Friday, July 27, 2007

Checking In

I've been a bad blogger this week. We've had visitors staying, so a bit of housework was called for in preparation, you know how it is... and then, well it's a bit rude to disappear off to the craft room or spend too long on the pc. It's lovley to have them staying though, and a good excuse to do a bit of "proper" cooking too instead of just making the usual sort of midweek meals.
I tried out a new pork recipe from an old Good Food magazine, it was OK but I probably won't bother with that one again. Yesterday I made Nigella Lawson's Italian meatballs with tomato sauce - always goes down well, and makes enough meatballs to put a boxful in the freezer for another day (or two!). I also made a chocolate bread and butter pudding - very very naughty, but very very nice.
My rellies are packing the car up ready to head off to Rye for a wedding, then a week on the south coast, so I'm snatching a few minutes to write this.

Friday is of course DCM day, and its Jane's to dare this week:
Okay -are you ready ? For my dare you can choose any theme for the card BUT it must incorporate 'Checks', whether it be gingham paper or ribbon or squares, any thing really as long as it incorporates some kind of shape with 4 equal sides....... so go on- I dare you to think outside the square/step out of the box ..............easy as, eh ?!!

I managed to get organised at the weekend and make a couple of cards for this one. It was my BILs birthday during the week so the first one was made for him. The idea came from Rosie's card for the haberdashery dare - although she used fabric from some old pyjamas and I've just used paper

Paper is Making Memories - from the San collection, I think
Monogram is Cosmo Cricket (yes, real, not cereal packet, for once!)
Gingham ribbon and brads from my stash
The blue card is pearlised, though it doesn't show up in the photo
Other letters are cut with the Robo
I bought this gorgeous bright and happy paper from Scrapshed (a new favourite shop of mine....don't look if you're on a stash-diet) a week or two ago, it's by Paper Heart Studios and I love the colours. I used a wavy check paper for the background and a small squares design for the flower and border.
The flower is made with 6 heart shapes cut with the Robo.
All the ribbon from Ribbon Oasis

I would like to add a greeting to this one, but I can't figure out where to stick it - so to speak, so it'll stay unfinished until I decide what to do, I suppose!

There are lots of gorgeous Checked Out cards on the DCM blog this week, so please pop along and see them all, there's more info on our personal blogs so don't forget to check all of those out too!

Well, I've just waved my rellies off - they are braving the M25 this morning and not looking forward to it, they are quite nervous about it actually, so please keep your fingers crossed that they don't encounter any problems - it can be such a nightmare of a road.

I completely missed seeing the visitor total for my blog pass the 20,000 mark - I'd noticed it was on it's way and then just completely forgot to keep checking! I was going to do some blog candy too.........Ah well, I'll have to be more organised for the 25,000 one, eh? Hopefully, it'll get there! Anyway, I just want to say a big Thank You to everyone who visits - when I started writing the blog I really just thought it would be a bit of a diary that only a few friends bothered with, so having so many people drop by is just amazing. I love to see where everyone comes from and reading the comments that are left is always such a thrill, so if you do read this, please don't leave without saying "hello" - I really really do love to hear from you.

I'm going to do me some crafting now, the box of cards that hubby keeps on his desk at work is at here at the moment so I can update the contents a bit. So I may even have new stuff to show on here if I get on with it, too.

Thanks for looking

27 comments:

Angelnorth said...

Love these Kathy! Paul's card has a nice simplicity about it and the bright flower is really striking - love the 'blanket stitch' edge for the petals! Could you hang a tag with the greeting off the centre of the flower, maybe?

Lythan said...

Fabbytantastic Kathy. I would leave a greeting off the second one. Doesn't need it. Must use the CR for cutting hearts like that - brilliant!

Alhambra Club said...

Great cards, love them both, know what you mean about adding the greeting, would put it inside or on a tag, this card is fantastic the way it is.

Unknown said...

Just where did I put my sunglasses? Wow is this card bright, zingy, fresh and funky or what Kathy? I absolutely LOVE it! x

P.S. Like Pauls' card too LOL

mum-on-the-run said...

Both great cards Kathy, I love, love, love the second one!!

Have bookmarked the shop and then ran away quickly as I've already broken my stash diet once this week, LOL!!

Leo said...

Lovely cards! Loving that paper too I was on the Scrapshed site today deciding to buy the new Cherryarte papers, can't make my mind up about them.

Oh and if it was me I'd do some bigish hugs and kisses XOXOXO maybe stamped on near the bottom. :-D

xx Leo

Jackie said...

Fab as usual Kathy. Love that paper.

Corie said...

Great cards -- love them both!!

Corie said...

These are fantastic -- love them both

Paula J Atkinson said...

Gorgeous & I can't choose a favourite..... oh go on then, the flower because it seems tropical & we sure could do with that around here!!

Sheila said...

Both fab cards Kathy but I am very drawn to the bright flower one....it's stunning.

Pearl said...

Gorgeous cards all Kathy especially love the tropical flower one ! lol You do make great handmade flowers !

I just got the cuttlebug & did come over to your blog to see your cuttlebug card creations & then had a go at some finally ! lol

ttfn, Pearl

Em said...

Fab cards Kathy, am loving the colours in the 2nd one.

Was great to chat the other day - sorry I had to rush off!

xxx

Penny said...

Love the funky flower one, gosh , yummy paper!

Patsy Jackson said...

Gorgeous cards Kathy. My fave is the second one though - you could add a small sentiment to the bottom left hand corner but tbh I think it's lovely as it is!

Anna said...

These are fantastic Kathy. I especially like the flower card. The colours are so striking.

Lynne said...

Two very different but equally fab cards - love the patchwork flower.

Risa said...

Hi There!
I am new to your site and I love what I see. Your cards are gorgeous and after reading your article you made me hungry! It sounds like you are very talented in the kitchen as well...I'm not! I guess I'll settle on a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich:)
Thank you for stopping by and I definately will be back to visit!

Keryn Campbell said...

Both fantastic cards Kathy. Shows what a great dare it was for creating completely different cards and stil fitting the dare.

Natty said...

Fantastic Kathy, really love the colours of the second card. :oD

Jo Capper-Sandon said...

I LOVE LOVE that checked flower...ooooooooooo,,,superb work.

Lisa said...

Love them - especially the flower. And well done on the counter! x

Wendy - Anntaurus said...

Love them both - the flower is amazing and I love the Letter in the same check as the background piece - fab work!

Anonymous said...

Love the bright flower, very cheerful!

Anonymous said...

Very rare a card makes me come out of hiding to comment on, but this one is lovely Kathy. I like how bright it is, you could'nt fail to smile getting a card like that.

Clare said...

Love both of these cards, especially the one with the flower made from the heart shapes - fab!

Anonymous said...

I Looooove your blue checked card: so simple but soooo gorgeous!!!

Love it!