Rugeley, Trent and Mersey

A short cruise today because of the weather.  We left around 0630 and were moored up near Tesco's at Rugeley by 0845.  It then rained all afternoon.

At least I had time for a good walk around the charity shops in  town.

This card uses a bought topper which I matted onto more red card.  A panel of dry embossed white card was also matted onto red card and some red velvet ribbon was wrapped around it and tied in a bow.  This was then fixed to the front of a white card blank.

Above Woodend Lock, Trent & Mersey Canal

 One or two holes along the waterline on this shell.

We left our moorings around  0830 and arrived at Streethay Wharf 0845, just as they were opening.  We had arranged for someone to look at the horne and it was replaced by 0915 and we were on our way.  Not bad for a boatyard, normally you have to wait that long just to sees omeone. 

We were at Fradley Junction at 1015 and with the help of a couple of volunteer lock keepers were moored up above the top lock by 1115.





I have left this card blank (with no sentiments) as it could be used as an engagement congratulations card or an anniversary card, or even something else I have not thought of.

The figures are decopaged and the base card is red, to match the dress.

Newbury, Kennet and Avon Canal

There are lots of rubbish bins around the park and also at the moorings at the top of Newbury Lock.  But they have this sign on them.  Now I know that there are boaters facilities, but the one suggested we use in Newbury was full and they would not let us use it.  The other question is:  If I get off my boat and walk across the park, am I now a pedestrian?  Anyway thank you Newbury for being helpful and taking some of my rubbish.  Not!

A rest day!!!  Almost, spent the morning at the Launderette.  It would have been a lot less if I had not taken the wrong turning into the street and walked way out of the way.   Then I went shopping and bought a new hoover.  Hopefully this one will be better than the last one I bought which was too small and made my back ache when I used it.

An anniversary card?  Who knows?  I started with a pink card blank.  The decoupaged panel was matted onto pink card (with the corners rounded), light pink card and sliver card.  The sentiment was fixed with sticky fixers underneath with two small pink gems.

Oxford - Oxford Canal

These are the new signs by the locks leading down onto the river sections.  I don't know what was wrong with the old ones, they worked perfectly well.  These are powered by solar panels and flash the appropriate state of the rivers.

A quiet day in Oxford, some shopping and a bit of siteseeing

The light blue panel was embossed and then matted onto a darker blue card.  Some spotty blue ribbon was wrapped around the bottom and tied in a knot.  The sentiment was printed onto white card and stuck to the bottom right hand corner with sticky fixers and two gems stuck on each end.

To finish off, the panel was fixed to a light blue card base and three gems were added to the top left hand corner.

Stonely Green Bridge 10, Llangollen Canal

Surprising what you can find on lock gear!

The morning was spent in Chester, we caught the bus just past the bridge at the top of Hurlston locks.  David bought a very expensive box of chocolates and then we came back.


So, we set off at 1 o'clock and stopped at Stoneley Green Bridge at 3 o'clock, having travelled just over 3 miles and done 2 locks.  Enough for one day.

Don't know what this card is for really, could be a birthday card, or a thank you card, or a retirement card, or a new home card, or most things really.

I just matted the picture onto blue and then silver mirri card and stuck it onto the front of a white card blank.  Three blue gems were stuck onto the bottom to give it a bit of a lift, and that was it really.

Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal

 We left at a quarter to seven (yes it was just light - just), and got to Tyerley locks as it began to spit with rain.

We got to the bottom, meeting 2 boats on the way up and just at the bottom it started to rain heavily.

The plan was to stop at Market Drayton anyway, so we did and then got a taxi to take us to Morrisons to stock up on food.  David went back in the taxi and I walked into town and then walked back to the boat

We spent the rest of the day warm, by the fire, in the boat.

This is a "card in a box".  It is a 3D card, but it folds flat so it can be posted.

I covered the sides of the box with silver card and then used die-cut hearts for the decoration, they are fixed into the box with acetate strips, or stuck directly onto the sections.  The champagne glasses are peel-offs which I cut out before adding to the front of the box and the sentiment was another peel-off.

Turners Green, Grand Union Canal

 An early start and two of my least favourite lift bridges on the system.  The first one was relatively easy, but the second one took 70 turns of the windlass to get it up and forever to get it back down again.

We passed one boat moored up with a sign on the side saying "We like our view, thank you".  In other words, "Bog off, we don't want you moored here!"  As bad as the two houses before the locks saying "No Mooring".  I thought we could moor anywhere on the towpath side.

There seem to be a lot less boats moored on the Lapworth flight, there were lots of plants growing in the water, it looked very pretty.

We  had the Lapworth locks to ourselves until the last but one when we met a hire boat coming up.  Then a lady looking mystified asked which which way to Stratford.  She was coming from the GU and I told her to turn left when she came out of the cut.  They promptly turned right and went up towards Birmingham!  Can't tell some people.

So it was on the the goats at Turners Green for the rest of the day, a sleep and a good night's rest.

This is the card that I made for my daughter's wedding anniversary

I covered the blank card with a blue and gold textured, handmade paper, then added some white card at an angle with a strip of brown card on the bottom, some navy ribbon was wrapped around the join.  The sentiment was made on the computer and the card was decorated with silver sequins.

Biddolph Aqueduct Macclesfield Canal

 The plan, as usual went wrong.  

We had to go to London to attend the funeral of my Auntie Meg.  So we chose to go from Congleton, by train, as the moorings are right by the station.

That was until I found out yesterday that the moorings were closed!  So we had to walk for 15 mins to get to the station, having to cross this by-wash on the way.

Anyway, the trip to London went off without a hitch and by the time we got back it was dark!!  Luckily I had the foresight to take a couple of torches and we traversed the puddles on the stepping stones without getting our feet wet.

A pretty anniversary card using purples and white.  I Cuttlebugged the white panel and matted it onto purple card and then wrapped some purple lace around the bottom.  The picture was matted onto purple and white ward and fixed to the white card blank.  Three purple gems were added to the top right hand corner and a computer generated sentiment was matted and fixed to the bottom of the card, along with 2 small purple gems.

Westport Lake - Trent & Mersey Canal

James Brindley keeping an eye on us while we were moored at Eturia.

Because the clocks went forward on Sunday it was still dark at 0600, so David had to hang about before it was light enough to wind the boat.

We have decided not to go on up the Caldon because the weather is going to be unpredictable and we have to be in Macclesfield in a couple of weeks time, so David winded the boat in the wind and we got to Westport Lake before the rain.

Another stamped card.  I don't do that many of them, though I enjoy it when I do.  I matted this one onto a gold scalloped card.  A green panel was sent through the Cuttlebug and the edges were edged with green ink and then it was matted onto gold card.  The stamped panel was then added.

A spotty green ribbon was wrapped around the panel at the bottom and tied in a knot and a computer generated sentiment, matted onto green and gold card was fixed over the ribbon with foam sticky fixers. 

The whole panel was then fixed to the front of a white card blank.

Great Score Swing Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

 Only 24 miles to go......

A bitty sort of day.  We left at 0700 and stopped at the junction with the Rufford Arm to take on water.  Then it was on to Burscough to get rid of the rubbish and get milk, bread and a paper.  I left David and walked over the bridge for the Spar shop, and bought bread from the excellent bread shop by the wharf.  Somehow, the rubbish got forgotten.

Then we travelled on to here, 4 swing bridges later.  At least they are all electric now and only two had to have the barriers closed manually.

 The view from the bridge looking up the Rufford Arm.  We were going to zot up there and back, but with 6 locks and 1 swing bridge (and reverse), we decided against it.

Saw my first swallows this morning.  It's official.  Summer is here!

A simple anniversary card using a peel-off stuck onto a square of red card and then matted onto some gold card, then stuck onto a white card blank.

Below Dean Locks, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

 There have been complains recently about there not being any room between some of the lock ladders and the lock side, so you can't get a toe hold.  Here, the ladders have been extended into the lock by several inches.  Lots of room for feet, but David managed to hit it as he brought the boat in.

Four more heavy locks and we are in the Dean Valley, a beautiful strip of canal with bluebells woods on the right and meadows on the left.

Saw my first Kingfisher of the season and there was wild garlic where there were no bluebells.

Take a gold heart, wrap some metalic cord around it and add a sequin flower.  Mat it onto red, black and gold card and stick it onto a red card blank.

Wigan,Leeds and Liverpool Canal

 I've moaned about this lock before.  It is a typical "Sod the Boaters" lock.  David dropped me off on the off side and I set the paddles.  To get to the towpath side I would have to walk up to the concrete bridge in front, across the bridge past the towpath and down the ramp on the right hand side.

I only did one side!





But because you cannot get back on the boat from the off side (see the metal fence), I had to hitch a ride on the boat across the lock to do the bottom paddles.

Then, of course, the gates have their own large windlass to open and close them.  This is a canal for the ruffy tuffies.

We moored up by the car park for the CRT offices completely nackered after 3 large, heavy, difficult L&L locks.

I cut a strip from the right hand side of the front of this white card blank and then decorated the edge with a punch.  I then did the same with a strip of red card and stuck it behind the white card.

Then I added two paper roses and a silver bow. 

A card that could be used for any occasion.

Dutton Breach (2012) Near Bridge 212, Trent and Mersey

 We rounded the corner, and there was this lovely new mooring!  The site of the breech in 2012.  The view is terrific, but in a couple of years there will be a thick hedge to hide it a bit.  You can just see the lock on the River Weaver to the left and the railway viaduct in the centre.

The two tunnels held no gremlins, the first one was empty, so we sailed through and got to the second one dead on the hour so we could go straight through.  Last time we met three boats in Salterford and missed the time slot for Barnton.

I bought a bunch of "wooden" roses some time ago, well years actually.

I made this anniversary card with one by matting some silver card onto red glitter card and then red card which had been cut with scalloped scissors.  I stuck down the flower with glue dots and then made the sentiment with a peel-off matted onto silver and red card.  This was stuck over the end of the stalk to cover up the rough edges. 

I finished it off with a red heart gem.

Black Flat Bridge No 47, Shropshire Union Canal

 Swans.  What a lovely sight.  We only get geese in Gas Street Basin and they seem to frighten away any swans that venture into their territory.

We got to Norbury Junction at 0900, just as the shop and chandlery were opening.  We bought a new chimney as the old one was looking a bit mankey and bashed and found someone who fixed our leaking U bend under the sink.  Fifteen minutes later we were on our way.  Great, prompt service!

 The weather has deteriorated and there is a cold wind.  So by 1130 we moored up for the rest of the day.  Out in the middle of nowhere and no Internet signal!!!

 We have a great "Rag" Market in Birmingham and there are a couple of Asian stalls selling ribbon and sparkly things.  I got this ribbon there.  It has lots of sequins and beads sewn in.  It is a beast to fix though.

The card blank was black and I made a white panel which was embossed using the Cuttlebug.  I wrapped the ribbon around the white panel using lots of double sided tape on the back to keep it glued down.  Then I added the shiny black and silver sentiment and a paper rose.

Because the rose made the card too thick for an envelope, I made a black box with a red lid for the card to go into.

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.

Wallingford, River Thames

 
Passing the EA 24 hour mooring by Kennet Mouth.  I'm sure they were all there when we went past last time.

The weather was atrocious today.  David got wet and cold again.

We stopped off at Goring for him to dry out and get warm and then we went off again to Wallingford.

I like Wallingford, there is a great card shop, Poppycraft.  I managed to get some Tim Holz dies, so I've have got some playing to do.

This card was meant to be published last Sunday, but I was too tired to add it.

The sentiment is a silver peel-off and I stuck it onto some lilac card which was matted onto silver holographic card and

Newbury, Kennet and Avon Canal

Bought 5 more bags of coal as the weather has turned cold and arrived in Newbury early before all the hire boats arrived.

We moored opposite the K&A Trust Tearooms.   Usually we travel up through the lock and moor at the top before the swing bridge.  But we want to spend a few days here and this is a 48 hr mooring and the other one is only 24 hrs.

The swans are continually being fed, but still rush over when we get on of off the boat.

 Took lots of photos of boats going in and out of the lock for making cards.  Love the name of this boat.

Newbury has really gone up in the world, there is a new shopping precinct with a John Lewis Home, new big Debenhams and a Lakeland Ltd.  Almost in heaven!

Two cards using the same principal.  I printed out the sentiments on the computer.  The first one with a pink background and the second with a red one.

A space was left for the letter "o" and a red. pearl heart was stuck in place on the first card and a silver locket type heart tied with red ribbon on the second one.

Both panels were then matted onto silver card and then onto DL white card blanks.

Knowle Hall Wharf, Grand Union

 The Summer is over.  Cold and dull today and I never actually got off the boat.  David walked up to the petrol station to get a paper and I read it in bed.

While out walking yesterday we passed a holly hedge and there were lots of ladybirds getting amorous.

I made quite a few cards with this idea.  This one for 40 years - either age or anniversary.

The tag was made on the computer and I coloured the numbers in with a blue gel pen.

I cut a panel of silver card and wrapped some silver tissue ribbon around it fixing it at the back.  Then I threaded some blue and silver ribbon through the tag and around the panel and tied it in the front with a bow.  Then I stuck the whole thing onto a white card blank.

Gas Street Moorings, Birmingham

 We finally got around to joining the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (only 10 years late) and went off to Smethwick for a working party before their Bonfire Meet.  A couple of days before the meeting two young people fell into the top lock and drowned.  These are some of the tributes.

We spent the day clearing weeds from the towpath and the next two days stiff as boards!

This card was for Spanish Dave, our neighbour on the moorings, for his wife on their anniversary.

It was cased it from a blog, though changed it a bit as I didn't have the right sized stamp for the sentiment.

I die cut a heart from red card and covered it in several layers glitter glue, finishing off with some lacquer to make it stick.  Then I matted it onto white and red card and then onto black card leaving one edge longer than the other three.

Some red ribbon was wrapped around the front of the card (I cut a slit in the spine just large enough to thread the ribbon through and then stuck the ends onto the back.  I then tied a knot with a piece of red ribbon and some black spotty ribbon.

Originally I stamped the sentiment directly onto the card, but as usual, I messed it up!  So I stamped it again and then matted it up onto red and black card.

I made an insert which was stuck over the back of the front of the card, hiding the ribbon ends.

On the original card a small "Anniversary" was stamped in white on the black edge of the card, so I added the red heart gem as I felt it just needed something.

Gas Street Moorings, Birmingham

 I don't know, you miss a few days and it is really difficult to get back into the habit of blogging.  So sorry.  Though it is difficult if I don't have a photo to publish too.  Blogs are boring without pics, don't you think?

Anyway, we got back from Spain early August and missed all the fun on the moorings (yet again)!

There had been an auction for a mooring and the winner arrived, but soon started accusing other moorers of various misdemeanours and then began threatening to mutilate the males and stab one of the females.  Fortunately their contract for the mooring was not signed so they moved off.

The good news is that BBC Dave was the under bidder and he was offered the mooring.

On our big cruise in the Spring we managed to rub off the Mr on the bowflare.  Calum can be seen here painting the white bits

And Ana has just finished the signwriting.

So we are all shipshape again.

Well, almost, but that is another story.

Caroline and Curtis celebrated their second wedding anniversary in July.  This is the card I made.

  I Cuttlebugged a square piece of white card and stuck it onto some yellow card.  I wrapped several paper lace strips around and fixed it to the back and also some yellow paper string, fixing that at the back too.

A white Nestability heart was Cuttlebugged, then matted onto a yellow scalloped one and fixed to the side of the panel.  I stuck this panel onto a white, square card blank and then added to roses and leaves.