You're Simply the Best. . . . . . Good name for a song I reckon!

Good morning my dear blogging chums. Hope you're all healthy and happy.

I have another new follower to welcome, Beryl. Thank you for joining our happy paddlers at The Pond. I try to please, so I shall do my best to inspire lol!

Thanks also to Toni and Judy for popping by.

Dear Ita what are you doing to that Grand Caliber? Have you tried contacting Christine Emberson? She is usually a great help with all matters Caliber and is now a Spellbinders International Ambassador. I notice there is a new GC in the pipeline, a grey one that is supposidly stronger.

Now, today is a picture heavy post. . . . . . . .blame Karenlotty lol!!! Your pics on how I did John's birthday card are at the end chuck.

This is another of my CEDT application cards (don't worry, there's only another two to go lol!!!)

The sentiment could so easily apply to all of you!

I love doing these channel set flower cards and decided on this design and the partial embossing to try and add a little interest. The embossing is actually a mask, rather than a folder.

Ingredients

White card

SB Bitty Blossoms

SB Matting Basics A & B

That Special Touch Elegance mask

CE sentiment

Black Archival ink pad

Spun Sugar DI pad

Pink bling

Thought it may actually make a nice sympathy card (with a change of sentiment of course lol!!!)

Hope you like it and as I said, 3 down 2 to go hahaha!!!

Now Karen, I have sort of re-done my steps using some black paper and silver pen to show how I did John's card (here for those who are wondering what I'm wittering about). Hope it makes sense. . . . . . . 

A single piece of card, scored at a third of the way across.

The middle page, cut to size and scored at 5mm along the edge. This will form the "hinge".

I used 3mm red liner tape along the "hinge" and then adhered it to the right of the score line on the base card (do the to the right of the line so that you can still fold the front over)

The real thing again . . . . . . .

Hope the instructions make sense or that I'm not in a Granny and eggs sucking situation lol!!!

Hope you're all going to be watching our lovely John on C&C today. Sadly, I will be at work for both of his shows (curses, drat and double drat!!!) and sadly, they don't class "me mate's on the telly" as an emergency, which is dashed inconvenient!

I will catch up on the app thingy (not the same, as I can't email in and heckle him, lol!!!)

I've got Mr D, Nesta, the girls at the Charity shop and some from work all primed to watch (although Mr D did confess, he may not be able to watch for a whole hour).

Sorry its been a long one (I'm sure there's a bishop and actress joke lurking in there somewhere) but go have a nap to get over it, if you're not asleep already, and then have a great day!

TTFN

Ang x

Thinking of You Again. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Are we all happy and well? I hope so.

I will probably be up when this goes live, watching the qualifying for the Japanese GP (yes, I am potty lol!!!) Will be even pottier tomorrow getting up to watch the GP itself, then I'm at work (had to swap shifts)

Thank you again for your truly lovely comments on my last card. I know you shouldn't have favourites but I do have a soft spot for that card. 

Anne, I think it was you who asked where to get a Krylon pen from. I got mine from Inkylicious at the GBCF in August but they do mail order. Ebay is the only other UK source I found when I was looking. I'm going to get the silver and copper pens too as I'm smitten lol!!!

Now, today's card is the other one of the sympathy cards I had to send last month so the Tiger Lily die made another appearance.

I used the mask, to emboss, with the centre die in situ to keep the nice embossed edge of the die too and some extra foliage from an SB set.

Ingredients

White card base A5 in size

SB Majestic Labels 25

SB Tiger Lily 

SB Botanical Swirls and Accents (for extra foliage)

That Special Touch Moroccan Mask

Distress Inks

White satin ribbon

Bling

Like I said before, I like to keep these cards fairly uncluttered but, hopefully with a bit of understated elegance.

Just a couple of sponsor messages. . . . . . .

Ita, you make the hospital sound like a fancy hotel but I'm sure you would still rather be at home. Fingers crossed for healthier days for you chuck.

Jackie, my goodness, you don't let the grass grow. You concentrate on getting yourself sorted and pop by when you can. We'll keep your place warm for you lol!!!

Well, that's it from The Pond today. Have a fantabulous weekend and enjoy the last of the warmish weather as we seem set for cooler temps next week.

TTFN

Ang x

Wishing You Everything Wonderful. . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you're enjoying some of the warm days we've been having before Autumn well and truly kicks in.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last card. I thought  I'd better explain what it was I'd drawn so that you didn't think I'd gone all Picasso on you lol!!! 

Now, today's card had me playing with the Krylon pen again I'm afraid. I love it!!!

I wanted to use the SB Tapestry die but because the First Edition paper I was using was soooo pretty (it really twinkles when the light catches it) I wanted to have more of it on display. With that in mind, I cut the Tapestry out of a layer of card and then cut bits out with a craft knife but still leaving the four centre points attached to the card so it was still all one piece.

I then edged this with the Krylon and also the edge and ends of the centre tag. I also used it to colour some white pearls gold.

Ingredients

White card A5 in size

SB Tapestry die

SB Fancy Tags Two

First Edition Isabelle 8x8 pad

Crafters Companion sentiment

Vintage Photo DI

Gold satin ribbon

Brown satin ribbon

Krylon Gold Leaf pen

Pearls

Margaret, hope those fires have calmed down now.

Glad to have you back Ita. Hope the hospital visit was more successful this time. 

Mrs B, I'm hoping that the Christmas tunes don't start too early either. I used to love David Bowie and Bing Crosby's version of The Little Drummer Boy but after hearing it about 5000 times last year it drove me up the wall lol!!!

Welcome back Jackie. Hope your Mum is well. How exciting about your new home, even more so when you think about all that long lost crafting gear that you're going to re-discover lol!!! I'm afraid I'm only good at emptying boxes rather than filling them hahaha!!!

Well, that's me for today. Have a good one folks.

TTFN

Ang x

Happy Anniversary Mr D. . . . . . . .last month lol!!!

Good morning one and all. As always, I hope you and yours are well. Once again, apologies if it seems I'm late to your blogs. Blogger is being pain again and I've had my reading list disappear then my entire dashboard!!! It took nearly 30 mins just upload these pics, when its usually seconds. I promise, I will catch up.

Welcome too to my latest follower. Blogger is not telling me who you are but I'm glad you have joined in the fun.

And yes, before I go any further, I hold my hands up, guilty as charged mi'lud, as John let the cat out of the bag, I confess, I did go to C&C with him last Thursday, as most of you sussed (as last Thursday I had told you I spent the day with John) and obviously why we didn't get a whole heap of crafting done lol!!

I was sworn to secrecy and although I can yapp for Britain, I'm discreet. Its for John to make his own announcements but I am very privileged to have been able to accompany him on part of his crafting journey (Gosh, that sounds a bit X Factor doesn't it so please refrain from sticking your fingers too far down your throat hahaha!!!) The boys done good, as they say.

Now, after posting Patricia and John's anniversary card, I realised that I hadn't, in fact, posted the anniversary card I made for Mr Duck last month.

To remedy that, I've popped it on today.

It had to have red (Mr D's favourite colour so what's a girl to do?)

Ingredients

White card (A3 cut down to size)

The BGS (Bevelled Glass Striplet)

SB Labels 28

SB Decorative Labels 28

SB Fancy Tags 3

Crafts Too heart embossing folder

Crafters Companion sentiment stamps

Docrafts relative and occasion stamps

Fiskars heart stamp (its one of those continuous thingys but I used it flat)

Red pigment ink

Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

Black Archival ink

Red bling

Mr D was very happy with it, as I recall, so all was well with the world. 

Well, my few days off are rapidly coming to an end. I have been hard at chores (I like to give everywhere a Spring then Autumn clean) and prepping the garden for bedtime. I did take time out for lunch with Nesta yesterday and today I'm hoping to actually get some crafting done. . . . .hurrah!!! and put my feet up. . . . . . hurrah!!!

Hope you all have a happy Friday and weekend ahead. Ita, if you're reading, hope the hospital is going well this time chuck.

Be good.

TTFN

Ang x

House of Cards September Challenge. . . . .Photo Inspiration

Good afternoon everyone. Hope you are all well.

Glad you liked my latest Striplet offering. Its still one of my favourite dies.

Now today's offering is my DT creation for House of Cards September Challenge and we hope you will join in by taking your inspiration from the following photo. . . . . . . . . 

Soon as I saw it, I thought of a particular First Edition pad I had, Family Ties. As it was a 12x12 pad, I had extra paper left to make a matching gift box too.

Ingredients

White A5 card base

Orange Lidl card

First Edition Family Ties 12x12 pad

SB Decorative Labels 8

SB Labels 28

SB Matting Basics A

Crafters Companion sentiment

Bundled Sage DI

Yellow satin ribbon

Bling

Don't forget to pop over to House of Cards to check out the challenge.

Before I skidaddle, wasn't it great to see our John's fabulous cards alongside Sue Wilson's on C&C at the weekend? Well done John and well deserved. He's going to have a fab time demoing at Ally Pally this coming weekend.

Hope this is the start of a wonderful week for all of you.

TTFN

Ang x

One of Those Cards. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope everyone, their freezers and other kitchen appliances are well. Its an expensive business this home owning mularky eh?

Before I forget, I must apologise if I seem to be missing from your blogs. For some reason, with some, I can get on to the blog but it won't publish the comment (my Mrs Duck ID missing underneath) and my Reading List keeps disappearing. Its getting quite frustrating but please be assured, I haven't forgotten you, I am trying to comment lol!

Thank you for your kind comments on my card for the fellas. Have had to do another fella card yesterday as a get well card. Unfortunately, one of Mr D's friends, who is also one of his colleagues has suffered a heart attack (seems to be a lot of it about lately). He seems to be on the mend but it was a bit of a worry. Never made a get well card for a guy before (particularly one who is ex army and wouldn't appreciate any fru fru!) but I shall show it to you all soon.

Now, today's card was going to be a 21st card I made for my one of my workmates and then the next post was going to be the gift box given with it. However, John has pipped me to the post with his card yesterday so Roxy's card is on hold.

Sadly, recently I've had to make those cards we don't like to make as 3 of my friends have lost parents. One card, I didn't photograph as it had to go straight in the post and my camera wasn't charged.

This is one of the cards. I like to try and keep them simple and uncluttered and I knew that the SB Lily die would come in handy for these occasions. Thought that The Striplet should make another appearance too.

I inked through the die with DIs and added teeny weeny bling to the centres.

Ingredients

White card base A5 in size

Extra white card

The Striplet

SB Tiger Lily die

Pink satin ribbon

Distress inks

Kaisercraft sentiment stamp

Bling

You always just hope that your words can give a bit of comfort at a terribly sad time.

On that cheerful note, lol, I shall tootle off and hopefully enjoy a peaceful shift at work.

Have a great day yourself folks.

TTFN

Ang x

Hobbycutz Challenge 64. . . . . . . .One for the Boys

Good morning, good morning, its great to stay up late, good morning, good morning to you !!!

Love Singin' in the Rain. . . . . .well, the film rather than literally hahaha!

Hope you are all well and having a nice weekend. Had Friday, yesterday and today off and Italian GP this weekend so guess whose a happy duckie! MInd you, I have been up to my eyes in catching up with chores, so not really a rest but at least all of the windows, inside and out are gleaming and curtains washed too. Lots more done too so hoping for a bit of chill time today.

Thanks for the comments on my feathers. For those of you with masks still in packets, its time for them to come out to play lol!

Now, today's card is my DT creation for Hobbycutz Challenge 64, One for the Boys. This was chosen by mixamatoasties and is sponsored by The Paper Shelter.

Hope you can pop over and have a look at what the DT have come up with and if you have time would love to see you enter the challenge. There have been a few issues with the challenges going live but it should definitely be there on time today.

Don't we all love making cards for the guys. . . . . . .hears whistling wind and sees tumble weed rolling in front of me lol!

As I've used a fishing and golf theme recently, I thought it time to go for cricket. This is another of my trusty Docrafts sporty toppers, mounted onto an embossed layer and "framed" with Hobbycutz fab laser cuts. These were just coloured with a navy permanent marker pen.

Ingredients

White A5 size base card

Red PMD card

Navy PMD card

Hobbycutz corner laser cuts

Docrafts cricket topper

Docrafts Happy Birthday embossing folder

White gel pen (just to highlight the Happy Birthday)

Simple to put together but still a useful one for the fellas methinks.

Well, I should be tucking into my toast and jam shortly. Nesta's Dad had some pears hanging over from his neighbours tree so I made some pear and raspberry jam last week, yummmmm. 

Its nearly time for my annual, green tomato chutney, hot lime pickle, pickled onions, mincemeat and pickled red cabbage marathon. I've got my saucepans and jam jars doing stretches and limbering up as we speak. . . . . suppose I should be doing a bit of limbering myself as well lol!!!

Then a whirl of red blooded men, heat, passion and thrills. . . . . . . . . .no, not an afternoon with Mr Duck (or in the words of the great Meatloaf, I would be all revved up and no place to go hahaha!) but live F1, hurrah! Hopefully, Lewis and Nico will play nicely today.

Have a great Sunday folks and hope the coming week is kind to you all.

TTFN

Ang x

Peacock Feathers. . . . . . .Its All About the Bird!!!

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all being good and feeling well.

Happy smiles from me, got a couple of days off work, hurrah !!! Got some jobs need doing around the house, no hurrah !!!

As usual, big thanks for your lovely comments on my two Peace cards. I've been experimenting with something else different with the die so watch this Pond!!!

It has been mega busy recently and with another colleague having leave soon and another moving to another department its going to be manic, especially on the run up to the C word! if there was ever a time for a sunkissed beach, lapping waves and a pina colada with brolly, its now lol !!!

Now, today's card is one I have held back as our John showed one using this mask a little while ago. We both bought it from the recent craft show and I wasn't about to show mine too close to his lol !!! On that note, big congrats to my buddy for his well deserved call up to CEDT. May God bless you and all who craft with you !!!

Its quite a simple card using different shades of mica to colour the feathers.

You can just about see the sheen on this pic. I basically embossed the card with the mask, then Versamarked through the mask. I then sprinkled teal, lilac and blue mica in various spots over the feathers, then brushed the mica over the card. This gives a nice graduated colour.

Ingredients

White card base cut to 6x6

Peacock blue pearl card (Limetree Crafts)

That Special Touch Peacock Feathers Mask

Peacock Feathers DI 

SB Grate Works die

Teal bling (from John)

Mei Flower teal satin ribbon

Crafters Companion sentiment

Versamark

Mica powders (from ebay)

Hope it tickles rather than ruffles your feathers hahaha!!! 

A little tip for when stamping with distress inks. I find that the image quality when stamping with these can be hit and miss so I apply Versamark to the stamp first. Then I apply the distress ink on top and I find that you get much crisper images/lettering. Sorry if that's a grannys sucking eggs thing that you all knew already.

Just a couple of messages. . . . . . . . 

Kate and Karen, I think Krylon pens are American and they can be difficult to get hold of but I got mine from Inkylicious. Sam, they are great pens, aren't they?

Hello to Carol (inkyfingers) and Marci. Thank you so much for your visits and comments.

Well, that's enough from me for today so take care all and have a good day, whatever you are up to.

TTFN

Ang x

Its A Piece of Peace. . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope all is well with you and yours. Its been a busy week at The Pond with extra hours at work and two late finishes on the trot. . . . . boy, I was shattered. Still, all the running about is good for the weight loss. As I was the only one on my dept for the late, I was up and down more than my now loose trousers lol!!!

Anyhoo, I must welcome some new peeps to The Pond so a big "Hello" to Sally (Sallysbitz2) and Michelle (Messy Barn). Lovely to have your company and thanks for joining us. These ladies have super blogs so if you click on the links, you can go have a peek.

I do have another new follower but cant see who it is I'm afraid. Blogger is being a b****r this week, messing with my reading list and comments, so whoever you are, welcome and I apologise for not being able to thank you personally.

Now, today's card was more of an experimental play with Sue Wilson's new "Peace" die.

As mentioned previously, I took John to Daisy's (my local craft shop) last week. I had introduced John to the owner at the craft show a few weeks ago with a view to getting her to let him do some workshops so I took him to the shop last week so they could have a chat (and I could have a shop lol!!!).

I think it was Lesley who asked what I had bought. Only a border mask, embossing ball tool and the "Peace" die. I did want the "Let it Snow" too but she had sold out, boo hoo!

I wanted the "Peace" die as I could see potential in using it in a different way and this is the result.

Its the die cut out twice and stuck together on the background with the top layers mounted up to cover the lettering. I think it gives a nice swirly backdrop.

Ingredients

White card

PMD purple card

Sue Wilson "Peace" die

SB Fancy Tags Two

Hobbycraft corner punch & sentiment stamp

Purple pigment ink (although it looks blue on here)

Cosmic Shimmer clear embossing powder

I have made another in a similar style but you will have to wait for next time for that one. . . . . . ooooh, the suspense lol!!!

Just a few replies before I waddle orf.

Lydia, in case John didn't reply, the A4 dies are Jus Cutz from Once Upon a Stamp. I think they are £21.99 on their website (they were £15 at the show)

Val, I'm jealous. I was born to live in a warmer climate. Must be my Malaysian genes lol!

Jenny, Kent is obviously a lot larger than I thought lol!

Hello Hanny. In answer to your question, I rub tumble dryer sheets onto the cutting surface of my dies as it makes the card pop very easily out of the die after cutting. I think they are impregnated with some sort of silicon. Hope that answers your question and that you can pop by again soon..

Well, that's me offski. At work again today as my colleague I've been covering isn't back until Monday. 

Last time I did a Sunday was when I got threatened so you can imagine I'm full of enthusiasm hahaha!!! I had a Madras curry last night so it would not be a good idea for anyone to frighten me today. The consequences would be apocalyptic lol!!!

Have a good day yourselves.

TTFN

Ang x

One For the Guys. . . . . . . .

Good morning to you all. Hope this finds you feeling champion (Not the Wonder Horse as the RSPCA would get involved lol!)

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on Nesta's Bangle Box. I really hope her niece keeps it but she is a bit of a fickle creature so goodness knows whether she will. I'd rather not know as I'd be heartbroken if it got binned.

As for Inkpadgate, I didn't see the offending minx daubing it everywhere but there were small fingerprints on a 12x12 First Edition pad (sacrilege and something worthy of capital punishment in my book) so I take heart that the errant parents would have had a lot of cleaning of the little darling and probably its clothing too. 

Sadly, its a regular event when you're working with ink pads, glitter glues and acrylic paints. Maybe if we made them top shelf? (steady, not that kind of top shelf lol!!!).

Now, today's offering is a change from what I was going to show as John featured a mica-ed peacock feathers mask card yesterday and that was what you were going to get from me today. I'm not brave enough to to show it immediately after John's so I'll keep it until you're likely to have forgotten his gem lol! 

This one was made for my brother in law (Mr Duck's brother) who is a very keen golfer (so guess what theme card he gets every year lol?) I have a few sporty Docrafts toppers I keep for the fellas so they do come in handy. I did die cut the topper too to get that nice embossed edge around it, like the frames.

Ingredients

White base card

White and black PMD card

SB A2 Matting Basics A & B

Docrafts Golfer topper

Creative Expressions sentiment stamp

Bundled Sage DI

Black archival ink

Quite straightforward but with the recessed frames to add a bit of dimension.

Mr D's brother was very happy with it. He's a graphic designer so does take a keen interest in my handmade stuff.

Meeting up with our John this morning, so it will be nice to have a catch up.

Hope you have a great start to your weekend, whatever you are doing and thank you, as always, for popping by for a paddle.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps, forgot to say thanks to Lesley for her offer of letting me use her Big Shot Pro. I was actually hinting at John as he's a bit nearer than you lol!