CD Sunday Plus Challenge # 122 - Hosted by Me

 Good Morning

Where did that fortnight go?  The weeks are certainly rolling quickly by, and today it's time for a new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus Challenge and I've loved being back seeing all your wonderful creations again.

A dear friend of our celebrated her 80th birthday just recently and I wanted to make her a special card.  I had a 'rummage' through my many craft supplies and decided on this beautiful Carnation Crafts design.

I printed the decoupage, which is a free download from Carnation Crafts, cut it with the accompanying die, and then layered it using 3d.  Normally, I would have used 3d glue for an intricate design, but I'm finding the fumes from any glue are affecting my breathing quite a lot, so I'm sticking with foam pads for now (it's a bit too chilly to have the window open!).  Sorry, I digressed!  I cut out mats and layers from co-ordinating card using more of the dies in the set.  The base card was embossed with my favourite embossing folder and I die cut Viv's name using an alphabet set, also from carnation.  A few ombre pearls were added to complete the design.

I've had a few little hiccups with my health this last couple of weeks, but am pleased to say that our lovely Bailey has been close by my side 'looking after' me!  As you can see from the following photo, I'm keeping occupied, even when not up to sitting in my craft room!

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  I hope to see your creations over on the challenge blog.

Jo x

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #121

 Good Morning

A very warm welcome to my blog today.  It's lovely to be back joining in again.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me Get Well messages over the last few months.  It was a close call and really quite frightening, but thanks to the excellent care from the doctors and nurses at my local hospital, the love, care and support of my amazing family and friends, I'm (hopefully) on the right side now.  I'm still battling one chest infection after another, and they've told me my recovery will take up to 12 months, but I'll get there!

I want to thank my fabulous teamies at Cd Sunday Plus for supporting me and being so patient with me, it's a wonderful team to be a part of.

The card I am sharing with you today is a very special one.  My eldest daughter has just turned 30 (which I find hard to believe), and this is the card I made for her:

I used the Paper Pantry Volume V1, It's A Dog's Life collection, from Creative Crafting World.  This is one of my favourite and most used collections.  All the card used was also from Creative Crafting World and I used a selection of dies from CCW, Crafters' Companion and Carnation Crafts.

Thanks for joining me today..  Please leave me a comment so that I know you've been!

Crafty hugs

Jo xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #110

 Good morning

We have been enjoying a few unexpected sunny days here in Manchester so I have been enjoying sitting out in the garden enjoying some sunshine.  Bailey loves to sunbathe so has been spending a lot of time outside too.  The garden is starting to spring into life now and I am growing a number of different varieties of sunflower to add some colour.  I love sunflowers, such cheery flowers and a good source of food for the birds and many squirrels we get visiting our garden.

We've also got a regular night time visitor of a hedgehog!  I haven't seen a single slug in the garden so she's doing a very good job!

John is going to build me a bird table, so hopefully we'll then get even more visitors to the garden.

Another 2 weeks have flown by and today we start our new challenge over at CD Sunday Plus.  As always, it's 'Anything Goes' as long as something digital has been used on your creation.  Please do visit the challenge blog for all the rules and to see my team-mates fab creations.

I've made something a bit different (for me) this time:

I'm sure you'll have seen a lot of this style of card around blogland, but this was a first for me.  The dinosaur images are all vignette downloads from Carnation Crafts (prehistoric friends), die-cut with the matching dies.  The sentiment is die-cut using a Paper Boutique die.

I hope we get to see lots of lovely creations this challenge, it's always a pleasure to visit your blogs.

Finally, for those of you who like to see how Bailey is getting on, here is a photo of him sat watching the birds - from the comfort of 'his' chair.

Thanks for visiting today.

Jo xx

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