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Wednesday 24 October 2012

Sometimes..........

You Just have to do What you Think is Right!

Have you ever been at a place where you have weighed up all the pros and cons of life and finally come to a decision or two?  Well, just recently, after spending a whole year re-evaluating my life.........that's exactly what I have done.

A year ago my life was turned upside down (I am not going to tell you how!) and it left me in a state of confusion, anger, fear, depression and all the other negative emotions one can have.  Now, the thing about going through emotional turmoil is that it affects your physical being.......your body!  Lack of sleep......over-tiredness...........headaches etc  For me, it resulted in hands and feet losing skin............difficulty in eating and keeping food down.......staying indoors and hiding from the world.

That's just a part of it......but here comes the upside........... I have realised that I am loved.........


I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a friend (to those who want me to be a friend).  My abilities are far greater than I have realised...........I love life!


The thing is...........we only get one shot at living.  It's NOT a dress rehearsal, so I am just getting on with life and learning to let go.  

Card making has been one of the ways I have been keeping occupied during the really bad times as well as the good times. Here are some examples of recent makes:

Fancy a cup of tea and a cup-cake?


The cards I am showing you today are all from CraftsUprint sheets, which I have downloaded, cut up and made.  I will include the codes so that if you fancied going into the CraftsUprint website you will be able to search and find them.  This beautiful 8x8" square card is a Birthday card for someone who loves their tea and cake.  It's title is Berry-Liscious Tea, and was designed by Mary Jane Harris. The code for it is: cup344753_99 .   It is so simple to make.  All I did was cut out the pieces and decoupaged the cup-cake and fruit and the round brown button.  It is so very modern and yet quaint, I think.

Here is another one:

This is, of course, completely different.  Again I have used an 8x8" square card, this time a brown one.  I cut out the globe and the circles and butterflies and layered and decoupaged the pieces.  I love steampunk, and I know it is not to everyone's taste but this just shouted out to me to make it, so I did.  I added the sentiment to the side so that I left room around the base of the globe to put a person's name if needed.  The designer's name is Karen Wyeth and the code is: cup314423_1056

And now for something completely different:



A very delicate card that looks like a framed picture on the card.  I loved making this one as I like the scalloped corner, which is built up over a few layers.  I used another 8x8" pink square card (purchased from Craft Creations).  I printed the sheet out onto ultra premium photographic paper (Kodak) and cut all the pieces out.  Before sticking it onto the card I glued white cotton lace down the left hand side and overlaid it with pink spotty silk ribbon and a bow.  I then stuck down the image and layered up the scallops corners.  To finish it off I glued a fabric flower to the top right hand corner of the image. Mary Jane Harris is the designer for this image and the code number is: cup315160_99.

What about Christmas then.........it's not far away, so I thought I would make a start on some Christmas cards:


I like this Christmas card because I love the colours, and again it is really simple to make.  Once I had printed the sheet off, I cut all the pieces out.  This time I used an A5 white card onto which I stuck the blue main image.  I decoupaged the candle and baubles.  Using glossy accents I highlighted the hanging part of the baubles and the wax running down the candle.  I used stickler diamond ice on the church roof, tree and stars.  It may not be clear in the photograph but in real life it is sparkly and beautiful. The graphics are licensed by elena del rosario and nk digital art.  The code number is cup360713_566 .

Another Christmas card:



I have put two photographs of this one up because they both highlight the zigzag build up slightly differently.  This card is an A5 white card with the square image on the top and the sentiment underneath. The first layer is bronze mirri-paper (purchased at Craft Creations) over which I have wrapped white lace and then layered matt silver card on top of it.  Then I stuck down the main image of the robin, after cutting out all the pieces.  I then used double sided sticky pads and layered up the zig zag corners (top left and bottom right) .  The sentiment is also matted on the same mirri-paper and matt card.............and Bob's your uncle (or not as the case may be!!) This sheet was designed by Ann-Marie Vaux and the code number is cup367048_10.

Finally, I just have to share this card, which I made today.  Most of you will know I am a Christian, and I make no apology for that.  It does mean that some of my cards are made using scripture or are for Christians in particular.  This card that I made today, is for someone who has just become a Christian:


I really loved this design when I saw it, but it didn't have the sentiment I wanted, so I sent the designer a message and within 24 hours she had added the sentiment that I wanted.  This is an 8x8" white based card.  After printing out the sheet I stuck the main image onto the card and decoupaged the bows and butterflies.  I added red gemstones to the flower centres, and added the sentiment at the bottom of the card.  The designer for this one is Sandra Carlse and the code number is cup369579_719.

I then thought I would like to make it more special, so I made a tag (you can see it i propped up next to the card) which says "With Love" and used pale pink gingham ribbon to attach it to the main card.  I have shown you how I use embellishments to cover the place where the ribbons are stuck down on a previous blog.  I hope you like this one as much as I do.

So there you have it...................keeping myself busy, keeps my head up and my heart light:


Remember that...................



And:



See you again soon.

Love and hugs

Annie xxx

8 comments:

  1. You;ve been busy again with all your cards. I love the shaped ones, especially the clock designed one. The festive ones a great :D

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Trace

      and thank you for visiting me. I love it when people are so encouraging.

      Love and hugs

      Annie xxx

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  2. You've got to give me time to hop, I'm not as quick as I used to be!
    You're blogs are so serene Annie. As Lovely as your cards.
    K

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  3. lol at you not being as quick as you used to be...........join the club!!!

    Thank you for your lovely comments, I love it when people visit my blog and have something good to say about it.

    Love and hugs

    Annie xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous selection of cards Annie. And some interesting musings on life.

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  5. Oh thank you Gwyneth. And thank you for visiting my blog today too. I love card making, but have not been doing it for long, so everything is fairly new to me. I started this blog earlier this year, and am loving it.

    Love and hugs

    Annie xxx

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  6. Annie I love your cards and your sayings - to be loved is the best gift anyone can give you and you are blessed to be loved by the people around you - and no wonder, you are kind, generous of spirit and heart and most of all supportive and good hearted to everyone who comes your way.
    You have been really busy - I love your cards - especially the steam punk one, I have to admit I don't understand the concept behind steam punk but wow do I like the beautiful creations that people do and you don't always have to understand something to like it.
    Happy blog hopping
    hugs
    Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you Eileen, for visiting and for your kind words too. Steampunk is like art........you don't have to understand it to love it..........and some people love it and other's plain hate it, but I don't mind. I enjoy making them. The concept is hard to decipher......just think of the film Time Travel, Victorian era, mixed with steam engines, cogs and all things weird!!

    Love and hugs

    Annie xxx

    ReplyDelete