Pure Vintage.

This is the tag I have entered into the Tag Tuesday #4 challenge 'Vintage'.

I had originally planned on using this free digital download here from Valerie Brincheck on the tagbook in a previous post but when I reread the instructions for the swap realised tag was too big and though vintage was not shabby cottage garden chic.

It now fits the bill perfectly for this weeks theme. The big silver looking brooch is actually an old clip earing but the photo dosn't do it justice by showing up how much it sparkles from the glass setting. I tried using green leaves but think the clear crystal fit in better with the burgundy colour.

The beads and the corner beading came from my favourite bracelet which broke a few months back so kept to use for crafting. I used my Martha Stewart edge punch to create the lace border and satin ribbon on the side edges of the tag finishes it off. Can you see/find the heart button?

Still 100% squeaky clean on my UIU pledge.

Entering into the following challenges.

All Sorts: One or more hearts.

Crafty Creations: Anything but a card.

Do You Stack Up: Ribbons.

Paper Play challenges: Lovely Lace. (I used Martha Stewart lace edge punch.)

Come and Get It challenges : Anything but a card.

No tunelling under the Fence!

More snippets from my stash.


The lolly pop sticks came from the odds and ends tub in the potting shed, a bit of shrink plastic for you know what and papers from kirsty Wiseman "Window Box" , Funky Hand "Paper Blossom Green" Correen Silke "SI - orange".

This is what they became. I used Bockingford Water paper for the 6"x 6" card base. Sky was made using pastel chalks and masked cloud shapes. The rabbits are a stamp from Prima Marketing #545086 which I stamped onto the Correen Silke paper and then cut out. One rabbit had his face and paws masked so that he would appear to be facing backwards! The fence was painted using acrylic paints and then covered with crackle paint and distressed ink. (I had seen this done in a magazine by Jo Nevill on how to recycle lolly sticks so thought I would have a go too.) Now what did I use the shrink plastic for? Can you spot it?

I'm still 100% squeaky clean.

Entering this into Di's Crafty Snippets challenge No4.

also the following:

Joan's Garden: Create an outdoor scene.

Creative Inspirations: Anything goes.

Digi Doodle Shop: Anything goes.

Tag book and Box Swap.

I recently entered the Shabby Vintage Cottage Chic Tag book and Box Swap hosted by Jean at

Lilac Lane Livery. My partner Michele has received her tag book so I can now show what I made for her.

We had to make a 3 page tag book in a shabby vintage cottage chic style and embellish with buttons. Also to be included was a container to hold the book. Having found out that Michele loved pink with green I was happty to pull out my pink stash and go to town. I made paper roses and various shaped buttons from shrink plastic to compliment the design papers and free rose picture downloads from Heart & Home.

Finished front of tag book.

Back pages of tag book.

Michele also loves anything to do with teacups and tea pots. I had this tea pot stamp which I stamped onto cream satin and embroidered onto the top of the box lid. The box was made from

cardboard cut to size and covered with some pink/green cotton fabric from my stash. Finished off with more buttons to match and a green/pink cord around the edge and corded ties.

Close up of the box lid and still sticking to my pledge.

Entering into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz: Buttons & Bows.

Pile It On: Add lace.

The Cuttlebug Spot: Box it and something to go inside. (added texture by embroidered stamp)

My Mums Craft Shop: Flowers.

Here is the tag book that Michele of Michele's Treasure's Teacups & Tumbling Rose Cottage

made for me. All in pinks!!!!

And the lovely decorated box that it came in. Thankyou so much Michele, I love it and have it on

my desk beside me. Hope we can do a swap together again one day.

Oh yes nearly forgot can you spot the wally heart shrink plastic button? I've been a bit devious this time. Have fun looking and don't forget to let me know if you find it. hugs Mrs A.

It will be all white!!!!!

Here is the tag that I have entered into the Tag Tuesday #3 challenge ' White'.

I decided to do a tag on a tag. The base tag is #8 size and I used the size 3 oval from my Xcut nesties for the middle (cut from cardboard). Both were covered with white linen fabric which was then blanket stitched around the edge with an embroidery anglaise frill added. The central flower is crochet (from my friend Ann) and beads/buttons used for the embellishments. A white satin ribbon finishes it off.

3 people commented on where they found the Where's Wally shrink plastic Heart button' on my Wednesday post. I need a few more of you looking for it (before names go into a hat) so I have made todays one (or could it be more) really easy peasee. Also my pledge remains unbroken!!!

Entering into the following challenges:

Alphabet challenge: Y= You can choose.

Southern Girls: White on White.

Creative Belli: Frames. make it fancy.

Papertake Weekly: Buttons, bows, bling & blooms. (I used buttons and blooms.)

Cracked it and 240volts!

Went for the results of my MRI scan yesterday to find out the state of play with my right wrist.

The scan confirmed that I have a hairline fracture across the middle bones in my wrist. Too small a crack to be put in plaster so to keep the splint on for another 3 weeks. Meanwhile I need to have

physiotherapy sessions arranged in order to get my wrist moving again.

After the hospital trip we decided to go on into town and have a little retail therapy (no not stash I promise, just needed a new dressing gown). Went round several shops and saw a couple I liked (sale prices even better) and 'The Doc' suggested going to one last shop before buying. They had several different ones but not hanging on rails to make it easy to choose oh no they were alll folded up in assorted piles. Having found one in the right size the doc helped me on with it only to find himslef getting electric static sparks from the fabric so making him step back. His next suggestion (do not try this one at home) was for me to let the dressing gown drop to the floor (its okay I was fully clothed) so that he didn't have to help me out of it. So far so good but don't be wearing a Steel Splint on your right wrist and try grabbing a metal edged table for support with your good left hand as you do it!!!!!!! To add insult to injury the doc told me I would have to pay good money to get elctric shock treatment like that done privately!!!! I do also have naturally wavy hair just not normally this curly.

Needless to say I did not buy from that shop and went back and bought the nice pale blue one I had wanted all along.

Post Script.

Feeling has now returned to right arm and hair is nice and straight again after a visit to the hairdressers.

The Doc has snaffled his discarded bottle back!! Sergent Jones is now on guard duty in the Lounge!!!

WOYWW 137

Remember the bottle that 'The Doc' asked if I wanted for anything ? Well SharonK suggested back on WOYWW 133 that if I turned it upside down with the cork attached it would make a Christmas Tree in a pot.I must admit that when I did that it did indeed look like a tree but that was not what I had in mind.

Ta Da!!! I finally finished him at 3am this morning. Here he is ready for the parade ground.

Lets see how many of you have been paying attention and who will be first past the post.

Not much else on my desk as this is just a snap shot. You can just see Wimpy's vaccination reminder card though. It's up here so he dosen't see it and do a runner!!

For more moments in time on other crafty desks pop along to Julia's blog. I should take a flask of coffee with you as you may well be a long time.

News of a shocking nature comming right up after the break.

Playing in the Snow.

I made this tag for the challenge over at Tag Tuesday which was 'Snow Sports & Games. I have had this retro stamp in my stash for ages and never found a use for it until now. The tag is from the second largest die shape in the Xcut Nesties 'Square Parenthesis' and die cut using 300gsm watercolour paper. I am finding these sets of nesties (bought with Christmas money ) are turning out to be really useful and quite versatile.

I used 2 shades of pastel chalks to create the sky and distress ink for the trees. The girl was stamped using Stazon ink and coloured in with watercolour pencils. The look of snow was achieved by covering the white areas with glossy accents and then sprinkling over with matt white glitter.

I realised when I had finished making the tag that I had inadvertantly made a mini scenescape so I am posting this onto the Craft a Scene #1: Anything goes. 2nd posting.

Everything to make this tag came from my stash so I'm keeping to my pledge.

In case any of you are frantically parting the branches on the fir trees searching for the themed heart button, there isn't one so stop looking!! (The buttons will only be put on craft items going out as gifts.

Also entering the following challenges:

Use it Tuesdays: All about winter. Hoarded supplies of several yrs, retro stamp & white glitter).

One stitch at a time: Anything goes.