Pocket Card Swap on MSE

This is my card sent to choccie on MSE. I think there is a definite chocolate/coffee theme running between us.

Gorgeous Embellishment!

Look at this wonderful card I've received from choccie over on MSE in the pocket card swap. Isn't that the most fantastic of embellishments. Huge thanks, choccie, now you know one of my weaknesses

I love the 'swirls' papers from Funky Fairys. I had another art deco image left over and thought that the red swirls went well with it. I used my MS punch as well, first time on a card and I'm pleased with the effect. My type of card, clean and simple. I've entered this into the Funky Fairy's challenge 26.

Beautiful weather and a barbeque

Being a February baby means a birthday party indoors. I love eating out in the garden so I decided that my Red Hat friends and I would celebrate with a barbie in July. My gorgeous husband volunteered to cook for us all (16) and here's a couple of pictures of the day. Two friends were missing as they were caught in traffic jams on the dreaded M25. It took them three hours to get to us but my OH still lit the barbie again and made sure that they had hot food. It was a beautiful hot day, too hot for me and a hat too.

A Birthday card for Helen

It's Helen, my fab sister-in-laws birthday today and I've made her a card with an image from the art deco period. Background paper from Pink Petticoat and..... I actually cut the image out my self! I'm getting better but never can see me doing decoupage, not unless it's die cut! Sadly, the oval nestie didn't quite match the image so I angled it. The sentiment I printed and embossed. Oops, still can't cut straight.

Just discovered something that should prove interesting but I'm not sure if it will always work, time will tell. It's been hovering in my mind for a while and I'm sure it's been in print somewhere. The sentiment on this card I made for my fantastic sister was printed on card. When it had printed I noticed that the ink was still wet so I put some 'copper kettle' embossing powder on it and then used the heat gun. It came out so much better than I expected that I used the new nesties and voila!

Flourgirls stitched card

Take a look at the gorgeous card that flourgirl recently made. She had the pattern in her stash and thought of me. There's some really special people out there. Thank you, Karen, I will treasure this.

Well, I'm humming and haring about whether to enter this card into the Funky Fairy's Challenge 25. I'm not sure if I've followed the sketch closely enough but, hey ho, in for a penny etc. etc.

Well I did it! Huge thanks to padster and flourgirl over on MSE.

I've made this gorgeous purple card for another Red Hatter whose birthday is in July. I hope she likes it, I've used a sheet from a Kanban kit and a background paper from funky fairy's purple freebies printed on photo paper, not sure about doing again on photo paper, it's very delicate or was it the paper. Hmmm!

Arundel Castle ~ 18th July

The weather was perfect for our trip down to Sussex to meet up with Red Hat friends at Arundel Castle. We met in Belinda's restaurant situated in a charming 16th century building for morning coffee and then did a good tour of the Farmers Market that is held once a month. We were all ready for lunch in the castle restaurant and then off to look around the gardens. There is a new garden at the castle and it is truly magnificent from the moment you step through the castle wall. It takes your breath away as it is just not what you are expecting. It is worth a visit if you are ever in the area. After the gardens we went back into the castle for tea and coffee and then one of our friends, Judy, took us on a guided tour of Arundel. This guided tour is usually done by the town crier but she was away for the day but we had access to her notes. It was extremely interesting and we all learnt a great deal about Arundel.