Are you superstitious?

Well, are you? I'd like to think I'm not but somehow I'm inclined to play it safe today. The past couple days have not been very good for me. My ageing little kitty-cat is poorly although she's handling it a lot better than I am. She's on the mend now but still needing plenty of TLC.  Thank you to everybody who  visited me and left sweet comments. I have not been on my blog-rounds much and will do so over the weekend. In the meantime, I managed to produce this little number. The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches #43 and the colours are from ColourQ #145. I'm also joining the good folks at Word Art Wednesday #36 with the most uplifting "sentiment" I can think of.















Here's my offering for Friday the 13th!

The papers are by Raspberry Road. Also, some vellum leftover from an earlier Christmas card.

The sentiment is by Verve, stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate and cut out with Spellbinders Labels  16.

I cut the bottom edge of the card base with Spellbinders Classic Bracket Edgeabilities.

For embellies, I used a mulberry rose, some twine and a few blingy-thingies.

Some more leftover vellum  and layes of cardstock for the inside.

I'll leave you with this photo of Xiara, my kitty, blissfully soaking up the sun. Don't be freaked out by the tube. Xiara's lost her appetite following her latest chemo session and needs a little help with her meals. She's quite oblivious to the contraption which is a blessing in itself!

Xiara - meditating in the sun.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I'll try to do some visiting this evening. See you again soon.

Beijinhos!


p.s. Pop on over to MIM #98 - plenty of inspiration for your next card project.


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Chocolate eclair, coffee and

Gift from my sister in 1995! I feel old.

Still crazy...

Welcome to Wednesday, dear CCs. We're half way through the week and in a couple of clicks it'll be the weekend. Hurrah! Yes, I'm a glass half full kinda gal! On that optimistic note, I want to show you a card that I made for a friend. He wants to give it to his girlfriend of 14 years. I've often wondered - why not just get married? After all they've been together longer than some marriages. He always comes back with the same response: "What if she says NO?" I'd say his glass is almost empty!

For my card, I picked the sketch from WMSC #105 and the colours from Ribbon Reel #32 Sweet Sparkle photo inspiration.... delicious, yummy and making me very hungry. We are also encouraged to used the following: heart, sparkle and lace or ribbon. Here's my confection:

I'm using papers from Basic Grey's "Indian Summer" 6x6 pack. 

The sentiment is from WMS Compact Sentiment 2, stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink, heat embossed with Snowflake Sparkle EP and then I cut the whole thing out with Spellbinders Lacy Oval die.

Over a row of white heart trim, I wrapped some sheer dusty pink ribbon and tied a bow.  

Come closer... can you see the sparkle on the sentiment? I also dotted the background papers with some Crustal Stickles.

Kept the inside plain and simple.... for a change!

Thanks for dropping in. I'm off to my friendly pastry shop to stuff my gob with something sweet, fluffy, creamy. Please don't mention calories or cavities ... I'm too old for both! Ta ta for now.

Beijinhos!

p.s. How about swinging by MIM #98 for a trunk full of crafty goodies?

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Hershey's Kisses (not counting!) and

Heartfelt Christmas

Gooood morning, Crafty Cronies! Here we are at the start of another week. Fingers-crossed it will be a warm one. So far it has been a strange summer. Sure, we've had sun but what's with all this wind? I'm talking strong gusts, cold and in your face. Urgh! Still, we managed to have a nice weekend...and Sunday was especially special. More on that at the end of this post.
Our main order of business is this week's MojoMonday #249 card. I'm using the colours from PlayDate Cafe #139 and some loving inspiration from CropStop#79. 

Gold and silver ... a difficult mix for me but therein lies the challenge. I'm not entirely convinced by the outcome, but it's another Christmas card in my stash and I'm not complaining.

All vellum, no paper here. I used pieces from Papermania's Christmas Carol Signature Collection. 

The ornament is a stamp from WMS Vintage Ornaments set. I heat embossed it with  Holographic Silver EP. It's got a very fine shimmer, not entirely obvious in the picture.  Finally, I cut it out with Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornaments die.

The sentiment is from WMS Compact Sentiments set, stamped in Brilliance Dew Drop Galaxy Gold. Gold and silver ribbons do their part to uphold the colour brief.

Foam tape to give the ornament a lift.

On the inside, I stuck to the warm tones and added some bling to perks things  up.

I'm also taking this card to The Crazy Challenge #124  and 2 Sisters Challenge for their Christmas in July party. Over at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #18 they're playing with Vellum - perfect!

Now, on to our weekend exploits:
It was Snoopi's 6th birthday yesterday. (That's Snoopi with an "i", like Toni, Randi etc.) As always, we went on a bike ride to the most westerly tip of continental Europe ... a far away place called "Cabo da Roca ... onde a terra se acaba e o mar começa" (Cape Roca ...where the land ends and the sea begins). Actually, it's not that far away for us, about 25miles / 40kms from where we live but it's a spectacular ride with breathtaking views all the way to the destination. Once there, Snoop thought it necessary to sprinkle the local vegetation while we stumbled about on the rocky terrain, fighting gale force winds. I took these pictures of Snoop-dog before we set out on our windy wingding. 

The birthday girl all geared up and ready to roll. Conan's getting impatient, but I don't care - Mama's too busy taking pictures!

My little pumpkin in her pink helmet and riding harness. A born biker chick. What a poser, eh?!

Ok, now's she's just being cheeky!

That's my cue to hop on! And off we rode into the wind....and  boy, was it windy!!!  (Next time we'll take the car!)

We stopped for coffee and cake.  She's looking straight at me, perplexed... perhaps a little peeved that I selfishly devoured her birthday cake.  

That's all from me today. Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week and I'll see ya soon! 

Beijinhos!


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Granola muffin (something healthy for a change!) and

Sweet Birthday Box

WoooHooo! Friday...finally! It has been one incredibly long and windy week. Glad its over. And here I am: in the garden, on the swing, mac on my lap, martini in my hand...how does it get better than this? Oh but it does! I have a little project to show you. It's a box I made for my MIL. I guess I could call her Mrs Conan but she's nothing like her burping, grunting, bike-riding son. She's a prim and proper lady, impeccable manners, not a hair out of place and in all the years I've known her I have never seen her sweat! How is that possible?! She is a gardening genius, a horticultural healer and can bring any plant back to life. It's true - I have extensively tested her abilities and her patience ... still, not a teeny bead of sweat! Back to the main plot: we're celebrating her birthday tomorrow and I made this box to house her gift. What that is we don't yet know but it will, most definitely, be limited by the size of the box! 

Here's the aerial view. For the base of the lid I cut a piece of dark green CS with the largest die in Spellbinders Labels 23 set. My inspiration for this box came from the numerous tutorials posted by Beate Johns on Splitcoaststampers. She's a genius, I tell ya! You must check her out...err, I mean her blog.

My box measures 2" x 3" and has my MIL's fave elements: roses, pearls and the colour green.

I wrapped a little strip of patterned paper by Stampin' Up! around the side of the lid, added some cream satin ribbon and bow. (Now do you feel the crick in your neck?!)

The sentiment is from WMS "Compact Sentiments", stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black on white CS and cut out with Spellbinders Beaded Oval die. Then I sponged with TH's Peeled Paint.

And finally I threw in some pearls because my MIL loves her pearls. ... she sure does!

Am quite pleased how this turned out, but hey, what do I know?! To see what the experts think I'm quietly taking this card to Paper Play Challenges #27 "Happy Birthday", Moving Along With The Times "Make It Sentimental", Shelly's Images "What the Text" and My Heart Pieces "Something for Someone Special".

And now, I'll quietly go back indoors and quietly send telepathic messages to Conan to take me out for dinner. Have a fab Friday and a wicked weekend, dear CCs. Thanks for swinging by and I'll see ya soon.

Beijinhos!

p.s.  And don't forget to stop by Make It Monday #97. It's chock full of crafty creations!



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Martini Rosso, mint, ice and 

Celebrate!

I know...I'm a day late. I meant to post this yesterday. Had it all set up - my usual blog-blab, the pictures, etc etc and then I set the date and time. And that's where I failed ... I scheduled my release for August 4th. I hang the ol' noggin in shame. Is anyone celebrating something, anything on the 4th of August? If you are, then this card's for you.

The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches #42 - lovely simple number. I used the colours from ColourQ #144 - gorgeous combo. For inspiration, I hopped over to Bearly Be Mine #42 "Ribbon & Bow" and Paper Pretties "Celebrate".

No patterned paper on this card. ALL card stock. The colours are so vibrant I wanted to keep it simple... yeah, you heard right!

Went to town with the embossing - both wet and dry! For the blue background I used Crafts Too "Daisies" folder.  The red CS was given Cuttlebug's "Swiss Dots" treatment. The sentiment is by WMS, heat embossed with Stampendous Fine White EP. Somehow 3 red blings snuck in...

White brad and foam tape did their bit to hold the panels down.

Some sheer white ribbon and bow complete this party.

On the inside added a panel with stars and layers of red, white and blue... maybe next year I'l turn up on time!

I hear a beer can click and a familiar satisfied grunt. That's my cue to get dinner going. Conversation is over-rated! Have a great day, Crafty Cronies. I'll see you tomorrow!

Beijinhos  and hugs and oplqmumooo

p.s. no more Martini... until after dinner ;-)


p.p.s. Looking for creative inspiration? How about swinging by Make It Monday #97? Tons of good stuff there!


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Martini Rosso, slice of lemon and

Christmas 2012

This year I'm starting my Christmas projects early, and July is as early as it gets for me. I need to get Easter well and truly out of the way before I prance about the living room with tinsel in my hair.  I'm kicking off my Christmas collection in traditional colours: red, green and vanilla ice-cream. Ok, maybe not so much the ice-cream, but definitely a smooth, creamy, perky beverage of some description! <nudge..wink>  For my card, I'm using the sketch from WaltzingMouse Sketch Challenge #104. Christmas in July is also the theme at Lollipop Crafts #84, The Squirrel & The Fox #21, Through the Craftroom Door and 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

The patterned paper is from "Merry Berry" 6x6 by  Jennifer Ellory.

The basket and poinsettia stamps are from WMS Basket Additions set. I coloured them in with Promarkers,  fussy cut the flowers and adhered them above the basket with pop dots. The sentiment is from the Compact Sentiments set. To cut I used Spellbinders Labels 16 for the basket and Labels 14 for the sentiment.

I used 4 Festive Berry brad on the 4 corners of the central panel.  Instead of ribbon I decided on some green twine.

 And for a final festive touch (and because I'm such a fuss-pot) I added 3 red blings ... Festive enough? Nope...  

For more festive trimmings I adhered the spare poinsettia and a strip of the patterned paper.
 

 So there you have it - I've officially started my Christmas countdown. I'm going to go to bed now...but first I need to put away my reindeer antlers. Good night, Crafty Cronies!

Beijinhos.


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Bailey's Irish Cream, ice and

Belated Birthday

Hiya, Crafty Cronies! It's happened again! I missed a birthday. Not only that, I also missed a couple of my personal deadlines: this blog  post for Mojo Monday 248 and Just Add Ink 124 (which should have been done yesterday) and to cut down on sweet thangs (which should have started last months... yikes!) Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way of the good life. That's when I reach out for a cream cake... suddenly all is well again! Ho-hum ... gotta rush back to the real world. I'll leave you with this card.

  

The paper is from HOTP's "Soft Nostalgia".

The sentiment is from WMS "Fancy Phrases". I used Spellbinders Classic Oval die to cut it out.  The background layer is cut out with Label 18, with a coordinating stamp from WMS Vintage Label 18 set. I added 3 pearls... couldn't help myself!  

I also cut the blue CS with Labels 18 die and gave it the Swiss Dots treatment. To finish: some stitched ribbon.

I hate throwing stuff away and put the spare stamped Labels 18  piece to good use on the inside of the card.

That's it from me. Have to fly out the door before I'm late for work. Don't think I can use blogging as an excuse for that! ;-)

Beijinhos!


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The news on the radio (urgh!) and blueberry muffin... yum!