Graduation Congratulations

Congrats Ash On your Masters

A couple of weeks ago it was my friends Son's graduation and he did very well. She used to make her own cards but since starting work has found it difficult, so she asked me to do one for her. I didn't have a clue what to do but I know he got a 1st so this is what I came up with.

She was thrilled with it and I just hope he liked it too. 

To do the hat I first punched out a best badge and cut it down with a slight angle, next I punched out a tree, turned it round and pushed again taking the trunk off and giving me a diamond shape, for the tassle I used DMC thread.

Sorry there's a lot of retired items used but it was how it came together. I'm sure it could be done with more up to date items but I was under pressure to get it done ASAP as she needed it a couple of days later. 

The materials used are:

(r) = retired, (nsu) = not stampin’ up

Card stock: Crushed curry, elegant eggplant, whisper white

Ink: black tuxedo (memento), elegant eggplant versaMark

DSP: It’s my party (r)

Stamp sets: Blue ribbon (r), number of years, sky is the limit (r), Teeny tiny sentiments

Embossing folders: sparkle

Embossing powders: Black (r)

Framelits: Layering circles, large numbers, stitched shapes

Punches: Best badge, tree (r), classic label, modern label (r)

Accessories: bakers twine (r), DMC thread (nsu)

The "Gaining A Masters Degree" was computer generated

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x

I have never enjoyed a hobby more and would love to help you get started. If you'd like to have a go and live in the Walsall area of the West Midlands contact me and I would be happy to help you. Click the Contact Me above for how to get in touch.

Sealed With Love & More

Not Quite A One

Well when I saw the Sealed with love bundle I wasn't going to get it but then I remembered that I'd want something special for next year as it will be our 25th. Or 30th if you count the years we've been together.

So I purchased it and then felt I needed to get my moneys worth out of it so used some of the lovely little sayings for this years card.

Roy's only comment was "there's a lot of black" so much for all my hard work.

The materials used are:

Card stock: whisper White, Glimmer paper

Base card: NSU

Ink: Real Red, VersaMark

DSP: Stacked with love (retired)

Stamp sets: Sealed with love, Special reason, Teeny tiny sentiments

Embossing Powders: Clear

Framelits: Love notes, Stylish stems

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x

I have never enjoyed a hobby more and would love to help you get started. If you'd like to have a go and live in the Walsall area of the West Midlands contact me and I would be happy to help you. Click the Contact Me above for how to get in touch.

Thirty Years, Old & New

Celebrating 30 years of happiness

Been busy lately and now getting behind with my blogging again. I'm now at the end of August instead of up to date with September. Have one more to go for August, so will try and get that one up some time this week.

I'm showing a card I did for friends of ours who have recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. I just fell in love with this stamp set and the Detailed Floral thinlits and new straightaway what I would do with them.

As you can see it's made with all new products from the 16-18 catalogue except for the crochet trim which I must admit I bought years ago and think I've only used once or twice and yes that is the old.I felt when I sent it it was lovely but now I look again I'm not so sure about the trim and feel I should have used something else, but not sure what.

The materials used are:

Card Stock: Emerald Envy, Very Vanilla

Ink: Emerald Envy

Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Wild About Flowers

Punches: Classic Label

Thinlits: Detailed Floral

Ribbon: Crochet Trim Victoria (retired)

Accessories: Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinestones

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x

First Anniversary (doesn't seem five minutes)

Today I'm showing the card I made for my youngest sons first wedding anniversary I needed it to be a quick and simple one as I didn't get time to do it before I went away on holiday and the one I had planned would have taken too long to finish. So I'll save that one for next year and get it done earlier in the year.

I had planned to make their card the day after I got back from America but we had the return from hell (see below). 

The materials used are:

Ink: Pool Party

Card stock: Pool Party, Shimmery White

Card base: NSU (it's a white card based sponged round the edges with Pool Party)

Stamps: Bloomin’ Love, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Timeless Love

Framelits: Bitty Banners (retired), Hearts A Flutter (retired)

Ribbon: Sycamore Street ¹/₄” (retired)

Accessories: Basic Pearls (NSU), Sequin Trim

Sorry, I’ve not yet placed an order from the new catalogue as all my holidays have come at once and I’ve been away a lot over the last few weeks so there is a lot of retired items used in the making of this card. Will be working with new products soon.

Journey From Hell

We headed for the New Orleans airport at 12:15 midday on the Friday for a 15.13 flight to Houston, when we got there the 12.13 flight passengers were still in the departure lounge and the plane was at the gate (bells should have rung). It left at 15.30. We were boarded onto our flight 4 hours later than we should have been only to wait on the runway for a further hour or so before take off because of the weather. Once in air we were told we were being diverted to College Station (wherever that is) as the weather in Houston was to bad to land and the flight would be a further 30 minutes. We felt we were descending and then a pull back and we were taking off again. The pilot said there was thick fog and he couldn't see to land so we would be carrying on a further 30 minutes to Austin Texas where we would need to refuel before returning to Houston for our connecting flight to Heathrow.

We had already been informed that that flight was also delayed but we would be back in time as they were going to hold it until 22:30.

Once in Austin we waited and waited (the Captain took an ESA dog for a walk twice) while we waited and then at last we were next to be refuelled, after that it was waiting for a slot to take off and also a gate free at Houston. The short version of this part of the story is we were on a plane six and a half hours for a one hour fifteen minute flight. We arrived in Houston at 01:00 Saturday morning instead of 16:30 Friday afternoon.  Needless to say our connecting flight had left at 22:30.

We were told to go to customer services to arrange transfer flight by a very tired and irritable gate attendant, when we got there there was a slight queue that took us just over seven hours to get to the front of (we were both exhausted by this time, and Starbucks had no seats left in their coffee shop as those waiting at the front handed them to those just behind them before going to the counter to get new tickets.  At last we knew we'd be on the 18.20 flight out of Houston Saturday night. But that's not the end, once on the plane all was going fine until they tried to release the jet way and it wouldn't budge.  Yes a further hours delay before take off.  We landed in Heathrow at lunch time on Sunday our time and then had the two hour drive home. What a journey, never want one like that again but everyone involved in the long waits were pleasant and kept their spirits up right to the end.  It's a good way to meet new people and hear great stories.

The holiday it's self was fantastic and we went to lots of lovely cities and did lots of wonderful things including the Grand Ole Opry where I saw my most favourite star at the moment Charles Esten along with daughter who is also a great singer and was debuting with him that night. He sings like a dream. My husband is getting over his fear of heights as we did the Tilt in the John Hancock tower and Willis tower sky walk in Chicago and then the St Louis arch when we got there. If you haven't done them they're a real thrill. We rode the Amtrak from Memphis to Hammond and its slow but great, take something to wrap around your shoulders though it can be chilly.  Our main cities were Chicago, St Louis, Nashville, Memphis, Lafayette and finally New Orleans they are all great places with plenty to do.

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x

Hearts Galore

Hello there, so glad you dropped by

Today's card is one I made for my eldest son and daughter in law for their (you guessed it) ninth wedding anniversary.  Just hope they realised there were nine hearts on it, did you?

I'm getting better at not using old stash lately but sometimes you just have to, don't you agree.  I know they liked the card because they put it up on their Facebook page. 

Still have a few cards to catch up on, I don't ever seem to catch up now but never mind, better late than never.  Hope you like this one and it's quite easy to do.

The materials used are:

Ink: Watermelon Wonder

Card stock: Watermelon Wonder, Whisper White

Stamps: Bohemian Borders, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Embossing folders: Boho Chic, Happy Heart

Punches: Itty Bitty Accents

Framelits: Hearts Collection (retired) 

Thinlits: Mini Treat Bag (can used instead of the hearts collection)

Ribbon: Dotted Lace (Watermelon Wonder)

Accessories: Scoreboard

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x

Works Over

Hello there, so glad you dropped by

Today I've got a retirement card I made for my Aunt.  She decided it was time to go a few months ago but waited until the Summer months when the weather would be better and she'd be able to get out and about and spend lots of time in her garden (She's already up in Scotland with family for a few days as my cousin has her graduation this week) more on that soon.

For those of you who know me and my age (?) she's not some doddering old lady, she's only 18 months older than me, and I wish her a long and happy retirement.

The materials used are:

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, VeraMark

Markers: Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi

Card stock: So Saffron, Whisper White

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Serene Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Embossing Powder: White

Punches: Bitty Butterfly, Washi Label

Ribbon: Taffeta Crushed Curry (retired)

Accessories: Basic Pearls

The Serene silhouettes was off stamped a second time and embossed in white but you can't really see it in this picture unless you look carefully to the left of the first.

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x

Amazing Dad

Hello there, so glad you dropped by

Today I've jumped forward a few weeks because I really liked the card I did for my Dad this year and for once he actually said it was great. Normally I just get a thanks.

I'm still behind with my posts and need to get caught up so hopefully over the next couple of weeks I will.

The materials used are:

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, VersaMark

Card stock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Card base: NSU

Stamps: Amazing Birthday, Fabulous Four, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Embossing Powder: White

Punches:Banner Triple, Word Window

DSP: Polka Dot Parade (retired)

Accessories: Candy Dots Real Red

Will be back again soon with more cards

Love Annette x