I spend my life ....

...in a state of confusion so I had lots to choose from for my photograph today. I went with my work table after I had been stamping for the very first time. Which card should I stamp on? Which Ink should I use? What medium should I use to colour it with? Which papers should I use? How do I cut it straight? Arrrgghhh how can something so simple be so confusing??

confused - lacking order and difficult to understand

After a quick visit to my local craft shop to ask some questions I was sorted AND I didn't spend a penny there. So here it is my first ever attempt at stamping.

Insert Drumroll here!!

Credits: Stamp "For You Fairy" from Willow Designs (thanks Sharon), basic grey papers, making memories cheeky flat clip, American Crafts ribbon.

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I'm not happy with the pink flower so I am going to change it for an orange one later on but other than that I'm quite pleased with myself and it also fits in with the DCM challenge - Oh So Juicy.

HS:MS - Down & DCM - Photo Finish

To fall to the ground.

Well today is the day I have been dreading for the last 8 years ever since we found out Pete's kidneys are not working as well as they should. He has gone and got himself a stomach bug and is feeling really down, he can't keep anything down at the moment and has spent most of the morning with his head down the toilet. I think I may have covered the word down by now! Seriously though this is not good news as he can't get dehydrated, if after 12 hours he has not kept any water down he has to be admitted to hospital to go on a drip so that his kidneys won't pack in permanently. Then there is the knock on effect that this could have on his Crone's and his anemia. I'm surprised that with 2 boys and his lowered immune system we have managed to go this long before he got a bug. He's lying in bed at the moment with 2 quilts over him and a bucket by his side next to a full pack of dioralite. Fingers crossed everyone.


While Pete is lying in bed feeling like sh** as he puts it I thought I would get busy and make a get well soon card, before you start thinking how sweet I am, it's not for him it's for this weeks DCM's challenge. I might just give it to him later though. He has managed to keep a rehydration drink down for about an hour and has just had another one so hopefully he's coming out the other side.

This weeks Dare is set by Tracie (Bondgirl) and is titled Photo Finish....

This week I want you to make a card for any occasion but it must include a photograph somewhere! The photo subject can be people, items, locations, flowers, absolutely anything so get snapping. Dont forget to check copyright if you are using someone elses photographs in your art work

I took the photograph I have used in a field last week in France. I sliced it into 3 pieces and mounted them on white card. I printed the sentiment onto some frosted paper (mental block can't think of the proper term) and then tore it and fixed it with a brad and 2 eyelets. I finished it off with a raffia bow.

Rach
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Faking It!

No not an bogus injury from the car crash it's the title of the midweek challenge from the girls at DCM.

Fee Fi Fo Fum.....For our Little Extra challenge this week, we'd like you to "Go Faux it" Yes, all we want you to do this week is to use something fake on your cards. For instance you could make fake ribbon, fake brads or fake chipboard - we think you talented folk can come up with lots more "let's pretend" ideas so we can't wait to see your ideas.

I needed to make another birthday card for another Nephew so doubled up on this one. He loves trucks so thought I would adapt the train idea. I have done faux stitching on the truck and it's load and the buttons on the wheels are faux too. Not very happy with this one but I have 10 cards to make and only this afternoon to do them in so time isn't on my side. 2 down 8 to go!

On the car crash side of things I think I have got a hire car sorted out and it should hopefully be arriving at 11am tomorrow morning and I have been promised an estate car. It has taken until lunch time today and numerous phone calls over the last 4 days to get it but fingers crossed I am finally there! Just got to fill in the report form and draw my little pictures and I should be done with it until we get back from the sun.

Rach

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Visit to the Haberdashery Department ...

G'day all, Gillian here, and it's my turn to dare you all this week
Your card can be any theme you like, just as long as it's got something you'd find in a Haberdashery Department on it
Alright then, grab that old sewing basket of yours or raid your sewing machine drawer, have a look at what creative bits are hiding away there....maybe it's buttons, a zip, hook & eye's, ribbons, braids, Dressmaking patterns, tape measures,Pins & Needles, lace, safety pins or embroidery thread....
so many wonderful little treasures just waiting to be added to your next card :O)
I'm going to add one more rule....
Yes you may stitch on your card, but that can't be your only haberdashery item....

This challenge was great fun as I could double up and make my Nephew Sam's birthday card at the same time. As well as some stitching I used some press studs for the wheels on the train.

Basic Grey paper, another paper from the back of my drawer, blue, black and brown card stock and my cricut machine. Ooh forgot to mention the green and brown inks.

I have been a bad blogger this week as my step sister Rachel has been visiting, from Newcastle, with her 3 year old and 1 year old for a couple of days. I spent a very fun morning with them at a play barn dressing action men, in bizarre combinations of clothes with Patrick who is very insistent about everything. Things get very confusing when she is here with 2 Rach's around. My Mother In Law returned to Oman yesterday so after 4 weeks we are visitor less :( just in time for me to start thinking about going away on a much deserved break to hotter climes. Got a ton of cards to make before I go for myself and commissions. It seems like everyone has got a birthday or anniversary in July and August you would think they would spread them out through the year a bit more evenly!!! Lol Then when I get back I suppose I had better start thinking about Christmas cards or I'll end up buying mine again.

Kyle has nearly finished Primary school and got his very good school report on Monday which included his SATS results - well some of them anyway. He got a 5 in Maths and a 5 in Science but all the English results have been sent back for remarking as there were a lot of discrepancies but his teacher is expecting him to get a 4. We are soooo very proud of his behaviour and results. He must take after me as I have just done the IQ test off Suzyb's site and apparently I am a Universal Genius - I've been telling people that for years but they never believed me !! Lol

Rach
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DCM - TEXT MESSAGE & FIRST EVER LAYOUT

The photograph of this is pretty naff but this is my first every layout. I have been meaning to try scrap booking for about 3 years now, that's how old the frame is, but never got round to it. The other night provided the ideal opportunity to start when my Aunt suggested we did a photo collage for my Gran for her birthday showing our day out on the canal. In the past I have always started to get the bits and pieces out to make a page/picture and then given up as I never know where to start. I have loads of bags under the stairs with ticket stubs, bottle caps, paper bags, pins and all sorts of other junk in for various layouts that I have thought of and it all just sits there day after day desperate for attention. Hopefully now that I have managed the first scary layout, in a fit of panic, I will be able to improve my techniques and manage to give these lost and lonely items some love and attention. Lol

The top right of the picture reads birthday girl as Georgie was thrilled with the Pink Birthday Girl banner and balloons that we put up on the inside of the boat. Hence the pink theme and the flowers tied in to the Pink Lei (not sure if that's how you spell it) that we gave her to wear all day.

TEXT MESSAGE

Well, this week the Design Team have come up with this idea for you to play with, we hope you'll enjoy it.

TEXT...
definition... the main body of matter in a book or manuscript. the actual wording of anything written or printed, short passage of scripture, etc

We'd like you to somehow incorporate text into your cards this week - not just one word.. but a portion of TEXT... like a poem, or newspaper print, Calligraphy, Even rip up an old text book and use some of the paper from it, there are masses of possibilities here, so let your imaginations run riot and let us see you texting to your heart's content!

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Here's my take on this weeks challenge. Sorry I don't know what the papers are as they were stuffed at the back of my draw. I used a birthday definition stamp with pink ink, a dream designs flower and some machine sewing (I don't do hand it's too slow and I always prick myself) Lol

Rach

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HS:MS - Filigree & DCM - Love

Ornamental fine wire work.

I had 2 choices today, I could go up to the attic and route around for a couple of hours trying to find the filigree Christmas angel that is somewhere up there or I could use the lamp in the Living room and hope it passes as filigree. Guess which one I went for!!

I would like to thank everyone for their kind words about Pete, yesterday. He has just taken himself off to the hospital so should be feeling a lot better by lunch time. The fun will begin when he comes home at tea time full of bounce and energy and annoyingness. It's just like having a huge 5 year old in the house who can't sit still, fidgets, plays practical jokes and generally winds everyone up - it's great as he makes me laugh so much!

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I made this card last night to fit in with the DCM midweek challenge.

So what Little Extra treat have we dreamed up for you to play with this week?
Well, there's a lot of wedding talk around on the design team with two weddings coming up soon. So inspired by this we'd like you to put some LOVE into your cards this week. Wedding, Anniversary, Engagement or simply to say "I love You" - there are lots of opportunities to get lovey-dovey and slushy, so get out all the romantic stash out and show us what you can do. After all, you know what they say;"All you need is Love, Love, Love"

I used red, white and brown card stock, black cotton, brown brads and some black and brown ink pads.

Rach
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DCM - Tagged

This week on DCM it is Rhi's turn to dare everyone.

Hi, its Rhi here his week! Wow! What an amazing response for Lythan's {EM}Boss Dare and the FABULOUS little extra. It's great to see so many inspired cardmakers, thank you to each and every one of you who has joined in and shared your creation.

Now onto this weeks dare...

Everything we buy has packaging, some of it excessive, some of it beautifully designed. Tags, labels, stickers... all sorts of bits and bobs that we can recycle onto cards.I dare you to make a card using a tag, label, sticker or anything else you can find, thats from packaging and would normally end up in the bin. Of course you can ink it, change it, distress it and add anything else you like!

If you're feeling brave, I DOUBLE DARE you to make it a card for a man!

I was lucky with this one as I bought a pair of jeans last week and they had this tag on them and the blue ribbon. I also used basic grey paper, blue card stock, brown ink pad and some brown brads from my stash, oh and a little bit of sewing. No idea who I'm going to send it too!!

Rach

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DCM - You're not the (em)boss of me

I have looked at this challenge blog called Daring Card Makers for a while now and love the idea of it and the cards the team make - very inspiring. I needed to make a card for my fantastic Canadian cousin who is 19 in a couple of weeks so thought that this would be as good as time as any to start joining in. This way his Mum and sister can see the card as they will be here for his birthday. *waves to Lyn & Claire* Can't wait to see you only 1 week to go *jumps up and down with excitement*.

This weeks challenge was set by Lythan.

Hi there playmates, its Lythan here! Doing these dares is such a joy. We all love seeing what you create so much. The way that you have taken up and run with both the Celestial dare and the Midweek extra this week has just been awesome.

As a reward - and as I was so strict last time I set a dare - here is a nice broad theme to get your creative juices flowing.

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Embossing.

Dry embossing with a light box or with a die cutting machine.

Using embossing powders or triple embossing.

Using pre-embossed papers.

Embossing with found items.

Just have fun playing!

And as I can't resist being a little (em)bossy - why not see if you can get more than one emboss technique on your card?

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I used Kaskad acid free card stock, American Crafts ribbon, cuttlebug embossing folder, white ink pad, cricut lettering and a hand cut tag. Oh and some staples!

I'm looking forward to the next challenge already!