The Patchwork Hare

Todays card is featuring the fabulous Halcyan Days cdrom from Crafters Companion. I did one of my favourite things to do right now...create a patchwork background using scraps of paper that would have otherwise been thrown away. The hare topper was a spare one from a sheet that I had already worked with. I made this card for the jb- crafting supplies design team. There are some extremely talented ladies on this design team..if you get a chance..pop over and take a look at their blog...it's always filled with lots of inspiration.

What a day today has been...I've felt as if I've needed a lie down since I got up..lol. I had the nurse to give me my third B12 injection..and for some reason it gives me a headache..as I've moaned about before. Lets hope it goes quickly. I've also had a visit from the undertaker..really lovely man but brings lots of feelings up. So my last injection is on Thursday...then at least it's over for 3 months...yipee. As well as all that I've had to blog on 3 other sites and post on facebook..so it's been a really busy day..good though. I love sharing my cards and always hope that by me doing that..others may have a go. I've always thought of my blog as a journey which I love sharing. I get so many messages and lovely comments about my cards..it means so much when people take the time to share their thoughts.

The weather is so strange today..it can't seem to make it's mind up what it wants to do. It's very hot but the clouds have been grey all day. I half expected to get caught in a shower when I took Reg for a wheel. We had 5 cats with us today but only4 were mine. A neighbours cat has joined us.He sat and watched for days and seems to have decided to join in the happiness. I don't think that Jeffrey was very happy though. He is turning into a really I love my Mum cat and sometimes just doesn't want to share...lol. He has taken to sleeping on the bed right by my side and moans like fury if  I put my cd player on. He even has to come into the bathroom whilst I have a bath. He plays with the bubbles and I'm just waiting for him to fall in...it's bound to happen but I just don't know when...that should be funny.

Well the coffee calls..I have some more cards to upload. I have some computer work to do tomorrow, which I have to say I'm dreading..but I have a good friend who is always there to shut me up when I scream...lol. So until then...take care and happy crafting

Sailing Away

Todays card  is one that I made for my design team over at jb-crafting supplies. It was drawn by Adele Bradwell..who also designed the backing paper. What a talented lady she is. All the copyrights of this design belong to her and I was just lucky enough to work with it. If you would like to know more about this design or to see what other fabulous artwork she does..please contact Julie over at jb- crafting. I love the vintage but sexy feel of this card and know a number of men that would really love to receive it. How I wish that my legs were that long and lovely.And I have a certain friend that could wear those shoes...not me...I have enough trouble in a pair of pumps...lol. The diecuts that I used were from the All Occasion die range.

This card has made me think about shoes and I have to say that I adore them but just don't have them. I can admit to owning only two pairs...yes really...a pair of crocs and a pair of pumps. And the pumps were only bought this year to give me a bit of grip on my good leg when I'm in the wheelchair. I needed a little grip because the camber on the lane is so bad, that if I didn't have the little extra grip..I may end up in the river..lol. I've said to my friends that if they ever see Reg stood alone by the river just follow the lead and they'll find me. So I live my shoe obsession through my friend..she has some shoes that you just want to stroke and she can wear heels so high that I would be suffering from vertigo...lol

Well the coffee is calling and I have a stack of work to do..and I still need to photograph a stack of cards. But the athletics are on so I'll be quite happy just to plod away this afternoon. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Tea in lilac

Todays card is another from Halcyan Days from Crafters Companion. There really is something about this cd that makes you want to get all your fabric embellishments and have a play. On this card I've added some ribbon and some fabric flowers.Whilst I was working with this card I spent some time looking through my other cds from Crafters Companion. Sometimes when you have a lot of cds you can sometimes forget which ones you do have. Since the shelf collapse, I've sorted all my cds into different producers..so now it is really easy to see what I have. For some reason I had forgotten the Moreheads cd from CC. I always have loved these cute images...so yesterday saw me printing some pages out. So a nice crafting time later me thinks.

As I was wheeling Reg today..we stopped traffic once again..lol.The first car came along and Milky decided to sit in the middle of the road and just stare at the car. I'm calling her and apologising to the car driver until she decides to move. The second car came along and she did the same thing...so I ended up talking to the couple and they were interested in the houses. They were after a holiday home and seemed to like the area. But you can never tell...so many times people move here expecting to live the rural idyll and when things don't go the ways of their dreams, they hate the place and leave. I think the village is a little like Marmite..you either love it or hate it and there is no middle ground. What really annoys me is the people that move here and expect everyone else to fall into their way of thinking what country life should be. They moan about the amount of rain, the animals and everything that doesn't fall into their rural idyll image. Some of them have read too many country living books...not allowing for the fact that other people have their own way of living. Yesterday when I took Reg for a wheel there was a couple walking their 'fierce' dogs. They are here on holiday and really didn't like the fact that the cats came for a walk as well. They obviously thought that I was deaf because I was in the wheelchair and continued to talk and moan about the cats right behind me. As they passed me I said don't worry about the cats as they were used to dogs. You would think that I'd swore at them in seven different languages the way that they looked at me. Well each to their own I think.

I haven't forgotten about posting some zentangle but I will do it tomorrow as I have a lot of pictures to take and might as well do it altogether.The music for today has been a bit of Otis Reading and saw me singing along...at least the cats don't seem to mind..lol

Well a coffee has arrived at my side so happy days. I hope you have a really good weekend. I've got athletics to watch tomorrow so I will be extra happy. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Planting Kindness

Todays card is another from Joanna Sheens 'One Summers Day'. I have so been enjoying working with this cd. So many images that are suitable for anyone who loves to garden. I loved making the flowerpot. It is one of the things that I love to do because I love fiddling with tiny flowers and leaves. I always have done...when I was a child I loved making tiny things and colouring really detailed pictures. Now as an adult, I still love colouring and have had a really good time with zentangle. For those of you that don't know what it is...google it...it's an amazing art form and gives you as an adult encouragement to doodle. It is so calming and you can really lose yourself for an hour..or two..lol. I'm thinking of doing a set of pictures just in black and white for my kitchen. If I remember..lol..I'll post some images that I've tangled tomorrow. The great thing is that you can do it anywhere...all you need is a piece of paper and a black pen.

I was lucky today when I took Reg for a wheel..I missed the rain shower. The trouble was the midges. For those of you that live in an area where there are no midges...you don't know how lucky you are. Because there was no breeze there were hundreds of the little blighters. My legs and arms have been bitten to death...and the worst thing is trying not to scratch...the more you do..the worse it gets And... I'm finding it very hard to type at the moment as Rave has decided to sit on my chest, right under my chin...and she's not for moving. As I'm typing she is purring and warbling and demanding attention.

We had a power cut in the night and very strange it was too. I was woken by the lights flashing.It was like lying in a disco. And then it was black. I managed to find my way to the parlour and get a torch...and then the lights came back on...lol. By this time I was wide awake so I listened to some music. Now are you ready for a blast from the past..I listened to Doctor Hook. I just love the really soppy tunes that they did. So there I was at 3 oclock this morning singing along to Sylvias Mother...but it worked for me...lol

Well the rain has decided to come down by the bucket..there are cats hurling themselves back through the window and the coffee is calling. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting

Vintage Roses

Todays card is a lovely image from Aspire Crafts. The image came on a pad with lots of great romantic vintage images. The pad I think is A6 in size..it may be a little bigger but all the images are classic and so nice to use. This card is a 7x7 and the only things that I have added are some die cut border from the Signature die range and some toning backing paper from the Hollypond Hill cdrom. It is a very simple card for me but I thought that the image was so lovely, it didn't need anything else. All my life I have tried painting roses because I love them so much, I live in hope that one day I will get it right. I have a pink rose bush in my garden and it blooms every year without fail. It must be a really hardy variety because it has bloomed for the past 24 years without the slightest attention from me. I'm not good with plants...they have to fight their own fights in my garden...lol

I am happy to say that my shelves are now in order...in fact better than they were before the chaos. I have sorted my cdrom library....sorted my peeloffs...boxed all my gems and pearls...and came to the conclusion that my passion for pearls,gems, lace and ribbon knows no end. The one thing that I can't find is my box of stencils and masks. I'm getting the urge to make some backing papers myself and seeing that I have collected many masks and stencils over the past year with this thought in mind...I just wish I could remember where I've put them...lol.

It was the day of my second B12 injection and all I can say that is any different is the fact that I've had a slight headache ever since the last one. After reading the paperwork it seems that a headache can be one of the side effects...well thanks for that. I'm now drinking loads in the hope that the headache will go. Some of my friends are real headache people and suffer badly with them. But I have been lucky and never been a headachy person...so I find it hard and turn into a right whiny wimp. Keep your fingers crossed that it leaves me before my friends do..lol

Well not only is the coffee calling..it's sitting by my side smelling delicious...so until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

Patchwork Angel

Todays card is from the One Summers Day cdrom from Joanna Sheen. As most of you know by now, I have a bit of a thing for patchwork and for that reason I love this backing paper.Even though it was made to accompany this image..there are so many ways I could use it.That's why I love my cdrom library..hundreds and hundreds of papers at the click of a button. Mind you saying that I have boxes and boxes of card and paper..lol and we won't even go into the boxes of embellishments. I had a major crafting disaster last night.I was in the process of putting some new peel off boxes away onto the shelf where they live and it must have been the straw that broke the camels back...and the shelf collapsed. All of a sudden there was thousands of peeloffs everywhere,boxes of crystal\s and dies everywhere. In the middle of the chaos, Jeffrey decided to walk the other way to me and took out the contents of two shelves to my left. I was buried. It took nearly two hours to get it altogether well enough that I could then finally empty the contents of the broken shelf. My hero is now called George.He managed to fix my shelf and today I have the joy of putting it all back into some sort of order...lol I did admit to him that it was my own fault..that for weeks I had just been stuffing stuff onto the shelf whilst I was working.

When I took Reg for a wheel today..we held up the traffic again..the four cats that came along today were determined to make the cars slow down and I have to say in most cases stop. I seem to spend my days being laughed at by car and van drivers. Today I met a lovely couple who were visiting the area. It turned out that the lady had been born in the village. She had left the village at the age of five because her Father had worked in the quarry and when it closed, the family had to move so he could continue to work.As with most of us, her earliest memories were so clear and it was so nice to hear her memories of the village. I have said that I will write to her and let her know what is happening in the village. I only manage to go out once a day but the lovely people that I meet in the middle of nowhere is truly amazing.Mind you I am one of those people that will chat with anyone. Henry used to say that he could leave me anywhere and when he came back someone would be chatting to me.

Well the coffee is calling, the sun is shining and I'm getting ready to tidy the shelves. So I hope that you have a good day...take care and happy crafting

Blue Lighthouse

Todays card is another that I made for the fabulous design team over at jb-crafting supplies. It is from the lovely Halcyan Days from Crafters Companion. Lovely summery images to match the weather. Don't worry I won't be doing just grey and miserable images when the rain comes..lol  Using this cd has been a great excuse to go through all my embellishments and diecuts and have a play. Because the images are photographs of sewing projects they seem to call out for  fabric embellishments and unusual bits and pieces. And I have to admit to having a lot of both.

As I wheeled Reg today, I was lucky enough to be joined by a number of friends. I think Reg had given up on me and as I continued to chat he continued to lie down on the grass. We carried onto the turnaround tree and as we had a little sit there, Milky spotted something in the field. It was so funny seeing her trying to catch something...I'm glad to say though she gave us a good laugh...she didn't manage to catch whatever it was. It's been said that the weather is going to turn at the end of the week..I shall be glad for no other reason than I shall be able to count the cats. Because the weather has been so warm..some seem to have left home..they always seem to be spending the day staying cool and the night time hunting. They have been doing this for so long that It's a wonder that I forget the way it goes..but every year I do. It's because I like the whole family to be home.

Well the coffee is calling..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Sailing on a blue sea

Today I'm sharing one of the cards that I made for the design team over at JB-Crafting supplies. It is made using the fabulous cdrom Halcyan Days produced by the wonderful team at Crafters Companion.I have fallen in love with the images on this cd..I love the nostalgic feel of all the images. I have framed the image using some natural twine and have just decorated using some seaside inspired die cuts from my stash. The picture is so lovely it's hard to remember that it was created using scraps of fabric and machine embroidery.It is the work of Abigail Mill.Besides her obvious talent for sewing..it is her talent for creating nostalgic imagery..which help us to remember days and events that we may have forgotten. For me it brought back memories of days at the beach as a child and endless sunny days. (Were they really so sunny and so long or is it the way our memory works)

It is another lovely day today and I managed to take Reg for a wheel. Only two cats..Jeff and Milky came with us...but they all seemed to have a good time. Every piece of shade we encountered they threw themselves onto the grass for a roll about. Even when I'm having a down day..the animals always manage to give me something to smile about.

I was visited by the district nurse today. Yet more of my blood was taken for testing...I'm sure that they're just testing to see if I am really human...lol. And I had to have the first of a round of B12 injections. Last we it was discovered that I have a really low level of B12...now we just have to find out why. That should be fun..supposedly when the B12 level comes up I shall feel like a new woman...I can't wait. No doubt I will be reporting back. Perhaps it will take a while to feel a difference but keep your fingers crossed for me.

Well the coffee is calling and I'm looking forward to some crafting for my other design teams. One thing I meant to mention was to thank you all for reading..I've just noticed that my page views has gone over the 5000. When I began this journey on the blog..I was surprised when I had 1 view so to reach this number..thankyou for coming on my journey with me. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Sunday Tea

Todays card is a lovely image from One Summers Day by Joanna Sheen. The rose banner at the bottom is made using a die from Tattered Lace.I really love the whole lace, china and flowers look. I live in hope that one day my house will be a little like this. But I fear it will never be...there are too many cats sharing my space. I have the feeling that any white lace tablecloth will suffer from little black pawprints and the need to hide any cakes would rather spoil the look. Any flowers I have obviously need to be sniffed and if the chance appears they need to be removed from the vase and pulled around the house...lol

Today is the first day in a long while that I couldn't manage to wheel Reg. I had to ask my friend to walk him for me as my leg had swollen badly and needed to be put up. I had to laugh though..when I was trying to walk, I had the definate look of John Wayne...I was walking as if I had been riding a horse for a fortnight. Fingers crossed I'll be back to normal tomorrow. The weather here is lovely again..the cats are spread out on the studio roof enjoying every moment of it.There are some of the cats that haven't been home for a couple of days but I know what they're like...in weather like this they tend to find themselves somewhere cool during the day and during the cooler night they do their hunting. At the first sight of any rain, everyone will be home.

Well the coffee is calling and some die cutting is needed. So off I'll toddle...I hope that you are having a good weekend..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Thankyou Card

Todays card is a reworking of a thankyou card using this lovely image from One Summers Day by Joanna Sheen. So many times I have needed to send a thankyou card and this would be my favourite type. I love using purples and blues. The ivy flourish is from Joanna Sheens Signature Die range. I love the entire range...and I have admit to owning most of it!!...simply because they do what they say..they cut so easily and cleanly. So many dies that I have bought in the past are so hard to use..having to use lots of shims and the cut not being as clean as you would like. I now tend to stay with the ranges that I have found to be fantastic..the Signature range...Brittania range..All Occasion range..Tonic and finally the Tattered Lace range. It took me a long time to get into die cutting..I think it was the thought of adding another type to my crafting goodies...another thing to spend money on...but I'm so happy that I did. I only buy dies that I know will work with the type of crafting I do. Thank goodness for that...you could spend fortunes on all the different dies out there...I'm grateful that I have limited funds so I have to make every penny count and every die has to be able to earn it's space.

The weather is still lovely..even though it is a bit cooler..I love it like this...sunny but with a breeze. I wheeled Reg and had 5 cats with me today. The horse seems to have gone from the field...we all missed our extra friend today. I took Reg out earlier today so that I would be back in time to watch the athletics on the tv. It is my secret passion...I adore watching all the athletics...it is something I have done for years now. So a lovely afternoon ahead...crafting and athletics..a strange combination I know but it works for me.

Well the coffee calls..so I hope you have a wonderful day...take care and happy crafting

Badger in the Bluebells

Todays card is another simply made card from the wonderful Pollyanna Pickerings British Wildlife dvdrom brought to us by Creative Crafting World.The dvd is a wonderful addition to your image library...there is the possibility of lots of cards suitable for men. Even though I have made this for a lady, just by changing the lilac mount for another colour..it could easily be turned into a male card

It seems a bit cooler today...I've just wheeled Reg along the lane and at least there was a breeze. I had four of the cats today and when we all got to turnaround tree, the horse was waiting for us. The cats threw themselves onto the grass and enjoyed the shade alongside Reg.

I have my weekend planned thanks to the doctor. She came yesterday and gave me strict instructions to rest my leg. It made me laugh as if I used it much less..it would be on a permanent stop..lol. But with what she said I decided to do nothing this weekend but craft. I have a number of projects in mind...hopefully I will be able to do the work and share it with you next week.

Well the coffee is calling and my leg is propped up nicely so my weekend can start. I hope that you all have a fabulous weekend..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

Rabbit in the Daisies

Todays card features this fabulous rabbit from Pollyanna Pickerings dvdrom British Wildlife. This dvd rom is brought to us crafters by the wonderful team over at Creative Crafting World.This is a very simple card to make as the imagery is so vivid and detailed that I didn't do anything but mount the image and backing paper on a toning card and added a greeting and ribbon. Sometimes when I look at Pollyannas artwork it is amazing to think that it is a painting and not a photograph. The detail that she captures really takes your breath away.

As I wheeled Reg today I wondered as I wheeled, about people who say how quiet it is in the country. I have never thought that it is quiet here. Yes there are no sounds of traffic but there are plenty of other sounds. As I sat I listened and there was not one quiet moment...the birds sank. the local magpie chattered at the cats...the sheep baaed and the cows were mooing. The wind rustled through the trees and the bees were buzzing on the wild raspberry bush. The longer that I sat the more sounds I could hear. And I came to the conclusion that it is because the sounds that we hear are gentle sounds. There is no harsh traffic noise. I suppose that the lane here has sounded the same as it did this morning for many a year. I am really blessed to be able to live in such a beautiful place. And yet there are people who prefer to live in built up places and they love the sounds of city life. I have a friend who loves to watch the motorway from her house. Especially at night...she says it looks like coloured ribbons. Each to their own. I have spent some time in my youth in towns and cities...when I looked out of the window all that I could see were other buildings...no green to be seen. And I always said that I would go back to live in the country and I did. And I'm grateful every day.

Well the coffee is calling and I'm glad to say that today I intend to craft away for a couple of hours. I have some design team cards to do and a couple of orders...my mojo has decided to come back. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Fabulous Day

Todays card is another from the fabulous Halcyan Days from Crafters Companion. It features the amazing sewing and creations of Abigail Mill. I used my fabric flowers to decorate the edge.The rows of little flowers reminds me of the edging that I had on every dress when I was little. My Grandmother made all my dresses and I think it was the fashion then not to leave a single item undecorated..lol. I have two pictures of myself at different times and in both I'm wearing a burgundy velvet dress decorated with white flower braid.I have to admit to still having a great love of burgundy velvet....and I still have a roll of the little white flowers...my Gran must have bought it in bulk.After working with this cd I'm feeling the itch to get the sewing machine out and blow the cobwebs off it. I feel like making some cushion covers...perhaps I could make some patchwork ones and add the little flowers..we shall have to see. I shall let you know.

I took Reg out for a wheel today and gosh it was hot! We must have all looked like we were melting. The cats..4 today...kept throwing themselves onto the road to roll around. Quite a few times they were very nearly run over by me and Reg. When we got to the turnaround tree,I looked over the field and noticed a flock of seagulls. When I was little and we saw a flock of seagulls on the fields, my Gran always said that we were in for bad weather because the seagulls had come so far inland.....I shall have to wait and see. It has been so hot here that most of the cats have wanted to stay outside at night. The first sign of rain will see them all heading home at great speed. No doubt I will be cardmaking at the time...and will be fighting off muddy pawprints.

Well the coffee is calling...it does feel as if it should be a cold drink but my caffeine levels have to be kept up..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

The Peeping Owl

Todays card is from the wonderful Pollyanna Pickerings British Wildlife dvdrom. It was brought to us crafters by the wonderful team at Creative Crafting World. There is not one image that I wouldn't use...they are all so stunning. And I cannot stress just how much there is on this dvd...backing papers, inserts, borders, flowers and embellishments. I mounted the plain coloured topper onto some gold mirror board. The backing paper was also mounted onto some of the gold. I diecut some ivy leaves and coloured them with copic markers. I think that this card would be suitable for anyone and for any occasion..

I'm sitting here thinking about what I want to craft today. I have orders to do and a pile of toppers that I have printed and I don't feel like doing any of that. I was so uninspired today I polished the furniture, hoovered the top of the house and sorted my flowers. You can really tell when the going is getting tough..I clean house. Reg, my dog isn't very keen on the hoover..but most of the hoovering that needs to be done is because of him..I've come to the conclusion that my carpet is like dog velcro..everytime Reg lies on the carpet he leaves a little tuft of hair. I think that I may do the orders...sometimes when my mojo is having a wobble..just beginning something is the best way.

Well the coffee is calling ..so I'll make a brew and get crafting.So until tomorrow..take care and I hope your crafting goes well.

Country Hare

Todays card is from the fabulous cdrom Halcyan Days from Crafters Companion. It features the amazing art work of Abigail Mill. She is someone who creates he images using fabric and lace, detailing with free hand machine embroidery. This is one of the cards that I made for the design team over at jb-crafting supplies. The whole cd is a perfect excuse to use all of your stash of ribbons, braid and fabric flowers. The cd has a very nostalgic feel and brings back memories of lazy summer days and childhood memories of the seaside.I will be sharing more cards from this cd over the next few weeks.

On todays walk, I remembered to take my camera, so that I could share pictures of my little tribe. We only managed to make two cars laugh today. How nice is that...that just by walking down a lane I can bring a smile to two strangers.Mind you they might well be smiling over the fact that I look a bit like the pied piper of cats...lol

 First let me introduce you to Reginald..the leader of the pack. He spends his days surrounded by cats and loves them all.

 Every time I tried to take a picture of the cats..they turned away..but I shall introduce them one by one as I catch them face by face. So here is Rave, Pink and Tank.

 Her is Milky, Jeffrey in the distance and a neighbours cat who decided to come along. And below is Jeffrey. The trouble maker and the teenage rebel of the bunch. He is only a year old and has his routines down already. After his walk he demands a gravy bone. I'm not wholly convinced that he knows that he is a cat. If someone comes to the door he runs to it. He searches everyone for dog treats and has a lot to say on everything. If he really likes you..he will bring you a shrew..a live one...so you can have a play. The amount of shrews that have to be returned to the field, has to be seen to be believed.

Well the coffee is calling..so until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

Angels and wildflowers

Todays card is made using products from the Aspire range of crafting goodies. I love the vintage theme, as I'm sure you all know by now...lol. The image is from the Vintage Bloom collection and the frame is from the DekroMount range. All are acid and lignin free, making them all perfect for all your scrapbooking. You can purchase all these wonderful crafting goodies from Julie over at jb-crafting supplies. I coloured the frame with gold paint and backed it with burgundy card.The backing paper and border are from the hollypond hill cdrom by Joanna Sheen. It is such a useful cd because there are some fabulous backing papers thatyou could use with any other crafting. The only other thing that I've added is an over sized bow, which is burgundy voile with gold sequins.

Today is another lovely day here in the mountains. As I wheeled Reg on his daily walk, I was struck by the number of wildflowers on the edges of the lane and it brought back memories of my childhood. As a little girl, I loved all the flowers that grew on the verges and in the fields around the farm. Today I noticed white clover flowers edged the lane, along with daisies, buttercups and foxgloves. As I wheel along I pass the most beautiful dog rose whose scent follows you. The bees are loving the wild raspberry bushes...it was covered today and you could hear their buzzing for quite a way. Some days it really hits me just how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place. I even love it when it's raining..lol. The way I look at it..if it's raining outside,it means crafting time inside.

Well the coffee is calling..I hope you are having a good day..so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Thankyou Flowers

Todays card is from the Joanna Sheen cdrom One Summers Day. I was looking for a simple image to put on a thankyou card and just loved this one. I have mounted the image and the matching backing paper onto some gold mirror board. The only decoration I have added is some banner diecuts. The die is from the Signature die range from Joanna Sheen

I spent a lot of yesterday printing loads of images and backing papers out, in readiness for a few hours crafting.I have a new disc to work with for one of my design teams and orders for a lot of cards. I'm feeling quite calm today and am itching to begin. For the team over at jb-crafting supplies I will working with the new Crafters Companion cd....Halcyan Days. There are some really beautiful images on there that are very different from what I normally work with...so I'm really looking forward to that. To me the colours are the very essence of summer and there is something really nostalgic about them. Images that manage to remind you of childhood summers and days where the sun seemed to shine all the time. We know that it didn't but our memory remembers the sunny days and good times.

Luckily for me today was another sunny time for dog wheeling. Yet again we caused a road block..it seemed that everyone I knew arrived one after another. And a car stopped that I didn't even know the driver but he said that he loved the fact that the cats came as well. We were met again by the horse...mind you I think actually it should be called a pony. The cats are slowly getting used to it's presence.

The soundtrack for today is Paloma Faiths 'Only love can hurt like this' I just love this song and keep playing it. My taste in music is very strange...I like lots of different types...Van Morrison,.AC/DC, Nickelback, and Jim Reeves...lol. I have always been a softie and loved a good ballad...it all depends what mood I'm in   and just lately it's been really strange...my moods are up and down...so I don't know what I'm going to end up listening to. Tomorrow it could either be a bit of Avenged Sevenfold or a bit of Motown...we shall just have to wait and see...lol

Well the coffee calls...I hope that you have a fabulous weekend..take care and happy crafting.

Vintage Anniversary

Todays card is the type of card that I really love to make..vintage. I don't know why this type appeals to me so much but I love the faded elegance of it all. My favourite era is the Edwardian one. There is something so glamorous and feminine about this era. This card is made using card from the Aspire range, lace and flowers from my stash and backing paper from the Age of Elegance cdrom by Joanna Sheen. It is a William Morris backing paper which I think suited the whole look of the card. The full range of items are available to buy from Julie at jb-crafting. You can find a link on the side of my blog. The die cuts leaves are from the Brittania Die range.

The weather here is perfect...sunny with a hint of a breeze. Todays wheel involved me, Reg and 4 cats. The cats spend the whole time running ahead and throwing themselves in every shady bit that they could find.When we reached the turnaround tree we were met by a horse. It was a beautiful caramel colour with a cream mane. It had been watching us for the last couple of days and obviously noted that we were always stayed a while at the tree and today decided to join us. So there we sat ..one woman on wheels, one dog, four black cats and a horse. No wonder that the delivery drivers talk about us...lol. Everyone stopped for a chat so a route that normally takes twenty minutes today took a hour and a half. That's what makes living here such a joy...you just don't know what a normal wheel will turn into.

I'm looking forward to crafting all weekend. A lovely new cd to play with...lots to look forward to. The only small cloud on my horizon is my memory. Due to the medication that I'm on at the moment, a goldfish probably has a longer attention span...lol. I have put some craft goodies somewhere and no matter how I try to dredge my brain..I can't find them. I know that they must be within a 6 foot radius of my crafting corner but they continue to hide. I've also lost my inking brushes..four of them..they are also within the same area. I've come to the conclusion that there is a black crafting hole and my goodies are there.

Well the coffee is calling so perhaps that will help. So until I remember what I've forgotten take care and happy crafting.

Planting Kindness

Todays card is another from the fabulous new cdrom from Joanna Sheen. There are just so many images that you could use for a whole range of different people. This card would be perfect for any gardener that you know. The only decoration I have added is a plant pot with lots of little flowers.  The plant pot is from the Signature die range from Joanna Sheen as well. I have bought quite a few of the garden themed dies from the range and have been so pleased with the results. Every die that I have bought from this range has cut beautifully no matter what type of card and the effects have been beautiful. I particularly adore the hanging basket die and will be using it in the next few days...so you will get to see how useful it will be.

I've been lucky today that the sun has been shining again. On wheeling Reg today I had the pleasure of 5 cats with me. It was so warm that at every small piece of shade they would throw themselves onto the grass. Which is all very well until the dog trying to stop out of their way gets himself wrapped around the wheelchair and stuck.It was so funny and took quite a while to get us all free. By the time I got back to the cottage I was exhausted...lol.

It's been quite a day today. I had a visit this morning from a lovely lady from the charity Cruse Bereavement Care. It took me by surprise that I did need to talk to someone, so I put on my big girl pants and did it. And I'm glad that I did. The only problem with the whole meeting was the input of Jeffrey. He decided that she was a very nice lady and needed a present. So he bought her a shrew to play with. He did the same thing for the builder the other day. I'm afraid that Jeffrey is quite surprised by their reactions and cannot understand why people get so upset....lol. I'm happy to say that the shrew has been returned to the field...no doubt it will visiting again soon.

The coffee has been drank by the bucket today and the need for another top up is calling. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting. And I hope that if you get any surprise presents today, that they are of the chocolate or flower variety.

A Hug to remember

Todays card is from The Gruffies and Happy Hopper cdrom brought to us by Joanna Sheen. It features the fantastic artwork of Ellen Jareckie..the amazing artist who also draws the wonderful house mouse. I'm lucky enough to be on the design team for the Gruffies and guests challenge blog. If you love the gruffies, hoppers or house mouse...why not pop over and enter the challeng. This months challenge is sponsered by the fabulous My Creative Classroom. I just had to make this card because I love the image. Sometimes I need to send a card to someone who just needs a hug and this card would be perfect to tell them that they are being thought of. I have double mounted the image on burgundy card and then holographic card. I used the same colours on the border, just adding some diecut leaves and heart shaped jewels.

I'm quite surprised just how lovely the weather has turned out today. When I wheeled Reg today it was raining off and on and the wind was blowing. Just now as I look out of the window the sun is shining, the sky is a brilliant blue and all I can hear is birdsong. All the cats are stretched out on the studio roof and Reg for once has his basket to himself.I intend to spend the rest of the afternoon making cards.

The arrival of the post bought an excitement. It was my design team parcel from jb-crafting supplies. This month I'm going to be lucky enough to be working with the Halcyan Days cdrom by Crafters Companion. I'm so looking forward to having a play...so you can be sure that I will be sharing some cards from this with you very soon. I know that I'm so lucky to be on a number of design teams and I get to work with some amazing crafters. I spend my day surrounded by a fabulous amount of inspiration. If ever I feel as if I don't know what to do or what type of card to make,I only have to go and look at the challenge blogs and I'm ready to go again. They really are an amazing group of ladies who gave me immense support when I lost Henry.

Well the kettle is boiling and the coffee calls so until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

China and pearls

Todays card is another beautiful design from the One Summers Day cdrom by Joanna Sheen. I love this type of image featuring china and flowers. I would just love for my dresser to look like this but I think that the cats would have huge fun changing the look.I mounted the backing paper and the image onto some pink card. I also created the border using the same.I put two strips of white lace behind the border bar and then mounted some pearl swirls on the top. It is very much a lady card and I happen to know many that would love this card.

I find it strange but just lately I find my girly side fighting to come out. I have never really thought about it but just recently I have had to admit to myself that I love chintz, lace and pastel colours. I love looking at flowers in my parlour and have a thing for roses on my bed linen. Perhaps I should give in and let my floral side out. It's all very strange. When I was a little girl I was very girly until I discovered Donny Osmond and suddenly the dark side came out...lol..(I often wonder what a therapist would make of that!!!).Since my teenage years I have always loved black and have collected skulls and dragons. So now both sides will have to come together...lol. I still love to wear black as I find it doesn't clash with my hair...which at the moment is purple pink and orange  ( that must be my old punk side coming out and after all I always promised Henry that I would grow old disgracefully..lol). Such a mixture of things...I will let you know what happens over the next few weeks.

Today, as I was wheeling the dog,I was lucky enough to meet the dog warden. What a lovely chap. I explained that I kept the right hand side of the lane clear because even though we live in the middle of nowhere if the children are going out, I tell them to stand on the grass if a car comes. And lets be honest nobody wants to stand in dog do. I bag any, even if it's not from my dog. Just because I can't stand the mess. And I have to admit to having a go at anyone who doesn't pick it up. Perhaps I'm turning into an old nag as well..lol. Just by being friendly though I even scored some free bags as well.

Well the coffee is calling and the cats are making a dash in as it has just started to rain...so until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting

The Birdhouse

Todays card is made using an image from the fabulous new cdrom from Joanna Sheen. The cd is called One Summers Day and features the artwork of the very talented lady Barbara Mock. There are some beautiful floral images, as well as interior and exterior views. I particularly love the images that feature the china...I do have a thing for bone china tea services...as my dresser can tell you. I will be featuring some of the other wonderful images over the next few days.For some reason when I sit down to craft with these images..a feeling of calm comes over me..which is just as well at the moment.The only decoration that I have added is the three die cut butterflies.

Today has been a little bit stressful for me. Nothing in the grand scale of things but just enough to agitate me...lol.First stress was the council bin men. Just because there were two bins outside of my house they decided to only empty one. And guess who's bin was left. Yes it was mine. So I had to spend half an hour in a queue on the telephone to get to actually speak to anyone and they are now going to send another van out to empty my bin. It beggars belief really that because some jobs worth on the bin team thought that I may have filled a second bin..the cost of another trip is going to come out of the council budget. If only they had taken the time to count the bins in the street, they could have realised that in fact there are 9 bins on the street and that there were 9 bins out.It's not hard is it. Enough of whine number one..lol

Whine number two is the amazing amount of midges that I got bitten by whilst wheeling the dog.I'm sure that anyone who also lives in areas affected by the little blighters knows just how bad they can be. I was bitten from head to toe. I have to say that Reg the dog and all the cats luckily aren't affected and all trot along quite happily. When I was little I wasn't aware that these little beasts even existed and it's only since coming to live in Snowdonia 25 years ago  that I met the Welsh midge.

Well the coffee is calling...Ihope that you are all having a great day. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Anniversary Card

Todays card was an order for a 31st. wedding anniversary. I didn't know what the symbol was for this anniversary...so as always I went on a hunt and discovered that it was timepieces.So, with that in mind I decided to make the clock the main feature. I put the time to 3 o'clock...the time of their wedding. The flower and buds are made using the wonderful Floral Delights Anemone Die from Tonic. I cut the leaves, using the anemone pad and then painted the flowers using my Twinkling H2Os, because the lady who the card was for loved pink flowers. The shape of the card itself is made using the Bookatrix board from the Glitter Girls. I use this board so much as it makes such a great base for whatever you want to create.

Today in the mountains it is a beautiful day. I take my dog Reginald out attached to my wheelchair and he loves it. People that live round here are used to laughing at my entourage. There I am in my chair with Reg, followed by a stream of at least 6 cats. From the first trip the cats have decided that they don't want to miss out and whatever the weather, they trot along. Well today they had a shock...we have a special place where we turn around and if the weathers good we have a little break there. All the cats and Reg had lay down on the grass and the next thing was a horse decided to put his head over the fence. All the cats shot up to investigate..it was just so funny. I'm sure that my youngest cat Jeff was thinking wow that's a big cat!! Every day we manage to stop the cars..with most people finding our little group so funny. At the least it gives them something to smile about.

Well the coffee calls and there are cards waiting to be created...so until tomorrow take care and happy crafting

Patchwork Hopper and Gruffie

It seems an age since I last blogged..as most of you will know I've had a devastating time, losing my son who was only 17. Words will never be enough to describe the horror of it all but I have to believe that there is a greater plan that we know nothing of. During the last few months I have wondered what to do and I came to the conclusion that Henry would have said why haven't you made a card? He was always so proud of what I did..and so to honour him..I've decided to get back to doing what I loved. At first it's been like learning to walk again..I couldn't remember where anything was and everything that once came naturally was really hard work..but things can only get better.The amount of kindness and support that I have received from my friends in the crafting world has been amazing..thankyou all. So without further ado..here are my first cards.

I am lucky enough to be on the design team for Gruffies and Guests..which celebrates the art work of the amazing Ellen Jareckie, the creator of House Mouse. I have to admit to a bit of a thing for the Hoppers...I just adore rabbits. These cards are for the new challenge over on the Gruffies and Guests blog. The theme is Patchwork and must include a Gruffie,Hopper or House Mouse image. I hope that you will pop over to the blog and enter the challenge. This month the challenge is sponsered by the fabulous My Creative Classroom.I hope that you will come on over as there are some fabulous cards created by the very talented ladies on the design team. They are always a fantastic source of inspiration.

My first card features one of my favourite Hopper designs. The background paper was made using all the scraps left over from making other cards. I love making this kind of background because I can use up all the papers that are just too pretty to throw away. Now I have a box dedicated to all little bits of pretty and sometimes I will just play and make a background.I got the idea from a crazy patchwork throw that I made some years ago.

The second card features a gruffie and uses the fabulous patchwork dies from Joanna Sheen. It is another way to use up the scraps that as crafters we cannot bear to throw away. On the card it says You deserve a break and I'm sure that we all know people who work so hard that they really do need to take a bit of me time...and what nicer way to do it than cuddling down under a patchwork quilt.

Well, as always, as before, the coffee is calling and the cats are demanding some attention..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.