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. The theme for this challenge is Winter..so the perfect place to enter all your fabulous Christmas cards, as well as any other winter inspired pieces of work. I so love seeing all the amazing creations. We are so blessed that the fantastic Rick St. Dennis has sponsored this challenge..and I just loved the image I've been lucky enough to work with. To know more about Rick and the different images that the team used, please check out the Snowflakes Promise blog. Over at Ricks shop you are guaranteed to find an image that you will love..I always have such a time trying to decide what to work with.

Here in the mountains it's a very cold day..most of the cats are in and out like yo yos. I don't think that Gannie has stopped complaining since he got up..lol. He really doesn't understand or like the frost. Everywhere was covered with frost this morning and there are still places that haven't defrosted in days. Sprout has turned into a little homebody and has been sat on the wing of my chair all day. It was delivery today for the cat food and I felt so sorry for the delivery driver. They all sat around and watched his every move. And they got quite a surprise...Tesco had sent a Christmas cracker containing cat treats. It seems that it something they are doing for cat and dog owners online. How nice a surprise....I have had to put it away as it didn't take long for Milky to realise that there was something catty inside..lol. The delivery driver was lovely as well and was quite taken with Jeffrey..he just couldn't believe the size of him and how friendly the rest of the cats were. I had to ask him to check the van for any nosey cats though..it's always better to be on the safe side...I don't any of them going on any trips out of the village without me..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I have a birthday card to make..it will make a nice change for an hour. It's my favourite dinner again tonight..fish, salad and potatoes...everyone usually has something that never gets old and always is enjoyable..and I'm afraid that tonight's dinner is my go to comfort food. My other comfort foods are shepherds pie, fish pie and roast lamb dinner. They all seem to be all old fashioned dinners. They were all meals that my Grandmother made and I suppose that's part of their appeal.Anyway, I'm off to decide on an image for the birthday card..so until next time...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...The final Day..Day 31

Here I am and I can't quite believe that it's Halloween. We made it!. Congratulation to all the other crafters that joined in with the 31 Days Challenge. Todays two pages are made using these wonderful images from Rick St. Dennis. He has featured quite a bit on my challenge but I just love his work. Please don't think that his images are just for Halloween..he has such a selection of beautiful artwork..you will always find something to suit your needs.

I hope that you all have a fabulous evening and that you enjoy every minute. I know that a lot of parties took place over the weekend..and plenty of hangovers to recover from..lol

And for my final image for this challenge...I thought I would share one of my favourite images from Bloobel designs..it sums up in one image how I feel right now..and I'm sure that some of the other 31 days challenge crafters feel the same..lol

Well the coffee is really calling here and Sparkle has just made me one...so I'm off to enjoy it. Thankyou to everyone who has stayed with me over this challenge and it has been so lovely to hear from you all. Tomorrow begins a Christmas countdown..so please stay with me and share in the madness that is my days...so until then..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 13

Today's page for the 31 days challenge features this wonderfully gruesome image from the fabulous Rick St. Dennis. I had two quotes that I wanted to use but couldn't decide...so I put them both on. I do love the one that says only in darkness can you see colours. I don't know why but it really appeals to me.I find that sometimes when you are going through a really hard time do the colours seem brighter. It's as if the hard time that you're having makes everything seem differently in the world and you are sometimes so raw that every thing else seems to be in high definition. I remember after I lost Henry, it was as if I was disconnected to the rest of the world and it seems almost wrong that the world and life was continuing without my Henry in it. I remember looking out of my window and watching the colours changing in the landscape..and they did seem so bright compared to my world that seemed to be grey. Now I am happy to say it is that very landscape that makes my life a little brighter. I get so much pleasure watching the seasons change and feel privileged that I am here to see it. 

The sun is shining here in the mountains but I have to say that it is bitterly cold. A sign in itself that the seasons are changing. The leaves are falling already..and Raven loves it. She can be seen on the studio roof chasing after them. For some reason Simon and Gannie love to carry holly leaves in and make a collection. Why holly I cannot fathom. You would think that they would find pleasure in something less prickly..lol. I am glad to say that Nicademus is a lot better today. He spent the afternoon and half the evening on the couch and then went out for an hour. He is back on the couch today and it is only the bald patch that tells of his incident. All the rest of the tribe are outside. It may be a time to do some painting if only I could find the paint case..lol. I looked and looked for it last night and still couldn't find it..it must be in a very safe place. Goodness only knows how in this small room I could manage to lose the paint..mind you it has probably gone to the same place as my metal Christmas charms. I bought them really early this year, put them into a box ready for when I began Christmas crafting..and can I find them..not a hope..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to get down to some serious sorting. Enough of putting it off...there are 8 A4 boxes of paper that need to be sorted and put away. You never know what treasures will turn up..lol...so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

31 Days of Halloween...Day 11

Todays image is another page from the book I'm creating for the 31 days of Halloween Challenge. This image is another Rick St. Dennis image..I just love his designs. To me this is a hauntingly beautiful image and then you notice the horror contained. To my mind this is a Halloween story contained in a beautiful picture. The stories that your mind can create are endless and can be as traumatic as you allow. I thought that the quote that I've used was so perfect for this image. At first glance everything can seem fine and then you look harder and can be shocked by what you find. And sometimes life can be like that.

Here in the mountains today, the sun is shining and the sky is grey..you just wonder to yourself how long it will be until the rain comes.Even the postman asked today what was going on with the weather..he is so used to being dripping wet after a visit to the village..lol. I was teasing him that he needed the sunshine to last through the winter weather that is coming surely along. I have one friend who tends to visit every year and he has been visiting for over 20 and he is yet to visit in good weather..lol. He is convinced that all it does is rain here in these mountains. I tease him every time and tell him that it wouldn't be so green without it. He once said that it was a wonder that everyone that lived here didn't have webbed feet...and then I had to break it to him that actually I did have webbed feet..lol. Supposedly I inherited them from my Father..so I have always been a little strange..lol
All the cats apart from Raven are outside. She is settled on my legs and no doubt won't move until feed time. I was quite shocked this morning..I actually had a fuss off Twinkle. Now for those of you who don't know Twink..she is a little cat that was brought to me with brain damage. The vet advised that she should be put to sleep because he couldn't see anyone putting up with her..she will attack people or other animals with no reason other than she can see them. She even goes for me every morning when I feed her. She lives in a special cat duplex and is happy as long as she doesn't have to interact with anyone.She is also very ordered in her world..if she has the wrong blanket she will turn into a little ball of fury. When she was a kitten she had been shaken by a dog and had been fed the wrong food and was desperately dehydrated. I have to say that now she is a real beauty but goodness me the temper.This morning was one of those rare moments when she actually gave me some love..I think she had forgotten to be a wild creature and let me fuss her. It was a rare treat. For 4 years I have been bitten ,scratched or growled at...and that's just at food time..lol..so today made everything worth while.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be finishing some projects. I hope that you will pop over and see the other wonderful creations of those involved in the 31 days challenge..the amount of work that has gone into the projects is amazing. This is my first time in the challenge but I feel so inspired to up my game..people have always thought I was a little Halloween obsessed..goodness knows what will be come of me..lol So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafted.

Left of Center...New Challenge and 31 Days of Halloween...Day 9

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. It is also my day 9 make for the 31 days Challenge. Over at LOC, a new challenge has just begun and will run for the coming week. The theme for this challenge is Halloween..so is the perfect place to share your creepy, funny. haunting or just down right strange creations.

Our sponsor for this challenge is the ever talented Rick St. Dennis. I love the variety of images that he provides for us crafters. I just wish that I had even a part of his amazing talent. I chose the image I used because as I have often stated..I wish that images of witches were beautiful but now I have to admit..if I was a witch I probably look like this one..lol.And the cat with the startled face would probably be Simon. Seriously though there are some fantastic images over at Ricks store..why noy pop over for a look.

I hope that you will also pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at the fabulous creations made by the rest of the team. The ladies never fail to inspire me.
The sun continues to shine here in the mountains today and I have had a delivery of items to alter..what fun awaits me. Today's collection is from some friends who have sold their cottage and are packing it up. So some of the stuff they didn't want has arrived here ready to alter. The two things that have got me really excited are a lantern with a mirrored back, which is crying out to be painted and embellished and a lovely mantle clock, also screaming paint me..lol. I also aquired a wicker storage box and a funky tin cat. It's so nice to have a little collection ready for when the mood takes me. I am always looking for items to alter..I have a box of china skulls waiting for the inspiration to take me. Some really strange things find their way to my house..because many people think that this is the perfect place for the unusual .One of the largest and strangest items to arrive was a Green Man. It is about 4 foot in diameter and is an original casting of one in Bath. It is hanging from the front of the cottage and seems to feature in a lot of treasure hunts in the valley. The cottage sign itself features Candy skulls and there is a gargoyle on the studio roof. Milky the cat seems to have taken a dislike to the gargoyle and can be seen slapping it most days..lol. She just doesn't understand why it won't fight back.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be time to do some work. I'm thinking of doing some stamping..so hopefully the cats will play out until I've finished. 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.

Left Of Center................New Challenge

Today's creation is a design team make for the wonderful Left of Center Creative Challenge. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the following week. The theme for the challenge is Torn Edges. As always you have the option of going LOC...for all the details about that..just check out the rules on their blog.

We have been sponsored this week by the fabulous Rick St. Dennis. There are such a wide range of images available..it's hard to choose.

Of course I just had to choose this wonderful pair of owls. I began by making the background canvas. I covered the canvas with pieces of torn paper and then coloured with with my acrylic paints. I then cut out a circle to represent the moon and coloured that with metallic gilding wax in enchanted gold. I thought that it gave a shimmer..which I loved. At the moment if you sit for long enough in my house..you may find yourself being rubbed with some gilding max..it's one of my favourite things at the moment. I coloured my owls with my promarkers and then cut them out. I edged them also with a small amount of gilding wax..you can't see it properly in the photo but it looks as if they have been touched by moonlight. Finally after sticking the owls to the canvas, I added some glossy accents to their eyes. This is destined for the wall..somewhere..when I can find a space..lol
As I'm typing Raven is arguing with me about sitting on my elbow..she still wants to do it and is trying to be a pushy little madam. The sun is shining here in the mountains but I still think it's chilly. And as you know ...the weekend is nearly here and of course the men are getting their chainsaws ready to go. Every Friday evening the chainsaws are out...what could be a beautiful evening is always accompanied by the the music of the chainsaw. I have put up with it time and time again but they should be warned..one of these days they are going to get on my last nerve..and then goodness only knows..lol
I'm currently working with some new stamps from Hobby Art. I will be sharing them in the next couple of weeks. What I'm really enjoying is that I decided to get my watercolours out and have a play. I was painting yesterday and chaos arrived..in the form of the kittens..as normal. Consequently I ended up wearing my paint water...I can only hope that it goes better today..lol. I also have some more Pinflair kits in process..again the kitten help is unbelievable...you must be able to imagine..book binding glue, material and 3 kittens..fun, fun, fun.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be back with another design team make. As I type Gannie has just emerged from the back of my chair. He was escaping from the windowsill where he had been cornered by Aunty Rave who was laying down the law. After all they have to be told..lol. I'm heading towards the kettle...so until later..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center....The Baa Humbug Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the great team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and the theme for this week is Baa Humbug. This theme made me laugh because even if we don't feel this way ourselves..we will most likely know someone who acts like that..lol.

We are lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fantastic artist Rick St. Dennis. I just love his work and there is just so much to choose from on his site.

I just had to work with this image of the lady with the hammer and the alarm clock. It reminded me of many Christmases past, where I didn't seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything finished. I would wander around the house, lists in hand, muttering to myself. There were definitely times when I wanted to take a hammer to the alarm clock and just carry on sleeping.From my past I can remember thinking to myself that if Christmas was left to the men it just wouldn't happen..lol.
I hope that you will come on over and join in the fun at LOC. Of course, if you don't want to go with the theme..you can enter a LOC themed make. For all details of this , just check out the LOC blog.
AsI write the parlour is looking as if a bomb has landed...thanks to the kittens. They decided this morning to knock over 2 boxes of embellishments...twice I have picked it all up and put it back. As I'm writing this they have just done it again. Fiesty is running round the parlour with a ribbon bow in her mouth. Gannet and Nosey are fighting over a piece of silver ribbon..lol. and Simon is in the box itself having a merry little time.
Well the coffee is calling and I have a lovely long list of work to do. I'm hoping to get my Christmas cards finished..my friend the pa has put me to shame..she has completed so many of hers..I have managed to do about 6..lol. But a calm couple of days and I may have got them done..but who knows with these crazy cats...lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center.....New Challenge... For the boys

Todays creation is my first for a new design team...Left of Center. I am so excited to become part of this team..there are some fabulous artists on the team and because of the varied challenges, it gives me a chance to let my wilder side out.

For my first challenge I have been lucky enough to work with  the wonderful artwork of Rick St. Dennis. The theme is For the boys and as I've just said we are lucky to have been sponsored by Rick St Dennis. Below is a link to his digi shop, so you will be able to have a look around all the fabulous designs that are available.

http:/www.zibbet.com/Rick1949
I hope you will find the time to pop over and take a look. There is some fabulous artwork available..some of it has just taken my breath away and is a constant source of inspiration.
For my canvas, I began by colouring the image which is called Chicago.( On the challenge blog, there is another canvas I have done which is called wiTche Burlesque.).I coloured the image with my promarkers. The canvas itself I painted using my H20s. I then added the quote which I thought was just perfect for the image. It also brings to mind another quote which involved a purple hat..basically it was saying that we only get the one life and to enjoy to the best we can, no matter what our age.
The sun is shining here in the mountains and I'm waiting for a friend to arrive. All my cats have left home..so I probably won't see them until either the weather changes or their tummies start to rumble..lol. They will probably be brought home by their tummies first. I always think that they are scared of missing something.
Well the coffee is calling and there is lots to be done. I hope that you will take the time to take a look at the Left of Center Challenge and maybe enter a work of your own. Remember the theme is For the Boys..a chance to stretch your crafting wings...above all..have some fun. So until tomorrow, take care and happy crafting.