MORE VENETIAN INSPIRATION

Really love Debbi Moore's Venetian Splendor CD and have done a couple of cards for January birthdays.  This is one for the lovely Delphine who works in my department.  I had forgotten how much I hate to handle feathers when I used them for decoration. I know it is an irrational fear but comes from visiting my Great Auntie's house when I was very young and turning her feather mattresses. I got it into my head that the feathers that escaped were white spiders coming to get me.

PAY IT FORWARD

It's time for a bit of fun.  I've entered a Pay It Forward over at another bloggers site so it's my turn now to Pay It Forward.

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who comment on this post.  However, there is a catch, you must repost this, offering something handmade to 5 other people.  The rules state that it MUST be something handmade or homemade by YOU and must be sent to 5 other people during 2011.

If you would like to join in the fun, then be the first to post a comment and something handmade or homemade will be coming your way this year. 



THEY ARE NOT ALL MASTERPIECES

I have had a creative week - my mojo is back.  I made another two Venetian themed cards and will post them as I send them to their recipients.  Following one of my resolutions I made a couple of cards which were not masterpieces but still were successful and I was proud of them.

One was for my colleague Raakhi who had a baby on 2nd January. I used a card blank from a kit and then customised it and matched the colours in Word.

The other was for my friend Helen who has bought a substantial property in Wales.  As we all lived through the final frantic negotiations I felt part of it.  I wanted to customise the card and I used an on-line translator (or three) to find out the Welsh of 'Good Luck in your new home'. The daffodil images were from Joanna Sheen's Cardmaker's Year.  There is some decoupage but you cant see it in the picture.

I have just got two new CDs and am looking forward to using them.  The latest My Craft Studio celebrating the Glam Fifties and a completely new CD of wine lover's cartoons- should be great for men's cards.

VENETIAN SPLENDOUR

Sunday was my Mum's 83rd birthday. She is my crafting mentor and inspiration....she still creates the most beautiful items and sells her work locally. She loves Venetian masks and has a lovely collection in her home.  I bought the Debbi Moore CD just so that I could make her a card for her birthday with it.  I have also sent her the new Debbi Moore magazine so she can use the Venetian papers in it.  Here is my card.  Liked the triple fold and will be using this idea again.

It was also my Mum's closest friend's birthday on Sunday. Here is the Tilda card I did for Pam.  I decided not to add flowers because it was going in the post.

CRAFTING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2011

If I put these resolutions in print it might make me stick to them!

• Any Christmas card I send which has not been crafted by 1 December will have to be a bought one
• It is not obligatory to send everyone a hand crafted card so I wont beat myself up if they are not all made by me
• Birthday cards will be posted in plenty of time (no last minute crafting)
• Every card does not have to be totally unique so I will start making  similar cards if I find a design I am happy with
• I will create a craft room in the third bedroom and give back the dining room
• I will make myself a bag using the Klimt inspired fabrics I have
• I will make a lapquilt with the Clarice Clift fabrics I have
• I will continue with my blog and improve the photography of my projects
• I will make a start on the job of putting 25 years of holiday photos into scrapbooks 
• I will scan all my hard copy photos for prosterity

I will check back at the end of the year to see how I did - several of these Resolutions were on last years list and I am running out of excuses.

At last a few minutes to myself

That's Boxing Day over with and now a few days of R&R to get myself and the house straight and hopefully find time for a little crafting.

First of all I need to upload the photos of some of the cards and projects made in December.

There was a memory book made for Janet when she retired at the end of November. I asked work friends present and past to provide recipes with a connection to Janet and I made them into a book with photos of the people who donated the recipes. Really pleased with the way it turned out.

There was a birthday card for Homa made with My Craft Studo Deco Ladies CD.

There was a birthday card for Helen whilst she was away on a Nile cruise.

And a bit of fun for my boss Jonathan from a Joanna Sheen CD.  A line drawing coloured in with Promarkers.

Had fun making all my Christmas cards.  Most were made with an Anna Griffin kit from QVC and also made some with the My Craft Studio Christmas Deco CD. I didnt get round to many rubber stamped ones and wasnt happy with any of the Christmas Tilda cards I started.  I wish I had more time for making a few more presents - my favourite ones were the decorated Elizabeth Shaw mints (thanks to Helen at 'It's all fiddle fart')and the cookie jar which I gave to my lovely sister Gina.

In all the Christmas chaos I also made a memory book for my old friend Ameer who finally had enough of the new ConvaTec.

Made a quick pit stop at Hobby Craft today and picked up some bargains so tomorrow I will get started on a few Birthday cards for 2011. I am determined not to be making cards at the last minute next year. (Mind you I say that every year!)

PAM'S CARD

The last couple of cards I sent I forgot to photograph so I haven't posted for a while. I have been busy with Christmas cards and have started making some presents as well. Goodness  knows if they will get finished in time.  The dining room is in uproar and I am seriously considering setting up a craft room upstairs in what was Kat's room.

Tomorrow is the birthday of my lovely friend Pam who is another year old but still looks the same as when I first met her over 20 years ago. Some people have all the luck.  I did a Tilda card for her a while ago and hung on to it so for once there wasn't a last minute rush.