Dedication

The theme for Path of Positivity this time is Dedication. Ever since reading the post I have had Roy Castle's song 'Dedication' from the TV series 'Record Breakers' running round my head. Those of you reading this who live in the UK may remember it!

When it came down to actually getting something together for the challenge I did have a bit of a problem deciding what to do. Did I go for my eldest daughters dedication in getting qualified as a Veterinary Nurse or my youngest daughter getting her degree despite illness and panic attacks. In the end I decided to do one of my own.

I have always loved mountains and climbing them. However having been born with heart defects over the past few years it has become increasingly difficult to walk up a hill never mind a mountain. So although I have been up Snowdon in the past my mountain climbing days came to an end in August 2005.

I remember the day well, we were visiting friends in Cumbria and they suggested going for a walk up Catbells, one of the smaller but very beautiful hills in the Lakes. Needless to say by the time we were two thirds of the way up I was holding everyone back. So I persuaded the others to carry on up with out me while I stayed to look at the view and await their return. However when they were out of sight I thought to myself that if I went at my own pace I could get a bit further up so that is what I did and I carried on going at my own pace until I managed to surprise myself and everyone else by reaching the summit. I was so thrilled to have achieved it and as a result made a rare scrapbook page of the event.

So here are some photos of the page and of some of the contents of the little book I made to put in photos of the amazing views and thoughts on the climb.





Maybe one day, if the dedicated team at Bristol Heart Institute can do anything, I might be able to make it to the summit of another hill and who knows maybe even a mountain and not by train but on my own two feet!

Thank you for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my scrapbook page into the following challenge:
Path of Positivity #30 - Dedication

Deedee's Digis Challenge Sponsorship Flurry!

If your are a fan of Deedee's images or just want to own some more there are lots of opportunities to win some as Deedee is sponsoring a heap of challenges at the moment. Take your pick from:
Clear it Out Challenge Blog
{PIN}spirational Challenge
and Through the Craftroom Door Challenge. So why not check them out and have a go yourself.

My card for today is my sample for the Through the Craftroom Door Challenge.

Materials used:
Deedee's Digis Stamp Set - Loaves and Fishes
white printer card
2016 calendar blank
white stamping card
Copic pens
dark turquoise card

Method:
I printed out the calendar blank on the A4 white card (this was the hardest part trying to get it the right size!) I then printed out my image and the verse from Psalm 55 to the right size to fit the space left on the calendar. I coloured the image with the Copics and then trimmed to size. I matted it onto the turquoise card and then mounted the whole topper onto the calendar.

I decided to go with this particular set and verse for January as a good reminder of God's gracious provision and love, no matter what life throws our way. It seemed a fitting thought to start a new year with.

My plan is to have a whole calendar finished in time for Christmas but so far this is as far as I have got!

Thank you for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my calendar page into the following challenges:
Crafting From the Heart #79
Craft Your Passion #281
Not Just Cards #24
Scrapbook Stamp Society #76
Jo's Scrap Shack: FFC #107
Inspiration Destination Challenge #52
Addicted to CAS #73 - Dream (January a time to dream of all the new year might have in store)

Something a bit different

I can't believe that September is almost over already, where did the time go. So despite all my plans to be in good time for challenge entries here I am scrabbling to get them in at the last moment. Today I finished my entry for this month's progressive challenge at Outlawz Challenges.



Materials used:
Nicecrane Designs - Flower Children Set (if you entered the challenge last month the image comes free)
stamping card
snippets of red, orange, yellow and blue card
Copic pens

Method:
I printed out the image 4 times to the size I wanted for an ATC and coloured them with the Copics in 4 different colourways. I then made 4 ATC blanks in the colours to match the images. I trimmed my images down to fit the ATC's leaving a narrow border around the edge and stuck them down.

I belong to an ATC exchange group and am always running out of ATC's to send out so another 4 to use is really good. I have a feeling I will be making a lot more in the days to come.

Before I go I just wanted to draw your attention to a competition Deedee's Digi's is running to celebrate World Card Making Day. You can find details on her blog here: http://www.deedeesdigis.com/2015/09/mark-your-calendars-for-next-saturday.html so why not go on over and take a look.

Thanks for dropping by. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my ATC's into the following challenges:
Outlawz Progressive Challenge - September
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 196
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #18
Crafty Time Challenges - September

Apple Pie - Must be harvest time!

Being married to the Rector of 5 parishes means that this time of year there are a lot of Harvest Services and lunches/suppers. Every one of the churches has apple pie on it's menu every year so it is no wonder that I hardly ever make an apple pie during the rest of the year. There are only so many apple pies one can eat! Which brings me to my card for today.

Materials used:
Imagine That - Maggie's Apples
spotty designer paper
red brads
stamping card
acrylic greetings stamps
Copic pens

Method:
I printed out my image and coloured it in with Copic pens. I trimmed my image down to the size I wanted and then matted and layered it onto the two designer papers leaving a small border around the edge each time. I stamped out my greeting using two stamps and matted and layered it to match the topper. I then attached both to my card base before finally adding the red brads.

I did change the apple sign having made up the card because I wanted it to fit with the idea of the apples being a present to go with the sentiment so I crossed out the price!

Thank you for popping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Imagine that DOM Progressive Challenge - September
City Crafter Challenge Blog #280 - Fall has arrived
Creative Card Crew #96 - Fall
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog #113 - Autumn
Ants in my Pantry Digital Challenge #9
Crafting From The Heart #78
Craft Your Passion #28
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #62
If You Give A Crafter A Cookie #27

Autumn is on it's way

There is definitely a chill in the air as we approach the end of September and a lot of challenge blogs are picking autumnal themes. The image for the From the Heart Progressive Challenge is a good one to cover a lot of the autumn themes.

Materials used:
From the Heart Stamps - Pumpkin Patch Girl
15cm white square card
brown card in two shades
stamping card
square dies and lacy square die
various acrylic word stamps
Copic pens

Method:
I printed out my image and coloured it in with the Copics before using a square die to cut it out. I cut a mat in light brown just slightly bigger and then another in dark brown using the lacy square die. I scored the front of the card in halves to make an easel card and attached my layered and matted topper to the front. For the card stopper I used parts of a number of word stamps to make up my greeting because I do not have a 'Hand picked for you' stamp!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
From the Heart Progressive Freebie Challenge - September
Beccy's Place - September Challenge
Inspiration Destination #51
Addicted to Stamps #162 - Make Your Mark
Craft Your Passion #279
Creative Card Crew #96 - Fall

Another one I made earlier

Still playing 'catch up' so here is another card from August. My husband asked for a card for a colleague who was retiring so out came the old acrylic stamps.

[caption id="attachment_1656" align="alignright" width="197"] Front of card[/caption]

Materials used:
Dimension Stamps - Garden Shed Set (no longer available)
Clarity Stamps - Bird House set
stamping card
A5 white card blank
Copic pens

Method:
I stamped the garden shed onto the front of the card blank and then again with all the tools I wanted onto stamping card. I coloured all my images in with the Copics and then added the wooden plank detail to the back of the shed on the front of the card. From the second shed image I cut the front and the door and mounted these on top of the card using foam tape to give the shed some depth.

[caption id="attachment_1657" align="alignleft" width="204"] Behind the shed door[/caption]

I cut out all the elements I wanted to add to my card and attached them to the card base, some just flat and some with foam pads. Finally I stamped on the birds from the Clarity set where I wanted then and added the banner.

Sometimes the idea you have in your head do actually work when you get going on constructing them! I was so pleased when it all worked and the shed door opened to reveal all the tools etc inside!

Thank you for stopping for a while. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into:
Creative Fingers #93
Inspiration Destination #51
Addicted to Stamps #162 - Make your mark
Crafty Gals Corner #37 - Anything goes
Crafting With An Attitude #7
Crafty Catz Challenge #293 -
Special Occassion (my special occasion - Retirement)
Beccy's Place September Challenge
Crafts Galore September Challenge - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack Fun-day Friday- Boys to Men

It was all going so well!

There I was, firing on all cylinders, mojo up and running on overdrive when out of the blue - bang. Everything stopped and it has is taking a while to get it going again. The reason for this sudden halt - an infection which sneaked up on me then after one course of antibiotics disappeared for a whole 24 hours before returning with a sting in it's tail. So I am now on the second, longer and stronger, course of antibiotics and hoping that this time it will be knocked out enough never to get up again!

In the meantime while I was flat on my back in bed for three days, my mojo packed a suitcase and has gone on an extended holiday, nothing has been posted on the blog for days, all the challenges that I had ideas for have come and gone. Fortunately while waiting for my mojo to come back, hopefully suntanned and refreshed, I do have 'some I made earlier' I can tell you about, always assuming I can remember how I made them!

I think I will start with the card I made for my son-in-law back in the middle of August.

Materials used:
Little Claire digi stamp - Lazy Summer Days
acrylic stamp sentiment
woodgrain embossing folder
vintage photo distress ink
black archival ink pad
Copic pens
cream card
green card
stamping card
white A5 card blank
corner rounder punch
gold jump rings
small clasp
round nosed pliers
cowboy hat charm

Method:
I printed out my image to the size I wanted and coloured it with Copics before trimming down and rounding the corners. I matted it onto a slightly larger piece of green card with rounded corners. I stamped out my sentiment onto a scrap of stamping card, trimmed and matted it with green card, rounding the corners as before. I used the woodgrain embossing folder to emboss the cream card and then coloured it with the distress ink before cutting a panel to fit across the front of the card. Before attaching the embossed panel I punched a small hole at the top right.

Having attached the embossed panel to the card base, being careful not to stick the hole down, I attached my image and sentiment to the card. Finally I made up a short chain of gold jump rings and attached the charm to one end and the clasp to the other. This then was attached to the card by clipping it onto the embossed panel through the hole at the top. The idea is that the charm on it's chain can be taken off the card and attached to a key ring.

Now that I am on my feet again, and once I have caught up with all the school work and housework that has been neglected for the last few days, I hope to get back into the crafting swing of things again, mojo willing!

Thanks for popping by. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Outlawz Friday Colouring - Hats
Word Art Wednesday #200 - Anything goes
Simply Papercraft Challenges #13
Crafting With Friends #6
Creative Fingers Challenge #92
Art By MiRan #40
Colour Your World With Lucy Sunshine
Craft Your Passion #279
Scrapbook Stamp Society #75 - Anything Goes Option Hat
Ikes World Challenges #46 - One for the men
TTCRD Challenge September 15-21, 2015
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
Your Scrapbook Place September Challenge: Anything Goes

Celebrate

We celebrated our Pearl Wedding Anniversary at the end of August so I just had to make a card!

Materials used:
Jellypark Digital Crafts - Romantic couple at table
stamping card
square card
Centura Pearl card
red roses vellum
x-cut doily die
circle die
Copic pens
silver peel off greeting and numbers
flat backed pearl gems

Method:
I turned the card blank into an easel card, printed out the image and coloured it in with the copics. I die cut the image with a circle die and ran a black pen around the edge. I cut a mat from the vellum with the doily card attached my image and then attached it to a piece of the centura pearl card cut to fit the card front. I cut a smaller doily and a circle from centura pearl to make the card stopper. I layered another piece of centura pearl inside the card blank and than fixed my made up stopper to it. Finally I added the words, number and two pearls to finish it off.

I think the couple in the image look more like us when we got married rather than how we look now. But a girl can dream that the passage of time only affects other people!

Thanks for stopping for a while. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into these challenges:
Crafty Calender Challenge - Anything Goes
Anything Goes Craft challenge at The Pencil Case
Crafting with friends challenge #5 - Anything goes
Crafty Catz Challenge #291 - Anything goes
Jo's Scrap Shack #104 - Anything goes
Simply Create Too #93 - It's a Special Occasion
Creative Fingers #91 - Anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude #7 - Anything goes
Your Scrapbook Place September - Anything goes
Crafting from the heart #75 - Anything goes
Through the Craft room Door challenge- Sept. 1- Sept. 7
Inspiration Destination Anything Goes #49

Art By Mi Ran Challenge

Art by Mi Ran has a progressive challenge on the Facebook page with some lovely images to use. This is my attempt for this month.

Materials used:
Art By Mi Ran image - Digi Girl 242
Spellbinders Triple Floral die set
small silver letter peel offs (from stash)
white square card blank
blending card
red card
Copic pens

Method:
I printed out the image and coloured it with Copics before useing the die set to cut it into a square. I cut the frame from the red card. I matted the image onto the red frame and then onto the front of the card. Finally I added the little stickers to make up the greeting on the bunting.

It's the final day of freedom for me and I expect with the start of term tomorrow there will be less crafting going on for a while. Then all too soon the Christmas panic will set in as I realise that yet again not a single card has been made and I have still not done any things for my stall at the Church Christmas bazaar! It happens every year and every year I say next year will be more organised and I will start earlier!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into:
The Art By Mi Ran Facebook Challenge
Crafting by Designs September - Anything Goes
Beccy's Place September Challenge
Doodle Pantry Ants in my Pantry digital challenge 9
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart #75
Clear it out Challenge - Anything Goes/stash Anything Goes
Through the Craft room Door challenge- Sept. 1- Sept. 7
Inspiration Destination Anything Goes #49

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to school we go!

It's not just children who dread the end of the summer break, teachers do too! So it was a bit of a shock to be up early this morning ready for the first morning back. The children still have a couple of days off but teachers and teaching assistants were back today, preparing for the the new classes and updating First Aid Training! With the start of September and the new academic year there are a number of challenges with the back to school theme, I could hardly let that go by!

Materials used:
Lacy Sunshine - Scrappin Sue
scalloped edged oval die set
tag die
Activity Village - Grid Paper
Activity Village - School Books Paper
A5 white card blank
blending card
Copic pens

Method:
I printed out my two papers and the image. I coloured the image with Copic pens then cut it out along with a larger sized mat from one of the papers using the scalloped oval dies. I cut a piece of the second paper big enough to cover the front of the card with a small border around it then cut a tag from the waste with the tag die and wrote 'Staffroom' on it. Finally I mounted the image onto the mat and the whole topper to the card, placing the tag at the bottom using foam pads.

Although this image is not a traditional school image it did remind me of a colleague at school who puts up a lot of the displays and has very curly hair!

Thank you for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - School Challenge
Scrap Creations Challenge - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations #139 - Anything Goes/Twist of School
Crafting from the Heart #75 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion #277 - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge #114 - Back to School
Melonheadz Friends - Time for School
Lacy Sunshine's Challenge #66 - Back to School
If You Give A Crafter A Cookie Challenge #26