CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 109

 Good Morning

Thank you to everyone who visited my last post and left comments - I love to read them!

Can you believe it's the end of April?  The lighter mornings and evening are here and hopefully some warmer weather will follow very soon.

I recently treated myself to a beautiful new collection from Carnation Crafts called 'Dawn of Spring'.  I just couldn't resist this one!  This is the first card made with the collection, which is an Anniversary card for some friends:

I added lots of mats to my card and die-cut the pretty panels using dies from the set.  The artwork for the flowers is a free download from Carnation Crafts website, which I then die-cut and decoupaged.

Please do visit our challenge blog to see all the teams creations, and for full details of how you can join in the fun.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 108 - Hosted by Margaret

 Good morning

I'm sorry my post is a little late this morning.  I've just returned home from a few days in Portugal, which was a much needed break after battling a horrid chest infection for a few weeks' which completely wiped me out.  After completing this post, I will catch up with all the lovely entries for our last challenge.

The weeks' are passing by quickly and it's time for a new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus.  This week is the 13th Anniversary of CD Sunday!! I'm the newest member of the design team but have been a follower for many years prior to that and have \always enjoyed the challenges.  I hope you'll be able to join us.

Here is my card:

For my card I used artwork by the fabulous Pollyanna Pickering, from the British Wildlife cd-rom.  I turned the image into decoupage and added a backing paper from the same cd-rom.

Please do pop across to the challenge blog to see all the fabulous creations by my fellow teamies.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #107 - Hosted by Me

 Good morning

I hope the weather is improving for you and you are keeping well.  Thanks for visiting my blog.

Since my last post I have been fighting off a chest infection.  I'm still not over it yet but it is finally starting to improve!

My eldest daughter, Sarah, thoroughly spoilt me on Mother's Day with the most amazing afternoon tea.  I am very blessed.

Emma is now home for the Easter Break and working flat out towards her final exams next month.  It is lovely to have her home.

Today, Bailey is 2!  I can't believe it, the time has passed so quickly.  We've got him lots of new toys for him to destroy!  He is the gentlest, most loving dog when it comes to people, but when it comes to his toys he is savage!  They should test these 'so called' indestructable toys on Bailey!!

Here he is yesterday, having just woken up, with rather static hair!! (I know that feeling well!!)

Today is the start of our new challenge at CD Sunday Plus and we are all looking forward to seeing your cards.  It's my turn to host this time.  Here is my inspiration for this challenge.

I used dies and downloaded vignettes from Carnation Crafts to create the beautiful 3d flowers.  The insert paper is also a download and I used some of the same paper to die cut my sentiment.  I then die cut the trellis in the corner to complete the card.

I am trying to do some less-fussy cards and it's proving a challenge!!  I have so much 'stuff' in my craft room that I want to use, it's so tempting to throw everything but the kitchen sink at it!

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  I hope you have a lovely Easter.  Please leave a comment so I know you've been.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #106 - Hosted by Pamela

 Good morning

Happy Mother's Day to everyone, and happy heavenly Mother's Day to all those mum's, like mine, who are sadly no longer with us.

Today, my daughter Sarah is making afternoon tea for me.  She does this every Mother's Day and it's something I really look forward to.  Sadly, Emma can't join us as she is studying hard for her final exams, but I will get to see her very soon.

It's time for our new challenge over at https://cdsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ and we are all looking forward to seeing your creations.  Here is my card:

I used artwork from my fabulous Bree Merryn cd-rom by My Craft Studio.  I printed the image onto photo paper.  I picked out some of the colours in the 'splats' for my mats and layers, which were die cut using nesting dies from Creative Crafting World.  The animals were die cut using a die I have had for ages, but I'm afraid I don't know who it's by!  I finished the card with some Hunkydory Pearls.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jo xx

Grief

Here we are, at last, in March, and for me it’s been a time of reflection.  February is a very difficult month for me, filled with birthday’s and anniversaries of loved ones no longer here.  It was 10 years on the 18^th February since I lost my lovely mum.  I am no stranger to pain, but the pain of losing her was a pain like no other.  I foolishly thought that 10 years on, this anniversary would be easier.  I was wrong.  I spent the weekend in a black hole.  John, as always, supported me through it.  Listened to me talk, comforted me, gave me space.  

The last few days of mum’s life were very traumatic.  I still vividly remembered our last conversation.  I relived the last 24 hours of her life and the crushing pain returned.  I have learnt that you never ‘get over’ the loss of a parent, you somehow learn to live with it.  Over time, the happy memories return and make you smile.  We talk about my parents every day, how could we not?  Even now, I’ll do something and go to pick up the phone to tell them!  

The day of my dad’s funeral, my lovely Uncle George said to me” Right Joanne, you’ve got to move on with your life now, your dad wouldn’t want you to stay sad, he had a good life”.  Those words pop into my head regularly and are so very true.  Mum’s attitude to death was “when your number’s up, you’ll go”.  

When mum and dad left this world they had 8 amazing grandchildren.  They loved being grandparents, their family was their world.  6 of the 8 have either gone through, or are going through University.  They will be so, so proud. 

I believe, dad sends me robins and mum sends me white feathers, as little reminders that they are still around.  ‘Grandad robin’ visits me daily.  Yesterday morning, when I went out to listen to the birdsong, there was a beautiful white feather on the step.  It’s was quite windy here yesterday, but the feather stayed firmly put. 

I can’t bring them back, but I can try and make them proud, and that is what I have always tried to do.  There is no rule book on grief, but I have learnt to be kinder to myself, to go with those feelings and cope with them in any way that I can.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #105

 Good Morning

At last, we're in March!  It's time for a new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus and we're all looking forward to seeing your creations.

My apologies I was so late with my commenting for the last challenge, my health got in the way I'm afraid!

Here is my card for our new challenge:

                    

For this card I used images and backing papers from Crafters' Companion, Downton Abbey cd-rom.  To this I added some gold card for my mats.

I've been keeping my hands busy crocheting - when I've felt up to doing anything!  I find knitting very difficult now because of the arthritis in my hands, but am finding crocheting much more manageable.  This is a huge relief as I've got enough wool to rival my local craft shop!!

Please do visit our Challenge Blog to see my lovely teamies creations.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 104

 Good morning

It's time for a new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus and we are looking forward to seeing your creations.

A close friend of mine became a grandma for the first time in January.  This is the card I created for the new parents:

I've always been a lover of Beatrix Potter.  My favourite book as a child was 'The Tale Of Peter Rabbit'.

I think they are timeless images that make up into such beautiful cards.

The decoupaged image for my card was from The World of Beatrix Potter cd-rom from Crafters' Companion.  The backing paper was from the same cd.  I used some Hunkydory addorable scorable card for my mats, and to cut out the letters using an alphabet die set from Carnation Crafts.  The little feet were cut using a Sue Wilson die.  

A lot of time went into making this card, but I am pleased with the result!

I hope to see your entries over on the challenge blog.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 103

 Good morning and welcome

It's a very cold and frosty morning here in Manchester, so I'm sat, cosy and warm, crocheting a baby blanket.  My hands continue to cause me problems and I find crochet a good way to keep them moving.  I've also recently discovered the 'Groovi' system from Clarity, and am find with the help of finger grips, I've been able to start learning this new-to-me craft.

This week was by birthday, and my family and friends made it a lovely week for me.  My daughters' have bought me a subscription to the Groovi monthly club, so I can look forward to a surprise every month!

It was also my brother-in-law's birthday recently.  He's a very difficult one to make a card for but I found out he meets up with some friends once a week to play cards, so, hey presto, there was my theme!

This is the card I made for him:

I went back to one of my oldest cd-rom's to create this card, 'Men's from Crafters' Companion'.  I printed out, cut and layered up the decoupaged image, die cut the sentiment and then added it all to a pre-embossed card that has been in my stash for ages!  He really liked his card, I'm happy to say.

The weather here has been cold and damp, which affects my condition drastically, so I've been missing getting out with hubby and Bailey.  Bailey, however, is always on stand-by to provide lots of doggy cuddles!  He really is the most loving dog....but very, very needy!  Here he is, providing one of said cuddles, and looking very unimpressed at having his photo taken!

I hope you'll visit the challenge blog to see what my teamies have been creating, and to join in our challenge.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #102

 Hello!

I hope this finds you well.

The last 2 weeks have flown by and it's time for a new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus.  This time I have the pleasure of hosting.

For my card this challenge I turned to the fabulous LaPashe cd's for this great decoupage which I used to make a card for my brother-in-law.  He is a keen cook, and has a son and daughter so I thought this fitted the bill perfectly!

I used an embossed card to add a bit of interest, and some sky blue card from PaperMill for my mats.  The sentiment was included on the decoupage sheet.

I hope you'll visit our challenge blog to see what my teamies have been creating, and of course, join in our challenge.  Hope to see you there!

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 101

 Good Morning and a Very Happy New Year

Thank you for visiting my blog today.  I hope you've had a very happy Christmas and that 2023 is a good one for you.

Our decorations are back down - doesn't everywhere look bare when they're put away?  We've enjoyed celebrating together as a family.  Emma goes back to Uni this coming week and that makes me sad!  Sarah has dislocated her knee again so is needing a lot of support at the moment.

I'm keeping busy crafting and, as always, finding my hobbies such a blessing.

Today is our first challenge of the year over at CD Sunday Plus and we hope that you will join in the fun!

Here is my card:

I used this stunning image and backing paper from Pollyanna Pickering The Frozen Lands cd-rom and die cut the frame from mirri card using the gorgeous snowflake die from Creative Crafting World.  The sentiment was a freebie in a magazine.

Please visit the challenge blog and see the designs my teamies have come up with, I hope we inspire you to join in.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 100

 Good morning.

Our new challenge starts over at CD Sunday Plus today and this will be our last challenge for this year.  I've really enjoyed being a part of the lovely Design Team and getting to visit all your blogs.  Long may this continue!

Today, I am sharing a Christmas card made for a friend who has a Cockapoo:

I used one of my all-time faviourite cd-roms for this card - Furry Friends from Joanna Sheen.  The backing paper is from the same cd-rom.  I die cut the mat from Centura Pearl card using a Tattered Lace die, and stamped and heat embossed a Lily of the Valley sentiment stamp.

I do hope you'll join us for our last challenge of 2022.  And please do visit my fellow DT members and see their wonderful creations.

We've had snow here this morning.  Bailey is loving it!  Me, not so much!

Thanks for stopping by. I wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas and send every good wish for a happy and healthy 2023.

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 99

 Good morning

Today I have my stall at the Christmas Fair in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind.  I've been creating for many months for this and hope it will boost my fundraising to name a Guide Dog Arthur after my late dad.  I'm excited and nervous in equal measure!

My health is not great, as I know it never will be, but my crafting continues to help me cope with the constant pain.  Raising funds at the same time is a real boost mentally too.  Long may it continue.

Today is the start of our new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus and Jocelyn is our host for this challenge.

Here is my card:

I have used one of my all-time favourite cd's to create my card - Jolly Nation Men's cd - teamed with some lovely card from PaperMill, to create this easel card.  The main image is decoupaged and I used the additional images from the sheet to create the stopper.

Please do visit the challenge blog to see what my teamies have created, and I know they would love you to visit their own blogs too.

Hope to see you there!

Jo xx