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.

Drayton Brick Bridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

 The bottom of Curdworth locks, always very pretty but unfortunately, not today - there were no flowers in the flower boxes on the bridge!

Another late start (for us) and a boat in front, so locks against us again but met a couple of boats coming up.




Another lovely, sunny morning though it is now raining, so Spring must be over.

Moored up on visitor moorings before Drayton Manor Swing Bridge and having a quiet afternoon and even managing not to have to go and have a snooze today.

I was asked to make a very special wedding day card for a friend.  I decided on a "shadow box card" and as I had never made one before I had a trial run.  This is the result.

First the front of the card using computer generated sentiment, die cuts and dry embossed card.

The inside is covered in a lovely thick, floral vellum and more die cuts.

Then the box itself.  I watched several U-Tube demonstrations first and it was really quite easy to construct.

I added more vellum at the base of the "box" and then added roses and die-cut leaves.  I was really pleased with it, but realised on closing the card that the rose in the right hand bottom corner was too high and the card would not close properly.

It isn't too much of a problem as I made a box for it to fit into and decorated the lid like the front of the card.

I then went on to make the actual card, which I will publish at a later date as I don't want anyone to see it yet who should not.

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.

Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal

 Heaven only knows what it looks like inside!!!

A short day today (seeing as we are going back and David want's to keep going).  We did a DIY pumpout and took on water at the sanitary station at Market Drayton and sailed under the bridge and were moored up at 10am.  

As is my want, I then walked into town and caught the bus into Shrewsbury for the rest of the day.  Oh! how I love my bus pass.

A nice, neutral, wedding card.  The top 2/3 of a piece of card was embossed with an embossing folder and some red ribbon wrapped around it covering the join.  This was then stuck down onto a white card base.  The "Mr & Mrs" was printed on the computer and cut out and stuck down with sticky fixers and 4 die-cut hearts were added underneath.

Atherstone, Coventry Canal

Charity Dock - the place where boats come to die.

I got another lie in today.  Woo hoo!  I even missed that annoying swing bridge at Rose Narrowboats.

We arrive at the moorings above Atherstone locks and moored in front of "Granny Buttons".  A boat we seem to see quite often.  The first time we met her was in 1999 when we were still wet behind the ears and were moored in Millwall Dock, Canary Wharf for the Millennium.

I walked into Atherstone town which was quite pleasant and had a fried breakfast in a 1940s themed cafe.

I love making these kilt cards.  This one has some tartan paper fixed onto a white card blank.  The topper was made from white card matted onto black card.  The kilt is made by folding a enth of slightly curved tartan paper, the belt is black card and a silver square and a photocopy of a sporran.

The sentiment is printed on the computer and matted onto black card also.

This is another card that could be used for several occasions, a birthday, wedding (groom, best man) perhaps.

Lower Shuckburgh, Grand Union/Oxford Canals

The boat that has everything!

A quarter to six start and just as we were approaching the locks a hire boater asked to join us.  They were brilliant, Dad, Mum and 2 daughters plus Granny.  All helped with the locks and we were at the top of the Stockton locks well before their 9am deadline for the return of the hire boat.



We went on and did the Calcutt locks.  This is what the middle lock was like.

Fortunately there were boats coming down and there was enough water for us to come up.

Then it was on the Napton junction, a left turn and stop at one of our favourite spots, by Bridge 103, and it was only 10am. 

Boy, is this stretch busy.  There were boats going past all day long.  By 4pm there were boats moored all along the Armco piling.

I loved making this "tent" card for a wedding of a Polish couple.

I covered the front and inside of the card with lovely floral paper.  A large round aperture was cut into the front of the card and a frilly edged frame was stuck over the top.  Then I added lots of leaves and flowers and large pearl on top.

Inside I die-cut the frilly circle after printing out the names and date and stuck it to the back of the card.







The box was covered in more of the floral paper, matted onto silver card and another frilly circle with the names and dates printed on it was stuck onto the top of the box.

The couple buying the card loved it, took it away and someone told them that they had got the date wrong!!!!!!

I printed of 2 new sets of dates and stuck them over the wrong date with sticky fixers.  Think we got away with it.

Oldroad Br 104 - Trent & Mersey Canal

  Left Stone really early.  This swan kept flying up to the boat and then attacking the back fender.  Quite spectacular.

It began to rain, so we stopped just past Burselem for the rest of the day.

We planned to walk back to the pub for lunch, but decided it was too far.  Will I ever get my meal out?

A nice, simple card.  The white panel was Cuttlebugged and fixed to the white card blank with foam tape.

Blue ribbon was wrapped around the panel (before fixing it to the card) and threaded through the die-cut label.  The sentiment was printed on the computer.

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.

Marsland Green Bridge, Bridgewater Canal

 We had to hang around for the guests on Periwinkle to have their breakfasts, and the weather was lovely.  Then on the dot at 0930 (leaving time) it started to rain!

Gill, John (a guest) and I did the locks between us and we were soon through Wigan and on the start of the long flat run to Middlewich.  

There was a hold up at Plank Lane, a previous boater had got his key stuck in the mechanism and so we had to wait until a couple of CRT men came to remove it and see us through the bridge.  Of course, they just took they key out of the lock!

Stopped off in Leigh for Aldi shopping and then with the heavens opened we stopped at the first available bit of green towpath with no houses.

This boat was moored on the landing for the swing bridge.  I'm not saying she is living there, but she has certainly made herself at home...

Doing the Henhurst Lock coming up stream:  (see blog for 24th April for pictures).

Walk along the towpath, under the road bridge and up the ramp until halfway along the lock, walk back to the bottom gate and unlock the vandal protection.  Wind the paddle up approx. 40 turns.

Walk back half way along the lock and turn to take the ramp to the top of the road bridge, walk away from the canal about 20 ft and onto the bridge.  Walk over the bridge and down the ramp the full length of the lock.  Walk back to the second bottom gate.  Unlock the vandal button, turn the handle 40 odd times and open the paddle.

Wait for the lock the empty.

Open the gate (using the large windlass!)  Lower the paddle (40 turns).  Walk to the end of the lock and back up the ramp, over the bridge, past the lock, back down the ramp half way along the lock and then back to the gate.  Open gate (using the large windlass!) and lower the paddle (40 turns).

Meanwhile the “man” has been doing the really hard work keeping the boat steady and then bringing it into the lock.

Close gate (using the large windlass), walk half way down the lock then back up the ramp, lover the bridge, down the ramp along the lock, back along the lock to the bottom gate and close the gate (using the large windlass).

Open ground paddle, walk back up the ramp, over the bridge, past the lock, back down the ramp along the lock and open the ground paddle.  Walk half way down the lock, up the ramp, over the bridge, down the ramp and open the gate paddle.  Wind the gate and ground paddles down.

Walk back up the ramp, over the bridge, back down the ramp and open the other gate paddle.

When the lock is full, open the gate.  Walk half way back down the lock, up the ramp, over the bridge, down the ramp and open the gate and wind the gate and ground paddles down.

Boat goes out.

Close the gate.  Walk up the ramp to the bridge, walk over the bridge, way past the lock, walk back and down the ramp to the top gate.  Close the gate.  Get on the boat.

Simples!!!!!

Actually, if we are on our own we only use one side of the lock (1 gate and 1  or 2 paddles), and if there are two crew with two boats then it’s not quite so bad.  But if your luck is out and you get a single hander who is backward in coming forward….

Three cards, one theme.  Weddings.  The hearts are die cut and the dresses Cuttlebugged.  They are then stuck to a white panel which is matted onto coloured card.  The grooms have bow ties and some have buttonholes and the brides beads.

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.

Tipton, BCN

We woke up after a very quiet night to sunshine!  Which was lucky as there was a tented showground and lots of people expected.

I took a walk into the centre of Tipton.  That was a mistake.  There is a fairly modern shopping centre there, unfortunately apart from about three shops, it was all boarded up!  I seem to remember lots of charity shops last time I visited, but even they have gone.

The show opened at 11am and there were lots and lots of visitors.

One downer was the toilet seems to be broken.  We have had to get the  porta pottie out from under the bed!

The sun shone all day and it was really lovely.  Hope the weather keeps up.

A white card blank with a white panel which I embossed using the Cuttlebug.  Then another plain white panel with an oval cut from the centre.  I fixed this with sticky fixers to make it stand out.

I cut a smaller oval from the waste from the hole and stuck it into the hole.  Six yellow paper roses were then tied with some yellow ribbon and the bunch was stuck down with several glue dots.

Pigeon Lock, Oxford Canal

 Now here is a new sign or two.

Leaving the mooring by Osney bridge was a challenge.  The current was so fast that David had fun getting to the back of the boat after untying the front, before hitting the boat behind.  Then it was foot down through the low bridge, hoping that the water wasn't too high for the bridge to take the satellite dish off.  We got through safely and with relief headed down the Sheepwash Channel and into the lock and the Oxford Canal.

NO MORE B***** RIVERS!!!

The weather was awful. Cold and wet.

The lift bridges have been modified so that single handers can use them.  They have put a lock on the towpath side and now you need a Watermate key to unlock the bridge and it opens automatically.  So far so good.  On the first one I could not remove the key after we got the bridge down.

On the second one I couldn't even get the key to open the bridge, so we called BW out.  Half an hour later a hire-boat arrived and a crew member opened the bridge.  Apparently you have to stand on the lock to make it work.  Duh!

Anyway, by standing on this mechanism I was able to operate the third bridge with no difficulty.

Then we came to Mill Lift Bridge, which had not been modified and is a heavy metal one.  I could not get enough purchase on the chain to bring the beam down  low enough to sit on it and had to be helped by a kind volunteer who happened to be collecting rubbish from the towpath.

The short river section at Shipton wasn't too bad - on yellow and by 1130 David was cold and wet, so we stopped for the rest of the day.

Back to the wedding card.  This time I made it much more simple.  I used a square, white card blank and matted some purple card onto silver mirror card and fixed it to the card base.  I then added another panel of purple and silver card across the top (it was supposed to have gone down the right hand side, but I get confused with square cards about what is up!).

I cut out a label in silver card and then added the coloured figures and motorbike using sticky fixers to make them stand out a bit.

To finish off I added three lilac pearls.

Here is the card seen from the front.  I hope it is a bit more manly.

Oxford, River Thames

Oh Goodie!  Yellow Boards!

Another early start to get through the locks.  This worked quite well until we got to Abingdon Lock when a "plastic" decided to join us and insisted on telling us how we should do it.

Lots of geese at a lock landing.

 And a sight to gladden the heart on a Saturday morning.  A Regatta.  Could we please wait for 20 minutes for them to set off.  As usual, not much organisation and nowhere to tie the boat up.

David decided to moor before Osney Bridge as there was room (instead of getting off the river and onto the canal).  There was just room, but the current was pretty fierce.

While in Newbury someone asked me to make a card for their son's wedding.  It had to show his motorcycle.

I made a tent card with purple, pearlised paper, cutting a large circle in the front with a die.  I covered a sheet of card with patterned paper for the background and stuck down two doily circles, again from dies.  I printed off the figures, colouring them in and a photo of the bike and added them to the doilies.


Then I added a green leafy swirl (die cut) and some silk flowers tied with a lilac ribbon.  Some lilac pearls were fixed to the other side of the circle and a computer made name ad date added to the bottom right hand corner.

I then checked the brief again which specifically said it was for their son - so not actually a wedding card and this was a bit too OTT.  So it was back to the drawing board....

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.

Gas Street, Birmingham

One of the big 4 accountancy firms (not our daughter's - she hates boats) was having a team building day out.  Down Farmers Locks and then back up again!!  Here, Mike is showing two of them how to do the first lock.  The rest are mostly drinking beer and having a good time.  

Didn't get to see them 26 locks later.

 Got an order for a card for a future daughter-in-law, and a chance to pull all the stops out.

The latest Making Cards magazine had a template for a new type of stand up card so I went for it.  The disadvantage of this card is that you need a piece of A3 card to start with, but I managed to find some from under the bed.

I covered the front of the card with some pink paper and then cut out a square from the centre, outlining the cut with some silver peel-off strips.  I printed off the Pink Petticoat digi stamp, the sentiment, the girl's name and the verse on the back.  The sentiment I matted onto some of the pink paper and then mirror card and fixed it to the top left hand corner of the card.  Two pink paper roses were added for effect.  The name was cut out with a Nestabillity die and I threaded some pink ribbon through, cutting the ends at an angle before fixing it to the bottom right hand corner of the card.  I added another rose to the right hand side of the name.  Finally a large pink paper rose and leaves were added to the bottom left hand corner, and some gems to the top right hand corner.



You can see from this picture that the card has a mountain fold in the middle and the actual card is stuck down on this.

Firstly I covered the card with patterned paper, then mirror card and then the same pink paper from the front of the card.  I coloured in the image with watercolour pencils and die cut it to an oval with a scalloped pink border and then a larger mirror card border then stuck it onto the panel.






When I stuck the pink paper on the front of the card I used the extra bit at the top to wrap it over onto the back, covering the join with another peel-off strip.

The verse (which David found for me on the Internet) was matted onto the pink paper and then mirror card before being stuck onto the back.

I was going to add another pink rose to the left hand bottom corner, but for the life of me I couldn't find them again! 

To finish off I made a box for the card to go into, 'cos I must have done something wrong in the construction as it would not lie flat.

I covered half of the top with some of the patterned paper, used another peel-off strip on the join and used some die-cut flowers and a tag which came with the papers, adding some ribbon and a sentiment to the tag.  Finally, I wrapped some of the pink ribbon around the box and tied it in a bow.

The customer loved it, but had failed to mention that it was a birthday card she was after not a wedding card.  Oops!!!