Time for challenges at last!

After last week's sad news it always seems slightly odd that the world carries on as normal. Of course it does and the moment passes although the memories linger.... You find yourself contemplating your own position in life and reassess what is really important, but in the melee of school finishing, booking holidays, catching up with chores etc. life goes on more rapidly than we might sometimes like and time for reflection is limited. We will say our farewells and give our support to Ann-marie on Monday. Hopefully all the family and friends around her will help her to get through this nightmare.
The opportunity to pursue card making and relaxing sessions in my craft hideout have been limited since term ended. However I have finally managed to find a few minutes to put together a card which I hope satisfies two challenges this week. One is over at The Corrosive Challenge Blog and the other at Stamp with us. SWUS have a colour challenge based on the picture below

Whereas The Corrosive Challenge is a sketch shown below.
My recipe for my card includes
bashful blue, pumpkin pie, real red and whisper white cardstock
summer picnic designer series paper
boho blossoms, 1/4'' circle, corner rounder punches
Garden Whimsy, Basic Phrases and Live Your Dream stamp sets
old olive brads
gel pen
dazzling diamonds
I don't have nesties and so I cut two ovals one slightly larger and used my corner rounder with the guard off to achieve the scallop edge. I'm really pleased with my card and found it fun to do. I've got a hankering to craft a bit more now so maybe be back with more soon.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs
Zoë x

Black and White Strikes!

I love the effects you can create with black and white and occasionally a splash of colour. These are all cards showing that. I've embossed the images using versamark and white embossing powder and my SU heat gun. On some I've addes some ribbon for colour or compliment and on some I've used brads or mirror card.

Stamp sets used include Lovely as a Tree, Forest Friends, Fresh Cutes and one of my favourites Pocket Silhouettes. These cards are all eye catching, but ever so simple to achieve. If you don't know how just mail me for a class.

The sun is shining here today and it's very warm. It's the start of a really busy week. Well really it began on Friday night when we went to a summer ball at the Petwood Hotel, famous for its Dambuster connections. The evening was fabulous with dancing outside to the songs of The Kommitments, a great band, and rides on a ferris wheel. The food, company, pimms and champagne were all wonderful!!!!!!!!! Although my body wouldn't have agreed yesterday.

That was a long day, but fun day. We did a pub lunch at the Red Lion in Raithby by Spilsby and returned to take our children to their swimming gala. I'm delighted to say that Olivia and her friend Danielle won the synchronised pairs and she achieved personal best times in all her strokes. Charlie has suddenly got to grips with swimming too and was at the end of the pool before I could catch him in a photo in the 'through the hoop' race! Two very proud parents as you can imagine. Today we are back to taxi service for parties, more swimming and play rehearsals. The remainder of the week includes music concerts, more swimming, more rehearsals and actual productions and ooo I forgot school! I may just find a minute or two to craft some bits and pieces for a school fayre I'm having a stall towards the weekend. I will return to blogging at some point, maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs and back soon.

Zoë

Season of Joy

Last week at a workshop the hostess asked if I would (I'm saying this very quietly so as not to offend!) do Christmas cards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course I obliged, but for those that were filled with dred at the thought of festive frivolities I also demonstrated this card using what on the surface appears to be a stamp set just for Christmas. But in fact Season of Joy is for life and not just for Christmas as this pretty card shows.
I've stamped in only orange the swirl across the base card. The flowers become Poinsettias at Christmas, and yet here embossed in white onto only orange cardstock they are just pretty flowers. The words are from Basic Phrases and once again it shows that you don't need lots of colours to create neat cards!
Thanks for checking in! Don't forget to leave a comment and then I know who has visited.
Hugs
Zoë