Blogging Without Obligation

Written in November:

A post from a fellow blogger about not feeling obligated to blog hit a chord so I am not going to comment on the long gap since I last wrote.  My crafty mojo has gone on his holidays at the moment which is a shame as I needed him to help me with making my Christmas cards- havent made a single one yet and I promised myself that I wouldn't stress myself by making cards in December. So what is not done by the end of November will have to be a bought.

Here are a few cards made in the last few weeks.

THANK GOODNESS FOR UPS

I  can make the cards in plenty of time but getting them in the post to ensure they get there for the day always lets me down especially for cards which need to be sent abroad. This week I failed miserably with two US cards and had to resort to letting the cards hitch a ride in a company courier pack going by UPS.

First there is a card for my penfriend of more than 45 years in Pennsylvania USA. I was inspired by a card made by one of my favourite bloggers, Bev Rochester, so copied the layout and used some images from my favourite fallback Cds from Debbi Moore. Just love the Art Deco ladies.

For my friend Barbara in company HQ I made a quick card using an LOTV image.

MORE STEAMPUNK

Young men's cards are the ones I find the most difficult so for nephew Iain's 20th this week I went for Steampunk again (I've done sports and music to death over the years).  I used the Graphic 45 pad again and this time I embellished with the new die cuts I bought.  It's got a Monty Python vibe going on and I like the result.

STEAMPUNK

I hit on the idea of doing a card for my SIL Jaci's big birthday using the Steampunk style. As usual the favourite part of the project was gathering my supplies (i.e. buying more craft supplies).  I found a great paper pad from Graphic 45 which I just had to have and then I decided I need some embossing folders so treated myself to the Tim Holtz ones with clocks and machine parts. Downloaded some new fonts and then away I went. I knew what I wanted on the front but I let the rest of the design grow organically so the card took ages to do.  (Photographs dont do it justice but that's sometimes the case with busy cards).

This promises to be the first of many using these papers as they are equally good for men and women.

ANYTHING BUT PINK OR PEACH

I noticed that all my cards recently have been either pink or peachy tones so I set myself a challenge to use other colours. Only just noticed that there is some pink in the Nitwits background paper but otherwise I managed to comply with the challenge I set myself. The LOTV printed cards are a welcome addition to my stash when a quick card is needed. This one went to my friend Ellie shortly after we had been to a fab afternoon tea party at Carol and Mark's.

VINTAGE FOR A QUILTER

Here is the card I made for my quilting friend Anne.  I remember my first adventures on the sewing machine were using a hand cranked Singer sewing machine. Really showing my age now.  Didnt over do it with embelishments as it had to go in the post.  Instead of flowers I used some antique lace and a sewing machine charm.

Why cant I throw anything away?

I have a real problem with throwing things away..... even shopping bags would you believe.  I recently bought a designer top in the sales and they put it in a beautiful carrier bag which I couldnt bear to part with.  I decided to make a card and as it was made with double sided paper I decided to use a cross- between an envelope and an easel card. Gave this to Sophie for her birthday.