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.

Hungerfield Bridge (35), Oxford Canal

We were off again at 5.30 and stopped off at Tesco's in Rugby and then it was on to Hungerfield Bridge for the rest of the day.

The old lock stones and the new ones.

And a leaky lock.

Here is an engagement or romantic card.  The couple were a digital download and pre-coloured (colouring is not my forte)

I die-cut the labels and matted it onto blue card and then made 2 panels with printed papers and matted them as well.  Three pink roses with leaves were added to the bottom of the label and 3 pink pearls to the top right hand corner.

Etruria - Caldon Canal

 Stayed put today, the weather is awful, rain and very strong winds.  So no photos and no news.

So a photo of Mystical Magic going back to its mooring after the breech by the Mailbox.  It was the first time it had been out under its own steam since the latest modification.

 Here is an engagement card.  I coloured in the stamped image and die cut it and matted it onto a gold scalloped die cut.  This was then matted onto some lilac and gold card.

A pretty lilac ribbon was wrapped around the bottom and stuck to the back of the panel and then die cut leaves and paper roses were added around the bottom of the panel.  The whole thing was then stuck onto a white card.

Bridge 66, Shropshire Union

 My we are flying.  Can't wait to get back to see the grandson!!

It was up and through Audlum before 0900, with a rude gesture when going past the wharf and a then a rest at the bottom of Adderley locks, before coming on to here.

Twenty locks today.  I'll sleep for a week.

Playing with embossing folders and ink and I came up with this.  I still can't get the colours completely even, but I'm not sure it matters too much.

The bottom white panel was edged using a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment was done on the computer.  This was all then matted onto some dark blue card nad  blue ribbon wrapped around the join and tied in a knot.  Two pearls decorate the sentiment to finish it off.

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

 Stuck outside the Knowle Hall Wharf, breached up by a brand, spanking new widebeam and sticking out a bit into the canal.  Luckily there are no many boats about.

Walked into Knowle again today (for something to do mostly) and bought more lovely cakes. 
Hope we are not here too long!

Two cards, two different looks.

For the first one I covered a cardboard heart with some gold angel hair stuff, sticking it on the back with glue.  Then added a gold paper rose.  This was then matted onto yellow and gold card squares.

I wrapped gold ribbon down the front of a white card blank and made a bow with more ribbon and stuck that under the heart.

I wasn't too happy with the card so I took it apart.  I cut the white card level with the sides of the topper with a scalloped edge and added some gold peel-offs.

Then I added the sentiment which I printed on the computer and matted it onto  gold card before adding it to the bottom of the new topper.

Still not happy and may take it all apart again and start all over.

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.

Droitwich, Droitwich Barge Canal

 Yet another lovely day.  There have been masses of boats, canoes and this car going past all day.  We got bumped a few times.

The official opening was at about 2pm - lots of bigwigs and speeches.

Now it is all old news.  And the queue in the beer tent was horrendous.

For this card I sued a peel-off which I stuck onto some white card and then cut out.  Then I coloured it with water colours before sticking it onto some yellow and then white handmade paper with the edges frayed.

I wrapped some yellow ribbon around the bottom and tied it in a knot and added the bird panel to a yellow card blank.

Halsall, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Only 3 1/2 miles today as we are lurking, waiting to go down to Liverpool.  We saw a 70ft length of brand new piling and dived in. 

We were in time to watch the Royal Wedding on the telly.

The record for the number of ducklings in one clutch:  14!! Ouch!

We were joined later by the six boats from Bridgewater Marina who are travelling down to Liverpool at the same time as we are. 

A card for the Royal Couple.

A peel-off stuck onto acetate and coloured in from the back.  The doves were done using Snopake!

I cut around the edge of the peel-off and then stuck it onto some turquoise handmade paper and then onto silver embossed card.

The whole panel was then stuck onto a turquoise card blank.

Sowerby Bridge, Calder and Hebble Navigation

 So, what was today's accident?

We managed to flood the boat again.  The locks on the C&H are only 60ft long, so our 57 1/2 foot boat fits in fairly snugly.  Most of the locks have only one paddle in the top gate where you can use a windlass, the rest (and always the ground paddles) need a special hand spike (a long piece of wood which you use as a lever).  These are a bit of a bind, and being lazy I only used the windlass paddle (which is a gate paddle).  This particular one managed to catch the boat and fill the well again.  Oops!

The bit from Brighouse to Sowerby Bridge is very pretty, a wooded hill on one side (covered in bluebells) and the river on the other side. 

This  sentiment was chalked up on a disused lock keepers hut.  Sweet!  I feel a card coming on.

David said he did it wrote it for me last night.

So, I'd better show a romantic card then.

I covered a heart with handmade paper (with flower petals in it) which was then mounted onto some pink handmade paper.  I then added a rose and a pink bow.

This I stuck down onto a white card base, adding three oval, pink gems in the bottom right hand corner.

Booth's Swing Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

 The plan was to stay in Skipton for two nights but the wind came up and as the wharf has a curving wall we were banging against the stones.  So after lunch we moved out of town for a bit of peace and quiet.

Lots of signs of spring now, birds on nests, leaves budding and frogs croaking for all they are worth.  Haven't seen another swallow though!





This card has bee tinkered with several times.  This is the latest incarnation.

I covered a foam heart with some gold webbing and then added the gold rose which was then matted onto yellow card and gold miri card.

I wrapped some gold ribbon around a piece of white card and added some gold peel-off borders and stuck this down onto the white card blank along with the topper.

I used the computer to make the sentiment on white card and matted it onto gold miri card before adding it to the bottom of the card.

Newbury, Kennet and Avon Canal

One of the leaky locks on the K&A.

Left Kintbury at 6.15 and reached Newbury around 9am. We moored up to wait for the shops to open and discovered a Farmers' Market in the market square. Lots of goodies and we spent lots of money there.

Then it was through the lock and on to Bev and Geoffs' Pitstop for a pumpout, diesel and water. They have, kindly, let us moor up here and we have got an electric hook-up for the night, so I got the washing done.

Four cards today. Again the first attempt and "improved" version.



A bought topper, matted onto silver and lilac card and stuck at an angle onto a lilac base card.

I then added a lilac ribbon, tied with a knot, on the left hand side of the card. Finished off with 5 lilac sequins in the right hand corner.

This one began with a light turquoise card. The topper was matted onto silver and white card and stuck down at an angle.

I cut the card up with scallop edged scissors. Using a white card base I wrapped a turquoise dotty ribbon around the front and tied it in a knot fixing the topper over it with sticky fixers.

Then I added three white sequins on the bottom right hand corner.

Normans Bridge No 26 - Middlewich Branch, SU

A picture for Michael. The football ground for the Northwich team he supports plus the Manchester United Reserves. We are not worthy!

Yet another 0500 start. Passed the Fudge boat at Anderton (facing the wrong way yet again).

Last night we were passed by a Claymoore hire boat crewed by pirates. They were all dressed up and were "Yah hah-ing!" and "Yo hoh-ing!" everyone in sight. We caught them up at the Big Lock this morning and while David helped them through with advice etc (their first lock), I walked to Tesco's for some shopping.

I was waiting for them at the bottom of the three locks. David had persuaded the pirates that they should let him go first so that they could close the locks. They bought it - so we got to go up the rest of the locks before them. Not that it did us any good as there were 2 boats already in front - though a very keen set of other hireboaters also set the locks and opened and/or closed the gates.

There was the usual queue at Wardle Lock with one boat crew complaining about the wait (but not helping with the locks). Further on we met with No Problem but they didn't recognise us and then later David saw Valerie sail past. Again no response. We are obviously not on their blog rolls.

This card started out with a red card blank. I cut out a square of gold paper and then stamped out the heart border down two sides. Finally I added a bought topper with a gold heart with string and a flower.

Broad Street Basin

WE DID IT!!!!! We pulled the electricity plug out at 0945 this morning and set off for Wolverhampton is glorious sunshine, but a cold wind.

And Oh! what a wonderful sight. A dredger on the main line. Maybe on the way back we'll be able to do all the left hand side narrows without getting stuck.

David only had to go down the weed hatch once and we scraped over a couple of big things along the way.

We have moored up at the top of the locks with an Anglo Welsh hireboat behind us. Let's see who gets up first tomorrow to do the locks.

A card for a middle-aged couple's engagement. I printed the wording, with a red background, onto card and stuck this onto silver card. I made a couple of small holes in the red and silver card and threaded the red ribbon through with the heart charm and tied a knot. I then stuck this down onto a white DL card. Nice and easy. One day I'll be able to cut out the letters on my CraftRobo, but I'm not quite there yet.