Raining Cats & Dog Cards etc

Good morning ladies. Sorry I didn't manage to get a blog up last week but time just got away on me somehow.

Firstly, I must give you an update on our daughter Rachelle. On the whole she is keeping very positive but as you can imagine she has her moments. The chemotherapy begins on Tuesday, she has two treatments of that, then starts having radiotherapy as well. The chemo is fortnightly for six months but the radiotherapy is daily for around four to five weeks. I am planning on being with her for a while but we will see how it pans out and how she tolerates the treatments. She is an absolute treasure, we love her dearly and pray she will be given the strength to cope with it all, also for Mike, Ella and Hami as a family.

Last weekend five of us "girls" had a crafting weekend at Lake Opuha and what a lovely time we had. I managed to get all my orders done, classes prepared and generally felt I had achieved quite a bit.

This is a photo of the five of us taken at the farm where we stayed. Doreen's brother owns the run and we have the farm  cottage. It certainly is a lovely area up under the snow topped mountains. Now I must share some cards that I have made.

I love Graphic 45 papers and Raining Cats and Dogs is no exception - this is one of their newer ranges.

Lastly, I am sharing the card I made for our Ella who has reached the grand old age of 16 - this does look a bit like her only she has honey blonde hair. Anyway she seemed pleased with it and Nanas can make allowances at times! It is a Kenny image.

Thanks ladies for your interest and taking the time to check out my blog. It is so nice to know you are all there and it sure makes blogging worthwhile. Your messages, emails are prayers are very much appreciated.

Happy crafting all and many blessings,

Betsy xxx

Mix and Match Cards With Box

Good morning ladies and what a lovely morning it is. Doors and windows are all open to let the lovely Spring air blow through.

Our Rachelle got home on Tuesday, from hospital and it was lovely having four days with her - she is really very good and ever so positive. She hasn't started the chemo yet, as the surgery has to heal but hopefully there will be not too many adverse effects. She is still struggling with the stoma but it will not be forever - although six months seems a long time to her, at the moment. The family are coping just fine - being with them all is a real encouragement. They have a very wide network of friends so she hasn't time to get too lonely and does enjoy them around.

Today I would like to share with you the cards and box I have made, for Artfull Crafts, using the Mix and Match Collection from Kaisercraft. I really enjoyed playing with this one and I love the finished result. The colours are gorgeous and I know it will be a good seller. What's your thoughts ladies?

The box was made using the envelope maker - what an invention that is! The four cards fit nicely into it and can be given as a gift which I find people do appreciate.

All today, happy crafting and God bless you all. Thank you all so much for the feedback I have received, since my previous post - it is so lovely to associated with such a caring group of friends.


Betsy  xxx

A Little Personal Update

Well ladies, I am finding it rather hard to settle this morning as we received the news last evening that our daughter Rachelle, has now to go through chemotherapy, after having surgery last Tuesday. The surgeon was so positive that the cancer was contained but it's not to be so. We had Friday and Saturday with her and I am heading up to be with her tomorrow, for when she gets home from hospital. There are still a few problems that need to be sorted out. She is so lovely and really positive under the circumstances, after having a little meltdown when the surgeon was in last night. We would value special prayers for our precious daughter, husband Mike, Ella and Hami, as it is so hard seeing one you love so much, suffering. We are still trusting all will be well and to this end we are praying.

Last weekend we celebrated three gentlemen's, combined 80th birthdays. We had a lovely time on Sunday afternoon and I thought I would share the three cards I made for them.

Denis's card I made with an August collection from Kaisercraft, Outdoor Trail. We made this style of card with Liz at Artfull Crafts and as I liked it so much, thought I would make one similar. As you no doubt guessed, Denis is a fisherman.

Donald is a retired headmaster and as I wasn't sure of his interests ( I do know he loves books!) so thought maybe he would enjoy a sea card. This is using Graphic 45, By The Sea Collection.

Peter is also a fisherman, but  he does have a vintage car and I have used Kaisercraft's August 2012 collection, Sears and Son, for his card. It was great to celebrate this milestone, with them all.

Happy crafting to you all and may each one of you know many blessings.

Betsy  xxx

Cards X's Four

Hello to all my special blog friends.

Spring has Sprung, but at Geraldine, New Zealand, it is rather hard to imagine as we have a dull, cloudy day, here today. After a lovely warm Summer's day yesterday, it is a bit disappointing but dare say it will arrive when it's ready. We really haven't had much rain at all lately, as a result the garden is getting a little dry. Still the spring bulbs are well through, camellias are out and the magnolia trees are bursting. I LOVE Springtime!!

Today I am going to share three cards that I have recently made.

This card was made for a lovely lady up North, who wanted purple and butterflies. For it I have used the Elizabeth Butterfly Die which is gorgeous and Kaisercraft's  Violet Crush. This collection is ever so popular.

As Fiskars are so kind, having sponsored me and sending me the wonderful Fuse Cutting Machine, I had to have a play with the letterpress. Found it so much fun and it so happened, I had a number of Thank You cards to make. A BIG THANKS goes to Fiskars for their generosity.

One always seems to need sympathy cards! A very simple card using Spellbinders Labels 8 and Decorative Labels 8 dies. The cross is a Marianne Die and I'm sorry, I haven't the code for it. It was borrowed from my friend, Faye.

Well, we have a busy week ahead of us with quite a bit of travelling - our daughter is undergoing surgery tomorrow in Christchurch and Nana and Grand-dad just need to be on hand. Mind you, we couldn't stay away, as we love our Rachelle so much, we want to be there for her. We just pray all will go well and that the Surgeons will be given wisdom, in what to do.

All today ladies, happy crafting and much blessings to you all.

Betsy  xxx

Attention Teresa!!

Good morning all.

While we were in Australia at the Kaisercraft Retailer's Days, I had the privilege of spending some time with the lovely Teresa Abajo and, as usual when we meet, we think of a challenge. As we were playing with Kaisercraft's, Teddy Bears Picnic at the time, it was only natural that we put together a collection of bits and pieces of that gorgeous range. Oh, how I love teddy bears and this collection is so fabulous. (Yes, I know it is not due out until next month but that's only a week away, isn't it?!)  I think I may have missed out as a kid!


I must share a photo of my family, sitting on their seat, at the front door. A number of years ago, I did go through the bear making craze, hence my collection. Plenty more went to the grandchildren as each arrived.

Now, to return to the challenge. We visited a Quilt and Craft Show while we were in Melbourne and I picked up this lovely box card cut out, from a stall that was there. For those interested, they are called Scrapmatts & Papertole Australia and their website is www.scrapmatts.com.There was a lovely selection of goods and I certainly will be returning, to visit them. I also have another couple of different ones to try out, so you may see them in the future, when I get them made up.

It was fun to put this together but I do hope I haven't overstepped the challenge Teresa, by using the cut-out.

Well ladies, I do enjoy these challenges with Teresa, as she really stretches my mojo and I wait with anticipation for her showing!

Special love to you Teresa and family, and also Leslie - I did enjoy my time spent with you both.
Must away, happy crafting  and pray you will all be blessed today and this new week.

Betsy  xxx

Grand-daughter's Birthday Tags.

A special hello everyone - sorry I am a trifle late but we had a funeral this morning, an elderly friend from Hugh's young days. It was a lovely service, almost a happy occasion really as she was 94years old and well ready for her " Homecall ".

We had a very happy weekend with our daughter Rachelle and son in law, as we travelled to Dunedin to see Rachelle receive her Masters, with distinction. She certainly made her Mum and Dad very proud as she walked across the stage, to be capped. . She has worked so hard, as well as performing her duties as a wife, mother to Ella and Hami, running a home and also holding down a job. Well done Shells.

Today I thought I would share two tags that I have made for our two grand-daughters, Danielle and Jade. They have reached the grand old age of seventeen - my, how our little girls are growing up!

I don't know about the girls but I love these Julie Nutting dolls and have so much fun dressing them. These are quite self explanatory really, very easily made using the Prima Tags and of course Kaisercraft's lovely papers.

Thanks so much for taking the time to check this out. Happy crafting to you all and may you know much blessing. Hope you are enjoying the same lovely weather that we are.

Betsy xxx

Recent Cards

Good morning to all my blog friends. Another week has flown by with not much evidence of anything I have achieved, other than cards, cards and more cards. The list seemed to have crept up on me but there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel now. Whew!! The garden is calling very loud and clear, needing lots of attention, so that will have to be the next project.

Today I will share three cards that I have recently completed - all are very different.

These Julie Nutting dolls are rather fun to dress, as a lot of my friends have discovered. They bring back memories of the paper dolls that we used to have as kids. The teenage girls seem to like the tags and Millie Rose did love receiving this one. We were with her for her eleventh birthday before the family left for their overseas trip.

Another card using Marianne's Step Card Die, made for an order. The paper was bought from Paper Arts, while at SENZ - it is gorgeous and Patsy has a lot more in stock but one can't buy them all as one would like to!!

Who loves Spoodle dogs? Again this was made for an order and Graham  is a Spoodle dog owner. I searched Google for this photo and wasn't disappointed. I have recessed a window and placed him in, after printing him off twice and raising him up. I am not a doggy person but I thought he looked so cute - could almost be tempted!!

Timaru is calling this afternoon, as there is a church craft afternoon, making cards - Hugh has threatened to clamp the wheels on my car, so as to keep me at home ( all in good nature, I'm sure!!) so had better get some work done before I head out. It's not gardening weather today, thankfully!!

Thanks so much for stopping by, I do appreciate you all and love hearing from you.

Trust you will all be blessed today, happy crafting.

Betsy  xxx