What's been happening

Hello dear Followers..

Every time I write it seems as though it's been ages since I've done so.  Some of you have written to me either commenting on my work or asking me about my PENNY FLOWERS eBook and I have been so remiss in responding to you.  I do hope you'll forgive me and PLEASE, write to me again because I'm afraid I have forgotten who has asked or said what.  When you do write.. please make sure you tell me this is not your first time in writing to me.  For those I've neglected... I shall send you a copy of my eBook, free of charge.... oh and for anyone else who asks.  
One thing I have found is that if I am going to send my eBook.. then you need to have an email that will accept a big file.  It's about 12meg.

Now... first of all let me tell you what has been happening in my life.  About six months ago? (goodness, I cant remember how long) my knee started to give me problems.  As if it wasn't bad enough that my back causes me so much pain.. then my knee.  I have finally gone and had an xray and ultra sound on it.  The new is not good.  I have severe Osteo Arthritis in the right knee and I am going to need full knee reconstruction/replacement surgery.  Given that I'm so poor... this means going on a waiting list which could be up to a year... and that's just to see the orthopedic surgeon.  I know there are so many who suffer worse than I do so I am trying not to complain too much.

What else is there to tell you?  Oh I know!!  I've joined Pinterest. I had so many people tell me they had seen my cards on this 'pinterest' and I not only didn't know what it was but sure didn't understand it. Well after hearing so many ladies talking about it... I signed up.  I've put some of my work there and some of my interests.... but I'm still a learner and don't know sometimes how to invite someone to follow me etc.  If you would like to see my Pinterest.. which I remind you, is in it's early stages... here is the website (I think that is what one calls it)

Angie's Pinterest 

One more thing before I show you my latest card.  At the end of this month, AUGUST 30TH. to be precise, I will be demonstration at the Paperific Craft Show in Melbourne.  I'll be on the FATCATS CARD CORNER stand which is owned by the beautiful Kaaren.  So my friends.. if any of you are in Melbourne... I would just love it if you could come and say hello to me.  Please identify yourself as one of my Blog followers.  Oh how exciting that would be... to meet you in person.

Here is my latest card.  I haven't made too much that I can show you over the past month or so.  I've been getting ready for the above show and I'm keeping what I am demonstrating there a surprise... so as soon as the show is over.. I'll be sure to show you all.  Ok.. here is my latest...

Much love to you all...

hugs.... Angie      Oh.. and a big MEIOWWWWWW from my little Duchess...  Fergie!

Where has the first part of our year gone?

I can't believe we're already into July.  Where did the first six months of the year go?
I'm dealing with a lot of pain lately and trying to adjust to a new medication regime which isn't easy.. Thank goodness I have my faith in God.. and the talent HE has given me with my Craft Work. Here as some of my latest cards.  I hope you're all well and happy.     
hugs... Angie

Some cards made in May

So much has been happening in my life.  Firstly, I've been in a lot of pain with the problems I have in my back. This means a whole new lot of xrays and CT Scans and a relook at the pain medication I am on. As if this hasn't been enough to stress me out, on Saturday, 1st June, we were in a car accident. Praise God neither my hubby or I were hurt but the driver who rammed into the back of us took off and we don't have any of his/her details.  The force in which we were hit spun our car around 180deg and up a gutter and small embankment.  Again, Praise God the only damage done was that we now need a complete new wheel, muffler and part of our exhaust and the tow bar is probably going to need replacing.  Lucky for us our car isn't one of the new ones that have a lot of plastic on them.. had it been, it would have been a write off!  

Over May I made a few cards.. here are some of them.

This last card (done in the red & black) is similar to one I've shown you before.  Just look back a few entries on my blog and you'll see it.  The difference between the two is that this one has different flowers.  These are the Die-Namics Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose whereas the first one was the Die-Namics Layered Rose.  This one I've used the Cheery Lynn City Girl Edger, whereas on the first one I used the Cheery Lynn Anastasia Lace.  The only other difference is that I used a different leaf swirl type of die on each of them.  
I hope you're all well and happy.  I'm currently working on some new ideas.. I'll show you when they're done. 

Heirloom Roses

Hi everyone..

Here is a card I've made and put on the FATCATS CARD CORNER gallery.  The roses are a newish die from Die-namics called  Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose.  I wasn't over impressed with it at first but once I applied my PENNY FLOWERS techniques to it, I am much happier with the finished rose.

Here are the dies I have used with it.

DIES USED:
Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose Die-Namics Die
Large Lantern Creatables Die LR0190
Anastasia Border Cheery Lynn Die B136
Franciful Flourish Cheery Lynn Die B117
Small Leafy Branch Vintage Flourishes Die 6003/0026
Isabella Butterfly Memory Box Die 98507
Pippi Butterfly Memory Box Die 98508

DON'T FORGET THE COMPETITION RUNNING AT FATCATS PRESENTLY.  You've got to the 25th May to get your cards (limit of 2 entries per person).

hugs... Angie

New cards

Hi Everyone..

I've had so much happening of late that I haven't been able to keep up, let alone post on my blog.  However.. I think things are settling down now.

COMPETITION!!!
Firstly... I want to tell you about a COMPETITION that FATCATS CARD CORNER has going at present. This competition is so easy... What you have to do is:  Upload a card to the Fatcats Gallery using any of the Marianne Creatables or Craftables dies that they currently sell.  You do not need to have purchased the dies from Fatcats.  There is a limit of 2 entries per person.  Closing date is the 25th May 2013.  Overseas entries are Welcome.   
Now for the best part... the PRIZE.  First Prize is a $200 Voucher and Second Prize is a $100 voucher.   Now who wouldn't like to spend that much in Fatcat's Card Corner?  I know I would but I am excluded because I am on the design team there... otherwise I would be in it in a flash.  The link to Fatcats is on the right hand side here of my Blog... but just in case... Here it is again.

http://www.fatcatscardcorner.com.au/store/index.php 

If you are experiencing any problems loading to the Gallery... just let Kaaren (Mrs. Fatcats) :) know.

Now for my recent cards.  These two were made using two of the new die sets from Marianne Creatables...  Chair & Lamp Die set and  Cupboard & Frame Die set.  I'll list the dies for each one following the photo.

DIES USED:

French Lattice Small Cheery Lynn die FRM132
Chair & Lamp Marianne Creatables LR0267
Cupboard & Frame  Marianne Creatables LR0268
Mini Royal Rose Die-namics Set
Fabulous Phlox Memory Box Dies 98511
Mini Dimensional Butterfly Dies Cheery Lynn D138

DIES USED:

French Lattice Small Cheery Lynn die FRM132
Cupboard & Frame  Marianne Creatables LR0268
Trellis & Vine Die-Namics Die Set
Mini Royal Rose Die-namics Set
Flourish Leaf Strip Cheery Lynn Die B178
Humingbird Cheery Lynn die

Don't forget to enter your cards in the COMPETITION... who wouldn't want $200 or$100 worth of dies or anything else from the Fatcats Shop.... :)

Busy Times

So much has happened since I last posted.  I've been busy creating new cards using some of the new dies out.  I've had that nasty tooth removed and can I just say.. the Dentist was sensational.  I hardly felt it at all.  It just goes to show, if you get the right person and one who cares, it can make your experience so much better and that's saying something especially coming from a sook like me. The only down side to the day I had that tooth removed was hearing the new that one of my closest friends died that morning.  I was so sad and I sure am going to miss her dearly.  So right now, let me take this little bit of space to remember a dear dear friend, a fellow crafter and over all, a beautiful lady.  

R.I.P. Shirley Coward

Died 4th April 2013

now

"Safe in the arms of Jesus"

Here are some of my recent cards.  Rather than me list all the dies I've used, go to the FATCATS link on the right hand side here, and then look in the Gallery.  A full list of dies is there.. and not only my work but the lovely work of others on the design team there.

I hope you're all well.  I love this time of year because I know the cold weather is approaching. While many hate that, I love it when it's cold.  It's not so hard to get cosy but it sure is difficult to cool down.  Many MEIOWs and Purrrrs from my Duchess, Fergie and lots of hugs from me, Angie.

It doesn't rain for me... IT POURS!

Hello dear followers..

Yes.. in my life it doesn't just rain but POURS.  My hand is slowly healing and I'm able to do more than I have been for some time..  However.. on Sunday morning I awoke to having an abscess on one of the few bottom teeth that I have.  My face was so swollen and the pain was frightful.  I have a terrible fear of the dentist but I just had to go see him.  The result is that I have to have that tooth removed but not until the swelling goes down and the infection clears up.  He put me on antibiotics and now I about a two week reprieve.  I go to get it out on the 4th April.  I would so much appreciate your prayers that I wont be so scared.  I had major work done on my teeth two years ago and even knowing I had to go just for an examination I fainted five times!  Oh what a sook I am :)

Enough of my groaning and moaning.  Here is a card I made the day before I had my bandages removed.  I just couldn't wait, could I?  It's no work of art but it does show what we can do with dies.

The main dies used on this card was the Marianne Creatables Floral Layers,  Memory Box Chloe Stem and one of the Cheery Lynn Tiny Borders.  I used a Martha Stewart around the page punch on the corners and the bottom border.

Over the weekend just gone I made another card which I first intended to make some of my own flowers but my hands are not quite up to it yet so I used some rolled roses made with dies.

 The dies used on this card are:

Anja's Squares Creatables Die LR0242
Leafy Stem Creatables Die LR0150
Royal Rose Die-namics Die
Mini Royal Rose Die-namics Set
Memory Box Almira Flourish

I've had a couple of emails from some of you asking me different questions.  Whilst I've had my blog for some time I still consider myself a learner :)  so please.. If you want to ask me something email me at angieandtshina@gmail.com
  that way I can respond to you much better.  For those who have emailed me and not received an answer I would ask PLEASE send me a POKE...  my poor memory suffers so and the last thing I would ever want anyone thinking is that I don't care because that is not the case.  My poor health necessitates me taking medication that sometimes effects my short term memory.  So I say it again, PLEASE, if I don't answer or haven't answered email me again!   You are not being a nuisance, you will be making me happy.

Thank you for your love and support.  You're all the best.


hugs... Angie

Update on ME

Hello dear friends..

Surgery went well. Now comes the hard part... doing without the use of my right hand.  I'll be having the dressings removed on Tuesday but I think it'll still be a while before I'm back to normal. Thanks for your messages of love and prayers.

much love and hugs... Angie

The time has come

Hello dear followers..

Well the time has come when I must stop crafting but only for a few weeks.  This Monday, 4th March,  I will be having surgery on my right hand to hopefully, fix the carpal tunnel problem that is causing me so much pain.  Twelve weeks later they will do my left hand.

Here are a few cards I've made over the past week or so.

This first one was done with one of Marianne Craftables new dies, Coffee Cup.  This die comes with a Cup, Saucer and Spoon.  

 I was looking through my cards folder and I don't think I showed you these two next cards.  One was made for a special friend's new baby.  The second one was made for the first birthday of another friend's granddaughter's.  Both are Easel Cards.

Please keep me in your prayers as I go to have my surgery on Monday.  While I have waited so long to have this procedure done, I am a little nervous. It was explained to me the risks by my plastic surgeon and while there is a chance of nerve damage... be it ever a small one.. It just has to be done.  I need my hands!
Much love.  Angie

Dogwood Flowers & Chicken Wire

Here's another card that is way out of my comfort zone.  I'm so used to using pretty pastel colours but it is good to venture outside our comfort zones.
I thought today, rather than just show you my finished product I would explain a little about how I did it.
For my flowers, I used one of the shapes from Cheery Lynn Build a Flower3...

I used the shapes that are yellow coloured (2nd row from bottom, right side) and cut four of these.
I used some brown ink (from a stamp pad) which I applied with a small pom pom to the little 'notch' area of the petals.  I gave the petals some shaping and moulding and then cut off the little bit of the stem part that has a small hole and then adhered one petal per arm of my base shape.
For the base shape you could use anything that has four arms.. for example, I used a small hydrangea flower..

It's important after gluing the petals to your base shape that you allow it to dry completely.  Then give it some cupping in the centre to make the flower sit how you'd like it to. 
Now for the centre I pondered on this for some time to come up with something that would be appropriate.  I used five tiny daisies that I cut out of brown paper.

Give each daisy severe cupping and stand them up against each other.  This is hard for me to explain so let me show you up close so you can see it better.

Now add some leaves.  I used some very plain leaves I had that are part of the Spellbinders Rose Creations set.  I rubbed them over with some green Metallic Cream Chalk which game them some sheen.
The rest of the card:   I used the Cheery Lynn Chicken Wire which I cut to make it look a little rustic. I placed two Cheery Lynn Lace Corners Deco A opposite corners. .. Best Wishes (Cheery Lynn) finished off my card.
This is the first time I have ever given any type of instructions.  I do hope they work out ok for you and perhaps be a help for someone.  Here is the finished project.  hugs... Angie

Pink Cross Card

Whilst resting after my foot surgery so many ideas were formulating up here .  I've got a few scribbled card maps that I want to make up asap so I don't lose the thought.  Here is one of these ideas and I'm not finished with it yet... I have a few variables to the idea.

 I've used the Creatables Cross Die, The Die-namics Royal Roses and Anya 1 Leaves. I also used the Memory Box Isabella & Pippi Butterfly dies.

Elephant paper piecing

Hello dear friends..

I've had the surgery on my toes and all went so well.  Already the dressings are off and I only just have bandaids on them.  I'm getting about just fine but still taking it easy.  Thanks so much for your messages of love and prayer.

Here is a card I made for a friends birthday a few weeks ago.  I couldn't show you until she had received it, which she has.  My friend Jax loves elephants so when I saw this pattern I just had to try my hand at paper piecing again.. then it was only right who it should go to.

As you can see... I made this into an easel card.

Much love and hugs to all.    Angie

Update on ME

Hello dear followers,
Tomorrow I go into hospital, just for the day, to have surgery on both my big toes.  About eight years ago I had the big toenails removed permanently because they were always getting infected. Those of you who may know anything about Diabetes will know that we have to be very careful about our feet.
Well... the surgeon at the time didn't do them properly and ever since I have had a sliver of nail grow up on the outer side of each big toe.  I wont tell you how I've been removing it  needless to say my Diabetes Educator insisted the hospital fix their error!
I been in bed most of this week with a nasty cold and thought for a while they might not even do it but the rest, vitamin C and plenty of fluids seems to have got me over the worst and I'm feeling well enough for this.  Please keep me in your prayers.

Here are some cards I've made recently. These are made in styles I've done before.  It's amazing how changing colours and/or adding different embellishments can make such a differnce.

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow when I can.  Thanks for all the lovely comments you make on my work.  If I don't say too much it's because my hands are so sore.  The good news in relation to this is that two weeks after my toes are done, they're booking me in to have my right hand operated on for the Carpal Tunnel... and then 12 weeks after that, my left hand will be done.  So.. all going well my right hand will be done in about four weeks time.

Much love and hugs to all...  Angie

Blooming Violets

Hello friends...

Here is a card I just finished today.  The little flowers are BLOOMING VIOLETS from Memory Box and I've used the LOVELY LATTICE M-BOSSIBILITY FOLDER for my background, these folders are great becuase they are double sided and the two designs go well together.. at least they have with this one. I'm yet to check out the other designs. .  I added  the FRAME SQUARE from Joy Crafts as well as the Kaleidoscope Butterfly from Memory Box.

I'm so grateful for the floral dies that are available.  While I prefer to make my own flowers, it can be quite taxing on my sore hands... using the dies is easier for me. 

much love to all..... Angie

What to do with Fishes!

I've just got over a very busy weekend.  I celebrated my 60th Birthday on Saturday (12th) and then on the Sunday we had a belated Christmas get together with our eldest son and family.  They've been away from Melbourne for sixteen years and very rarely were we able to get together at Christmas time because their work/calling kept them at home (their home).  You see.. both son and daughter in law are Salvation Army Ministers.  The good news is they've been posted to a church here in Melbourne which means we will get to see them more often.

After the busy weekend I then had to go for a nerve test on my hands.  I can't say that was a pleasant experience.  Having electrical shocks go through my arms was an experience on it's own.  I had had this test done about 15 months ago and it wasn't as bad then as it was this time.  Back when I had the first test it showed that my left hand was mild to moderate Carpal Tunnel and my right, moderate to severe.  Now the left hand is moderate to severe and my right... severe to very severe.  I'm hoping when I see the plastic surgeon in just under three weeks he'll organise the surgery without me having to wait and suffer much longer.

I've just made two cards for Fatcats Card Corner using two different Dies from Joy Craft.  One is a Fisherman and the other is Four Fishes.  Gosh was I way out of my comfort zone with these but I enjoyed the challenge and I've now got my thinking cap on for more ideas.  Here is the one with the Fishes.  I painted them with Twinkling H2O's and put them into an Aquarium setting.  Although it's hard to see, the front has acetate over it to give the effect of the glass fish tank.

The Fisherman was the biggest challenge because I felt he needed to be in some sort of fishing scene.  Using sponges and stamps here is what I came up with.  Once finished it still needed something so I put a gold strip down the right hand side and put some of the Fishes on it... to give the appearance of a trophy display.

I must say.. the whole time I was making this card I couldn't help but sing the Chorus we used to sing in church... 'I will make you fishers of men'   I MUST print some of that verse out and incorporate it on a card.


Well... I'm back to my craft table.  While it's hard on my hands I do a little bit and then come back to it.. it's slow going but it means I can still craft.  Please keep me in your prayers.  It's a horrible thing to have my hands out of action and be hurting so much.

Much love....  Angie