Glad Impulse Buys

I'm often guilty of impulse buying - I find it almost impossible to go into our local Co-op and walk out with just the one item I went in for.  In fact I have on occasion walked out with a bag full of bargains - minus the one item I needed.  Near closing time the other night I just had to "rescue" two bunches of Gladioli at 75p each, even though I knew I didn't have anything suitable to display them in.  They stood in a bucket of water for a couple of days while I wondered what to do.  Then I saw these two rather colourful vases in our bargain basement store for only £1.99 each.  I wouldn't have bought them normally as they're not really my style, but they were perfect for the Gladies - oh dear, another impulse buy!

But I could almost hear the Gladies' sigh of relief when they were arranged in the vases and they opened their flowers almost immediately.  I had to pull off some of the lower blooms but they too soon opened themselves in small glasses on the mantlepiece.

I haven't made any cards recently so I thought I would try to reproduce my Gladies as I remembered I had bought Papertrey Ink's Mega Vase dies last month and one of them matched my new vases - and wasn't there a Gladioli stamp in the Year of Flowers set?  On this occasion I don't think I regret my impulse buys!

Stamps: PTI - Year of Flowers Collection, Background Basics: Tintypes, Distressed Stripes, Mat Stack 3 Collection
Dies: PTI - Mega Gracious Vases collection, Sending You collection

Back to basics

One of my favourite bloggers Lin is a prolific card maker. Every time I visit her blog she has created another half a dozen or more beautiful cards.  She's a great one for challenges and I thought I'd join in one of her regulars this week - the CR84FN colour challenge - this one being green, blue and a neutral.  I wanted to get back to rubber stamping basics and kept to my favourite one layer style, just using a beautiful mask from Balzer Designs, some Distress Inks and a set of silhouette stamps.  Not tried this masking technique before but I like it and will definitely be using it again.  I can see another mask purchase coming on!

We trawled the charity shops in the next town yesterday and although my haul was small I was very pleased with my purchases.  I love these Kilner jars with the orange tops - so very 70s.  They don't make them now but they still surface every now and then at boot sales or in charity shops.  I also found these pretty crochet mats which I want to turn into beaded jug covers.  I like the solid star centres which will keep even the smallest fly out of the milk jug!  And my last purchase was this lovely natural linen blouse at just £1! Now that's what I call a successful shopping trip!

Card supplies: The Crafters Workshop 6x6 template mask; Stampin Up Pocket Silhouettes stamps; various Distress Inks from Tim Holtz.