Saturday 15 October 2016

Batch Baking

As you may have guessed from my very sparse posts lately, life has been quite hectic for me. I am still running back and forth to the Okanagan to visit my Mum and do some work at our townhouse there. I do not have TV or internet there and it is a long walk out to access the one local cafe that has free WIFI.

I try to rescue my evenings there, by picking up a shopping bag of books at the local thrift shop in her village. While my crafting and my blogging are almost non existent,  I am managing to finish a lot of books! This is great therapy for me as many of you may not realize that it took me a couple of years to learn to read all over again, after my car accident. I still do not always  comprehend  written directions, so reading is a good therapy for me. Sadly, I have to stick with books that concentrate on two or three characters or I will have trouble keeping them sorted out...lol

Luckily, I have a lot of cards that I had not yet blogged. I have been posting those lately, and will continue to do so till the New Year. Today's cards are a couple from a series of ten that I made up from some pre-coloured images I had on hand. I cut them out with a Spellbinders Labels die and then cut a mat from my snippets folders. Although they are similar colours, they do not match as I am on a quest to use up some of my snippets. My background DP was cut from a 12x12 scrapbook paper. If you have prints that are of a smaller scale, this is such a great way to make multiple cards. You can get 4 6x6 cards from each sheet.

Whenever I have small snippets of green card leftover, I try to die cut or punch it up into greenery. These come in so handy for cardmaking...especially up at the lake. Today's cards feature a couple colours of that greenery.  In much the same manner, Martha Stewart hydrangea flowers were punched from all sorts of coloured snippets and filed for future us...such as today! I used a round stylus to
lightly shape each layer of petals before attaching them to the card.


The "Happy" and "Hello" were stamped letter by letter on a Memory Box banner die. "Birthday" was stamped and then punched out with a Stampin' Up word punch.


A few Dollar Store pearl bling finished this off quite nicely.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pixies Crafty Workshop - must use snippets
2. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - must cover card with patterned paper


29 comments:

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

This is very pretty! I like the image, but the way you were able to add sentiment to the banner is just fun! TFS!

Kathyk said...

Super make, fab image - keep up with the reading and I hope the therapy works for you. Here's hoping life gets less complicated for you soon too

Kathyk

cuilliesocks said...

Just sp pretty Maureen, lovely colouring and design.
Sounds as if you have your hands full just now, but it's good to see you here whenever ou can make it, take care, Kate x

McCrafty's Cards said...

Gorgeous card Mo, I like the image and the embellishments
Kevin xx

cotnob said...

Fabulous cards Mo, such a pretty image and lovely flowers.
Pauline
x

Sandy said...

These are such pretty cards Mo, and I like your tip about pre-die-cutting greener out of snippets. I suspect if I did that I would definitely find a use for it.
Glad you're enjoying reading. It's one of my favorite activities, but I don't make time for it like I should.

dutchess said...

Always good to read ...my favourite pastime....how is Mum getting on,it's a real stressful time for you and
I hope you are looking after yourself!....take care xxxx

Kathleen said...

Two lovely cards, a great image and design.

Kath x

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Two beautiful cards Maureen, lovely images and gorgeous little flowers. Hope the weather there is staying OK for all of your traveling.

Sue xx

Craftychris said...

Love these! So cool to use up lots of snippets. I like your idea of die cutting your green card into greenery so it's there ready to use, think I may 'borrow' this idea! Thank you! Reading is good in any form. You have done amazingly well as you had to learn to read all over again after your accident! xxx

Greta said...

Sweet cards, Maureen! Great use of your snippets!

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Two gorgeous cards Maureen, your pretty flowers frame this lovely image beautifully. Sending you strength and kind wishes, try not to get too run down being there for everyone.
Lorraine

Jenny L said...

Hi Maureen,
what very lovely cards, and the design is fab.
Your wonderful images are making me feel hungry.
I very rarely read these days as my eyes are not good enough.
Luckily I can expand the print on the computer when blogging, but it all take a time.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

AlisonC said...

The greenery is very pretty and what a good idea to cut it out on advance from snippets. The little banners are lovely with the letters stamped on to them.
I find it difficult to follow a book with lots of characters, I like the ones with a list in the front! Lol

Anonymous said...

such a sweet card! i love the banner and the tiny flowers. good to read you're enjoying your books!

Barb said...

Oh these are pretty Mo. What a tastey looking image. Love the sentiment bunting too.

It does sound as if you are having a very busy time. You take care. Hugs, Barbxx

cass said...

Great card, pretty paper. Great paper. Thanks for joining us at CHNS patterned Paper Challenge this month.

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Mo I love this gorgeous card the image and colours are fabulous, hope the future brightens for you
hugs
lorraine x

Di said...

Fabulous cards Mo and what a brilliant idea to punch up foliage in advance from snippets of green! I'm gonna try that idea here.

Hugs

Di xx

SewPaperPaint said...

This is so so pretty! Hugs, Autumn

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I thought I'd pop over and visit from the Snippets Playground. What a great way to finish off the snippets by making greenery out of them. I used to be much better at punching and die cutting my leftover bits but not so much now. Your cards are very lovely. Their color makes me happy.

Dr Sonia S V said...

Hi Maureen such a sweet card you have shared and so wonderful you are able to read. So admire you for being able to count your blessings
PS : I just mailed you my DT card...hope it doesnt get lost in cyber world like last time!!

Darnell said...

Your snippets card is so lovely, Maureen! I love hydrangeas, so your tender loving care of your hydrangea petals looks fabulous to me! You take care on the road going back and forth and I hope things calm down for you soon. It's so good that you regained your ability to read so you can enjoy books again. I was off the computer for twelve straight days on my recent trip and after awhile I quite liked it. Mind you, it hasn't taken me long to get right back into the inter webs again, lol!! Hugs, Darnell

Pat said...

These are very pretty Maureeen and the flowers and leaves frame the topper so beautifully and the blue and light brown are lovely together. x

Greta said...

Thought I'd left you a comment--must have seen the post on my phone & forgot when I got to my laptop. Anyway, hope your mom is doing OK. The BD cards are beautiful, Maureen--love the banners!

Catie Cuddles said...

Both beautiful. Glad you are enjoying your reading.
Thanks for joining us at Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge.
Happy Crafting!
Catherine X DT

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Lovely work Mo, glad you're having a break up at the lake, pray your dear mum isn't poorly to need you there. Sending hugs,
Shaz in Oz.x

Tina Z. said...

wow, super cute!

Lindsey said...

My mind instantly turned to cake when i read "batch baking" !! Never mind! Two lovely crafted cards instead. Good idea to save your green offcuts for foliage - might try annd remember that x