Meetings and makings

I headed into Manchester first thing this morning for a meeting, which was a good way to start the day.  I also manged to track down some gold leaf that I need for a project I'm working on this weekend.

As for what I've worked on tonight.  Just one card but it is a whopper.  I thought I'd use some of the A3 card I've got to make a large card!  The papers and the box frame are printed from the Popcorn Platinum CDs - florals and men's.  The card was inspired by challenges at:

Allsorts challenge - create a scene

Tuesday Taggers - make a scene

2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan's sketch 56

I bought my sister a few presents for her birthday but tradition now dictates that one has to be some sort of mini scrapbook item that's a summary of the last year.  I'm over the moon with the way this one turned out and I know she loves it as she phoned me up whilst she was still a little bit misty after opening it up.

Inside the box (thanks to Lida deWitte for teaching us how to make the box and flowers at the Inspired Retreat back in February) were 4 mini books with photos and snippets.  One book for friends, one all about Jo, one about her and Ian and one about sisters.

You'll be glad to know I'm not going to bore you with each individual page of the books!

The whole thing was made with papers, chipboard and stickers from Prima - so beautiful and easy to work with.

Now to catch up on some sleep from the weekend.

xxx

Here comes Popcorn

Popcorn the Platinum collection launched tonight at 9pm.  Popcorn is a beautiful Platinum monochromatic colour, surrounded by elements of vibrant colour. The new range comprises three CDs, Popcorn Platinum 3D Builder and 6 co-ordinating A6 stamp plates. Each CD includes two themes CD1: Baby & Birthday, CD2: Kids & Floral, CD3: Men’s & Romance. The CDs are available individually or as a Collector’s triple box set.  Wow, wow wow!

 I've been lucky enough to have these for a few days and have loved playing with the CDs and the stamps.  As I'm a stamper at heart, I love the CDs for my backgrounds and then being able to add a stamped image and make it whatever colour I like.  So Popcorn can be grey or brown or even pink if I want him to be :)

So here he is in one of the box card frames.  Then the little bear is stamped and then coloured in with my beloved Copics (it's true, I do love them).  It means you can make his football kit whatever colour you want too.  This card was inspired by challenges at:

Stamp Something - colours of your flag - red, green and white from the Welsh flag - yes I really am Welsh

CardPatterns - sketch #71 - I flipped in 90 degrees

Cupcake Craft Challenge - world cup wonders

Daring Cardmakers - rubies for July - I've gone ruby red

Also I thought I'd share the card I made for my sister for her birthday.  As it was quite dimensional I made a co-ordinating envelobox to go with it.

Just one more thing for today - why does your boyfriend always steal your Green & Blacks Butterscotch chocolate out of the fridge!!  grrrrrrr!!

Swinging Sunday

What better way to get those aching legs moving than a walk.  We decided to stay local today and just walk up to the headland.  It's deceptive as it looks quite close and doesn't look too far out to the end of the headland but it's definitely a good walk.

So what do you need after a good walk?  A good pub of course.  Being with Big Pete and Paul that's par for the course, and I'm just easily led.  The local pub was great and we were made to feel very welcome - 2 cloudy (or as I call it rough) ciders welcome!  When we asked if they did food they said no but the place up the road did and the landlord even phoned through and made us a reservation.  Brilliant service.

On the way back from our walk, Paul, Pete and I decided to look in on the band that was playing in the afternoon - The Gents.  We didn't think we'd stay long as they're harmonica led which isn't our favourite but they launched onto a fast tune.  So Pete and I kicked off our shoes and hit the dance floor to dance in our socks.  I know we weren't the best dressed on the dance floor but I think we had the most fun - I think the cider helped!

The Little Mermaid?

Sue & Pete finding a way down.

Homemade meatballs at the Castle for lunch

Just one more cream tea!

Just one little card today with Popcorn teamed with some October Afternoon papers.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

CPS - sketch #174

One stop craft challenge - distressing

I also made a box for another card to give to our waitress Justyna that had looked after us so well during our stay.  She didn't even open it and she was over the moon.  Doesn't making someones day make you feel warm and fuzzy?

Lots of people at the weekend looked their best, including this chap on his way to the dance.  The setting for this camp is ideal as the chalet blocks have that 1940's/50's look although they're pretty nice inside.

Suzanne, looking beautiful and impeccably turned out as always.

The last two bands of the weekend - Swing Cat Club from Germany.  Another great fun band.

King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys

Thank you to Tania for being a great roommate, Sue, Pete and Paul for lots of adventures and booking for next year.  Alan, Richard and Marilyn for being great company at dinner.  Most of all a great big thank you to all the great leads that I danced with this weekend.  I've had a fabulous time.

xxx

Just down the road!

Well that's what my friend Paul would have us believe!  He said he knew of a great walk that was less than an hour away in the car - try over an hour and a half away.  So the question is, was the drive worth it ... most definitely.  We walked from Withypool to the Tarr steps which are a prehistoric clapper bridge across the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park.

It's a beautiful 4 mile walk with a great treasure at the end.  Not only the Tarr steps but the Tarr Farm Inn that does a great ploughman's lunch amongst a fabulous menu and as we were in deepest darkest Devon we were forced to have a cream tea too!

Pete, Paul and I outside the pub

Isn't being outside wonderful.  I love walking and seeing the countryside.  Here's just one of the beautiful flowers we saw on our walk.  We also shared our walk with sheep and slightly less comfortable a field of bullocks - luckily they let us through!

 

Just one quick card to share with you today before dinner and dancing.  Another sneak peak of Popcorn Platinum, with inspiration from:

Secret Crafter - Saturday Challenge - Water

Sweet Stamping Challenge Blog - pearls and pins

I love Popcorn and his girlfriend, Coconut, sheltering from the shower under their pretty umbrella

So then it's time to go out  I had a great night but didn't dance quite as much as Friday night - note to self must try harder on Sunday night.  I've done plenty of steps today though - over 30,000.  That should walk off some of the cream tea!

We missed the band in the afternoon with our walk but danced to two great bands tonight.  The first one was Numbers Racket

The second band of the evening and one of my favourites from the weekend were Five in Love from Austria.  They played great music and had lots of fun on stage too.

So I'm off to bed with great tunes still swinging through my head.  A glass of wine will help to relax me.
Sweet dreams
xxx
Happy Birthday Joanna
xxx

 

Wonderful Wales

I've had a great day in Wales today.  I was doing a demonstration at Carole's Craft at Pugh's Garden Centre.  It was great to see the lovely Debbie, Mandy, the other girls and their fabulous customers.  This is my third visit to this shop and I always get a warm welcome and it's so nice to see friendly faces.  One of the girls who came to see me today was the talented Menna.  She's been stitching the Cute Companion characters on the back of her jacket - just look at how much work has gone in to it!

Just a couple of cards to share with you today and a sneak peak of some brand new Popcorn products!  Check back next week for more details.
This card is made using the Popcorn Platinum stamp set - Lovely Bubbly.  It's a set I know I'll be using a lot as I have a soft spot for champagne - pink or otherwise.  This card was inspired by the challenge at:
Totally Papercrafts - one for the girlies

 

This second card was inspired by the image challenge at:

Dutch Dare Card Challenges

It was the bright colours and the large flower that inspired me to make this card.

As if my day wasn't busy enough, I headed off to Weston-Super-Mare to meet up with some friends for a 1940's swing weekend, filled with live bands and lots of dancing:

There I am all dressed up for the Friday night dance, with my little Dorothy shoes on that I bought in Italy.  I love this outfit - thanks to wonderful Shona at Heyday Vintage Style Clothing, she brings us the best in vintage clothing but great to dance in to.

Some people really do arrive in style (not me!)

The first of the bands we saw this weekend  - The Pete Long Orchestra

Later the same evening another band - Honey B & The King of Sting.  I loved the female saxophone player she had great stage presence.

So a very long day but filled with lots of Ginger adventures, so all is well in my little bubble.  I hope  your day has been filled with a even little bit of happiness.
xxx