CCC Game 4

Hello,

Today I am back again playing Game 4 over at the Card Chain Challenge where the month of June is being spent in celebration of the sending and receiving of over 3,000 cards worldwide. Game 4 is asking us to share the favourite card that we have received. I was hoping we wouldn't be asked that as it is very very hard to do. I have decided to take my lead from Robyn and post pictures of all the cards I have received since I started taking part in the challenge in August 2018.

2018

2019

2020

I have decided to highlight one very special card that I received from Jerrie Mead in March 2019. I don't know much about Jerrie's story except that she was an exceptional card maker despite having problems with her vision, and that she sadly died in May 2019 just a few weeks after sending me this card. I therefore think she deserves to be remembered here. Her card is really stunning and it is my favourite.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

 xx

Card Chain Challenge Game 2

Hello,

Today I have made the time to share my favourite card for Game 2 at the card chain challenge where we are celebrating the sending (and receiving) of over 3000 cards. Game 2 asks us to share our favourite card from the challenge, I have only been taking part for 2 years but I still can't pick just one favourite but have managed to narrow it down to 3.

June 2019. Find the detail here

This one went to Lucille in Colorado USA

July 2019. Find the detail here

This one went to Cat in Maryland USA

Feb 2020. Find the detail here

This one went to Tina in Slovenia

It has been fun looking back on my cards and seeing how they have varied over time, some months it can be hard to come up with something that I am really pleased with and other times it is easy. I do love receiving a card every month, I keep them all as each one is so special. It would be impossible to choose between them to find a favourite, so I hope we don't get asked that.

It is well worth heading over to the CCC blog to join in the celebrations this month. There are prizes too so see you there.

 Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it.

 xx

CAS Mix Up Reminder

Hello, 

Today I am here with a reminder for the CAS Mix Up June challenge. There is still time to join us. Susan is our host and she wants us to use embossed vellum on our cards this month.

This time my card has heat embossing on vellum using a lovely pearly embossing powder by Wow called chocolate caramel pearl. I have kept the card monotone with a white dry embossed background.

I have used stamping, heat embossing, dry embossing, die-cutting and stencilling (on the insert and envelope)

I have taken to adding embellishments to the envelopes of my cards and also adding inserts that I embellish too. I like the added detail and sense of luxury that it gives the card, but the downside is how long it takes to do!

I hope you find time to join us this month, don't forget that there are links to some technique videos on the blog if you need help with ideas.

I am also sharing this at:

AAA Birthday #14 - Use Vellum

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

XX

Repeat Repeat Repeat

Hello, 

Today I am sharing a card that I made on the spur of the moment when I really should have been doing something else! At least it means that I have used a stamp set that I recently acquired by Taylored Expressions called posh posies.

The design was inspired by this months Day of the Month Card Club where it is repeat day. The colours were inspired by The Flower Challenge #45 where the colours are navy plus one other. I do of course have white too so I hope that's allowed and my flower is very stylised, but it is still a flower.

As you can see I have repeated virtually everything on this card!

 As the flower stamp is NBUS I am also sharing at NBUS #15

 

To finish today I thought I would share a few pictures of my rambling roses, which are in flower and smelling wonderful at the moment. It is important to appreciate them as they only flower for 2 weeks once a year and the rest of the year I spend hours pruning them to keep them in hand. I have considered getting rid of them but they are just so amazing at flowering time. I have 2 one each side of the garden. If you look closely you will see a few of my succulent pots too.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

xx

CCC Game 1

Hello, 

Today I am joining in the celebrations over at The Card Chain Challenge where they are celebrating the sending (and receiving) of over 3000 cards. We have been asked to share a bit about ourselves and the first time we joined the challenge so here goes:

I first joined the CCC in August 2018 and have taken part every month since. As the challenge has been going for around 10yrs I am definitely still quite new to it. I live in a small riverside town in the county of Suffolk UK and feel very privileged to live in a nice house within walking distance of the beautiful river Deben. I came to card making after I retired from a career in the NHS and I have to say that it is a hobby that has really helped me, not only to find that I have a creative side, but also to concentrate my mind and keep those nagging negative thoughts, that have a habit of creeping into my head, at bay. This wonderful hobby, my walking and my garden succeed in keeping me happy and healthy. Oh, and of course I mustn't forget my husband, two daughters and 3 grandchildren. Neither of my daughters live very near so I don't see them, or my grandchildren that often, and even less often now we are restricted due to Covid 19 of course.

This is the card I sent to Linda in Michigan in August 2018:

You can find the reveal post from that month here. It shows all the cards sent and received that month so you will see the card that I received from Dee in Kenya.

Most months when I write my CCC post I remark on how this is my favourite challenge because you always get a prize, and it might come from anywhere in the world. That prize, of course, is a beautiful handmade card. It is always better to see them in real life than in a picture on a blog. I also find it really encouraging to know that there are people just like me crafting away happily at home all over the world.

 Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

xx

May CCC Reveal

Hello,
Today is the 2nd June which means it is reveal day for May's Card Chain Challenge, but it is also an extra special day because the challenge is celebrating 3000 card exchanges since it started. Wow, that's so impressive. To celebrate there is a special blog hop and games with prizes. To take part just follow the Card Chain Challenge Blog.

For my card this month I used the sketch as my inspiration.

This is the card that I eventually came up with:

For some reason it took me a while to come up with this and I am not sure why I chose these rather muted and dull colours, perhaps it was my mood at the time. The deep red panel is a piece of coloured vellum embossed in a 3d embossing folder. I really like the effect and texture that this embossing folder gives. The little flowers are layered die cuts and the edges are washi tape. The card is brightened up a bit by the sentiment and flower petals that are die cut using red mirri card.

I have taken to adding inserts and decorating the envelope of my cards so I found a co-ordinating flower and leaf stamp and decorated them. The picture shows front of the envelope. I do rather like the fact that this card can be displayed in portrait or landscape depending on your preference.

This card was sent to the lovely Mia in Greece.

I received this beauty from Betty in Nebraska.

Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to take part in the celebrations.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it.

Hilary

xx

CAS Mix Up June

Hello,
Things have changed a bit at the CAS family of challenges this month, CAS mixed media, CAS water colouring and CAS stencil are all now part of CAS mix up, the theme will rotate each month rather than each challenge being separate every month. This means that, by default, I am now a designer on CAS mix up and CAS watercolour as well as CAS stencil. That's a little daunting for me, but I am keen to give it a go and it will give me an extra challenge, so that's good (maybe!).

Our host this month is Susan and she wants us to use embossed vellum with stamping and at least one other mixed media element. Do visit the CAS Mix up blog for links to some useful videos that demonstrate the technique. There are a number of ways to emboss vellum, on my card I have used dry embossing with an embossing tool and dry embossing with an embossing folder. I have also used stamping, die cutting, heat embossing and colouring.

I stamped my flower image (from Altenew) onto vellum with stazon ink, fussy cut it out, added some colour on the back with alcohol markers and used an embossing tool to emboss the flowers. This has added white interest and texture to the flowers. I cut a window from the panel (adorable scorable matt-tastic) with a crinkle edge die and tucked a piece of vellum behind it, but first I dry embossed it with a 3d embossing folder by Crafters Companion. This is the first time I have used the EF and I really like the effect. The vellum is silvery which gives it a lovely shine when it is moved in the light (sorry you can't see that in the pictures). The sentiment is heat embossed. Here is a close up:

I do hope you will be inspired to take part is this months new look challenge here. We shall look forward to seeing you in the gallery, you have until 24th June.

If you visit me regularly you may remember that I shared a photo of a tiny succulent plant recently. Well, I am thrilled to say that it won the weekly photo competition on the Facebook group Succulents and Sunshine, how amazing is that? I am stunned especially when I saw all the other amazing photos. It definitely made my week. You can find the photo here if you are interested.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it.

xx