Merry Christmas

Santa is on his way! I've been tracking him on the internet and Twitter and it won't be long until he is here.  I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to thank you all for perservering with me this year.

I've not really crafted much since my last posts as Christmas has taken over as well has having lost my mojo with the loss of Bozzy.  I'm hopeful that 2012 will be a better year for me as my sister is getting married in May and hopefully my operation won't be to much longer to wait.

I hope that you all have a fantastic Christmas and that along with lots of lovely presents, Santa brings you all health, love and happiness.

Sarah xx

Jolly, Jolly Snowman!

Hello, I hope everyone is keeping well.  Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, it's so nice to know that people are still will me despite my recent lack of cards.

I have made another card tonight to share with you all.  I was sat on my laptop when I suddenly told myself to get off my backside and make a card - so I did!!  I made it with this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge in mind.  When I saw it on Saturday, I knew I had to take part.  For those that haven't checked, it's Christmas + Red & Embossing..  You all know how I love my red and white Christmas cards which always have an embossed background.  Add that to my love of Penny Black stamps and you have a perfect combo!  What better stamp could I use other than trust old Snowy himself! I've only had him a year, but I LOVE him!!  He's such a joy to colour.

 I apologies about the poor photos.  The only decent time for me to photograph at the moment is the weekend as it's dark when I leave for work in the morning and virtually dark when I get home.  Oh for those long summer days again!

His bobble & fur trim have had the usual glamour dust treatment.  It wouldn't be a Christmas card without a bit of sparkle! He's been coloured with my trusty copics.  The embossing folders are snow dots and snowflakes.

I'm going to go and have a look at what you've all been up to now. Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx

Lottie Love at Christmas

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable Monday, if that's at all possible! I always feel much better once I'm home and I know that the day is over for another week.  I really don't like Mondays, I think I'm very much a Garfield person!

The card I have to show for you today was made a couple of weeks ago but, understandably, I've not felt like posting it until now. It's another card using my Humphrey stamps, but this one is Lottie.  I think my last card also featured Lottie too, but I said it was Humphrey.  This stamp is called Snow Fun and was a dream to colour in.The background has been embossed with the snow dots embossing folder and backed onto Real Red SU cardstock which I get from the lovely Jules.  I've then cut a smaller strip of red which has been punched with an old Fiskars punch and then a strip of white card has been embossed with swiss dots folder and finished off with a gorgeous piece of gingham ribbon from Sew Sweet. The finishing touches are a Martha Stewart punch and a gemstone

 The snow drops have been glittered with Glamour Dust but I don't think it shows up too well in the photos.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Hooked on Crafts - Winter Wonderland
Kaboodle Doodles - Bundle up for Winter
Stamps R Us - Emboss It
Addicted to Stamps - Christmas Card
Gingerloft Challenge - Christmas and Winter
Penny Black & more - All Creatures Great & Small
Stamptacular Sunday - Anything Christmas
Sweet Stampin' - Punches and Dies
Simply Create Too - All About Christmas
Totally Papercrafts - Christmas
Crafters Companion - Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it Snow

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx

Thank You Christal

I would like to thank everyone that left a lovely message following the loss of Bozzy.  One week on and it still feels so painful. It's funny how you miss the smallest of things like hearing his meow or even just seeing his face looking back at you.  The mornings are difficult for me as I've lost my breakfast companion who had to be fed before I could do anything else and then wanted a cuddle when finished.  We'll get there slowly.

I have managed to make a card as I wanted to say a thank you to Bozzy's vet, Christal.  She is a wonderful lady who thought a lot of him and was so gentle and kind.  Even after he'd passed away, she was talking to him as she carried him out of the room.   I've wanted to do this since that day but haven't felt able to.  In the meantime, Christal took the time to send us a card with the following message:

"Boris was a super cat.  He was really lucky to have you look after him so well - allowing him to live for so long in comfort.  I know letting him go was not easy for you.  Thinking of you. Christel xx"

That meant so much to us.  I don't know many vets that would do that.  On the very same day, we also had a lovely card from a very good friend Michelle and one of my best friends, Sarah. 

This is the card that I have made and it obviously had to have a cat as the focal point.  The stamp is part of a Penny Black transparent set called In the Garden and has been coloured with copics.  The paper is from the first SWALK cd rom from Crafters Companion and is mounted on core'dinations cardstock.  The embossing is from a Crafts Too embossing folder called Daisies and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

I hope that she likes it.  We'll be taking it in on Wednesday hopefully with a tin of Celebrations chocolates for them all.  I just wanted to let her know that we appreciated everything that she did for Bozzy when he was with us.

I hope you've all had a good day.  I've made a fish pie for dinner tonight and two mince beef pies to freeze for other days.  I like to try and keep busy so that I don't have too long to sit down and think sad thoughts as I know Bozzy wouldn't want that.

Thank you all for stopping by and for the lovely comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx

Goodbye my Beautiful Bozzy

I'm sorry that I've been absent the last few days. Unfortunately, as my title says, we lost our beautiful boy Bozzy (Boris) yesterday.  He had gone down hill the last couple of days and yesterday we made the heartbreaking decision that it was time for him to leave us.  He was just short of his 21st birthday so had a wondefully long life but, at the moment, that doesn't make things any easier. 

My husband, Jon, had him for nearly 19 years when turned up on his doorstep and never left.  I've known, sorry knew him for nearly 9 years and lived with him for the last 5 years of his life.  Those 5 years have been the most enriching and love-filled 5 years of my life because of that little man and that is why I'm really struggling not having him with us anymore.

We do know that it was the right thing to do (his vet agreed we'd brought him in at the right time) and we believe that Bozzy knew what was happening and was at peace with it because, for the first time in days, he settled into my dad's arms as we were getting his basket and he stayed there.  He was virtually asleep by the time we were called into the vets and didn't really stir much when we placed him on Jon's lap for one last time.  I was stroking his head and talking to him as he left us for Rainbow Bridge where he will wait for us to all be together again.

This poem has been helping us come to terms with things:

If It Should Be

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep

Then you must do what must be done

For this last battle can`t be won.

You will be sad, I understand,

Don`t let your grief then stay your hand

For this day, more than all the rest

Your love and friendship stands the test.

We`ve had so many happy years

What is to come can hold no fears.

Would you want me to suffer? So

When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they`ll tend

Only stay with me until the end

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see

It is a kindness that you do to me

Although my tail it`s last has waved

From pain and suffering I have been saved

Do not grieve it should be you

Who must decide this thing to do.

We`ve been so close, we two these years

Don`t let your heart, hold any tears.

I hope that you will bear with me in these first few difficult and emotinal days and weeks as we come to terms with the loss of our beautiful boy.  He was more than just a pet to us, he was part of our family, our little boy and there is a huge whole in hearts and lives without him.

xx

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Good evening all. I can't believe that we're already back at Sunday evening again.  There's a question going round on Facebook at the moment that asks you what button in life would you most like to press.  I opted for the Pause button so that I could have more time to do all the things that need doing, as well as the things that I would really like to do.  I don't just mean craft or bake, but spend more time with the people that mean the most to you and appreciate things more as it won't be around forever.  What I wouldn't give for the pause button right now to delay the inevitable Monday morning alarm.

I'm slowly starting to get my stamps catalogued (and I mean slowly).  I think it's going to take me a very long time to get there so I just have to spend an hour at a time at least working on it.

I managed to have some crafty time this weekend and made a couple of cards.  I'm going to show one tonight and I made it specifically for the Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge which is Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. I've used one of my new Humphrey stamps and this one is Mistletoe Kisses and coloured him in with Copics and the fur trim glittered with Glamour Dust.  This is also a shaker card to make it look like its snowing, although the main photo doesn't really show it.

 The card is a base layer of Real Red CS from Stampin Up with a white layer of CS that has been embossed with snow dots embossing folder before having a whole cut out with a circle nestie.  The circle plastic shaker layer is placed in here with the little shaker bits and the image stuck on the back.  The frame is cute from Real Red CS using a scalloped and circle nestie.  I've finished off with some punched snowflakes gems and a sentiment.

I think in the close up you can just make out the little shaker pieces.

Supplies:

Stamp: Humphrey Mistletoe Kisses - Crafters Companion; Ink: Copics and Memento Tuxedo Black

CS: Real Red - Stampin Up; Tools: Circle & Scallop nesties, Snow Dots embossing folder, Shaker case, Martha Stewart Punch;

Embellishments: Gems, Pearls, Sentiment, Glamour Dust - stash

I was really pleased with how this turned out although I think I still need to practise with my red copics a bit more.

I'm also entering this into the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday - Punch it!

2 Sisters - Anything Goes

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Stamp that's never seen ink

Crafters Companion - Let it Snow

Fun With Shapes & More - Use Something 3 Times

Cute Card Thursday - Reds for Remembrance

Delightful Challenges - Snowflakes

Thank you as always for stopping by, your comments are greatly appreciated.

xx

My Stamp Collection!

I have to apologise for my lack of action in the past few months, not just in blogging and crafting myself but also in visiting everyone elses blogs to see what everyone has been up to.  I think a break has been doing me some good and I actually coloured some images last weekend, I just have to make them up into cards.

I've been thinking about making some changes to my craft room in the new year that will hopefully help me to utilise my space more efficiently.  Whilst in that mind set, it's got me thinking about my stamp collection and how to organise it so that I know what I have for each occasion.  There are so many that have yet to be used and it's such a waste. I've decided to try and catalogue them by brand and then subcategories into themes.  This could be tricky with some as they could fit a number of occasions!  I will be stamping them all up onto plain paper and putting into poly pockets and a folderToday I just started with getting my wood-mounted stamps out of the drawers.  The majority of them are Penny Black but there are some other brands there too. I decided to take some photos of them all for you!

The first photos is my stash of Penny Black stamps, wood mounted and clear sets.  I don't think it shows quite how many there are there!

 The second photo is of other brands of wood mounted stamps including Whipper Snapper, Elzybells and Me To You

 The third photo is of just some of my unmounted stamps.  The first basket as a large number of Humphrey and SWALK stamps as well as some Forever Friends and other brands.  The second basket is  mainly LOTV stamps.

 In the blue box are more LOTV stamps as well as some Wild Rose Studio, Fizzy Moon and Penny Johnson stamps.  The clear drawer has a really mix but a large number are Magnolia stamps. There are also some Greeting Farm stamps, the Stampasorus Elephants and more Forever Friends clear sets.

 This is my collection of Elzybells unmounted and clear stamps. There are 12 dvd cases full as well as a number of clear sheets.

 This is my collection of Popcorn Bear Stamps.  Surprisingly I don't have all the Christmas stamps!

Getting to the end of this post, I've just realised that I haven't photographed all my Forever Friends wood mounted stamps!! There must be between 20-30 of them too!!

What do you think of my idea of categorising them?  Do you think it's a good idea or is there a better way for me to go about it?  I look forward to hearing any ideas that you have.

Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Good Luck Humphrey

Good morning everyone.  I hope it's as beautiful a morning where you as it is here in Berkshire.  We have certainly been spoiled with some gorgeous late summer/early autumn weather these past few days, but I think we deserve it given the pretty awful summer we had to contend with!

It's been a week since my last posting and not an awful lot has been happening in the land of Fewings.  Skittles wasn't so good for me as I ended up with the booby prize on our lane!  I wasn't able to get as far down as I'd like because of my back, but we all had a laugh and that was the main thing.

I do have a card to show you that I have made this week.  It's a good luck card for my boss who is taking her German Open University exam on Monday.  It's from all of us in our little team and our way of saying we're thinking of her.  She's worked so hard for this and I'm sure she'll do well.

I took the opportunity to use one of my new Humphrey stamps for this card and coloured him with my trust copics.  They've all been sat there patiently waiting for their turn!!  The backing papers are also from the Humphrey's Corner cd-rom.  The cardstock is from Core'dinations and I've used my Swiss Dots embossing folder and Doily Lace punch finish.

 I just think Humphrey is so cute and a delight to colour!  I'm looking forward to using all my other stamps as well as the elements from the cd's.

Supplies:

Stamp: Humphrey's Stamp Set - Crafters Companion;  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics;

DP &CS: Humphrey's Corner cd rom, Core'dinations;

Tools: Oval scallop nesties, MS Doily Lace Punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder;

Embellishments: Sentiment Oval - Craftwork Cards

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Stampin for the Weekend - What a Cutie

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Animal Crackers

Little Miss Muffet - Animals or Monsters

Paper Play - White + one

Southern Girls - Anything Goes

ABC Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Clean & Simple
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafters Companion - World Cardmaking Day Challenge

I've got a week of work now but not much crafting will be happening as I'm off up to Durham to visit my lovely sister for 4 days!  We're going bridesmaid dress shopping so that will be fun, but also spending time together as I've not seen her since June (one day) or spent quality time since March and I really miss having my big sister around.  Hubby is staying at home cat sitting!

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated, as always.

xx :0)

Belated Birthday Card

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far.  With the Indian Summer they are talking about for next week, it looks like we're going to be in for a nice few days which will make up for the pretty dismal summer we've suffered.

My card for you today is a belated birthday card for a lady in my team.  I was off sick for her birthday the previous week so didn't feel that I could give her the card I'd prepared for her birthday so instead I made a "Sorry it's Late" card.  This Tilda image has been sat coloured on my desk for nearly 4 months now! In some ways I didn't want to use her as I was so pleased with my colouring! Is anyone else like that??  The paper is from a Me To You pad and the embossed background is using a Crafts Too folder whilst it's been finished off with three little roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.

 I know I've left her sitting in mid-air! I realised after I'd cut her out with the nesties that I should've actually moved it higher up so that her hands were resting on the edge.  I'd used the cutting outside the frame technique.  I think this is the first time that I've used this stamp despite having her for at least a couple of years!

Supplies:

Stamp: Tilda with Lilies - Magnolia; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics;

DP & CS: Core-dinations, Me To You; Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, Crafts Too Embossing Folder;

Embellishments: Roses - Wild Orchid Crafts, Sentiment - CWC, Ribbon - Stash

I hope you all have a lovely evening. I'm off out with Jon and my family as there is a skittles night down my dad's bowls club.  I'll be having a go but I won't be doing my usual stint in the pits as there is no way that my back is up to that, no matter how good my new painkillers are!

I'm planning to do some crafting and blog hopping tomorrow so I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to.

Thank you for stopping by this evening and any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Another LOTV Cardmaker of the Year

Evening all, I hope you're keeping well.  Thank you for the lovely comments you've all been leaving me on my recent entries in the competition, they really mean a lot to me.

I've another entry to show you today that was for Lili of the Valley. This card is based on one I made last year here.  I loved this one so much that I had to do it again but I've made it a little different by adding some flowers from Wild Orchind Crafts and sprayed them with Spray & Sparkle from Crafters Companion.  I feel they finished that corner off perfectly.

 Supplies:

Stamp: James Bear In the Snow - Lili of the Valley; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics;

DP & CS: DCWV Christmas Stack, Centura Pearl Cardstock - Crafters Companion, Mirri Card

Tools: Circle Nesties, Snow Dots Embossing Folder

I just love purple and silver together, I think it's a great combo!  I really should get a wriggle on with doing some Christmas cards.  Not know when I'll be out of action I don't want to leave it too late.  I may cheat a little and do some digital crafting as I  have the Me To You cdrom as well as my Forever Friends one where I can design on screen and print out.  I did a few of these last year for friends at work and personalised them which they really seemed to like.

I have lots of new goodies to play with too as a little elephant called Humphrey has landed on my doormat and he's so cute.

I've some blog hopping to do this evening so I hope to see you all a bit later.  Thank you for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

LOTV Cardmaker of the Year entry

Thank you to everyone for the lovely comments on my card box yesterday, they are greatly appreciated.    I thought I would show you another entry I made, this time for Lili of the Valley.

I saw one of these book cards whilst blog hopping and used the tutorial here.

 The papers are a download from Nitwits and the adorable image is from LOTV.  The sentiment is from a Popcorn Bear set from Crafters Companion

 I attempted this before I had my hougie board so the scoring wasn't exactly perfect but I'm going to try again shortly! The ribbon was from my stash.

The inside has been decorated with more Nitwit papers and finished off with a pocket and a tag for the greeting.  The little bits inside were all purchased from Wilkinsons.  I just thought it was a great back to school project or for a little girl just about to start school.  The lipstick items are a ballpoint pen and rubber, very girly!

I hope you like it.  I was really pleased with the final outcome and showed it to a few of my friends at work who were equally impressed.  I plan on making some more again really soon.

Thank you for popping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.  I hope you have an enjoyable evening.  I'll  be settling down for some X Factor soon.

xx :0)

Cardmaker of the Year 2011

Hello!! I'm still here!! Since my last post I have been a little busy with some entries for the Cardmaker of the Year competition in Cardmaking & Papercraft.  I left it quite late as I was only able to craft for long periods after a change in my painkillers.  Because of this I only had 5 cards for 3 categories but I guess it's quality over quantity right??

I chose 3 of my favourites categories to enter although I had brought a number of items for other categories and had ideas written down for them.  I guess I can keep them for next year and hope that they will still be an option to choose!  I also have to admit that 1 card was pre-made and 2 other's I'd either copied or amended slightly from cards that I'd made months ago that I had been really proud of. 

I'd left it so late that they were posted special delivery on Thursday to ensure that they arrived yesterday which was also the closing date for entries!

The entry I'm going to show you today is for the Trimcraft First Edition category.  I really love these papers.  I used the new Christmas Joy pad along with a cute Fizzy Moon stamp.  I created an easel drawer card as my project with some little thank you cards in the drawer.

 The photos aren't great as I had to take them at work! I didn't finish this until 11:30pm on Wednesday evening! I really like this colour combination.  I know you can't tell on photos, but the two punched border edges are contrasting shades of red papermania cardstock.

 The paper, although not showing up in the photos, is all glittered and sparkly.

 A close up of the image, you can just about see that the Glamour Dust has had an outing again!  I can't have snow or furry trims without the glamming them up a bit!

A side on view of the box card to show it off a bit.

Supplies:

Stamp: Festive Fun - With Love - Fizzy Moon; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

DP & Cardstock: Christmas Joy - Trimcraft; Papermania

Tools: MS Doily Lace Punch & Snowflake Punch, Circle Nesties, Hougie Board

Embellishments: Sentiment Circle - CWC, Rose - Wild Orchid Crafts, Ribbon & Gems - Stash

I would love to know what you think especially as it's been a while since I made or coloured anything.  I'm hoping to have a look at all your blogs this evening and catch up on what I've been missing.

Thank you for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx

So long since I last posted!

Oh dear, I've been very bad in my posting!  I went through a phase where I just couldn't get inspired to do anything due to the pain in my back and now, for the last two weeks, my craft room has been out of action as I've been having a new kitchen fitted and I can't get near my goodies!

I've spent loads on new goodies just recently even though I've not been inspired to craft and now they're sat there just sat there out of my reach!  I really wanted to enter the National Card Maker of the Year competition this year but I'm really going to have to get my finger out once I'm allowed back in my room! I've got all my ideas written down but having the ideas and making them come to life are two different matters entirely!

I'm hoping that my kitchen is going to be finished this week (with the exception of the decorating that we're doing ourselves) so hopefully I'd be able to get back into my room and fingers crossed that the mojo comes with me.

I'm sorry that I've not gone round blog hopping in a very long time.  I've just been taking a break away completely in the hope that I come back refreshed.

If people are still popping by, thank you so much, it's greatly appreciated.

xx :o)

Belated Father's Day Card

Good Morning All! Hopefully you're recovering from the shock of a 3rd day of posting!  This is a scheduled post as I should be at work now, but whilst typing this I'm currently watching the Men's Final at Wimbledon!

I realised that I didn't show you the Father's Day card that I'd made for my dad.  I posted my Father-in-Laws but completely forgot my dad's; sorry dad!  I used another of the male LOTV stamps, I think this one is called Footy Ted.  I wasn't brave enough to try and recreate my football team's colours as it would've been blue and white hoops and I don't think I could've worked out the shading properly!  He's been coloured with copics and the papers are from Pink Petticoat again.  The sentiment is an Elzybells stamp.  In my dad's case it should ready "There are only two things in life; Football & Bowls!"  The cardstock is some of my favourite Bazzil Basics.

I don't think he looks too bad now does he?? I was concerned that I might have overdone the brown polychromo but it looks fine now.  I do need a new pot to put my sansador in with the sponge as my first one leaked and it's not something you want to smell to often!!  In our LOTV class they used Flowersoft pots with a bath sponge soaking it.

I'd best go as hubby is just starting to dish up my Sunday dinner (Confusing when this is posting Monday morning!! LOL).

Thank you again for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Congratulations!

 THIS IS MY SECOND POST TODAY, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY PREVIOUS POST

Blimey, 3 posts in 2 days!! I'm in shock!

I didn't think I'd be back today but I sat making an engagement card for a friend at work who has just got engaged.  Her fiancé proposed at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, very romantic!!

I was looking through my stamps trying to decide what to use when I found this Penny Johnson stamp that I've had for over year and never inked up!  The cardstock was a sheet of Bazzil that I love and it was my last sheet!  The paper is from a Forever Friends pad and the embossing is using the Love Language folder from Cuttlebug.  I made a border using my MS Lace Valentine border punch and finished off with some ribbon and a bow that I made using my Bow Easy.

I've followed the sketch from The Sweet Stop.  I did have to adapt it slightly as I'd embossed the second panel the wrong way, I hope that's okay!  I'm also entering this into the Little Claire's Challenge which is Pink & Brown.  My little bears are brown and the rest as you can see is pink!!

I would also like to enter this into Stampavie & More which is More than 3 Layers
I hope you all enjoyed your Sunday.  I was gutted to see Rafa lose Wimbledon but hey ho, c'est lá vie!

Thank you for stopping by again and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

More Hugs!

Good Morning Everyone! I hope the sun is shining as brightly wherever you are like as it is here in Berkshire.  I know, pinch yourself, a post two days running!  One of the side effects on one of my meds at the moment is restlessness so I can't sit still too much at the moment without fidgeting so whilst hubby is catching some extra zzzzz's I thought I would make another card.

I'd coloured two of the Me To You bears that I used on yesterdays card so I had to use him up otherwise he'd be a bit lonely.  I was inspired to make this card after quickly visiting the fabulous Debby's blog and seeing the card she'd posted here.  I don't know about you, but I love visiting Debby's blog as her cards are amazing!

I've followed a similar theme with my card using predominately white embossed backgrounds and some gorgeous purple bazzill card.  I finished off with a punched daisy strip using my MS punch and some rhinestones.

Supplies:

Stamp: It's Me! - Me To You; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics;

CS: Bazzill Basics; Tools: Love Language folder - Cuttlebug, Daisies Folder- Crafts Too, Oval Nestabilities, MS Deep Edge Punch

Embellishments: Flower and Rhinestones - Stash - Craftwork Cards sentiment

This card is for a very good crafty friend who's in need of a hug right now so this is winging it's way to her very soon.

I'm entering this into the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge.

I hope you all have an enjoyable Sunday whatever you're up to.  I may tune into Wimbledon a bit later even though Murray didn't make the final.  Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

 

Sending Hugs

Okay, I know it's been a couple of weeks again since my last post.  Unfortunately that's the way things are going for me at the moment.  I may be intermittent for a while yet I'm afraid.  I know I've not commented for a while, but that doesn't mean that I'm not always looking because I am.  It's just that blogger doesn't always allow me to comment on everyone's posts still.  Very frustrating!

Anyway, I've been able to have a little play today with my crafty stash so thought I would show you what I have created.  I've used one of my new Me To You stamps.  You know me and teddies, I just can't get enough of them!!  He's been coloured with copics and I actually think he looks pretty good!  The backing paper is also from the Me To You paper pack and the cardstock is Aqueduct Core'dinations.  It was my last sheet so I made a note of the name so I can get some more as it's very pretty!!  I've finished off with some Wild Orchid Roses that have been lightly spritzed with Glimmer Mist and a Craftwork Cards Sentiment oval.

I've used the sketch from A Gem of a Challenge.  I don't own any Pink Gem images but luckily you can use any image to participate.  I'm also entering this into:

Stamping for the Weekend - My Favourite Things - Teddies!!!

Thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.  I will try and pop round everyone's blogs later.

xx :0)

Father's Day Card

Good evening all.  It's been a while again since my last my post.  I've really been suffering with my back, not just physically but mentally as well.  I've been having to take days here and there off work and it's really been getting me down.  I hate not being able to do things which gets me frustrated and this then gets me down.  I've not been able to craft much either because of that but also because I was feeling down. It may seem strange especially when crafting helps so many people who suffer with depression and other illnesses but I was getting so annoyed with myself that I was unable to want to do anything, if that makes sense!!  I had all of these lovely goodies that I'd purchased that were just sitting there!

Today I decided that I was going to do something about that and I've managed to make my Dad's Father's Day card as well as one for Jon's dad!  I am paying for that now but boy did it feel good!!  My mojo was suffering so I had a look around some blogs which helped to inspire me. 

Tonight I will show you Jon's dad's card.  My inspiration for this came from a card the lovely Marcea made.  I used the Cheers Bear from Lili of the Valley which was purchased at the Masterclass in May.  I love all the LOTV bear stamps!

Supplies:

Stamp: Cheer Bear - LOTV; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics;

Card & DP: Doodles of Dots & Harlequin - Pink Petticoat, Core-dinations; Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties

Embellishments: Glossy Accents, Sentiment Oval - Craftwork Cards & Gemstones. 

A close up of this little cutie. you can't really tell that the beer glass has had the glossy accents treatment, the sun deserted me at that moment!  I don't know if you can tell either but I've started to use some polychromo pencils to enhance the shading on my bears.  We were shown this at that Masterclass. I'm hoping that I'm doing it right!

This weeks Lili of the Valley challenge is Bring on the Music.  I really wanted to enter this card & the only song I could think of was Boney M's Daddy Cool!! I think he looks a pretty cool dad so I hope that's acceptable!!

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Blogger Challenge - Masculine Card
Fashonista Friday - For Men
Craft us Crazy - Father's Day
Crafty Sentiments - Fathers Day
Delightful Challenges - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare Card Challenge - For the Boys
Lili of the Valley - Bring on the Music - Daddy Cool!
Southern Girls - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Dad
Papertake Weekly - Dad's & Lads

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

It's been a while!

I know, it's been a while since I was last in blogland. I would be very surprised if there is anyone still out there reading this.  If there is, thank you so much!

The main reason for my lack of crafting has been my back which has been giving me a lot of pain.  Without saying too much, I'm now waiting for a fairly serious operation to remove the troublesome discs and fuse that area of my spine.  The list is 3 months which, at the moment, seems a long way off as the pain has been quite bad this last week.

My other reason was that, for a while, Jon and I thought we were going to lose Bozzy.  He's 20 years old now so is quite remarkable in that sense, but it did look like we would be saying goodbye.  However, he seems to have cottoned on to what we were thinking and has turned around quite remarkably as if to say "I'm not ready to go just yet!".  Here's the gorgeous boy here enjoying a sleep in the sun:

I do have a card to show you too!  Last Saturday I was very lucky to be able to attend the LOTV Colouring Masterclass in Ashford.  We had a whole day with Jacqui and Bev tutoring us and helping improve our colouring skills.  I had an amazing time and learnt some new techniques which I'm hoping to put into practise very soon.  We coloured in 4 LOTV images trying out these techniques and were given a pack to complete one of Bev's stunning cards.  I finished mine this morning and am really pleased with it.

I am so pleased with the colouring of this image.  I have the stamp as I think it's really cute but have been nervous about colouring it in.  Hopefully I won't anymore.

I was also very lucky to meet some very lovely ladies who I spent the best afternoon with; Pam, Lisa, Caz and Caz's mum (sorry, my mind has gone blank for your name!!)

Thank you for still being here and supporting me when I've not been able to visit you all in return.  I will try more.

xx :0)

A very basic card

Good evening all, apologies again for my absence.  I don't really seem to be with it in the world of cardmaking at the moment, hence the topic of my post.

It's my hubby's birthday tomorrow and I wanted to make him a fabulous card, as we all do for those people that we love, but I could not find the inspiration, or even the desire so I've ended up with a really basic card, almost like one of thise that I started out with.

Is it possible to go full circle and then unable to improve anymore and just end up as you started?  Okay, that probably doesn't make any sense, but I'm feeling a bit flat.  I don't know if it's because I was so poorly a while back as I've not really made any cards since then.

I will show you my card now and live it for you to decide.

Hopefully I'll feel better about it all soon, but I'm not too sure at the moment.

xx

Happy Birthday Mum

I would like to start off by thanking everyone for the lovely comments left on my previous post, especially after such a long absence, they are truly appreciated.

My mojo seems to be returning slowly as I managed to make a card over the weekend for my mum who celebrates her birthday tomorrow.  I needed to do this as unfortunately I was unable to make a Mother's Day and I felt very guilty about this.

My mum, like me, loves teddy bears so for me the perfect stamp was one of my favourite Penny Black stamps, Gentlest Kiss.  I adore this stamp and was very lucky to purchase it half price at Ally Pally last year.  The papers are from a Papermania Henbury Lane set and match perfectly with the cardstock I'd chosen.  I think I over-Glimmer Misted my large rose though as the petals opened up a bit too much, hopefully they still look okay.

 Supplies:

Stamps: Gentlest Kiss - Penny Black; Happy Birthday - Woodware; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics

DP & CS: Henbury Lane - Papermania & Core'dinations

Tools: Circle & Scallop Nesties, Love Language CB Folder, Martha Stewart Lace Valentine Punch

Embellishments: Wild Orchid Craft Roses, Glimmer Mist, Ribbon

I don't know what everyone else uses for their copic colouring, but my favourite is Ryman's Brilliant White Super Smooth.  It blends really nicely and evenly.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Stamp with Fun - Birthday
Pile it On - Use a Rubber Stamp
By the Cute & Girly - Cute & Girly
Copic Creations - Favourite paper to use for copics - Rymans
Sketch Saturday - Sketch
Crafty Catz - Furry Friends
Daring Cardmakers - Spring or Easter
Creative Card Crew - Spring

Thank you again for stopping by and for any comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx :0)

Apologies

I hope there are still people out there reading this.  I'm sorry it's been a couple of weeks since my last post.  I have been rather unwell since I had my injection two weeks ago.  On the day that I went in for the procedure I was feeling a little unwell with a sore throat and the feeling that I was coming down with a cold.  The anaesthetist was still happy for it to go ahead but warned that having a breathing tube may exacerbate the problem and that, if I did start to feel unwell, then I should go to the docs sooner rather than later due to my asthma.  Unfortunately things went downhill and I ended up on steroids for 10 days and antibiotics for a week.  I've been off work for two weeks and only the last day or two have I started to feel better with the exception of being tired.  I am allowed back to work on Monday though.

The only thing that I felt like doing at my worst was reading and, in less than a week I managed to read the entire Twilight saga on my Kindle!! I'm sooooooo behind everyone else in reading this series but am completely hooked!  I now have to start on the films!

Before I went into hospital, I'd been busy with a few card orders and I thought I would show one of those cards for you today.  This card was the Mother's Day Card for the first time mum.  I was really pleased with how this turned out.

 I decided to use one of my Popcorn Bear Baby stamps and the DP has been printed from one of the Popcorn CD's too.  The roses and lace trim are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

 I made an easel card as I wanted it to be really special as you only have one first Mother's Day.

 The sentiment says "To the most Special Mummy in the World",  The stamps are from a few Elzybells sentiment stamp sets that I have in my collection.

 I created a pocket to hold a tag that I created using Marianne Designs Tag die so that a message could be included.  I have to admit that the fitting was a bit snug for the tag but I don't know how else to add this!

My mojo has been AWOL since I became poorly but I'm hoping that it's starting to return as I have a run of birthdays coming up that I need to make a start on!

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.  I am hoping to have a blog hopping evening so I can catch up on everyone's blogs.

xx

Swing Time

Good evening all! I know this is a late post from me but I know I'm going to have trouble sleeping tonight so I thought I would get on and post this whilst I was still up.  For those of you that know I've been having trouble with my back, I'm going into hospital tomorrow for a Caudal Epidural.  It is just a day case but requires a general anaesthetic due to the placement of this.  I am unable to have a normal epidural under a local because of all my previous spinal surgery.  This is another attempt to control the pain that I have been suffering.  If this fails then I will be looking at more surgery.  It's an early start for me as I have to be at the hospital for 7:30am!

Anyway, enough doom and gloom, my main reason for posting was to show a card that I made for an order.  The card is for a friends partner who celebrates her birthday tomorrow.  She is a dog lover and I didn't have many stamps so I thought I would treat myself to some Lili of the Valley stamps and couldn't resist the adorable stamp called Swing Time.   The other criteria was that her favourite colours were purple and green.

 I know the colours look slightly washed out in the photos, no matter what I did, I couldn't get them to any better without over saturating.  I really loved this card as the colours are all nice pastel shades!  The DP is from an old free My Minds Eye pad with a crafting magazine.  The sentiment is one of the great circular sentiment stamps also from Lili of the Valley.  I can't believe this is the first time that I've used them!

I know I've not included the details list like I have been doing recently, but I think I've mentioned most things in the post.  I can't type much longer as my cat, Bozzy, is trying to walk across the keys!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

The Sweet Stop - Sketch
Lili of the Valley - Spring

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.  I hope to do some major blog catching up whilst resting over the weekend!

xx :0)