Gas Street, BCN

Lots of visitors to the basin today, come to see the German Christmas Market and have a night on the town.

I bought this topper as a card many years ago while we were living in Budapest.  I loved the baby in the walnut shell.  I didn't make my cards in those days, and as they were so cheap I bought masses of cards for a "just in case".  Eventually, I cut out the baby and the flowers and stuck it down with sticky fixers onto a gold die-cut panel and then onto a blue card blank.

Gas Street, BCN

 Walking back from the doctor's today I noticed these king-cups flowering in the little arm off the Malt House pub.  What is going on?  These are Spring flowers, no Winter ones.

It is my Auntie Meg's birthday on 11 November.  You would think I couldn't forget that date, wouldn't you?  Yes, nearly every year I manage to remember and then forget until it is too late.

This year I managed just in time with this quick card.  I had already decoupaged the two chickens so I just stuck them onto the die-cut circle and added the sentiment with some silver peel-offs onto pink card matted onto gold card.

Gas Street, BCN

 The rain continues.  There is normally a 6" brick barrier at the front of this bridge to keep the canal out of the little arm.  It has rained so much that the water level has gone over the top.  The towpath just a bit further to the right had about 1" to go before flooding.

 And I thought canals were safe from flooding - especially up here in Birmingham

One thing about living on the canals is that there is always material for making cards.   These two cards were some of the first that I made, using duck feathers picked up along the towpaths.

This one has two feathers mounted onto some torn manuscript paper and then mounted onto green card and handmade, red paper before mounting onto a white card blank.

For this one, I mounted the feather, again, onto manuscript paper and then green card and some gold and green handmade paper.

Once again I used a white card blank.

Galton Valley, BCN

The Working party with new van.

Another young helmsman learning the ropes, this one is reversing the boat under the bridge and over the aqueduct

The Mayor of Sandwell opening the meeting. A cheek really because the council are no longer sponsoring our bonfire.

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The bonfire by the side of the lock and a firework.

Mike Rolf, who won the President's Trophy for all his hard work for the BCNS.  Thoroughly deserved.













I used a blue card blank for the base of this card which is a decoupaged group of bottles of wine.  I mounted the decoupage onto gold mirri card and decorated the edges with deckle scissors.  I then mounted this onto white card which I had put through the Cuttlebug using the bubbles folder.  This was then mounted onto more gold mirri card and stuck to the front of the card.

Before I Cuttlebugged the white card I printed the sentiment using the computer and red ink.

Galton Valley, BCN Old Line

Walked into the Hindu Kush this morning - well Smethick anyway.  I don't know which shop came first, the dentist or the sweet shop but one must be keeping the other in business.

To get to the shops you have to walk along the Old Main Line canal and then cross over the New Main Line. then the railway and finally, a road.


Another lively, sunny day, but cold.  The BCNS AGM tonight.  David said it had the worst Real Ale he's ever tasted.

I made this card using some free papers from one of the card magazines.  The oval panel was cut from a Spellbinders die and a bunch of flowers was added to the top with a red and white check bow.

Galton Valley, BCN Old Line

Off to the BCNS Bonfire Meet at Galton Valley, just about an hour's run and three locks.  The sun was shining and there were lots of boats there already when we arrived.

Lots of activity on site, erecting marquees etc, but the bonfire building doesn't begin until Saturday morning - just in case someone should get any ideas!

The photograph is taken of the side of a narrowboat called Loves Dream.  Couldn't resist it.

I matted the photo onto white and silver card using deckle edged scissors.

Then I decided it was too plain and added the black and white polka-dot ribbon, tied around the spine in a knot.