Coming down out of the freezing sky with its depths of light, like an angel, or a Buddha with wings, it was beautiful, and accurate, striking the snow and whatever was there with a force that left the imprint of the tips of its wings — five feet apart — and the grabbing thrust of its feet, and the indentation of what had been running through the white valleys of the snow — and then it rose, gracefully, and flew back to the frozen marshes to lurk there, like a little lighthouse, in the blue shadows — so I thought: maybe death isn’t darkness, after all, but so much light wrapping itself around us — as soft as feathers — that we are instantly weary of looking, and looking, and shut our eyes, not without amazement, and let ourselves be carried, as through the translucence of mica, to the river that is without the least dapple or shadow, that is nothing but light — scalding, aortal light — in which we are washed and washed out of our bones. Author

Wednesday 29 June 2016

A Snowflakes Promise.....New Challenge


Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at a Snowflakes Promise. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next fortnight. As always there is an Anything goes challenge but there is always the option of doing a Christmas Card. I should have blogged yesterday but life decided to throw me a curve ball and I had a terrible day..but as always I have put my big girl pants on and am trying to deal with it.But to be honest..I would love a week where I didn't have to deal with some added stress, but what choice do we have.


Back to the challenge..we were so lucky to have been sponsored by the great team over at Bugaboo Stamps. There is such an amazing variety of images..well worth a look.I saw this image with the farm animals in a stack and thought to myself that I just had to have a play. When it came down to it..I couldn't decide on my colours..so I just had to do two pieces..lol.


Well the coffee is calling and the wind is raging. I'm off to inhale my caffeine and then make some phonecalls. All the cats are in and asleep..it's really quiet for once. The only one to complain is Gannie..who keeps going to the window and watching the rain and then coming to me yowling. I'm sure he thinks that I'm in charge of the sunshine..lol. Raven is on my legs, Jeffrey is on the couch and Sprout is on the wing of my chair. If anyone was to come today, they would see me for what I really am..the original crazy cat lady..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.
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Monday 27 June 2016

JB-Crafting Supplies...The First Christmas Card


Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful JB-Crafting Supplies. Before my friend Sunshine starts on at me..yes I know it's still June but all the craft channels have been featuring Christmas products and once I got the idea for this card into my head...I just had to make it to shut myself up..lol. The card features a stamp from Hobby Art and backgrounds created with my Lyra watercolours. For all details about this card please pop over to the JB-Crafting Supplies blog. As always..should you have any crafting needs or wants..please pop over to JB-Crafting Supplies and speak to Julie. I think that it's really important that we as crafters support local businesses..if we don't then there will be no local craft shops and the huge impersonal superstores that really don't care will win. I personally love being able to speak to Julie, knowing that she is both a crafter and sewing guru, makes asking questions so much easier. All too many times the huge chains have no interest apart from how much money they can make...and most of the people that work there just want to get the day over with and have no interest in crafting themselves.

The sun is shining here in the mountains today. All the cats are outside apart from Nosey who is asleep on the couch. Last night I could not stop laughing..I had the new carpet for the parlour arrive..all rolled up and the cats immediately thought that they had been bought a huge scratching post. My friend the PA put some cushions by it to try and stop them but all to no avail..lol. Milky flung herself at the roll of carpet and looked for all the world as if she had been splatted at it. Her front and back legs were all stretched out to the sides and she was trying her hardest to hang on as well as have a scratch. I just couldn't stop laughing. Finally she decided to sit on top of the roll and I left her to it. The cats are in for more fun in a couple of weeks when all the flooring for downstairs arrives. I won't know myself soon..with new carpet and lino downstairs and new carpet with underlay up in the parlour. I've told the cats they had better behave or they will find themselves wearing slippers..lol

Well the coffee is calling and I have a visitor coming later..I hope that they don't mind being surrounded by carpet and underlay..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

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Saturday 25 June 2016

Left of Center....New Challenge


Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. Anew challenge has just begun and will run for the next week. The theme for this challenge is Monochrome. As usual you have the choice of going LOC. For all details of that option, please pop over to the LOC blog.

We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous MoonFlower Digi Stamps. I found it so hard to choose which image to work with but finally decided on this breath taking Oriental maiden.

For my card I decided to go with shades of pink. I used a mixture of my H2o's and my promarkers to colour the image. I then embellished the card with pearls and jewels.

It has been a strange day today, with the cats playing yoyos...running in and out between the rain showers. They also had a lovely time playing in a box that they weren't supposed to. Now I wouldn't mind but the day before, Sparkle and I had put 3 boxes on the couch..just for them to play in..and they wouldn't even touch them. And it naturally follows that the one box that I didn't want them in was the one that they couldn't leave alone. Bless them. At the moment they have actually all lay on the couch, sleeping off their full tummies.

Well the coffee is calling and then I'm going to do some painting. There's nothing I like better. Oh how things change over the years. Years ago a Saturday night would find me out in a club and now the most exciting thing in my life is the peace to do some painting..lol. And I love it. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

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Friday 24 June 2016

Jiggery Makery....Through the Window


Today's cards are both design team makes for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. These cards came into being because of my friend Sunshine. We were talking about how different people see something different looking at the same thing. She said she had always thought that this lady from Jiggery Makery was looking out of a window. And I thought to myself that I could make that happen...so I have. It took a lot of hunting through my stamps to find something suitable but it was all great fun.



I used a stamp from Flowersoft for the actual window and used stamps from Hobby Art to create the scenes. I am now looking through my other stamps to find some more different types of window. I have placed this wonderful Jiggery Makery lady to the side of the window..so she does look as if she is looking through it. I am having to type using one hand as Nosey has decided that he wants to sit under my chin and give me lots of love.I am being padded within an inch of my life..lol.

If you get the chance, please pop over to the Jiggery Makery facebook page and take a look at all the fabulous ladies that are available. As you can see from today's cards..you can find a lady to make whatever style of card you want.

The weather is quite nice today...all the other cats are outside. Every so often there is a large thud..and that is all down to Simon. For some reason...only known to himself Simon has decided that he isn't coming onto the studio roof by means of the tree.as every other cat in the world does. He has decided that he would sooner go to the back of the house..get onto the roof and arrive on the studio roof by means of jumping off the house roof. The first time he did it I thought that it was a one off...but no..he now does it about twenty times a day...marked by a thud on the studio roof..lol. He is definitely one on his own.

Well the coffee is calling and I think I need a good dose of caffeine. I am working on some card ideas...I can drive myself crazy when I have an idea...I just need to make the original idea and see where it goes. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.
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Wednesday 22 June 2016

Decoupage Delights.....Vintage Fashion


Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. This image and backing paper are from the cdrom Marlene Vintage Fashion. I just love this image featuring a very 20s looking lady. I really adore the backing paper because it is unusual and have used it lots of times on different cards. I hope you will pop over to the Decoupage Delights facebook page and take a look at all the other cds that are available. Also there are lots of freebies at different times...so it's well worth keeping your eye out. A new cd is due out soon as well..so exciting times ahead.

The sun is shining here today in the mountains. And as usual when the good weather is here...all the cats leave the house. They are all stretched out on the studio roof. Jeffrey decided that he was going to sleep with me last night and I have to say..he takes up quite a bit of the bed..bless him. He was stretched out as long as he could and didn't move all night.Simon had his nose put out of joint because he thinks that he should be the only one next to me..lol

Last night I decided to do some inking and goodness me I made a right mess...so much that all my nights work ended up in the bin.. my temper was a sight to behold..lol. I had began by inking some cards with different coloured distress inks. I then wanted to stamp images over the top but didn't have the patience to let it dry properly..so there is no-one to blame but myself. I was trying to stamp and then two of the cats decided to have an upset right on top of me..hence the stamping block got moved and smudged everything. It's a wonder you didn't hear me shout..lol. I had worked on four cards and somehow they all got ruined..cat paws in wet ink tend to make a mess. So my intention this afternoon is to start again..cats willing of course.

Well the coffee is calling and then I shall return to the inking. I think a nice large brew will help me concentrate. I was very good yesterday and sorted a lot of my stamps out and put them back into the right packages. I even cleaned a lot of them..so they are ready to go next time I use them. They are the self clinging stamps and I'm well known for ending up with the back of them covered in glitter and cat hair. So I'm feeling very virtuous now..lol. I will let you know how I get on. I shall be back on Friday..so until then..take care and happy crafting.
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Monday 20 June 2016

SLS Lines................New Challenge


Yet again, here I am. This creation is a design team make for the wonderful team over at SLS Lines. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this challenge is Anything But A Card. When I was thinking about what to make I came across this image of the Voodoo King. Well I didn't know much about him..so I ended up researching Baron Samedi..the king of Voodoo. I thought that it would be fun to use this image on a label..so I hunted for a bottle that would be suitable. My friend knowing I was looking for something different and he brought me a demi john and I thought it would be perfect. I began by covering the demi john with brown wrapping paper, painting it black and touching the edges with gilding wax. I then made some paper mache bones to hang from the bottle, alongside some feathers and beads.





I so enjoyed making this and it now sits on my bathroom windowsill. I have to say that the kittens think that it's a very large cat toy..lol, I don't know how long the feather decorations will last.

As I've said the new challenge will run for the next month. Please do pop over to the SLS blog and take a look at all the fabulous makes that the other members of the team have made. They are so amazingly inspirational. I hope that you will think of joining in with the challenge...I love to see all your makes.

The sun is still shining here in the mountains and the cats are all still outside. Milky is sat right by the window..just in case it starts to rain..she is determined that no one else will sit in her box..lol. I managed to do my baking..I made cherry scones and sausage rolls..so there is no guessing what my dinner is going to feature. My legs are now up and will be staying that way until bed time. I'm hoping to do some painting later, I also managed to sort all my inkpads out...I didn't realise just how many distress ones I have. So now they are all sorted into a basket and within easy reach. Since having the cupboard shelved in the parlour it has made so much difference. I have a lot of stuff put away but now have easy access when I need it and have stuff that I use most days next to my chair. It has saved me hours of sorting and searching. I have a small chest of drawers under the window but I'm hoping to get a larger one..perhaps both longer and taller..I shall have to keep my eye out..perhaps I should have a look in Ikea. That really is fatal though..I cannot just buy one thing..lol

Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to have dinner. I hope that you all have a lovely evening and I will be back on Wednesday with some more makes. So until then...take care and happy crafting.
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Left of Center.....Current Challenge


Here I am again with another design team make. On Saturday I shared an Art by Miran image for the current LOC challenge and I have been lucky enough to be able to work with another and thought that I should share it with you. The challenge runs for a week and has a Tic Tac Toe theme. The Tic Tac Toe board is featured on my blog from Saturday and is also on the LOC blog. I chose to work with pink, purple and black. I coloured this image with my Lyra watercolours.

The current challenge is sponsored by Art by Miran and The Goblyn Workshop. There are some wonderful images available from both companies and are well worth a look.


So as I'm sat here, sipping my coffee and wondering what work to do next. I'm thinking of doing a bit of baking..perhaps some scones and some sausage rolls. I'm thinking that if I did that quite soon, then I will be free to work a lot later. I am waiting for some crafting things to come in the post but when I was reading the details of delivery times..I learnt something which quite shocked me. Accordingly Royal Mail say that First Class delivery is 3 days. Now I must have been living on a different planet..I was always under the impression that first class meant next day but now according to Royal mail that's no longer the case. In the mountains here our post arrives about 1p.m...on a good day..nearer to Christmas it may well be 3p.m. or later.

Well I'm off to get the flour out but will be back later with another design team make...BT willing of course. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

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JB-Crafting Supplies.....Bright Flowers


Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful company of JB-Crafting Supplies. For this card I have used acrylic paint and a stencil. First I secured the stencil and covered it with white acrylic paint and then let it dry. I then used a sponge and added my colours. The white underside has really made the colours pop. When it was all dry, I went round the edges of the petals and leaves with a white pencil. If you need or want any crafting goodies, then just pop over to JB-Crafting Supplies. Julie is a very talented crafter and will no doubt help you find what you want.

Looking out of my window, I can't believe that the sun is shining. All through the morning it has hammered down and I was laughing because today is officially the first day of summer.And now, the sun is shining and the cats are stretched out on the studio roof. The kittens seemed to take it as a personal affront when it rained. And then last night I thought to myself that since they have been allowed out it has hardly rained at all..where as the older cats are well used to the normal village weather. If they get this affected by the rain..goodness only knows what they will make of snow later in the year. I always find it so funny to see a cat approach snow for the first time. It's as if they want to cover an area without actually touching it..lol. Milky has gone out as well...the last 24 hours she has spent in a box on the couch. She wasn't into sharing with any one and only got out of it to eat. I have to laugh at her and this box..it was brought to the house by a friend who knows how much they love a box and I honestly don't think it's been empty since it arrived..lol

Well the coffee is calling and then I will be back with another design team make. So until then...take care and happy crafting.

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Sunday 19 June 2016

SLS Lines.....The Skulls


Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful SLS Lines. As most of you know, I adore these kind of skulls and love nothing more than colouring them. My plan with these skulls is to create a panel that will sit on the outside of my studio door..bringing a little brightness to my world outside. I don't think that my neighbours will complain seeing as they have put up a fence that is about 7 foot high. They did this because their dogs kept biting people that were coming up my path..so what did they do..they put up a 7 foot fence that runs from my gate to my front door..so now it's a bit like living in a compound. What made me laugh is that the area where the dogs were biting people..they never placed anything there. Now they have but it is only half the size of what is by my path and the dogs can still reach people when they really want to. So now when I look out of my front door I can't see anything if I'm downstairs..just a huge green fence. Their latest trick is to have added a length of string and nails, all along the top of the fence..I think that it is meant to stop my cats walking along the fence. My thought is that they should hang bells from the string as my cats just sit on the fence and twang the string..lol. I feel as if I have put up with a lot over the years ..even having a camera pointed at my front door for no good apparent  reason...so my answer is to bring a little colour into my world..lol

Both these skulls are the same image, just coloured differently. I used my promarkers. I have featured these skulls on the SLS blog, as my inspiration post. A new challenge is due to begin tomorrow at SLS..so I will be sharing my creation for that with you then. I hope that you will pop over and take a look at all the fabulous makes created by the rest of the team. I always find them a wonderful source of inspiration.

As I'm sitting here, I can see the rain coming down. Not heavy though but enough to send all the cats back in. I have 5 of them all sat around me. They're all asleep at the moment..so peace reigns..but I wonder for how long..lol

Well as always, the coffee is calling and then I need to get down to some work. I'm going to do some stamping I think. I need to photograph some work but it is too dark in the cottage today..so hopefully I can do that in the morning. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.
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Saturday 18 June 2016

Left of Center.....New Challenge



Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is due to begin later but due to the performance of BT and my internet connection, I thought it was better to do it now and ensure that I can publish the blog. Later in the day you can never guarantee being able to get online. It's one of the things that you have to put up with living in these mountains. This challenge will run for the next week.

The theme for this challenge is Tic Tac Toe and I have included the grid below. You can pick which line to go with down, across or diagonally. For my card I have used Purple, Black and Pink. As always you have the option of going LOC. For all the details of that..please pop over to the LOC blog.

We are so lucky this week to have 2 sponsors...Art by Miran and The Goblyn Workshop. For my make I have chosen to work with this pretty image from Art by Miran. It is quite different from my usual choice but I just thought it was such a pretty image.








For my design team make, I chose to colour the image with my promarkers. As I'm writing this Jeffrey is sat directly opposite me and he still has a lot to say about his injured leg. It is healing very well and Jeffrey is definitely needing some extra cuddles.All the rest of the cats are outside, stretched out on the studio roof. I'm watching the athletics as I'm writing this. I do so admire the athletes..I've never been any good at any thing like that. When I was much much younger..in the days before my accident..I did enjoy playing netball,hockey and tennis. My friend and I were members of a tennis club..but I do seem to remember that we liked the boys as much as we enjoyed the tennis..lol It seems like a different life now looking back...and I suppose it was. I have to count my blessings though...the wheelchair gives me a type of freedom and I'm happy with that.

I am planning to do some messy crafting this afternoon and I can't wait. All the inks and brushes will be coming out...I wonder what the cats will do to help? I've just watched the pole vault and goodness me the nerve it must take to hurl yourself into mid air.I just wonder when do they get the urge and think to themselves I'm going to grab this pole and fling myself off into the air..lol? It never ceases to make me cringe but I do so love it.

Well the coffee is calling and then with caffeine in my system it will be time to get messy. Some days there is nothing I like better than a play with my inks. I will be back tomorrow with another design team make. So until then...take care and happy crafting.

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Friday 17 June 2016

Jiggery Makery....The Right Attitude


Here I am again. This card is a design team make for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. I just adore this lady..with just a few lines of her pen, Adele (the owner and artist), manages to covey certain attitudes. I love the attitude of this image..I can just imagine her saying I'm not listening to your drama and leaving..lol. Another thing that I think Adele manages to do is to give her images an empowering attitude. Positive images of women...which I think is something that we need out there. You can use the images to create whatever message you want to. I just adore them. It's always so hard to pick which image I want to work with..and I have to do it every week. My trouble is that I go to work with one and then an idea for another will pop up.

The clouds have moved over and I can now see blue skies. I'm feeling quite inspired today and have already made some stencils for mountains and clouds. I only have to look out of my window and that's all I can see. Well that and a group of unruly cats..lol. It was so funny when my cleaner was here...I shall have to call him Glitter..because he is the son of Sparkle..lol. He was putting some stuff into the studio for me and there was a line of cats, all with their heads hanging over the roof, watching his every move. Honestly they are just so nosey. Nosey himself acts like a dog and every time he hears the door open he runs to the top of the stairs to see who it is..lol. All he needs  to do now is to learn to bark. I used to have another cat called Jeremy..he was a rescued one eyed Birman and I'm convinced that he thought he was a dog. When the dogs ran barking to answer a knock on the door..he was there as well..admittedly he couldn't bark but he meowed pretty loudly. It was so funny. I'm still finding it really hard without a dog..but either one will turn up needing a home..or I shall give in and get one.I'm not going to do it myself until the house is finished. I have new kitchen flooring going down soon and a new carpet in the parlour. Well actually the parlour carpet is secondhand but as I see it..if it lasts for a couple of years then it's all good.

As always the coffee is calling again..so I'm off to have a brew and then it will be time to get down to some work. I'm thinking of making some backing papers with my inks...no doubt with lots of cat help. Every time I get my inks, paints or sprays out there will be a queue of cats milling around. Simon is one of the worst..there is nothing he likes better than putting a paw into a dish of wet paint. He has even been that fascinated by my watercolours that he has been known to lick them..lol. There is no accounting for taste. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.
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Decoupage Delights....Pink, Girly and Vintage


Today's card is a design team make for the fabulous Decoupage Delights. This card is a mixture of two of my favourite cdrom designers. The main image and the rose are from Decoupage Delights and the backing paper is from one of my Joanna Sheen cds. What I'm hoping to show here is that a lot of designs work together and in that way you are getting even more value from your cds.. I often look through my cds and make a note of different backing papers that would be useful in my day to day crafting. I've always said that having a library of cdroms is like having many shops available to you, no matter what the time. As I've used a Joanna Sheen cd for the backing paper, on many occasions I've used backing papers from Decoupage Delights in other work.

As most of you know, I adore.all  things vintage...and this card having roses, pearls, a large hat and butterflies just about ticks all my boxes. Really it shows just how diverse my crafting is..and I suppose that's why I never get bored. I love working on vintage but also love slightly risky designs. I love skulls, owls, cats and all things Day of the Dead..but that's just me. Most of my friends have come to accept all the differences and know that my cottage is surrounded with all the above..lol.

Today in the mountains, the weather really doesn't know what to do with itself. it has been thinking of raining all day but hasn't got round to it yet. The clouds are looking really dark but I'm hoping that they will pass over. All the cats are all settled on the studio roof...near enough to get back if it does start to rain. My cleaner has just been and done my stairs for me. he's such a lovely lad. I find it really weird that I've known him since he was a little boy and now he's a Father with little boys of his own..where has that time gone?

Well the coffee is calling and I'm going to be back later with another design team make. For some reason today I feel as if I need a caffeine hit. I'm only heading towards my third coffee of the day...even when I'm working, my coffee is to my right hand side..I really should have it on drip..lol. I can even remember having my very first sip of coffee when I was little and that was it..I was hooked. My grandmother was a coffee drinker, which back in the day was unusual..and she drank proper coffee. She was horrified to discover that a lot of her friends drank 'Camp' coffee..she used to say the only reason she bought this was because it helped make good coffee cake..lol. So with all this in thought..I'm off for a brew...so until later..take care and happy crafting.
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Tuesday 14 June 2016

JB- Crafting Supplies......The Funky Chickens


Here I am again with another design team make. This is for the wonderful company of JB-Crafting Supplies. I have been lucky enough to work with this wonderful stamp set from Hobby Art...The Funky Chickens. For this make I began by using a stamp from my stash and created the backing paper. I stamped the three cockerels from the stamp set using my memento inkpad and then coloured them with my promarkers. These cockerels really make me smile and I thought it would make a great boys out on the town card. Sometimes you need to make a card just to make someone smile and these chickens really fill that gap.

If you need or want any crafting supplies, please pop over to the JB-Crafting Supplies face book page and take a look. Julie the owner is so helpful and will no doubt find what you need. She also supplies an amazing variety of materials and knitting supplies. Well worth a look.

It has stopped raining here in the mountains and the heat has returned. All the cats have departed outside again, apart from Jeffrey, who is staying in because he's not too well. For the past few weeks, I have been driven crazy by people who don't put their dogs on a lead and are quite happy for their dogs to run off and chase my cats. At this time last year, I had 5 of my cats bitten by loose dogs and it seems to be starting again. Jeffrey has been bitten by a dog and has a poorly leg. So he is staying in to recover..bless him.

Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just arrived..so I will be spoilt and not have to make my own. It always tastes better to me when I haven't had to make it..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.
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A Snowflakes Promise.............New Challenge



Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at A Snowflakes Promise. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the following fortnight. The theme is Anything Goes but as always, Christmas forms a great part.It is so good to see all the wonderful Christmas Cards, as well as all the other fabulous makes. I have to say between Simon wanting to sit on my elbow and getting use to typing wearing my brace on my hand..definitely slows things down..lol.

We are so lucky this challenge to have been sponsored by the hugely talented Rick St. Dennis. I have been a fan of his work for quite a while..and it took me ages to decided what image to work with. 



I finally decided to work with this great image of the lady and her cats. It made me smile because it brought to mind..no matter what you are wearing you have to deal with the cats before you go out. No matter how posh you've dressed..they really don't care..they want to protest that you're leaving and will create any amount of chaos to stop you. I have coloured the image with my promarkers and loved every minute of doing it.

The rain has finally arrived and all the cats have returned home..apart from Pinky..and are determined to blame me for the wetness outside. Gannie hasn't stopped complaining about it and has to keep going to the window to check that it is still raining. In just the few days that we had the hot weather it was enough to make me forget just how much trouble the cats can cause.... chaos reigns once again..lol.

Well the coffee is calling  and after a top up of the caffeine, I shall be back with another
 design teammake. So until later...take care and happy crafting.

Saturday 11 June 2016

Left of Center..........New Challenge



Today's canvas is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the next week. The theme for this week is to use a stencil. As always you have the choice of going LOC. For all details about that..please check out the LOC blog.
 We are so lucky to have been sponsored for this challenge by the fabulous team over at Morgans Artworld.

As soon as I saw the image that I've used..I knew that it was the one. I loved the amount of detail that was in the image and it took me a while to work out how the heck I was going to use a stencil with it. This is always my problem..I pick the image first and then have to work out how I'm going to fit it in with the theme. As I sat looking at this image, I thought that it would be nice to make it look as if we were looking at her through a window..so I decided to make the edges of the canvas as if it were a stone wall. I made some texture paste and stencilled it through a stone look stencil, I let that dry and then painted it with my acrylics. I added the image to the center..I had coloured that with a mixture of my promarkers and my watercolours. A strange mix I know but for all the stone work in the image, I wanted a watercolour look. I finally added die cut leaves which I had also coloured with my watercolours. I'm sorry that my watermark is across her face but the image was just so detailed I needed to protect the image.

It's still hot here in the mountains..we have had odd showers but that's about it..I would still love a bit of a breeze. I have always been an autumn/winter person. I love it when there is frost in the air..even when I was a child I felt the same..All the cats have gone out again..they really don't know what to do with themselves..they pop back every half an hour or so..have a little nibble of their food and then disappear out again.

As most of you know, my friend Sparkle is not keen on the glitter..lol Well he came in laughing the other day. He had put his shorts on because it was just so hot and was headed off in his car to the net village. As he was driving a sparkle caught his eye and lo and behold he had a piece of glitter on his leg..lol. I wouldn't mind but it has been quite a while since my glitter had been out. I've come to the conclusion that the glitter must be in the air in the cottage..lol

Well the coffee is calling and thank goodness I've now got some. I had just got to the point that I was getting a no caffeine headache when my friend arrived with a large jar. Happiness reigned and a couple of coffees later, I was back on form. I've lots of work to do..so I'm off to have a coffee and then begin. My watercolours are ready to go. So until Monday...take care and happy crafting.

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Friday 10 June 2016

Jiggery Makery.....So Hot


And finally here I am for the last time today..lol..and then I will be off somewhere to get cooler. I have been trying very hard not to get the fan out but I am thinking that it is the only way forward. This card is a design team make for the fabulous Jiggery Makery and is one of the first that I made for them..ages ago. I was thinking of this card in bed last night..strange I know..but I do things like that..lol. For some reason it reminds me of a summer when I was little. I had a hula hoop..which I always adored but was terrible with. I don't think that I was ever built for a hoop and that summer I just proved my point. I spent hours and hours in the field trying to master the hoop..but I just got worse. But all in all it was still a fabulous summer. The sun seemed to shine that whole summer and every afternoon was spent in the river with my friend, floating on old  tractor tyre inner tubes.I can remember the cows in the field watching our every move and the sun shining through the trees. It takes me back to a time when I was happy and had only childish hopes for the future.Sometimes it is such a blessing to be able to float back in time and savour that moment. And all these thoughts came about because of a hula hoop on a card.

I hope that you will pop over to the Jiggery Makery face book page and take a look at all the wonderful images that are available. I'm thinking that I will use this lady with the hoop and make a scrapbook page, where I can write down the memories of that day. If I do, I will be sure to share it with you all.

Well the squash is calling..I must have drank about a gallon in the past few hours. I do keep exercising my toes but they are swelling again and really hurt..but they will no doubt be better if it cools down. I have now got my thumb support for my hand and goodness me it helped straight away. At least it means that I can paint, draw and write without my thumb trying to come out of joint..I'm so pleased. It's just another pain that I do without. So until tomorrow..keep cool if you can..and take care and happy crafting.

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Decoupage Delights...Pretty in Blue



Here I am again..lol. I thought that I'd better get on with my blogs whilst BT are playing fair...goodness only knows when it will all go off again. Due to the bad service of BT, I couldn't even get on line properly on Wednesday, when I normally cover my love of all things Decoupage Delights. This image is from the Floral Fancy cdrom. As you know, I love all things vintage and if you do...then please pop over and take a look at all the wonderful cds that are available from Decoupage Delights.

As I'm sitting here, I feel as if I'm melting..lol. The cats don't even know what to do with themselves..they are all outside, stretched out in the sun. Simon for some reason has taken to lying right on the edge of the windowsill, with his head hanging off. I am a little worried as he is not the best when it comes to edges..bless him. A little breeze has just come through the window and I have to say it's perfect bliss. I don't ask for a lot in life but this little draft was really needed.

So I'm off again and will no doubt return soon...BT willing. I hate letting people down and when the computer won't let me online, I get really stressed. My friend who lives on the other side of the mountain to me has had torrential rain this morning and couldn't believe that we hadn't had any...I am wondering if that means that we are due for a downpour. There will a large number of cats dashing home if it does. All I can say now is back soon.

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