Tumbleweed...

...certainly seems a lot of it around here at the moment on the ol' blogeroo!

Hey!

I'm sorry I seem to have abandoned y'all so much! I figured I'd better pop by with an update on life...

It's been a very scary, stressful and emotional week. Dad went in for his big heart op, there were some complications and he had to be rushed back in to the operating theatre. He's been in the intensive care unit since Wednesday and although at times it's been bad, I've remained positive in my thinking and he's pulling through! He's now heading out of intensive care and towards the ward. We're taking this all one step at a time but once he's walking again and able, he can come home :D

Since he's been in, I've been living with my Mum supporting her and being the designated driver for the 3 hour round trips to and from the hospital - on standby just in case we get the dreaded call. I've had no access to a computer unless at work (yup, still managing to focus at work - just!) and no crafty time what-so-ever!

So I'm sorry I've nothing to show today, just thought I owed you an explanation of why I've been MIA. I really do hope that soon life will return to more normality and that I can totally de-stress around my inks and stamps ;D

Thanks so much for hanging around and waiting for me!

Catch ya later!
Aimes
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Father's Day (and my birthday!)

Hey!

Yup, I'm still here!

What a glorious Monday it's been here today! I'm not normally so happy on a Monday but I have a few reasons today *wink*:

• Firstly, the sun is shining, summer is really here!

• Wimbledon's started so time to crack open the Pimms and scoff the strawberries! And last but not least.....

• It's my birthday!! I'm not getting to the age yet where I worry about being a year older, I don't think I ever will seeing as I act closer to my shoe size than my age LOL!

So far today, I've had a lovely day at work with some super sweet students and colleagues treating me to their own handmade cards and I've had the real pleasure of getting some birthday love from some of my fabulous crafty buddies - y'all know how to make a gal smile! Thank you SO much for your sweet messages and goodies!!! I feel spoilt rotten!

So as you know it's been super busy around here. Yesterday Chris and I hosted a little family party to celebrate my birthday (slightly premature I know!) as well as father's day. Today, I thought I'd share the card I made for dad; it was a last minute dash to my crafty corner for this one as is the case with most guy cards but I'm kinda happy with it!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Practicing Creativity - Look Up!/PTI Daily Designs Sentiments
Ink: Memento Black/PTI Fresh Snow/Versarmark (pen)
Card: PTI Enchanted Evening/Spring Rain/Stamper's Select White/New Leaf/Lemon Tart/Pure Poppy
Accessories: PTI Cloud Dies/White Gel Pen/Cuttlebug/PTI New Leaf Twill Ribbon

Dad loves to watch hot air balloons and we treated him to a trip in one for his birthday a few years ago. I tried to personalise the card by turning my polka dot one into a ladybird one as one nearly identical to this can often be found floating across the sky at night!

A few tips/ideas behind the card:

• I had fun playing with my new PTI Cloud dies too on this; I used the smaller one as a negative to sponge ink through to make the background clouds more subtle. This helps you focus on the larger cloud cut from white card. I could create whole sheets of this cloud DP!

• The larger cloud was cut and flipped over so my sentiment followed the shape of the cloud
  

• The main balloon and the cloud have been mounted on 3D foam pads to add dimension. I dunno about you, but I'm seeing these being used a lot around Blogland lately!
  

• To add even more detail to the main balloon, I shaded it with a versamark pen. I love to paper piece but sometimes it can make my image seem a little lifeless/flat.

• I drew a white border around my main panel to balance the white used as my clouds as well as to frame the image
  

• I couldn't resist a strip of New Leaf Twill Ribbon coming of the cloud. I like to think it balances the bold, green balloon a little.
  

So there's some lil' tips for ya if you want 'em! Just though I'd explain some stuff in case you were wondering why I did X, Y and Z!

Right then, I'm now going to get ready to be treated to a night out on the town with my guy! Not too much partying though, it's a school night after all!

Catch ya later!

Aimes
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One Layer Niggles...

Hey!

Man, I'm sooooooo sorry that it seems like I've totally abandoned the blog - I seriously have had the most busy week and weekend ever!

Work is still crazy with the exam season and our temporary classroom after the ceiling incident and family life is up there too with the craziness. My dad is due in to go for a major heart operation, he's been on the list for a few months and to be honest I'd been trying to forget about it. Well he got his due date last week so it's been back and forth to the hospital for tests etc....I was gutted that the original date of the day-long operation was going to be on my birthday and that dad needed to be taken into hospital to stay 3 days prior meaning he'd also miss fathers day. However, it seems there's been a change of dates so we can celebrate both fathers day and my birthday together before we take him in. Good job because I'm planning to host a little party here at our place to celebrate the events (yup, I know, can I add more things to my plate!?!) I have to admit that I seem more nervous and anxious about it all than Dad; he's not even bothered that he'll be missing the England match next Wednesday and is very positive about having his heart fixed. Lets hope we can hold on to that positive vibe, eh?!

So apart from this, I then spent last weekend in York! What a beautiful city to get into the spirit of World Cup Fever - it was crazy! I'm totally engrossed by it all! So my blogeroo has been totally abandoned and I'm really sorry - I hope you can understand!

So enough of my super busy antics, I'll share a card with you seeing as I think that's the main reason you visit here ;D
Now before you judge - lemme say that this is for our current challenge on the PTI blog which is to create a one layer card. These are so hard for me to do! I just keep feeling like I need to add more but I forced myself to stop on this one. I'm not entirely satisfied with it, might even try it again with a different colour but as I was way past the deadline already for getting this done, I felt guilty keeping the challenge from being posted so I hope this one will do! Play along if you can and show me how it's really done!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf/Daily Designs Sentiments
Ink: Versamark/Dark Chocolate
Card: Lemon Tart
Accessories: White Gel Pen/Corner Rounder/Dark Chocolate Twill

So I know life is busy, and believe me I've got a lot of blog reading to catch up on. But I promise you that I am reading your lovely posts even if I don't get the time to comment! I truly appreciate all the comments you leave here - you're a lovely lot y'know!

Catch ya later!

Aimes
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P.S Also had some super exciting news yesterday! I received an email from CARDS magazine and they want me to send them a card for publication in the November 2010 issue! As corny as it sounds, it's down you your lovely comments, advice and encouragement that helped me pluck up the courage to submit so THANK YOU!

Good Old Days...

Hey!

Phew it's been a while since I've posted - sorry! These first few days back at work make me SO tired - I literally just 'zonk' as soon as I shut the front door behind me after work until I can get my sleeping back on track (yes, I know I shouldn't stay up late in the holidays but I just can't help it!)

Speaking of work, a totally crazy thing happened today that I'll share with y'all (skip to the card if you're not interested!). A group of staff and students (including myself) were sat in a classroom at break time. I , as usual, was sat with my cup of tea just chatting away when I felt something on my head......all of a sudden we heard this loud creak and we all stopped dead......then that something on my head felt like something a little more significant......CRACK! The plasterboard caved in and dropped directly above me! I moved at a speed I didn't think I was capable of! Luckily we all dived out of the way in time, no-one was hurt and the thing I'm most proud of; I didn't spill a spot of tea! Saved it all, every single last drop! However, we're now without our classroom for a few weeks until we can get a new ceiling. Ah the joys of work LOL!

Anyways onto the card - I'm still here to tell the tale from today and share my card with you :D

I'm still on my long, tall, skinny card fix at the mo! This was for a PTI Peeps Colour Challenge set by Lori. We had to make a card using red and green and make sure it wasn't Christmas themed. Now I confess I cheated a little by using Kraft too but trust me, it just looked so much better on the Kraft than on a white card blank!

I was on a technique roll with this card - a spot of stitching as well as some distressing and of course some shading too on that oh so comfy chair! I'll confess it's the first ink that quote and cat have seen, but it won't be the last! That sweet cat reminds me of my old cat Jo-Jo who kept me in good company growing up; only he'd always sleep on the floor in a good spot where the sun shines through the window or in front of the fireplace for so long that when I went to stroke him I almost burned my hand LOL!

Card Recipe
PTI Supplies
Stamps: On My Couch/On My Couch Additions/PTI Anniversary Set
Ink: Spring Moss/Memento Black
Card: Kraft/Stamper's Select White/Spring Moss
Papers: Pure Poppy Bitty Dot Basics
Accessories: Promarkers/PTI Medium Scalloped Die/Cotton Thread/Pure Poppy Vintage Buttons/Fresh Snow Twill Ribbon

So I hope this counts for the challenge because I'm still behind even with this one done! LOL!

Well I hope your week has been slightly less scary than mine so far - who knows what drama tomorrow will bring?! ;D

Catch ya later!

Aimes
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An Embellish Challenge I Can't Refuse!

Hey!

What?! Another post this week?! Can't you tell I'm on half term *grin* Don't get used to it though, I'm sure once I'm back into the full swing of work I'll find much less time to get inky but the good news is that it's only 7 weeks until our long summer hols - yay!

The reason I'm posting again so soon is not only to put your mind at rest that I did not get lost on the M60 yesterday and made it there and back to meet some lovely crafty peeps, but because the deadline for a challenge is today and I was beyond desperate to play along!

That said challenge is the Embellish one, to create a project featuring butterflies with this colour palette:
Well if you know me, you know that it would have almost been sinful for me not to play along with challenge that seems to be ticking all my yes boxes! Earthy tones, green, butterflies, need I say more?!
I wanted to step out of my comfort zone a little though so tried a long/tall card. I also used a punch rather than a stamp for my butterfly. I purchased this cool punch AGES ago and it's been sat, neglected, just waiting for this day to arrive when it would get to shine!

Now on the pic you can't see just how much dimension this punch gives; my butterfly is much more defined against the spring moss backing, but it kinda blends into the black card on the pic.
I think you're just gonna have to take my word for it and use your imagination (not hard for you creative lot, surely!)

Card Recipe
Stamps: Around and About Sentiments/Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Memento Black/Versamark
Card: Kraft (from stash)/PTI True Black and Spring Moss
Paper: PTI Bitty Box Basics Spring Moss/True Black
Accessoreis: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/EK Success Border Punch/Tonic Butterfly Punch/Jute Ribbon Twine/Corner Rounder Punch/PTI Button

I had a fab time with Caryn and Taheerah last night - it was a fab girly get together! It was so easy getting to our meeting point (The Trafford Centre) that I can't wait to do it again! Oh and I highly recommend SATC2 as a super chick flick too ;D!

Catch ya later!

Aimes
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Stuck in my mind...

Hey!

By the time you're reading this, I'm probably completely lost on the M60 trying to find my way to the Trafford Centre to meet up with my crafty peeps, Caryn and Taheerah for a girly trip to the cinema to see Sex and the City 2! If I don't make it ladies, feel free to eat the popcorn without me!

Anyways, enough of me lost on the motorway. Y'know when you see a card sketch, you get that said sketch totally stuck inside of your head and you can't do anything until you've got it outta your system? Well that's what happened with this sketch from the Paper Crafts Go-to Sketch Challenge #3

I know that I really wanted to try and make a card that was really pure and white; there's something sooooo pretty and elegant about that colour (well I know it's not officially a colour, but what else can I call it?!) when it stands alone. Yes, I kinda knew that I'd have to cave in and use a colour for my sentiment but I think I nearly cracked it:


This pic was taken VERY late at night so apologies for the lighting! I tried to divert your attention compensate by scattering some pretty vintage buttons in front of my card but I doubt that's worked LOL!


Now I've no idea what I'll use this card for, we've got a wedding coming up next month so I'm wondering if it would be good for it?!

Card Recipe
Stamps: PTI Damask Designs
Ink: PTI Smokey Shadow
Card: PTI Stamper's Select White
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/Cuttlebug Flower Die/PTI Impression Plate/PTI Vintage Buttons/Hero Arts Pearls/Tissue Paper

This card also qualifies for the Just Us Girls (JUGS) Challenge which is to use dry embossing on your card!

Wanna know the funniest part about this card?! After making it, photographing it and uploading it, I then realised that I hadn't followed the sketch properly - D'oh! That will teach me for being whisked away in a whirlwind of inspiration - LOL!

Catch ya later (if I manage to navigate my way home LOL!)

Aimes
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