Couples.... and a Couple of Computer Issues

I am (finally) back today with a card.  I've been absent for the last three weeks (though I'm sure no-one noticed, lol) because of MAJOR computer issues, which I will describe, as a way of venting some of my frustration, later.  Here's today's card, which I found hidden during these computer woes; it was for my Mum and Dad's Anniversary in 2016, which turned out to be their last Anniversary

I used an image from Crafty Sentiments (Benson Bear) called Couples, available here.... unfortunately it is a victim of my computer problems, so I no longer own it, it's coloured with Prismacolor pencils, which I didn't do much in 2016, so a fairly early example :-)  
The background paper is from Kaisercraft, the tan strip is a scrap die cut with Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Borders 2 die.  The little pink hearts were from a batch of goodies my Mum bought for me on one of their holidays in Malaysia... it was "our little thing" and I miss it.  Thankfully I still have a LOT of stuff she sourced for me over the years, so it's not gone forever just yet

I stamped on the edges of the jotting panel inside the card, I liked the effect.... then promptly have never done it again :-)  I'll have to give it another go.
So that's it for my card today, I'd like to enter in the following challenges: 
Sketch Saturday Have this great Sketch, which my card fits to a "T"... well a sideways "T", lol

Aud Sentiments Has a Bingo Challenge, I have used the "Die Cut/Flowers/2 Patterned Papers" line

The Paper Shelter Has Make it Bloom (flowers on paper, and stamp on the inside)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Has Use Patterned Paper

Pixies Snippets Playground Has "Snippets" (the tan strip)

Simon Says Challenge Has "Stamp on it" (if the digistamps on the front don't count, I've stamped inside)

Crafty Cardmakers  Has All Creatures Great and Small - bears are creatures, and so are butterflies :-)

Hiding in- my Craft Room Has a Pastels theme

Creatalicious Challenges Has Anything Goes, Option: Pastels

Little Miss Muffet, Cute Card Thursday, Give a Crafter A Cookie, Catch The Bug, Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty  Creations, Creative Fingers, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends, Polkadoodles, A Perfect Time to Craft and Crafting With Attitude All have Anything Goes Challenges

If you'd like to leave me there, I'll be back when I can with another card, until then Happy Crafting, if you'd like to hear a sorry tale read on...

The *&**ing computer saga

I decided to save ALL my Crafting stuff, images, papers, photos of finished projects, mmm, ALL my crafting stuff to Microsoft OneDrive as I have had (reasonable) success with iCloud for my business backups (to my Time Machine Backups, work's well covered!) and have just had (those backups I had) for my craft stuff, on discs, USBs etc
Well!  Microsoft OneDrive then proceeded to DELETE ALL my crafting files - well not all, but over 200GB -  yes, GIGAbytes.  Including my family photos back to 2004, (not many between 2004 and 2009 to be honest, but LOADS from since the twins were born) Holidays to New Zealand, birthdays, loads.  
It has done this by deleting the contents of folders... so the folders are still there, looking at first glance like a legitimate backup of a drive, but they're EMPTY.  So, a purchased set of twenty digital papers would look like it looked on my Hard Drive... until you go to use one of the files in the folder, and it's not there.  Rinse, repeat for HUNDREDS of folders.  Including 250+Mb scrapbooking kits
I spent EVERY spare minute, and some that weren't spare, lol, rebuilding the Drive - got to three quarters done, checked progress.... and it was all deleted AGAIN.  The folders were there, but empty.  No, the info is NOT in the Recycle Bin, it's just GONE.  And no, Microsoft doesn't care when you contact them about it. 
I have had to rebuild my drive AGAIN - on the Hard Drive this time, from the individual camera cards I have used over the years, luckily a lot of the pics I have "liked" I kept on those discs when overwriting for more recent projects.  Of course some I haven't, and from our iPhones.  Also, my old laptop had some files on, and my last laptop is having the hard drive removed and mounted so I can see what's on THAT tomorrow.  Of course all of this info includes the stuff I have edited out (you know all those random pics you take on your phones!) once, and now it's all got to be trawled through again, time, time, time.  
One good thing (you've got to look for the silver lining!) is that I have sorted and tagged EVERY file I have put back on my computer so far.... so they are easier to find, and I found this ONE card in a folder on my old lappy that I had missed copying over.
Of course when I went to see where I got the sentiment for this card, I realized I no longer HAVE the sentiment, so I don't know where it was from, I also don't have the image (I remembered where IT was from) and it makes me realize there are probably hundreds of image and sentiment files gone for good - many purchased, many generous "freebies" and some prizes for challenges.  
Some purchased scrapbooking kits and image files are unfortunately gone forever, but I must give a shout out to Nitwits who (for only $10) reactivated ALL the links for products I have bought there over the years, well over $100, and to My Memories Suite where I could access my purchases for nothing.  I still have to check some of the companies I know I've made a lot of purchases from and a couple of USB sticks where I save zipped image files, hoping to find some more there.
I would say that the moral to the story is "Backup" - but that is where this whole drama started!!  Well, not really.  I should have just had a Time Machine hooked up to my craft lappy as I have to my work one - I have a spare drive that WAS on my last laptop but played up (turns out that was the laptop not the drive, so I could have used it - and obviously SHOULD have!!)  I am trying to be brave, it IS a "first world problem" for sure.  But I am really p1$$3D off with Microsoft.... and what I hate most of all that it is taking up all my "crafting" time
I have re-found 40 of the 57 cards I hadn't posted on my blog yet, so I do have some offerings in the works... once I get time to sort out the best pics - digital photography does make you a bit "snap-happy", lol
Be safe, BACKUP and Happy Crafting, Donna

A-Camping We Will Go

I made today's card for my son Matt's birhday (in 2016!)  He and his wife bought a camper trailer and went away in it for the first time for his birthday... we bought him a voucher from a Camping store - it was in with the card

I used a couple of digital stamps from the now sadly defunct Stamp Fairy (I bought BIG before they closed, I've got a few of these little sweeties to hand, lol) Lenny Camping 3 (which is Lenny and the camper) and Lenny Camping 4 which is Lenny with the campfire.  I cropped down two of the Lennys and added a bow to the "hair" of one before putting them in the campervan looking out... they are my twinnies, Nathan and Emily :-))... another reason I love digis so much, being so easily manipulated.  The colouring, as usual, was done with Copics and Prismacolor pencils

I made an easel card, because I love making them... the grass was cut with a die, I used it as the prop for the top of the card, and I also added a pocket "behind" or under it to put the gift card and a little tag with a jotting panel on the back

 The papers are from a 12" scrapbooking pad.  The clouds are Memory Box, mounted on foam pads.  The "Celebrate" sentiment is a digi from Create with TLC - quite possibly a freebie as Paulette is very generous :-)
I think the Happy Birthday die on the tag is from the Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script Words collection, cut from black card and then coated with Glossy Accents
The little flowers are from a generic punch.  That's it.
I'd like to enter Matt's card in the following challenges

The Paper Shelter Digital Image

Aud Sentiments Summer and a Sentiment

As You Like It Flora or Fauna and Why - Fauna, I love all animals and I love using animal images because there are so many cute ones :-)

Simon Says Challenge Use More than One Stamp - Two digis used here

Allsorts Challenges Happy Birthday

Sweet Stampin' Bunnies and/or Bears

Send a Smile for Kids Anything Goes for Kids

Hiding in- my Craft Room Masculine
4 Crafty Chicks Masculine Birthday

Pile It On Sports and/or Hobbies - Camping with two little kids is more a Sport than a Hobby, lol
Little Miss Muffet, Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty  Creations, 4 Crafty Chicks, Crafting With Friends Challenge # 67, Creative Fingers, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends, Polkadoodles, A Perfect Time to Craft, Create and Inspire, Creatalicious Challenges, Simply Papercrafts, Crafting With Attitude and Corrosive Challenge all have Anything Goes challenges

I'll be back soon (I hope) I've made a few cards in the twist pop up style (or whatever it's called, lol) as well as the LOADS still in my drafts, so I've got plenty to share 
Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna

... and Now It's One For The Boys

It's that time again... time for a new challenge over at Di's Digis Challenge Blog.  Last time it was flowers everywhere, now it's time for "One For The Boys".  I made a card for my Dad's (87th) Birthday.  We are very water conscious here in Western Australia, nobody more so than my Dad; he has about ten watering cans on the go at any one time (we tease him about it, but gently, lol) so as soon as I saw this image I knew it would be perfect for his card

The image is called Seedling Ted, how cute is he?!  He's available here. I coloured with Copics and Prismacolor pencils... after I took these pics I added some gloss to the water drops and Ted's nose.
I used papers from Kaisercraft's Chapter One and another pad I can't remember the name of.  I thought the floral paper was not too floral for a "guy" card - the green is foiled, adding a nice something "extra".  The black card used for matting is from the Chapter One pad too, it has a gloss pattern embossed on it, again just adding a little something.   
I cut the scroll with a Memory Box die (Corner Bow) from the same gloss patterned paper, the cloud is also Memory Box (Puffy Clouds) and the sentiment is from Craftworks.  The black and orange strip across the middle of the card is glittery tape, I bought a pack of ten different colour rolls for a couple of bucks, didn't know how they'd go but I LOVE them - might go back to my LSS and see if they have packs of different colours
I used the same layout for the inside of my card, nothing unusual in that, lol, the black background paper is yet another pie form the Chapter One pad.
I'll be entering my Dad's card in the following challenges: 

Moving Along With The Times Man or Boy

Allsorts Challenges Birthday

Cutie Pie Challenge Escape to the Country  (Farmyard or garden animals)

Bunny Zoes Crafts Lovely Layers
As You Like It Wants to know if we like Big or Little Bows... I like big bows, but just can't seem to nail them...so tend to use little bows, like this die cut one!

The Crazy Challenge 3 Layers or More Craft Your Passion, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends, Through the Craftroom Door, Aud Sentiments. Create and Inspire, Simply Papercrafts, Crafting With Friends Challenge 21, Art by Miran, Cute As A Button, Little Miss Muffet, Creatalicious Challenges, and Paper Creator Crafts all: Anything Goes

Fabulous Fall Colours at Di's Digis

Well here I am... the Deep South of New Zealand DOES have internet connectivity; albeit expensive and a bit flaky, lol.  So I get to publish my card "personally" instead of scheduling... here it is.

The new challenge theme starting today at Di's Digis Challenge is "Fabulous Fall Colours"... we don't have a 'big' autumn in Perth; having a temperate climate, yet autumn is my favourite season.  My card is one I made for my Dad for Father's Day... celebrated last weekend in Australia.  It's an easel card, of course, I love them and so does Dad

Dad's 86 and doesn't need the beer that this little cutie (Siesta Time, available here) has in his hand to drop off into a little slumber, what he needs is the opportunity... my Mum is (at 85) still VERY active and looks on with disdain when Dad drops off, so this sentiment (from Create with TLC) is a little tongue in cheek! 

I coloured the image with Copics and Prismacolor pencils... as I do, lol... and added some gloss to the beer bottle and bear's nose.  Second card in a row that I'm happy with the colouring on :-))  It's much more subtle in real life, like I said I'm happy with it.
The papers are from Kaisercraft's Up, Up and Away collection; I think these colours are great for guys, AND autumn!  Goes well with Kraft too.  
I've been eyeing off those wavy dies (Lawn Fawn's Hillside Stitched Borders) for some time, especially on Annette's blog :-) and finally got me some.  I'm so glad I did, they cut SO beautifully and the set of four gives some variation.  I raised the little hills up on foam dots, looks good IRL, adds to the "scene" feel. 
The circles were cut and embossed with my much-loved Lifestyle Crafts circle dies.  It doesn't really show in the pics but I inked around the edges with a copper die, it gives a nice vintage feel.

I didn't quite have enough of the patterned paper for the back or base of the card, not without having the front of the card laying almost flat at least, so I added a few layers of kraft and brown with those yummy border dies ...and I like it, lol 
The string is from my stash, as is the Card Candi.  I made the Happy Father's Day sentiment on the computer, in fonts to (at least try) to match the main sentiment.
That's it!  
Pop over to Di's Digis Challenge blog and check out the rest of the team's work... very nice autumn colours on show.  Hope you get a chance to enter the challenge, even if it's not autumn but spring like it is here in Aussie, lol.  Great prize on offer as always, and don't forget if you use one of Di's images there's extra opportunities, yeehaw!
I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sparkles Monthly Challenge More than One Fold 
Little Red Wagon Use a Digi 
Gem of a Challenge Boys, Boys, Boys 
Without Words For the Boys 
Outlawz Friday Colouring Challenge Hats 
Moving Along With The Times  Cute Animal 
Addicted to  Stamps Die Cuts 
As You Like It Favourite Die Cut and Why (like I said; the border dies 'coz they're new, cut well and give a bit of variation to a border, but my Lifestyle Circles because there's so many in the set I can make a big range of sizes and wide or narrow mats)
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes 
Art by Miran Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown Anything Goes

Through the Craftroom Door Anything Goes

Clear It Out Anything Goes

Cuttlebug Mania Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Anything Goes

Catch The Bug Anything Goes

Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes

Cute As A Button Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet Anything Goes

I'll be back shortly with another card from my drafts... provided I have internet coverage of course, lol.  Meanwhile, until next time from VERY COLD New Zealand (well 8 degrees Celcius IS very cold compared to Perth, lol) Happy Crafting, Donna