NEW YEAR........NEW BEGINNINGS !

Hello to all you lovely people.......As you have probably noticed I am changing my blogging over to sewing as this is my first love ! I shall not be commenting on cardmaking so much now so please forgive me if I do not comment on your card creations ! I shall be posting once a week on all things embroidery and mixed media

with a few beady creations thrown in ! I have cleared my 'Blogs I follow' list as I really want to concentrate on

the fibre side of things ! I would like to thank all my followers for their diligence following my blog and if you

would still like to see what I am up to, then I would be delighted and honoured if you continue to follow me and

if not then all I can say is 'ENJOY YOUR CREATIONS AND A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !!!........................God bless Chris Richards xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Merry christmas everyone !

Still got some computer problems which I will endeaver to sort out after all the festivities........A huge thank you to all my followers, may you all have a very merry and peaceful christmas !
New beginnings in January and I look forward to a year of stunning creativity..........................
God bless you all......................best wishes Chris Richards    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

computer problems !

Hi Folks, cannot put any posts up as my computer has contracted a virus and will not be commenting on anyone's work for a few days ! Hope it will be fixed soon ! Have a good run up to christmas everybody !
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

TAST 2012 CHALLENGE !

Hello dear people.......thought it was about time for an update on my sewing project and just to show that I have'nt lost my card making skills, I have two cards to share with you ! First the cards......... I made these for a couple of people who are dear friends to me.......so I especially made the effort, hope you both like them !!!

Next is an update on my project.....got a little more done but so busy with christmas coming !!

And last but not least....I have been playing with a few stitches to get ready for my TAST 2012 CHALLENGE !
This is a challenge for a sampling of a different stitch each week and there are 500 people taking part ! If you would like to follow the progress of this chalenge, week by week or indeed join in then click the TAST LINK on my blog !! The sun is shining here in the uk today and my son is on his way home from Uni......I have not seen him for three months so tears of joy will fall......Have a fabulous, creative, peaceful and blessed day xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS !

Hello everyone, a nice bright sunny morning here in the UK ! This is the start of my latest embroidery.....It is an ELSA WILLIAMS traditional crewel embroidery kit, that is new on the market ! My dear husband treated me as he knew I had fallen in love with this piece !
It is embroidered with wool  by tradition and dates right back in history !! I shall post up my progress probably on a weekly basis for those are interested ! I cannot seem to muster up any mojo for card making at the moment, so sorry !!
Oh and by the way, my DH has posted the most fascinating fungi on his blog........We visited a place called 'Hay woods' this week and I was absolutely amazed at the array of Fungi growing there !! This is his blog address http://davesoldshortlegsphotoblog.blogspot.com/  Please if you have time take a little look !
Have a wonderful and peaceful day.........hugs chris R xxxxxxxxxxxx

INCHIES FUN !

Hello all, Sorry to be absent for so long, Its just such a busy time for me at the moment ! Here are some inchies that I have made recently........I have so many projects in the pipeline and I promise not to neglect my

blog in the future ! Hope you like what you see and maybe I've inspired someone today !!!
This is my favourite little chap Max....He is growing so quickly but my, is he a bundle of fun !!!!
One last thing that I need to mention......on my sidebar is a link to my eldest daughters new photographic blog ! Please if you have a moment, take a little look.....it is very interesting and shows lots of landmarks in the area that we live in!! Thank you for sparing the time to look at my blog today, I do so much appreciate your input......Have a fabulous week end.....hugs chris xxxxxxxxx

AUTUMN FLOURISH EMBROIDERY ......FINALE !!!

Hello my favourite people.....Just to let you know that this embroidery is finished and I can now proudly

showcase All my hard work ! !

I have so enjoyed and endured the making of this piece and need to thank certain people for their continuous support throughout ! Eileen, I thank you for putting a link up on your blog, Jacqueline, Anne,

Susiequeue, Glenda, Shirl, Nic, Mike, Trev.......if I've left anyone out, many apologies ! Last but not least my dear husband Dave for walking the naughty Max to let me get on !!! My next project will be started in a few days time.....Have a good week  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. This embroidery was a commission, but unfortunately this person has let me down..........Anyone 

interested in this piece of work can email me on BIKERDCR@AOL.COM      Many thanks xx

shaz's blog candy !

Hi all, just to let you know that shaz has got blog candy ! Go visit her blog and give her a comment on her one year anniversary.........This is her link........
http://calligraphycards-shazinoz.blogspot.com/2011/11/thank-you-wonderful-encouragers-one.html

Surf and sand canvaswork embroidery !

Hello everyone, thought I would show you a little something That I did a short while ago !
This is a canvas embroidery using many unusual stitches and many different threads!! I adore this type of
stitching too, although there is a lot of counting to do........but the finished article is so pleasing to the eye !!

Hope you enjoy it......and have a goo day ........xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I WON THE STAMPMAN CHALLENGE !

Hello folks, Yes thatS right !!! I won the Stampman 'Circle it ' challenge......(SEE THE POST, CIRCLE IT) This is a true accolade for me, Thank you Stampman and thankyou all for your support.......xxxxxxxxxx

AUTUMN FLOURISH EMBROIDERY PART 2 UPDATE !

Hello people, just an update on my progress with this embroidery! As you can imagine it is very slow going as life
gets in the way sometimes !
I have used a  number of different stitches..........Buttonhole, Fern, French
knots, colonial knots, needle weaving, long and short stitch for shading and Chain stitch !
I have added tiny pearls and Goldwork
Tubes called 'PERL-PURL'.
I have used many different threads also, DMC Satin, DMC floss, Anchor pearl cotton, coton a'broder and Gold metallic threads!
As you an see, I am only showing parts of the embroidery......You will have to wait and see PART 3 to see what the finished article will look like !!
There are certain people who have given
me such wonderful comments about
this piece of work and I would like to
say that every stitch is a tribute to you
all for being so kind, Thankyou all so
very much.......xxxxxxxxxxx

AUTUMN FLOURISH EMBROIDERY.....PART 1

Hello all, I'd like to show you the first part of my embroidery ! This is not a bought kit......it is a design from a very old Jacobean embroidery transfer. Traditionally Jacobean work is done with wool,but I prefer to work with embroidery silks......As you can see, this is FINE embroidery, not cross stitch ! Fine embroidery

encompasses all manner of intricate stitches i.e. french knots, bullions,blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch,fly stitch etc. In the next few weeks I shall show you my progress, as I shall be doing several different embroideries and if life allows, I shall try and fit in a card now and then.......Thank you for looking at my work, I do appreciate all your comments.......Have a wonderful Monday..........xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Embroidery commission.....Just to let you know !!!

Hi people, I have been asked to do an embroidery, which shall be taking up a lot of my time ! So obviously my papercraft will be taking a back seat for a little while !! I shall still be posting occasionally on my progress, for those of you who may be interested in fine embroidery ?  I shall still comment on the awesome talent that my blog friends have (JACQUELINE, ANNE FORREST, COOPS, SHIRL, EILEEN and my other blogging friends TREV, MIKE, DAISY AND HOLLY AND SUSIE QUEUE) thank you all  !!
I will be back, just in a different genre for now.....have a wonderful weekend dear friends
love and hugs
chris R xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CIRCLE IT !!! The Stampman Challenge..........

Hello lovely people, the Stampman has got a fabulous challenge this month, and I decided to have a go....

and came up with this creation !! I so enjoyed every second of this creation......the creative juices just flowed, it was such a buzz !! Such a simple card......Circles cut with punches and dies inked up with memento inkpads, green yellow and then hand stitched with perl thread, Hero arts butterfly inked and glittered, the central focus is a stamp from Inkadinkado which I have 3D'ed with a butterfly punch, gems, pearls and a Justrite sentiment.......I may do another creation for this challenge.......hope it inspires you !!!
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-challengecircle-it.html

Have a beautiful day !!!

Hello you lovely people ! I made this card last night and really enjoyed the process.....love the colour combo

on this one!! I used a beautiful Hero arts stamp that I know is one of Jacqueline's favourites. For the rose I used the spellbinders rose dies and used memento green and pink with stickles, paper from stash, stamping up punch for trailing leaves and Marianne creatables dies for the flourishes, added some pearls and a sentiment.......Hope this inspires you, have a beautiful day........ xxxxxxxx
I'm entering this into the following challenges
http://www.alwayscrafting.com/2011/09/anything-goes.html

PARCHMENT BEAUTY !

Hello folks, first off...a big apologie for not blogging much lately, but having a very demanding puppy is bloomin hard work and concentration is just out the window....slowly but surely things are picking up and I should manage to get more creations posted !!!

This card done in aqua, green and yellow really appealed to me, love this colour combo ! I have designed my own stitched pattern as the border and decorated with little pearls......I then made the Parchment butterfly and hand cut the patterns on the wings and sprinkled Glamour dust on them for effect !!! This is the final result .......
I am entering this into the following challenges.....
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-26.html

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/abc-challenge-anything-goes-were-back.html

AUTUMN LEAVES !

Hello people, a very still, overcast sunday here in the U.K. ! I have had a really exhausting week with Max, my puppy...........He is so lively and energetic !! The toilet training has gone exceptionally well and I know with all the effort that i have put in, I shall reap the rewards....four clean and dry nights, this cant be bad can it. Anyway onto my card...I used a free leaf stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine,stamping up punch for bird

and small leaves, Marianne die cut flourishes, just rite sentiment and little red gems! Hope you like what you see.....Thanks for visiting   xxxxxxxx

LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX !!!

Hello people, Just a quick post ! As you probably  know I have a new puppy and all my attention is on him at the moment....A bit of intensive training is needed ! I will try very hard to get something creative on my blog

when I get the chance, but here are a couple of pics of my adorable pooch Max with Old Short Legs....these are especially for Daisy and Holly, eileen and OTL,trev, mike and susiequeque.....Thanks for stopping by ......xxxxxxx

Max......Welcome to the world sweetheart !

Hello folks, I've just become a mum again to my new fur baby MAX !!! He is a miniature Schnauzer puppy
and the most cute clever little chap that i have ever laid eyes on........with the exception of the Wonderful, magnificent Daisy and Holly, well renowned for there antics with OTL (old two legs ) Take a look at their
blog  http://daisyg.blogspot.com/  Max is eight weeks old and he is fetching his squeeky ball ALREADY !!
Anyway here's a couple of photos for now and I shall post some better ones soon ! I shall have a lot of training to do with max in the next couple of weeks, but will try to put some creations up when time permits

Thank you so much for looking !!! xxxxxxx

CHARACTER IN FLOWERS !

Hello folks and happy sunday to you all ! I'm certainly getting back into the swing of things ! I decided that i wanted to do a card with 'NO PROPS' !! By this ,I mean no die cuts, no manufactured elements, just the bare basics.......But then i deided to gold emboss some of the squares and printed off the little flowers so i did cheat just a little.........The words were cut out from an old book, which by the way, I can pick up for pennies at the second hand shops.......I used marvy le plume markers and a black and white gel pen for the dots.....a couple of gems in the centre of the little flowers and thats it !!! By the way , the coloured images are doodles that i drew by hand.....I am very pleased with this piece, Thanks for looking xxxxxx
I'm entering this into the following challenges
http://stlukescharitycardschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/card-buffet.html

TWEETINGS !

Hello folks, sorry for not posting lately, but now the grandaughter will be returning to school next week, I might get more time to craft !!! Us Granma's are always needed in the school holidays.....I also had trouble with the computer, but alas I am back and raring to go !!! This is a little creation to get your creative juices flowing !

Ribbon and punched flowers with buttons, little adorable bird cage with a little tweety pie, gems lace and pearls

to complete the ensemble........Have a lovely weekend and enjoy yourself.......xxxxxxx

POTPOURRI GARDEN !

Hello all, a very beautiful morning in the uk ! This is a card that i have made experimenting with watercolour ! I have stamped the background with ARTEMIO stamps and if you look close up, you will see that i have chain stitched the border,
added a bird that has been cut from an old nature book and used a brad for his eye !
The bird, butterfly and text are coated with Glossy accents....gems on the butterfly
and there you have it.....hope you like what you see, have a wonderful wednesday

where ever you are......xxxxxxx
I'm entering this into the following challenges......
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/2011/08/rubys-rainbow-c10.html

http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/mr-linky-problems-august-challenge.html#comments
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-29-anything-goes-with-summer.html

Purple Passion !

Good Monday morning to you all.....The sun is shining and its such a beautiful day here in the uk ! Just a quick card that i made over the weekend !! I fancied 'purple' and 'Black lace' Hope you like it:

I used

SPELLBINDERS DIES

COREDINATIONS CARDSTOCK

HERO ARTS TEABAGS '2' STAMPS

AND SOME PEARLS

Have a happy monday ......xxxxxxx

FLIGHT AS A FEATHER !

Hi people, pooring with rain here in the uk today ! This is a card that i made last night, which was extremely simple to make but rather effective I think !

What do you think ? Your comments mean so much to me, thankyou.........
I ussed Faber castel polychromos pencils
hero arts butterfly stamps
gems and thats it.........so simple......have a lovely thursday !!!
I'm entering this into the following challenges
http://www.fridaymashup.com/2011/08/fm19-kaseys-bringing-bling.html
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-29-anything-goes-with-summer.html#comments

GARDEN MAGIC !

Hello people, beautiful morning here in the uk ! Sorry have'nt been doing much lately....lost my mojo again for a wee while.....but its slowly returning ! This is a simple little card, hope it brightens your day.....
I USED.....
Hero arts starburst lace stamp
Artemio floral stamp
watercoloured page from a book
watercoloured and gold embossed butterfly
ranger 'magenta, embossing powder
and some gems and pearls
sentiment from book
Have a magic monday !!! xxxxxx
I'm entering this into the following challenges.....
http://www.fridaymashup.com/2011/08/fm19-kaseys-bringing-bling.html
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-29-anything-goes-with-summer.html#

WILLOW-HERB....(Pretention)

Hi Folks, nice day here in the U.K. ! This is a little grid card that i made using up some scraps ! The colouring is from 'big and juicy' HYDRANGEA.... with white embossing

and the green is Adirondack, finished of with some 3d butterflies and some gems and there you have it .....have a beautiful tuesday xxxxxxxx

NATURE'S GLORY !

Play date cafe challenge#93

Hi folks, a bit of a dreary day here in the uk ! Jacqueline, I'm sure the sun is shining for you today in more ways than one....congratulations my dear friend, well done ! You
deserve it, god bless you  !!!
Now onto my card for today.....I get inspired by nature and I'm trying to practise with

alcohol inks, they are so fascinating to work with.....Thankyou again Jacqueline for your inspiration !!! I have used:
COREDINATIONS CARD STOCK
WHITE AND GOLD EMBOSSING POWDERS
LETTUCE AND WATERMELON A. INKS
HERO ART AND S.U. STAMPS
GEMS

Hope you have a fabulous and happy weekend !    xxxxxxxx
I shall enter this into the following challenges....
http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2011/08/play-date-cafe-challenge-pdcc93.html
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-challenge.html
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/07/next-moxie-fab-world-challenge.html

CAPTURE IN BLUE !

Hi folks, its raining here in the uk ! This is a grid card that i have cased from my lovely friend Jacqueline http://myscrapbasket.blogspot.com/ This lady does the most beautifully exquisite cards and is a feast to the eye, pop over and have a look !!

This is my version although i know it could do with some refinement !! Gold and white embossing with AI backgrounds and gems and pearls, hope you have a sunshiny day..........
I'm entering this into the following challenges.....
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-challenge.html

COLLAGE !

Hi Folks, its the weekend and the sun is shining here in the uk ! I decided to have a go at a collage on a canvas.....but its not as easy as i had thought! I've got about half way with it and sort of lost my mojo !! So I have put it to one side for now and try to gain some inspiration to continue with it ? IF YOU KNOW HOW I CAN GET INSPIRED

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR IDEAS IN A COMMENT,which would be very much appreciated.......Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy  yourself....xxxxxx

THANKYOU TO A FRIEND !

Hi folks, sorry for the abscense, the last few days ! looking after my grandaughter in the school holidays and dont get alot of time to create ! Anyway it is very overcast here today in the uk ! This is a Sarah kay decoupage mounted on a stitched and embossed circle, which has been done with a JOY stencil, handmade roses using the marianne
flower die and sentiment from stamping up with a little gem and some teeny tiny

butterflies........hope you like it.......be back very soon, I promise.......xxxxxx
I shall enter this into the following challenges.......
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-46-pick-of-bunch-flowers.html?showComment=1311931000431#c349196762534290605
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-28-show-us-some-stitching.html
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/2011/07/lets-3d-it-and-winners-post.html#comments

LITTLE THINGS......mean alot !

Hello people, Its 7.30 am here in the UK and the sun is just coming up ! I think it might be a nice day today ! This little creation is a little message for my dear husband . we have been married 34 years and it was our anniversary yesterday ! I just wanted to say
that little things do mean alot and he has been so good to me over the years......Thankyou Dave and I LOVE YOU !!!

Thats the mushy bit out of the way......
I used......
DESIGNER PAPER FROM STASH
ANITA'S PRINTED SENTIMENT
MARIANNE CREATABLES BORDER DIE
SPARKLY RIBBON
HERO ARTS DRAGONFLY STAMP
SPELLBINDERS LABEL DIE
Have a wonderful weekend where ever you are.......xxxxxxxx