I seem to have been away sooooo long.

My computer's crashed twice and then I lost my connection so I've been off line for quite a while.

I tried to tidy up my images on my blog and lost them all.  I'm in the process of putting them back now.

However, as well as putting back the old stuff, I need to add what's happened while I've been away so the first thing is to let you know what I entered into this year's craft section of our local horticultural show and let you know how I did.

I didn't actually get to the show myself this year but Dorothy kindly staged my entries for me.  Thanks Dorothy!  The show was held in our local school this year so it was a new experience. 

You can see all my entries here.

I was fortunate enough to get first prize in the origami category with my swan and it also won best in show - I was well chuffed.

It should have a base but I was (as always) on the last minute and so didn't get that done.  It takes 500 pieces of paper and took me two days to complete.  I did do the base later and then gave it to my daughter who said she'd like it for her dining table to hold the after dinner mints.

If you want to make one, this is where I got the instructions.

I've just noticed that Freewebs has done something to the site while I've been away so I hope it continues to work ok for us!

Happy New Year

Just squeaked in with an update before the year end.

To those whose blogs I usually visit, I apologise.  I've not kept up with my blog hopping for a while now.  Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

I've had some lovely hand crafted cards for Christmas so thank you to all who sent them.  I've no pictures of them yet - they are on my wall still - I will try to remember to take photos when I take them down.

I've been tagged by Caro and Helena - thanks to both.  I've been remiss in not passing on the tag this time (time of year and my tardiness in not keeping up with blogs over the Christmas season).

I did take photos and scan some of the cards I've made but I guess everyone's christmassed out by now so I'll skip them.  I've made the usual resolution to start earlier next year but so far this hasn't happened - we'll see.

Time for Crafting Website/Forum

Our last ATC swap, hosted by Sally, was blue/gold and these are the ones I received. 

They are all beautiful:

Top from Christine

Middle from Christa

Bottom from Linda (LAB)

You can see them all here.

I made these cards from a template on Sara's on line magazine - there is a template for the Craft Robo or for cutting out with scissors.  I embossed them using a Cuttlebug folder.

Louise's Forum

NormaJean hosted a 'thingy' swap.  We were sent some shapes and could do what we liked with them.  Here are the ones I received.

Left  Lottie -lovely texture - hard to show on the scan.

Middle  unnamed - beautifully glazed.

Right - Anne - beautiful image stamping colouring combo and magnets on the back too!

I got these bits and bobs too from NJ - haven't had time to play with the extras yet though.

Thank you all.

From Sam

I got this lovely stamped wooden block from Sam for Christmas, as always, great techniques and colours and lovely words. 

She also sent me these friendship RAKs - visit her blog to see the rest of her lovely work.

Thanks Sam - it's lovely to have them in my hands and see them properly.

From Mandy and Anne

Lovely seasonal atcs for Christmas!  Thank you.

Left Mandy

Right Anne

Well, inspired by Cindy's project, I've been on a bit of a roll with my card making and went on to make two other shaped cards.  The diamond top instructions are here; and the fold out one with the diamond in the middle is here.

   Cindy's project fold

 Diamond Top

I've used the free decoupage sheets from Monica's site on some of these cards.

  Diamond in middle

You can see all the cards here - the photos aren't too good but you get the idea.

Ruth sent me a beautiful Halloween card and gift, you can see it in full detail on her blog.  The blog?s well worth a browse, Ruth does some beautiful work.  Thank you Ruth!

Thank you too Momiji for the beautiful ATCs.  Momiji loves to do miniature work and is SO neat with all her folding - I wish she could send me some patience too!  The photos and scans don't do these pieces justice.

Craft Club

Cindy did the project this week and I was so chuffed with it - I made three cards on the night and plan to keep this style for a some of my Christmas cards.

 Two are done with bits from recycled shop cards and the one with the bow is made using images from Crafty Individuals miniature Christmas themed book.  These little books are such good value and very versatile.

Apple Juice

Here's our first bottling of apple juice.  It's been pasteurised and will keep - although I don't think that will prove to be a problem!  I'm very pleased with it - it's had nothing added.

More birthday stuff

I had a bonanza package from Anne who does these amazing zentangles (and she's sent me a full set of green ones)!  She's also sent me two post card art cards - lovely work and I?m tempted to have a go at postcards myself now.  Thank you Anne!

I love autumn, it's my favourite season.  I like the feel and smell in the air and all the lovely winter harvest.

 This is today's harvest - 5lbs raspberries and some of the apples from your baby apple trees.  This variety is so large, it's a cooking apple called Howgate, that it's been bending the branches of the tree to the floor.

Workshop

I went to a card making workshop on Saturday.  Here are the cards I made.  We coloured the stamps using Marvy le Plume pens and then stamped them onto pre-water washed water colour card.  Mine are a bit agricultural, which is just me!  I never come home from a workshop with a usable card but so long as I've grasped the technique for when I get home and can do them in my own time, I'm happy.  I like to keep my workshop cards as examples.

These are built up using several stamps to create a scene or composite picture.

Village - Hobby Art - QT211F

The stamps, I thought, were quite expensive (although I have found them slightly cheaper on the web - still pricey tho?) and wood backed but of course you could create a scene with similar, unmounted stamps.  I'm hoping the company will produce some unmounted stamps soon.  I see there are a few unmounted, clear, sets made by this company so maybe they will offer others.

Snowman, Hobby Art CC1110- this was my favourite stamp of the day, he looks so cheerful.

Stag - Art Impressions - G1046

Large forest - Art Impressions ? G692

Birds - Art Impressions - Right facing A2413 / Left facing A2414

Lambs - Art Impressions - H3305 (I liked this one too)

Basket with baubles - Art impressions - G3303

The demonstrator gave us some lovely sort of pearlescent paper on which to stamp our insert greeting.  She used Versamark Watermark pad and dusted it with gold Perfect Pearls.  Let is dry for a moment, then brush off the excess and wipe away any surrounding excess gently with a piece of kitchen roll.  The effect was lovely.  One lady did this in a dark blue, sort of navy blue and it really popped.

ATCs

The August Time for Crafting swap, hosted by Sally (thanks Sally) was Oriental.

Here are the ones I made.

Here are the ones I received.

Made by

Christa, love the wee fan and the decoupage

Gilligogs ? Pretty and cheerful (sorry GG - I thought it was MADE by Momiji but I now see this is the TITLE! - oops!)

Maggie, beautiful background and love the wee coins, never seen them that small before.

You can see all the atcs in the swap here.