" but I hadn't written the information for the challenge down properly, it also stated blue and green. Doh!
But here it is:

 Stamped image from Lili of the Valley free stack, Spellbinders - scalloped circles (lage and small), Marianne Creatables dies - LR0117 and LR0164, Tea-pot and sentiment stamps free from mag, Pinky/purple glitter card, Pink glitter fabric, Promarkers and moments ink pad.

Back soon

Buffy x

Busy day

Morning all

Firstly, a big HELLO to my newest followers, I hope you enjoy it here. And maybe find an new idea or two.

I am presently experimenting with lots of new techniques and hopefully I'll soon have lots to share.

Off to Chesterfield very soon, before lunchtime. So I am taking my camera.
I've been having a few problems with it lately but maybe it is just fed up of photograghing cards.....lol.

Then back home to walk our borrowed dog...Lilo.....Anne (eldest) and Connor (her better-half lol) are off to Bloodstock.
For those old enough to remember it's basically Monsters of Rock. (Since they killed Monster of Rock, several years ago, by adding Pop music)

Here is a little piccie I took the other day that I hope brings you cheer,

and which will soon be my latest card topper. Photography really can have it's uses..... ;)

See you later

Buffy x

One layer apperture

I'm back and I've been playing again.........

My newest creation is for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch challenge

One layer apperture...

 

(again sorry about the piccie - having camera problems)

As with my last card I used masks and masking tape to get the effects, but this time the sentiment is on the inside and viewed through an apperture.

Distressing inks, feebie leaf, masking tape, post-it masks and WMS "say it with style" sentiment.

Hope you like it and it inspires a sense of adventure

Buffy x

Trying new techniques

Good evening all,
I'm being a little daring and dabbling with new techniques, and having great fun doing so.

I have created the following card for two challenges

• Dream Valley Challenges - Distressing
• Flutter by Wednesday - sketch

and here it is (sorry the photo isn't too good)

 

Autumnal distress

I used masking tape, post-it masks, perfect medium, clear embossing powder, a freebie leaf stamp, a second-hand leaf stamp, a second-hand butterfly stamp, and a sentiment stamp (can't remember what set), Distress ink pads and rust coloured ribbon (out of a top).

The butterfly is double embossed.

I'm rather pleased with the outcome considering it is my first attempt at this one layer technique, yes I know, adding the butterfly gives an extra layer but otherwise it's flat.

I shall definately be having more goes at this method.

Hope you all have a lovely evening

Buffy x

Colour Challenge

Good evening all
I was quite intrigued by the Colour Q challenge,

these gave me quite a headache untill I remembered the free stamped stack I got from a mag the other day, then the flow started again







So, without further ado

 

I decided not to put a sentiment on the outside of this card as I felt it would take away from the design.

Stamped image - feebie Lili of the Valley image

Plain white tall card blank

White paper flowers - inked to suit

White self-adhesive Pearls

The stipes are simply trimmings from the background layers - all layers coloured by hand

Sakura clear stardust pen - from a little bit of glitz.

Hope you all like it

Buffy xx

Almost forgot

I almost forgot that I had promised to share some of the creations I made with my newly acquired stamps.
So for your enjoyment (I hope) here is one of my cards

 

I've named this one "Mint Daddy", he is another Lili of the Valley stamp I got at Doncaster

Isn't he adorable...........yes, yes, I know I said avoid cute but........Aaaawwwww, what daddy wouldn't love getting him...

The solid mint backers were made by die-cutting the next size up in plain white card and then colouring in with a promarker used in the image. I used the colour from the chair stripes.

The colour coordinating dots/buttons, same principle as backers but punched using a good old-fashioned hole punch you'd find in any office or home.

here is a close-up of dear daddy bear.

Buffy xx

Mono Yellow

Hello again ladies,
I seem to be on a roll this week, so without further ado........
here is a two challenge card

•  Lili of the Valley - challenge #107 - sketch
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #145 - monochromatic

 

I used varying shades of Yellow, yes they are all yellows

I used a Lili of the Valley image (from a stack I got free with a mag, but will probably have to invest in as she's sooo sweet), white square card blank, Honeycomb paper from my stash (years old I think), Yellow Papermania paper flowers and mini buttons, various yellow Promarkers and a clear Sakura Stardust pen. Oh and the Harlequin Yellow ribbon from create and craft (also had for years).

I hope it brings a ray of sunshine into your day

Buffy xx

SURPRISE

Here is a little card I create for 3 challenges

• Dream Valley - surprise - challenge 12
• Charisma Card Challenge - 4 legged friend - challenge 30
• Cute Card Thursday - sketch - challenge 175 

The surprise is discovered by lifting the little yellow flower

The dog stamps were freebies and came in the two poses.
I loved the idea of the outer image being in the garden surrounded by flowers, whilst the inner image would stare at the sentiment.
I think it works quite well.




I hope you all like it

Ta ta for now
Buffy xx

Hurray a challenge card

I'm back and this time I bring you my card for the Just Add Ink colour challenge

I felt this was a great colour combo for the gents

Stamps - Personnal impressions mens collection, WMS - Say it with style and a leaf stamp one of the ladies from craft club was getting rid of.
Ribbon - Choco glitter
Stampin Up Inks - see colour chart above.
Spellbinder nesties - Deckled rectanlge and Rectangle

Back soon
Buffy xx

Bloomin internet

Well ladies, I had created this following card with the intention of entering it in the WMSC57, but unfortunately due to our lack of up/download limit remaining I was not allowed to put it up.
But here it is and I hope you like it

 

Oh well, maybe next time

Buffy xx

Pink n Blue Wedding

I can at last enter the Lili of the Valley challenge, thanks to my new stamps. I am very pleased with them.
The challenge was a Pink and Blue,

I used the Lili of the Valley wedding couple stamp, ProMarkers - China Blue, Powder Blue, Dusky Rose and Cocktail Pink, Pink rose paper from my stash, ribbons, WMS - celtic heritage set and scalloped circle and circle nestabilities.

Buffy x

A Day at Doncaster

What a wonderful way to spend a few hours on a damp and dreary summers day. I shall apologies now for the poor photography and lack of more photo's, I took our ancient digital camera (poor quality pics) and was sooo busy admiring and gathering inspiration (lack of photos). But the few I have taken I will gladly share.

Doncaster was quite amazing, the stall were beautifully decorated with examples of what you could achieve with their product.

Here are some stunning creations from the Lavina Stamps stall

I adore these wonderfully magical images, I always feel that charming sense that fairy tales are still worth believing in when I see such lovely creations.
And of course I have been after one of these stamps for quite some time, and here she is

of course the little dragon told me he desperately needed to come home with me as well, I couldn't possibly leave him there when he asked so nicely. He then informed me that he loved mushrooms, so of course I had to get him some...........  (this is the excuse I tell myself)
But the fairy was the stamp I had been longer for. Soon I will reveal what her and I have been up to.




Little Claire Designs stall was also adorable, with some delightful examples of cards, here is a little one for you:

This is sooo sweet, it's simple and understated, yet it demands your attention. I think it is lovely because it is ageless, young or old would be happy to receive this charming quad-easel.

Lili of the Valley had a fabulous display, I was very impressed by the way they displayed a card on the back of each basket of stamps. I'm afraid I didn't get a photo of their stall (mores the pity) BUT their multi buy offer was a little to hard to resist and I just had to grab these

I love the bride and groom stamp, but was so delighted to see some masculine stamps. I know they are still in the cute category (I am trying to stay away from cute) but the bear with a pint.....well, what can I say............18 to 80 enough said!
As I said earlier, I will be putting my new creations up soon.

My daughter was totally ecstatic to see Stephanie Weightman painting her roses, we had quite a bit of trouble to drag her away. But I can safely say it is far more impressive watching Stephanie in real life than on the t.v.

The small person in the green sarcasm t-shirt is my adorable 10 yr old. She desperately wanted to ask Stephanie if she could have a try, but she just couldn't get up the courage. If you look closely you can also see Nigel May in the background. Mawgan also wanted a photo with him but the que was horrific.

These are just a couple of the beautiful roses Stephanie painted during her demonstrations.








I'm sorry for not having more to share with you all, at least I now know to take MY camera next time I attend a craft-fair.

I also have to say a HUGE HUGE     "THANK YOU!!!!"     to my husband Graham, for coming with me, I know how much he hates crowded places like this. I didn't make him suffer to much (I deposited him in the food court and ran around as fast as I could).

I will be back very soon with some of my card creations made with my new acquisitions.

Buffy x

Belting Up

Another wonderful session at Derby and Spondon Dabblers
we were all belting up last night

For this card I used yellow pearlescent card, a 6x6 choco chip paper  (stampin up), rich cocoa momento, a tiny birthday stamp (freebie), flower stamp (stampin up) and an die/embossed button (stampin up - kindly whipped through the big shot by Anne)
(sorry, photo not great, hanging head in shame)










Buffy x

Colour challenge card

I really adored the colours the CR84FN blog set this time. Warm and cheerful

So after digging around in my craft area I found the perfect paper and stamp for this job

I've used my Polka Doodle house with Waltzing Mouse sentiment, the blossom three nestible, white A5 card blank, some red ribbon and momento ink pads.

It's nice to have our internet back, although listening to the rumbles from outside, I'm not going to hold my breath....LOL

Buffy x

Been busy without broadband

My broadband is still playing silly beggers. So I have been quite consumed with card making.
Here are a few of my recent makes

I used my Stampin Up and Waltzing Mouse stamp sets, some green paper that was free from a mag, orange paper from my stash and orange distress ink (I can't remember the colours name)

For this I used Stormy sky distress ink, Waltzing Mouse stamps-Irish Blessings and Say it with Style, and some blue paper I've had lying around for years.

Here I used SWALK and Waltzing Mouse stamp sets, paper from the spring collection mag and a few pink pearls.

The adorable free Tatty Teddy stamp and Waltzing Mouse Say it with Style and Irish Blessings, Brushed cordouroy distress ink and again paper I've had for years.










All with corresponding ribbons

Well, I have to go now as my daughter and son-in-law-to-be are starting to argue.
So home I go and pray to the god of broadband to restore my connection.

Buffy xx

CR84FN challenge card

I really liked this colour combo the CR84FN32 gave us this time

I can only hope my humble card has done it justice

I realise my colours are fairly pale but I just love these papers. The flower was made using a Marianne die, I cut 2 of the flower then interlinked them and used yellow ribbon rolled up for the centre.

Buffy x