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Hello and welcome to my blog. Here I will be showcasing all my design team work, general crafting and digital scrap booking.I hope you enjoy seeing my creations and listening to my ramblings. If you leave a comment I'll know you've been and be able to visit you in return. I read and appreciate all comments which are left - good or bad! Thank you for taking the time to visit me. Pop back soon. Carol xx

Friday, 6 November 2015

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

A quick post today to pop over to Erika's to share a golden oldie. It's my little sisters 50th birthday today and her hubby has planned a surprise family meal tonight and a girls spa day tomorrow, so I'm off down home later to stay the night....and I'm not organised!


I've chosen a 50th birthday card I made in 2008. Papers and image are from a Joanna Sheen CD. The mirri card mats are embossed on a Glitter Girls board and fussy cut....thank heavens for die cutting machines these days! I expect the paper was carried around the back of the card and finished with a peel off a la Sue Smith style too!!

Enjoy whatever you have planned this weekend...I know I'm going to enjoy a relaxing massage tomorrow.

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

HLS Christmas Challenge November "Tag"

Good evening all.

Finally got the New Zealand trip sorted....flights, car hire, route and accommodation all sorted for 44 nights! Just need to sort the ferry from South to North Island which hopefully will be done tonight.

Had the house to myself most of the day, tea all sorted early, pumpkin muffins baked, then hubby arrives home talking business and I forget to cook the sausages and do the online shop!

Another month has passed and it's time once again for a new Christmas challenge at Happy Little Stampers. The theme this month is:




Here is my tag:


The marbling effect background was created using distress paints...I used chipped sapphire, broken china and the metallic pewter...the metallic gives a gorgeous shimmer which unfortunately can't be seen in the picture. I added some distress inks in the same two blues once dry. The embossing folder (or de-bossing in this case!) is from Spellbinder as is the snowflake die. Sentiment stamps are all from the HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments set. I added some stickles to finish.

We're being sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and the winner will receive one stamp set.


Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

Challenges entered:
Country View Challenges - the colour blue
The Christmas Challenge - glitter or shine
CHNC Extra - anything Christmas
Winter Wonderland - anything Christmas
City Crafter - getting ready for Christmas
Allsorts - Christmas
Sweet Stampin' - dies or punches



Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Hello

Good morning all.

Still battling away with our New Zealand itinerary, I think we're 3/4 of the way there...gosh it's hard going! We want to fit as much as possible in but don't want to spend the whole time on the road living out of a suitcase.

Sharing today the card I made for October's Card Chain Challenge which was sent to Jerrie in Wisconsin.


Dies from Wplus9, Spellbinders and Memory Box. Back ground made using the Alcohol Marker Marbling technique. Pearls and sequins from my stash.

Challenges entered:
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
ABC Challenge - u for unlimited
613 Avenue Create - anything goes
Amusing - sequins
Glitter n Sparkle - anything goes

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Stencil Sunday November Challenge

Good afternoon all.

This is my second post today, if you'd like to see my inspiration for the Eclectic Ellapu November challenge please click here.

Another month gone by and it's time once again to inspire you for our November mixed media Stencil Sunday challenge at STAMPlorations. It was great to see so many entries in our SEptember challenge. I have an altered notebook to share with you today.


Made this ready for my trip to New Zealand in January...it started life as a plain navy blue hard backed  (linen effect) book. I started with a coating of gesso then I added texture paste using the ARTplorations Bubbles and Confetti Circles stencils. Using a brayer I then added layers of lilac and purple acrylic paints until I was happy with the effect. Sentiments are from the STAMPlorations Journey, Explore and Discover sets all stamped on tissue and applied with gel medium. The New Zealand 2016 was computer generated and printed onto tissue and applied in the same way.
I may decorate it some more once we're home but wanted it fairly plain for travelling with for now.


The theme is always anything mixed media goes except a card and you must use at least one stencil (any brand) in your project. Linky closes at the end of the month. I hope you can join us!
Prizes: $15 gift certificate OR choice of any 2 ARTplorations stencils to the winner
choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil to the top picks

Challenges entered:
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything MM goes
We Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes
Eclectic Ellapu - altered art
Stamps and Stencils - make it 3D

Eclectic Ellapu "Balloons, Banners or Bows"

Good morning all.

Oh my word November already!! It must be time for a new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu and this month Yvonne set the Pink Team the theme of "Balloons, Banners or Bows". I've gone with balloons.


Cake stamp is from Hero Arts, stamped in Memento ink witht he little baubles coloured with a silver gel pen. Balloons are from Whimsy stamps, sentiment from HLS and dies are from Spellbinders.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what the rest of the team did or alternatively you could join the Purple Team who have a theme of "Altered Art".

I'll be back later with my Stencil Sunday post.

Challenges entered:
Simon says Stamp - anything goes
Hiding in my Craftroom - freestyle
Alphabet Challenge - s for sweet treats
4 Crafty Chicks - anything goes
Aud Sentiments - birthday + sentiment
Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes twist birthdays

Saturday, 31 October 2015

Christmas Card Club "Cardinal or Christmas Bird"

Good morning all.

Made a little progress with the holiday plans yesterday but we're still only half way there...it's exhausting! Did manage to get all the dirty washing washed and dried. Nothing ready for tonight though!!

I'm a day early with my card for the Christmas Card Club as I have a couple of DT posts going live tomorrow. Mary has asked to see "Cardinals or other Christmas Birds" this time.


Unfortunately I still don't have any Cardinals in my Christmas stash so decided to use this cheeky little crazy bird instead. I'm lucky to have the bird stamps and dies and some of the accessory sets....and I used them all here. The background and the bird are cut from pieces made during a distress paint marbling play. The hat was stamped onto red and white card and pieced together, then I added stickles for texture. Mat dies are from Wplus9 and Spellbinders. I finished with some googly eyes.

Think I'll make another two of these and use them for the kids this year!
And since I had made and scheduled this card early I did just that!!



Made exactly the same way as the first using differing birds and colours.

If you'd like to see what the rest of the ladies came up with you'll find the list in my sidebar.

Challenges entered:
CHNC extra - anything Christmas goes
ABC Christmas - v for very cute
Work it Wednesday - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - throwback..Dec 14 holiday card
Winter Wonderland - anything Christmas goes
Allsorts - Christmas

Friday, 30 October 2015

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Gosh where did my week go? I know I lost yesterday amid planning our trip to New Zealand....I think hubby and I spent about 6 hours in front of the computer and we're still only 2 weeks into the trip....I'm going to need a holiday to get over planning this one!

If it's Friday again it must be time to visit Erika and share a Golden Oldie...this week I have three to share with you, the kids Christmas cards from 2007!

 
 

The boys cards were made with a Joanna Sheen CD...either Vintage Christmas or Enchanted Christmas, Lora's card was stuff from my stash. Tomorrow you will see this year's cards. I think my card making has improved somewhat since 2007 and thankfully my photography skills have (or maybe just the camera has!).

Laundry, cleaning and more planning planned for today and I must get organised for Halloween, I'm way behind this year and no doubt it will be busy.

Enjoy your weekend.

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

Hubby dragged me up to Edinburgh yesterday, lunch and a whip around Ikea followed by a huge shop at Costco...did manage a few crafty purchases along the way so can't grumble lol.

A quick reminder today of the blog hop over at Happy Little Stampers to celebrate Kylie's second release of stamps. You have until the 31st to comment on all the blogs for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the Happy Little Stampers store!


Today's card is made using stamps from the Mix Mash set. Background has been created by smooshing with distress paints (keep forgetting about these) then over stamping with the same shades of DI. Happy Birthday was heat embossed with black EP. Finished with a few sequins.

Challenges entered:
Craft Stamper - TIMI I used ink and paint
Shopping our Stash - no patterned paper
Sweet Stamps - anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes birthdays
That Craft Place - anything goes mixed media
We Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Rudolph Day

Good morning all.

Another beautiful autumnal day yesterday, lovely to wake up to daylight and sunshine again. The squirrels were having a wonderful time playing in the garden yesterday afternoon when Freya was in the house.

I nearly forgot Rudolph Day so remedied that yesterday...only one more until the real deal!!


Stamps from STAMPlorations. I stamped in green onto the Wplus9 die cut then stamped in red onto a piece of waste card and fussy cut. Sentiment is heat embossed with gold EP. Finished with some sequins from my stash.

Challenges entered:
Rudolph Day - anything Christmas
613 Avenue Create - anything goes
Amusing - anything goes
Christmas Card Challenges - anything goes
A Snowflakes Promise - anything goes
CHNC Extra - anything Christmas
Stempelsonnen - anything goes
Crafting by Designs - get ready for Christmas
Whimsy Inspiration - fall colours or Christmas
Vintage Stamping - dies/die cuts

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Happy Little Stampers - Blog Hop 2

Good evening all.

The patient is recovering on a double dose of antibiotics thank goodness....he's spent all weekend watching the Harry Potter films back to back - don't think I can take any more of it!

Kylie has a second release of six sets of stamps over at Happy Little Stampers and guess what....we're having a blog hop to celebrate.


How to win?
Comment on the HLS blog and then continue to our designers. You must comment on all the blogs in the hop to be eligible for prizes.

I've got three cards to share with you so best get a cuppa and make yourself comfortable before we start!

You should have arrived here from Anita's blog. If you get lost, don't despair...just start back at the Happy Little Stampers blog.


The first two cards use stamps from the Thinking of You set, I love that script background stamp and it's found its way onto all three of my cards! I stamped and heat embossed with gold detail EP, fussy cutting the little butterfly and adding it with a little foam pad to give some dimension. Dies from Spellbinders.

Challenges entered:
Brown Sugar - anything goes
Crafting with Friends - anything goes
Simply Papercraft - anything goes


Same set using the Thank You sentiment...I used a labels die cut to mask off an area of my card then overstamped the script in lilac. Thank You was then stamped in purple ink and I added a heart gem to finish. Dies from Spellbinders.

Challenges entered:
Crafty Girls Creations - anything goes
Crafty Creations - don't be blue


This one uses stamps from the Mix Mash set. Happy Birthday sentiment is heat embossed with black EP. "You" die is from Simon Says Stamp and mat dies from Spellbinders. Finished with some sequins from my stash and a few splatters.

Challenges entered:
Polkadoodles - add sparkle, bling or glitter
Aud Sentiments - birthday
Inspiration Destination - anything goes

I hope I have inspired you today with my cards. The other designers and I have had so much fun playing with these stamps! Next you need to hop on over to Ingrid's blog.

Here's the full list of participants in case you need it.

Carol Dunham (you are here)


Saturday, 24 October 2015

Medals

Good morning all.

Had to use NHS 24 for the first time last night for eldest whose latest tattoo has become infected! Have to say they were very civilised and efficient but a trip to Edinburgh at 3.10am in the morning hadn't figured in hubby's plans for the weekend!

Sharing some more of my family heritage today as I don't have any crafting I can share with you at the moment. I have finally located my maternal Grandfathers medals from WW1. Mum had a box of stuff which had come from her elder sister when she went into a home several years ago...Mum had never looked to see what was in the box and when I did I discovered two of the three medals!


Pip, Squeak but sadly Wilfred is missing although the ribbon is there. 
Pip is the special 1914 Star which was issued to those who served between August and November 1914. Grandad was in the Royal Fleet Auxillary and probably spent a great deal of the war at the Front...we're probably very lucky he came home alive (although he possibly thought differently). The medals have never been worn and I don't think Mum or her siblings ever knew of their existence as Grandad never spoke of the war to anyone. I'm hoping the other medal will turn up somewhere, meanwhile I need to get new ribbons as the originals are falling to pieces. I know we can get a replica made if the original isn't found but it won't be quite the same.

Not sure I'll get to keep these but for now I get to shine them up and restore them to their former glory.....Lest We Forget.

Friday, 23 October 2015

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Yesterday was somewhat cooler and a tad breezy here but still a nice autumnal day, I had a lovely walk with the dog in the afternoon.

I don't know how we've got to Friday again so soon....it never happened this quick when I worked lol! Anyway I'm off to share an oldie with Erika again...some crocheting today.


I think this has to be my most accomplished piece of crafting....a circular Christening shawl. 
I actually made it in my early twenties long before I met and married hubby....I can't remember how long it took me to do but there was no way I'd have managed to finish it in 9 months along with all the other preparations needed for a baby!!

Not easy to photograph as it's a little wider than a double bed!
Another 3 ply piece and crocheted in one piece, then stretched and steamed into shape. It was used for all my three children and I hope it will be used for generations to come


Off to the beauticians this morning to get some waxing done, then no doubt the housework will be calling again since those fairies never put in an appearance!! Enjoy your weekend whatever you're up to.

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

Heritage

Good morning all.

Had my first reflexology massage yesterday and really enjoyed it...it was amazing what she could tell about me from my feet! Lunch was a bit of a disaster but in the end we only got charged for two glasses of Prosecco...we would rather the food have been good though! Not to worry it didn't spoil our afternoon.

M&S did spoil my evening though when they decided my spending patterns looked decidedly fraudulent and put a block on my card...despite being able to tell them all the transactions they were highlighting had been legitimately made by me they insisted my card had to be cancelled...I was furious!! Now I'll have to wait for the new card then start sorting out all the regular payments I make that will need changing....grrrr just what I needed NOT!

No crafting to share today, instead I thought I'd share the first of my heritage pieces with you. This belonged my Great Aunt and although I was her favourite and spent a lot of time with her when I was a child I didn't know it existed until several years after her death. My sisters and I argued over who was to have it when we first found out about it but they had to concede when my youngest sister pointed out that actually I had been the only one of us to like my Aunt so it really should go to me.

Anyway enough of the waffle...


Can you tell what it is yet?


Obviously rarely been played with!


In all it's glory....

As my Aunt was born in 1904 this has to be over 100 years old, there's no manufacturers name on it but on the label the word "Registered" is written in English and German suggesting it was made for both markets and most likely before the First World War. Sadly there's no one left to tell us any more about it now but it will continue to be treasured as my Aunt had so obviously treasured it.

Now just got to find a way to display it to it's best advantage in our new house...it's spent too long wrapped in brown paper and hidden away in a wooden chist.

Have a good day...housework beckoning here again!

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Happy Everything

Good morning all.

Managed to beat the migraine into submission overnight on Sunday, so yesterday I had a trip to the hairdressers followed by a crafty evening. Off out for a girly lunch and some pampering today.

Sharing a female version of the birthday card I made last week for my nephew....this was one of my makes at the weekend.


The coloured card is from Kanban....a very old Christmas pack (I've got loads of it so there may be a few cards made like this!). Die and stamps are from Whimsy Stamps. Sequins from my stash.

Challenges entered:
Addicted to CAS - sparkle
Allsorts - all sentimental
Polkadoodles - use a die cut
Addicted to Stamps - anything goes
Vintage Stamping - use dies

Sunday, 18 October 2015

Stencil Sunday

Good afternoon all.

This is my second post today...if you'd like to see my CAS card for the Christmas Card Club you'll find it here.

I've been battling an oncoming migraine all day so far but I have managed some crafty time this afternoon, the results of which you won't see until next month as I'm trying to get ahead with some DT work.

My turn to provide some Stencil Sunday inspiration over at STAMPlorations today. I've created some gift bags which will hopefully inspire you all to get your stencils out.


I got the Gelli Plate out and had a play! Shery has some larger stencils due out soon and I used Leaf Bliss to create my mood board, which I then made into a gift bag.

To finish them off I used a stamp from the Holiday Expressions: Thankful for Autumn set to make a label and tied the bag with bakers twine.



And don't forget the October Mixed Media Challenge runs until the end of the month! If you've been meaning to play, you still have plenty of time left to get messy and share your non-card mixed media projects. It's anything mixed media goes except a card...and you must use a stencil (any brand or even a homemade one!) in your project(s). For the complete challenge info + prizes, click here.


Challenges entered:
My Time to Craft - autumnal colours
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - anything goes, twist autumn colours
Wags n Whiskers - fall colours
Crafting for all Seasons - bags and boxes

Christmas Card Club "CAS Wreath"

Good morning all.

Gosh the weeks are whipping past, less than 10 weeks now until Christmas!! Need to get my skates on if I'm going to get all my cards made in time! 

Karen set us Christmas Card Club gals the challenge of "CAS Wreath" for this week, here is my make:


This is a very small card! Wreath and sentiment are both from Penny Black, stamped in Memento ink and were a magazine freebie; bow with pearl from my stash. Simples!!

Challenges entered:
CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes
Winter Wonderland - Christmas with ribbon
Alphabet Challenge - R is for ribbon
CRAFT - Christmas
Allsorts - all sentimental

Friday, 16 October 2015

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Not done an awful lot in the way of crafting this week...started adding info to the family tree and "lost" several hours/days in the process. Wish the clocks would change, I hate the dark mornings and have really felt off kilter since coming home from Italy...I just can't wake up!!! I've ordered one of those Wake Up Light alarm clocks to see if it makes a difference...hate feeling sluggish all day!

We've reached Friday once again so time to pop over to Erika's to share a Golden Oldie. Some more knitting to show you today.


Another matinee jacket knitted for Lora's christening day. Not sure whether this was an old pattern or out of a newer book (new being circa 25 years ago lol). Knitted in 3 ply...always loved working with 3 ply, not sure I have the patience any more! Sadly this has discoloured in places so I'll have to wash it to see whether I can get it clean again.

Domestic goddess duties calling again, I do wish those clean up fairies would pay me a visit! Enjoy your weekend whatever you're up to.