Welsh St Dwynwen, saint of lovers and friendship

St Dwynwen’s Day

Did you know that Wales has its very own Valentine’s Day?

It’s called St. Dwynwen’s Day and it’s unique to Wales. So if you want to celebrate a romantic day together without the commercialism, or share your Welsh heritage,Wednesday 25th January is the day to do it!

The Welsh Patron Saint of Lovers.

Dwynwen, a 5th century princess, was one of 24 children fathered by the King of Wales, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon (Brecon). Her father refused to allow her to marry her true love, Maelon Dafodrill, as he had already betrothed her to someone else. Dwynwen fled to the woods and begged God to make her forget her love for Maelon. While she slept, an angel gave Dwynwen a magic potion to cool her love for him.

Unfortunately, her lover Maelon, who had come looking for her, also drank the same potion and his heart was so cooled he turned into a block of ice. Dwynwen was horrified and prayed again to God, who answered her prayers by granting her three wishes.
Her first wish was to have Maelon thawed and for him to forget his love for her, as they could never be married; her second, to have God look kindly on the hopes and dreams of true lovers whilst mending the broken hearts of the spurned; and her third was for her to not marry the man her father had chosen, but to devote the remainder of her life to God, as thanks for saving Maelon.
Dwynwen later became a nun and settled on Ynys Llanddwyn — a small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey in north west Wales — founding a church there. Her most well known saying was “Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness”. After her death she was declared a saint and ever since, Welsh lovers have prayed to St Dwynwen, asking for her help in marrying their true love, or for forgetting a false lover.

Traditionally, St. Dwynwen’s Day is celebrated by giving and receiving lovespoons. The Welsh lovespoon dates back to the 17th century when young men would carve them from a single piece of wood, decorate the handle with romantic symbols and then give them to the lady who had caught their eye. The earliest surviving example, dating from around 1667, is on display at the Welsh Folk Museum in St. Fagans, Cardiff.

This article was found via a Google search, not written by me :)

 Llanddwyn Island and Newborough Forest

One of my favourite places.

St Dwynwen's cross

 Hope you like this bit of Welsh folklore and I wish you 

a very happy St Dwynwen day

for whatever reason you might need her. :)

take care

xx Suzi b xx

 

Make My Monday.. Flowers and Leaves

Morning everyone, hope you had a good weekend and are raring to go .. at crafting any way lol.
This week at Make My Monday,  still under the main theme of Nature we would like  to see some

flowers and leaves.

 This is mine...hope you like it.

I used Anemone corner from IndigoBlu as my main image stamped onto water colour card.. The flowers are coloured with Whispers Strokes... a favourite of mine again at the moment.  I then stamped onto vellum with Versamagic and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer, Viola Black Aurora.. its a bit darker than I wanted but decided to continue with it. I coloured the back of the vellum image with whispers again and attached to the card with Pin flair glue. As the vellum is coloured it curls and so gives shape and depth.. mind you it curled the wrong way.. ha ha  worked out ok in the end.

I distressed and inked the edges of the card with Dusty Concord DI and mounted onto another distressed card slightly bigger...  and so on and so on...lol.

 The DP is from the Essence of Nature CD by Chocolate Baroque (formally Elusive Images) the flowers were blinged up with Glamour dust

Added a bit of bling, ribbon, a tag sentiment and a couple of punched leaves.

The ribbon looks quite blue in the photograph but it is lilac.

As usual I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to leave comments on your lovely work.

 I was so impressed with all the sceneic entries last week .. you were amazing ladies!.. don't think there were any males ;) It was really difficult to choose just three..

 I'm out early this morning meeting up with three friends for a shopping and lunch trip to Chester.

See you later.

 take care

xx suzi b xx

Challenges

Make It Monday Always  anything goes
 Truly Madly Crafty Challenges  Anything Goes

Mojo Void

No crafting going on here so Missi claimed the desk for a nap! so thought I'd share it with you.

There's an empty space where my mojo should be even after seeing amazing inspirational pieces of art on your blogs. I'm hoping to achieve some thing today. Good or bad I'll share it with you... you might all be groaning if its horrid! :o).. fingers crossed I can get going.. even Puccini's Madame Butterfly hasn't done it.

Wishing you a happy day.
 xx suzi b xx

Week 32 at Make My Monday

Good morning every one, it's crispy white and sunny here in Crewe which could inspire a  "scene" for this weeks challenge at Make My Monday.

 This week following the over all theme of 

NATURE Fliss would like us to

Create a Scene 

here's mine.....

I used Creative Expressions Create a Scene: Coast stamps. did this make it easier?...NO!.. this was a real challenge for me I think I need to attend art classes..lol.

The boat image was stamped onto a water colour postcard (I intended making a collage of bits and pieces saved from yer hols etc with the post card being the main image... mm mm ! ) I  deliberately left the boat with white bits (cream actually) showing through..makes it look a bit battered  ;D. I stamped the seagull onto the card then again onto paper and cut him out and stuck over. I know it's a him cos he looks cross...females never look cross, do they?!

 Products Used

Creative Expressions: Coast rubber stamps

Chocolate Baroque (formerly Elusive Images) sentiment from Summer Poppies

DI's: Broken China, Stormy Sky,Shabby Shutters and Walnut Stain.

Whispers Strokes

Starfish... no idea where I got them. You know what it's like when you're out and about you buy all sorts that just might come in handy and they nearly always do :o)

The DT have achieved some amazing inspiration for you .. take a look. Don't forget the over all theme of NATURE when you make your scene and I don't mean a photograph of you having a strop in Tesco!

Enjoy your day

xx Suzi B xx

Predominantly Purple at LIM

.

I've used TH Visual Artistry cling stamps .....Boundless Flight apart from the birthday sentiment and I can never remember where this came from. ;o(  Apart from the LIM theme of purple the inspiration for this card came from some tissue paper that a Christmas gift was wrapped in ( thank you  Cubby Hole Carol)

I stamped the butterflies and moths in Versafine Onyx Black onto the tissue paper and placed the tissue over the stamped scroll and pasted over it with watered down PVA. Once it was dry...well almost , never one for patience when it comes to craft/art! lol I added other bit of stamping and the quote.
Then I made a mistake at the top of the card ...pulls face... so I cut the bottom half off and added it to a second card ... hence the ribbon! and sentiment. I wish I'd put the sentiment in the middle... I'm now thinking what to add to balance it out... or should I leave it? I also think it's now more rather than less b***a ! lol

The tissue paper has a lovely shimmer to it (glimmer mist or something like that) The tissue is quite thick so  the edges didn't disappear but I quite like the effect and the fact that you can see the scroll image through it.

I'm working on my little net book with a dongle which is a little frustrating but at leas I have some on line access whilst I wait for a new router from Talk Talk. it might mean I wont have much on line time to visit your blogs,,, sorry :o(  come on TalkTalk get a move on
take care
xx Suzi B xx

Challenges
Stampalot .... Monochromatic.

Animals... at Make My Monday

Under the heading of Nature..... Animals is the sub theme this week at  

  Make My Monday week 31.

My first card uses the cute freebie puppy dog stamp from Craft Stamper magazine. I stamped directly onto the card then placed a mask over the top before I stamped the flower images from Katzelkraft no. KTZ08

which placed the flowers behind the naughty puppy!  The other flower image is stamped on its side as if trampled by the puppy  so that he could grab a bloom as a prezzie for his mistress lol. 

The puppy is coloured with Promarkers, the flowers with Staedtler coloured pencils. the little flowers were part of a pack that the lovely Lesley (Crafty Mamma) sent me.Thank you Lesley x.

.This card is from Polka Doodles CD Rom ... Back to Nature  shes a very contented pig lol.

I have very limited IT access at the moment ,,,but hopefully I'll be able to get over to your blogs to see your animal creation.... go on "go wild"... ha ha .

take care

xx Suzi B xx

For Ellie

This card is for my Granddaughter who will be 11yrs old on Sunday. She doesn't blog hop so no fear of her seeing it. I used another Cemerony image from a set of beautiful female images bought from the Cemerony eBay shop. The DPs are from a 5th avenue book of papers.

I think I've gone over the top! lol hope she likes it. 

 The decoupaged ballerinas with a touch of glitter... Ellie recently started dance classes. Which includes ballet along with modern and tap dancing.

Something you don't know about me lol. I used to help teach at a dance school... I can shuffle, hop, tap! can't stand on me points though! :D

A glittered crown. I might be adding a bit more glitter to the flowers... I think ... you know how it is.

Thought I'd share these with you.

The wind of Tuesday night did this! loads of dents and scratches but nothing major. In the scheme of things no great disaster  but it upset me :o(

This morning Missi decided to investigate the inside the wooden garden divider. 

Here she is "wood walking" she steers clear of walking on the stones whenever she can!

Hope you're all well, and that you haven't suffered any effects from the ravages of the weather.

tc
xx Suzi B xx

Week 30 at Make My Monday

Morning  all welcome to the first challenge of 2012 at 
Make My Monday.

the January theme chosen by Fliss is

NATURE

and to start us off Fliss would like us to use

BIRDS

Here's mine

This is an 8x8 card... my first attempt at this size. I've seen lots of inspirational art work using this size so thought I'd try it. Hope you like it.

The main image is a freebie download from 
Cemerony Share There are some gorgeous images on this Blog. Julia also sells art work on Etsy.

I like the way this bird from Crafty Individuals CI-256 is taking flight off the card.

The Air mail is from one of CI's freebie packs which I received recently with an order... thank you CI

The other little bird and the words are from a lovely set of Inches...
can't remember who makes them :o(

The round image is  from the download.

The bird on a branch is from Stampers Anonymous.

The feather stamp is from Impressive Images Essential Elements coloured with DI's. You can just see some script which also came from this set.

I cut out the birdcages on the smaller images .. They were re sized before printing.

The birds in the grass image and the sentiment are from  PaperArtsy.
I used several DI's to make the background and to colour the stamped images.

The little collection of post cards is also from Impressive Images.

Pop across to the MMM Challenge Blog and see all the DT's inspirational  art work and the gorgeous stamps Fliss has donated for the January winner.

 As usual  I look forward to visiting your blog to see your interpretations.

Blogger has been playing up during this post... it's made this post a bit of a pain to complete... but alls well... nearly.

Take care and very best wishes for 2012.

 xx Suzi B xx

Challenges

Something old something new at Simon Says Stamp and Show..... New DI's and Air Mail stamp
Anything Goes   The Pink Elephant 
Anything goes plus distressing at Craft your Passion 
Anything Goes Ink on My Fingers Sunday Stamper

New Challenge Blog 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown

Wasn't sure I was up to another Christmas card... but then again whilst its fresh in mind and there's stuff still lying around of which this  Poinsettia image was one so this was a very quick card made in a jiffy this morning.

Here's how the poinsettia was made. Think I first saw this on C& C not sure..... was ages ago. I just happen to have the stamp...

Some close ups

I'm not sure I'll be able to join in every week... but I'll give it a go. Thank you to Jacqueline and Mynette for setting up the challenge.
tc
xx Suzi B xx

Just to prove

I'm still here!

and here's a quick card using a lovely freebie image from

  Cemerony Share.

I've been looking through my PC at some of the wonderful images I've downloaded

... and never used  :o(  how sad is that?!

Let me know which background  the cards are on  you prefer? the dark one or the delicate lace one? I'm trying to make my photos a bit more interesting... think I have a long way to go :o)

I would like to wish all of you a happy, healthy 2012. 

Thank you for visiting and leaving  encouraging, friendly comments I really do appreciate each and every one. I promise to try to visit your blogs more frequently and leave comments...

take care
xx Suzi B xx

Happy Christmas

Wishing you all The Best Christmas and a wonderful 2012

Thank you for visiting I look forward to seeing you all next year!

xx Suzi B xx

Week 29 at Make My Monday

is to make a Seasonal Tag.
Here's mine

The image is one of my favourites from Dezinaworld and I have to admit it is practically an exact copy of one I made last year.. naughty me :) but I love this image and the sentiment. The image has been resized before printing.

the sentiment says; 

On Christmas day with luggage gay

Father Christmas comes to stay.

I think it's really lovely.

I remember feeling for the tangerines in the stocking 

at the end of my bed  

 thats what this image reminds me of..

Childhood Christmases.

 
All the products used are various bits and pieces that were lying around my desk and I'm so sorry I can't remember which snowflake stamp I used for the background.The tag began life as buff coloured which was painted with a thin layer of white acrylic paint then stamped with the forgotten snowflake stamp in broken china. I used a Provo Craft cutting die for the large torn snowflake. I added bought snowflakes and torn bits of Christmas music.

This is the card I made with last years tag... just to prove  the new tag slightly different lol

I know this time of year is hectic and we're all dashing around doing six jobs at once but I hope you get time to join in at Make My Monday and I look forward to seeing your tags. Take a look at what my fabulous team mates have done with their tags ...
take care
xx Suzi B xx

Sunday Stamper Challenge Santa Claus

With candy!

LIm One Layer Card Let It Snow

Products Used
Crafters Workshop Mini Winter Wonderland 6x6 Template
Sponged over with DI Broken china
Over stamped with Broken china using snowflake stamps from Angel and Trees stamp set from Chocolate Baroque (formally Elusive Images)
 Let It Snow Stamp from the ever faithful See-D's Holiday words and sayings stamped in Broken China
 Sprayed with Plasti-kote glitter (With the window wide open Brrrr)

 Hopefully you can see the glitter

with or without sequins?

 Take a look at all the wonderful samples done by Chrissie, Mandi and of course all the other LIMettes

Let me know which you prefer... as if you wouldn't lol. I prefer it with sequins ....although the photograph isn't so good ...

Other Challenge
 Chocolate Baroque White Christmas.

 Take care
xx Suzi B xx

Make My Monday week 28

At MMM this week Jacqueline would like us to use  

RED RIBBON on our Seasonal Anything Goes Projects.

Here's mine.

I've used the tree from an Artemio set, one of my favourite set of Christmas stamps, especially the tree.
 I stamped directly onto plain white card stock with  Adirondacks Meadow, stamping off onto spare card first to to achieve a lighter shade for two of the trees. I added icicles Stickles  to ground the trees then with my finger lightly brushed each tree with a tiny amount of stickles. I used Christmas Red Stickles on the tree in the foreground. A tiny sliver of the Icicle Stickles was added to the edges of the white card which was mounted onto slightly larger red card then mounted to the right of the green card 14.5 x 14.5cm. The red ribbon and silver cord was attached to the left of the card before it was mounted onto a white card  finally I added a little "shrinkie tree". The sentiment is from See-D's Holiday Words and Sayings... such a useful set :D
 Pop along to the Make My Monday challenge blog to see all the fabulous inspiration from the talented DT .

Every one is busy at this time of year rushing hither and thither doing six things at once... so take time out, sit and enjoy your favourite cuppa (black coffee for me) close your eyes and  B R E A T H E there don't you feel better? lol
 take care see you soon
 xx Suzi B xx

Make My Monday week 27

Good morning

and welcome to the new challenge

at Make My Monday

the theme for December is

Seasonal...... Anything Goes 
By seasonal we mean Advent, Christmas and other  faith festivals, New Year, Winter etc 

and we start week one with GLITTER!

Here's my glitter creation I decided on a Christmas card.

The main image is from Peerless Designs Yesteryears Christmas Edition CD rom.  I may have mentioned  before that I love Christmas roses  ;o)

The image was printed twice, the flowers decoupaged then  sprinkled with a fine glitter called Candy Floss over the parts I had covered with a glue pen.

 The backing paper is part of a Websters Page 12x12 DP (had it ages, loved it, didn't want to cut it! )  which I over stamped with a snowflake stamp using Versafine. 

I cut around parts of the foliage with a craft knife, then  threaded the ribbon through. The Image is mounted onto a base card which has been embossed around the edges with Sprinkle and Sparkle Guilded Ivory EP then placed onto the DP with the foliage overlapping. I pleated a little more ribbon and added the sentiment .

Hope you can see the glitter.

Thank you to every one that joined in last week... you made some awesome boxes! 

It goes without saying that I am looking forward to seeing your glitter creations  
SEASONAL... any thing goes!
  as long as you use GLITTER 
 so the worlds your "lobster"!! lol.

My Christmas card is a bit of a change for me cos I prefer traditional  colours at Christmas..you know red, green and gold but I just loved this image and the DP so went for a complimentary colour theme.

Challenges
Come and Get it. Anything Christmas
The Emerald Faerie Garden Christmas Non traditional colours

 Have a great week see you in Blogland

xx Suzi B xx

Added later.
Just to avoid any confusion... there is only one layer of DP but because I cut out part of the papers design ie
foliage I was able to put the topper behind the cut outs and thread the ribbon behind on both the L and R sides. this has given the illusion of layers.   I should take progressive photos.. :o( xx

LIM week 44 Colour

 Chrissie and Mandi  of  LIM  fame want us to use the colour GREEN in this weeks challenge. 

I intended this card for another challenge but it fits so well for week 44 it's too good to miss...

I shall have to get my thinking cap on for the other challenge but I have a few days  to sort that out.

The mistletoe is from Christmas Follage by Chocolate Baroque

( formally Elusive Images) coloured with Promarkers the cut out with a craft knife.

The gold berries are made with Viva Pearl Pen sprinkled with gold glitter whilst wet.. 

The sentiment is from a See-D's Holiday words and sentiments set

stamped with Versafine then embossed with gold EP.

I threaded the wreath through the ribbon before adhering the ribbon to the card. The green card is mounted onto slightly larger gold embossed card then onto slightly larger  of same green card.. do you get all that :D course you do!

I'm hoping this photo gives a better idea of the glitter and gold it proved to be difficult  so this is lots of photos later!
Have a great weekend. See you Monday with the Make My Monday Challenge which is the beginning of  new themes for a new! month :D 
take care xx Suzi B xx
Challenges
The Artistic Stamper Christmas
Clearly iStamps Christmas